New Cancer Vaccine and "Living Cement" turns your house into a battery

Tired of all the doom and gloom news from mainstream media? You’ll get none of that here. Instead, you’ll find inspiring stories and developments making the world a better place.

Today we’re diving into some truly groundbreaking advancements in medicine, technology, and the natural world.

Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a new mRNA cancer vaccine that has successfully wiped out multiple types of tumours in mice, including skin, bone, and brain cancers.

Moving on to the skies, where drones are becoming the newest first responders. A study from the University of Warwick has successfully tested a system where drones deliver Automated External Defibrillators, or AEDs, directly to the scene of a cardiac arrest. In the UK, fewer than 10 per cent of people survive out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, but using an AED can at least double those odds. These drones can fly long distances to reach remote or rural areas far faster than a traditional ambulance could navigate the terrain. Researchers found the technology is ready for real-world use, meaning your next life-saver might just arrive by air. Now, let’s look at the very walls around us. Scientists at Aarhus University have created the world's first "living cement" that can store electricity. By embedding a specific bacterium called Shewanella oneidensis into the concrete, they’ve turned the most common building material on Earth into a supercapacitor. These microbes create a network that stores and releases energy, and if the power starts to fade, you can simply "feed" the bacteria nutrients to restore up to 80% of its capacity. Imagine a future where your home’s foundation stores the solar energy collected during the day to power your lights at night. Finally, a breakthrough in early detection. A new liquid biopsy test called HPV-DeepSeek can identify head and neck cancers caused by HPV up to 10 years before any symptoms appear. Developed by researchers at Harvard Medical School and Mass General Brigham, the test uses machine learning to find tiny fragments of viral DNA circulating in the blood. It reached an incredible 96% sensitivity rate in trials. Detecting these cancers early means patients can avoid the aggressive, life-altering treatments often required when tumours are found at a later stage.[Speed Round] All right, let’s dive into the speed round for even more great news:• Lasting Health from Gut Bacteria: A study from the University of Auckland found that a single fecal transplant in obese teens led to smaller waistlines and reduced body fat for at least four years.• Light-Powered AI: Researchers in Florida have built a light-based AI chip that is 100 times more energy-efficient than traditional processors by using microscopic lenses instead of just electricity.• A Biodiversity Boom: Scientists are discovering new species faster than ever before, with over 16,000 new species described every year, including hundreds of new vertebrates.• Injectable Brain Chips: MIT scientists have developed tiny electronic implants smaller than a cell that can be injected into the bloodstream to treat brain inflammation without the need for open-brain surgery.

And my favourite quote of the day from the Daily Quote podcast this week is from Robert Louis Stevenson, who once said: "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant." Listen to an inspiring quote every single day—follow The Daily Quote in your podcast app of choice.That’s it for today’s episode of Great News. From universal vaccines and energy-storing buildings to life-saving drones, science and innovation are moving faster than ever to solve the world's toughest problems. These aren’t just possibilities; they are happening right now. If you love this content, be sure to follow, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs a little positivity today. Until next time, keep looking for the good in the world, because it’s not only there—it’s everywhere.