As 2023 is about to close, it’s a great time to reflect: Was it a good year? Was it a bad year? Well, that probably depends on the person you ask.
This year witnessed old wars, new wars, our planet reaching record high temperatures, among other challenges. But it also brought many reasons for hope, and after all, hope is what keeps us moving forward.
That’s why we’ve decided to highlight these eight wonderfully positive things that happened in 2023.
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1. A new Alzheimer’s drug was approved by the FDA, which slows the disease’s progression
In January 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration granted full approval to Leqembi, the first drug proven to slow the course of Alzheimer’s disease. Developed by Eisai and Biogen, Leqembi works by targeting and clearing amyloid plaque buildups in the brain, which are a key characteristic of memory-robbing disease. The success of the newly approved medicine gives a glimmer of hope to many of the 6 million Americans who are battling Alzheimer’s— a number that is expected to rise to nearly 13 million by 2050, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. However, the drug is approved only for patients with early forms of Alzheimer’s, while those with more advanced forms may not benefit from it.
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2. India lands on the lunar south pole, expanding our cosmic footprint
In another giant leap for humanity, in August 2023, India’s Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft successfully landed on the moon’s south pole– marking a new first in space exploration. Chandrayaan-3’s lander and rover confirmed the presence of water ice at the lunar south pole. This discovery is a triumph for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), but it’s also a step for future moon habitation, opening new possibilities for human exploration and settlement on the moon.
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3. A four day work week trials prove succesful in several countries
TGIF is about to have a whole new meaning. Recently, a pioneering pilot program in the UK involving nearly 3,000 employees across 61 companies trialed a four-day workweek. The results were overwhelmingly positive, showing significant improvements in employee well-being and stable company revenues. Consequently, 56 of these companies have decided to continue with this new work schedule, with 18 making the switch permanent.
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4. Investments in renewable energy hit a record high in 2023
In a hugely positive turn for the planet, global investment in renewable energy soared to a whopping $358 billion in the first half of 2023! That’s a 22% jump from last year, hitting an all-time high for any six-month stretch, according to Bloomberg NEF.
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5. AI helped man with paralysis to walk again using his thoughts
It sure was a lucky year for, Gert-Jan Oskam who after being paralyzed from the hips down since 2011, walked again. Impressively, Oskam regained control over his lower body thanks to artificial intelligence. Researchers in Switzerland developed implants that create a “digital bridge” between Oskam’s brain and spinal cord, effectively bypassing the injured areas. This pioneering work, detailed in a recent Nature study allowed Oskam to stand, walk, and even climb a ramp with just a walker’s aid. “For 12 years I’ve been trying to get back my feet,” Oskam New York Times. “Now I have learned how to walk normal, natural.”
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6. Amazon deforestation drops 34%
There was also some good news from Brazil’s Amazon rainforest: deforestation has dropped a promising 34% in the first half of 2023, marking the lowest level in four years. Brazil’s space research agency, Inpe, reports that around 2,649 square kilometers of forest were cleared, which is a huge improvement since 2019. This win is mostly due to Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who took office in January and passed stricter environmental rules with the main goal of ending deforestation by 2030.
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7. Virgin Galactic makes its first space tourism flight
You can soon add “space” to your travel bucket list, as Virgin Galactic launched its first space tourists in August 2023, making a giant step in commercial space travel. Aboard the rocket-powered VSS Unity, the three passengers, including a mother-daughter duo and an Olympian, embarked on their journey from New Mexico. With tickets priced at $450,000, Virgin Galactic has already amassed a waiting list of hundreds waiting to have their literal out-of-this-world adventure.
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8. Women voted at a Vatican Meeting for the first time
For the first time in history, a Vatican meeting of 300 bishops invited nuns and laywomen to vote in the synod. The landmark assembly called by Pope Francis to discuss the future of the Roman Catholic Church opened up discussions on key issues like enhancing women’s roles in the church. The topic of ordaining women as deacons, long a subject of heated debate among Catholics, also found support from some forward-thinking priests, signaling a potential shift in the church’s traditional stance.
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