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Edition #30 · Friday, June 19, 2026 · 1994 positive stories
Science & Breakthroughs

Europe removed a record 602 river barriers last year

Optimist Daily Thu, 18 Ju
Europe removed a record 602 river barriers last year

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A dam fell in Iceland last December, the first the country has ever deliberately dismantled. The structure on the River Melsá had long since stopped generating power. Sheep were living in the old powerhouse. “It wasn’t providing any electricity,” said Hamish Moir, a river engineer from CBEC, the Scottish firm that provided technical support for the demolition. To see the river restored to its natural state, he said, was “really rewarding.” That would have bee

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About Science & Breakthroughs coverage

The science section covers breakthroughs in medicine, physics, biology, and technology. We surface discoveries that expand what humanity can do, from new treatments reaching clinical trials to engineering feats that seemed impossible a decade ago. Every link goes to the original publisher so you can read the full study or press release yourself.

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