Good Bites

Divorce Rate in U.S. Hits 37-Year Low

Thursday, May 10, 2007

America's per capita divorce rate has declined steadily since its peak in 1981, dropping by one-third to its lowest level since 1970. Divorce rates in England and Wales have fallen as well. (source: AP 07/05/10)

Heart Patients Living Longer

Saturday, May 05, 2007

Heart disease rates have been falling for decades due to healthier lifestyles, but now death rates after severe heart attacks have been cut in half over the last six years, thanks to new treatments and anti-clotting drugs. Death rates of patients in 14 countries fell from 8.4% to 4.5% between 1999 and 2006, a study  showed.

San Francisco's Garbage Trucks Go Green

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

All of San Francisco's 400 garbage and recycling trucks now run on alternative fuel, cutting 21 percent of their greenhouse gas emissions with the use of liquefied natural gas, and biodiesel B-20 made from food scraps.

Domestic Violence Plummets in U.S.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Domestic violence against spouses and intimate partners in the U.S. fell by nearly two-thirds in recent years, reaching a 30-year low. Government figures show the marked declines began in 1994.

Turkmenistan Teens Can Now Attend College

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Turkmenistan’s new president has scrapped a rule that required high school graduates to work for two years before they enter university. President Gubanguli Berdymukhamedov signed an order dropping work requirements and reinstating university entrance exams.

Aid From Rich Nations Doubled in 4 Years

Monday, February 26, 2007

Industrialized nations are giving more economic assistance to the world's impoverished states, revealed the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development in statistics released on Jan. 29, 2007. Aid rose by 8.8 percent in 2005, the fifth consecutive annual increase, and had more than doubled since 2001.

Asian Poverty Reduction at 95%

Friday, January 26, 2007

In 1990 there were 500 million people living in poverty in East Asia and the Pacific region. That number is now under 200 million, and the World Bank projects that by 2011 it will be under 20 million — a reduction of 95 percent.
— Ray Kurzweil, author, inventor and futurist speaking at the Ted Conference

Worldwide Air Crashes in 2006 Lowest in 53 Years

Friday, January 05, 2007

Air travel is getting safer as the number of plane crashes worldwide fell to its lowest level in 53 years during 2006. Even while air travel increased by 4 percent over the previous year, 22 fewer commercial flights ended in disaster.

Europe's Air Getting Cleaner

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

European emissions of acid rain-causing sulphur dioxide have declined by 65 percent since 1990, achieving a 2010 target to cut pollution from coal-burning power plants and heavy industry years ahead of schedule.

Endangered Gorillas Prosper in Heart of Africa

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

A 2003 census showed Gorillas in Africa have increased their numbers by 17 percent since 1989, not due to a change in the number of births, but because "there's no more poaching."