From quiet revolutions to medical breakthroughs, this week’s good news roundup is all about reimagining what’s possible. Discover how mass reading parties are turning solitude into community, how nature is being woven into NHS healthcare, and why a new Alzheimer’s blood test could change early diagnosis forever.
Here are three positive stories from the week of June 9 – 15, 2025.
Nature meets healthcare in brilliant new partnership
Natural England and the NHS are working together to bring the healing power of nature into healthcare settings – and it’s already making a difference. In Bradford, for example, ‘Green Therapy’ is being used to support mental health, with everything from wildlife habitats on hospital grounds to virtual nature experiences indoors. The result: lower stress, better mood, and a stronger sense of connection for patients.
Image: Natural EnglandA great reminder that hospitals and healthcare estates aren’t simply buildings; they can be spaces that care for people and the planet.
Reading goes viral – without a screen in sight
In an age of endless scrolling, one trend is quietly capturing attention: mass reading parties.
Reading Rhythms, a movement that began in New York City, is turning the simple act of reading into a shared experience, and answering the growing craving for real-world, offline experiences.
The movement invites hundreds of people to gather, open books, and read together in complete silence — no ‘book club’ vibes, just shared focus. At their latest event in Hudson Yards, more than 750 people sat side by side, each immersed in their own book.
“Reading Rhythms started with a group of friends who wanted to read more,” says Ben Bradbury, co-founder of Reading Rhythms. “It’s a chance to completely change someone’s relationship to their community – a lonely reader who feels alienated can become energised by having a group of thoughtful humans to connect and exchange ideas with. That’s ultimately what the Reading Rhythms mission is today: creating belonging through reading.”
“Society is placing a premium on social wellness,” he adds, in reference to the growing number of sober bars and wellness speakeasies gaining popularity across cities. Reading Rhythms offers a literary alternative.
Beyond the events, Reading Rhythms aims to expand globally, into major cities and smaller suburbs alike, and is developing a membership model to support casual participants and dedicated book lovers. Brands and institutions, including the New York Public Library, are partnering with them, making the events a unique space where community, culture, and commerce meet.
RELATED: The ITN Business team’s most memorable reads
A simple blood test could transform Alzheimer’s diagnosis
In a major breakthrough, scientists have developed a blood test that can detect early signs of Alzheimer’s with up to 95% accuracy.
Created by the Mayo Clinic in the US, the test looks for specific proteins linked to the disease – offering a faster, cheaper and far less invasive alternative to current methods like PET scans and spinal taps.
Experts say this could be a game-changer, especially as new treatments emerge that can slow the disease if caught early. “Even a few years ago, the idea that you could measure brain-related changes in the blood was science fiction,” said Professor Jonathan Schott of UCL.
And there’s more hopeful news: 138 new Alzheimer’s drugs are now in clinical trials – the highest number in years.
