Welcome to the Good News Roundup for March 23, 2026
Longest Study of Adult Life Continues, Hitting 88 Year Milestone
It’s now considered the world’s longest study of human adult life ever carried out, with the Harvard Study of Adult Development officially running for 88 years.
Beginning in 1938, the study set out to discover what makes a ‘good’ life, with researchers looking at questionnaires, medical check-ups and other accumulated information.
While the study continues, results continue to point to the same conclusions – that strong connection to family, friends and community lead to longer, happier and healthier lives.
Read more about the current milestone for the study here or the study itself here.
‘Speed-Friending’ Events Hope to Combat Friendship Reduction
And in a similar vein to the Study of Adult Development, a ‘speed-friending’ event has been held in a café in a small town in Washington, in the US, in a bid to help people combat loneliness and make some new friends.
The idea belongs to café owner Saul Martinez, prompted by the relocation of his niece to the area, and she was keen to make some new friends.
A 2025 study found 12% of US adults reported having no friends; Saul says the events aren’t about quantity, but hopefully allowing people to meet one or two people to connect with.
Read more here.
Possum Passenger at Hobart Airport
Airports can be stressful places, but not for a wayward possum who was spotted in amongst the soft toys at a giftshop in Hobart Airport, in Tasmania.
While they don’t know how it came to be in the airport, staff say the unusual visitor appeared calm as passersby took videos and photos, before it was eventually safely relocated outside.
For more cute pics and videos, check out the story here.
Scientists Discover Way to Regrow Cartilage
Scientists at California’s Standford Medicine has discovered a way to regrow cartilage, potentially reversing loss in aging joints and preventing arthritis.
The exciting development involves an injection to block a protein linked to aging, with the treatment also allowing new, functional cartilage to reform.
It’s hoped the treatment could potentially result in the restoration of cartilage lost to aging or arthritis, or potentially eliminate the need for knee or hip replacement surgery.
Read more about the development here.
