In a development that will shock absolutely no one who has ever taken a breath, scientists have confirmed that children's lungs recover when you stop pumping them full of exhaust fumes. Researchers at Queen Mary University of London studied more than 3,400 primary school children in London and Luton, and found that kids in the capital's Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) saw their stunted lung growth 'catch up' to normal levels within four years of the scheme's introduction in 2019. Prof Chris Griffiths, who led the study, told the BBC he was 'absolutely stunned' by the results. We're stunned too, Chris - stunned that anyone thought a clean air zone might be a bad idea. The study, published in the Lancet Public Health, found that 14% of London children had clinically impaired lung capacity before Ulez, dropping to 9% by the end of the study. In Luton, which had smaller-scale measures, the figure fell from 9% to 7%. The researchers also noted that nitrogen dioxide exposure fell faster in London, which they say is key to the improvements. But, as with any good news, there are caveats: independent experts point out that the study period included the Covid-19 pandemic, and that other factors like increased walking and cycling could play a role. And lead author Dr Helen Wood warns there's no room for complacency, as air pollution in both cities remains above WHO guidelines. So yes, the kids are better, but we're still poisoning them - just a bit less. Prof Griffiths sums it up: 'There are more than a billion kids living in cities around the world, most of them in polluted environments, getting a really bad start in life.' But hey, at least we now have proof that cleaning up our act helps. Who knew?