In New Orleans, Brass Bands Don’t Just Play Music — They Carry a City’s Soul

When a trumpet sounds on the corner of Dauphine and Toulouse, everything stops. Traffic yields. Heads turn. What starts as a solemn hymn — maybe “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” — soon rises into something joyful, even defiant. This is a second line parade, one of New Orleans’ most powerful traditions: a moment of public mourning that transforms into celebration, sorrow lifted by rhythm. Here, grief marches side by side with joy. And always, always with a brass band leading the way. Second lines are part funeral procession, part block party. The term “second line” refers to the people who follow behind the musicians — dancers, friends, and onlookers drawn into the moment. But these parades don’t only mark funerals. They happen at weddings, birthdays, holidays, and anytime the city decides something is worth remembering or honoring. At the center of it all are the brass musicians, decked out in pressed white shirts and black pants, wielding trombones, sousaphones, and snares. They’re not just playing music. They’re carrying tradition. “If you grow up here, the African drumbeats, the dancing, which goes back to slavery and to Congo Square, that stuff is in our DNA,” says Roger Lewis, 83, a founding member of the world-renowned Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Formed in 1972 out of a church marching band, Dirty Dozen helped change the sound and shape of brass music. They’ve toured five continents and shared stages with legends from Dizzy Gillespie to Elvis Costello, yet they still play small shows in New Orleans warehouses for a few dollars at the door. That’s how it is here. As jazz legend Ellis Marsalis once said, “In New Orleans, culture doesn’t come down from on high. It bubbles up from the streets.” And brass music is very much street-born. Its origins trace back to the late 1800s, when military instruments and African rhythms merged. Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs — groups that once offered financial support to newly freed slaves — began hiring bands to play at funerals and parades. Over time, brass music soaked in gospel, bebop, funk, and eventually, hip-hop. “We played the same, traditional songs, but we picked that beat up. I mean up,” says Lewis. “I used to say, ‘Wear tennis shoes and your jogging suit. You may lose 40 pounds parading with us.’” That energy shaped the next generation. In the early ’80s, high schoolers in the Tremé neighborhood — too young to play in clubs — took their sound to the streets. That group became the Rebirth Brass Band, now a Grammy-winning act that still plays weekly shows in town. “I think, in terms of sound, we continued what the Dirty Dozen set down,” says Keith Frazier, Rebirth’s bass drummer. “Hip-hop and jazz and reggae… with these instruments, you can do anything.” Neighborhoods shaped the music too. “Uptown guys play it a little faster. The Tremé loves a more traditional set, whereas New Orleans East has a hip-hop fan base,” Frazier explains. “I’m from the Upper Ninth Ward, which is kind of traditional mixed with modern. I think that’s the beauty of brass music. It’s never one thing, or even one part of the city.” But for decades, brass bands were mostly male. That’s changing, slowly. Christie Jourdain leads The Original Pinettes — the first all-female brass band in New Orleans, founded in 1991. “I came out of the ’80s/MTV generation,” she says. “I was listening to Peter Gabriel and Prince rather than the traditionals or Gospel.” With the help of a high school band director, the Pinettes carved out space in a male-dominated scene. “At first people called us ‘cute,’” Jourdain remembers. “Then we’d kick the doors down when we played.” In 2013, they beat out several male bands at a citywide Red Bull competition, forcing organizers to rename the event from “Street Kings” to “Street Queens.” Their success paved the way for newer acts like Bra’s Band, another all-women group formed in 2021. “I got a request to put together an all-ladies brass group for the Krewe of Boheme Mardi Gras parade,” says Bra’s Band leader Maude Caillat. “It wasn’t easy. There aren’t enough women playing brass.” Today, her group includes about 15 women, though only a handful play each gig — a common practice in New Orleans where musicians juggle multiple bands, jobs, and obligations. “French Quarter Fest is my favorite,” says Jourdain. “They recruit homegrown talent and pay well. I wish others would do the same. We all have second jobs now. That’s why a seven-piece band might have 12 members, so people can schedule around work. The pay is something we need to address as a city. Because what is New Orleans without brass music?” It’s a fair question. One few locals want to answer. Ron Rona, former artistic director at the historic Preservation Hall, says it best: “Many brass bands emerge from high school marching band relationships... these musicians often end up knowing their bandmates for much of their lives. Then, whether organically or formally, many serve as musical mentors to the kids coming up. It’s cyclical and familial, and that’s not something too many other cities can claim.” In New Orleans, that cycle plays out daily. A young couple might be getting married right now, just a few blocks from Congo Square. The trumpet player from Kinfolk might look at the bride and say, “You ready?” She’ll nod, lift her parasol, and step into the street. Behind her: a century of tradition, joy, rhythm, and grief — and a brass band that won’t let the music stop.

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New Brain-Training App is Reversing 10 Years Of Decline In Key Brain System

A brain training app originally designed to sharpen mental skills is now showing signs it might do something far more powerful: reverse age-related changes in the brain. A new study from neurologists at McGill University found that older adults who used the BrainHQ app by Posit Science showed brain activity typically seen in people a decade younger. The app, which offers quick-paced attention and memory challenges, was tested in a controlled, double-blind trial involving 82 healthy adults aged over 65. Participants used either BrainHQ or a standard recreational computer game for 30 minutes a day over 10 weeks. In those who used BrainHQ, researchers saw a boost in cholinergic activity, a form of brain signalling linked to attention and memory, in a region of the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex. That’s important, because this region is known to shrink with age. The McGill team described the observed change as equivalent in magnitude to about 10 years of aging. “The training restored cholinergic health to levels typically seen in someone 10 years younger,” said study co-author Dr. Etienne de Villers-Sidani, a neurologist at McGill. “This is the first time any intervention, drug or non-drug, has been shown to do that in humans.” The findings, published in JMIR Serious Games, offer promising early evidence that digital brain training could one day help offset the effects of cognitive aging — though researchers are quick to note there’s still a long way to go. The cholinergic system acts as a kind of communications hub across the brain. It connects to areas like the hippocampus, which plays a key role in memory and learning. Strengthening this system could, in theory, help slow or reduce common aging symptoms like forgetfulness or difficulty concentrating. The researchers used a rare type of brain imaging scan that detects changes in this system with precision. “We used a rare technology,” said de Villers-Sidani. “The [Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital] is one of the few centers worldwide that can produce the tracer and run the scan.” Still, the trial had a relatively small sample size, and the research was partially incentivized by commercial interests — BrainHQ is a for-profit product with monthly and yearly subscriptions. That introduces potential bias, even in a well-designed study. Posit Science, the company behind the app, says it has developed the training based on scientific research, with hundreds of peer-reviewed papers testing its various exercises. While initial results are promising, the study didn’t measure whether changes in the brain actually led to better memory or attention in real life — something researchers say needs further testing. It’s also unclear how long the brain effects last. “Identifying and implementing effective strategies to support brain health has the potential to reduce health care costs, increase workforce participation and community engagement, and improve quality of life,” the study authors wrote. The team emphasized that these results lay the groundwork for larger studies, particularly those involving more diverse populations. For now, the research suggests that working out your brain — just like your body — may one day become a key part of healthy aging.

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Cheese Lovers Unite: Study Suggests Eating Cheese Once A Week May Lower Dementia Risk

A new study out of Japan suggests that eating cheese regularly may help reduce the risk of developing dementia. Researchers tracked data from nearly 8,000 adults aged 65 and older over a three-year period. They found that people who ate cheese at least once a week were 24% less likely to develop dementia compared to those who rarely or never ate it. By the end of the study, 3.4% of regular cheese eaters had been diagnosed with dementia, compared to 4.45% of non-cheese eaters — a modest but notable difference of about 10 fewer cases per 1,000 people. The findings were published in the journal Nutrients, and the analysis accounted for age, sex, health status, and socioeconomic background. Why Might Cheese Help? Cheese contains several nutrients that may support brain health, including: • Proteins and amino acids are important for maintaining neurons • Vitamin K2, which supports vascular health and calcium balance • Fermented compounds, which may reduce inflammation and positively affect the gut-brain axis The study also notes that fermented dairy has been linked to lower rates of heart and metabolic diseases — both of which are risk factors for dementia. A Word of Caution Researchers emphasize that the results show a correlation, not causation. It’s still unclear whether cheese itself is protective, or if other factors — such as overall diet, lifestyle, or even the type of cheese — play a role. Still, with dementia affecting over 50 million people globally and projected to more than triple by 2050, the findings point to the importance of further research into simple, everyday dietary habits that could support brain health.

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Sting is Making a Big Donation to a Local Arts Center, Says He Has a Lifelong Debt to Its Creative Spirit

Sting has credited the art galleries and music venues of his youth with sparking the dream that led him to global stardom — and now, he’s giving back. The Wallsend-born musician has made an undisclosed donation to support the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead, backing a £10 million Endowment Fund to ensure “creative futures on Tyneside.” Speaking ahead of an intimate fundraising concert at the venue, Sting reflected on how the arts opened doors for him growing up in north-east England. “I didn’t want to work at the shipyard, I didn’t want to work in the coalmine,” he told the BBC. “I had no idea [what I wanted], but art gave me some sort of clue as to what I would aspire to be.” As a teenager, he would venture across Newcastle to watch Jimi Hendrix at the Club a’Gogo, catch black-and-white European films, or hear Andrés Segovia perform with the Northern Symphonia. “There was this exposure to something that was outside of what was offered to me,” he said. “It lit a fire.” Now 74, Sting described himself as “a curious child” who found hope and identity through art. The Baltic, which he remembers as a flour mill from childhood visits to the quayside with his father, has since become a symbol of cultural renewal — and he’s proud to support it. “I never imagined that building would become a world-famous contemporary art gallery,” he said. “It’s free to enter, and our future artists will come from this place.” Sting emphasized the importance of accessible creative spaces, especially for young people who might not see a future in the industries around them. He also urged fellow “successful Geordies” to help sustain the region’s cultural life. The former Police frontman also reiterated his criticism of government cuts to the arts, calling them a “short-term solution, but a long-term false economy.” “Britain punches well above its weight in storytelling — the world loves our songs, our plays, our art,” he said. “But the shop floor for that is in galleries and music venues.” He called the north-east a “hotbed of talent” that deserves more investment, not less. For Sting, giving to the Baltic is more than a donation — it’s a tribute to the venues that shaped him, and a vote of confidence in the next generation of artists waiting in the wings.

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Mindfulness in Schools Is Helping Students of Color — and One Program Is Leading the Way

Across the U.S., schools are turning to mindfulness, meditation, and yoga to help students manage stress and support their mental well-being. And research shows these tools may be especially impactful in communities with fewer resources — including schools serving more students of color. In Atlanta, that impact is being felt firsthand. Thanks to support from GreenLight Fund Atlanta, school systems across Georgia are adopting a program called Inner Explorer — an audio-based platform that guides students and teachers through daily five- to 10-minute sessions of breathing, meditation, and self-reflection. It’s now being used in Atlanta Public Schools and more than 100 districts across the country. The goal: make accessible mental health support part of the school day — especially for Black youth, who face a growing mental health crisis. According to the CDC, the suicide rate among Black youth surged by 144% between 2007 and 2020 — the fastest rise of any racial group. But mental health professionals are in short supply — and even more so for psychologists of color. “There are not enough psychologists of color,” said Joli Cooper, executive director of GreenLight Fund Atlanta. While mindfulness doesn’t replace professional care, educators say it’s helping. Teachers at Roberta T. Smith Elementary School in Atlanta told the Associated Press that incorporating Inner Explorer into the classroom has made a noticeable difference. And students are feeling it, too. “I love myself how I am,” said 9-year-old Aniyah Woods. “But Inner Explorer just helps me feel more like myself.”

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Scientists Discover Remarkable Viability in 4,000-Year-Old Buried Wood

A 3,775-year-old log unearthed in Quebec is offering scientists a surprising clue in the fight against climate change — and it involves burying wood. Discovered in 2013 under six feet of clay in Saint-Pie, Quebec, the ancient eastern red cedar was recently carbon-dated after being dried for nine years. Remarkably, it had retained 95% of its original carbon, suggesting that burying biomass could significantly slow decomposition and lock away carbon for thousands of years. “The wood was carbon-14 dated to be 3775 ± 35 years old,” researchers noted in a new study published in Science, calling it “direct evidence for the viability of wood burial as an approach for carbon removal and durable storage.” The implications are significant. Photosynthesis removes over 220 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide from the air annually, but most of it reenters the atmosphere through natural decay. Burying even a small portion of trees, plants, or other organic matter could drastically reduce emissions — and do so cheaply. Current estimates suggest that the burial method could cost between $100 and $200 per 1.1 tons of CO₂ in the first decade, dropping to $30–$100 after scaling. By comparison, traditional direct air capture costs range from $100 to $300 for the same amount. Other emerging technologies include a Minnesota-based reactor that turns captured carbon into a coal-like substance, and a Bill Gates–backed startup producing plant-based bricks for carbon storage. Researchers are now studying how different soil and wood types affect results. They see wood burial as a potentially scalable, nature-based solution — one that could also bring economic benefits to forest communities. “In practice, it can be incorporated into a sustainable forest management plan,” the study said, “providing a new income source for a struggling industry and local communities around the world.”

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Literal CAT Scans: 3 Big Felines Undergo Checks to Pinpoint Source of Mobility Issues

Three big cats underwent literal CAT scans at an animal sanctuary in Kent, England, in a recent effort to pinpoint the source of “unexplained and persistent mobility issues.” The Big Cat Sanctuary released this footage, which shows residents Luca, a four-year-old Amur tiger, Django, a 10-year-old mainland clouded leopard, and Mo, a four-year-old Southern African cheetah, undergoing specialist CT (or computed tomography) scans inside a mobile medical unit. “All three have experienced intermittent lameness or stiffness in their limbs, a complex issue that has so far evaded traditional diagnosis,” the sanctuary wrote in a press release. “The advanced CT imaging was deployed as the next level of non-invasive investigation to reach the root cause of their discomfort.” The animals were first safely sedated, then, once immobilized, gently moved to the medical unit to carry out the day’s procedures. “Following their scans, the three wild cats were transported back to their respective habitats whilst still sedated, where the anesthetic was reversed to facilitate a safe and monitored wake-up,” according to the press release. The images were expected to be analyzed by specialist veterinary radiographers who would provide a detailed report and, if necessary, prescribe a course of treatment.

Brave Rescuers Save San Francisco Dog From Cliff Edge After 20-Minute Ordeal

A dog in San Francisco is safe and back with his owner after a terrifying fall off a cliff at Fort Funston on October 28 — thanks to a coordinated rescue by local firefighters and police. The brown and white dog had been playing with another pup near the oceanfront cliffs when he slipped and fell, landing on a narrow ledge about 40 feet down. Fort Funston’s rugged terrain includes bluffs that drop as far as 200 feet to the beach below, making the situation especially dangerous. According to officials, the dog clung to the ledge for roughly 20 minutes before help arrived. A San Francisco police drone operator who happened to be in the area spotted the stranded animal and called in for assistance. Soon after, crews from Fire Station 19 arrived and set up what they described as a “high-angle rigging system” to reach and recover the dog. Video released by the San Francisco Police Department shows rescue teams carefully lowering a harness and hoisting the 40-pound dog back up to solid ground, waves crashing below as the tense operation unfolded. “He was happy. He knew he got rescued. He was wagging his tail. He was giving everyone kisses,” Rescue Captain Samuel Menchaca told the Associated Press. Despite the fall, the dog was not injured. The San Francisco Fire Department confirmed he was “conscious, alert, and able to walk on his own after being brought to safety.” Menchaca used the opportunity to remind people to exercise caution in areas with unmarked paths and sudden drops, especially when accompanied by dogs or children. “You may think that it’s a little berm or a hill, but it is a significant drop,” he said. Firefighters have performed multiple rescues in the Fort Funston area over the years, and while they're trained for situations like this, Menchaca emphasized that prevention is key. “One of the best ways to not get hurt on these cliffs and our beautiful seaside parts of San Francisco is to stay on the marked paths,” he said. The dog’s grateful response — tail wags and kisses for his rescuers — was a happy ending to a potentially tragic situation, and a reminder of the dangers lurking just off the trail.

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Teen Fixes And Donates Over 500 Computers To Help People In Need

What started as a hobby for Sam Nadol — fixing broken computers he found at a recycling center — has turned into a life-changing mission for hundreds of people. As a middle schooler in Westchester, New York, Nadol began collecting discarded electronics, repairing them, and flipping them on Craigslist. By the time he was 12, he had already refurbished eight computers — and each one sold within hours. But Nadol wasn’t just looking to make a quick buck. When he entered high school, he discovered a $600 student grant program and used it to launch Reboot PC, a school project that grew into a full-fledged nonprofit. His first official donation came through Roger Battacharia, a volunteer with Ossining Padres Hispanos, a local group focused on educational opportunities in the Hispanic community. Through that connection, Nadol donated a dozen computers. “Sam brings computers where they’re desperately needed,” Battacharia said. “That would have been another several thousand pounds of electronics in a landfill.” Since then, Nadol has donated hundreds of devices to people and places where access to technology is limited — including students in Haiti and, most recently, Ukrainian refugees in Brooklyn, New York. In August 2024, he began his freshman year at Purdue University, where he’s studying computer engineering. Just a few months later, he celebrated a major milestone: donating his 500th computer. “I get thank-you letters from recipients saying my computer helped them get a job or keep in touch with family,” Nadol said. “Being able to make an impact in people’s lives is the most rewarding part of what I do.” From fixing his first broken laptop as a middle schooler to bridging the digital divide for families around the world, Nadol’s journey shows just how far a simple idea — and a lot of dedication — can go.

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Scientists Discover Method To Grow Diamonds Without Heat Or Pressure

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a surprising new way to make artificial diamonds—using nothing but carbon-based molecules, a bit of clever chemistry, and a tightly controlled electron beam. In a study published in Nature, Professor Eiichi Nakamura and his team revealed how they successfully converted a material called adamantane into nanodiamonds, all without the high pressures or extreme heat typically needed for diamond formation. “This is the ultimate demonstration that electrons do not destroy organic molecules but let them undergo well-defined chemical reactions,” Nakamura said. For the chemist, this breakthrough marks the end of a 20-year scientific pursuit. A low-pressure path to diamonds Traditionally, diamonds are made under conditions that mimic the Earth’s mantle—crushing pressure, searing temperatures—or grown with chemical vapor deposition, a method requiring special gas chambers. Nakamura’s team took a very different approach. They focused on adamantane (C₁₀H₁₆), a cage-like hydrocarbon whose carbon atoms are already arranged in a structure similar to diamond. To turn adamantane into actual diamond, the team had to remove hydrogen atoms (C-H bonds) and stitch the remaining carbon atoms into a solid diamond lattice. Theoretical models had predicted this reaction might be possible, but most scientists assumed it would never work in practice. “The real problem was that no one thought it feasible,” Nakamura said. Watching diamonds form in real time The team used transmission electron microscopy (TEM)—a tool that can image atoms—to bombard tiny adamantane crystals with electron beams ranging from 80 to 200 kiloelectron volts. The reactions occurred in a vacuum chamber, at temperatures as low as -173°C (100 K). This setup allowed them to observe the transformation as it happened: the adamantane chains slowly fused into near-perfect nanodiamonds, roughly 10 nanometers across. The process even released hydrogen gas, a clue that the chemical pathway was working as expected. Notably, other hydrocarbons didn’t yield the same result, highlighting adamantane’s unique structure as the key to success. Not just diamond-making—new doors for science The implications go far beyond diamond production. Because the team could control the process and watch it unfold in real time, this technique may transform how scientists study chemical reactions at the atomic scale. TEM, once thought too destructive for organic compounds, is now showing potential as a tool for building molecular structures. There are also potential applications in fields like electron-beam lithography, materials science, and quantum tech. The researchers suggest this process could even explain how diamonds form naturally in meteorites or uranium-rich rocks, where similar irradiation may occur over long timescales. In the future, this method could also help in fabricating doped quantum dots—tiny semiconductor particles crucial to quantum computing and advanced sensors. A long road to a glittering finish For Nakamura, the discovery is a personal triumph. Since 2004, he’s been chasing the idea that electrons, under the right conditions, could guide rather than destroy complex molecules. “Computational data gives you ‘virtual’ reaction paths, but I wanted to see it with my eyes,” he said. Now, with one of Earth’s hardest and most iconic materials forming under a microscope, that vision has become crystal clear.

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'Supergirl' Turns 10: How The Arrowverse Series Paved The Way For James Gunn's DC Universe

James Gunn’s Superman might be promoting kindness as the new rebellion, but that message has already flown across our screens — cape and all — thanks to Supergirl. Long before David Corenswet’s Clark Kent lifted hopeful heroism back into the spotlight, Melissa Benoist’s Kara Danvers was showing us what it really means to lead with compassion, vulnerability, and heart. Premiering in 2015, Supergirl began as a standalone series on CBS before joining The CW’s interconnected Arrowverse in its second season. At the time, DC’s cinematic universe was chasing gritty realism with a darker, more brooding Superman, while Supergirl went in the opposite direction — all sunshine, sincerity, and sleeves-worn emotions. It was a show unafraid to be earnest. Kara Zor-El wasn’t just fighting aliens and supervillains; she was wrestling with identity, responsibility, and belonging. Was she Kara Danvers, the journalist with a messy apartment and deep friendships? Kara Zor-El, the last daughter of Krypton? Or Supergirl, the symbol of hope? The show didn’t shy away from the fact that she was all three — and that her humanity, not her powers, was her greatest strength. “I love her humanity,” Benoist said in an interview before the show’s debut. “She is an alien, [but] I love that she really has a lot of discovering to do, and growth, and makes mistakes. I think she's so relatable, and I just want to stay true to that.” That approach became the foundation of the show. Sure, there were world-ending threats and sci-fi spectacle, but Supergirl always found time to explore what it meant to be kind — especially when it was hard. Whether she was facing Lex Luthor’s manipulation, the rise of the anti-alien Children of Liberty, or the isolation that comes from being “other,” Kara never let hate dictate her path. She stood up, again and again, for what was right — not because she was bulletproof, but because she believed people could be better. It’s a message Gunn echoes in Superman, where hope isn’t a corny afterthought but the whole point. His take on the Man of Steel leans more toward Tyler Hoechlin’s warm, goofy Superman from Supergirl and Superman & Lois, rather than the grim, conflicted version in Zack Snyder’s DC films. It’s no coincidence. If Supergirl taught us anything, it’s that superheroes can still be symbols of optimism without sacrificing depth. That’s why Supergirl resonated. It wasn’t about building a cinematic universe or stacking cameos (though it eventually had its share). It stayed focused on character — and Kara’s arc always led back to one question: How do you lead with compassion when the world gives you every reason not to? The answer: You just do. By the time the show wrapped its six-season run, it had donated its entire beating heart to the Arrowverse. It proved that kindness isn’t weakness. It’s power. It’s punk. And it’s what sets heroes apart from everyone else — not just their strength, but their refusal to give up on others. So while Milly Alcock’s Supergirl may be headed in a different direction in Gunn’s evolving DC Universe, Benoist’s legacy is already part of its DNA. Her version of Kara reminded audiences that empathy is a superpower. And in a world where being earnest feels countercultural, Supergirl was quietly revolutionary. Before kindness was punk rock, Supergirl was already in the band.

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