Let’s face it, the news can sometimes be overwhelming…
Between global conflicts, climate concerns, and economic uncertainty, it’s easy to feel like the world is heading in the wrong direction. But here’s the thing: progress is actually happening all around us, from groundbreaking medical advances to environmental wins that rarely make front-page headlines.
Tired of doom-scrolling yourself into oblivion? Here are 10 good things that are happening in the world right now:
1. AI is revolutionising medical diagnosis
Artificial intelligence has moved from sci-fi fantasy to medical reality. In 2024, AI systems began detecting diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart conditions earlier and more accurately than traditional methods.
Google’s AI can now spot diabetic retinopathy – a leading cause of blindness – from smartphone photos, making eye screenings accessible in remote areas without specialist equipment.
Meanwhile, researchers at Stanford have developed AI that can identify skin cancer as accurately as dermatologists. This technology is already being rolled out in clinics across developing countries, where access to specialists is limited.
The result? Potentially millions of lives saved through early detection.
2. Ocean cleanup projects are making waves
Remember the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? That floating mass of plastic debris twice the size of France? Well, it’s actually shrinking. The Ocean Cleanup Foundation’s innovative systems have removed over 200,000 kilograms of plastic from the Pacific since 2021, and their pace is accelerating.
But the real game-changer is happening closer to shore. New ‘bubble barriers’ in rivers are intercepting plastic waste before it reaches the ocean. These systems use compressed air to create walls of bubbles that guide floating debris into collection systems.
Amsterdam, Jakarta, and dozens of other cities have already installed them, preventing thousands of tonnes of plastic from polluting our seas.
3. Mental health support is going mainstream
The stigma around mental health is crumbling faster than ever. Major employers like Microsoft, Google, and even smaller companies are offering comprehensive mental health benefits, including therapy sessions, mental health days, and wellbeing apps.
Universities across the UK have introduced ‘therapy dogs’ during exam periods, while countries like Belgium have made mental health first aid training mandatory in schools.
This means mental health conversations are becoming more normalised, and people are getting help earlier. What’s more, suicide rates among young people have begun declining for the first time in decades.
4. Renewable energy is breaking records
Solar and wind power aren’t just growing – they’re dominating.
In 2024, renewable energy sources generated more electricity than fossil fuels for entire months in multiple countries. The UK regularly goes days without burning coal, while countries like Denmark and Costa Rica are running almost entirely on renewables.
Even better? The cost of clean energy has plummeted. Solar panels are now 85% cheaper than they were a decade ago, making them accessible to households and businesses worldwide. Battery technology is advancing so rapidly that energy storage – once renewable energy’s biggest challenge – is becoming remarkably affordable.
5. Gene therapy is curing ‘incurable’ diseases
Children born with severe combined immunodeficiency (AKA ‘bubble boy disease’) once faced a life of isolation and early death. But not anymore.
Gene therapy treatments have successfully cured dozens of these children, giving them normal immune systems and the chance to live full, healthy lives.
Sickle cell disease, which affects millions worldwide, is also being conquered through gene editing. Patients are receiving modified versions of their own cells that produce healthy blood, effectively curing a condition that once meant a lifetime of pain and early death. Clinical trials show success rates above 90%.
6. Cities are becoming wildlife havens
Urban rewilding is transforming concrete jungles into thriving ecosystems. London now hosts over 13,000 species of wildlife, including foxes, peregrine falcons, and even seals in the Thames.
And, cities like Milan have created ‘vertical forests’ – buildings covered in thousands of plants that improve air quality and provide habitat for birds and insects. Singapore has taken this further with their ‘City in a Garden’ vision, where buildings integrate green spaces so seamlessly that the city supports more biodiversity than many rural areas.
These green corridors don’t just support wildlife – they reduce urban temperatures, improve mental health, and make cities more pleasant places to live.
7. Food waste is being tackled with smart solutions
Apps like Too Good To Go have prevented over 350 million meals from being wasted by connecting consumers with restaurants, cafes, and shops selling surplus food at discount prices.
What started as a small Danish startup now operates across 17 countries and has saved enough food to avoid 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Supermarkets are getting smarter too. Dynamic pricing systems automatically reduce prices as food approaches its sell-by date, while AI systems help stores predict demand more accurately. France has banned supermarkets from throwing away unsold food, requiring them to donate it instead, and other countries are following suit.
8. Space exploration is opening new frontiers
Private space companies have made what once seemed impossible a routine thing (kind of).
SpaceX has successfully landed and reused rockets dozens of times, making space travel dramatically cheaper. The James Webb Space Telescope is also revealing the universe’s secrets, discovering potentially habitable planets and galaxies we never knew existed.
But perhaps the most exciting thing? The Artemis programme’s plan to return humans to the Moon by 2026, including the first woman and first person of colour to walk on the lunar surface. This isn’t just about exploration – it’s about establishing a sustainable human presence beyond Earth, potentially securing our species’ long-term survival.
9. Global poverty continues its historic decline
Despite recent challenges, extreme poverty has continued falling to historic lows.
The number of people living on less than $2.15 per day has dropped by over 100 million since 2020. Countries like Rwanda, Bangladesh, and Vietnam have transformed their economies, lifting millions into the middle class.
Microfinance initiatives have empowered entrepreneurs in developing countries, while mobile banking has brought financial services to remote communities. In Kenya, mobile money transfers handle more transactions than traditional banks, giving people without bank accounts access to savings, loans, and business opportunities.
10. Jobs market shows promising growth in 2025
The job market in 2025 provides many reasons for optimism, as key indicators demonstrate positive trends across sectors and locations.
Across the UK, the employment rate has climbed to 75.3% as of mid-2025. This marks a steady rise over the year, reinforcing long-term stability in the labour market.
Meanwhile, jobseekers on Reed.co.uk are witnessing similar upward trends. Job postings have increased by 2% month-on-month, with applications increasing by 6% over the same period*, signs that both employers and candidates are actively engaging despite challenges in the broader economic environment.
Still searching for your perfect position? View all available jobs now.
*Source: July 2025 Job Market Review, Reed.co.uk
**Source: Labour market overview, UK: July 2025
