A river otter the moment it was released into the Rio Grande - Credit J.N. Stuart, CC 2.0.
A river otter the moment it was released into the Rio Grande – Credit J.N. Stuart, CC 2.0.
Conservationists in New Mexico are celebrating the state’s expanding population of wild river otters, as their numbers have tripled in the last 14 years.
Though native to the state, the beasts were extirpated completely during the 1900s, likely due to a mixture of overtrapping and habitat destruction.
However, groups can now be seen swimming about in waterways located in communities like Taos, Angel Fire, Pilar, and Corrales along the Rio Grande, and there’s every chance this expansion will continue.
“In 2008 to 2010, the department released 33 otters, and those reintroduction efforts took otters from Washington and brought them into the upper Rio Grande,” said Carnivore and Small Mammal Program Manager for the New Mexico Dept. of Game and Fish Nick Forman to KRQE News 13.
A 2018 study showed that this initial population has expanded to 100 individuals, complemented more recently when the department released another 9 otters from Louisiana to aid genetic diversity.
A river otter the moment it was released into the Rio Grande – Credit J.N. Stuart, CC 2.0.
Ecologists say they help riverine ecosystems by keeping prey species in check and improving water quality.
“They provide that ecosystem service of being a top predator,” Forman added. “It’s good to have this species back in the role it’s always played in our rivers and lakes.”
The department now is asking members of the public to send them any photos or videos of otters in the wild they take, hoping to use citizen science to better map their distribution around the state whilst conservationists mull over whether to continue with future release efforts.
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In western Syria, archaeologists believe they have unearthed evidence of the earliest use of an alphabet in the world.
The site, called Tell Umm el-Marra was an important urban center in Syria and one of the first to ever pop up in the region. It’s been under excavation for 16 years.
In one of the best-preserved tombs—remarkably unlooted—dating from the Early Bronze Age, 6 skeletons were found alongside grave goods and four, small, perforated clay cylinders.
Stamped on the cylinders seems to be some form of Semitic alphabet, but carbon dating revealed the clay to be around 500 years older than the previous oldest recorded alphabetic script.
“Alphabets revolutionized writing by making it accessible to people beyond royalty and the socially elite. Alphabetic writing changed the way people lived, how they thought, how they communicated,” said Glenn Schwartz, a professor of archaeology at Johns Hopkins University who discovered the clay cylinders.
“And this new discovery shows that people were experimenting with new communication technologies much earlier and in a different location than we had imagined before now.”
“Previously, scholars thought the alphabet was invented in or around Egypt sometime after 1900 BCE,” Schwartz said. “But our artifacts are older and from a different area on the map, suggesting the alphabet may have an entirely different origin story than we thought.”
The earliest forms of the Semitic alphabet come from the proto-Sinaitic inscriptions, discovered in 1905 on the Sinai Peninsula of which 20 to 40 examples exist. These are believed to represent a state of writing between the Egyptian hieroglyphics and the North Semitic alphabet.
However, as Schwartz explains, these new clay cylinders date to the 20th century BCE at the latest, 500 years before the Sinaitic inscriptions were carved.
“The cylinders were perforated, so I’m imagining a string tethering them to another object to act as a label. Maybe they detail the contents of a vessel, or maybe where the vessel came from, or who it belonged to,” Schwartz said. “Without a means to translate the writing, we can only speculate.”
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Quote of the Day: “If you don’t define yourself for yourself then you will be eaten alive by others’ fantasies of you.” – Audre Lorde
Photo by: Joshua Rawson-Harris
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3D printed dentures covered with suction cups - Credit KCL, via SWNS
3D printed dentures covered with suction cups – Credit KCL, via SWNS
Scientists have found a way to help dentures better stick to the mouth—which is a bigger problem than you think—by mimicking the powerful suction cups found on octopus tentacles.
Since 1 in every 10 users of dentures have trouble keeping them in place, they sometimes have to resort to various denture cements and adhesives to keep them in their mouth.
These are as widely unpopular as they sound; with users claiming they are unhygienic, unpleasant, and change the taste of food.
However, scientists from King’s College London (KCL) believe they have finally found an alternative to these products—one that is modeled on the octopus.
The team from the KCL Faculty of Dentistry, Oral, and Craniofacial Sciences, explored how they could replicate the process that helps these animals to stick to slippery surfaces in the sea.
Octopuses have suction cups on the underside of their tentacles which create a negative pressure vacuum that fixes them firmly to things like rocks.
The team theorized that something similar could be done for dentures, allowing them to attach to the soft mucosa of the mouth. For the first time ever, tiny suction cups have been designed into 3D-printed dentures.
Analysis of the models shows that these new dentures have twice the amount of retention as standard ones but are thankfully not so strong that users cannot remove them from their mouths.
“Having worked with denture wearers, who I often see in clinic, for several years, I really wanted to improve their experiences,” said lead author Dr. Sherif Elsharkawy, from King’s College London. “Octopus suckers seemed like the perfect place to start.”
“I first had the idea to replicate sticky surfaces in nature while biting into a peach. I noticed how the furry skin stuck to the palate of my mouth and decided to investigate other sticky surfaces in nature.”
“By mimicking the ingenious adhesive strategies found in octopus suction cups, we have developed a prototype that offers improved grip and comfort in even the most demanding oral environments,” said Dr. Elsharkawy.
It has always been popular in engineering and inventing to rely on inspiration from nature. This kind of “biomimicry” shows how many ready-made solutions can be found in nature.
“It’s inspiring to see how insights from nature, combined with cutting-edge manufacturing techniques, can lead to innovations that improve both functionality and patient satisfaction,” Dr. Eda Dzinovic, researcher in dental materials, added.
“Contributing to this project has been an incredible opportunity to push the boundaries of dental material science.”
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The entrance at the Sohag Temple Pylon - Credit: Supreme Council of Antiquities
The entrance at the Athribis Temple Pylon – Credit: Supreme Council of Antiquities
Ongoing excavations at a sprawling temple 125 miles north of Luxor have unearthed a towering discovery: a temple pylon measuring 150 feet wide made of sandstone blocks.
It was found at the Athribis site dating to the Ptolemy dynasty when Egypt was ruled by the descendants of one of Alexander of Macedon’s generals, where excavations are currently in their 21st year.
Athribis Temple Pylon – Photo Credit: Supreme Council of Antiquities.
The discovery by a joint Egyptian-German team is considered a “significant milestone” that will pave the way for further excavation at the temple site, where even after uncovering walls carved with high relief, halls, dozens of rooms, pillars and pillar bases, and over 1,200 hieroglyphic inscriptions, the majority remains buried.
“The slope angle of the towers suggests the original height of the pylon could have been up to 18 meters, rivaling the dimensions of the Luxor Temple pylon,” said Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
Mohamed Abdel Badie, head of the Central Administration for Upper Egypt Antiquities and head of the Egyptian side of the mission, stated that on the interior walls of the gate, hieroglyphic inscriptions were found depicting a Ptolemaic king welcoming Repyt, the lion-headed goddess and patron of the Athribis temple.
“Through studying the cartouches discovered at the entrance and on one of the interior sides, it was determined that this gate dates back to the reign of King Ptolemy VIII, who may have been the founder of the temple,” Abdel Badie said.
Dr, Marcus Miller, an archaeologist on the German team, said that a hidden room on a second floor accessible by a door on the exterior of the pylon, was discovered during the unearthing. Floor steps led up to the chamber which is guessed to have been destroyed during the 7th century CE.
The Athribis project is one of the most important ongoing in Egypt at the moment, and along with the impressive structures, has unearthed 30,000 artifacts.
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The seized radiated tortoises - Credit: Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation
The seized radiated tortoises – Credit: Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation
In May, GNN reported that 48 lemurs, 30 primates of various species, several crocodiles, and over 1,000 rare tortoises were seized when a convoy of four smuggling trucks was raided in Thailand.
The bust was valued at around $2 million on the black market, but now, these animals are set for a return to their wild homes on Madagascar.
Some of the lemurs after they were rescued – credit Wildlife Justice Commission Released
In a ceremony in Bangkok, Thai authorities transferred the 961 healthy animals over to members of the Malagasy Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation, in advance of their flight home on three separate planes operated by Qatar Airways.
“By conducting operations like this and broadcasting them globally, it shows that there are arrests and exchanges happening, making people worldwide aware that possessing these animals is not right,” said the department’s director, Attapol Charoenchansa.
Radiated tortoises and all the lemur species seized are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix I, meaning that trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances, and that trafficking them comes with the most severe sentencing.
Both species are native to Madagascar and are highly sought-after commodities in the global illegal pet trade market.
Wildlife, including plants and seeds, make up the third largest illegal market in the world behind drugs and weaponry. But whereas the other two can always be easily replaced through manufacturing, endangered species are finite.
In other words, the seizure will not only be significantly disruptive to the criminals’ operations, but create an extremely positive impact as they return to the wild and help their species recover.
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Vitamin K is found in leafy greens and is crucial for blood coagulation and calcium synthesis in tissues—but may also cure prostate cancer.
Not vitamin K specifically, but a precursor called menadione, which was found in a recent trial to interfere with the survival process of tumor cells and ultimately saw them explode.
Prostate cancer is one of the most lethal in men, and while multiple treatments exist, there are some varieties that are both highly resistant and highly aggressive. In 2001, a trial of 35,000 patients was funded to try and find out if vitamin E, a potent antioxidant, could help treat prostate cancer.
After just three years, however, it was found that more men taking the supplement started to get the disease. The trial organizers reasoned simply that if an antioxidant accelerated prostate cancer, could a pro-oxidant prevent it?
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) tested menadione, a precursor to vitamin K, in mice. In their animal model, it was found that the menadione depleted a lipid called PI(3)P, which works like an ID tag. Without it, the tumor cells failed to continue to recycle incoming material. They eventually exploded.
“It’s like a transport hub, like JFK. If everything that goes in is immediately de-identified, nobody knows where the airplanes should go next. New stuff keeps coming in, and the hub starts to swell. This ultimately leads to the cell bursting,” said Professor Lloyd Trotman, leader of the research from CSHL.
Trotman would like to see the results replicated in men who receive an early cancer diagnosis.
“Our target group would be men who get biopsies and have an early form of the disease diagnosed. We wonder if they start to take the supplement, whether we would be able to slow that disease down,” she said.
Sci-tech Daily reports that menadione may also be effective in slowing the progression of myotubular myopathy, a deadly birth defect in infant boys that prevents them from growing; eventually leading to death prior to childhood.
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Quote of the Day: “Earth knows no desolation. She smells regeneration in the moist breath of decay.” – George Meredith
Photo by: Drazen Nesic (cropped)
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A screengrab of Sam recovering in the hospital - Credit: Sandra Crocker, released
A screengrab of Sam recovering in the hospital – Credit: Sandra Crocker, released
From the mountains of British Columbia comes the story of a hiker who’s been found alive after being lost in the woods for five weeks.
In a remote provincial park, with nighttime temperatures plunging to minus-four, (-20C°), Sam Benastick struck out on October 7th for a 10-day camping and fishing trip.
An image of Benastick released by RCMP
Relatives said he was well-prepared and packed a wool hat and gloves, a hatchet, and “plenty of peanut butter,” but when he failed to return to his family’s home on the 17th, fear circulated among the small communities in northeast BC.
CBC News confirmed from Sam’s mother, Sandra Crocker, that he had been found on a remote access road and taken to the hospital for frostbite, exhaustion, and smoke inhalation.
In an update published on November 29th, CBC confirmed he had been discharged from the hospital. The story was followed by veteran reporter Andrew Kurjata, and is flush with details.
Borrowing his mother’s Honda dirt bike, Benastick landed at a trailhead and planned to hike in about 80 kilometers to catch Arctic grayling. Crocker told the CBC that Benastick was feeling a bit “listless” after returning from an extended trip to Europe, and felt he needed an adventure.
That adventure, coupled with the 10 days of planned excursion, lasted 50 days, but in a picture shared with CBC, Crocker showed her son giving a thumbs up from his hospital bed with the caption “he complained he didn’t even catch one fish.”
Redfern-Keily Provincial Park is a remote area 660 miles north of Vancouver, and boasts exquisite Rocky Mountain scenery, but threatens visitors with unpredictable weather, wolves, bears, no potable water, and no telecommunications coverage.
According to the BC Search and Rescue Association, more than 120 volunteers were involved in efforts to find Benastick with motor vehicles and aircraft across the vast park, in part informed by Timber Bigfoot, land and environment manager and member of the Prophet River First Nation, whose territory extends to the park.
“It’s an amazing environment and climate to try to survive,” Bigfoot told Kurjata, adding he’d love the opportunity to debrief the lost hiker. “I think it’s a miracle, and I congratulate him for being such a tough person.”
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were also involved in the search effort, but haven’t shared many details about the case as there was no criminal element.
In a release last Wednesday, RCMP said Benastick stayed in his car for a couple of days, then walked to a “creek, mountainside” where he camped for 10 to 15 days, before he “moved down the valley and built a camp and shelter in a dried-out creek bed.”
The only person who has since spoken with Sam or Sandra has been Mike Reid, the general manager of the Buffalo Inn in Pink Mountain where Sam’s relatives stayed while looking for him.
According to Reid, Benastick’s plans went awry when he had to retreat from either one or multiple wolves. After escaping their unfriendly jaws, he may have made camp to avoid the worst of several inches of snow that blanketed the park in October.
He was eventually found on an access road by surveyors who had been on the series of remote tracks for a week marking trees around potential well sites when they saw someone walking down towards them. According to Reid, they were surprised, because although they had seen a lot of ATVs and snowmobiles, it was not the place for hikers.
Eileen Stevens, Sam’s step-grandmother on his father’s side, joked she would be buying the boy a GPS for Christmas.
“Sam is a guy who knows the woods. He’s been raised—he’s a hiker. He’s a passionate fisherman,” she told CBC. “I don’t know his story, but I’m sure it’s going to be friggin’ amazing.”
His uncle, Al Benastick, agreed whilst adding that he couldn’t imagine the ordeal turning Sam off from his love of the Great Outdoors.
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A Scottish field once home to mono-crop barley has become a pollinator’s paradise after intervention from a local trust saw bumblebee numbers increase 100-fold.
Run by Rewilding Denmarkfield with a little help from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, the project has also seen a sharp increase in the number of species passing through the rolling meadows after they were reclaimed by dozens of wildflower species.
The area north of Perth is about 90 acres in size, and surveys of bumblebees before the project began rarely recorded more than 50. But by 2023, just two years of letting “nature take the lead” that number has topped 4,000, with the number of different bee species doubling.
“This superb variety of plants attracts thousands of pollinators. Many of these plants, such as spear thistle and smooth hawk’s beard, are sometimes branded as ‘weeds’. But they are all native species that are benefiting native wildlife in different ways,” Ecologist Ellie Corsie, who has been managing the project since it began in 2021, said.
“Due to intensive arable farming, with decades of plowing, herbicide, and pesticide use, biodiversity was incredibly low when we started. Wildlife had largely been sanitized from the fields. Rewilding the site has had a remarkable benefit.”
Similar increases have been recorded in the populations of butterflies, with a tripling in the number of these insects seen on average during a ramble through the field.
Local residents told the Scotsman that on spring and summer days, the field is awash with color, and hums with the sounds of bees and birds. Even as multiple housing developments expand around the Denmarkfield area, the field is a haven for wildlife.
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Army Staff Sergeant Payton May with his retiring military dog Yyacob – Photo by Chris Saucedo/Getty Images for American Humane
Army Staff Sergeant Payton May with his retiring military dog Yyacob – Photo by Chris Saucedo/Getty Images for American Humane
In a lovely gesture during the week leading up to Thanksgiving, a retired military dog Yyacob was reunited with his former US Army Staff Sergeant (Ssg) and handler, Payton May.
Yyacob and May served together for 9 months in Iraq, and saw each other for the first time in years in San Antonio, Texas.
American Humane helps reunite Army Staff Sergeant Payton May with his retiring military working dog Yyacob – Photo by Chris Saucedo/Getty Images for American Humane
The 8-year-old Belgian Malinois served as an explosives detection and patrol dog for nearly seven years of his life, protecting his fellow service members, civilians, and even US presidents.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to bring military working dog Yyacob home and reunite him with his best friend,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, President and CEO of American Humane, the United States’ first national humane organization and the world’s largest certifier of animal welfare.
“American Humane is honored to help give this courageous canine the comfortable retirement he deserves after seven years of distinguished service to our country.”
As a team, Ssg. May and Yyacob completed the elite Patrol Explosive Detection Dog— Enhanced Course, an advanced program for police patrol and explosive detection dogs that teaches them to work effectively off-leash, going as far as a football field away from their handler. The sophisticated 60-day course was only taught three times a year with space for ten dog teams.
Was it love at first sight? Not exactly, says Ssg. May, whose first thought was “this dog is nuts”. However, it wasn’t long before he grew to adore the dutifully, tireless pooch.
Their time overseas strengthened their already tight bond. Ssg. May and Yyacob were together 24/7, sharing a room and sleeping together in a twin-sized bed. May describes Yyacob as a “big baby” who loved to cuddle and hog the bed.
May and Yyacob were separated in 2020 when he was reassigned to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas. May was heartbroken to have to leave Yyacob.
When May learned that Yyacob was retiring, he immediately reached out to American Humane. He learned about American Humane’s work reuniting military dogs with former handlers when the organization helped his dear friend Isaac, a fellow K-9 handler, reunite with his military dog last May.
Next year, Yyacob will join May out on his next deployment to Italy, and May said he’s looking forward to giving his former partner a relaxing retirement. In addition to covering all transportation costs of the reunification, American Humane will provide free veterinary care for the rest of Yyacob’s life.
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Composite from two images taken with a Canon 85mm of Orion's belt and sword (nebula) - Credit: Skatebiker, public domain
Composite from two images taken with a Canon 85mm of Orion’s belt and sword (nebula) – Credit: Skatebiker, public domain
Everyone who knows the first thing about constellations can find Orion’s belt. For the vast majority of the Northern Hemisphere, those three unmissable stars in a slightly curved row can be seen on almost any night.
This month, an excellent opportunity will present itself to view the Orion Nebula, when on the 13th of December, just before midnight, it will be extremely visible in the night sky.
The Orion Nebula is the only nebula that can be seen with the naked eye, despite being 1,344 light years away. At times during the year it can appear extremely bright as the middle ‘star’ in the sword of the constellation of Orion.
While visible to countryside dwellers without optics, this photograph above was taken with an 85mm lens—hardly telescopic, and could probably be seen much better in areas with low light pollution with a pair of good binoculars or a basic telescope/spotting scope.
In other words, any optical aid will allow one to see the nebula as it passes overhead, offering the perfect opportunity to see your first one, or introduce a child to the concept of a nebula, sometimes called a star nursery.
Down a short way from the Orion Nebula is the so-called Running Man Cluster, making up the point of the sword of Orion. This cluster of nebulae is officially called Sh2-279, and is made up of three nebulae to the north of the Orion Nebula.
It includes a reflection nebula, which is a cloud of dust and gas that affects the optical perception of star-forming parts of the nebula. The light from the latter isn’t enough to shine through the former, meaning that even with simple optics, it’s extremely difficult to see clearly.
However, for astrophotography, the Running Man Cluster is a very popular target for amateurs as a low shutter speed will allow enough of the nubulae’s light to make it through the reflection nebula and into a photograph.
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Quote of the Day: “It is not enough to have a good mind; the main thing is to use it well.” – Rene Descartes
Photo by: Abhijith P
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Larry and Kelly Peterson with daughter Hadley – Shriners
Larry and Kelly Peterson with daughter Hadley – Shriners
Larry and Kelly Peterson first met when they were just 10 years old at a Spina Bifida camp where they discovered they were born on the same day.
After dating in high school, they lost contact for 10 years, but they reconnected on social media and fell (back) in love. In 2015 the Indiana couple got married, and decided to pursue adoption so they could raise a family.
Although Kelly—who isn’t able to give birth to a biological child—was once told that her disability might also prevent her from adopting, she and Larry never gave up. Through a special needs adoption agency, they discovered baby Hadley’s story and knew they could offer her the love, support, and understanding she needed.
This July, not only did Larry and Kelly celebrate their ninth wedding anniversary, they marked five years since they expanded their family by adopting the baby girl who, like them, has Spina Bifida.
Thanks to Special Angels Adoption, the Petersons got their daughter. The couple knew they were ready to parent Hadley because of their deep understanding of the issues she is facing—and will face in the future.
So far, parenting has been both joyous and challenging. They have basked in the happiness of seeing her personality develop and watching her hit milestones. Even though Kelly has extensive experience with children with disabilities, due to being a special education teacher for over 20 years, being a parent is a whole different ball game.
Shriners
They’re learning to adapt to parenting from their wheelchairs. Kelly has no use of her legs but Larry can walk while holding onto things—so they figure out ways to care for their daughter without exceeding their physical limits—with a little help from their families who live nearby.
Now, the couple wants to be a resource for other adults with Spina Bifida who are hoping to adopt. They want to help alleviate stigmas and negative stereotypes regarding disability and parenting, and also be available to any parents who recently received an SB diagnosis in the family.
“We want to let society see that people with Spina Bifida live a life just like their non-disabled peers. It’s nothing shocking or amazing. We are living our life just like everyone else,” Kelly said.
Larry and Kelly encourage people with Spina Bifida who are looking to become parents to not let your disability, your fears, or other people’s opinions hold you back from pursuing this goal. As far as adoption as a disabled person, they urge people not to accept the word, “no” from agencies and to be mindful that policies vary depending on the agency.
“Adoption is a learning process and you need to keep pushing along,” they said.
Hadley also receives loving care at Shriners Children’s Chicago, where she has undergone one surgery and benefits from physical and occupational therapies. For Kelly, who was also a Shriners Children’s patient, this brought their journey full circle.
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[Correction: An earlier version of the story said July was their 5th wedding anniversary.]
How do you know if you have financially ‘made it’ in life? Well, almost one-third of Americans (31%) believe they have, according to a new poll.
The survey of 2,000 employed Americans split evenly by generation revealed that more millennials than any other (34%) believe they’ve already made it.
But many also feel like they’ve nearly reached that point.
Of those who do not believe they’re there yet, more than half (54%) believe they are currently well on their way—and will financially “make it” in their lifetime.
Eight in 10 agreed that their definition of “making it financially” has evolved over time. Across all respondents asked to define “making it”, the average net worth identified was about $234,000.
What’s holding most people back from making it? The survey, conducted by Talker Research for BOK Financial, found that respondents believed there were external factors that impacted their financial goals—including interest rate changes (45%) and inflation (26%).
Another barrier—for 7% of those surveyed—is their own personal spending habits.
“Financial headwinds, like interest rates, can make it feel like it’s harder to get ahead, but baby steps are key,” said Jessica Jones with BOK Financial Advisors. “If someone is struggling to see success in their financial future, it’s important to just get started, even with a small savings account.”
Gen Z had the highest percentage of respondents who said they’re best off using money to purchase items that make them happy (20%), while older generations prioritize using money practically.
“Young people, especially, are showing an interest in understanding financial concepts, which is encouraging,” Jones said. “But there is a lot of information out there, so I encourage people to double check their sources.”
When it comes to financial advice, Americans are more interested in hearing from those who are older than them, than they are their own peers (64% vs 56%).
Though respondents are less interested in financial advice from social media (41%), 45% say social platforms influence their perceptions of what it means to make it financially.
Gen Z expressed the most interest in getting financial advice from social media (64%) and, in turn, were the likeliest to say it influences their perception of what it means to “make it” financially.
The first new treatment for asthma attacks in 50 years has been tested by British scientists.
The injection is more effective than the current method of steroid tablets—reducing the need for further treatment by 30%, according to a new study.
Researchers say their findings could be “game-changing” for millions of people around the world with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)—especially because the drug is already available on the market.
Asthma attacks and COPD flare-ups, also known as “eosinophilic exacerbations”, can be deadly—with dozens of people dying every day in the UK after experiencing serious symptom flare-ups, according to official figures.
These exacerbations include symptoms like wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness due to inflammation resulting from high amounts of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell—and they involve almost half of asthma attacks and up to 30% of COPD flare-ups.
Yet medical treatments have barely changed for over half a century, as steroid drugs remained the mainstay of medication.
The downside of steroids like prednisolone, which can reduce inflammation in the lungs, is that they have severe side-effects, such as diabetes and osteoporosis. The treatment also fails many patients who need repeated courses of steroids, or get worse and need hospitalization within 90 days.
Results from the recent clinical trial led by scientists from King’s College London revealed that a drug already available can be re-purposed in emergency settings to reduce the need for further treatment.
“This could be a game-changer for people with asthma and COPD,” said lead investigator Professor Mona Bafadhel, of King’s College.
The team studied Benralizamab, a monoclonal antibody that targets eosinophils to reduce lung inflammation, which is currently used for the treatment of severe asthma—and the trial found a single dose can be four times more effective when injected at the point of exacerbation compared to steroid tablets.
The study, which was published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, split people at high risk of an asthma or COPD attack into three groups. One group received benralizumab injection and dummy tablets, another received standard of care (prednisolone 30mg daily for five days) and dummy injection and the third group receiving both benralizumab injection and standard of care.
After 28 days, respiratory symptoms—like coughing, wheezing, and breathlessness—were reduced with benralizumab.
After 90 days, there were four times fewer people in the benralizumab group that failed treatment compared to standard of care with prednisolone.
Treatment with the benralizumab injection also led to fewer follow-up episodes that required seeing a doctor or going to a hospital. There was also an improvement in the quality of life for people with asthma and COPD.
“We’ve used the drug in a different way – at the point of an exacerbation – to show that it’s more effective than steroid tablets which is the only treatment currently available,” said Prof. Bafadhel.
“The big advance is the finding that targeted therapy works in asthma and COPD attacks.”
The researchers say the jab can potentially be administered safely at home, too.
“We hope these pivotal studies will change how asthma and COPD exacerbations are treated for the future, ultimately improving the health for over a billion people living with asthma and COPD across the world,” she added.
Study first author Dr. Sanjay Ramakrishnan, who started the work while at Oxford University, said their study shows “massive promise” for asthma and COPD treatment.
“COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide, but treatment for the condition is stuck in the 20th Century. We need to provide these patients with life-saving options before their time runs out.”
77-year-old patient Geoffrey Pointing, who took part of the study, called the injections “fantastic”.
“I didn’t get any side effects like I used to with the steroid tablets. I used to never sleep well the first night of taking steroids, but the first day on the study, I could sleep that first night, and I was able to carry on with my life without problems.”
“Honestly, when you’re having a flare up, you can hardly breathe. Anything that takes that away and gives you back a normal life is what you want.
Dr Samantha Walker, director of research and Innovation, at Asthma + Lung UK, called the results “great news for people with lung conditions”.
“Every four minutes in the UK, someone dies from a lung condition but treatment for asthma and COPD exacerbations have not changed in 50 years despite causing 3.8 million deaths worldwide a year combined.”
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CSX Holiday Express train car – CSX / Ed Rode Photography
CSX Holiday Express train car – CSX / Ed Rode Photography
The 82nd annual run of the Santa Train through Appalachian mountain towns kicked off this year with a special stop to bring holiday cheer to a community ravaged by Hurricane Helene in the Eastern United States.
Santa Claus kicked off the celebration in Erwin, Tennessee, giving out gift bags, chicken dinners, and a close-up view of the heritage 1902 Clinchfield steam locomotive chosen this year to pull train cars full of presents, and decorated with festive lights, along the 110-mile whistlestop tour in late November.
One of the nation’s oldest and most cherished holiday traditions, the CSX Santa Train distributed more than 15 tons of gifts to families along the route, making this year’s event another huge success.
Spreading holiday cheer across Kentucky, Southwest Virginia, and Tennessee, thousands of families lined the route as the train brought an abundance of toys, backpacks, winter clothes, and holiday joy to Appalachian communities that have gathered to share in the holiday spirit.
It’s a Christmas tradition that started in 1943.
“Our team is honored to be part of a tradition that brings joy and supports families in a meaningful way during the holiday season,” said Joe Hinrichs, the president of CSX. “We look forward to many more years of delivering the magic of the CSX Santa Train.”
CSX
“Every year, we are inspired by the smiles and heartfelt stories shared along the route that remind us why this tradition is so special,” said Bryan Tucker, a vice president at CSX.
He praised longstanding partnerships with Appalachian Power, Food City, Soles4Souls, and the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce that ensure the Santa Train can bring joy to as many families as possible.
WATCH a lovely video about the Santa Train’s 82nd running…
Quote of the Day: “Fortune and love favor the brave.” – Ovid
Photo by: Budka Damdinsuren
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Ross and Hugo Turner attempting to break a record, flying a paraglider-style aircraft at 10,000ft in the French Alps – via SWNS
Ross and Hugo Turner attempting to break a record, flying a paraglider-style aircraft at 10,000ft in the French Alps – via SWNS
The ‘World’s Most Intrepid Twins’ announced they’ve broken a world record, by flying a tandem electric para-motor 8,000ft over the French Alps.
Ross and Hugo Turner, known as the Turner Twins, took the custom-made aircraft 2,438 meters high, floating over the mountains.
The British siblings have submitted the information on an application to FAI—the World Air Sports Federation—to claim a world record for tandem electric altitude.
The brothers based in Devon, England, have already set a world record while becoming the first twins to row the Atlantic Ocean.
For this recent flight, the twins had to wait months for the “perfect weather conditions.”
“It was great to get the weather we finally needed for the record and having waited months for perfect conditions we had the perfect flight,” said Hugo.
“The flight was smooth, which was surprising as we were expecting turbulent conditions, and the battery lasted much longer than we expected—probably due to the colder conditions keeping the battery cooler.”
Ross said their official observer for the record didn’t think the electric battery would be able to do it.
“He said we won’t have enough power, this won’t work. Thankfully, we proved him wrong.”
Ross and Hugo, the Turner Twins, on a para-motor flying over French Alps breaking altitude record – via SWNS
Their quest for adventure was born following a terrible auto accident in which Hugo broke his neck at age 17 and narrowly missed paralysis. In the mix of heightened emotions came a drive to follow their passion for exploration—always guided by their values and “always doing them together”.
The daring duo made headlines at age 21 when they rowed the Atlantic in just 41 days. They also helped set a world record as part of the youngest crew ever to complete that challenge.
Since then they have climbed Mt. Elbrus and they cycled 1,550 miles (2500km) across South American to reach another goal, traveling through deserts and jungles in the searing heat. The pair also used bikes to ride 2.6K across North America, cycling across mountains, desserts, and national parks.
They also attempted a hike across the Greenland and Iceland wearing kit and clothing worn by early polar explorers like Sir Ernest Shackleton.
The Turner Twins making final preparations for a world altitude record in a tandem electric paramotor – SWNS
During many of their missions they’re testing new technology, like driving the Cyberster EV car from MG Motors on a 10,000-mile drive from London to China, posting videos about their adventures in the red convertible electric sports car.
Check out their website to follow more expeditions and adventures—and watch the video below as they describe the EV motor built for the Alps, and their preparations for testing…
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A New Zealand-based eco-startup has cracked the code for replacing single-use plastic—targeting garden nurseries with their breakthrough bioplastic that breaks down naturally in soil.
After five years of development and testing, Compostify is aiming to replace the 350 million waste-producing plastic pots produced annually across the country.
“Our mission is to replace conventional plastics with materials that work in harmony with nature,” said Compostify co-founder and CEO Peter Wilson. “Not only is Compostify’s bioplastic practical and robust, it decomposes naturally, turning what was once waste into something beneficial for the soil.”
Multi-ton orders have already been placed by partners like Scion that are manufacturing the eco-friendly containers for the horticultural sector to create industry-wide impact for the retailers which have long sought solutions to reduce plastic waste.
Made from sustainably grown crops such as sugarcane, cassava, and corn, the pots can last 12 months above ground before biodegrading, with the biodegrading process starting as soon as soil is added. When planted directly in the ground, the pot provides fertilizer for the plant as the pot biodegrades.
Importantly, the bio-polymers made from the crops contain only naturally occurring chemicals and nutrients attractive for microbes to eat, and leaves no micro-plastics or toxic residue.
The construction sector has similar needs for bioplastic solutions and is an obvious next target for sustainable alternatives to products such as the plastic rebar safety caps that typically litter building sites at the end of a project. Initial orders for these rebar safety caps have also been secured.
“Our bioplastic is the foundation for a future where single-use plastics are a thing of the past,” Wilson says. “We’re here to empower our partners, in New Zealand and beyond, to contribute to a world that doesn’t just reduce waste but reimagines it.”
Peter Wilson (left) partnered with Scion to develop compostible biodegradable nursery container – Credit Wilson & Ross
Once in contact with soil, compost or other natural environments, Compostify’s patented bioplastic material will fully compost within 12 months in home composts and up to 24 months in soil.
Wilson says the standard for home compostability represents a breakthrough in bioplastic innovation because most bioplastics (polylactic acid) used worldwide can only be composted industrially.
“It’s a world first: we have found a way for certified breakdown of a bioplastic alloy in mild environments such as regular soil or home compost systems.”
But it features a much longer shelf life, engineered to remain stable in storage and performing like conventional plastics without premature breakdown.
Compostify’s innovation was supported by a collaborative effort with Crown Research Institute Scion, which played an essential role in research, development, and testing of 40,000 compostable planter pots.
Together, Compostify and Scion developed a proprietary formulation using biopolymers sourced from sustainable crops, combined with bio fillers derived from organic matter sourced in New Zealand. (See the video with Mr. Wilson below…)
Throughout development, the earthworm-safe product was called ‘PolBionix’, but has been rebranded as Compostify for its launch nationwide.
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