What went right this week: the good news that matters

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Big business is betting on a renewables future

Despite the rallying cry of “drill baby, drill” from certain world leaders, captains of industry overwhelmingly believe that the future is renewables not fossil fuels.

That’s according to a global poll of 1,500 business leaders in 15 countries, which found that 97% support the clean energy transition. Not only that, 77% of those surveyed regarded renewables as a key to economic growth, while 75% saw clean energy as instrumental in job creation.

The study by Savanta, a UK-based market research consultancy, also showed that the majority of businesses (52%) are prepared to relocate if their country fails to deliver clear energy access.

“Companies embracing renewable energy today are positioning themselves to succeed tomorrow — driving greater competitiveness, accelerating innovation and unlocking long-term cost savings,” said Stuart Lemmon, global head of sustainability at the electrical equipment firm Schneider Electric.

“Renewable energy isn’t merely good sustainability practice; it’s an essential strategy for businesses committed to growth, resilience and long-term success.”

Image: Artur Zudin

The hunt for an Alzheimer’s cure sped up

Scientists have mimicked the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease in a lab using living human brain tissue, a development that they hope will speed up a cure for the condition.

In a world first, human brain tissue – collected during routine neurosurgery operations – was exposed to a toxic form of a protein linked to Alzheimer’s to show how it damages connections between the brain.

This innovative approach offers a rare opportunity to investigate the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, making it easier to test new drugs and potentially boosting the chances of finding ones that work.

“We believe this tool could help accelerate findings from the lab into patients, bringing us one step closer to a world free from the heartbreak of dementia,” said lead researcher Dr Claire Durrant from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

The results were published in the journal Nature Communications.

Image: RDNE Stock project

An ‘extinct’ bird came back from the abyss

A charismatic kingfisher that was on the brink of extinction has laid eggs in the wild for the first time in almost four decades.

Nine young Sihek – also known as Guam kingfishers – were released last year on Palmyra, a near-pristine tropical wilderness in the Pacific. Hand reared by zoologists, the birds originally come from Guam, but have not been seen there since 1988, having been wiped out by the brown tree snake, an invasive species.

The Sihek Recovery Program launched to bring the birds back to the wild. Led by The Nature Conservancy (TNC), it chalked up a big win when it released nine of the birds last year. Now, in further good news, three pairs have laid eggs.

“The birds are not only surviving on Palmyra Atoll, they’re already starting the next stage of their journey,” said Dr Caitlin Andrews, a bird conservation scientist for TNS and the Zoological Society of London. “Their strength provides hope they will one day be back on Guam.”

Image: Jonny Shepherd

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