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Giving Tuesday: Leave us a Review and We'll Plant a Tree!

BBC News

A mother manatee and her calf were rescued from a river in Florida on Wednesday, February 25.

According to a Facebook post from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the mother manatee was injured and needed medical care.

Units from the sheriff’s office worked with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to help rescue the distressed manatees, while drone pilots with the sheriff’s office helped guide the operation from the air.

Footage posted by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday shows the manatees being pulled up onto a boat out of the Orange River. After they were removed from the river, they were brought to ZooTampa to get medical care, the sheriff’s office said.

At least 25 manatees have died in the river in recent weeks, likely from cold stress, according to one local news report citing the FWC.

Lee County Sheriff's Office via Storyful

Deputies Help Rescue Manatee Mother and Calf in Florida

Good News Network

Joe Richardson spent years working around washing machines.

Now he uses them to help people who need them most.

After serving a 14-year prison sentence, Richardson returned home to Philadelphia in 2021 ready to rebuild his life. He had grown up working in his family’s laundromat business, so washing and drying clothes came naturally.

But he wanted to do something more meaningful.

While he was still incarcerated, Richardson came up with an idea: a mobile laundromat that could travel through the city and wash clothes for people experiencing homelessness.

Years later, he decided to make that idea real.

Today, Richardson spends several hours each week volunteering his time, towing a trailer outfitted with laundry machines behind his truck and setting up on city streets to help people clean their clothes.

On one recent day, he parked near Arch and Broad streets in downtown Philadelphia and began offering the service to anyone who needed it.

For people living outside or moving between shelters, access to laundry can be difficult or impossible. Something as simple as clean clothing can make a big difference.

“One guy earlier just said that just to have clean clothes is a blessing, it helps me feel better about myself,” Richardson told NBC10 Philadelphia.

Philadelphia officials estimate that about 5,000 people in the city are currently unhoused. There are roughly 60 shelters available, and city leaders have announced plans to add about 1,000 more beds as part of efforts to reduce the number of people sleeping outside.

For Richardson, the mobile laundromat is a way to give back while creating moments of dignity for people who often go overlooked.

A freshly washed shirt or pair of pants might seem small.

But for someone navigating life on the street, Richardson says, it can help restore confidence — and remind them that someone cares.

A Philadelphia Man Launched a Mobile Laundromat to Help the Homeless

Science Alert

What helps some people reach 100 years old while others do not?

Scientists may be getting closer to an answer.

A new study led by researchers at the University of Geneva has identified dozens of proteins in the blood of centenarians that appear to be linked with slower biological aging.

The research compared blood samples from three groups: healthy adults aged 30 to 60, hospitalized adults aged 80 to 90, and people aged 100 and older.

Scientists measured more than 700 proteins circulating in blood plasma. Out of those, 37 stood out.

Those proteins formed a profile that looked surprisingly similar to the younger group rather than the octogenarians.

“This represents approximately 5 percent of the proteins measured, suggesting that centenarians do not entirely escape aging, but that certain key mechanisms are significantly slowed down,” said Flavien Delhaes, a cell physiologist at the University of Geneva and the study’s first author.

Many of the proteins in that group play important roles in immunity and metabolism.

Some help recycle red blood cells and clear away damaged proteins, including those linked to neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Others trigger apoptosis, a process of programmed cell death that helps prevent tumors.

Researchers also identified proteins involved in healthy fat metabolism and insulin regulation, which help protect against metabolic diseases.

Another group of proteins helps maintain the body’s extracellular matrix, a supportive network of collagen and minerals that holds tissues together and anchors cells. These proteins appeared more abundant in centenarians.

But the clearest signal came from proteins related to oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress happens when the body produces too many unstable molecules known as free radicals. These molecules are often created during immune responses or energy production in mitochondria.

While free radicals can help fight infections, too many can damage tissues and contribute to inflammation, cancer and degenerative diseases.

In a surprising twist, the centenarians in the study actually produced fewer antioxidant proteins than typical elderly individuals.

At first glance, that seems counterintuitive. But the researchers believe it likely reflects lower levels of oxidative stress overall. In other words, their bodies may not need to produce as many protective proteins because the underlying stress is lower.

The study also found that centenarians preserved a protein that breaks down GLP-1, a hormone that stimulates insulin production and is targeted by medications such as semaglutide.

“This is also a counterintuitive mechanism, suggesting that centenarians maintain good glucose balance without needing to produce large amounts of insulin,” Delhaes explained.

Together, the findings suggest that people who live past 100 may not necessarily have more protective systems. Instead, their bodies appear to maintain more balanced metabolic and immune activity.

The results also support the idea of “inflammaging,” a theory that aging disrupts the immune system and creates a chronic state of low-level inflammation.

While genetics plays a role in longevity, researchers say it is not the whole story.

Studies suggest genes account for only about 25 percent of the factors behind long life.

Lifestyle choices remain a powerful influence. The researchers say nutrition, regular physical activity and strong social connections all contribute to healthier aging.

The findings were published in the scientific journal Aging Cell.

For scientists trying to understand longevity, the proteins identified in this study may offer new clues about how the body can maintain balance — and keep working smoothly — well into a second century of life.

Scientists Find Blood Protein Clues To Why Some People Live Past 100

Sunny Skyz

Airports can push anyone to their limit. Add a tired toddler to the mix, and things can unravel quickly.

That was the scene at an airport restaurant in Atlanta when a young boy, exhausted from a long day of travel, was on the verge of a meltdown.

Then a waitress stepped in.

Brittany Bell, who works at TGI Fridays, noticed the overwhelmed mom and her young son and decided to help.

According to the boy’s mother, Chalaine Kilduff, Bell simply followed her instincts.

Before the situation escalated, Bell picked up the toddler and carried him around the restaurant while still checking on her tables. She introduced him to other guests, brought him cherries from the bar and gave him a change of scenery that helped him reset.

Instead of tears, the child soon burst into laughter.

Kilduff captured the moment on video and later shared it online. The clip quickly spread across social media, where viewers praised Bell for her kindness.

The response surprised everyone involved.

Moved by the moment, Kilduff started an online fundraiser for the waitress her children now call “Princess Bell.”

The campaign raised $12,000.

“She was going above and beyond, and I think a lot of parents want to support her and rally around her because they also know how hectic and chaotic it is to travel with kids,” Kilduff said. “And so everyone wanted to show her a generous moment and give her a blessing.”

For Bell, the support from strangers felt just as powerful as the original act.

“It actually touched my heart because we live in a chaotic and negative world, and you just don’t see that much getting traction online unless it’s negative,” she said. “So the fact that strangers wanted to get together and support me to do something positive is really amazing.”

But the story didn’t stop with the viral video.

Kilduff decided to channel the attention into something lasting. She launched the No Fear Foundation, a nonprofit aimed at helping mothers facing difficult or critical medical diagnoses during pregnancy.

The mission is personal. Kilduff says her own family once faced a challenging prenatal diagnosis, a time she remembers as isolating and overwhelming.

Through the foundation, she hopes to support other mothers so they do not feel alone during similar experiences.

Bell has since joined the effort.

Together, the two women created a shirt to raise funds for the nonprofit. On the front, the words “I love you” appear in sign language. On the back, the message reads: “Kindness is the cure.”

The partnership grew out of a simple moment inside a busy airport restaurant.

A tired child. A stressed parent. And a waitress who chose to help.

What began as a small act of compassion has since turned into a ripple effect reaching families far beyond that airport gate.

Waitress Calms Toddler At Airport, Sparking a Viral Kindness Movement

NBC News

The crash happened in seconds. The rescue took even less time.

Months after being pulled from a burning SUV on Long Island, 19-year-old Kervens Lesperance finally got the chance to meet and thank the police officers who rushed toward the flames and saved his life.

Lesperance was driving home late one November night after leaving a friend’s gathering in Lake Grove. Around 11:30 p.m., his Jeep Cherokee crashed into an overpass off Nicolls Road in Holtsville.

The impact was severe.

“I’m just shocked it was that bad, really that bad. I just had no idea,” Lesperance said. “I can’t believe I was in there.”

The collision knocked him unconscious and crushed the vehicle, leaving him trapped inside as flames began spreading through the SUV.

Body camera footage from responding officers with the Suffolk County Police Department shows the dramatic scene as Officer Craig Capobianco sprinted toward the burning vehicle.

When Capobianco reached the driver’s side door, two Good Samaritans were already trying to help.

But they couldn’t get Lesperance free.

“The impact of the crash had caved the steering column downwards onto his lap,” Capobianco explained. “By the grace of God, I had officer Strohlein appear and we were able to free him.”

Working together, the officers managed to pull the unconscious driver from the SUV moments before the fire intensified.

The body camera video captures the chaotic rescue. After dragging Lesperance away from the vehicle, Capobianco fell to the ground with the teen on top of him.

“I’m stuck under him! Pull him off of me,” the officer shouted to other arriving responders as the flames continued to grow behind them.

Lesperance was rushed to the hospital, where he remained for a week. Doctors treated him for a fractured skull and other injuries.

For several days, he struggled to piece together what had happened.

He told reporters the first thing he clearly remembers is waking up at home later and not believing his mother when she said he had survived a serious crash.

When he finally met the officers who saved him, the moment was emotional.

“I’m really glad that there are officers that will go out and do their very, very best for people like me,” Lesperance said as he hugged them.

Police officials say several factors helped the rescue succeed.

Officers arrived quickly, bystanders were already attempting to help, and Lesperance had been wearing a seatbelt when the crash happened.

Officer Capobianco said that simple safety step likely made the difference between life and death.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said the officers’ instinct to act immediately also played a critical role.

“Had they stopped to think about it rather than jumping into action, I don’t know if Kervens would be here today,” Catalina said.

For Lesperance, the reunion served as a reminder of how quickly life can change — and how quickly strangers can step in to save it.

Teen Driver Thanks Long Island Cops For Saving His Life In Fiery Crash Rescue

ABCNews

At first, the tiny monkey would not let go of the plush toy.

Now, he’s starting to let go just enough to grow up.

Punch, a baby macaque at the Ichikawa City Zoo near Tokyo, captured hearts after visitors noticed him dragging around an oversized orangutan plushie for comfort.

The toy became his constant companion after a difficult start to life.

Punch was abandoned by his mother shortly after birth, likely because she was exhausted. Without a parent to cling to, zookeepers stepped in to care for him and introduced the plush toy to help him learn one of the most important skills for newborn macaques: holding tightly to something for safety.

Photos of the tiny monkey hugging the much larger stuffed orangutan quickly spread online. In many of them, Punch could be seen running back to the toy whenever other monkeys pushed him away.

But recently, something changed.

Zookeepers say Punch is beginning to spend less time with the plush toy and more time with the other monkeys in the enclosure.

On a recent day, he was spotted climbing onto another monkey’s back, sitting alongside adults and even getting groomed and hugged by members of the troop.

For visitors who had been following his story, the change has been a relief.

“It was good to see him grow, and I’m reassured,” said Sanae Izumi, a fan who traveled from Osaka to see him. “He is adorable!”

The young macaque’s popularity has brought a surge of attention to the zoo. After images of Punch and his plush companion spread online, crowds began arriving to see him.

Zoo staff eventually introduced quiet rules and limited viewing time to about 10 minutes so the more than 50 monkeys living there would not feel stressed.

For keepers, Punch slowly leaving the toy behind is exactly what they hoped would happen.

“Helping Punch learn the rules of monkey society and being accepted as a member is our most important task,” said zookeeper Kosuke Kano.

Zoo director Shigekazu Mizushina says the plush toy served its purpose. It gave the orphaned monkey something to cling to during a critical stage of development.

“When he grows out of the plush toy that encourages his independence, and that’s what we are hoping for,” Mizushina said.

Punch has not completely let go of the toy yet.

He still curls up with the stuffed orangutan each night when it is time to sleep.

But if things keep going well, zookeepers say the next big milestone will be seeing him sleep in a tight huddle with the other monkeys.

For now, the tiny macaque who once clung to a toy for comfort is slowly finding something even better: a place in the troop.

Orphaned Macaque Punch Outgrows Plushie, Starts Making New Friends

ABC News

Mary Mwangi thought her life might end when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Instead, it changed direction.

Today, the Kenyan survivor spends her days knitting soft prosthetic breasts for women who have undergone mastectomies, offering comfort and confidence in a country where medical alternatives are often far too expensive.

Mwangi lives in Thika, just outside Nairobi, and began knitting while recovering from treatment. What started as a simple hobby in 2017 making hats and scarves soon became something much larger after she met another woman knitting prosthetic breasts for survivors.

Now Mwangi leads a small group called New Dawn Cancer Warriors, where women gather in a shared tailor shop to knit prostheses and support each other through recovery.

“Knitting takes you through a process of healing. Once you are not thinking about your disease, you are positive and that positive mind helps you, because healing starts from your mind,” Mwangi said.

Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Kenya. About 6,000 new cases are reported each year, and many patients cannot afford reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy.

Mwangi’s solution is both simple and practical.

Her knitted prostheses cost about $10 each, roughly one-sixth the cost of silicone versions sold in the country. The soft forms are filled with fiber similar to what is used in pillows, making them gentle on the skin.

Over the past three years, Mwangi and the women she trains have made and sold more than 600 prostheses. Many are purchased by organizations that donate them to cancer survivors who cannot afford them.

For women like Nancy Waithera, a high school science teacher, meeting Mwangi before surgery changed how she viewed the future.

When she first received her diagnosis, Waithera said, “everything turned dark.” Her husband had recently died, and the cancer diagnosis left her feeling overwhelmed.

But after learning about Mwangi’s work, she began imagining life after surgery.

When she wore the knitted prosthesis for the first time, heading to church, the emotional impact surprised her.

“I felt like Nancy had come back,” she said. “My ego was restored. My dignity was restored.”

Another woman, Hannah Mugo, had previously tried to fill her bra with clothing to restore her shape after surgery. The result often looked uneven and made her self-conscious.

“I used to stay indoors because I didn’t want people to label me as the ‘woman with one breast’,” Mugo said.

After meeting Mwangi, she learned how to knit prostheses herself and now makes them for both personal use and to sell.

Doctors say the emotional support from hobbies and peer groups can be just as important as medical treatment.

Daniel Ojuka, a surgeon at Kenyatta National Hospital, said the emotional impact of mastectomy can be profound.

Even when patients are prepared for the surgery, he has watched many wake up and weep after realizing the physical loss.

Having a plan for life afterward and a supportive community, he said, makes recovery “significantly easier.”

In Kenya, reconstructive breast surgery is often out of reach financially and is not covered by the national health insurance system. As a result, many women choose mastectomy as the most affordable treatment option.

Mwangi hopes her work can fill part of that gap.

She continues to train other women to knit prostheses, turning a simple craft into both a source of income and a way to rebuild confidence.

“There is life after cancer, and cancer is not a death sentence, because I’m a living testimony,” she said.

For many women who walk into her small shop carrying grief and uncertainty, those words are the first stitches in a new beginning.

Kenyan Cancer Survivor Knits Hope For Women After Mastectomy

People

Some dogs wait days for a family. Some wait weeks.

Scrappy waited 803 days.

The German Shepherd mix spent more than two years at the Hardin County Animal Shelter before finally finding the forever home she had been hoping for.

Shelter staff say Scrappy first arrived when she was just four months old. By the time she was adopted last week, she was nearly three years old and had spent most of her life growing up inside the shelter.

Despite her playful personality and friendly nature, Scrappy somehow kept getting overlooked.

“She is a good girl who just needs guidance and structure,” shelter staff wrote in a Facebook post about the dog. They added that she loves people, enjoys running outside and gets along well with other dogs.

Earlier this year, workers marked a difficult milestone when Scrappy reached 800 days without being adopted.

The shelter shared her story online along with a photo of the dog wearing a small cast after injuring a toe.

“Her jumpy, desperate attempt to catch the attention of potential adopters landed her right in the vet’s office,” the shelter wrote. “Don’t worry, after a little TLC … her toe will be just fine.”

Once her paw healed, Scrappy returned to her kennel to keep waiting.

But this time, people were paying attention.

The post about her long stay quickly spread online. Hundreds of people shared the story, and many left comments cheering the dog on and hoping someone would give her a chance.

Some wrote that they wished they could adopt her but were unable to because of housing restrictions, work schedules or other challenges.

Then, just days after the post began circulating, the wait ended.

“We posted, you shared, and our sweet Scrappy has LEFT THE BUILDING to FINALLY begin her forever!” the shelter announced in a follow-up message.

Scrappy was adopted by a woman named Carrie, who welcomed the long-waiting pup into her home.

Shelter staff thanked her for giving the dog the fresh start they had hoped for since Scrappy first arrived as a puppy.

“Thank you to Carrie for your kind and patient heart, and for giving our girl the opportunity to live her best life ever,” the shelter wrote.

For the staff who watched Scrappy grow up behind kennel doors, the moment was emotional.

After 803 days of waiting, the energetic dog who once jumped at every visitor finally walked out of the shelter and into a home of her own.

This Shelter Dog Found Her Forever Family After Waiting 803 Days

The Guardian

For families living with Dravet syndrome, daily life can be unpredictable and exhausting. The rare genetic condition often causes severe seizures that resist standard treatments, along with developmental and speech challenges.

Now, researchers say a new drug could offer a meaningful breakthrough.

Early clinical trials of a medication called Zorevunersen have shown promising results, significantly reducing seizures in children with the condition.

The preliminary trial, led by scientists at University College London and Great Ormond Street Hospital, involved 81 children between the ages of two and 18.

Before the study began, participants experienced an average of 17 seizures per month.

After receiving a 70-milligram dose of Zorevunersen, seizures dropped by about 50 percent on average. After three doses, researchers reported seizure reductions of roughly 80 percent.

Equally important, the drug appeared safe and well tolerated by the children taking part.

The findings, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, also showed improvements in quality of life, including better motor skills, communication and the ability to cope with daily activities.

For clinicians who work with these patients, the results are encouraging.

“I regularly see patients with hard-to-treat genetic epilepsies, who can have multiple seizures a week,” said Helen Cross, director and professor of childhood epilepsy at the UCL Institute of Child Health and honorary consultant in paediatric neurology at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

“Many are unable to do anything independently for themselves; they require around the clock care and are at high risk of sudden expected death in epilepsy.”

Cross said the next step will be a larger phase 3 clinical trial to study the drug over a longer period. Researchers will examine long-term safety, possible rare side effects and which patients are most likely to benefit.

If those trials confirm the early results, she said the treatment could dramatically change lives.

“This new treatment could help children with Dravet syndrome lead much healthier and happier lives.”

Experts who were not involved in the study also welcomed the findings.

Jowinn Chew, a researcher at London South Bank University, described the early results as a “clinically significant step forward” toward treatments that target the underlying cause of the disorder rather than simply managing seizures.

Other scientists say the implications could reach far beyond Dravet syndrome.

Dr Alfredo Gonzalez-Sulser of the University of Edinburgh said the findings were “incredibly exciting” and could point toward new therapies for other rare epilepsies.

“There are now over 800 genetic epilepsies that need therapeutics similar to Zorevunersen,” he said. “This sets a clear path to achieve effective interventions for these severe life-altering diseases for both patients and carers.”

Deb Pal, a professor of epilepsy at King’s College London, said the study offers “enormous hope for the families of thousands of children and young people affected by monogenic epilepsies worldwide.”

For many families who have spent years searching for effective treatments, that hope alone marks an important step forward.

Scientists Celebrate Breakthrough As New Drug Shows Promise For Children With Dravet Syndrome

A pelican caused quite a stir when it landed on a baseball field during a game between the University of California Santa Barbara and Loyola Marymount University in Santa Barbara, California, on Tuesday, March 3.

UC Santa Barbara Baseball captured this video showing assistant coach Dylan Jones removing the large bird, which he wrapped in a towel, from Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.

According to a game recap, the bird glided low over the field and became momentarily trapped in the netting behind home plate, which delayed the game.

The bird eventually flew out of the area and UC Santa Barbara defeated Loyola Marymount 11-1.

credit: UC Santa Barbara Baseball via Storyful

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