Bright Side Daily — 17 February 2026
Ireland makes basic income for artists permanent, Colombia cuts deforestation 25%, Portugal hits 80% renewables, and 7 more stories of human progress.
Good morning. Here's what's going right.
🌟 Today's Lead
Ireland Becomes First Country to Make Basic Income for Artists Permanent
Ireland has taken a step no other country has dared: making a basic income scheme for artists permanent. The €25m programme pays 2,000 creative workers €325/week with no strings attached — and an independent study found it generated over €100 million in social and economic benefits. A 4:1 return on investment that silenced sceptics and created a global precedent.
Applications for the next cycle open in May 2026, with payments running through September 2029.
Read the full story → · Source: The Guardian · Source: Reuters
In Brief
🌳 Colombia's Deforestation Falls 25% in a Year
Colombia reported a 25% reduction in deforestation — 36,280 hectares lost vs 48,500 the year before. The Conservar Paga programme, paying 5,000 families up to $240/month to protect forests, is proving that conservation and community economics can align. The Amazon region showed particular improvement.
⚡ Portugal Powers Past 80% Renewable Electricity — Tops the EU
80.7% of Portugal's electricity in January came from renewables — the best in nine months since the nationwide blackout, and top of the EU. Only Norway (96.3%) did better in Europe.
🏥 Lab-Grown Immune Commanders Could Democratise Cancer Therapy
UBC researchers have, for the first time, reliably grown helper T cells from stem cells — the immune system's coordinators that tell other cells to fight harder. Current CAR-T therapies cost $400,000+ per patient. This could make off-the-shelf cancer immunotherapy a reality.
🔥 Finland's Sand Battery Goes Industrial — Cuts Energy Bills 70%
Finnish startup TheStorage launched the first industrial-scale sand thermal battery, producing fossil-free steam for a brewery. Sand is cheap, abundant, and non-toxic. Industrial heat accounts for 20% of global energy — this could be the blind spot's fix.
📉 America's Murder Rate Hits 125-Year Low
U.S. homicide rates fell 21% in 2025 across 35 cities — 922 fewer killings. Denver, Omaha and Washington saw 40%+ drops. The rate may be the lowest since 1900.
🧬 A Century of Hair Proves Environmental Regulation Works
University of Utah scientists analysed 100+ years of archived hair samples and found lead exposure collapsed after EPA regulations. Published in PNAS — tangible proof locked in human bodies.
👶 San Francisco Makes Childcare Free for Families Under $230K
Free childcare for families earning under $230,000; 50% subsidies up to $310,000. SF joins NYC and New Mexico in what's becoming a national movement toward universal provision.
🐻❄️ Svalbard's Polar Bears Are Getting Fatter and Healthier
Despite shrinking sea ice, Norway's ~250 Svalbard polar bears are thriving — adapting to new food sources including harbour seals and reindeer. A nuanced story with important caveats about long-term outlook.
✊ FGM Rates Fall from 1 in 2 to 1 in 3 in a Decade
The WHO reports half of all progress against female genital mutilation since 1990 was achieved in the last 10 years alone. Education and community-led engagement are reaching tipping points.
📊 Progress by Numbers
- €100 million — Economic benefits generated by Ireland's €25m arts basic income pilot (4:1 ROI)
- 80.7% — Portugal's renewable electricity share in January 2026, topping the EU
- 25% — Year-on-year reduction in Colombia's deforestation rate
- 125 years — How far back you'd have to go to find a lower U.S. homicide rate
💡 One Thing You Can Do
Support your local arts scene today. Ireland proved that modest financial support for artists creates outsized economic and cultural returns. Buy a ticket to a local show, commission a piece from a local artist, or donate to an arts charity. Creative economies thrive when communities invest in them.
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