Progress Stories from Around the Globe

Around the world, things are getting better in surprising ways. Let's look at some cool examples. First, education is a big deal. A smart study showed that school has helped a lot of people get out of poverty. From 1980 to 2019, education made up about 45% of global economic growth. For the poorest 20%, it was even more important, covering 60% of income growth. This means going to school is a big step in fighting poverty. Next, scientists found a new way to fight prostate cancer. Two enzymes, PDIA1 and PDIA5, help cancer cells grow and survive. By blocking these enzymes, scientists made cancer cells die and tumors shrink in tests. This could lead to better treatments, but safer drugs need to be made first. Whales in Australia are making a comeback. Eastern Australian humpback whales were almost gone in the 1960s, but now there are at least 50, 000 of them. Scientists aren't sure why they recovered so well, but it might be because of the long coastline and less competition for food.Supercomputers are helping us understand the brain better. Researchers used one of the world's fastest supercomputers to create a detailed virtual mouse brain. This lets scientists study how the brain works and how diseases like Alzheimer's progress. In Morocco, more kids are going to preschool. The country set a goal to make preschool available to all 4 to 5-year-olds by 2028. From 2018 to 2024, enrollment jumped from 45% to 80%. This created jobs and helped empower women. Girls' enrollment increased a lot, which is great for their future. In Uganda, midwives are saving lives. They are getting better training to stop severe bleeding after childbirth, which is the leading cause of death for pregnant women. With help from the United Nations, they are using new tools and techniques to save more lives.