Best News of Last Week
Hi, I’m Erica, and this is your weekly roundup of Feel Good News — handpicked to brighten your day.
1. Texas Sets New Electricity Demand Records Twice in Two Days Amid Heat Wave, Grid Remains Stable Thanks to Record Solar and Battery Output
Solar and battery power generations have helped bolster ERCOT’s grid, but data center, population and economic growth is slated to surge demand.
2. Germany Sets New Solar Record: 12 Billion kWh Generated in July 2026, Surpassing 40,000 MW Midday Output for the First Time
Germany set a record by feeding 12 billion kWh of solar power into the grid in July 2026, highlighting photovoltaics’ growing role and the IWR’s clarification of EEG support costs.
3. New York to Implement Nation’s First Statewide Ban on Data Centers
The order will pause state permitting for new large data centers and direct state regulators to create standards that address environmental impacts, energy demand, water usage and other factors, the governor’s office said.
4. U.S. Authorizes First mRNA Flu Vaccine from Moderna
This flu shot, mFlusiva, was shown in a clinical trial to be up to 27 percent more effective than a standard flu jab
5. 10-Year-Old Ukrainian Gymnast Wins Gold After Losing Leg In Russian Strike
In 2022, Oleksandra Paskal lost her leg following a Russian missile strike on Ukraine’s Odesa region. She was just six years old. Following months of intense rehabilitation, she learned to walk with a prosthesis – and made a remarkable return to rhythmic gymnastics.
6. Amazon canopy bridges enable 15,000 safe wildlife crossings with zero roadkill
Biologist Gabriel Falquetto, while monitoring wildlife along Brazil’s ES-164 highway, encountered a critically endangered buffy-headed marmoset that had been killed on the road. This incident highlights the impact of human activities on biodiversity, especially given that nearly 9 million mammals are killed on Brazil’s roads annually. In contrast, in Alta Floresta, efforts to mitigate wildlife-vehicle collisions have been more successful since the installation of canopy bridges in 2024, which have allowed 15,000 safe crossings for arboreal animals without any recorded roadkill. The program, known as Projeto Reconecta, aims to enhance wildlife connectivity and reduce roadkill through further installations and collaboration with local stakeholders.
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That’s it for last week :)
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