The Top Good News Stories From Last Week
- Editor OGN Daily
- 6 hours ago
- 4 min read
Global round up of all the best news from last week in health, wellbeing, wildlife, conservation and renewables.
Health & Wellbeing
Housework Payments: Some Indian states have introduced a program to pay unconditional monthly financial compensation to 118 million homemakers, recognising the value of unpaid domestic labour. It should help empower women with financial independence to support their families' health and education.
End of Motion Sickness? Millions of people can now look forward to a better time traveling, with the US FDA approving a novel oral pill that helps prevent motion-induced sickness - the first of its kind in more than 40 years. It will be sold under the brand name Nereus.
Junk Food Ad Ban: As of this week, junk food adverts are banned on TV and online in the UK, as part of a drive to tackle childhood obesity. The ban stops food and drinks high in fat, salt and sugar being advertised on TV before 21.00 and at any time online.
Ozempic vs. Obesity: After rising for years, the American obesity rate fell in 2025, as GLP-1 injectables like Ozempic became popular. Gallup says the change represents an estimated 7.6 million fewer obese adults compared with three years ago. The drugs, which are already turning the tide on the obesity epidemic, are set to become more affordable, accessible, and potentially more potent this year.
MS Discovery: Scientists have discovered two new subtypes of multiple sclerosis with the aid of artificial intelligence, paving the way for personalised treatments and better outcomes for patients. Experts said the “exciting” breakthrough could revolutionise treatment of the disease worldwide.
PFAS Ban: France has banned ghastly forever chemicals from being used in the textile, fashion, and cosmetics industries and should serve to greatly reduce the nation’s population to their exposure. A ban in Denmark along similar lines will come into effect in July.
Acid for Anxiety: Last year, trials showed that the psychedelic drug LSD, in a single high dose, could relieve moderate to severe anxiety for up to three months. This year, two major follow-up trials will conclude and if the results are anything like the first’s, LSD may become available in the US as an alternative anxiety treatment to antidepressants and talk therapy sometime in 2027.
"Remarkable Achievement": After decades of effort, the number of people requiring treatment for trachoma - the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, spread via contaminated fingers or flies - has now fallen by 94 percent since 2002, says the World Health Organization.
End of Finger Pricks: People with diabetes may soon have a noninvasive way to check blood glucose levels. MIT scientists developed a device that shines near-infrared light on the skin to obtain glucose measurements - rather than the current method, pricking a finger with a needle.
Brain Stimulation: In a major shift for how mental health conditions might be treated, the US FDA has approved the first at-home brain stimulation device to treat moderate to severe major depressive disorder (MDD). The device, the FL-100 from Sweden's Flow Neuroscience, will be available via clinician, either as a standalone intervention or as an adjunct to existing therapies such as antidepressants.
Wildlife & Conservation
Wild Twins: A pair of twin mountain gorillas has been born in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo - a rare occurrence for the endangered primates, conservationists at Virunga National Park say. Twin births are thought to account for about 1 percent of all mountain gorilla births.
Rights of Nature: Wild, stingless bees become the first insects to be granted legal rights.
Vigilant Protection: The rhino stronghold of Assam in northeastern India has happily reported zero deaths due to poaching among its populations of greater one-horned rhinos in 2025. Today, India is home to around 4,000 rhinos (up from 1,800) and almost all are in Assam.
Finding Harmony: King Charles III is the subject of an Amazon Prime documentary that delves into his decades-long passion for the environment. He hopes that the enormous reach of Prime, with its millions of subscribers in 240 countries worldwide, will give him the opportunity for his message to reach a truly global audience. Trailer released.
Battery Power
Norway Hits Target: The Nordic country aimed to end the sale of fossil fuel cars by 2025 (much earlier than any other nation) and has released its latest numbers: 95.9 percent of cars sold in Norway in 2025 have no fossil power at all (up from 88.9 percent in 2024), and 97.5 percent have a plug. But even with this victory, Norway isn’t ready to sit still. "Two out of three passenger cars on the road still run on fossil fuels.. so even though this is an important milestone, we must continue working towards an emission-free vehicle fleet.”
Radical New Batteries: Samsung's long-anticipated 600 mile solid-state batteries (that can charge in 9 minutes) are heading to market in a three-way agreement between itself, BMW, and American battery expert Solid Power.
And Finally
Last week's most entertaining story involved a few dozen wayward sheep breaking off from their flock and invading a store in Germany - surprising and delighting customers as the animals explored the aisles before being escorted from the premises. “It was impossible to tell whether the sheep were looking for something particular on offer or just wanted to warm up,” the store said, noting that the flock seemed particularly fond of the checkout area where shoppers and staff were present.