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2022: stories of hope - 26th December 2022

This year, the effects of climate change have touched many countries on Earth. Scientists have continued to try and solve its problems. In Ethiopia, for example, scientists have studied the 'enset' banana. The crop is easy to grow and needs little water. And in Europe, farmers are feeling hopeful about seaweed. These two crops could be important food for the future.

Nature continues to surprise us in a positive way as well. In England, workers found some old bones. They belonged to a sea dragon, from 180 million years ago. This year, scientists also came closer to bringing an animal back to life, from the past. Scientists are using DNA to create the Tasmanian tiger, a doglike animal. It's now possible it will return very soon.

2022 was a good one for medicine too. Researchers found a solution for haemophilia. This disease means a person cannot stop their blood flowing if they're hurt. The research will change the lives of people with haemophilia. Scientists also discovered how air pollution can develop into cancer of the lungs. The effect of this new understanding about lung cancer is huge.

In the world of money, there were some interesting developments. In the US, Maya Angelou, the poet, was pictured on the nation's 25 cent coin. It's the first time for a black woman. And in Switzerland, at the World Economic Forum, millionaires were complaining. They were asking to pay higher taxes, to help make the world a fairer place.

Meanwhile, in 2022 one businessman – Yvon Chouinard – gave away his international clothes company, Patagonia. He gave it to the planet, to fight climate change.