Fox News

Over 80 farms in the US and Canada have created "Peanuts"-themed attractions to honor Charles M. Schulz, the creator of beloved characters like Charlie Brown and Snoopy. The first "Peanuts" strip was released 75 years ago by Schulz when he was just 27 years old, eventually becoming syndicated in over 2,600 newspapers worldwide. Jill Schulz, his daughter, expressed gratitude for farmers dedicating their land to her father's legacy while joking about her own lack of a green thumb.

Why Are Farmers Across US and Canada Carving ‘peanuts’ Comic Characters in Corn Mazes?

Science Daily

A new experimental molecule developed by scientists at Oregon Health & Science University may offer a potential path toward treating one of the most difficult forms of breast cancer.

Researchers say the compound could help tackle triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive type of the disease that currently has limited treatment options.

The findings, published in Cell Reports Medicine, describe how the molecule — known as SU212 — targets an enzyme that cancer cells rely on to grow and spread.

“It’s an important step forward to treat triple-negative breast cancer,” said Sanjay V. Malhotra, the study’s senior author and co-director of the Center for Experimental Therapeutics at the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute.

“Triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive form of cancer and there are no effective drugs available right now.”

Triple-negative breast cancer accounts for about 15% of all breast cancer cases. It is often harder to treat because it lacks the receptors that many standard therapies target.

To test the new compound, researchers used a humanized mouse model designed to closely replicate how the disease behaves in people.

The molecule SU212 works by attaching to an enzyme called enolase 1, or ENO1. This enzyme helps regulate glucose levels inside cells and is produced in unusually high amounts by many cancer cells.

Once SU212 binds to ENO1, the enzyme begins to break down.

That disruption interferes with a key metabolic pathway that cancer cells depend on for energy and growth. In the study, the process reduced tumour growth and limited the spread of cancer in the mice.

Under normal conditions, ENO1 plays a role in helping cells convert glucose into energy. But because cancer cells often rely heavily on glucose metabolism, interfering with this process may weaken their ability to survive and spread.

Malhotra noted the approach may be particularly relevant for people who also have metabolic conditions such as diabetes, which is linked to high blood sugar levels.

The researchers also believe the strategy could eventually be applied to other cancers.

ENO1 has been linked to the progression of several other malignancies, including glioma, pancreatic cancer and thyroid carcinoma.

“A drug that targets enolase 1 could help improve the treatment of these cancers too,” Malhotra said.

The next step for the research team would be to move the molecule toward human clinical trials. That process involves securing regulatory approval and the resources needed to launch studies involving patients.

Malhotra joined Oregon Health & Science University in 2020 after previously working at Stanford University. The molecule itself was originally developed during earlier research at the National Cancer Institute in Maryland.

At OHSU, Malhotra and his colleagues focus on turning laboratory discoveries into potential treatments that could benefit patients in hospitals and clinics.

“There is definitely great science going on here, and we want to translate that science for the benefit of people,” he said.

The research was supported by several organizations, including the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Defense.

Scientists Say They've Discovered a Molecule That Halts Aggressive Breast Cancer

ABC - Australia

When Dan Turner sailed into Antigua this week, the welcome waiting for him was loud, emotional and well deserved.

Boats filled the harbour. Horns sounded. Champagne flowed.

After 16 months at sea and roughly 28,000 nautical miles travelled, the South Australian had completed a remarkable journey: sailing solo around the world in a boat he built himself.

Turner was one of 15 sailors competing in the Mini Globe Race, a demanding global sailing competition that begins and ends in Antigua. The race is sailed in small 5.8-metre yachts known as Class Globe boats.

Crossing the finish line on March 8 marked the end of a voyage many sailors only dream about.

“The welcoming was just insane,” Turner said as he reflected on the final stretch of the race.

“There were boats everywhere and people honking horns; it's something that I couldn't have even imagined.”

What makes Turner’s accomplishment even more unusual is the boat itself.

Named The Immortal Game, the yacht was built by Turner in his own garage back home in Adelaide. From that modest starting point, it eventually carried him across oceans and through some of the planet’s most remote waters.

The adventure, however, came with real challenges.

Turner said the emotional toll of being away from his family for more than a year was one of the hardest parts of the journey.

“I felt selfish being away from my family, so it was very difficult at times,” he said.

“It was really my family, my friends and supporters that pushed me to dig deep.”

The ocean brought its own tests.

Early in the race, Turner nearly lost his mast when the forestay — a wire that stabilizes the mast at the front of the boat — suddenly snapped.

“That took some quick thinking to get some of the other ropes to attach the mast to the front of the boat to keep it from falling down,” he said.

Storms were another constant threat.

“I had big storms … there were 70 knots of breeze near Tahiti and a 12-hour storm cell that was just crazy windy.”

Despite the danger, Turner says the journey also delivered unforgettable moments.

Sailing through remote parts of the Pacific allowed him to visit places few travelers ever see.

“We got to see some amazing places and cultures around the world,” he said.

“You can't really get to some of these islands, like the Marquesas Islands, unless you've got a boat. Meeting some of these people and eating food with the locals was just amazing.”

Back home, his wife Nikki Turner followed every stage of the voyage from Australia.

She admitted that when the project first began — with her husband building a plywood boat in the driveway — she had some doubts.

“From the moment that he started building a plywood boat in our driveway, I think there was some scepticism initially that he would be able to sail around the world,” she said.

That uncertainty turned into relief when the long-awaited call finally came.

“But we took a really big, deep breath when he rang through and he said that he crossed the finish line in Antigua.”

She said announcing the voyage had brought a “certain level of fear,” but supporting her husband’s ambitions had always been part of their life together.

“Anything he puts his mind to, he gives 110 per cent,” she said. “I'm very happy to have him back on land.”

As for The Immortal Game, its story is not finished yet.

Turner has already sold the boat to another Australian sailor who plans to compete in the Mini Globe Race in 2029.

“I've actually sold it to another Australian, and I'm bringing it back to Australia to hand it over to him,” Turner said.

“He's going to do the Mini Globe Race in 2029, so it'll be good to see the boat continuing its legacy.”

For Turner himself, the next chapter is far less dramatic.

After more than a year crossing oceans alone, he is simply looking forward to being home again.

“I was lucky enough that my wife got to meet me in a few places, but I haven't seen the kids now for many months,” he said.

“I hope I've inspired them and that we can spend a lot of time [together] in the next couple of years before they move out and do their own things.”

His wife already has an idea for what might come next. She would still like to see him on the water — just closer to home.

“And just keeping that passion for dreams and adventure alive,” she said.

He Built A Boat In His Garage. Then Sailed It Around The World Alone

People

A late-night crash on a Massachusetts road could have ended very differently if not for a police officer and a few strangers who stopped to help.

Francis Leverone, 78, is alive today after being rescued from a burning truck following a collision on Route 138 in Easton, Massachusetts.

The crash happened around 2 a.m. on Feb. 27 as Leverone was driving home after finishing a late shift at a restaurant in nearby Brockton, Massachusetts.

According to reports from WHDH and WCVB, Leverone’s truck collided with a parked dump truck that was filled with snow. Moments later, another vehicle struck Leverone’s truck from behind.

Both vehicles quickly caught fire.

Leverone was trapped inside his truck and badly injured. The crash had dislocated his leg, leaving him unable to get out on his own.

Help arrived quickly.

Dean Soucie rushed to the scene and, with the help of two brothers who had stopped nearby, worked to pull Leverone out before the flames spread.

Body camera footage released by Easton Police Department shows Soucie breaking into the vehicle and reaching inside as bystanders helped lift Leverone through a shattered window.

“I see them getting under my arms, and I guess one of the brothers got inside the truck, trying to get my leg untangled, so I could stretch it, then they pulled me straight out,” Leverone said, according to WCVB.

The rescue happened just in time.

Leverone suffered multiple injuries in the crash, including a dislocated leg, a dislocated hip, a broken wrist and cuts to his face. He is currently recovering at Boston Medical Center.

His wife, Dee Leverone, said she is grateful to the people who stepped in to help.

“I'm just thankful for the people that got him out,” she said. “Very thankful.”

Officer Soucie later praised the two brothers who assisted with the rescue, telling WBZ they acted without hesitation.

“They jumped into action like it was nothing,” Soucie said, calling them “absolutely awesome.”

Keith Boone also commended the officer and the bystanders for their quick response.

“He saved a life last night,” Boone said. “He is an exemplary police officer and this is just one example. I think he's a hero.”

For Leverone and his family, the bravery of strangers made all the difference in the middle of a terrifying moment.

A Police Officer And Bystanders Pulled a 78-Year-Old Man From a Burning Truck In Massachusetts

Artnet

What would you ask a queen from the 1200s?

At Leeds Castle, visitors are getting the chance to find out.

A new exhibition at the historic castle features an interactive A.I. avatar of Eleanor of Castile, the influential medieval queen and wife of Edward I of England. Instead of simply reading about her life, visitors can now ask questions and hear responses from a digital recreation designed to simulate how Eleanor might have spoken about her experiences.

The project is part of an exhibition titled “Pilgrimage of Love: Eleanor of Castile,” which explores the queen’s life, her political influence, and her legacy in England.

The A.I. experience, called “An Audience with a Queen,” appears at the end of the exhibition and invites visitors to interact directly with the digital figure. The avatar can respond to questions and is programmed to recognize when people approach the display.

The technology was developed in partnership with SKC Studios, which helped create the digital version of Eleanor.

“This new avatar gives visitors a unique chance to meet Eleanor of Castile as a person with depth and personality,” said Dominique Bouchard, engagement director at Leeds Castle. “It brings people into a more human relationship with the past.”

The exhibit also explores the real history behind the queen.

Eleanor married Edward in 1253 in a political alliance meant to settle disputes over Gascony. Over their three-decade marriage, the pair became known for their close relationship. Eleanor gave birth to 16 children, though only six survived into adulthood.

She also traveled with Edward during his crusade to the Middle East in the early 1270s, a journey that later inspired legends about her devotion to him.

Back in England, Eleanor gained a reputation as a shrewd businesswoman who acquired estates and land across the country. One of her most notable projects was the transformation of Leeds Castle itself.

After acquiring the property in 1278, Eleanor oversaw renovations that turned what had been a Norman stronghold into a royal residence. The castle’s Gloriette complex, which includes a multi-level keep and gardens influenced by Spanish design, dates to that period.

The new A.I. display visually references Eleanor’s famous bronze effigy at Westminster Abbey, considered one of the finest works of medieval English sculpture. The digital queen appears wearing an apple-green cloak and is framed within a screen designed to resemble a Gothic lancet window.

Museums around the world have been experimenting with similar technology in recent years, allowing visitors to interact with digital versions of historical figures.

SKC Studios has previously created an A.I. version of Alan Turing for Bletchley Park and is developing another featuring William Gladstone for the Museum of the Prime Minister.

Other institutions have experimented with similar approaches, including interactive displays at the Palace of Versailles and the Salvador Dalí Museum.

At Leeds Castle, the difference is that the digital Eleanor can recognize when visitors approach and respond as if she were aware of the space around her.

For museum staff, the goal is to make history feel less distant.

The exhibition “Pilgrimage of Love: Eleanor of Castile” opened March 9 and runs through November 1 at Leeds Castle.

Leeds Castle Unveils Interactive A.I. Avatar of Eleanor of Castile in New Exhibition

inspiremore

It was supposed to be just another school program.

Instead, it became the reason a mother is still alive.

In 2023, Mahogany Milton attended the American Heart Association’s STEM Goes Red program with her mother, B’Lon Calloway. During the event, the pair learned CPR together.

Two years later, that training was put to the test.

In March 2025, Calloway returned home from work when she suddenly went into cardiac arrest. Her heart stopped beating, and the situation quickly became life-threatening. But Milton, a student at Elyria Catholic High School in Ohio, didn’t panic.

She knew what to do.

“I called 911 they asked me if she was breathing. She took one big breath, and then she stopped breathing. She started turning blue, and she started getting cold,” Milton told WOIO.

As the emergency unfolded, the teenager immediately began performing CPR on her mother while waiting for paramedics to arrive.

Mahogany told the station she didn’t hesitate to begin the life-saving procedure she had practiced just two years earlier.

“I was like dear God please let my momma live,” Mahogany recalled.

Within minutes, emergency crews arrived and transported Calloway to University Hospitals for treatment.

Doctors say Milton’s quick action likely made all the difference.

Without CPR, the outcome could have been very different. When someone goes into cardiac arrest, every minute without circulation significantly reduces the chance of survival. Immediate CPR helps keep blood flowing to the brain and other vital organs until medical professionals can take over.

Calloway says she often thinks about how easily the moment could have unfolded another way.

“I could have been driving home that night in the car by myself. But, God saw a system to let me make it home. Even if it was just for her, he felt that she was strong enough to endure that,” Calloway said through tears.

At the hospital, doctors confirmed just how remarkable her recovery was.

Dr. Michael Zacharias, who treated Calloway, told WOIO that surviving cardiac arrest is uncommon, and regaining full heart function afterward is even rarer.

“Very few people, one, survive cardiac arrest. Two have completely recovered function of the heart. It’s truly incredible,” the doctor said.

For Milton, stepping in to save her mother’s life was simply instinct.

She addressed the crisis head-on and relied on the training she had learned alongside the very person she was now trying to save.

Today, Calloway is alive and recovering, something she credits to her daughter’s calm response and determination.

“If you don’t have faith look at me. I’m living testimony,” Calloway said.

What started as a routine learning opportunity at a STEM event ended up preparing one teenager for the most important moment of her life.

And in that moment, the lesson stuck.

This Brave Teen Used CPR To Save Her Mother's Life

Talker News

Sometimes the biggest surprise comes from a tiny peek inside a pouch.

Keepers at a small animal rescue centre in England recently got quite the shock when a Bennett’s wallaby joey began poking its head out for the first time. At first, nothing seemed unusual. But as the youngster’s fur started to grow, staff realized they were looking at something rare.

A bright white baby wallaby.

The albino joey was born at the charity Little Zoo in Wiltshire. Staff first noticed the tiny animal earlier this year when it began cautiously peering out from its mother’s pouch. Like all young wallabies, it spent its earliest weeks hidden away while it continued developing.

At that stage, there was nothing to suggest anything out of the ordinary.

Nicky Emery from The Little Zoo said the difference only became clear once the joey’s fur began to appear.

“When the joey first appeared it didn’t have any fur, so we couldn’t tell anything was different,” Emery said.

“As the fur started to grow we suddenly realized it was bright white.

“It was quite an exciting discovery for all of us.

“What makes the discovery even more remarkable is that both of the joey’s parents are normal brown Bennett’s wallabies.”

Albino animals are rare because of a genetic condition called albinism, which prevents the body from producing normal pigmentation. Without that pigment, animals are often born with white or extremely pale fur, lighter skin and pink or light-colored eyes.

In the wild, true albino wallabies are unusual sightings.

Wallabies with lighter coats sometimes appear, but those animals still have some pigmentation. True albinism is far less common.

The discovery immediately caught the attention of the small team at the rescue centre.

For now, the joey is still behaving like any other young wallaby. It spends most of its time tucked safely inside its mother’s pouch, venturing out only briefly as it grows stronger and more curious about the world around it.

That slow process is typical for wallabies, whose babies are born extremely small and continue developing inside the pouch for months after birth.

But this particular joey has already attracted a bit more attention than most.

After sharing photos of the tiny white wallaby, staff at The Little Zoo decided to let supporters help with an important decision: choosing a name.

Because the joey is still so young, the team cannot yet confirm if it is male or female. Instead, they are asking the public to send in creative gender-neutral suggestions.

Nicola, another member of the team, said inviting the public to take part felt like a natural way to celebrate the unusual arrival.

“It’s always lovely when our supporters get involved,” she said.

“This joey is something quite special, so we’d love people to help us choose the perfect name.”

The Little Zoo has built a reputation for its rescue and rehabilitation work with wolves and wolfdogs. The Wiltshire centre cares for a variety of animals and runs educational outreach programs aimed at helping visitors learn more about wildlife.

This tiny white joey may have arrived quietly inside a pouch, but it is quickly becoming the centre’s newest star.

And once it grows big enough to spend more time hopping around outside, visitors may get a better look at one of nature’s rarest colour variations.

For now though, the little wallaby seems perfectly happy doing what joeys do best.

Staying close to mum.

A Snow-White Surprise Just Popped Out Of A Wallaby’s Pouch in an Australian Zoo

Mongabay

Plastic is strong, durable and everywhere. That’s exactly the problem.

More than 90 percent of all plastic ever produced ends up polluting the environment. Once discarded, most plastics do not truly break down. Instead, they fragment into microplastics that can linger in ecosystems for centuries.

Now chemists at Rutgers University say they may have found a way to change that.

Inspired by how natural materials break down, the researchers have designed a new type of plastic that can be programmed to dismantle itself into its original molecular building blocks at the end of its useful life.

The idea borrows directly from biology.

Natural materials such as DNA, proteins and cellulose are all polymers, just like plastic. But unlike synthetic plastics, these natural polymers contain built-in mechanisms that cause them to break down once they are no longer needed.

“Nature has programmed its own degradation of polymers … and we are basically borrowing this chemistry to apply to our synthetic polymers,” said researcher Yuwei Gu, who led the study.

Traditional plastics are made from long chains of molecules called polymers that are held together by extremely strong chemical bonds. These bonds give plastics their durability, but also make them stubbornly resistant to decomposition.

The Rutgers team modified that structure.

They inserted tiny molecular “cutting tools” along the polymer chains, similar to chemical groups found in natural biological materials. When activated, those tools sever the bonds that hold the plastic together, reducing the material back into its original molecular components.

Instead of leaving behind microplastics, the material dissolves into a molecular mixture of the monomers used to create it.

That breakthrough means plastics could retain their strength during use and then cleanly break down afterward.

Even more intriguing, the researchers say the breakdown process can be programmed.

By adjusting where these molecular cutting points are placed along the polymer chain, scientists can control how long the plastic remains stable. A product could be designed to stay intact for months, years or decades before breaking apart.

The team also developed ways to trigger the breakdown on demand.

One method uses a protective “gate” within the molecular structure that blocks the cutting tool until it is opened by a trigger such as ultraviolet light. When exposed to the trigger, the plastic begins to dismantle itself.

But sunlight alone would not work in many environments, such as landfills or ocean depths. So researchers also developed a second trigger.

Drawing inspiration again from nature, the plastic can also change shape in response to metal ions in the environment. That shift in molecular structure moves the cutting tool into position, allowing the material to break apart even without sunlight.

Together, these mechanisms create plastics that can remain stable during use and then deconstruct when triggered.

Scientists say the innovation could help address one of the biggest weaknesses in modern plastic production.

Since the 1950s, the world has produced more than 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic. Most of it still exists somewhere on the planet today. By 2050, researchers estimate total plastic production could reach 25 billion metric tons.

Meanwhile, less than 10 percent of plastic is currently recycled.

Francisco Martin-Martinez, a computational chemist at King’s College London who was not involved in the research, called the work promising.

“It’s a beautiful demonstration that we can use the fundamental laws of physics and chemistry to solve modern engineering problems,” he said.

The concept could also support a more circular economy.

If plastics break down into their original molecular components, those building blocks could potentially be reused to manufacture new plastics. Researchers say the technology could eventually be used to design products such as packaging that degrades after a few months or fishing nets that last only a specific number of years.

Challenges remain before the material becomes widespread. The plastics are complex to manufacture and could be more expensive than conventional materials. Researchers must also confirm that the breakdown components are safe and non-toxic.

Still, scientists see the work as an important step toward solving the plastic waste crisis.

“I believe the answers to solve lots of demanding challenges in today’s society can come directly from nature,” Gu said.

These Rutgers Scientists Just Created Plastic That Can Program Its Own Breakdown

Euro News

Most museums ask you to walk quietly through the galleries. Singapore’s next one may ask you to grab a paddle.

A new interactive museum planned for the city will invite visitors to explore the art by pedal kayak, gliding past installations tucked among mangrove trees.

The project is being developed by teamLab, the internationally known art collective whose immersive exhibitions have drawn huge crowds around the world. Their installations typically surround visitors with colourful projections and digital environments that react to movement, turning museum visits into something closer to an experience than a traditional gallery stop.

If you have spent time in Tokyo, chances are you have seen their work. Their exhibitions there regularly sell out months in advance, with visitors wandering through glowing rooms of interactive digital art that are built to be explored and photographed.

Now the group is bringing that style of art to a new setting. Water.

The planned museum will cover about 12,000 square metres and sit within a mangrove landscape where visitors can pedal through the exhibits by kayak. Along the way, projections and artworks will appear among the trees, turning the wetlands themselves into part of the installation.

Details about the exhibits themselves remain scarce. But if teamLab’s previous projects are any indication, visitors can expect environments that shift, react and change as people move through them.

The museum will form part of a much larger development known as Wetlands by the Bay.

The new attraction will be located within Gardens by the Bay, the sprawling nature park that opened in 2012 and quickly became one of Singapore’s most recognizable landmarks. The site already features massive glass conservatories and the towering “Supertrees” that light up the skyline each night.

Wetlands by the Bay will add a new ecological space to that landscape.

The development will expand the park’s mangrove environment dramatically. Developers plan to triple the number of mangroves in the area to about 600 trees. In total, the project aims to introduce roughly 50,000 plants across the wetlands.

The area will also include new walkways so visitors can explore the ecosystem from above.

A canopy boardwalk will wind through the site, giving people a bird’s-eye view of the greenery below. From there, visitors will also be able to look out across the nearby Marina Reservoir.

The development will include a food court as well, offering views toward the reservoir and Singapore’s future Founders’ Memorial, which is currently under construction nearby.

For Singapore, the project blends two things the city has spent years perfecting: large-scale nature spaces and big-ticket attractions.

teamLab has already expanded well beyond Japan with exhibitions across Asia and the Middle East, including installations in Osaka, Kyushu, Macao, Abu Dhabi and Jeddah. Each location tends to take on its own character depending on the environment.

The Singapore project may push that idea further than any previous installation. Instead of simply placing digital art inside a building, the concept blends it directly into a living mangrove ecosystem.

Construction for Wetlands by the Bay is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027.

If everything stays on schedule, visitors should be able to start paddling through the museum by the end of 2028.

A Museum You Paddle Through? Singapore Is Building One

Good News Network

Most restaurants give staff a holiday bonus. One restaurant in Ohio went a little further. They shut the place down and took the entire team on a cruise.

As the busy holiday season wrapped up at The Standard, owners Jeff Dinnebeil and Megan Lingsweiler surprised their cooks, servers and hosts with a three day trip to the Bahamas.

The couple booked a cruise with Royal Caribbean that sailed to Nassau and Bimini. Instead of keeping the restaurant open, they closed the doors so every staff member could come along.

For Dinnebeil and Lingsweiler, the idea started after a family cruise with their children the year before. The experience left such an impression that they wanted their staff to enjoy something similar.

They say the team is the reason the restaurant works.

Dinnebeil and Lingsweiler described their employees as the “lifeblood” of the business, and they wanted to thank them in a way that felt meaningful.

The trip turned out to be a first for several staff members.

Andrew Jackson, one of the restaurant’s cooks, had never flown before and had never been on a boat in the ocean.

“Everybody went on there as employees, and when we left and went back home, everybody was like family,” Jackson told Sheila Howard of The Toledo Blade.

For server Allison Latta, the trip also became a standout memory.

“I had been on cruises before, but this alone was probably my top vacation,” she told the Blade. “It was just such a unique experience getting to see 60 of your co-workers around the boat.”

The cruise itself looked more like a floating team celebration than a typical staff outing.

Employees spent time visiting the islands, but also took part in karaoke nights, scavenger hunts and a basketball competition. Large catered dinners brought the group together each evening.

The guest list even stretched beyond current staff.

A few loyal customers and former team members joined the trip as well, turning the getaway into something closer to a community celebration than a corporate retreat.

Back home, The Standard is known as a popular spot along Monroe Street in northwest Toledo, serving upscale American dishes with a focus on surf and turf.

But for a few days, the kitchen was quiet.

Dinnebeil and Lingsweiler closed the restaurant completely so nobody would have to miss the trip while others sailed off to celebrate.

And the cruise was not the only holiday reward. Employees also received Christmas bonuses from the owners.

For many on the trip, though, the shared experience turned out to be the biggest gift.

By the time the ship returned to port, coworkers who usually saw each other across a busy dining room said they felt something different.

Not just like colleagues. More like family.

Toledo Restaurant Owners Surprised Their Staff With a Bahamas Cruise as a Holiday Reward

GoodGoodGood

Television has long been accused of mishandling mental health. But new research suggests the script is finally changing.

Recent shows such as The Pitt, Adolescence and Shrinking are putting mental health front and center in their storylines. And according to researchers, audiences are responding.

A study from the USC Norman Lear Center found a significant rise in positive portrayals of mental health on television since 2021.

Researchers examined programs produced by Showtime, MTV Entertainment and the Paramount Media Network. They analyzed 13 television storylines that focused on mental health and surveyed audiences to see how those depictions affected viewers.

The results point to a clear shift in how television handles the topic.

Across the shows studied, researchers found more inclusive and responsible portrayals of mental health conditions. Derogatory language related to mental illness also declined by about 15 percent.

Viewers themselves reported feeling the difference.

Survey participants said they were more willing to seek help after watching storylines shaped by mental health experts or by creators with personal experience.

“This research validates what we as storytellers have always known: authentic and nuanced storytelling has the power to drive meaningful societal change,” said Nina L. Diaz, chief creative officer of Showtime and MTV Entertainment Studios.

For researchers, the findings suggest television can influence real-world behaviour in subtle but meaningful ways.

Erica Rosenthal, director of research at the Norman Lear Center, said the shift reflects a broader cultural change in how mental health is discussed on screen.

“This research highlights a dramatic shift in mental health storytelling, away from stigmatizing language and toward more nuanced discussions of specific conditions and treatment options,” Rosenthal said.

She added that seeing fictional characters deal openly with mental health struggles can make a difference for viewers at home.

“When viewers see their favorite TV characters seeking help or supporting friends who are struggling, we find they are more likely to take these steps themselves.”

The study suggests the change is not just about what stories television tells, but how those stories are told.

Rather than treating mental illness as a punchline or plot device, many newer shows are leaning into more detailed portrayals of therapy, recovery and support systems.

Researchers say that approach appears to be resonating with audiences and encouraging conversations that once stayed off screen.

The findings were published as part of the 2026 Mental Health Edition of Goodnewspaper.

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