Health Good News

People, organizations, and governments improving people's health

A pregnant person wearing a white shirt and jeans holds their bare belly with both hands.

Arkansas Medicaid now covers doula care, complying with law meant to improve maternal health

Coverage begins on September 1, 2026, complying with 2025 law aiming to improve maternal health outcomes.

A lit cigarette rests on stacked terra cotta roof tiles against a dark blurred background, with smoke rising from its tip.

Smoking rates reach historic low among youth in the United States

The use of nicotine vapes, or e-cigarettes, also fell to in 2025, the lowest it’s been since its peak in 2019.

A photo collage of a coral reef underwater, a man and two children at a playground, a tiger jumping out of the back of a truck, a woman holding an all-terrain wheelchair in the outdoors, and a field and a mountain

Good News This Week: August 22, 2026 - Tigers, Turtles, & Wheelchairs

Your weekly roundup of the best good news worth celebrating...

Six young penguins with dark gray and white plumage stand together on sandy ground with sparse vegetation visible behind them.

Australia is working to catch 5,000 of the world's smallest penguins to vaccinate them against bird flu

Capturing wildlife to vaccinate them is difficult, particularly because the bird flu vaccination requires they be caught twice, for two doses.

Three people smile at a kitchen counter with packaged foods, bottles, and bowls visible.

Startup matches college students in need of housing with boomer homeowners who have rooms to spare

Students trade their time to support retired homeowners who need a little extra help. In exchange, they have a cheap place to stay.

People wearing winter coats hold trans pride flags and a sign reading "TRANS" at an outdoor gathering.

Maine will continue providing gender-affirming care for minors, despite latest federal attempt to block it

Maine will continue providing gender-affirming care despite an announcement from the Trump administration banning Medicaid from covering hormone therapy and procedures for children under 18.

Humans used to kill lions in this African village. Now, they get health benefits in exchange for saving big cats

The nonprofit Lion Landscapes uses trail cameras to incentivize villagers to earn “points” for spotting and saving local wildlife.

A person's hand points to a detailed street map showing areas including El Monte, Rosemead, and South El Monte, with roads marked in red and orange lines and various neighborhoods outlined in green.

Researchers find reading maps is good for our brains: 'Taxi drivers rarely die of Alzheimer's'

Problems with spatial navigation and orientation are among the earliest signs of Alzheimer's, sometimes surfacing before obvious memory loss.

Orange and red striped spider on its web against a green background.

Scientists are using spider webs to develop materials that treat burn wounds, reverse nerve damage

Spiders produce silk from a specialized gland and use it to build incredible web structures. Scientists are figuring out how to replicate this biological feat.

A white banner hanging from trees along a residential street reads "SAY NO TO EAST WHITELAND DATA CENTER!" with a red prohibition symbol. A red pickup truck is parked on the road nearby.

Data center proposals keep coming to Pennsylvania. A 41,000-person Facebook group leads the fight against them

In response to souring public opinion on data centers, Pennsylvanians have flocked to grassroots Facebook groups.

Map of Colombia in shades of purple with a dark purple heart symbol positioned over the northwestern region.

GoFundMe launches hub of verified Colombia earthquake relief fundraisers

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake rocked Colombia on Monday.

Two people in neon yellow safety vests and helmets stand next to an emergency vehicle with a black bicycle. License plate reads DMG-715. Hillside visible in background.

Stranded mountain biker saved by memorial honoring a heat stroke victim who died on the same trail

“We’re grateful that a space created in Jeff Higgins’ memory provided shade and comfort when it was needed,” officials said.