Hey there, it’s Erica! Welcome to another edition of Feel Good News — here’s your weekly dose of uplifting stories.
2. Native American tribes in the West are trying — and succeeding — in getting ancestral lands back
Native American tribes across the West are increasingly successful in reclaiming ancestral lands through the LandBack movement. While tribes with more resources and influence can directly negotiate with governments to purchase or reacquire lands, many lack the necessary funds and must rely on alternative means like federal legislation or land donations. The movement is significant as it allows tribes to reconnect with their cultural heritage and reestablish stewardship over their traditional territories, despite centuries of assimilation and colonization. Though challenges remain, especially for tribes without the means to buy back their lands, the persistence and resilience of Indigenous communities continue to drive progress in this ongoing effort.
3. Lords a-leaving: Britain is ejecting hereditary nobles from Parliament after 700 years
The British Parliament has voted to remove hereditary aristocrats from the unelected House of Lords, ending centuries of political tradition. The change means dozens of dukes, earls, and viscounts who inherited seats in Parliament will no longer hold power. Critics have long argued the House of Lords is unwieldy and undemocratic, and the case of Lord Mandelson’s friendship with Jeffrey Epstein drew renewed attention to the issue. While the House of Lords plays an important role in Britain’s parliamentary democracy, the government aims to replace it with a more representative second chamber. This move, though slow, marks the end of an era for hereditary peers in the British Parliament.
4. Scientists may have found a pill for sleep apnea
The study found that a medication called sulthiame may help people with obstructive sleep apnea breathe more easily during the night and sleep better overall. Patients who received higher doses of sulthiame experienced up to 47 percent fewer breathing interruptions during sleep compared to those given a placebo, and also showed improved oxygen levels overnight. Sulthiame appears to work by stabilizing the body’s control of breathing and increasing respiratory drive, which helps lower the likelihood of the upper airway collapsing during sleep. While the current standard treatment for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), many patients find it difficult to use, and up to half stop using the device within a year. The study results raise the possibility of sulthiame becoming a new drug treatment option for patients who struggle to tolerate CPAP.
5. Universal child care program fully footing the bill for working New Mexican families enshrined into law
New Mexico has enacted a landmark universal child care program that will fully cover the cost of child care for working families across the state, making it the first such program in the nation. The program is being funded primarily through revenue from the state’s oil and gas industry, including a newly established $10 billion trust fund for early childhood education. While the program represents a major step forward in making child care more affordable and accessible, the state legislature has included some cautious measures, such as the possibility of implementing co-payments if public finances deteriorate. The legislation also aims to prioritize access for children in vulnerable circumstances, while providing additional support to improve child care quality and worker wages. The program is expected to save families an average of $14,000 per child per year, and has been widely praised as a “workforce engine” that will enable more parents to participate in the labor force. However, child care slots remain in short supply in many parts of the state, prompting lawmakers to consider measures to expand the supply of home-based and community-based care options.
6. Satellites are exposing weak bridges in America and around the world
Scientists are using satellite technology to monitor bridges around the world and identify those at risk of failure. The study analyzed 744 bridges globally and found that bridges in North America are generally in the poorest condition, followed by those in Africa. The researchers propose using a satellite-based monitoring system called Multi-Temporal Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (MT-InSAR) to complement traditional bridge inspections. This technique can detect even minor structural movements and provide more frequent updates than manual inspections. Integrating satellite data into bridge risk assessments can significantly reduce the number of bridges classified as high-risk, especially in regions with limited infrastructure monitoring. This satellite-based approach could transform how bridge infrastructure is monitored worldwide, allowing authorities to identify and address problems before they become catastrophic.
That’s it for last week :)
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