Life expectancy in Africa has risen by almost two decades since 1974.

On average, even the experts have consistently underestimated the exponential growth of solar power.

TU Delft engineers created the world's first passive microplastic trap that works entirely on river flow physics.

Underwater vanes generate microvortices that steer plastic particles into collection basins while letting natural debris pass through.

No pumps, filters, or electricity needed.

Electricity production in Germany 1990 to 2024.

The yellow line is renewables.

Google can now translate sign language into spoken text

You are living in the safest, healthiest time in all human history.

Since hunter gatherer times, and up until the mid 1800s, the average child mortality rate had been around 49%. No matter where in the world a child was born, about half of them died.

ourworldindata.org/child-mortal...

As US government interventions to advise against and limit smoking were introduced, the rate of lung cancer deaths fell sharply, as fewer young people took up smoking.

Government health intervention works.

One dose of the measles vaccine gives a 95% lower risk of getting sick.

NON-BREAKING NEWS:
In a major step forward for humanity, HP and Epson scientists have teamed up to create a printer that “just works”

Sierra Leone has reduced maternal death rates by almost 75% since 2000

It’s easy to get consumed with the latest bad news. Now and again it helps to stand back and take the long view.

This image shows the world over the last two centuries, as 100 people, and the immense progress humanity has made.

Share of world population living in extreme poverty fell from over 37% to under 9% between 1990 to 2024.

Adjusted for inflation and for differences in living costs between countries.

The world has passed "peak air pollution"

World average life expectancy has climbed sharply and steadily since the early 1900s.

Take the long view. Despite what rolling news may tell you, this is a great time to be alive.

Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has halved in the last few years under Lula da Silva's presidency. Previously, #deforestation rates had doubled under Jair Bolsonaro.

substack.com/@hannahritch...

#environment #climate

In 1970, the average American emitted approximately 22.5 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. By 2023, this figure had decreased to about 13.8 metric tons per person. This is a 39% reduction over the past 5 decades.

There's still a way to go, but progress is… progress.

#climate #co2

Global food production of fruits, vegetables, and nuts has risen remarkably over the last 60 years despite population increases.

The data is the global *per capita* food production. Each line begins in 1961 and ends in 2022.

#food

The ongoing progress of global literacy. Up and to the right.

Wildlife is making a comeback in Europe