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Five real advances in science, medicine, technology, and the environment, each verified against the original reporting. In this episode: A Vermont research team achieved disease control in 67% of mesothelioma patients by targeting cancer's energy; Leopard numbers are rebounding in western Zambia following a switch from real leopard skins to synthetic furs; Paris is unearthing the Bièvre, a 36-kilometer tributary river hidden underground for over a century, to cool; University of Missouri researchers have developed purple corn colorants that retain 75% of key color; A low-dose leaf spray combining manganese oxide nanoparticles and chitosan can help tomatoes grow in salty.
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 5 Things Going Right, the news that's actually good. Five stories, five minutes, all of them true. Hi everyone, I'm Grace. Today is Tuesday, July 28th, 2026, and we've got some fascinating stories to discuss. And I'm Josh. Let's get started with today's roundup. First up, there's some promising news in cancer research. A team at the University of Vermont has reported disease control in 67% of mesothelioma patients by targeting the cancer's energy system. That's significant because mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive disease, often linked to asbestos exposure from decades ago. It affects about 30,000 people, so even small advances can be impactful. Do we know if the 67% reflects complete remission or just stabilization? The report doesn't specify whether it's complete remission, partial response, or just stabilization of the disease, but it's a step in the right direction for sure. Moving on to wildlife, leopards are making a comeback in western Zambia. Researchers from Panthera have noticed an increase in their numbers. That's right. The recovery seems to be linked to a shift in traditional ceremonies, where synthetic furs are now used instead of real leopard skins. This change has reduced the demand for hunting these animals. It's amazing how cultural shifts can have such a positive impact on wildlife conservation. Over in Europe, Paris is working on an intriguing project with the Bièvre River. They're trying to bring it back to the surface after it was hidden underground for over a century. The river runs 36 kilometers from Gyankour to the Seine. The aim is to cool the city, reduce flood risks, and increase green spaces and biodiversity, especially as the region faces more extreme heat. Do we know how effective these measures have been so far? The reporting doesn't quantify the cooling benefits yet, but it's an ongoing effort. Now, let's talk about food science. Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed colorants from a purple corn variety that hold up well under heat. They found that these colorants retain 75 percent of their key color compounds after an hour at food processing temperatures, and up to 97 percent when coated with protective materials. That's impressive. Are these dyes ready for commercial use? Not quite yet. The results are from laboratory testing, and there's no word on commercial adoption, regulatory approval, or large-scale manufacturing at this point. Lastly, there's an interesting development in agriculture. A study from the University of Texas at El Paso tested a leaf spray that helps tomato plants in salty soil. The spray combines manganese oxide nanoparticles and chitizan, and greenhouse trials showed it significantly reversed salt damage. Is it ready for farmers to use? It's still early days. The trials were only in greenhouses, so field performance and scalability haven't been demonstrated yet. It's described as low-cost, but we don't have specific pricing details. That's all for today. It's exciting to see such diverse progress across different fields. Absolutely. Thanks for tuning in, and we'll catch you next time. That's it for today. That was 5 Things Going Right. Come back tomorrow for 5 more.