Welcome to the Good News Roundup for December 1, 2025
Scientists Looking at Scorpion Venom as Potential Cancer Treatment
Scientists in Brazil are turning to biotechnology to develop new treatments for cancer, with venom from Amazonian scorpions showing positive potential.
Researchers at the University of São Paulo’s Ribeirão Preto School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (FCFRP-USP) have discovered a compound in the scorpion venom that appears to attack breast cancer in a similar way to chemo.
It’s not the first time the teams have looked at the potential of venom, with scientists at the university also investigating the properties of rattlesnake venom and how it might be used.
You can read more in this Science Daily article, here.
Australia takes significant step forward in the push to eliminate Cervical Cancer
Last week we brought you news on the first official World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, and it seems Australia is taking significant steps forward in the move to eradicate the disease.
A new report from the Centre for Research Excellence in Cervical Cancer Control found Australia is on track to become the first country in the world to eliminate the disease by 2035.
For the first time since records began in 1982, Australia recorded no new cases of cervical cancer in women under the age of 25, in 2021.
You can read more here.
Perth woman gifts multi-million-dollar estate to support local performing arts
Western Australia’s Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) has received an extraordinary bequest, with a 76-year-old woman gifting her entire estate – worth millions – to the institution.
Perth woman Paula Huston was a keen supporter and lover of the arts, known to enjoy performances at WAAPA for several decades, and had been quietly donating $100,000 each year to support student scholarships.
She passed away last month, and in an even greater gift of generosity, left instructions for her estate to go to a cause close to her heart.
You can read more of this story in The West Australian, here.
Wildlife Carer Awarded Social Media Award ‘For Good’
And, in a display of the positive side of social media, an Australian wildlife rescuer and carer has taken out the Tik Tok ‘For Good’ Award.
Josh Neille has won the hearts, likes and follows of millions of people across social media platforms with his open, honest and very Australian insight into caring for sick and injured wildlife from his home in Victoria.
His videos and posts are often funny but carry a serious message – of the need to care for the incredible ‘critters’ around us, and the important work carried out by wildlife carers and volunteers.
You can find his page on TikTok or Instagram.
