Meet the 91-Year Old Who Broke a World Record at the World Rowing Indoor Championships

The world rowing indoor championships kicked off in Canada on Saturday with 91-year-old Alida Kingswood of Woodstock, Ont., shattering the world record in the lightweight 2,000 metres for those aged 90-94. Kingswood finished in 10 minutes 33.30 seconds, and was cheered on by the crowd and other competitors. There were four other world records set on Saturday, including the men's mark over 2,000 metres (70-74).

Read More

Brave Boy, 4, Overcomes Cancer, Swims For The First Time

For nine months, four-year-old Dzemil wasn’t allowed near a bath, let alone a swimming pool. After being diagnosed with stage four brain cancer shortly after his second birthday, any contact with water carried a dangerous risk of infection — one that could have led to sepsis. “He was just sponge-washed, which was difficult for a two-year-old who likes to splash,” said his mother, Hope. Born with a rare genetic condition, Dzemil’s cancer diagnosis marked the beginning of an intense medical journey: three brain surgeries, 12 rounds of chemotherapy, and proton therapy. He’s now in remission, but his doctors have warned the risk of relapse remains high. So when the charity Make-A-Wish offered the family a holiday at Center Parcs in Nottinghamshire, it meant more than just time away — it meant Dzemil could finally go for a swim. “For five days, he could swim to his heart’s content or splash,” said Hope. “I think other visitors must have thought, ‘Are we doing anything else while we’re here?’” The trip gave Dzemil and his six-year-old sister Amal the chance to explore outside of hospitals and treatment rooms. They went on an aerial adventure in the Sherwood Forest woods — an unexpected highlight. “He was quite hesitant at first wearing a harness,” Hope recalled. “But I think him seeing the other children in his group doing it, he started to copy them and then towards the end, it was like watching a different child.” She said the moment moved her to tears. “To see him gaining that confidence, when he was off the ground and walking on a narrow bridge, it was just really nice to see him being able to do that.” For the family, the weeklong break wasn’t just about fun. It was a rare chance to hit pause on the hospital routine and enjoy a stretch of normalcy. “I’m very grateful for the opportunity as a family to make memories,” Hope said. “Just seeing them together, being away from hospital appointments for a week, not having to open any letters from the hospital, and just kind of be a normal family — it was just amazing.”

Read More

‘I Committed Assault – Kindness Saved Me’: How One Man Turned His Life Around After Hitting Rock Bottom

On his 34th birthday, Darren found himself in a police station, alone and terrified. He had just been arrested on suspicion of assault. That moment, he says, was a “massive wake-up call.” “I remember thinking, ‘how has it got to this point?’” he said to BBC News. “I got really panicky and upset, but I also felt this is something I need to address immediately. I was at a dead end.” For Darren — not his real name — the incident wasn’t just a brush with the law. It was the culmination of grief, illness, and a growing sense of hopelessness. He had recently been diagnosed with cancer, and was still reeling from the deaths of several family members. His actions, he says, were rooted in frustration, but he never made excuses. “I knew I’d have to live with the consequences for the rest of my life.” But help came from an unexpected place — inside the police station itself. While he sat alone in custody, a staff member from Plan B, a crime reduction program run by the Sheffield-based charity Causeway, came to speak with him. That conversation changed everything. Plan B works with people who’ve been arrested or come into contact with the criminal justice system. The goal is to break the cycle of reoffending by addressing the root causes, whether that’s addiction, homelessness, mental health struggles, or trauma. Helen Ball, CEO of Causeway, said the charity has helped more than 100 people like Darren over the past year. “Causeway is about supporting people who, for various reasons, find themselves on the wrong pathway,” she said. “That might be because they've been a victim of crime or because they’ve been a perpetrator. It could be a number of other reasons. But our role is to meet that person where they’re at, and walk alongside them until they find the right path to move forward on.” Ball is quick to point out that the real effort comes from the individuals themselves. “Yes, we’ve supported Darren, but so much of it is about them and how they choose to engage with us,” she said. “Despite setbacks and circumstances that have delayed him getting where he wants to be, he hasn’t lost that determination. We’ve been alongside him, but he’s the one who’s done the work.” Now 38, Darren says that support helped him navigate the criminal justice system — he was fined for the offence — and get his life back on track. With Causeway’s help, he found stable housing, a job, and a creative outlet. He started to feel like himself again. “They really helped me get back on my feet when I was at zero,” he said. “I don’t really know what would’ve happened without their intervention, but if I’d carried on the way that I did then, I’d probably either not be here or be somewhere worse.” But the most meaningful change, he says, was getting access to his daughter again. “I’m building that relationship back up, and that’s really been the driving force,” he said. “When I was diagnosed with cancer, the hardest thing wasn’t the treatment — it was not seeing my daughter.” He says having that connection back in his life gives him a reason to keep going, even when things get hard. “Every day is a new day,” Darren said. “And you have to work forwards rather than backwards, or you’ll stay in the past.”

Read More

This Labrador Didn’t Just Help a Veteran Heal — He Saved His Life

After years of waiting, U.S. veteran Hank Ford finally reached out for help. What he got in return was far more than he expected. Ford, 54, is a retired Marine and Army veteran who served for decades before leaving the military in 2009. Like many veterans, he struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), often isolating himself at home and sleeping through most days. Although he was familiar with dogs — he had several hunting dogs over the years — he postponed applying for a service animal until they had passed. It wasn’t until early 2023 that Ford decided he was ready. He contacted Dogs Inc, a nonprofit based in Palmetto, Florida, that provides trained service dogs to veterans and others in need across the United States. The process started with an interview and online classes. Then came a home visit from Amy Bernard, Dogs Inc’s service dog program manager, who traveled to Ford’s home in Fort Lupton, Colorado. “They're an outstanding organization,” Ford said. By September 2023, Bernard found what she believed would be the right match: a Labrador retriever named Tommy. When she introduced the two, it was clear immediately that she was right. “There was an instant bond,” Ford said. “I tell people that Tommy was training me. He knew what to do.” Ford had spent years overwhelmed by public places, unable to regulate his emotions, and often confined to his bed. With Tommy, that started to change. The pair began training together, first during a six-day immersion with Bernard, who guided them through spaces Ford had long avoided. Then, for the next 90 days, they were practically inseparable. “He’s a firecracker. He definitely pays attention to me all the time,” Ford said. “I mean, we’re pretty much the same being now.” With Tommy’s support, Ford found the confidence to step back into the world. He now works part-time at a golf course, spends time building large Lego projects with his wife Mary, and no longer fears the everyday things that once felt insurmountable. But Tommy wasn’t done helping. In February 2025, the Lab woke Ford in the middle of the night, barking and pawing at him with an intensity that was clearly out of the ordinary. “It was like he was panicking,” Ford recalled. Assuming Tommy needed to go outside, Ford opened the door. But the dog stayed beside him and started nudging his chest. That’s when Ford realized something wasn’t right — with himself. His heart was pounding and fluttering. His blood pressure was dropping fast. He rushed to the hospital, where doctors told him he was in the middle of a severe atrial fibrillation episode. Without Tommy’s unexpected alert — which the dog was never trained to do — Ford could have suffered a stroke in his sleep. The diagnosis was sobering. The outcome, if not for Tommy, could have been deadly. “He saved my life again,” Ford later told Bernard. “He’s my hero.” Bernard, who had seen the bond between them from the beginning, wasn’t surprised by the dog’s instinct. “They were an awesome match,” she said. “They just kind of fell in together really nicely, bonded really quickly, and it was a great placement.” She hopes their story helps shift how some veterans view service animals. Too often, she says, veterans dealing with PTSD feel they don’t “deserve” a service dog — that someone else needs it more. “I hear that very often,” she said. “And I just want people to know that they do deserve a dog.” “There are plenty of dogs to go around. You’re not taking someone else’s dog because we might be waiting just for you for this specific dog.” Ford is living proof of that. A man who once stayed in bed to avoid the world now walks into it every day — with Tommy right by his side.

Read More

Danièle Sauvageau Makes History as First Woman Builder in Hockey Hall of Fame

Danièle Sauvageau, a pioneering force in Canadian hockey, is set to make history as the first woman ever inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a Builder — a category reserved for individuals whose off-ice contributions have shaped the game. Sauvageau's influence stretches across every level of hockey, from grassroots to Olympic gold, and her induction marks a milestone decades in the making. Her path from a girl in Deux-Montagnes, Quebec — once barred from playing organized hockey because she wasn’t a boy — to one of the sport’s most respected minds is nothing short of transformational. “She’s touched every level of female hockey — and male hockey, to be honest,” said Marie-Philip Poulin, captain of the Montreal Victoire and a longtime protégé. “She’s always had a strong drive to make sure that we grew female hockey here in Quebec. And for many years, it was difficult.” Now, with the success of the PWHL and the Victoire drawing thousands of fans, Poulin says Sauvageau’s vision has taken root. “It’s pretty incredible.” A Builder in Every Sense There are 119 Builders in the Hockey Hall of Fame, including names like Scotty Bowman, Pat Burns, Gary Bettman, and Lord Stanley. Until now, not one was a woman. Sauvageau’s resume, however, left little room for debate. She led Canada’s women’s national team to Olympic gold in 2002 — the country's first hockey gold in 50 years. She was the first woman to coach in the QMJHL. She founded the Université de Montréal women’s hockey program in 2008. She’s worked as an NHL analyst, an Olympic consultant, and the general manager of the PWHL’s Montreal Victoire. And she did it all while working full-time for over three decades as a decorated police officer. “She’s intimidating,” Poulin admitted with a smile. “But she has a soft inside. And that’s something that’s quite a privilege when you get to know her.” A Relentless Advocate Though Sauvageau was never allowed to play in boys’ leagues as a child, she never stopped carving out space for women in the game. From coaching and development to facilities and media, she opened doors that had long been locked shut. “I used to say, ‘I’m not at the right place at the right moment,’” she said, reflecting on a career filled with barriers. “But every time, I was able to just put my foot in … and today, I feel like I was just there at the right time to help.” Her legacy includes not just medals and job titles, but real infrastructure. Most notably, she created Centre 21.02 — a dedicated training facility for elite female hockey players, born in the wake of the CWHL’s collapse. Named after the date of Canada’s gold medal win in Salt Lake City, the centre now draws athletes from around the world. “She created that place for them to be,” said Caroline Ouellette, four-time Olympian and assistant coach of the Victoire. “Now everyone knows how incredible it is.” A Full-Time Role, At Last Until the PWHL launched in 2023, Sauvageau’s hockey leadership was essentially volunteer. She had full-time duties in law enforcement, including work on some of the country’s most traumatic cases: the 1989 École Polytechnique shooting and the 2006 Dawson College attack. Her experience in policing shaped her leadership: structured, composed, and tactical — but always team-oriented. “You don’t know when things are going to happen,” she said. “Are you going to be alone? No, not alone.” That mindset has carried over into her work with Victoire. “She’s not leading alone,” said Kim St-Pierre, former Team Canada goaltender and now the Victoire’s head of business operations. “You can see that everyone has her back and wants to compete and show up for her.” PWHL: A Dream Realized When women’s professional hockey found new life with the PWHL, Sauvageau was immediately at the centre of it. She was named the first general manager of the Montreal Victoire and helped lead the team through a breakout inaugural season — one that included a sold-out 21,000-seat Bell Centre and a surge in young girls registering for hockey. “She knew from day one when that league was going to be created, she was going to be involved,” Poulin said. “It’s no surprise.” Now, just two years after the league’s formation, the PWHL is shattering records — in attendance, sponsorship, and visibility. For Sauvageau, it’s a culmination of 40 years of belief and work. “Even if I’ve been in the game for 40 years, I knew that it could work,” she said. “But as fast as that? It’s unbelievable.” Still Building With women’s hockey now surging in popularity, Sauvageau isn’t stepping back. She’s pushing for more — more rinks, more ice time, more women in coaching roles, and more opportunities for kids to discover hockey like she once did at the outdoor rink in Deux-Montagnes. “She’s opened so many doors,” said St-Pierre. “And Danielle is not done.” Sauvageau says she often asks herself whether she can still contribute — and the answer, so far, is always yes. “Until I can’t,” she said, “there’ll always be that fire to continue.”

Read More

She Launched a Mobile Bookstore, The Thirsty Reader, Bringing Books and Brews Together

As a kid, Becky Davison spent countless hours scouring the shelves of Woozles bookstore in Halifax, armed with $10 from her parents and a love of reading that would never leave her. Now, that childhood joy has become her business model. Davison is the founder of The Thirsty Reader, a mobile bookstore that pops up in pubs and bars across Nova Scotia. Think local brews and local books — all in one stop. “This summer I was working on a project and it failed, and I needed a new project that I’m excited about,” Davison said. “I wanted to start something new. It could be a pop-up.” That idea turned into a bookstore on wheels, complete with novels, biographies, and self-help titles — many of which Davison has personally read. Her first event was at Good Robot, a Halifax brewery known for hosting silent reading nights. “They took a chance on me,” she said, “and let me host my first event.” Since launching in late September, the response has been fast and encouraging. “I’m very impressed with the people who have come out,” Davison said. “People want an excuse to come out. It’s not a networking event. You’re coming out to a pub to have a pint. You get to talk about books.” Her pop-ups feel more like a casual hangout than a bookstore. Patrons flip through titles with a drink in hand and strike up spontaneous conversations about what they’ve read or what they’re looking for next. “There’s a big resurgence of physical books,” Davison said. “There are a lot of people on social media talking about books. It’s good to see bookstores thriving and surviving.” At every stop, she highlights authors from Atlantic Canada, including Lesley Crewe, Jane Doucet, Jessica Ilse, Susan LeBlanc, Michelle Hebert, Matt Thomson, and Keonte Beals. “I predominantly have fiction,” she said. “I have some biographies, some self-help. Predominantly the books I’m showing are books I’ve read.” Her project has already taken her across Halifax and as far as Grand Manan, New Brunswick. With more events lined up through December — including stops at vineyards and cozy pubs — Davison is just getting started. The irony, she admits, is that running a bookstore hasn’t left her much time to actually read. But she’s not complaining. “For me, it’s fun because I get to go to new places, have a pint, read books and meet people,” she said. Looking ahead, Davison hopes to expand The Thirsty Reader into places like Moncton and Cape Breton, and start supplying reading groups as well. For now, she’s happy to bring together strangers over stories — the kind you drink, and the kind you can’t put down.

Read More

28 Royal Marine Veterans March 925 Miles Across the UK for Charity — While Carrying 20-Pound Packs

Twenty-eight former Royal Marines have completed a gruelling 925-mile (1,490 km) speed march from John O’Groats to Land’s End, raising thousands for charity and reigniting the bond forged during their years in service. Known as the Bootneck Yomp, the challenge saw the group march the length of mainland Britain in just eight days, finishing on Saturday in Cornwall after setting off from Scotland’s northern tip on October 31. Each participant carried a 20-pound (9kg) pack and completed at least a marathon distance per day — a punishing physical test that reflected the toughness of their Commando days. Organiser Mark Gordon said the experience was about more than fundraising. “We've recaptured this magic of bond in service life, especially Royal Marine commando life,” he said. “Already, people are asking what's the next one.” The effort raised money for several charities, including Combat Stress, the Royal Marines Charity, Papyrus, Alzheimer’s Society, and Cancer Research UK. The final total is still being counted, but organisers said donations have already reached into the thousands. Penzance firefighter Adam Harvey, one of the marchers and a former Royal Marine, said taking part was deeply personal. “It’s a massive achievement, I feel proud,” he said. “The feeling of being back with a group of ex-Royal Marines is really special.” Gordon, who helped plan the event over several months, said it brought lasting impact beyond the money raised. “During the intense training, organisation and planning over the past months, we’ve rediscovered shared bonds and it’s really made a positive difference to us all,” he said. “As a team where the average age is 49, we’re keen on proving that it’s still a state of mind.” The march covered iconic terrain and demanded an elite level of endurance — something many might not expect from a group largely made up of men in their 40s and 50s. But for these former commandos, it was a return to form. And by the end of their journey at Land’s End, they had done more than complete a challenge. They had honoured their service, raised money for good causes, and reminded others — and perhaps themselves — of the strength of their shared identity.

Read More

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Arrives In New York City To Usher In Holidays

The holidays have officially kicked off in New York City with the arrival of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree — a 75-foot Norway spruce that made the 150-kilometre journey from East Greenbush to Manhattan over the weekend. The towering tree was donated by Judy Russ, whose family has watched it grow for decades in the Albany suburb. Seeing it finally installed in one of the most iconic holiday locations in the world was emotional. "Finally seeing the tree that's been in my family forever in Rock Center is just incredible," Russ said. "It is an overwhelming feeling of joy, pride. We feel very humble. It's just a full culmination of everything that has happened so far. It's finally happening and we're thrilled." Crews used a crane to lift the 11-ton tree from its flatbed truck and guide it into position at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, between 49th and 50th streets. It took several hours to secure the massive spruce in place. Over the coming weeks, the tree will be decorated with more than 50,000 multicoloured LED lights and topped with a Swarovski crystal star. The official lighting ceremony is scheduled for December 3 and will be broadcast nationally, as it has been for decades. After its time in the spotlight, the tree will be taken down in mid-January. It won’t go to waste — organizers say it will be milled into lumber and donated to Habitat for Humanity to help build affordable housing. This year’s spruce stands slightly taller than last year’s, which was a 74-foot tree from West Stockbridge, Massachusetts — the first from that state since 1959. The Rockefeller tree tradition dates back to 1931, when construction workers building Rockefeller Center pooled money to buy a small tree during the Great Depression. Their families decorated it with handmade garlands. The first official tree lighting took place in 1933, and the event has grown into a cherished New York City tradition ever since. For visitors and locals alike, the arrival of the Rockefeller tree marks the unofficial start of the holiday season — and the countdown to one of the city’s most anticipated celebrations.

Read More

Teen Freestyle Football Champion Shines in New Guinness World Records Book

Isabel Wilkins isn’t just a rising star in freestyle football — she’s already carved out her name in history. The 18-year-old from Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, has landed a spot in the Guinness World Records: Football Edition 2026, the first-ever book dedicated entirely to the top 100 football achievements worldwide. Wilkins, a two-time freestyle football world champion, doesn’t just appear in the book — she wrote the foreword. In it, she encourages fans to try breaking records themselves and shares step-by-step tips for mastering freestyle moves. At just 18, she already holds four official Guinness World Records. Even more impressively, she earned them all on the same day — January 8, 2024 — and on her first attempt each time. Her titles include: • Most "Abbas around the world" tricks in 30 seconds • Most "hop the world" tricks in 30 seconds • Most "clipper" tricks in one minute • Most "half beck around the world" tricks in one minute Freestyle football is a sport rooted in creativity and control, with athletes performing intricate tricks using all parts of the body — head, shoulders, feet, and everything in between — to juggle a ball with style. “The past few years have been incredible,” Wilkins said. “It’s been amazing, what freestyling has given me. It’s pretty crazy to think.” She first stunned the freestyle world in August 2023 when, at just 15, she became the youngest female freestyle football world champion in history, winning the Super Ball World Open in Prague. She successfully defended her title the following year in Liberec, Czech Republic. Wilkins is currently training in the Netherlands alongside the men’s world champion, as she prepares to compete again at the World Freestyle Football Championship in Sopot, Poland, on December 13. “I’m hoping for the world championship title again but it will be hard, the level is increasing year after year,” she said. “I’m going to give it my best shot.” She says the growth of the sport — especially for women — has been exciting to witness. “Last year at the world championships there was a record number of female participants, so it’s definitely increasing a lot which is really great to see.” Wilkins hopes her story will help bring more young people into freestyle football, especially girls. “I’m trying to inspire as many young people, especially young girls, to show them that football and freestyle can be something amazing.”

Read More

Want Better Sleep? More Fruits and Veggies Might Help — Starting Tonight

A new study suggests that loading up on fruits and vegetables could lead to better sleep — and the benefits might kick in almost immediately. Researchers from Columbia University and the University of Chicago tracked 34 healthy young adults over 201 days, examining how diet influenced sleep quality. Their findings, published in Sleep Health, revealed that participants who ate around five cups of fruits and vegetables daily slept up to 16% more soundly. “Sixteen percent is a highly significant difference,” said Dr. Esra Tasali, co-senior author and director of the UChicago Sleep Center. “It’s remarkable that such a meaningful change could be observed within less than 24 hours.” Participants used a food-logging app to record their meals and wore wrist monitors to track their sleep. These devices measured how often they woke up and how well they transitioned between light and deep sleep throughout the night. The results hint at a surprisingly fast payoff from eating more produce. Tasali believes this makes dietary changes an accessible tool for anyone looking to improve sleep without medication. “Dietary changes may offer an accessible way to improve sleep quality,” she said. One possible reason is biochemical. The researchers say fruits and vegetables contain carbohydrates and nutrients that help the brain absorb tryptophan — an amino acid that increases levels of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep. Other experts say there may be an additional benefit: blood sugar stability. “Fruits and vegetables are low glycemic, which means they help stabilize blood sugar levels,” said Autumn Bates, a California-based clinical nutritionist, in an interview with Fox News Digital. “Unstable blood sugar levels cause cortisol to spike while we sleep, which in turn wakes us up.” Bates wasn’t involved in the study, but she agrees with its overall message. “Small changes can impact sleep,” she said. Marie-Pierre St-Onge, a professor of nutritional medicine at Columbia and co-leader of the study, said the findings empower people to take simple actions that may improve their rest. “People are always asking me if there are things they can eat that will help them sleep better,” she said. “Small changes can impact sleep. That is empowering — better rest is in your control.” The study also emphasized that reaching the CDC’s recommended five cups of produce a day doesn’t have to be complicated. For fruit, a single medium apple, pear, peach, or orange counts as one cup. So do 22 grapes. For vegetables, it takes about 12 baby carrots or two regular carrots to hit the one-cup mark. Cooked greens like spinach shrink considerably, so two cups raw equals one cup cooked. A large ear of corn or a medium potato also meet the one-cup threshold. While the results are promising, experts say more research is needed. Carolyn Ievers-Landis, a clinical psychologist and professor at Case Western Reserve University who was not involved in the research, pointed out that the study wasn’t a controlled experiment and didn’t prove cause and effect. “There is a high likelihood that these individuals are healthier overall — that they get more physical activity, they might drink less alcohol and they might spend more time in natural sunlight,” she said. “Still, it’s always a good idea to eat a healthy diet and engage in healthier behaviors to optimize sleep.” The researchers say they plan to dig deeper into the biological mechanisms behind the findings and test them in more diverse populations. But for now, they believe there’s enough evidence to encourage people to make fruits, vegetables, and whole grains a daily habit. And if a few extra grapes or carrots help you get a better night’s sleep? All the better.

Read More

Researchers Discover DNA's Role in Eco-Friendly Drug Development

Scientists at the National University of Singapore have discovered a surprising new use for DNA — not as a genetic blueprint, but as a tool to guide the creation of safer, more effective medicines. In a study published in Nature Catalysis, the research team, led by Assistant Professor Zhu Ru-Yi, showed that specific parts of DNA known as phosphate groups can act like tiny chemical “hands,” steering molecules during a reaction to ensure the right version of a drug is made. That precision could significantly improve the way pharmaceutical compounds are produced. Many drugs exist in two mirror-image forms, or chiral versions — like a left and right hand. But while one version may effectively treat disease, the other might do nothing, or worse, cause harm. Making only the “right-handed” version has long been one of drug development’s biggest headaches. The new DNA-guided method offers a potential shortcut: it’s cleaner, simpler, and could be more environmentally friendly than conventional techniques. A New Role for DNA DNA is best known for storing genetic information. But in this case, researchers discovered it can also help direct chemical reactions. That’s because DNA’s phosphate groups are negatively charged, and they naturally attract positively charged amino acids — a common interaction inside living cells. Zhu’s team wondered whether that same attraction, called ion pairing, could be harnessed in the lab to guide the way molecules react. Their hunch paid off. The team showed that DNA’s phosphate groups could pull in and hold charged molecules in exactly the right alignment to produce a single, desired mirror-image compound — no messy leftovers, no unwanted byproducts. “Nature never uses DNA phosphates as catalysts, but we have shown that if designed properly, they can act like artificial enzymes,” Zhu said. A New Method: PS Scanning To figure out which parts of the DNA strand were actually responsible, the team invented a technique called PS scanning. It allowed them to swap out individual phosphate sites with chemically similar substitutes. If replacing a phosphate disrupted the reaction’s precision, it meant that site had been playing an important role. To back up the lab work, the team collaborated with Professor Zhang Xinglong at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, who ran computer simulations that confirmed the phosphate groups were key to driving the reaction. Implications for Drug Manufacturing This discovery could change how we make chiral drugs — a class that includes everything from antidepressants to cancer treatments. Traditional methods for separating mirror-image compounds are often slow, costly, and environmentally taxing. The DNA-based method offers a new route that’s fast, efficient, and doesn’t rely on heavy metals or toxic solvents. “It’s a cleaner way to get the compound you want, without a lot of waste,” Zhu said. Because DNA is inexpensive, widely available, and easily modified, it also opens the door for customizable, lab-made versions that can act like synthetic enzymes — without the complexity of designing a whole new molecule from scratch. What’s Next The team now plans to keep experimenting with DNA phosphates to create new kinds of chiral compounds, with a focus on next-generation medicines. The approach could become a powerful tool in green chemistry, where the goal is to reduce waste and energy use in industrial processes. For Zhu and his colleagues, the appeal is both scientific and practical. “We’re not reinventing DNA,” he said. “We’re just giving it a new job.” And if it works, the most iconic molecule in biology might soon be just as essential in the chemistry lab.

Read More