Good News
El Salvador has become the first country in Central America to be certified malaria-free. It's a fantastic achievement, given the country's dense population and a geography that's especially hospitable to the disease. Globally, 38 countries have now reached this milestone, with El Salvador the third country in the Americas, following Argentina in 2019 and Paraguay in 2018. Global Fund
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health experts warned that malaria deaths in Africa could double. They were wrong. Instead, around 160 million nets were distributed door-to-door in 2020, over 90% of planned distribution, and more children received antimalarial medicines than in any other year in history. Naturally, this incredible story has received blanket coverage from the world's media. Devex
China has banned schoolteachers from giving out any punishment that can result in physical or mental trauma, after a wave of complaints about student deaths linked to harsh discipline in schools. A new law prohibiting corporal punishment at home is also due to be taken up by China's top legislative body, the National People's Congress, as it meets this week. Channel News Asia
The Biden administration has racked up more wins for the LGBT community during its first month in office than any other has accomplished in an entire term. In addition to a series of historic executive orders and amendments to combat discrimination, 11% of the administration identify as LGBT, some in very senior positions. This is genuine progress - consider that 50 years ago, LGBT people were barred from serving in the federal government. Philadelphia Gay News
Morocco is on the cusp of legalizing medical marijuana, after the PJD party, the largest in parliament, dropped opposition in the wake of the UN's decision last year to remove cannabis from its most tightly controlled category of drugs. The move aims to improve farmers’ incomes, protect them from drug traffickers, and gain access to the booming legal international market for the drug. Reuters
Climate activists have forced Drax, one of the UKs biggest coal plant operators, to ditch its plan to build Europe’s largest gas power plant. It comes after three years of fierce opposition from environmental groups who claimed the project was incompatible with the UK’s climate change laws. The company has also promised to end the commercial sales of coal-fired electricity from next month. Guardian
Beyond Meats has signed an agreement with McDonald’s, the largest fast food company in the world, to develop a plant-based burger, as well as options for chicken, pork and egg. This is by far the biggest market signal yet for plant-based meats. “When these restaurant chains move, the entire food industry takes notice." New Food Magazine
Speaking of market signals... this week it's Volvo joining the growing list of manufacturers racing to switch to zero-emission models, with an announcement that its entire car line-up will be fully electric by 2030. After previously committing to half of sales becoming electric by 2025, Volvo has now accelerated its strategy to line up with the UK’s 2030 ban on internal combustion engine sales. Reuters
One more signal, just for luck. Petaluma, California has become the first city in the United States to ban all new petrol stations in an effort to curb carbon emissions. The city council voted unanimously this week to prohibit the creation, expansion, reconstruction and relocation of gas stations, encouraging owners to transition to electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles instead. San Francisco Chronicle
The Maldives has kicked off the first phase of an ambitious plan to completely eliminate single-use plastics by 2023, with an import ban on plastic bags, straws, foam lunch boxes, cotton swabs, and small toiletry bottles coming into effect this June. It’s hoped the measure will negate plastic's harmful and unnecessary impact on the Maldives’ vulnerable marine environment. Raajje
Off the coast of Puglia, Italy, a marine reserve called Torre Guaceto has achieved such spectacular success in restoring degraded fish populations that fishermen in nearby towns have started pleading with authorities to enlarge its borders. This amazing story, of how one small stretch of coastline went from a hotbed of drug smuggling to a model of ecological restoration, shows what's possible when nature is given just a tiny bit of space to breathe. Do yourself a favour and read it. Yes
Indistinguishable from magic
Astronomers have confirmed the existence of 'space hurricanes' after spotting a 1,000km-wide swirling mass of plasma hundreds of kilometers above the North Pole. The space hurricane, observed by satellites in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, was raining electrons instead of water, spun in an anti-clockwise direction and lasted nearly eight hours before breaking down. Science Focus
^^^
Not only is this an incredible new cosmic phenomenon, it's also a perfectly acceptable response to any question you get asked in the next 48 hours:
Honey, why haven't you done the dishes like you promised?
SPACE HURRICANE.
Does the heated debate over cancel culture represent a long overdue correction after years of overreach by crotch-sniffing liberals, or is it just a bunch of entitled white people throwing their toys out the cot after everyone has told them to stop being assholes?
SPACE HURRICANE.
How did life arise on Planet Earth?
SPACE HURRICANE.
Honda has become the world’s first major carmaker to sell a vehicle equipped with Level 3 automation technology. The car controls acceleration, braking and steering, allowing the driver to take their hands off the wheel in traffic. If the driver is required to take back control the seatbelt vibrates, and if there is no response the car initiates an emergency stop. Welcome to the future everyone. Nikkei
Canada has launched an international space program to track illegal fishing by combining artificial intelligence with state-of-the-art satellite technology to locate 'dark vessels' that have switched off their location tracking devices. The real time data will be provided to small island nations and coastal states where illegal fishing has impacted local economies and the health of fish stocks. Techbomb
In a big step forward for soft robotics, engineers have developed a new kind of mechanical muscle that uses electrostatic bellows to lift objects up to 70 times its own weight. Like living muscle, it can both exert energy as well as store and generate its own power. Researchers say it could allow robots to complete search and rescue missions without the need for recharge. Inverse
Scientists in Germany have invented a way to detect an oncoming stroke or heart attack using a radar under a patient’s bed that measures heart rate, cardiac stress and pulse wave velocity. The data can predict death four days in advance, giving loved ones time to say their goodbyes, and researchers also believe it will help combat SIDS by detecting epilepsy in newborns, responsible for over 20% of sudden infant deaths. DW
How could we not include this? SN10 has successfully landed, although admittedly it did turn into a giant fireball a few seconds after this video ends. Off the back of announcements from both NASA and Blue Origin about further delays to their planned launches, the difference in development velocity (did someone just say ∆v) between SpaceX and everyone else is now striking. BBC
Information superhighway
Two of the world's greatest astronomers tackle the question of alien life and artificial intelligence. Mind-boggling. Their most striking suggestion is that while we may be nearing the end of Darwinian evolution, the technological evolution of intelligent beings is only just beginning. The large expanses of time required for interstellar travel would, after all, hold no terror for inorganic lifeforms. Nautilus
Complement with this, a fascinating profile of Tom Ray, an eccentric botanist who tried to build self replicating computer programs to emulate evolution. Despite initial spectacular successes, he and his successors always seem to hit a plateau. "The billion year creative spree of evolution, which began with a single cell and flourished into the full diversity of life on Earth, cannot be reduced to an algorithm." Grow
We admit to becoming a little bit obsessed with K2 in the last few editions. First there was the amazing achievement by the Nepali teams of the winter ascent, then it was Andrzej Bargiel and his ridiculous descent on skis. We're rounding things off with a reminder of why it's known as the “Savage Mountain” - hours after the Nepali teams summitted, tragedy engulfed the mountain, reviving debates about risk, ego and the commercial pressures of adventure in the modern age. FT
Eugene Wei on how TikTok has supercharged the network effects of creativity. If you accept that curation and remixing are the twin pillars of digital culture (what do you think this newsletter is) then TikTok is the most powerful tool on the internet right now. What's even more interesting is what comes next. "Someday, any sort of remix will just be a GPT-3 like interface away."
Tired of looking at that screen all day? You're not alone. Check out these stories from a baker, an osteopath, a furniture restorer and a milliner who decided to spend some of their time using their hands, to give their brains a break from the blue light. This isn't an aspirational piece, it's realistic about the challenges of juggling two jobs, but it does make you think. WeTransfer
In a great example of life imitating art, this beautiful, 10 minute film explores the relationship between Kris Bowers, who performed all the on-screen music in the Green Book, and his grandfather, who grew up in the Deep South. A poignant reminder of how much can change in a single generation - and that amidst the turmoil, it still comes down to one person at a time. Vimeo
Humankind
Meet Daniel Owoseni Ajala, the 30 year old founder of Leap of Dance Academy, a dance school in Lagos, Nigeria that offers free ballet lessons to talented young students who could not otherwise afford them.
Daniel fell in love with ballet at the age of 9 after watching the movie ‘Save the Last Dance’ and taught himself by watching lessons on YouTube. At the request of his parents, he studied business at university but after taking his final exams, decided to follow his creative calling. When his impeccable dance skills failed to secure him an international ballet scholarship, Daniel decided to open a ballet studio instead, to give other children the opportunity that he missed out on.
In 2017 Daniel opened Leap of Dance Academy to 12 students, the name inspired by the leap of faith he took in leaving secure job prospects behind. He pushed aside the furniture in his apartment, spread a thin vinyl sheet over the floor and draped the wall with candy-coloured chiffon. With the help of an international dance teacher network on Facebook, Daniel learned how to safely instruct his students and source second-hand dance costumes (pictures here).
The homegrown academy captured international attention last year when Daniel posted a video of one of his students, 11-year-old Anthony Mmesoma Madu, pirouetting in the rain. Overnight, influential people in ballet reached out to raise funds for a new studio and invited Daniel's students to some of the most prestigious ballet schools in the world. Anthony has recently accepted a scholarship with the American Ballet Theatre school in New York.
“It’s every teacher’s dream,” Daniel said. “What has happened around the world with the coronavirus has been devastating. But in some ways, it has been a blessing for us because it has brought online learning to the forefront and made it possible to have all these incredible opportunities.”
Alright this house is clear! Thank you so much for your support, and your attention. Hope you get a chance to back away from the blue light and use your hands a little more over the next few days. If anyone asks, you know the drill.
SPACE HURRICANE.
We'll see you next week. Much love,
FC HQ
