Five Things Going Right: August 10, 2026

Five real advances in science, medicine, technology, and the environment, each verified against the original reporting. In this episode: Anti-amyloid treatment removed most amyloid plaques in some brain regions and reduced neurodegeneration; Researchers at Kyoto University used orbital changes from approximately 1,200 Starlink satellites to map; Researchers at IMDEA Materials Institute developed a catalyst using 75% less platinum while maintaining; A predictable daily routine may reduce pain and depression by supporting the body's circadian rhythm; A new nanostructured carbon fuel-cell catalyst design uses tiny amounts of platinum while remaining stable.

Stan Berteloot is a French-American journalist, marketing strategist, and AI expert based in Princeton, New Jersey. A University of Maryland journalism graduate, he navigates the intersection of storytelling, technology, and culture. As Head of Strategy and CTO at Nytro Marketing, he pioneered AI-driven content creation, launching the AI in Marketing podcast. He also hosts Back in America, a podcast exploring American identity through in-depth conversations on race, misinformation, and AI ethics. Start your VoiceStream free trial today!

📚 Sources:

• https://scitechdaily.com/rare-human-brain-study-reveals-how-an-alzheimers-drug-may-protect-the-brain/
• https://scitechdaily.com/starlink-satellites-reveal-a-hidden-atmosphere-300-miles-above-earth/
• https://phys.org/news/2026-08-catalyst-platinum-hydrogen-fuel-cells.html
• https://scitechdaily.com/this-simple-daily-habit-may-ease-pain-and-depression/
• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260807035140.htm

What is Five Things Going Right?

Five Things Going Right is a daily five-minute podcast covering real, verifiable progress in science, medicine, technology, and the environment. Every weekday, hosts Grace and Josh walk through five stories that actually happened, each checked against the original reporting from sources like the WHO, the IEA, Nature, and university research. A calm, fact-grounded start to your day. New episodes every weekday morning.

Welcome, this is Five Things Going Right, the news that's actually good. Five stories, five minutes, all of them true. Hi, everyone, I'm Grace. And I'm Josh. Today is Monday, August 10th, 2026. Let's get into what's happening. Researchers at Penn Medicine conducted a fascinating study on a single human brain. They found that years of anti-amyloid treatment had removed most of the amyloid plaques in some regions, which are typically associated with Alzheimer's disease. That's right. And in those areas, they also saw reduced markers of neurodegeneration. The researchers suggest that clearing these plaques might interrupt the destructive chain reaction in brain cells. However, it's important to note that anti-amyloid drugs have shown mixed cognitive benefits in clinical trials, despite their ability to remove plaques. Exactly. And since this study is based on a single-brain autopsy, it doesn't establish clinical effectiveness. Over at Kyoto University, researchers have used data from about 1,200 Starlink satellites to map Earth's thermosphere. This region of the upper atmosphere is about 300 miles above the surface and is usually tough to observe. The satellites, which were originally built to provide internet service, offered a unique way to study this area. The small drag on each satellite's orbit provided valuable data across a wide stretch of the upper atmosphere. Researchers at IMDEA Materials Institute have developed a new fuel cell catalyst that uses 75% less platinum while maintaining performance similar to pure platinum. They achieved this by applying controlled mechanical compression to the catalyst, changing its atomic scale structure without losing energy efficiency. Since platinum is quite expensive, this could significantly lower the cost of hydrogen fuel cells. The study, published in Electrochemica Acta, shows comparable efficiency in the lab. However, it doesn't specify whether this catalyst has been tested at scale or integrated into working fuel cell systems. A study from the University of Missouri suggests that having a predictable daily routine may help reduce pain and depression by supporting the body's circadian rhythm. Instead of focusing solely on sleep, the researchers looked at the broader daily pattern of activities and how it helps the body keep time. It's early-stage research, so it points to a possible link rather than a proven treatment. And while a routine can support health, it can also reinforce harmful patterns like poor sleep timing or long sedentary hours. The benefit really depends on the content of the routine. Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a nanostructured carbon design that allows fuel cell catalysts to use very small amounts of platinum while remaining stable and efficient. This development could make hydrogen fuel cells more practical for powering data centers, vehicles, and other energy-intensive technologies. However, while data centers are already improving efficiency through other means, challenges in cost, infrastructure, and hydrogen production remain unaddressed by this work. We'll be back soon with more updates. Take care. That's it for today. That was 5 Things Going Right. Come back tomorrow for 5 more.