London clean air zone restored children's stunted lungs

A study of London schoolchildren found that lung capacity stunted by pollution measurably recovered after the city's Ultra Low Emission Zone came into force — a result researchers describe as stunning. Children in the zone caught up with peers in cleaner areas, demonstrating that policy-driven air quality improvements can reverse developmental harm already done. The findings land as Australia simultaneously warns of elevated bushfire danger across the Northern Territory, NSW, and Queensland.