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This Mobile Library is Boosting Literacy Among Young Students in DR Congo
A mobile library called Kitabus is bringing books directly to students in Bukavu, DRC. The bus is filled with novels, fables, manga, and more for students to enjoy. This initiative aims to promote basic education by offering a wide range of reading materials aligned with the Congolese curriculum. This project not only enhances the school program but also contributes to strengthening the educational system in Congo by fostering a love of reading among children.
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World's Oldest Tortoise Jonathan Approaches 200 Years And Continues To Thrive
Born before the American Civil War, older than the Eiffel Tower, and likely alive before the invention of the photograph — Jonathan the tortoise isn’t just old. He’s the oldest living land animal on Earth. At 192 years old, Jonathan is a Seychelles giant tortoise living on the remote island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic. And despite nearing two centuries of life, caretakers say he’s still thriving. Jonathan was officially recognized by Guinness World Records in 2019 as the oldest living land animal at age 187. By 2022, he also claimed the record as the oldest tortoise ever documented. His estimated birth year is 1832, though some reports place it at 1833. That would make him 27 years older than the start of the American Civil War, and more than half a century older than the Eiffel Tower, which began construction in 1887. Jonathan lives on the grounds of Plantation House, the official residence of the governor of St. Helena, where he's been since the 1880s. He was reportedly gifted to the governor after being brought over from the Seychelles. His presence on the island predates nearly every modern innovation imaginable — from lightbulbs to airplanes. The average lifespan of a Seychelles giant tortoise is around 150 years. Jonathan has far surpassed that, and experts credit a mix of biology and environment. Tortoises in general have slow metabolisms and robust immune systems, which help reduce age-related deterioration. They also have efficient DNA repair mechanisms, which scientists believe play a role in slowing down the aging process. But even among long-lived tortoises, Jonathan is an outlier. One major factor in his longevity is his habitat. Unlike in the wild, Jonathan faces no predators or environmental stressors on the quiet grounds of Plantation House. He also receives daily care and nutrition tailored to his aging needs. Caretakers regularly feed him a diet of fruits and vegetables, and keep an eye on his health. And although he’s blind and has no sense of smell, Jonathan continues to show signs of vitality — responding to voices, sharing space with other tortoises, and enjoying his meals. He’s become something of a local celebrity. Tourists visiting St. Helena often come hoping to catch a glimpse of him, and some guided tours allow visitors to view Jonathan from designated areas. While selfies are encouraged, touching the tortoises is strictly prohibited. If the name St. Helena rings a bell, it might be because the island was the final place of exile for Napoleon Bonaparte after his defeat at Waterloo in 1815. Jonathan, who arrived decades later, has become the island’s most famous living resident. Interestingly, there’s a popular myth that Jonathan was once owned by both Charles Darwin and Steve Irwin. While it’s not true, it speaks to just how deeply people want to connect his extraordinary lifespan with other icons of natural history. Jonathan's caretakers, and the broader community on St. Helena, hope he’ll make it to the 200-year mark — a milestone no other tortoise has ever reached. But for now, he continues to enjoy the quiet, slow-paced life that’s allowed him to live longer than almost any other animal in recorded history.
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A New Compound is Reversing Alzheimer's Symptoms In Rats, Moves Closer to Human Trials
A new compound developed in Brazil has shown remarkable potential for treating Alzheimer’s disease, dramatically improving memory performance and reducing brain inflammation in rats — and the team behind it now hopes to begin human trials. Alzheimer’s currently affects more than 55 million people around the world, and existing drugs only manage symptoms without addressing the root causes. One of the biggest challenges in treating the disease is the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain — sticky clumps of protein that may be linked to memory loss and cognitive decline. Whether these plaques cause the disease or are simply a byproduct remains uncertain, but targeting them has become a major focus of research. A team led by biochemist Giselle Cerchiaro at Brazil’s Federal University of the ABC (UFABC) zeroed in on copper — a key element found in excessive amounts within beta-amyloid plaques in some patients. “About a decade ago, international studies began to point to the influence of copper ions as an aggregator of beta-amyloid plaques,” Cerchiaro said. She explained that certain genetic mutations and enzyme changes can cause copper to build up in the brain, worsening plaque formation. While not all Alzheimer’s patients show this imbalance — some even have too little copper — restoring copper to healthy levels has been hypothesized as one way to limit brain damage caused by oxidative stress. The researchers screened nine different chemical compounds to see which could effectively remove copper from plaques. After running computer simulations, they narrowed the list to three promising candidates: two “imines,” labelled L09 and L10, and one quinoline-based compound, L11. The models suggested that all three could likely cross the blood-brain barrier and be administered as oral drugs — both key factors for real-world treatment. The next step was testing for safety. Brain cells from mice were exposed to the compounds for 24 hours. L11 turned out to be the most toxic, damaging cells and making oxidative stress worse. But L09 and L10 passed with low toxicity and even helped shield the cells’ DNA and lipids from the kind of damage linked to Alzheimer’s. That left the most critical test: seeing how the drugs performed in a living brain. Using a standard rat model for Alzheimer’s, the team induced plaque buildup by injecting the animals with streptozotocin, a compound that mimics the disease’s effects by damaging insulin-producing cells. Of the three compounds, only L10 produced consistently positive results. In treated rats, L10 restored copper balance in the hippocampus, a key brain region responsible for memory. It also sharply reduced signs of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. Most strikingly, rats that received L10 outperformed untreated animals in a maze test that measured spatial memory — a promising sign the compound had a tangible cognitive benefit. L09 and L11, by contrast, showed only minor effects in these areas. Cerchiaro now hopes to begin human trials. “It’s an extremely simple, safe, and effective molecule,” she said, adding that it’s also inexpensive to produce. “Even if it only works for part of the population, since Alzheimer’s disease has multiple causes, it’d represent a huge advance over current options.” If early results hold up, L10 could join a growing list of experimental Alzheimer’s treatments that aim to do more than slow symptoms — by going after the mechanisms driving the disease itself.
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Archaeologists Discover 'Ancient Monument' On Farm
Amateur archaeologists in Greater Manchester have uncovered what they believe to be a significant Bronze Age monument on a farm in Aspull. The Wigan Archaeological Society discovered an ancient burial site, possibly repurposed from an earlier Neolithic henge due to its large oval ring ditch with an entrance. This find is unprecedented in the region and has sparked various theories about its original use, including mining for jewelry materials or being affected by marshes and floods. The site's history could stretch back even further than 4,500 years.
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Brick Lane Turns Yellow To Mark New 'Wicked' Film
Brick Lane in east London has transformed into a vibrant yellow path to celebrate the release of "Wicked: For Good." This colorful makeover is a collaboration between Universal UK, the Truman Brewery, and Tower Hamlets Council. Six talented artists, including Mr Cenz and Taya De La Cruz, have created stunning Wicked-themed murals along the route. Mr Cenz shared his excitement about contributing despite chilly weather challenges. India Young from Truman Brewery expressed delight in bringing this 'oz-mazing' transformation to life at their creative hub.
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Scientists Confirm World First: Quantum Teleportation Achieved Between Photons
In a major leap toward building a functional quantum internet, physicists at the University of Stuttgart have successfully teleported quantum information between photons emitted by two separate light sources — a feat never achieved until now. The experiment, detailed in Nature Communications, demonstrates that quantum information can be reliably transferred using photons from different quantum dots — a crucial step for transmitting data securely over long distances without signal loss or corruption. “For the first time worldwide, we have succeeded in transferring quantum information among photons originating from two different quantum dots,” said physicist Peter Michler, who led the study. What Actually Happened? Despite the sci-fi sound of “teleportation,” no particles are vanishing and reappearing elsewhere. In quantum mechanics, teleportation refers to the transfer of a quantum state — the unique set of information that defines a quantum particle — from one photon to another. This only works if the photons are indistinguishable and entangled in just the right way. When photons come from the same source, achieving this is relatively easy. But when they come from different sources, it’s far more difficult. That’s where quantum dots come in. These special semiconductor materials emit photons at extremely precise frequencies, making photons from separate dots nearly impossible to tell apart. This uniformity is essential for successful quantum teleportation across a network. Why It Matters Current internet systems rely on amplifiers to boost light signals through cables. But in quantum communication, amplifying signals isn’t an option — it would destroy the delicate quantum data. Instead, scientists need repeaters that can faithfully pass on the quantum state without disturbing it. By using quantum dots as those repeating stations, engineers could eventually send quantum information securely across cities or even continents — creating a quantum internet that is virtually immune to hacking or eavesdropping. In this experiment, the team used a standard optical fiber cable roughly 10 meters long, the same kind used in today’s broadband networks. That’s key, because it suggests that future quantum communication systems could piggyback on existing infrastructure. “Transferring quantum information between photons from different quantum dots is a crucial step toward bridging greater distances,” said Michler. What's Next? The researchers reported a teleportation success rate just over 70 percent, already a strong showing for such complex experiments. But they’re hoping to push both the distance and reliability further in the future. Scaling up will involve creating networks of quantum dots that can operate in sync across far greater ranges, potentially using satellite links or city-wide fiber systems. For now, this result adds another building block to the foundation of the quantum internet — one that could eventually revolutionize the way we share sensitive data, encrypt information, and even conduct scientific research. “These results demonstrate the maturity of quantum dot-based technology,” the team concluded, “showing an important building block for future quantum communication.”
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The ‘Magic Bus’ That Survived a Wildfire Is Back — Restored, Road-Ready, and Making Waves Again
A vintage blue-and-white Volkswagen bus that became a viral symbol of survival during California’s Palisades Fire is back — fully restored, gleaming, and once again ready to hit the road. The 1977 VW Type 2 Microbus, affectionately named Azul, made its public debut this week at the LA Auto Show, just months after it stunned the internet by appearing mostly intact amid the scorched wreckage of a Malibu neighborhood. “It melted and Volkswagen saved it,” said owner Megan Weinraub, standing beside the restored bus on Thursday. “It was a giant relief because it wasn't my first priority with everything going on.” Weinraub, an LA-based surfer, had parked Azul near her apartment just two days before the fire tore through the area in January. She never expected to see the van again. But when an Associated Press photographer captured a striking image of the unburnt bus standing alone among the ashes, the photo went viral — and caught the attention of Volkswagen. The company quickly reached out to Weinraub and offered to help. Upon closer inspection, VW’s restoration team found that while Azul had survived structurally, it wasn’t unscathed. The bus had smoke damage, blistered paint, rust, and a window shattered by the intense heat. Volkswagen technicians Farlan Robertson and Gunnar Wynarski took the bus to the company’s Oxnard facility, just west of Los Angeles, where they store and work on historic VW vehicles. There, they began a months-long restoration effort — not to modernize the bus, but to bring it back to life without changing its original character. “At the bottom of it, it was to try to take the vehicle that everyone else saw and do what we could to improve upon it, but not change it,” Robertson explained. “To actually have it come out and be the revived, resurrected vehicle returned to its former glory.” They hunted down rare parts, leaned on the global VW enthusiast community, and documented every step of the rebuild. In the process, Azul became more than just a project. It became a shared mission. On October 27, Weinraub and the van’s previous owner, Preston Martin, saw Azul for the first time since the fire. AP photographer Mark J. Terrill, who captured the original image, was there to document the moment. “We still can’t believe it,” Weinraub said. “We thought it was a goner.” Martin, who owned the bus before Weinraub and was with her on the day they last drove it to the beach, said the van had always been a part of their adventures. Now, thanks to a twist of fate — and some serious restoration skills — it’s about to hit the road again. Azul even got a nickname from fans online: The Magic Bus. “I was lucky and grateful to have the opportunity for them to restore it because I wouldn't have been able to restore it myself,” Weinraub told CBS News Los Angeles. The return of Azul is a story about more than just metal and paint. It's about resilience, community, and second chances — and a reminder that sometimes, even in the middle of devastation, something beautiful survives.
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Texas A&M Researchers Develop Innovative Patch To Aid Heart Repair After Attacks
A research team at Texas A&M University has developed a promising new device that could transform the way doctors treat heart damage after a heart attack — and it’s only the size of a small patch. Led by Dr. Ke Huang, the team created a biodegradable patch equipped with microneedles that deliver a healing molecule directly into injured heart tissue. The device aims to speed up recovery, reduce scarring, and avoid harmful side effects often seen with traditional drug delivery methods. “This patch acts like a bridge,” said Huang, assistant professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. “The microneedles penetrate the outer layer of the heart and allow the drug to reach the damaged muscle underneath, which is normally very hard to access.” The study, published in Cell Biomaterials, was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association. How It Works The patch uses a microneedle system to deliver interleukin-4 (IL-4) — a molecule known for its role in regulating immune responses — directly into the damaged region of the heart. Each tiny needle is filled with microscopic particles carrying IL-4. Once applied to the heart’s surface, the needles dissolve and release the therapeutic molecule exactly where it’s needed. That precision matters. In earlier trials, IL-4 had been injected into the bloodstream, but the widespread exposure caused unwanted effects in other organs. By focusing the treatment locally, Huang’s team avoided those systemic problems. “Systemic delivery affects the whole body,” he said. “We wanted to target just the heart.” Why Heart Damage Is So Hard to Reverse After a heart attack, large numbers of heart muscle cells die from lack of oxygen. The body tries to protect the heart by forming scar tissue — but scar tissue can’t contract like healthy muscle. That leaves the remaining muscle under increased strain, which can eventually lead to heart failure. The patch is designed to interrupt this process by influencing immune cells known as macrophages. These cells can either ramp up inflammation or support healing. With the help of IL-4, they switch into repair mode. “Macrophages are the key,” Huang said. “They can either make inflammation worse or help the heart heal. IL-4 helps turn them into helpers.” A Surprise Inside the Cells While testing the patch, the researchers noticed something unexpected: the treated heart cells weren’t just surviving. They were communicating more actively with nearby endothelial cells — the ones that line blood vessels. That interaction may help rebuild healthy tissue and blood flow. The team also saw lower levels of inflammation from endothelial cells and higher activity in a cellular pathway called NPR1, which plays a role in blood vessel health. “The cardiomyocytes weren’t just surviving, they were interacting with other cells in ways that support recovery,” Huang said. What Comes Next Right now, the patch must be applied through open-chest surgery. But Huang hopes future versions will be easier to use, possibly inserted through a small tube in a minimally invasive procedure. “This is just the beginning,” he said. “We’ve proven the concept. Now we want to optimize the design and delivery.” To support that goal, Huang is teaming up with Xiaoqing (Jade) Wang, a statistics professor at Texas A&M. Together, they’re building an AI model to map immune responses and guide how future versions of the patch are designed and applied. If successful, this innovation could offer new hope to millions of people each year recovering from heart attacks — by helping their hearts not just survive, but heal.
Score (94)
One of the World’s Rarest Whales Has Finally Been Seen Alive
After decades of eluding scientists, one of the planet’s most mysterious marine mammals has finally been seen alive — and the discovery nearly got derailed by a hungry bird. The elusive ginkgo-toothed beaked whale, long considered one of the rarest whale species on Earth, was spotted off the coast of Mexico, marking the first confirmed sighting of the animal in the wild. Until now, the only evidence of its existence came from a handful of dead specimens that had washed up in Japan. “This is a significant finding,” said Elizabeth Henderson, Co-Editor of Aquatic Mammals, who described the discovery as the result of a rare alignment of “perfect weather conditions” and being “in the right place at the right time.” The sighting happened after years of failed attempts. Scientists first got a hint they were close in 2020, when they recorded a series of high-frequency echolocation pulses — sounds used by marine mammals to navigate and find food in deep, dark waters — near northwestern Baja California. Those pulses were unlike any previously catalogued, suggesting a new or rare species. But the challenge with beaked whales, Henderson explained, is that they’re incredibly hard to track. Beaked whales are the deepest-diving mammals on the planet. They can spend hours underwater and surface only briefly — just minutes at a time — making sightings extremely rare. On top of that, they tend to avoid boats and are easily spooked by sonar and engine noise. Despite those odds, the research team pressed on. In late 2024, while scanning the ocean surface, they finally saw what looked like two juvenile whales rising for air. Using a modified crossbow, the crew collected a small sample of skin for DNA analysis — a process known as a biopsy — to confirm the identity of the whales. That’s when the mission almost fell apart. Just after the biopsy dart hit its target, a wild albatross swooped in and tried to peck at the sample. The team scrambled to recover it, tossing their leftover breakfast rolls overboard to distract the bird while they launched a small boat to retrieve the precious fragment. It worked. The sample was recovered, and DNA testing confirmed what researchers had suspected: they had just become the first people to see ginkgo-toothed beaked whales alive in the wild. Henderson said the discovery is more than a feel-good moment — it has real scientific impact. Not only did it confirm that the whales are using habitat off North America's west coast, it also effectively doubled their known range across the North Pacific. Advancements in acoustic monitoring and tagging technology played a major role in making the discovery possible. Scientists now believe each species of beaked whale emits its own distinct echolocation pulse — like a unique acoustic fingerprint. Once that pulse is identified, researchers can use passive acoustic tools to better understand where and how often a species appears. During the expedition, six ginkgo-toothed whales were spotted — including at least one adult with a calf — though only five were successfully identified. “They made a big impression,” Henderson said. It’s a rare glimpse into a world still largely unknown — and a reminder that the ocean’s most elusive creatures may be out there, just below the surface.
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These Moms All Had One Thing in Common: They Gave Birth to Giant Babies
There’s been a big surprise sweeping delivery rooms across the United States — and we mean literally big. This year, hospitals from Alabama to Florida to Tennessee have reported new records for baby weights, with multiple moms delivering newborns nearly twice the average size. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, the typical newborn weighs about 3.2 kilograms (7 pounds). But for several families in 2025, that number was just the starting point. Each mom had the same reaction: total shock. “I had no idea what was happening,” said Pamela Mann, a 31-year-old first-time mom in Alabama. “All the nurses were like, ‘Oh God!’ ‘Wow!’ Then I started freaking out.” Mann gave birth to a baby girl named Paris Halo on March 4 at Grandview Medical Center in Birmingham. Despite her doctors flagging a larger-than-usual baby in her ultrasounds, the final number still caught everyone off guard: 6 kilograms (13 lb., 4 oz.). That made Paris the largest baby born at the hospital in recent memory. “Everybody in the ER — they were amazed,” Mann told local TV stations WBRC and WVTM. “They were like, ‘OMG, oh, this is a big baby!’” Once staff reassured her there were no complications, just an unusually large baby, she says she broke into tears of relief. Down in Florida, Daniella Hines had a similar experience. Her son Annan was born in September at St. Joseph's Hospital-South in Riverview, weighing 6.3 kilograms (13 lb., 15 oz.). The hospital confirmed it was the biggest baby they’d seen in their 10-year history. “We didn’t expect such a big blessing,” Hines said. “But it’s just more to love!” This wasn’t Hines’s first time delivering a large baby. Her older son, Andre Jr., came in at 5.8 kilograms (12 lb., 11 oz.). But Annan still managed to surprise her. “I remember thinking, ‘What are they pulling out of me?’” Hines joked. “He was so big. I was like, ‘Whose baby is this? He came out of me?’” As news spread, hospital staff came by just to catch a glimpse. “He was the talk of the maternity ward,” she said. “He was like a little celebrity.” Up in Tennessee, Shelby Martin had been carefully planning her fourth delivery — but her son Cassian had other ideas. Born in July at TriStar Centennial Women's Hospital in Nashville, Cassian tipped the scales at 5.8 kilograms (12 lb., 14 oz.). That made him the heaviest newborn delivered at that hospital in the past three years, according to hospital staff. “We had a heads up that he was going to be big, but I would have never guessed almost 13 pounds,” Martin told People. “Looking back on bump pictures, I probably should have known.” Cassian’s arrival was also emotional for the family. He was born exactly one year after Martin suffered a pregnancy loss — and on her 30th birthday. “He truly is the brightest rainbow we had been dreaming of,” she said. “Of course, we still mourn our angel we lost, but being able to get him Earthside has filled something in all of us. His brothers are over the moon.” Martin also described the mood in the delivery room as jubilant once Cassian arrived via C-section. “Everyone lit up,” she said. “Everyone was amazed by his size. He made such a big impression that nurses and doctors from all over the hospital came by the NICU just to meet him. He quickly became a little celebrity.” While none of the moms expected to deliver a baby that big, all three say their new arrivals are healthy, happy, and already making a big impact — in more ways than one.
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Insulin Through The Skin? Scientists Move Closer to Needle-Free Diabetes Treatment
The days of insulin injections may soon be numbered. Researchers in China have developed a topical insulin treatment that successfully lowers blood sugar through the skin — a breakthrough that could transform how millions of people with diabetes manage their condition. Using a new kind of smart polymer, scientists at Zhejiang University have found a way to carry insulin molecules past the skin’s natural defenses and into the bloodstream. The method, tested on lab-grown human skin, diabetic mice, and minipigs, showed promising results: blood glucose levels dropped to normal and stayed there for up to 12 hours, all without a single needle. That’s no small feat. While transdermal drug delivery has long been used for small-molecule medications — like nicotine or pain-relief patches — insulin has remained out of reach. The hormone is both large and water-loving, making it chemically incompatible with the skin’s outer layer, which is oily and tough by design. “Relieving patients with diabetes from subcutaneous injections” is now within reach, the research team wrote in Nature. And not just for insulin — the technique may one day work for other protein- or peptide-based drugs that are currently only delivered via injection. Here’s how they did it. Cracking the skin barrier The skin’s outer layer, called the stratum corneum, acts like a biological brick wall. It’s made up of dead skin cells held together by fats and oils, making it nearly impenetrable to large, hydrophilic molecules like insulin. But scientists noticed that the skin also has a pH gradient — it’s slightly acidic at the surface and becomes more neutral deeper inside. That gave them an idea: what if a carrier molecule could stick to the skin at the surface, then change its properties as it moved through different pH zones? Enter OP, short for poly[2-(N-oxide-N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] — a polymer known to be safe and compatible with the body. At the skin’s surface, OP is positively charged and sticks to skin lipids. But as it moves deeper and encounters a neutral pH, it loses that charge, slips free of the lipids, and continues inward. By binding insulin to OP, the team created a compound called OP-I, essentially allowing insulin to hitch a ride through the skin. Proof it works The team first tested OP-I on human skin models, where it significantly outperformed insulin alone and insulin mixed with a different polymer commonly used in medicine (PEG). Then came live tests. In diabetic mice, OP-I brought blood glucose down to normal levels within an hour, with effects lasting 12 hours — comparable to standard insulin injections. In diabetic minipigs, whose biology is more similar to humans, results were nearly identical: blood sugar dropped to normal within two hours and stayed stable for half a day. Once inside the body, OP-I traveled to key tissues like the liver, fat, and skeletal muscle. There, it triggered insulin receptors and promoted glucose metabolism, just like injected insulin does. Even better: it did so gradually, with a smoother, more prolonged effect. That could mean better blood sugar control and fewer spikes or crashes. No inflammation, no needles Researchers also found no signs of inflammation in the treated animals, suggesting the method is safe — at least in early testing. More extensive human trials would be needed to confirm that. Still, the implications are big. If successful in people, this approach could mean an end to frequent injections, a major quality-of-life improvement for many of the 500+ million people living with diabetes worldwide. The researchers also believe the method has potential far beyond insulin. “The OP conjugation is versatile for transdermal delivery of biomacromolecules such as peptides, proteins and nucleic acids,” they wrote, “warranting further investigation in future studies.” That could pave the way for needle-free delivery of other treatments currently locked behind syringes. For now, the discovery offers a glimpse at a future where managing diabetes may be as simple as applying a patch or cream — and putting the needle away for good.