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 —
WHO estimates that male contraceptives could hit pharmacies in three to five years
According to the World Health Organization, male contraceptives could hit pharmacy shelves as soon as 2029.
The pill, called YCT-539, is the first non-hormonal, daily male birth control measure. It is currently in its first two phases of clinical trials at the UN agency’s contraception and fertility care unit.
If the trials prove successful, men may soon have a reversible way to take a more active role in family planning. Experts say male contraceptives could give couples another way to share the responsibility of preventing pregnancy, rather than contraception falling primarily on women.
Even better: For decades, hormonal methods for birth control have come with negative side effects, emotional changes, and health risks. Research into non-hormonal male birth control could benefit women, too, by uncovering new ways to prevent pregnancy that may eventually lead to safer, more convenient, and more diverse contraceptive options for everyone.
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Cornell’s Jane Doe dropped out of school. A student government member has a plan to keep others from the same fate
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The CDC found teenagers’ mental health is improving from its worst levels during the pandemic
Teenage mental health hit its lowest levels in a decade in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, new data released by the CDC is showing significant improvements.
Teenagers surveyed at high schools across the country last year reported improvements. Now, 33% of students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the last 12 months, down from its peak at 42% in 2021, and 14% reported seriously considering attempting suicide, down from 22%.
These numbers are still devastatingly high — and girls and teens who identify as LGBTQ+ in particular are still struggling — the progress is important to reflect on in continuing to provide adequate support for young people.
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A new pilot program in New York City is helping food carts swap dirty, loud generators for batteries
Street vendors all over the world use generators powered by fossil fuels to keep their carts running. Those generators not only contribute to climate change, but they contribute to local air pollution that can make workers sick — plus, they’re loud and can make doing business challenging.
Batteries are silent and come with no emissions, and a Brooklyn-based startup is helping food carts make the swap.
Thanks to a grant from the City Parks Foundation, 10 vendors in a Queens neighborhood are trialing a six-month pilot program where they’ll use the batteries for free, swapping them as needed throughout the day at nearby charging cabinets.
Why is this good news? Batteries have a lot of perks, but they come with a high startup cost and present charging logistics challenges. PopWheels addresses both drawbacks: renting out the batteries (in this case, offering it for free for a limited time!) and maintaining the charging infrastructure in convenient locations itself.
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Formerly incarcerated men try new approach to prison reform: ‘We saw changes in guys in just nine weeks’
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The WHO says global life expectancy has returned to pre-pandemic levels
According to the World Health Organization’s latest estimates, in 2023, global life expectancy reached 73.3 years — in 2019, it was 73.4 years.
The new data also show a long-term shift in causes of death, and in 2023, for the first time, communicable diseases accounted for less than half of all deaths in low-income countries, important progress for the “global epidemiological transition.”
It’s also important to note that healthy life expectancy, or the years lived in good health, is recovering more slowly, reaching 62.8 years in 2023 — in 2019, it was 63.2 years.
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Six Flags just installed California’s largest solar carport
Six Flags Magic Mountain just finished installing a new 12.37-megawatt solar installation above its parking lot, officially California’s largest solar carport.
It’s expected to generate enough electricity each year to offset both the amusement park and neighboring Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles. It notably utilizes bifacial panels, which also collect sunlight reflected off the ground.
Also one of the largest solar carport projects in the country, the installation spans around 637,000 square feet and shades more than 4,000 parking spaces, including for employees.
Even better: The panels also provide shade for the cars parked below them, giving guests and employees some much-needed relief after a day in the sun at the amusement park.
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Scientists unearthed 57 new species from waters in Argentina nearly twice as deep as the Grand Canyon
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Two teens create cancer-fighting card game to help children understand what their loved ones are experiencing
When Daniel Zhang was nine, his grandmother was diagnosed with stage 3 pancreatic cancer. During hospital visits, Zhang struggled to understand the treatments she was receiving. Now 17, he has teamed up with his friend Zachary Tou to create Tumor Tactics, a card game designed to teach players about cancer treatment.
Tested by researchers at the University of California, Davis, the game turns treatments such as chemotherapy into engaging game mechanics, including dice rolls and card draws. Over the past year, Zhang and Tou have taught Tumor Tactics to public school students across San Diego.
“I was really surprised by how many students wanted to share their own experiences with cancer in their families,” Zhang told Good Good Good. “That’s honestly been one of the most meaningful parts of this entire project for me.”
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Solar and wind generation just met a record 80% of national power demand in Australia
Solar and wind power met a record 80.4% of demand in Australia over the weekend, with rooftop solar alone providing more than half of the power used on the national grid for around 30 minutes.
Australia’s energy minister said the milestone demonstrated that there was “more clean, cheap, sovereign energy powering our homes and businesses than ever before.” And while the country has a long way to go to reach it’s energy targets, it’s notable progress.
On average, renewable energy is providing 44% of Australia’s energy demand, and more than 4.3 million Australian households now have rooftop solar.
Why is this good news? Solar power in particular continues to prove its worth as an energy source, and milestones like these only reinforce the reality that these technologies are here and available to us as we rapidly shift from a fossil fuel-based to a renewable energy system all over the world.
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Strangers raised $18,000 to help a North Carolina woman find housing for her and her dog
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For the first time, more electric vehicles were sold in Europe than diesel and gas cars combined
In August, fully electric vehicles outsold gasoline and diesel vehicles combined in Europe for the first time ever. The milestone is attributed to rising fuel costs, aggressive pricing strategies by Chinese EV manufacturers, and government subsidies.
More than 243,000 electric vehicles were registered in August across 31 European countries, a 52.2% increase year-on-year — internal combustion engine vehicle sales dropped 23.4% to just under 203,000 vehicles registered.
Additionally, the share of EVs in total new car sales rose to 29.2%, surpassing internal combustion engine vehicles, which makes up 24.4%.
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Tesco is now the first supermarket to offer paid ‘safe leave’ for victims of domestic abuse
Supermarket chain Tesco is not only Britain’s largest private-sector employer, it’s also now the first to offer paid “safe leave” for domestic abuse victims.
It has also trained managers to spot signs of domestic abuse and help direct people to the appropriate support services. And importantly, Tesco will not require people to provide formal evidence to access safe leave.
The policy gives employees up to three days of flexible paid leave for things like attending court hearings, arranging emergency housing, changing locks, separating finances, and more.
Why is this good news? Domestic violence and abuse impact the lives of an estimated one in five women. People who need support and safety should be able to access it — from their employers, too. Tesco is not only providing that support tangibly, but in introducing and offering it in the first place.
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A baby swan got hooked by a fishing rod. Watch a man calmly untangle the chick while keeping its parents at bay
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Child mortality has declined in every region in the world
In 1950, globally nearly one in every four children died before their fifth birthday — in Africa, it was one in three. Since then, child mortality rates have declined in every part of the world.
In Africa and Oceania, child mortality rates declined 5-fold, in Asia 10-fold, and in Europe about 27-fold.
Globally, child mortality has declined to 3.5% on average, meaning about 4.7 million children under five years old died in 2025, or 13,000 every day — far, far too many. This chart proves progress is possible, and we can continue making it.
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More good news of the week —
A giraffe that was rescued and rehabilitated by Kenyan park rangers returned to her old sanctuary for a surprise visit. Twiggy was one week old when she was found hiding among a herd of zebras for protection — now the 5-year-old giraffe roams free in Tsavo National Park.
A secretive network is finding new climate jobs for people who were fired by the Trump administration. Climate Reserve is quietly building a lifeline for America’s lost climate workforce, one job at a time.
A retired FBI agent has dedicated more than 20 years to tracking down apple trees before they go extinct. In 2012, Dave Benscoter was trimming trees in a friend’s backyard when he came across an apple he had never encountered before.
At the United Nations, Panama announced it would lead an international effort to recognize the universal rights of nature. Panama is one of more than a dozen countries that have national laws or court rulings recognizing the legal rights of nature as a whole, or specific ecosystems or species.
Researchers discovered a common fungus in Kentucky woodland grass that could provide a sustainable alternative to pesticides. The fungus has a symbiotic relationship with native grasses and naturally deters insects as it grows.
Colorado wildlife officials were granted $1 million to reduce human-bear conflicts through science-backed strategies. By adding bear-resistant dumpsters and food lockers to local campgrounds, wildlife officials hope to protect local bears — and people.
After a TikTok review called a Kansas City coffee shop ‘demonic,’ locals rallied in support. Oddly Correct relocated to Troost Avenue in 2021, and has been a staple in the neighborhood ever since.
Michael J. Fox received the highest civilian honor awarded to Canadians for his Parkinson’s advocacy. Fox was promoted to the companion level of the Order of Canada for his work through his foundation, which has funded more than $3 billion in research for Parkinson’s disease.
Activists in Poland launched an abortion pill locker to bypass a near-total ban. “AbortOmat” in Warsaw is offering a new way to challenge the country’s restrictions and allow women swift, anonymous access to reproductive health care.
Scientists are joining with Indigenous communities in Cambodia to save the critically endangered Siamese crocodile. The “genetic bank” they’ve discovered on a 778-acre wetland could support species recovery across Malaysia, Myanmar, and Indonesia.
A 13-year-old in New Jersey created a new app that helps people track their household water waste. Neha Blunt’s web-based application has been used by over 1 million people worldwide.
Fashion designer Stella McCartney spotlighted overfishing and climate change with an ocean-inspired Paris runway show. McCartney’s brand is known for using no leather and for investing in sustainable alternatives like cotton, wool, mushrooms, and grape byproducts.
Columbus, Ohio, became the first city to provide free period products in restrooms across all of its major sports venues. There are now 165 free period product dispensers in restrooms across the city’s seven venues.
With a major interstate closed, Portland organized “bike buses” for adults to commute safely with others. The Portland Bureau of Transportation is running special bike buses as part of the city’s effort to give people alternatives during the closure and to encourage biking as a transportation option.
A Dutch team created high-protein, plant-based hospital meals in a new seven-day menu template. It includes hazelnut pancakes, a paprika-chickpea sandwich, spinach and soy mince pie, and more designed to work for real patients, real budgets, and real hospital kitchens.
After a series of killings, South Africa announced new measures to combat gender-based violence. The measures include an audit of women’s safety to be completed within 60 days, requiring local authorities across the country to identify dangerous and high-risk areas.
Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford raised a record $7.65 million for children living in war zones. The total came from the couple’s annual Wassail benefit in support of Children in Conflict, for which they are founding ambassadors.
New York City is investing $8.9 million to fill gaps in trans youth healthcare. The funding will support healthcare nonprofits delivering gender-affirming care, and comes after several major hospital systems ended their trans youth healthcare programs in the last year.
Harvard students created a low-cost headset that only needs a minute to screen for concussions. Radhika Saran, Cleo Pontone, and Sophia DeVito won the James Dyson Award in the U.S. for their invention, which uses infrared cameras and hot mirrors to track eye movements.
Switzerland just made history, becoming the first country to ban both imports and sales of fur. Last year, it banned fur imports, but just went a step further to also ban the sale of fur products within its borders, setting a precedent for other countries to follow.
The U.K. is banning airlines from charging parents extra to sit with their children on airplanes. To crack down on “little charges that add up” for families, passengers will also no longer need to pay to tweak the name on their flight booking if they need to correct a mistake.
A Native tribe in Arizona enacted a data center moratorium on its nearly 1 million-acre reservation. They said the facilities pose “a direct and severe threat to the tribe’s sacred water, lands, environment, and way of life.”
Trail cameras captured once-in-a-decade footage of a jaguar nearing the Guatemala-Honduras border. Wildlife conservation experts said the moment signals real signs of progress in jaguar recovery for the region.
Virginia officially started automatically sealing old criminal records. Once it’s fully rolled out, an estimated 415,000 residents are expected to qualify for full or partial sealing once the framework is fully rolled out, impacting certain misdemeanor convictions, deferred dispositions, and non-convictions.
The world’s first enhanced geothermal power plant was just completed in under two years. The first third of what will soon become a 100-megawatt power plant just came online, providing a viable option where quick, clean new energy sources are needed.
A university in Canada removed all tuition fees for Indigenous language courses. The waiver, approved unanimously by Brandon University’s board of governors, covers courses in any of the seven Indigenous languages recognized under Manitoba’s Aboriginal Languages Recognition Act.
