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NCDs Take a Growing Share of Global Deaths

https://humanprogress.org/ncds-take-a-growing-share-of-global-deaths/

Published: October 6, 2026 20:13

“The long-term shift towards [non-communicable diseases]A continues. NCDs accounted for 74% of deaths globally in 2023, compared with 58% in 2000. Eight of the world’s ten leading causes of death were NCDs in 2023. This shift is increasingly visible across…

Scientists Identify New Penguin Species

https://humanprogress.org/scientists-identify-new-penguin-species/

Published: October 3, 2026 00:28

“Until recently, the gentoo penguin (aka Pygoscelis papua) was thought to be a single species spread across several areas. However a team of penguin experts led by scientists from University of California, UC Berkeley, and several institutions from Chile…

AI Beats Top Human Stratego Players for the First Time

https://humanprogress.org/ai-beats-top-human-stratego-players-for-the-first-time/

Published: October 2, 2026 18:24

“Using advances in machine-learning, researchers from MIT, Carnegie Mellon University, New York University, and Stanford University developed an AI that defeated top-ranked human players of the board wargame Stratego by a large margin — something no AI…

First Enhanced Geothermal Plant Sells Power

https://humanprogress.org/first-enhanced-geothermal-plant-sells-power/

Published: October 2, 2026 18:23

“Geothermal company Fervo Energy announced Thursday morning that it had started selling electricity from its Cape Station power plant to the grid on September 30, one day ahead of schedule. With it, Fervo becomes the first enhanced geothermal company to…

Tests Find Simple Deterrents Cut Seabird Deaths

https://humanprogress.org/tests-find-simple-deterrents-cut-seabird-deaths/

Published: October 2, 2026 18:22

“Bird-shaped kites and a floating scarecrow are being tested to try to stop endangered seabirds drowning in fishing nets. Every year an estimated 95,000 diving birds, including razorbills and guillemots, are accidentally caught in nets off European coasts.…

Vehicle Thefts Continue to Fall Across the US

https://humanprogress.org/vehicle-thefts-continue-to-fall-across-the-us/

Published: October 2, 2026 18:21

“Vehicle thefts continued their nationwide decline during the first half of 2026, falling 21% compared with the same period last year, according to a new analysis from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the leading, established non-profit…

Experimental Combo Boosts Weight Loss in T2D

https://humanprogress.org/experimental-combo-boosts-weight-loss-in-t2d/

Published: October 2, 2026 18:21

“A next-generation weight-loss drug from Eli Lilly red down pointing triangle, when combined with Zepbound, helped people lose substantially more weight than Zepbound alone, according to a new study. The experimental injection, eloralintide, which mimics a…

Ethiopia’s Forest Cover Is Rising as Deforestation Slows

https://humanprogress.org/ethiopias-forest-cover-is-rising-as-deforestation-slows/

Published: October 2, 2026 18:20

“Over the last century, Ethiopia nearly eradicated its forests as trees were cleared for farming, grazing, and fuel. The loss of tree cover and tree roots allowed wind and rain to wash away fertile topsoil and contributed to declining crop yields… Now the…

Lab Tests: Watermarked AI Proteins Stay Functional

https://humanprogress.org/lab-tests-watermarked-ai-proteins-stay-functional/

Published: October 2, 2026 18:19

“Today, we’re introducing SynthID Bio, a new technology that watermarks AI-designed proteins while preserving their biological function. SynthID Bio embeds an imperceptible, verifiable watermark directly into biological designs, such as AI-generated…

Idaho Nearly Halved Its Regulatory Code

https://humanprogress.org/idaho-nearly-halved-its-regulatory-code/

Published: October 2, 2026 18:10

“For decades, most state regulatory systems have operated on autopilot. Once a rule is adopted, it usually stays in force unless someone can marshal the time, political will, and technical knowledge to repeal it. That default favors regulatory…

Pakistan Creates Indus Dolphin Sanctuary

https://humanprogress.org/pakistan-creates-indus-dolphin-sanctuary/

Published: October 2, 2026 16:46

“Between 11 million and 16 million years ago, during the high sea levels of the middle Miocene period, the ancestors of the Indus River dolphin entered the muddy waters of what is the Indus Basin today. Over millennia, they adapted to their new environment…

DNA Tagging Silences Hepatitis B Virus in Lab and Animal Tests

https://humanprogress.org/dna-tagging-silences-hepatitis-b-virus-in-lab-and-animal-tests/

Published: October 2, 2026 16:45

“A wave of epigenetic therapies is offering hope as ways to cure chronic hepatitis B — a lingering liver infection that is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and affects more than 250 million people around the world. Currently available drugs often fail…

Two New Sea Spider Species Discovered in the Salish Sea

https://humanprogress.org/two-new-sea-spider-species-discovered-in-the-salish-sea/

Published: October 2, 2026 16:44

“Researchers in Canada have discovered two new species that are related to spiders, but you don't have to worry about them crawling across your living room. The new species are part of the sea spider family and were found in shallow waters in the Salish…

Scientists Discover New Deep-Sea Sponge Species Off Alaska

https://humanprogress.org/scientists-discover-new-deep-sea-sponge-species-off-alaska/

Published: October 2, 2026 16:43

“Scientists have discovered nine new deep-sea sponge species off Alaska, offering new insights into the region’s largely unexplored marine biodiversity. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) announced the discovery on Thursday, saying…

Global Economy So Far Weathers Major Oil Shock

https://humanprogress.org/global-economy-so-far-weathers-major-oil-shock/

Published: October 2, 2026 16:42

“The Middle East conflict delivered one of the biggest disruptions to global oil supplies in decades. The disruption of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz earlier this year briefly drove Brent crude prices to nearly $120 a barrel—roughly two-thirds…

Sea Turtle Nests on California Coast for First Time on Record

https://humanprogress.org/sea-turtle-nests-on-california-coast-for-first-time-on-record/

Published: October 2, 2026 16:41

“A sea turtle crawled out of the surf in southern California last weekend around sunset and started laying eggs in the sand. People on Huntington Beach who saw the female olive ridley sea turtle were shocked and excited. And they weren’t the only ones…

AI Agents Help Lab Devices Work Together

https://humanprogress.org/ai-agents-help-lab-devices-work-together/

Published: October 2, 2026 16:40

“Sina Barazandeh watched in amazement as a robotic arm glided back and forth across his team’s lab. The arm loaded a multi-well plate into an instrument that filled the wells with liquid, then carried the plate to a distant device that analysed the wells’…

New Platform Adds Independent Security Layers for AI Agents

https://humanprogress.org/new-platform-adds-independent-security-layers-for-ai-agents/

Published: October 2, 2026 16:39

“Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on Monday introduced a toolkit of software and hardware products that add independent security layers around AI agents to ensure they stay within their test environments even if they attempt to break out… The new Nvidia Open Agent…

Italy Approves Framework for a Possible Return to Nuclear Power

https://humanprogress.org/italy-approves-framework-for-a-possible-return-to-nuclear-power/

Published: October 2, 2026 16:38

“Italy’s Senate on Wednesday gave final approval to legislation paving the way for a return to nuclear power nearly four decades after the Chernobyl disaster prompted the country to abandon atomic energy. The measure cleared the upper house 81-51 with…

Life Expectancy in the Americas Surpasses Its Pre-Pandemic Peak

https://humanprogress.org/life-expectancy-in-the-americas-surpasses-its-pre-pandemic-peak/

Published: October 2, 2026 16:37

“The Region of the Americas has made important health gains over recent decades… In 2023 life expectancy in the Region was 77.1 years, surpassing its pre-pandemic 2019 peak of 76.7 years. Healthy life expectancy has also improved, although more slowly.”…

When “Innovator” Was an Insult Rather Than a Compliment

https://humanprogress.org/when-innovator-was-an-insult-rather-than-a-compliment/

Published: October 2, 2026 13:38

Summary: For centuries, “innovator” was a slur rather than a compliment. A new analysis of more than 23,000 books suggests that Western culture gradually became more receptive to new ideas, helping turn ingenuity into sustained prosperity. Countries where…

The Mental Health Paradox | Podcast Highlights

https://humanprogress.org/the-mental-health-paradox-podcast-highlights/

Published: September 30, 2026 18:52

Listen to the podcast or read the full transcript here. I’m Adam Omary, a psychologist and research fellow at Human Progress. Today I’m joined by Jonathan Alpert, the author of Therapy Nation: How America Got Hooked on Therapy and Why It’s Left Us More…

Jonathan Alpert: The Mental Health Paradox

https://humanprogress.org/jonathan-alpert-the-mental-health-paradox/

Published: September 30, 2026 18:49

The post Jonathan Alpert: The Mental Health Paradox appeared first on Human Progress.

US and China Agree to Lower Tariffs on Some Goods

https://humanprogress.org/us-and-china-agree-to-lower-tariffs-on-some-goods/

Published: September 30, 2026 18:39

“The U.S. and China have reached a deal to lower tariffs on $30 billion of "non-sensitive goods" as part of a trade package agreed at this week's summit between President Trump and Xi Jinping, the White House said… How it works: The Trump administration…

Starship’s First Orbital Flight Deploys Satellites

https://humanprogress.org/starships-first-orbital-flight-deploys-satellites/

Published: September 30, 2026 18:38

“The world’s largest and most powerful launch vehicle, SpaceX’s Starship, has just launched into orbit for the first time and deployed 26 of the company’s higher-performing Starlink V3 internet satellites. The uncrewed Starship Flight 14 lifted from the…

Doomslayer: New Trade Deals, Plunging AI Costs, Responsible Drinking

https://humanprogress.org/doomslayer-new-trade-deals-plunging-ai-costs-responsible-drinking/

Published: September 27, 2026 04:00

Sign up for our newsletter to receive these posts in your inbox. Economics & Development India is rapidly increasing its number of trade agreements. Since February 2021, India has signed seven free trade agreements covering 10 countries, bringing its total…

AI-Aware Adults Lean Optimistic in Most Countries

https://humanprogress.org/ai-aware-adults-lean-optimistic-in-most-countries/

Published: September 25, 2026 18:39

“Positive feelings about artificial intelligence outweigh negative ones in 34 of the first 37 countries to complete fieldwork this year in Gallup’s ongoing research with Microsoft… In 25 of the 37 countries surveyed, majorities of AI-aware adults expect AI…

Daily Smoking Rates Fall Slightly in the EU

https://humanprogress.org/daily-smoking-rates-fall-slightly-in-the-eu/

Published: September 25, 2026 18:23

“In 2025, one in six people aged 16 or older in the EU used tobacco and related products, such as e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, every day, according to Eurostat. The statistics office said that 20.8% of men smoked every day, compared with 12.6% of…

Suicide Death Rates Continue to Fall Across the EU

https://humanprogress.org/suicide-death-rates-continue-to-fall-across-the-eu/

Published: September 25, 2026 18:22

“More than 48,000 EU residents died as a result of intentional self-harm in 2023, according to the latest Eurostat data — a number that has been slowly dropping over the past decade. It is equivalent to a standardised death rate of 10.4 per 100,000 people,…

Waymo Reaches 500,000 Paid Weekly Rides

https://humanprogress.org/most-waymo-robotaxis-are-in-two-states/

Published: September 25, 2026 18:21

“Waymo’s commercial robotaxi ramp-up looks expansive, both in geographic reach and in ridership. And by almost every measure, it is — until you pay attention to where the bulk of those robotaxis are actually showing up. The numbers over the past two years…

Pharmaceutical Exports Lift Denmark’s Growth Forecast

https://humanprogress.org/pharmaceutical-exports-lift-denmarks-growth-forecast/

Published: September 25, 2026 18:20

“Denmark’s central bank more than doubled its growth forecast for this year as surging US sales and production at Novo Nordisk A/S fuel strong exports in the Nordic country’s pharmaceutical industry. Gross domestic product is now expected to grow 4% in…

India’s Trade Deal Signing Has Accelerated Since 2021

https://humanprogress.org/indias-trade-deal-signing-has-accelerated-since-2021/

Published: September 25, 2026 17:49

“India is closing four trade negotiations inside a single half-year. The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), along with a companion social-security pact, enters into force on 15 July 2026, after both countries completed their…

Mexican Gray Wolves Begin Returning to Durango’s Forests

https://humanprogress.org/mexican-gray-wolves-begin-returning-to-durangos-forests/

Published: September 25, 2026 13:49

“In the 1970s, the Mexican gray wolf was eradicated from the United States and, a decade later, was considered extinct in the wild in Mexico. This situation led to the development of the Mexican Wolf Recovery Plan, signed by authorities from both countries…

What If Smartphones Aren’t Killing Romance, but Saving It?

https://humanprogress.org/what-if-smartphones-arent-killing-romance-but-saving-it/

Published: September 25, 2026 13:15

Summary: Smartphones are often accused of weakening romance and contributing to falling birth rates, even though many of these trends began before smartphones became widespread. Most new couples now meet online, and digitally formed relationships can be…

US High Schoolers Show Improved Mental Health

https://humanprogress.org/us-high-schoolers-show-improved-mental-health/

Published: September 24, 2026 21:10

“Today CDC released new data highlighting recent improvements in mental health and dietary behaviors among U.S. high school students. Today's new report, Youth Health in Focus, provides a snapshot of the health and well-being of high school students. The…

Child Marriage Falls, Still Common in Bangladesh

https://humanprogress.org/child-marriage-falls-still-common-in-bangladesh/

Published: September 24, 2026 21:09

“This study provides a country-specific, five-decade analysis (1975–2025) of Bangladesh's child marriage trajectory, tracing long-term shifts in prevalence and examining the structural, socioeconomic, and cultural forces shaping progress. Drawing on…

Uzbekistan’s Poverty Rate Fell Sharply

https://humanprogress.org/uzbekistans-poverty-rate-fell-sharply/

Published: September 24, 2026 21:08

“This report highlights Uzbekistan’s remarkable progress in reducing poverty and expanding the middle class between 2021 and 2025. Strong growth in household consumption, rising wage employment, and pro-poor income gains reduced the national poverty rate…

Ivory Coast Expands Medical Drone Service

https://humanprogress.org/ivory-coast-expands-medical-drone-service/

Published: September 24, 2026 21:07

“US drone logistics company Zipline will expand a three-year pilot program to deliver health supplies to a third of the Ivorian population over the next eight years, the latest sign that African governments are increasingly comfortable with using drones to…

AI Performance Is Getting Cheaper at a Historic Pace

https://humanprogress.org/ai-performance-is-getting-cheaper-at-a-historic-pace/

Published: September 24, 2026 21:06

“AI has gotten cheaper more quickly than any other transformative technology in history. The cost of achieving a given level of AI performance has fallen about 47% per quarter since 2023, or 13× per year. That price drop is four times faster than DNA…

Share of Americans Who Drink Remains at Record Low

https://humanprogress.org/share-of-americans-who-drink-remains-at-record-low/

Published: September 24, 2026 21:05

“The share of Americans who say they drink alcohol remains at a record-low 54% for the second consecutive year, the lowest reading in Gallup’s trend dating back to 1939… As overall drinking has declined, the percentage of Americans who say they sometimes…

US Cigarette Smoking Remains Near Historic Lows

https://humanprogress.org/us-cigarette-smoking-remains-near-historic-lows/

Published: September 24, 2026 21:04

“For the past five years, between 11% and 12% of U.S. adults have reported smoking cigarettes, including the current 11%. When Gallup first asked the question in 1944, 41% of U.S. adults said they smoked cigarettes. That figure rose to a high of 45% in…

EU Advances Southeast Asian Trade Deals

https://humanprogress.org/eu-advances-southeast-asian-trade-deals/

Published: September 24, 2026 21:02

“The EU and several Southeast Asian nations are nearing the finish line on bilateral trade deals, and if the current deadlines hold, the European bloc will have agreements in place with six out of 11 ASEAN states by the middle of next year. Free trade…