Find uplifting stories about heroes, innovations, and solutions
350 results for "guinea worm"
After nearly 40 years of work, the world is closer than ever to wiping out Guinea worm disease, with only 10 cases reported in 2025. If successful, it will be only the second human disease ever eradicated.
An ancient disease that once infected 3.5 million people yearly is now down to just 10 cases globally, bringing humanity one step closer to wiping out only the second human disease in history. The milestone honors President Jimmy Carter's lifelong dream to outlast the final Guinea worm.
Only 10 cases of Guinea worm disease were reported worldwide in 2025, bringing humanity one step closer to wiping out the second human disease ever. This marks a 99.99% reduction from 3.5 million annual cases just 40 years ago.
A devastating parasitic disease that once infected 3.5 million people annually is down to just 10 human cases worldwide. Guinea worm is on track to become only the second human disease ever eradicated, after smallpox.
A massive railway project in Guinea is cutting through forests home to West Africa's largest population of endangered western chimpanzees. The Simandou corridor, built to transport untapped iron ore, is fragmenting vital habitat and pushing wildlife into isolated pockets.
After a two-day communications blackout, Guinea has restored access to Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and other social platforms. Citizens can once again freely connect and share information online.
When tensions flared along the Liberia-Guinea border, President Boakai chose dialogue over discord, sending diplomats to work with neighbors on peaceful solutions. Two nations are showing the world how border disputes can be solved through conversation, not conflict.
In Sopchoppy, Florida, families have spent generations perfecting "worm grunting," a technique that uses vibrations to coax earthworms from the ground. What started as a lucrative bait trade now draws thousands to an annual festival celebrating this quirky tradition.
Guinea just opened a cutting-edge innovation hub designed to give young people the tools and training they need to build the future. The new MediaLab will serve as a launchpad for the next generation of tech entrepreneurs and creators.
Winston Tang, 19, is making history as Guinea-Bissau's first Winter Olympics athlete, competing in slalom at the Milano-Cortina Games. The Utah-born skier is following his father's Olympic legacy while opening doors for future African winter sports athletes.
A short walk near Rotorua transforms into a magical light show after dark, where thousands of bioluminescent glow worms turn a waterfall into a natural galaxy. Best part? It's completely free and open to everyone.
Pope Leo XIV toured one of Africa's most notorious prisons and spoke out for inmate dignity in a country known for harsh conditions. His rare public criticism during the visit marks a hopeful push for reform in Equatorial Guinea.
A ribbon worm named Baseodiscus the Eldest just shattered age records at 27 years old, revealing how little we know about these mysterious ocean creatures. Scientists say these seafloor predators might live for centuries.
The Bijagos Archipelago, home to the world's only saltwater hippos, just earned a spot on UNESCO's World Heritage List. For Guinea-Bissau, this recognition marks a major milestone in protecting 88 unique islands.
A small Central African nation is launching a bold plan to become malaria-free within five years, using vaccines, genetically modified mosquitoes, and drone technology. After achieving a 75% drop in child malaria cases on one island, Equatorial Guinea is scaling up nationwide.
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F78%2F4c%2F784cc2a1-9da8-4f11-b06f-3851a8a4550f%2Fscreenshot_2026-03-06_at_44019pm.png)
Scientists rediscovered two marsupial species on New Guinea that were thought to have vanished 6,000 years ago. Working with Indigenous communities, researchers found living pygmy long-fingered possums and ring-tailed gliders, making history with an unprecedented double "Lazarus species" discovery.
%2Ffile%2Fattachments%2Forphans%2FMopane-worm-meal_743401.jpg)
Across Africa, researchers are proving conservation can pay for itself by helping rural communities earn sustainable income from wild resources like edible insects and tree resins. From flavored mopane worm snacks in Botswana to frankincense harvesting in Kenya, these efforts keep landscapes wild while lifting up local people.
Pope Leo XIV brought a message of hope to 600 inmates at one of Equatorial Guinea's most notorious prisons, calling for justice systems that rebuild lives rather than just punish. His visit shines a spotlight on prison conditions in a country where human rights groups have documented torture and overcrowding.
Mark Palm survived B-cell lymphoma and found healing through pickleball. Now he's competing at the U.S. Open while running a life-saving medical flight program that brings emergency care to 200,000 people in remote Papua New Guinea.
Papua New Guinea just established a marine protected area spanning 77,000 square miles in the legendary Coral Triangle. The move protects one of Earth's healthiest coral ecosystems while helping rebuild fish populations for local communities.
Showing 20 of 350