Planet

AI read years of old news to learn how to forecast flash floods

Google researchers used AI to comb years of public reports and catalogue more than 2.6 million past floods. That record trained a model that can warn of urban flash floods up to 24 hours ahead, shown free on Google's Flood Hub.

1 min readMore from March 2026

Why it matters

Flash floods kill because they arrive with little warning. A day's notice is enough to move people, cars and supplies out of harm's way, and the same platform already gives river flood warnings to an estimated 2 billion people.

SourcePrimetel

More good news like this

Science

An AI built at McMaster has already designed a brand-new antibiotic

Researchers at McMaster University in Canada built a generative AI model that assembles new drug candidates from roughly 150,000 chemical building blocks. In early tests, it has already designed a new antibiotic.

Read the storyPlanet

AI nudges helped North American homes skip a gigawatt of peak power this year

Utilities using Oracle's AI-driven Opower programs asked customers to ease off electricity at the busiest moments, with personalised tips and rebates for doing it. Across a record 73 events in 2026, the savings added up to 1 gigawatt of peak demand.

Read the storyAccessibility

Fifty blind veterans in Georgia got AI glasses that tell them what's in front of them

The Georgia Center for the Visually Impaired gave about 50 blind veterans free AI-powered smart glasses, made by Meta, at an event marking White Cane Safety Day. The Atlanta-based center also trains people to use them.

Read the story

Get the good news where you already scroll.

One hopeful, sourced AI story a day on X.

Follow @fodoomx