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Last week brought a heavy dose of both bad and good news stories, ranging from the passing of actress Cicely Tyson to President Biden’s ambitious climate change plan. Regardless of the issues, there were some positive benefits to be taken away from the news stories of last week. That’s worth highlighting, especially considering the pandemic's stronghold over the news cycle for nearly a year now.

It was a week of progress in the fight against climate change, with President Biden signing a slew of executive actions to tackle environmental protection. Specifically, he ordered the government to increase the number of electric vehicles available to the public, and planned to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement. These actions are expected to help mitigate future disasters and show the world the United States is taking a firm stand on the issue.

The year also began with some exciting scientific breakthroughs. Scientists have developed a new vaccine that could help treat Alzheimer’s, one of the world’s leading causes of death. Additionally, the European Space Agency used a spacecraft to land on a comet for the first time ever, proving we are capable of reaching further into our galaxy than ever before.

It was a week dedicated to honoring the power of music, too, with the passing of R&B singer Toots Hibbert, the induction of the late David Bowie into the UK Music Hall of Fame, and the news that Billie Eilish had locked her first Grammy nomination. Celebrating these artists’ immense legacies serves to remind us of the lasting impact music has on our lives.

Finally, last week’s news cycle was also filled with stories of unity and compassion. The Wuhan community held their first large-scale public gathering since the start of the pandemic to mark the beginning of Lunar New Year. In the United States, millions of Americans showed their support for the legal defense of Amanda Gorman, the young poet who graced President Biden’s inauguration with her powerful words.

While it’s easy to focus on the negative news stories, taking a moment to recognize these positive stories that made headlines last week reminds us there is still good in the world. We can all learn from these stories and look to them for hope in the weeks ahead.