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In Pictures: This Traditional Autumn Fair is Bringing Colorful Joy to Romania
The Titu Fair in Romania, a centuries-old tradition, is back to bring joy and unity to the community after being suspended during the pandemic. Families and visitors flocked to the fairground, with children enjoying rides, games, and toys. For many, the fair also provides an opportunity to earn and save money by selling goods and supplies for the upcoming winter, offering a glimpse of happiness amid everyday hardships for some of Romania's residents.
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Scientists Discover Sugar Switch That Could Shield Your Brain From Alzheimer's
In a breakthrough study published in Nature Metabolism, scientists from the Buck Institute for Research on Aging have uncovered a surprising new player in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease: sugar metabolism in the brain. Researchers found that neurons in both fruit flies and humans with tauopathies—a group of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s—build up excessive amounts of glycogen, a stored form of glucose. This buildup appears to worsen disease progression by trapping glycogen in toxic tau protein tangles, preventing the brain from using it to manage oxidative stress. By restoring the function of an enzyme called glycogen phosphorylase (GlyP), which helps break down glycogen, researchers were able to significantly reduce brain damage. Rather than fueling energy, the broken-down sugar was rerouted to the pentose phosphate pathway, a process that creates powerful antioxidants to protect brain cells. “We were able to improve tau-related outcomes and even extend lifespan in flies by ramping up GlyP activity,” said lead researcher Dr. Sudipta Bar. The team also found that dietary restriction naturally boosted GlyP activity, and they replicated those effects using a drug, offering potential new therapeutic paths. Human stem cell-derived neurons showed similar results, adding promise to the study's real-world impact. “Understanding how neurons manage sugar may open the door to entirely new treatments for dementia,” said senior author Dr. Pankaj Kapahi. “This could be a game-changer.”
Score (97)
Against All Odds: How A Missing Diamond Was Miraculously Found On Friday The 13th
For most people, Friday the 13th might be a day to tread carefully, but for April Schmitt from Sewickley, Pennsylvania, it's a date filled with serendipity. This particular Friday the 13th turned out to be another lucky one for her when she reunited with something very precious. April was returning from a business trip in Los Angeles and had just landed at Pittsburgh International Airport on June 13. As she reached for her luggage at the carousel, she felt a sharp pinch. Initially dismissing it, reality hit when she later noticed her engagement ring was missing its diamond while sitting in a Starbucks drive-thru. "I looked and there were just the four prongs and no diamond," she said. Without hesitating, April returned to the airport determined to find her lost gem. Equipped only with her phone's flashlight, she began searching between the metal plates of the baggage carousel. Her determination quickly drew the attention of airport staff who joined in on the search. Among those helping were Tom Riordan and Steve Turkaly, both seasoned employees of the airport. "I could tell by her face she was stressed. And she was persistent that she was going to find her diamond," recalled Riordan, who maintains the carousels as a stationary engineer. Turkaly added, “My first thought was, let’s help this lady. We are going to help her find her diamond.” With about 1,000 bags passing through Carousel B each day, finding such a small item seemed nearly impossible. Yet no one gave up hope. Later that same day, engineer Sean Dempsey crawled into the baggage system armed with his own flashlight. Amidst all odds, he spotted a sparkle—April's diamond had been found. "It was like finding a needle in a haystack," Riordan remarked after Dempsey's discovery. April was overwhelmed with gratitude for everyone who helped recover what had been lost. "When we couldn’t originally find the diamond, I felt deflated," she admitted. Despite feeling shocked at first, she held onto hope given her favorable history with Friday the 13th. The date holds special significance for April and her husband Eric; he proposed on March 13, 1992—a Friday—and they married later that year on another Friday the 13th in November. Interestingly enough, Eric’s parents also tied the knot on this supposedly unlucky date. “Maybe people will look at Friday the 13th differently now,” April mused after recovering her diamond. For April and Eric Schmitt at least, this notoriously superstitious day has consistently brought good fortune rather than misfortune.
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Score (98)
Quick-Thinking Sons Save Mom's Life During Lunch Heart Attack Drama
Shelly Bergh's life was saved by the quick actions of her sons after she collapsed from a cardiac arrest. The 60-year-old mother had just finished Sunday lunch with her family in Camberwell, south London, when she felt unwell and headed to the bathroom. Moments later, she collapsed on the floor. Fortunately for Shelly, her sons Harvey, 31, and Sid, 25, knew CPR and sprang into action immediately. As they took turns performing chest compressions, paramedics were swiftly called to the scene. Harvey learned CPR during his time working at a primary school. "I never thought that it would happen to us and that I’d need to use these skills," he said. Meanwhile, Sid picked up his life-saving knowledge through online resources. The London Ambulance Service (LAS) crews arrived at their home in less than four minutes and administered five shocks with a defibrillator to restart Shelly's heart. She was then rushed to a nearby hospital where cardiologists inserted a stent into her heart as part of her treatment in the intensive care unit. Shelly has since been recovering well. Earlier this month, she expressed immense gratitude towards both her sons and the medical professionals who came to her aid. "I needed to go and meet them – and thank them – face to face," she said after meeting the ambulance crew at Oval Ambulance Station. "It was really amazing meeting the people who kept me alive." John Bergh, Shelly’s husband who works as a taxi driver, also praised everyone involved: “We were so lucky that our two boys were there and knew what to do.”
Score (98)
Meet The Universe's New Eye: How A Chilean Observatory Is Flooding Astronomers With Data
The cosmos is a lively place—exploding stars, erupting black holes, buzzing asteroids—and astronomers now have a powerful new tool to catch it all in the act: the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile. Last week, the observatory released its first images. They’re stunning: densely packed star fields, glittering with detail, captured through a field of view so wide and deep it makes earlier surveys look narrow by comparison. But the real marvel isn’t what the images show—it’s what’s coming next. Over the next decade, Rubin will produce the biggest stream of astronomical data in history. And it’s going to arrive fast. “We can detect everything that changes, moves and appears,” said Yusra AlSayyad, deputy associate director for data management at Rubin and an astronomer at Princeton University. Any time something changes in the telescope’s vast field of view, the observatory will issue an alert. Think of it as a cosmic notification system—pinging astronomers whenever something worth a closer look appears in the sky. But there’s a catch. “We’re expecting approximately 10,000 alerts per image and 10 million alerts per night,” AlSayyad said. That’s far beyond what any person could manage alone. Rubin’s data stream, she explained, is like a nonstop video doorbell. “You can’t just sit there and watch it,” she said. “In order to make use of that video feed, you need data management.” The observatory will begin by building a static map of the sky—a background template for detecting changes. Once that’s in place, Rubin’s algorithms will start comparing every new image to the template. Each snapshot will be automatically cleaned up to account for atmospheric blur and stray light, then scanned for differences. That process will repeat 1,000 times per night, every night, for the next 10 years. Rubin’s central mission, the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), will create the most detailed time-lapse of the night sky ever made. But to make sense of the flood of information, astronomers will rely on alert brokers—software services that sift through the noise based on users’ preferences. Scientists (and amateur astronomers, too) can subscribe to alerts based on interest—say, exploding stars or passing asteroids—and define how unusual an event needs to be before they’re notified. “It really is a kind of overwhelming scale of data,” said Eric Bellm, Rubin’s alert production science lead at the University of Washington. The scale is so unprecedented that even the scientific questions Rubin will answer are still evolving. “Ten years ago we were not really seriously thinking of gravitational-wave counterparts, which is all the rage today,” said Federica Bianco, deputy project scientist at Rubin and a researcher at the University of Delaware. “We truly believe that LSST itself will discover new things,” Bianco said. The system is designed to adapt, she added, so the telescope can respond to new kinds of physics and events no one was expecting. Some discoveries will depend on the whims of the universe—catching a supernova, for example, requires a star to actually explode. But others are practically guaranteed. That’s especially true in the solar system, where Rubin is expected to discover millions of new objects—without even trying very hard. More than 1.3 million asteroids are already catalogued, but astronomers expect Rubin to triple that number, with most discoveries coming in the survey’s first two years. “We just sort of sit back and these objects will be discovered and reported to us,” said Meg Schwamb, an astronomer at Queen’s University Belfast who co-chairs Rubin’s Solar System Science Collaboration. “There’s instant gratification,” she added. “That, I think, is mind-blowing.” Not every Rubin target will be quick or obvious. The telescope will also be a key tool in the hunt for dark matter—the mysterious substance that doesn’t emit light but holds galaxies together and outweighs visible matter in the universe. One way astronomers study it is through gravitational lensing, where dark matter’s mass distorts the light from more distant galaxies. Decades ago, Anthony Tyson tried to study that lensing effect using the largest telescope available. His proposal was rejected. So, he submitted a new one—focused on supermassive black hole jets—and got the observing time. But he still used the data to study gravitational lensing. “That was the scam,” Tyson joked. Now, as chief scientist at the Rubin Observatory and its founding director, Tyson has helped build the instrument he once wished existed. Rubin’s massive camera—the largest digital camera ever built—will capture millions of active galactic nuclei, yielding far more data than he could’ve imagined. And for the next decade, the sky will keep delivering. Rubin will generate more than images. It will create a living record of the universe in motion, a dynamic survey of the changing sky that can’t be replicated. Astronomers already expect major discoveries in solar system science, astrophysics, dark matter, and beyond. But perhaps most exciting is what they don’t yet know. The universe will decide. Rubin will be watching.
Score (97)
Long-Lost Reunion: Woman Donates Liver to Childhood Friend After 20 Years Apart
Steven Register found a beacon of hope in Kristin Johnston, a high school classmate he hadn't spoken to in over 20 years. Register, a former MLB pitcher for the Colorado Rockies and Philadelphia Phillies, received a Stage IV colon cancer diagnosis in April 2024 that had spread to his liver. The news was devastating, but Steven has approached every medical challenge with determination and faith. As the clock ticked on viable treatment options, the Register family started looking into a liver transplant. That's when Kristin Johnston entered the story. A preschool teacher and mother of three from Roswell, Georgia, Kristin saw a Facebook post created by Steven's wife, Beth, seeking a liver donor. Compelled to act, she reached out after realizing they shared the same blood type: B positive. Steven couldn't believe it when Kristin offered to donate part of her liver. "It was just so far out of left field," he said. "I haven't seen or talked to her in over 20 years, and for her to reach out like that, it was just meant to be." This extraordinary gesture has brought two families together in an unexpected way. Both families are preparing for their trip to Rochester, New York, where the transplant will take place. The surgery is no small feat; it involves removing 70 percent of Kristin's liver and transplanting it into Steven. Over time, both her remaining liver and the donated portion will regenerate. Steven remains hopeful about what lies ahead. He shared his optimism by saying that once his new liver is free from tumors and cancerous cells, he'll be cancer-free. The community's response has been overwhelmingly supportive. Friends and neighbors have rallied around both families with prayers, words of encouragement, and donations through a dedicated fundraiser aimed at covering travel and medical expenses. Kristin’s selfless act has not only given Steven a fighting chance but also highlighted the power of human kindness in times of adversity.
Score (98)
Boost Your Sleep Quality with This Simple Diet Tweak, Study Finds
Feeling groggy in the morning? You might want to rethink what's on your dinner plate. A new study from the University of Chicago and Columbia University suggests that eating more fruits and vegetables could lead to better sleep quality. The research involved 34 healthy young adults who tracked their eating habits for a week. Using wearable devices, researchers monitored how often participants woke up or switched between sleep phases at night. The results were clear: those who consumed more fruits and vegetables experienced smoother sleep. Esra Tasali, a sleep scientist at the University of Chicago, notes the significance of these findings. "The temporal associations and objectively-measured outcomes in this study represent crucial steps toward filling a gap in important public health knowledge," she says. Healthy carbohydrates like whole grains also seemed to help with sleep quality. Researchers believe that it's the carbohydrates and fiber in fruits and veggies doing most of the work. They even suggest that increasing fruit and vegetable intake to the recommended five cups per day could improve sleep quality by 16 percent. To put it into perspective, one cup equals about eight large strawberries or 22 grapes. "Sixteen percent is a highly significant difference," says Tasali. "It's remarkable that such a meaningful change could be observed within less than 24 hours." While this study doesn't entirely prove cause and effect, it aligns with existing knowledge that links good diet with good sleep. And let's face it, if you're tossing and turning all night, every little bit helps. Typically, we know that various factors like body temperature and bedtime routines affect our slumber. But having control over what you eat makes dietary changes an enticing solution for improving rest. Marie-Pierre St-Onge, a nutritionist at Columbia University, adds some practical advice: "People are always asking me if there are things they can eat that will help them sleep better," she says. "Small changes can impact sleep. That is empowering – better rest is within your control." This research not only highlights an accessible option but also opens doors for further studies on how diet impacts our nightly rest cycles. For now, though, perhaps adding a few extra servings of fruits or veggies to your meals might just make those sleepless nights a thing of the past.
Score (95)
Why Grilling and Pool Parties Are the Ultimate Summer Mood Boosters, According to New Survey
The smell of a grill, lounging at the beach, and taking a swim are the quintessential sensations that define summer for Americans. A new survey conducted by Talker Research for Tyson Foods reveals that 87 percent of American grill owners associate grilling scents with summer, while 68 percent equate it with time near water and poolside relaxation. Cooking outdoors is undeniably one of the joys of summer. Eighty percent of Americans agree with this sentiment, according to the survey involving 2,000 grill owners nationwide. This year, respondents have been eagerly awaiting the best parts of summer for an average of four months. Notably, spending as much time outside as possible (66 percent) and hosting backyard parties and cookouts (46 percent) are high on their agenda. Generation Z in particular shows a strong enthusiasm for backyard cookouts compared to other age groups. Summer stands as the favorite season for more than a third of Americans (36 percent), including over half (52 percent) of Gen Z participants. Many grillers aim to enhance their skills during this period; 53 percent hope to become better grill masters. Additionally, they plan to grill meals at least once weekly during these warmer months, driven by a desire not to heat up their homes (52 percent) and to enjoy outdoor moments (52 percent). The enticing aroma from grills motivates 69 percent of respondents to cook outside. When it comes to what's sizzling on those grills, classics like hamburgers (82 percent) and hotdogs (73 percent) take center stage alongside steaks (74 percent) and seafood (36 percent). A third admit they'll throw anything "grillable" onto the flame. Grill enthusiasts have already spent three hours in recent weeks consuming content aimed at improving their culinary prowess, focusing on perfecting ribs (28 percent), grilled chicken (27 percent), and brisket recipes (25 percent). Financial considerations are also influencing summer plans. Sixty-seven percent intend to be more budget-conscious this season, with many opting to prepare more meals at home rather than dining out. Among those aiming to reduce expenses, 74 percent are cooking at home more often while keeping an eye on food prices; 77 percent said they were watching food costs closely. The Fourth of July emerges as a major grilling event with over half (56 percent) planning barbecues featuring classic items such as hamburgers (68 percent), hot dogs (60 percent), and grilled chicken (45 percent). Popular side dishes include potato salad (56 percent), chips (51 percent), and baked beans (50 percent). Participants express disappointment if certain staples like hotdogs or burgers are missing from celebrations; fireworks hold similar importance for some attendees.
Score (97)
Meet The Wimbledon Superfan: 33 Years Of Camping Out For Tickets
Harry Taylor might just be Wimbledon’s most dedicated fan. The 51-year-old pub landlord from Bridge, Kent, has camped outside the renowned tennis tournament for 33 consecutive years, starting in 1992. Despite harsh weather or personal injury, nothing has kept Harry away from his annual tradition. This year, Harry arrived at the queue a full 48 hours early on June 28 at 8:30 am. His punctuality paid off as he secured the number 17 spot in line and a coveted Centre Court ticket for the first day. Speaking about his experience in the queue, Harry said, “As of this morning, there are about 6,000 people queuing. And there are more of them coming in.” His setup is far from amateur; equipped with a waterproof and windproof tent, tables, chairs, and ice buckets, it resembles a glamping site. He proudly calls himself “very experienced” with his three decades of queuing expertise. Wimbledon organizers have come to expect thousands of campers each year and provide amenities like toilets that Harry claims are “better than Glastonbury toilets.” There are also numbered cards to prevent line-cutting and stewards checking tents. Phone chargers and food stalls serve those waiting. The Met Office recorded this year’s opening day as the hottest ever for Wimbledon with temperatures soaring to 33 degrees Celsius on court. To combat the scorching heat, staff handed out free water. Fortunately for Harry, his front-row position allowed him to claim a seat in a shaded area. He remarked on the challenges posed by the heat: “There are some years where it is raining and muddy and horrible. This year, the problem is the heat.” Adding to his difficulties this year was sciatica pain that left him struggling to move his legs. Despite this setback, backing out was never an option for Harry. The tournament organizers offered assistance by transporting him across locations via buggy—a gesture he found very helpful. “I have been in pain for about two months,” said Harry. “But I thought ‘I must do the queue.’ I am hobbling on one leg in incredible pain but for the experience I have to suffer it.” Even if it required using a wheelchair, he was determined to attend. Beyond securing tickets annually, part of what keeps him coming back is the camaraderie among fellow fans. Over time these queuers have formed their own community; they even maintain group chats discussing matches and often help each other manage luggage. On what makes Wimbledon so special compared to other tennis tournaments worldwide? For Harry: "If you don’t win Wimbledon then you are nobody." His favorite player is Carlos Alcaraz who aims to defend his title after defeating Novak Djokovic last year.
Score (95)
Ancient DNA Reveals Surprising Ingredient in Roman Fish Sauce Recipe
In a fascinating twist from the past, scientists have traced the origins of an ancient Roman condiment to European sardines. This discovery comes from a study of DNA found in a Roman-era salting plant in Spain, revealing the key ingredient of garum—an iconic fish-based sauce that was a staple in ancient Roman cuisine. The Romans were known for their love of fish and made sure it stayed on their table year-round by processing it at coastal plants called cetariae. Here, small fish were crushed and fermented into various sauces like garum, which is similar to modern fish sauces popular in Southeast Asia or even Worcestershire sauce. But figuring out exactly what types of fish were used has been tricky. The intense processing at these plants left behind only tiny bone fragments, making visual identification almost impossible. To get around this problem, an international team of researchers tried something new: DNA analysis. Despite the challenges posed by grinding and fermentation, which break down genetic material faster, they managed to sequence DNA from fish remains found in a salting vat at Adro Vello in northwest Spain. This breakthrough offers fresh insights into Roman-era sardines and provides a new approach for studying ancient fish remains. "The bottoms of fish-salting vats offer a myriad of remains," the researchers noted in their study published in Antiquity. They emphasized that genomic studies have yet to fully use this resource for understanding past diets and fish populations. To test their method, the team extracted DNA from small bone fragments identified as European sardines at the site. Co-author Paula Campos from the University of Porto led efforts comparing these ancient sequences with those from modern sardines. The results showed that ancient sardines were genetically similar to today's sardines living in the same region—a surprising find given how widely these fish can disperse. "Here, the authors demonstrate that, despite being crushed and exposed to acidic conditions, usable DNA can be recovered," explained the researchers. They believe this data could open new avenues for exploring ancient subsistence economies and cultures while providing information on historical fish populations unavailable through current fisheries data or modern specimens alone.
Score (96)
Why A Quick Nap Could Be Your Secret Weapon For Creativity
The old adage to "sleep on it" might hold more merit than we thought. Recent research from the University of Hamburg suggests that a quick nap could actually lead to those elusive "aha moments" we all crave when faced with tricky problems. In a study published in "PLOS Biology," researchers Anika Löwe, Marit Petzka, Maria Tzegka, and Nicolas Schuck examined how sleep affects insight during problem-solving. The team recruited 90 participants to engage in a task involving tracking dots across a screen and responding via keyboard. Unknown to them, there was a hidden trick that could simplify their task. Participants tackled the dot-tracking challenge four times before taking a 20-minute nap while hooked up to an electroencephalogram (EEG) to monitor their sleep stages. After resting, they returned to the task. Astonishingly, 70.6 percent experienced an "aha moment," discovering the task’s hidden shortcut. All groups showed improvement after their naps, but those who reached N2 sleep — the first deeper sleep phase — had the most significant breakthroughs. Of these, 85.7 percent had the insight revelation. Löwe remarked on the findings saying, "I think a lot of us have made the subjective experience of having important realizations after a short nap." For her and her team, having data backing this intuition is gratifying. In comparison, only 55.5 percent of participants who stayed awake and 63.6 percent who only achieved light sleep (N1) reported similar insights. EEG reviews identified that a steeper spectral slope correlates with deeper sleep and breakthrough moments. Schuck found it intriguing that such brief periods of rest could foster connections previously unseen by participants. He expressed hope that understanding EEG spectral slopes will further illuminate these findings. Prior studies using this same dot-tracking test without naps saw less than half achieving creative breakthroughs. This new research underscores how deeper sleep phases might be pivotal for enhancing problem-solving abilities. "The EEG spectral slope has only recently been considered as a factor in cognitive processes during sleep," said Löwe. She finds the association between spectral slope steepness during sleep and subsequent insights exciting, given her team's earlier computational work identifying this connection's significance for aha-moments. For creatives relying on their problem-solving prowess, these results resonate deeply with personal experiences of post-nap creativity boosts. Löwe noted how people around her could relate personally to these findings. So next time you catch yourself nodding off at your desk or contemplating a quick snooze when stuck on something tough, remember: science just gave napping its stamp of approval for productivity perks.