Welcome to the Good News Roundup for June 29, 2026
Ancient Roman scroll deciphered after nearly 2,000 years
A team of international researchers has used cutting-edge X-ray imaging and artificial intelligence to decipher an ancient scroll buried during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79.
The scroll, recovered from the ancient Roman town of Herculaneum, had remained unread for almost two thousand years after being charred by volcanic ash and being too delicate to unfurl.
Researchers have instead used high-resolution scans to “virtually unwrap” the layers and read the text.
Read more here.
Centenarian sisters helping unlock the secrets of healthy ageing
Three Brazilian sisters, all aged over 100, are helping scientists better understand the secrets behind long, healthy lives through a unique longevity study.
Researchers are examining their genetics, lifestyle and family history in the hope of uncovering factors that contribute to exceptional ageing and better health later in life.
It’s hoped the findings could shape new approaches to preventing age-related disease.
Read more here.
Promising childhood leukaemia therapy aims to reduce treatment side effects
Researchers in the United States are developing a new targeted therapy for childhood leukaemia that could give children a better chance of beating cancer while reducing the toll of treatment on their young bodies.
Unlike chemotherapy, which can damage healthy cells as well as cancer cells, the approach is designed to attack cancer more precisely, potentially easing some of the harsh side effects children can face during treatment.
While the National Cancer Institute shows the five-year relative survival rate for childhood leukaemia is 87%, treatment can have lifelong impacts on growth, fertility and quality of life.
Read more here.
Bus stop meeting leads to 70 years of marriage
A South Australian couple are celebrating an extraordinary 70 years of marriage after first meeting at a bus stop in the Adelaide Hills in 1952.
Brian and Val Collins, now aged 92 and 89, say love, respect and doing the little things for one another have been the secret to their enduring relationship, with Brian still bringing Val breakfast in bed every morning.
Brian says it was a friend who first pointed Val out to him all those years ago, insisting she was “the right one” for him.
Read more here.
