Tech & Innovation Good News

Stories About Using Technology and Innovation To Make a Difference

Three pictures, from left to right: a drawing of geothermal pipes beneath two houses, a suburban street, a green banner that reads "first-in-the-nation."

These families feel like they 'won the lottery' after their neighborhood was picked for first-ever geothermal heating & cooling network

An energy provider's new project will provide cheap, eco-friendly heating and cooling for an entire neighborhood. And this first-of-its-kind network hopes to inspire more opportunities for other lucky homeowners and renters.

These are the 5 best hybrids & electric vehicles of 2024, according to Edmunds

These are picks of the best cars, trucks, and SUVs of 2024, according to Edmunds’ independent review. And the good news is that they’re all more eco-friendly than their gas-powered competitors.

A worker in a factory stands next to a large, suspended, cylindrical metal container with pipes and attachments, operating machinery in an industrial environment. The background shows a row of similar machinery and overhead lights.

Innovative aluminum plant to reduce CO2 by 75% and double US production, after federal funding

Aluminum is a crucial raw ingredient in the fight against climate change. But to ensure the transition off fossil fuels is a clean one, the industry needs a serious makeover. A new federally funded “green smelter” could help make that happen.

A neon yellow ambulance overlooks a sea view in England

Innovative 'sign language ambulance' service aims to save more lives in emergencies, reduce barriers

The implementation of this technology will make emergency services more accessible for Deaf and hard of hearing patients.

Carmakers are making more hybrid vehicles than ever. Here's who is dominating the eco market

Demand for hybrid vehicles is surging, and carmakers are quickly shifting gears to stay relevant in the market.

A photo collage of a main road, a man checking a mannequin baby's vitals, an old team photo of the Homestead Grays, and a shot of a desert terrain

The best good news stories you may have missed this week — June 1, 2024

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

Rep. Jennifer Wexton speaks behind a podium

Disability Milestone: Rep. Jennifer Wexton makes history with assistive communication device speech in Congress

Some people with disabilities hailed Rep. Jennifer Wexton’s use of text-to-speech technology, but say there is work to be done to advance representation for those who communicate differently.

Electric vehicles will quickly start to cut emissions & improve air quality in our cities — but only once they're common

Electric vehicles are often seen as the panacea to cutting emissions – and air pollution – from transport. Is this view correct? Yes — but only once uptake accelerates.

Blue and white solar panel with more panels behind on grass

Just 464 square miles can fully decarbonize energy for all of Australia — ditching fossil fuels forever, with zero harm to farms

As Australia’s rapid renewable energy rollout continues, so too does debate over land use. So how much land is needed to fully decarbonize energy in Australia?

An aerial view of the floating pier off Gaza shows its basic structure

How the Gaza humanitarian aid pier traces its origins to discarded cigar boxes before World War II

Built by the U.S. military and operated in coordination with the United Nations, aid groups and other nations’ militaries, the pier can trace its origins back to a mid-20th century U.S. Navy officer who collected discarded cigar boxes to experiment with a new idea.

An overhead view of a cargo ship on water, with multi-colored peices of cargo.

Cargo ship emissions cut 17% in new trials — all thanks to one shockingly simple change

Cargo ships guzzle fuel, especially when they’re left idling at ports, unable to offload their goods. An incredibly easy solution could change that.

Two people standing with their reflections on the ground

New study finds algorithms help people recognize and fix their human biases

Algorithmic bias can also be used to reduce human bias. Algorithms can reveal hidden structural biases in organizations.