Did anything good happen in 2024? Actually, yes!
It may feel like 2024 has been a terrible year - just like 2023, if not worse.
The devastating wars in the Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan have dragged on, while the United States has seen an exceptional tornado season, deadly hurricanes and a fraught, polarized election cycle that has left many feeling exhausted, anxious or despairing. Not to mention that scientists say it is “virtually certain” that 2024 will become Earth’s warmest year on record.
And yet - these difficult developments aren’t the full story of the year, either. Scientists continued work to fight disease, there were some wins for animal conservation, and many individuals - in ways big and small - continued to achieve remarkable things.
If you’re looking for some hope this holiday season, read on.
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This country eliminated a potentially deadly disease
This year, Chad became the 51st country recognized by the World Health Organization for eliminating a neglected tropical disease.
Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) - a fly-borne disease also known as sleeping sickness - is caused by parasites and spread through the bite of the tsetse fly. There is no vaccine to prevent the disease and, if left untreated, it is almost always fatal.
Chad eliminated the disease following “years of dedicated efforts,” the country’s health minister said, including improved surveillance, testing and pest control.
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New treatments brought hope to U.S. patients
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved more drugs with the potential to transform lives, including a therapy which uses patients’ own cells to attack skin cancer, which was approved for use in adults with melanoma that has spread or cannot be removed with surgery. Experts said the decision could open the door to similar treatments for far more common cancers.
A new drug for schizophrenia that appears to avoid the side effects that cause many patients to stop taking their medication also received FDA approval.
And some previously approved treatments have started making an impact on patients’ lives - such as a technique to fix cartilage instead of full knee replacements, which one patient said meant she now experienced “zero pain.”
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New studies reminded us it’s okay to start small
We all know that exercise and eating healthily is good for us - but it can be easier said than done. Research this year has reminded us that even small steps can make a difference.
For example, just an additional five minutes of exercise per day could help to slightly lower your blood pressure, while even low-intensity activities, like walking around while cooking, can increase your odds of healthy aging.
Separate research found it’s never too late to take up weightlifting - which is great news for anyone hoping to stave off frailty in later life.
And if it’s mental rather than physical health that’s on your mind - here’s a reminder that even small acts of kindness can be surprisingly beneficial.
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Remarkable individuals pushed human achievements to new limits
With the Olympics and Paralympics taking place in Paris over the summer, the world’s attention was on the physical feats of the world’s greatest sportsmen and women. Americans Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky became some of the most decorated Olympians in history, while Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone set a new world record - for the sixth time. More than 40 athletics records were broken during the Paralympics alone.
Other individuals accomplished new goals, and inspired their communities, outside the spotlight of the Paris Games - including Betty Brussel, of British Columbia, who at 99 years old broke three competitive swimming world records in her age group, and Virginia Hislop, of Yakima, Washington, who received her master’s degree from Stanford University at the age of 105.
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Amid climate gloom, there were signs of hope
There’s no denying the very real threat of a changing climate. But climate despair also worries some scientists, who fear this can lead to defeatism or inaction - so here are some positive advances to remember this year.
Researchers were able to detect a significant dip in atmospheric levels of hydrochlorofluorocarbons - harmful gases that deplete the ozone layer - for the first time, almost 30 years after countries first agreed to phase out the chemicals.
A new satellite launched in March to track and publicly reveal the biggest methane polluters in the oil and gas industry - an important step in tackling the greenhouse gas that accounts for almost a third of global warming. The NASA/Carbon Mapper satellite, which measures CO2 and methane emissions, also launched, providing detailed images from individual oil and gas facilities across the world.
Back on Earth, the world’s largest plant for pulling carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere opened in Iceland. Norway became the first country to have more electric than gas-powered vehicles, while one Japanese island began using a new generation of batteries to help stockpile massive amounts of clean electricity.
There were also small but important victories for animal conservation. The Iberian lynx, a European wildcat once on the brink of extinction, is no longer classed as an “endangered” species - in what experts have hailed as the “greatest recovery of a cat species ever achieved through conservation.”
And five Hawaiian crows - rare, intelligent birds also known as ʻalala - began flying free after years in captivity, as part of a radical conservation strategy.
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Humanity shone through during weather disasters
Despite a large number of powerful tornadoes to hit the United States in early 2024, the death tolls were fortunately not as high as meteorologists feared, in part due to improved forecasting technology.
And even amid the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, there were heartwarming moments. One father trekked 27 miles through roads flooded by Helene - a dramatic journey involving being trapped in mud, navigating debris, and the kindness of strangers - in time to walk his daughter down the aisle.
And when an emergency room nurse and single mom lost her home and all of her possessions during flooding in Connecticut, a thoughtful stranger meant she was reunited with the sonogram photos of her 3-year-old son. Her local community also rallied to help her find free temporary accommodation, and raised more than $206,000 toward buying a new house.
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And nature showed its power to enthrall
2024 was a year for rare celestial sights.
People in 13 U.S. states, as well as parts of Mexico and Canada, were treated to the sight of darkness falling in the middle of the day, as a total eclipse swept across the three countries in April.
Then in May, countries from the United States to South Africa were treated to one of the most vibrant displays of auroras in 500 years, according to NASA, thanks to an “extreme” geomagnetic storm.
If you’re a fan of auroras, there are also reasons for optimism in 2025 - NASA says the sun’s storm activity is peaking, which means there should be more opportunities to spot beautiful auroras in the year ahead.
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Video: Simone Biles has pushed the boundaries of what is possible in women's gymnastics. Watch the 5 skills that solidified her legacy(c) 2024 , The Washington Post
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