Good news on antibiotics, resilience, renewables, recycling

The free section of this edition of Fix the News says, “apologies, but we couldn’t help ourselves” and includes a cartoon we Americans might find of particular interest.

Another item in the free section has particularly jumped out to me. As those of you who have been reading this blog over the years are well aware, antibiotic-resistant bacteria are one of the most serious threats to global health. Now, British and Australian chemists have discovered an antibiotic called pre-methylenomycin C lactone, hiding in a well-known soil bacterium that produces another drug, methylenomycin A. This molecule is 100 times more potent than methylenomycin A, kills drug-resistant bacteria without triggering resistance, and could reshape antibiotic discovery and revive the fight against superbugs, says FTN, citing Science Daily.

Among the many items in the section of FTN requiring a subscription:

— In 1970, a category 3 cyclone killed at least 300,000 people in Bangladesh. But the country invested in forecasting, siren-and-SMS early warnings and cyclone shelters. And now, despite multiple category 4 and 5 cyclones since 2007, there’s been no year with more than 200 deaths, according to Our World in Data. Humans responding with ingenuity to increase climate resilience, Fix the News notes.

— “We keep reporting the same story here at Fix The News: despite the hostility of the Trump administration, solar panels and batteries are transforming America’s energy mix,” FTN says. “In the 12 months to August 2025, solar capacity jumped by over 37 GW and battery storage by 64 percent, even as coal and oil plants kept shutting down. Together, wind and solar now supply nearly a fifth of U.S. electricity — more than coal or nuclear.” FTN’s source for this item is Electrek, a news website, citing U.S. Energy Information Administration data.

— Scientists have used artificial intelligence to create an enzyme that can eat one of the toughest plastics: the kind used in foam mattresses and sneakers, says FTN, citing research reported by Ars Technica. The enzyme breaks down polyurethane into reusable chemicals in just 12 hours, turning it back into raw materials.

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First-term Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell concedes to progressive activist Katie Wilson

Heather Cox Richardson: ‘We are watching the ideology of the far-right MAGAs smash against reality’

Texas A&M University requires professors to get approval for some race and gender topics

James Comey, Letitia James press for dismissal of their cases, challenge prosecutor Lindsey Halligan’s appointment

AT&T reached a $177 million data breach settlement; here’s what consumers need to know about claiming their money

Study: Ultraprocessed food linked to colorectal cancer risk in women under 50