the good news you should know about

A malaria vaccine developed by the University of Oxford has been given the thumbs up by the World Health Organization in a huge advance against one of the world’s leading causes of child mortality.

The news came almost two years to the day that the WHO approved the world’s first vaccine, RTS,S, which has been dogged by shortage issues. The new jab – R21 – is reportedly just as effective but can be manufactured cheaply on a massive scale.

“As a malaria researcher, I used to dream of the day we would have a safe and effective vaccine against malaria. Now we have two,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director general.

“Demand for the RTS,S vaccine far exceeds supply, so this second vaccine is a vital additional tool to protect more children faster, and to bring us closer to our vision of a malaria-free future.”

However, some experts have warned that though the new vaccine is set to prevent many deaths, it may be some time yet before we see the end of the disease.

Thousands of oysters are settling into their new home this week: an artificial reef the size of a football pitch off the coast of north-east England.

The mature native oysters were released by marine conservationists (pictured) on to the newly created reef in the culmination of a three-year collaborative effort to protect European native oysters. It has been headed up by the Zoological Society of London’s (ZSL) Wild Oyster Project.

Over-harvesting, disease and pollution means the species has declined by over 95% in UK waters since the 1800s.

Now 10,000 of the molluscs have been released on to 750 tonnes of ‘cultch’ – material made from stone and scallop shells – on the seabed near Whitburn. It’s hoped the new arrivals will form the foundation for a new marine ecosystem.

Celine Gamble, ZSL’s Wild Oyster project manager, described oysters as “ocean superheroes” for their ability to filter hundreds of litres of water a day.

“We’re determined to bring the species back from the brink of extinction, which will in turn will help contribute towards healthier and more resilient coastal waters across the UK,” Gamble said.

This week, as the Nobel prize committee presented the first of the laureates for 2023, accomplishments in literature and science were recognized.

As we went to print, four of the six awards had been announced.

After their work in RNA biology sped up the development of mRNA Covid vaccines, US biochemist Prof. Drew Weissman and Hungarian scientist Prof. Katalin Karikó split the prize for physiology or medicine.

For producing minute light pulses that can be used to examine electrons, Pierre Agostini of The Ohio State University, Ferenc Krausz of the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, and Anne L'Huillier of Lund University shared the physics award with Pierre Agostini.

The chemistry prize is shared by Moungi Bawendi and Louis Brus, two US researchers.

A beaver was born in London for the first time in 400 years, the US levied the first-ever fine for space trash, and there were other encouraging developments.

The positive news roundup for this week

The WHO has approved a second malaria vaccination.

The World Health Organization has approved a malaria vaccine created by the University of Oxford, marking a significant victory against one of the main causes of infant mortality worldwide.

The announcement occurred nearly two years to the day after the WHO authorized RTS,S, the first vaccine ever produced but plagued by supply problems. The new shot, R21, is supposedly equally effective and can be produced at a low cost.