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The morning sun warms the terrace at Stockfleths in Oslo, where I sit with my flat white, watching the city come alive. Electric scooters and cyclists zip past while two fathers chat nearby, each with a pram. A mother pedals by with a pink trailer carrying her toddler. The green trees provide a gentle shade, and the blue sky promises a beautiful day.
I catch up with the news, and it's disturbing. In a recent NBC interview, President Trump declared he doesn't know if he has to uphold the U.S. Constitution, stating, "I don't know. I'm not a lawyer. I don't know," when asked whether citizens and non-citizens deserve due process. Trump has also announced plans to reopen the infamous Alcatraz prison, which has been closed for over six decades.
The contrast with Norway is striking – here, incarceration rates are six times lower than America's, with facilities focused on rehabilitation rather than punishment. While Trump pushes for more prisons in a country that already incarcerates about 1% of its population, the Norwegian Justice Ministry recently expanded funding for prisoner education programs.
Amid the troubling headlines, there's encouraging environmental news from Scotland. By 2026, a herd of wild bulls will be introduced to the Scottish Highlands to help restore biodiversity, store carbon, and enhance eco-tourism. Called tauros, these animals are part of a rewilding project led by Trees for Life, aiming to replace the ecological role of the extinct aurochs. As large grazers, they'll promote the growth of native plants and create habitats for wildlife, showing how nature-based solutions can help address our climate crisis.
On the science front, researchers at King's College London have made a remarkable breakthrough that could change dentistry forever. Scientists have developed a special material that enables cells to communicate with each other to form teeth, mimicking the natural environment needed for tooth growth. This could eventually allow patients to grow their own replacement teeth instead of relying on fillings or implants. "Fillings aren't the best solution for repairing teeth," explains researcher Xuechen Zhang, noting they weaken tooth structure over time and have limited lifespans. Lab-grown teeth would integrate naturally into the jaw, self-repair, and last longer – a biological revolution in dental care. As someone who doesn't like spending time in the dentist's chair, I'm eagerly awaiting the day when I can apply the phrase "I grew that myself" to more than just my sad attempts to grow strawberries in the garden on my island.
As Oslo residents hurry past the café window, I think about the contrast between Trump's constitutional ambivalence and the evidence-based approaches I see around me here in Norway. From prison reform to environmental restoration and medical innovation, there are paths forward that honor both human dignity and scientific progress, two criteria that I would like to see accepted as guidelines in any government policy in any country.
Morning Brew is my personal reflection on today's news, crafted during those quiet moments with the day's first coffee. Whether from a bustling café or my own desk, these insights connect local observations to global events. Your support through coffees and subscriptions directly fuels my writing for The Planet newsletter and Screen Skills. I share these exclusive Morning Brews as a special thank you to my supporters. The button below lets you join this community with a one-time or monthly coffee.
With a steaming cup of gratitude,
Alexander