U.K. scientists regrow retina cells to tackle leading cause of blindness
In a study at the UK’s Nottingham Trent University, biomedical scientist Biola Egbowon and colleagues used nanotechnology to successfully treat macular degeneration.
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Ecuadorians vote against oil drilling in critical Amazon biosphere
The referendum was a popular initiative demanded by Indigenous communities to protect the vast Yasuní National Park from oil drilling. Ecuador’s government has announced that it will honor the result of the referendum and have machinery removed within a year.
India becomes the fourth ever country to land on the moon
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully landed its Vikram lander in the rough terrain of the Moon’s south pole, making India the first country to safely touch down in this unexplored region of the lunar surface.
The U.S. Department of the Interior formally approves country’s fourth-ever major offshore wind project
Located about 15 nautical miles southeast of Point Judith, Rhode Island, the project will have an estimated capacity of 704 megawatts of clean energy, capable of powering nearly 250,000 homes. The project is expected to create an estimated 1,200 local jobs during the construction phase.
UK’s largest opencast coal mine to permanently close in November 2023
Campaigners had been pushing for the site in Merthyr Tydfil to close since its planning permission expired in September last year after 15 years.
Youth wins climate case against U.S. state of Montana in first-of-its-kind legal ruling
A landmark ruling found that Montana violated young people’s constitutional rights to a “clean and healthful environment,” marking the first time a U.S. court has connected the government’s fossil fuel promotion with harm to youth.
Massachusetts adopts universal free school meals
All public school students grades K-12 will be entitled to free lunches regardless of their financial status. It’s estimated to save families about $1,200 a year per student.
AI-supported mammography screening saves time & detects more cancer
A new study from Lund University in Sweden has found that using AI resulted in the detection of 20% more cancers compared with standard screening, without affecting false positives.
Ghana ends capital punishment
The West African country currently has 170 men and six women on death row, whose sentences will now be replaced by life imprisonment. Until now, execution has been the mandatory sentence for murder in Ghana.
Michigan bans conversion therapy for minors
The law prohibits state-licensed providers from engaging in the psychologically-damaging practice. Michigan is now the 22nd state in the United States to ban such “therapy.”