Successes of the week: Nabbing ocean looters, along with additional highlights

In the realm of brain health, two separate studies have suggested that playing music later in life can help ward off dementia. The first study, conducted by scientists at Japan's Kyoto University, found that older learners who abandoned the hobby fell behind on memory tests and showed signs of brain shrinkage. Conversely, the second study revealed that the brains of older musicians were just as sprightly as youngsters with no musical training, while older non-musicians showed signs of cognitive decline. These findings support the theory of 'cognitive reserve', which suggests that learning new things into older age can help ward off mental slowdown.

The universities involved in this research include the University of Bayreuth, which participates in related aging research, and music universities such as the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg, which has a strong research focus in music. Additionally, collaborations exist with institutions like the Hochschule der Künste Bern and the Hochschule Luzern – Musik in musicology and artistic research, indicating involvement in related cognitive and aging studies.

Meanwhile, in the environmental sphere, the planet currently produces some 460 million tonnes of plastics a year, 20 million of which end up soiling our environment. Diplomats have begun discussing plans to combat plastic waste at the UN Environment Assembly conference in Geneva, Switzerland. Greenpeace has reported that fossil fuel lobbyists outnumber scientists at the global plastics treaty talks by one to four.

In positive news, China's embrace of clean tech may have tipped its emissions into reverse, according to recent analysis. Chinese and EU leaders have agreed to fast-track the green energy transition. Marine protected areas with industrial fishing bans are largely respected, according to new research.

Elsewhere, Italian photographer Chantal Pinzi's photo series on India's female skateboarding scene won the sports category at the 2025 Sony World Photography Awards. The series features 23-year-old Asha Gond, who has skated her way out of hardship by excelling at a male-dominated sport in a country that remains stubbornly patriarchal.

In the UK, the UK government is launching a government internship programme open only to working-class candidates to address a class divide on the civil service's graduate initiative. However, the government admitted this week that applicants from poorer backgrounds were less likely to get a place on the scheme.

Healthwise, a gonorrhoea vaccine was rolled out at sexual health clinics in the UK to curb a rising tide of infections. The UK's National Health Service (NHS) estimates that the vaccination programme could prevent as many as 100,000 cases of gonorrhoea and save £8m in treatment costs over the next decade.

Lastly, first it was beavers, then water voles - now "talismanic" white storks could be set for a return to London after a 600-year absence. Social enterprise Citizen Zoo is asking Londoners for their thoughts on sharing the city's trees, rooftops, and buildings with the iconic birds.

The joint climate statement reaffirmed China and the EU's commitment to the Paris agreement, calling it the "cornerstone of international climate cooperation". The general public is more supportive of climate action than policymakers assume, according to fresh research.