298: Orbital Supercomputer

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This week's top stories

Global suicide rates have declined by 29% since 2000, marking a major but often overlooked public health success. Narrative violation alert: the drop has been most pronounced in high-income countries, with more gradual progress in others. The trend reflects expanding access to mental health care, public awareness efforts, and means restriction—but further gains will require deeper investment and cultural shifts, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. WHO

In a rare consensus move, member states of the World Health Organisation have approved a 20% increase for the 2026–27 budget. The agreement represents a shift toward more predictable, stable funding for global health governance. China will become the new top funder of the WHO, overtaking the United States, with a commitment of $500 million over the next five years. The support is earmarked for global health initiatives including pandemic preparedness and disease control in low-income countries.

Peru’s Supreme Court has upheld the land rights of the Kichwa people, affirming their legal claim to ancestral territories in the Amazon. The case is a major precedent for Indigenous land tenure and will protect thousands of hectares of primary rainforest from logging and mining. AP

The Central African Republic has reached a new peace accord with key rebel factions, aimed at ending years of violence that have displaced hundreds of thousands. The deal includes disarmament provisions and political integration for former fighters. While fragile, the agreement signals renewed momentum toward reconciliation in one of the world’s most unstable nations. Jeune Afrique

Papua New Guinea and Mauritania have both eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, joining a growing list of countries defeating the world's leading cause of infectious blindness.

Bad news for the coal industry is good news for the planet...

• China’s coal industry is facing a structural unraveling: prices are falling, inventories are ballooning, and power demand is shifting to wind and solar. In April 2025, thermal generation dropped 2.3% year-on-year. Analysts say the sector is now in a ‘vicious cycle’ of oversupply and obsolescence—accelerating a transition thought decades away. Bloomberg
• Australia’s coal outlook has dimmed amid shrinking orders from Asian buyers. Regional decarbonisation, rising competition, and energy diversification are eroding export volumes. Analysts warn the sector’s long-term viability depends on restructuring, not price rebounds. The trend is part of a broader shift in Asia’s energy mix. Hellenic Shipping News
• Russian coal exports declined by 10% in 2024 amid tightened sanctions, shipping constraints, and waning demand in Asia. As EU markets are now largely closed to Russian coal, this trend is expected to continue. The Moscow Times

Sri Lanka has enacted the Proceeds of Crime Act, giving authorities new powers to seize illicit assets and prosecute high-level corruption. The legislation creates a legal pathway for recovering stolen public funds and aligns the country’s laws with international anti-money laundering standards - a critical step in restoring public confidence after years of impunity. Economy Next

Kyrgyzstan creates vast ecological corridor for species migration. The Kyrgyz Republic has designated an 8,000 km² ecological corridor linking protected areas across snow leopard range in the Tian Shan mountains. The corridor allows species to move freely through fragmented habitats, boosting resilience in the face of climate change and habitat loss. It’s the largest ever landscape-level conservation effort in Central Asia. UNEP

EU court rules marine protected areas must be shielded from trawling. The European Court of Justice has ruled that member states must enforce fishing bans in marine protected areas, specifically targeting bottom trawling. The decision will protect vital seafloor ecosystems and set a precedent for stronger enforcement of MPAs across Europe. Oceanographic

‘Climate superfund’ laws that charge polluters pass in four U.S. states. Maryland, New York, California, and Vermont have enacted laws requiring fossil fuel companies to pay for climate damages, modeled on the Superfund toxic cleanup framework. The statutes aim to shift financial responsibility for climate adaptation from taxpayers to polluters. Legal experts say it could trigger a nationwide reckoning over carbon liability. Grist

Individualised cancer therapies mark end of one-size-fits-all treatment. Take a look at this extraordinary Undark piece about how personalised cancer treatments are redefining oncology. Once considered moonshots, these therapies are now curing or extending survival in previously untreatable cancers and may mark the beginning of a systemic transition from 'statistical medicine' to 'medicine tailored towards biological specifics.'

Researchers are repurposing the planet’s vast network of fibre-optic cables to detect underground vibrations and map Earth’s interior in real time. Pulses of laser light can register tiny disturbances in the glass fibres allowing scientists to monitor earthquakes, volcanic systems, and even the boundary between crust and mantle. Projects in Istanbul and Athens have already produced street-level seismic risk maps, while U.S. teams are imaging deep fault lines and geothermal reservoirs. With 4 billion kilometres of cable laid across cities and oceans, this method could radically expand subsurface monitoring—transforming our understanding of Earth’s hidden architecture. New Scientist

Asiatic lion population reaches record high in India’s Gir Forest
India’s Asiatic lion population has climbed to 674, the highest number recorded since recovery efforts began. Concentrated in Gujarat’s Gir Forest, the species has rebounded from near-extinction thanks to strict anti-poaching laws, community patrols, and expanding habitat protections. Gir remains the only place on Earth where these lions live in the wild. The Hindu 🗄️

China begins assembling first-ever supercomputer in Earth orbit.
Yes, you read that right: the first components of an orbital supercomputer have been launched into space. SCMP 🗄️

“Our goal is to build lightweight, high-performance orbital data centres that improve solar energy utilisation and provide computing support for future space exploration and scientific research."

…and in more cyberpunk headlines, scientists have created the first spider that produces silk that glows red under UV light. By splicing coral DNA into orb-weaver spiders, researchers created a biohybrid material with potential uses in sensors, textiles, and optical tech. New Atlas

Lithuania’s Constitutional Court has ruled that the exclusion of same-sex couples from legal partnership violates the country’s constitution. The decision compels lawmakers to extend civil protections to LGBTQ+ families for the first time - a long-overdue affirmation of dignity and legal equality in one of Europe’s most conservative legal environments. Baltic Times