Good News in History, December 29

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On this day 80 years ago, a decade and a half after the Irish War of Independence and its treaty-induced interim government, Ireland was born when it adopted its own Constitution. A document committed to democratic ideals that enshrined the people as masters, it also provided the right to every child for a free primary education provided […]

A Rare Cancer-Fighting Plant Compound has Finally Been Decoded

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Canadian researchers have figured out how plants make a rare natural substance—mitraphylline—with its potential for fighting cancer and becoming a sustainable new medicine. Mitraphylline is part of a small and unusual family of plant alkaloids, molecules that are defined by their distinctive twisted ring shapes, which help give them powerful anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory effects. For […]

New Eco-Friendly Tech Eliminates ‘Forever Chemicals’ With Record-Breaking Speed–And it’s Reusable

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University researchers in Texas and Korea have collaborated to developed an eco-friendly water purifier that captures—and destroys—toxic “forever chemicals” (PFAS) more than 1,000 times better than current methods. Their study marks a major milestone in addressing one of the world’s most persistent environmental and health threats. PFAS are synthetic chemicals first created in the 1940s […]

Good News in History, December 28

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Happy Birthday to Denzel Washington who turns 71 today. The acclaimed actor grew up in blue-collar households in Mount Vernon, New York, and Florida, after which he attended university and discovered his talent for acting while working at a summer camp. He went on to win a Tony and two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor […]