Archive of Human Genius

We are building the world’s largest database of social change milestones, from the first fire to today’s good news. Change is not only possible, it has happened consistently throughout human history. Filter by era, country, topic, actor, source, and more.

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  • Depiction of MRSA bacteria up close
    2023 C.E. December 20

    MIT scientists discover the first new antibiotics in over 60 years using AI

    The discovery of a new compound that can kill a drug-resistant bacterium that kills thousands worldwide every year could prove to be a turning point in the fight against antibiotic resistance.


  • Air pollution from industrial faciliity
    2023 C.E. December 20

    MIT scientists discover how to convert CO2 into powder that can be stored for decades

    Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology exposed CO2 to catalysts and then electrolysis that turns the gas into a powder called sodium formate, which can be safely stored for decades. The breakthrough follows an almost century-long effort to turn CO2 into a cheap, clean fuel. Researchers have previously turned CO2 into fuels that required too much energy to make or were difficult to store long-term.


  • Two people embracing
    2023 C.E. December 18

    Psilocybin effectively treats depression in cancer patients, new study finds

    New research from Maryland-based Sunstone Therapies found that psilocybin-assisted therapy for cancer patients induced a clinically meaningful improvement in depression symptoms, with 80% of participants demonstrating a sustained response and 50% showing full remission of depression symptoms at week one, which was sustained for eight weeks.


  • Inside a Catholic church
    2023 C.E. December 18

    Pope Francis approves blessing same-sex couples in “major step forward”

    The Rev. James Martin, a prominent American advocate for LGBTQ+ Catholics, hailed the decision. “The Vatican’s new declaration ‘Fiducia supplicans’ is major step forward in the church’s ministry to LGBTQ people and recognizes the deep desire in many Catholic same-sex couples for God’s presence in their loving relationships,” he posted on X.


  • Car exhaust
    2023 C.E. December 18

    Canada to end sales of gas-powered cars by 2035

    Under the new rules, electric or hydrogen-powered cars will account for 20% of new sales by 2026, 60% by 2030, and 100% by 2035. The rules mirror similar 2035 phase-out mandates in China, South Korea, the U.K. and several U.S. states, including California, New York, and Massachusetts.


  • Break Free From Fossil Fuels flyer
    2023 C.E. December 18

    Australia and Norway to stop overseas fossil fuel financing

    Australia and Norway have formally joined the Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP), a historic alliance aiming at ending international public subsidies for fossil fuels. The CETP was launched during COP26 in Glasgow and has grown to include 41 countries and organizations, signaling a significant step forward in combating the climate catastrophe.


  • Rainforest
    2023 C.E. November 30

    Historic ruling in Ecuador returns ownership of ancestral land to the Siekopai people

    For the first time, Ecuador has recognized an Indigenous population’s right to “possess a territory that has been declared a protected area.” Indigenous advocates hope this ruling can serve as a precedent for other Indigenous communities that are trying to regain control of their land.


  • Woman crying
    2023 C.E. December 17

    New California law allows employee leave for pregnancy loss

    A new law that allows parents who experience a reproductive loss, such as miscarriage and stillbirth, to take leave from work will go into effect in California in 2024. The right to utilize reproductive loss leave applies to any person who would have been a parent if the loss had not occurred.


  • Mail-in ballot with pen
    2023 C.E. December 15

    Colorado to be first state in the U.S. to expand automatic voter registration to tribes

    Tribal communities in Colorado share some of the same registration and voting barriers as other rural communities across the U.S., like geographic isolation and unreliable mail delivery. But according to the Native American Rights Fund, tribal communities also commonly experience obstacles like language barriers, a lack of voter registration opportunities, and state laws in some parts of the country that block polling places on tribal lands.


  • Buddha statue in the dark
    2023 C.E. December 15

    New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art to return looted ancient art to Cambodia and Thailand

    Thirteen of the works are being returned to Cambodia in concert with an investigation from the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Southern District of New York and Homeland Security. Among the works are a large head of Buddha made of stone in the seventh century, and a tenth century sandstone goddess statue from the Koh Ker archaeological site.


  • Depiction of MRSA bacteria up close
    2023 C.E. December 20

    MIT scientists discover the first new antibiotics in over 60 years using AI

    The discovery of a new compound that can kill a drug-resistant bacterium that kills thousands worldwide every year could prove to be a turning point in the fight against antibiotic resistance.


  • Air pollution from industrial faciliity
    2023 C.E. December 20

    MIT scientists discover how to convert CO2 into powder that can be stored for decades

    Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology exposed CO2 to catalysts and then electrolysis that turns the gas into a powder called sodium formate, which can be safely stored for decades. The breakthrough follows an almost century-long effort to turn CO2 into a cheap, clean fuel. Researchers have previously turned CO2 into fuels that required too much energy to make or were difficult to store long-term.


  • Two people embracing
    2023 C.E. December 18

    Psilocybin effectively treats depression in cancer patients, new study finds

    New research from Maryland-based Sunstone Therapies found that psilocybin-assisted therapy for cancer patients induced a clinically meaningful improvement in depression symptoms, with 80% of participants demonstrating a sustained response and 50% showing full remission of depression symptoms at week one, which was sustained for eight weeks.


  • Inside a Catholic church
    2023 C.E. December 18

    Pope Francis approves blessing same-sex couples in “major step forward”

    The Rev. James Martin, a prominent American advocate for LGBTQ+ Catholics, hailed the decision. “The Vatican’s new declaration ‘Fiducia supplicans’ is major step forward in the church’s ministry to LGBTQ people and recognizes the deep desire in many Catholic same-sex couples for God’s presence in their loving relationships,” he posted on X.


  • Car exhaust
    2023 C.E. December 18

    Canada to end sales of gas-powered cars by 2035

    Under the new rules, electric or hydrogen-powered cars will account for 20% of new sales by 2026, 60% by 2030, and 100% by 2035. The rules mirror similar 2035 phase-out mandates in China, South Korea, the U.K. and several U.S. states, including California, New York, and Massachusetts.


  • Break Free From Fossil Fuels flyer
    2023 C.E. December 18

    Australia and Norway to stop overseas fossil fuel financing

    Australia and Norway have formally joined the Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP), a historic alliance aiming at ending international public subsidies for fossil fuels. The CETP was launched during COP26 in Glasgow and has grown to include 41 countries and organizations, signaling a significant step forward in combating the climate catastrophe.


  • Rainforest
    2023 C.E. November 30

    Historic ruling in Ecuador returns ownership of ancestral land to the Siekopai people

    For the first time, Ecuador has recognized an Indigenous population’s right to “possess a territory that has been declared a protected area.” Indigenous advocates hope this ruling can serve as a precedent for other Indigenous communities that are trying to regain control of their land.


  • Woman crying
    2023 C.E. December 17

    New California law allows employee leave for pregnancy loss

    A new law that allows parents who experience a reproductive loss, such as miscarriage and stillbirth, to take leave from work will go into effect in California in 2024. The right to utilize reproductive loss leave applies to any person who would have been a parent if the loss had not occurred.


  • Mail-in ballot with pen
    2023 C.E. December 15

    Colorado to be first state in the U.S. to expand automatic voter registration to tribes

    Tribal communities in Colorado share some of the same registration and voting barriers as other rural communities across the U.S., like geographic isolation and unreliable mail delivery. But according to the Native American Rights Fund, tribal communities also commonly experience obstacles like language barriers, a lack of voter registration opportunities, and state laws in some parts of the country that block polling places on tribal lands.


  • Buddha statue in the dark
    2023 C.E. December 15

    New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art to return looted ancient art to Cambodia and Thailand

    Thirteen of the works are being returned to Cambodia in concert with an investigation from the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Southern District of New York and Homeland Security. Among the works are a large head of Buddha made of stone in the seventh century, and a tenth century sandstone goddess statue from the Koh Ker archaeological site.



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