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.
Public health & disease
From disease eradication efforts to advances in vaccination and maternal health, this archive tracks real progress in public health. Stories here focus on what’s working — policies, interventions, and research that are improving and extending lives around the world.
Paralyzed woman able to ‘speak’ through digital avatar in world first
A digital avatar has given a paralyzed woman her voice back — speaking at 78 words per minute, more than five times faster than the eye-tracking system she relied on before. Ann, who had a brainstem stroke 18 years ago, worked with UCSF researchers to train an AI to read brain signals from electrodes resting on her brain’s surface. The avatar speaks in a voice reconstructed from her wedding video, complete with facial expressions like smiles and frowns. There are real limits — the system still misreads words about a quarter of the time — but for millions living with ALS, locked-in syndrome, or severe stroke, this points toward a future where losing a voice no longer means losing a self.
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.
Twelve African countries will receive 18 million doses of the first-ever malaria vaccine
Malaria vaccines are heading to twelve African countries for the first time, with 18 million doses of RTS,S/AS01 set to roll out between 2023 and 2025. Nine nations are introducing the shot into routine childhood immunization, joining Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi, where more than 1.7 million children have already been vaccinated since 2019. The pilot countries have seen severe malaria cases and child deaths decline, and families are showing up eager for their children to be protected. After a century of scientific struggle against one of humanity’s deadliest diseases, this rollout marks a turning point — proof that patient global collaboration can deliver lifesaving tools to the children who need them most.
Belize certified malaria-free by WHO
Over the last 3 decades, Belize has achieved a dramatic reduction in its malaria burden – from a peak of about 10 000 cases in 1994 to zero indigenous cases in 2019.
Israeli researchers reach ‘breakthrough’ in fight against skin cancer
Melanoma may quietly build its own escape routes before it ever becomes dangerous, according to researchers at Tel Aviv University and Sheba Medical Center. They discovered that while the cancer is still confined to the skin’s outer layer, it releases tiny pigment-carrying vesicles called melanosomes that slip into the deeper dermis and coax lymph vessels to grow — essentially paving roads the tumor will later travel to spread. Because melanoma isn’t life-threatening until it leaves the skin, the team believes a vaccine could train the immune system to intercept those melanosomes first. With about 325,000 people diagnosed worldwide each year, this early-stage target could open a hopeful new chapter in shifting cancer treatment from reactive to preventive.
Minnesota becomes 23rd U.S. state to legalize recreational marijuana
Minnesota’s new cannabis law will automatically clear tens of thousands of low-level marijuana convictions, pairing legalization with one of the most ambitious record-clearing efforts in the country. Adults 21 and older can now possess cannabis under the law Gov. Tim Walz signed in May 2023, making Minnesota the 23rd state to legalize recreational use. What sets it apart is the justice piece: people don’t have to navigate courts to clear their records — the state does it for them, opening doors to jobs, housing, and education long blocked by old convictions. As legalization spreads, Minnesota offers a model that finally asks who bore the costs of prohibition, and who deserves a fresh start.
New York protects “the birds & the bees” with nation-leading pesticides legislation
The Birds and Bees Protection Act bans the neonic pesticides uses that provide no economic benefits to users or are replaceable with safer, effective alternatives.
Meningitis vaccine trial in Mali and The Gambia shows promise in “groundbreaking” development
The Serum Institute of India and Path successfully tested an effective and affordable vaccine for meningitis, a disease that claims the lives of an estimated 250,000 people each year.
Scientists identify bacteria that can break down ‘forever chemicals’
PFAS are used in nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, and firefighting foams, and have been linked with higher cholesterol, lower fertility, developmental delays in children, and a greater risk of cancer.