Every day the Good Good Good team collects the best good news in the world and shares it with our community. Here are the highlights for this week!
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The Best Positive News We’re Celebrating This Week —
Scientists just achieved an ‘impossible’ solar energy efficiency breakthrough
Researchers in Japan developed a new material that allows solar cells to generate an amount of solar energy previously thought impossible. They did it with a “spin-flip” emitter that can harvest solar energy typically lost as heat.
It’s the latest in a string of recent solar technology breakthroughs that will only make the renewable energy industry more efficient and cost-effective.
Why is this good news? Prior to this breakthrough, solar cells had an energy conversion efficiency limit of 130%, and could only harvest energy from about one-third of available sunlight. The discovery could pave the way for ultra-efficient solar panels, and even further reduce global dependence on oil and gas for energy production.
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Climate activist hosts ‘playdates’ for parents to mobilize for the environment without having to find a sitter
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The price of lithium-ion batteries has fallen 99% in the last three decades
Battery prices have dropped a lot over time — more than 99% since the early 1990s. Lithium-ion battery cells that once cost around $9,200 per kilowatt-hour now cost roughly $78, making technologies like electric vehicles far more affordable to the average consumer.
The price drop is not due to one breakthrough, but rather thousands of incremental improvements in the battery’s chemistry, manufacturing, and supply chain. As production has scaled up, engineers and firms have discovered more efficient ways to design and build batteries, leading to continuous cost reductions over time.
At the same time, batteries have also gotten better. They can store more energy in a smaller space than before, which makes devices last longer and cars go farther on a single charge.
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A Texas elementary school installed an ASL playground sign to honor a deaf student lost to cancer
Nearly two years ago, 11-year-old Caleb Devereaux, affectionately called “Junior,” died from leukemia. Junior was deaf from an early age, quickly mastering sign language, which opened “a world of communication and connection with those around him.”
Junior’s former elementary school just installed an ASL playground sign in his honor, inspired by his playful and outgoing attitude.
It has the alphabet in ASL, as well as the hand signs for phrases like “friend,” “play,” “tag,” “share,” and more. Since its installation, hearing students have been able to play with their deaf classmates more freely.
Why is this good news? Junior’s former teacher, Letabeth Machogu, said hearing students can now “communicate with each other directly with our students who use sign language, and then they can play together without having to have an interpreter there to facilitate all the communication. They can have a direct friendship without having a third party … that is so important.”
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A marine biologist spent 92 days saving a sea turtle covered in hundreds of barnacles: ‘She doesn’t even look like the same turtle’
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Scientists discovered more than 110 new fish and invertebrate species in the Coral Sea
A team of scientists recently returned from a 35-day expedition with evidence of more than 110 new species of fish and invertebrates. The species were found in the Coral Sea marine park, Australia’s largest marine protected area, which is nearly twice the size of Spain and lies east of the Great Barrier Reef.
The team collected many different types of animals, including fish like sharks, rays, and a “ghost shark,” as well as invertebrates such as crabs, sea anemones, sponges, and brittlestars. As more samples are studied through genetic testing, researchers believe the total number of new species could rise above 200.
Since the voyage’s return, many of the species samples have been shared around the country at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and the Australian Museum.
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Four decades after poaching drove them to extinction, rhinos have returned to the wild in Uganda
The last free-ranging rhinos were seen in Uganda 43 years ago, and now the Uganda Wildlife Authority has welcomed four northern white rhinos back into a national park from a breeding sanctuary designed for reintroduction.
A total of eight rhinos will be released in the park by May to kick off a process aimed at establishing a sustainable population in Kidepo Valley National Park.
Around 300 northern white rhinos and 400 eastern black rhinos used to roam the country, but had been devastated by intense poaching during the country’s civil war starting in the late 1970s.
Why is this good news? Authorities hope that the rhinos’ reintroduction will help restore the environment, support national conservation efforts, and boost the local economy with increased tourism and conservation-related activities.
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Here’s what happened when researchers gave homeless people $750 a month
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New study finds that a connection to nature fuels well‑being worldwide
In a new study, more than 100 researchers surveyed roughly 38,000 people around the globe and found that people with a stronger connection to nature had better well-being. This connection was not just limited to spending time outside, but about feeling a deeper relationship with the natural world.
Overall, people with a relationship to nature reported higher life satisfaction, more hope and optimism, and a greater sense of purpose. They were also better at handling stress and were more mindful, meaning they stayed present and aware in their daily lives.
Researchers found that these benefits were consistent across different ages and genders in 75 countries, including Japan, Nigeria, Germany, Indonesia, the U.S., and beyond.
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A new park is giving Miami residents both protection from flooding and connection to nature
Miami is on the frontlines of the climate crisis and is now building “green” infrastructure in the form of lush parks to help soak up excess water. It not only protects communities from frequent flooding, but it also helps keep residents connected to nature.
Designed by a local architecture firm, Bayshore Park opened last year, replacing a golf course. It features a system of hidden pumps that keep the lake healthy and ready to hold the water equivalent of a three-day storm.
When it rains, runoff flows into the lake, keeping streets clear and protecting Biscayne Bay, which has historically been devastated by this kind of runoff. For people, it features a walking path, playground, and immersive nature opportunities.
Why is this good news? Heavy rains, more frequent storms, and sea level rise, all of which are linked to the climate crisis, are causing streets to consistently flood in coastal cities like Miami Beach. That Bayshore Park is a great example of a climate resilience and mitigation solution to help communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis — while providing a beneficial resource for residents year-round.
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The horror stories of renting inspired this college student to create a website to rate your landlord
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The number of women representatives has increased since 2000 in parliaments across Africa
The number of women running for or holding seats in parliaments across Africa has increased significantly in the last two decades, with women holding at least 20% of the seats in the national legislatures of 31 of 54 recognized countries across the continent.
In Rwanda, women hold over 60% of the seats in the legislature. After Sierra Leone’s elections in 2023 and 2025, the share of women in parliament rose to over 28%. Notably, 45 African countries have gender quotas for political representation.
Studies have shown how this increased representation helps women have an impact on the issues that affect their lives, bringing about policies like paid maternity leave and more.
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A megachurch in Virginia donated $1M to stop over 300 families from being evicted
After learning the agency overseeing public housing in Alexandria, Virginia owed $1 million in back rent, the city’s mayor approached the Mayor’s Interfaith Council for guidance.
Rev. Howard-John Wesley of the Alfred Street Baptist Church answered the call, donating over $1 million to cover the back rent, and stopping the eviction of 338 families.
Congregants had raised the money earlier this year during its annual SEEK action, a time of fasting and prayer, and Wesley said the donation was “connected to what we understand the purpose of fasting to be.”
Even better: The church and Interfaith Council will be part of an initiative to host individual meetings with each resident who fell behind on their rent, so they can make plans and provide resources to ensure it doesn’t happen again. These faith groups will also help fund follow-up services like food banks and job skills training.
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Wildlife refuge saves barnacle-covered sea turtle on the verge of death: ‘She came to us in a terrible state’
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India is set to quadruple solar power capacity and triple wind power capacity in the next decade
According to a new government report from the Central Electricity Authority, India is expected to undergo a major transformation in its power sector over the next decade, driven by rapid growth in renewable energy.
Solar power capacity is projected to increase fourfold, while wind capacity could triple by around 2035–36. This expansion is part of a broader national plan to meet rising electricity demand while shifting toward cleaner energy sources.
As renewables grow, India’s reliance on coal — the dominant energy source today — is forecast to decline significantly. Coal’s share in electricity generation is projected to fall from 70% to 49% in the next decade, as solar energy rises to make up roughly 65% of the clean power mix.
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More good news of the week —
Luxembourg became the second country in the world to enshrine abortion rights into its constitution. France was the first to codify the right in 2024.
A massive solar project in California is getting even bigger. A sweeping plan to build 21 gigawatts of solar plus batteries on 136,000 acres could also be a lifeline for Central Valley farmers facing devastating water shortages.
A bipartisan bill introduced to the US Senate seeks to ban sports betting on online prediction markets. The bill follows several other state-level efforts to regulate marketplaces and protect consumers.
Researchers used bacteria to turn plastic waste into the “gold standard” for Parkinson’s care. Scientists at the University of Edinburgh successfully synthesized the drug from a raw ingredient in post-consumer waste plastic.
A seabird colony in the U.K. is finally rebounding after a trained detection dog helped eradicate ferrets from their island. Thanks to Woody, the red fox Labrador, Rathlin Island has been free of the invasive predators since 2023.
An iconic “Survivor” champion used his winnings to start a charity pinball arcade and shelter for homeless and at-risk men. Rupert Boneham became a million-dollar winner on “Survivor: America’s Tribal Council,” a special episode of “Survivor: All Stars,” where he accumulated 85% of a nationwide vote.
A critically endangered whale species now has a GoFundMe after its research grants cut were cut by the Trump administration. A nonprofit that is vital in the protection of North Atlantic right whales is turning the tide on their annual fundraising.
Chile’s “near threatened” seals gained protection with new marine park. The protection comes sixty years after Juan Fernández fur seals were first discovered.
The Irish language is steadily making a comeback after centuries of oppression. (May require login) Under British rule, Irish was banned in government proceedings and courtrooms for nearly 300 years.
After the UK government banned bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas, kelp forests started thriving again. The restored habitats have led to better storm and erosion protection and supported sustainable fisheries.
After an animal shelter opened its doors for volunteers to take dogs on hikes, adoptions surged. Volunteer numbers have also skyrocketed, dogs are getting adopted faster, and the pups are noticeably happier when they have more time out of their cages.
A community in Colorado just became the first “pollinator district” in the U.S. By dedicating land to native plants, natural spaces, parks, and gardens, the district has helped bees, butterflies, moths, and beetles thrive.
A Denver nonprofit’s new campus helped homeless youth achieve stable housing three times faster than average. In addition to temporary housing, the 136-bed campus offers therapy, education, and employment support.
Thanks to a new drug, the World Health Organization is set to eliminate sleeping sickness disease by 2030. The single-dose treatment for acoziborole is expected to be rolled out early next year.
Brazil reintroduced toucans to Tijuca National Park 50 years ago — and now they’re saving native forests. By dispersing the seeds of endangered trees, the ariel toucans have become a critical source for reforestation.
Florence + The Machine is partnering with Planned Parenthood on tour amid a “life and death” fight for abortion rights. In 2023, Florence Welch received life-saving reproductive health care for an ectopic pregnancy that caused her to miscarry, and the experience informed her latest album.
Idaho banned Pride flags at government buildings, so Boise wrapped flag poles in rainbows instead. In addition to the new flag pole accessories, large white signs emblazoned with the Progress Pride colors were displayed in City Hall windows alongside the phrase “creating a city for everyone.”
The former Buenos Aires home of an Argentine soccer star was transformed into a soup kitchen. The home no longer belongs to the family of Diego Armando Maradona, who died in 2020, but for the last month, its current owner has lent its dirt yard to a group of volunteers who light a grill and cook for neighbors.
Families in Brazil are growing bananas to protect the world’s largest urban forest. In the middle of the city, traditional growers blend crops with native species to preserve Pedra Branca state park’s biodiversity and provide financial and food security.
A trailblazing transmasc Ironman team won third place at an event in California. The trio competed in the 2026 Athletic Brewing Ironman 70.3 Oceanside competition in Oceanside alongside more than 3,000 age-group athletes and more than 60 professional athletes, and said they felt like they “were fighting for something bigger than ourselves.”
College students installed solar power in a rural Amazonian village that had never had electricity before. It’s giving the 40-household community the ability to respond to emergencies, access public services, and improve their education and economy.
Chicago Public Schools students can now access books, tutors, and more at public libraries with just their student ID. It’s the latest effort by CPS and the Chicago Public Library to expand access to library materials through an initiative that makes it easier for students to get books and other resources at all 81 public library branches.
Dolly Parton made a “generational and transformational” donation to the hospital named after her. The East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, now the Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital, said the money will be a lifeline for years to come.
A formerly homeless teen returned to the shelter that raised her to thank them 15 years later. 26-year-0ld Zarina Sementelli, now a lawyer herself, credits her old case worker with changing the trajectory of her life.
A new app is helping nature lovers connect to the world around them in exciting ways. PlantNet, dubbed “Shazam!” for plants, is helping users identify weeds, check out the pollen map, and discover new species.
