October brought more than pumpkins and spooky celebrations. It also brought genuine reasons for hope.
With the October edition of The Bright Side, our ISR Student Leadership Council (SLC) Social Involvement Department continues its monthly tradition of collecting positive news from around the globe and sharing it with our community. The Student Leadership Council (SLC) is our elected student body, through which students take an active role in shaping school life and initiating projects for the community. In a time when headlines are often dominated by crises and conflict, our students consciously turn their attention to the people, discoveries and decisions that make our world a little brighter. They show that a hopeful outlook and a critical eye go hand in hand.
This edition highlights groundbreaking scientific discoveries, encouraging progress in cancer treatment, a remarkable success for wildlife conservation and stronger environmental protections.
A Nobel Prize for Illuminating the Brain
On October 5th, the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to the American scientist Karl Deisseroth and the German researchers Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for their pioneering work on optogenetics. This technique uses light to switch individual nerve cells on and off. It has fundamentally deepened our understanding of how the brain shapes memories, emotions and behavior, and researchers are already investigating its potential for medical applications, such as restoring lost vision.
Feared Extinct, Rediscovered After Nearly a Century
The Bangka slow loris, a small, nocturnal and, remarkably, venomous primate, had not been scientifically documented on the Indonesian island of Bangka since the early 1930s and was considered possibly extinct. A new study now confirms that the species has survived: between 2015 and 2025, a local wildlife rescue center recorded more than 90 individuals in various parts of the island. The rediscovery is a source of joy and, at the same time, an urgent reminder of how important it is to protect the island’s remaining forests.
A Gentler Path in Cancer Treatment
On October 19th, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the immunotherapy dostarlimab for patients with a specific genetic subtype of locally advanced rectal cancer. In the underlying clinical trial, almost three out of four patients needed neither surgery, radiation therapy nor chemotherapy after more than two years of follow-up. For those affected, this can mean a far less invasive form of treatment and a significantly higher quality of life.
Fewer “Forever Chemicals” in Everyday Life
Since October 10th, a new EU restriction has applied to PFHxA, a substance from the group of so-called PFAS “forever chemicals,” which barely break down in the environment. The rule covers everyday products such as clothing, footwear, cosmetics and food packaging made of paper and cardboard, for example pizza boxes. It is an important step toward better protecting both people and the environment.
Learning to Notice the Good
Initiatives like The Bright Side reflect our conviction that education extends far beyond the classroom. By researching, verifying and sharing positive news, our students strengthen their media literacy and their sense of global responsibility, and they inspire our entire kindergarten and school community to recognize progress where it happens.
We wish to thank our Social Involvement team for reminding us, month after month, to notice the good and to share it.
