What went right this week: the good news that matters

What went right this week: the good news that matters

Here is a summary of the news articles you shared:

1. **US Smoking Rate Drops Below 10% for First Time**
– The proportion of US adults who smoke has fallen to 9.9% in 2024, the lowest ever recorded and the first time smoking rates have dipped into single digits.
– Smoking still leads preventable deaths in the US, and remains more common among certain groups (those without a college degree, people with disabilities, rural populations).
– Rates of e-cigarette and cigar use have not changed.
– Federal budget cuts have hindered the CDC’s data analysis, leaving NEJM Evidence as the primary source reporting on smoking statistics.

2. **Electric Planes Begin Commercial Service in Scotland**
– Loganair has introduced the first all-electric plane to its network, using battery-powered aircraft on mail routes to remote Scottish locations.
– The aircraft, the ALIA CTOL by BETA Technologies, has a 336 nautical mile range and carries up to 560kg.
– This marks a significant milestone for emission-free aviation, though long-haul low-carbon flights remain challenging.

3. **Red-Crowned Crane Recovers in Japan**
– The red-crowned crane, a culturally significant bird in Japan once thought extinct there, has seen its population recover significantly.
– It was removed from Japan’s list of threatened species following successful conservation efforts.
– The current population is nearly 2,000, growing steadily.

4. **Solar Panels Coming to British Supermarkets** (incomplete snippet)
– The UK government announced that plug-in solar panels will soon be available for purchase in supermarket aisles, making renewable energy more accessible to consumers.

If you would like, I can help with more details on any of these stories!

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