Health in 2024: Medical Miracles and Breakthroughs Bring Hope

Exciting medical breakthroughs in 2024! Euronews Health highlights key advances like new diabetes drugs with added benefits, a twice-yearly HIV injection more effective than daily pills, and a groundbreaking blood test for Alzheimer's. AI in medicine and personalized cancer therapies are also making waves. Ongoing research on long COVID, ultra-processed foods, and climate change impact health. Stay tuned for more positive developments in the medical field!

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Comedy Legend Jim Carrey Receives Lifetime Honour At France’s 2026 Cesar Awards

Jim Carrey has spent decades surprising audiences, so it feels fitting that France’s biggest film awards handed him a moment to surprise them right back. At the César Awards on Thursday, the 64-year-old Canadian-American actor accepted a lifetime honour and did it entirely in French — with a punchline ready. “How was my French? Almost mediocre, right?” he joked, adding that his French roots go back “around 300 years ago.” The ceremony opened with a tribute sketch from presenter Benjamin Lavernhe, who slipped into Carrey’s signature green-faced swagger from The Mask, one of the films that made Carrey a global star in the 1990s. The crowd didn’t need reminding, but the moment landed anyway. Carrey’s career, after all, started on stand-up stages before exploding into cult comedies like Dumb and Dumber, The Mask and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. Then came the turn no one entirely expected. Carrey pushed into drama, earning a Golden Globe for 1998’s The Truman Show, playing an ordinary man slowly realising his life is a TV production. He earned more critical praise in 2004 for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, starring opposite Kate Winslet as a heartbroken man choosing to erase his memories. He later found mainstream success again in franchises like Sonic, before stepping back from Hollywood in the early 2020s. The César d’honneur acknowledges that entire arc, from elastic-faced comedy to soulful character work. The night also spotlighted American director Richard Linklater, who won best director for Nouvelle Vague, his 2025 black-and-white film about the making of Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless. The win added another international nod to the filmmaker behind Boyhood and the Before trilogy. For Carrey, the honour marked a rare public appearance after years out of the spotlight. For the crowd, it was a reminder that the performer whose career spanned slapstick, surrealism and quiet melancholy still knows exactly how to make an entrance — in any language.

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How a Lost Binder Turned Into 15,000 Pokémon Cards for One Very Lucky Kid

It started the way these stories always seem to. A tired parent, a rushed airport connection, and a binder that somehow didn’t make it home. But for a seven-year-old named Reid, losing his Pokémon cards at Denver International Airport ended up triggering a wave of generosity so big it reached across continents. His dad, Graham, posted about the missing binder on Reddit, hoping someone might have spotted it. Airport staff even searched the terminal. Nothing. The family assumed the cards were gone for good. His wife filed a lost item report anyway, more out of hope than expectation. What the family didn’t know was that United Airlines’ social media team had seen the Reddit post and connected it to the missing-item ticket. From there, they did something unexpected. They asked employees if anyone wanted to donate cards to help rebuild Reid’s collection. According to Graham, “They've put two and two together, asked if they could do something, if they could ask some employees if they'd like to replace this kid's collection... and apparently it just detonated.” United initially estimated they’d gather about 2,000 cards. Even that number felt enormous. But when the family returned to the Denver airport on January 19 for what they thought would be a small handoff, employees had something else waiting. More than 15,000 cards had been flown in from as far as Hawaii and Ireland, boxed up and weighing around 40 kilograms. Jonna McGrath, vice president of United’s Denver hub, said the request rippled through the airline. “We were able to gather more than 15,000 Pokémon cards from employees as far away as Hawaii and Ireland to help him start a new collection,” she wrote. She added that once employees heard Reid’s story, “they immediately jumped to action.” Graham said Reid was stunned into silence when he saw the mountain of cards, and both parents teared up. And while the sheer volume thrilled Reid, Graham said the joy wasn’t only in the cards. It was in the notes. “Those letters... are like the coolest part, right? Because that's not just a physical gift, but it's the thinking behind it.” Many employees included messages about their own childhood love for Pokémon. Some sent cards in hard plastic cases, the kind reserved for personal favourites. “This isn't just people refilling the volume of cards,” Graham said. “It was like, ‘this guy was my favorite, or this was my favorite card when I was a kid, and I want you to have it now.’” Since then, Reid has been sharing the kindness. He hosted a trading party for his class, giving each student a bag of 60 cards. The family plans to donate more. “We still have 14,000 cards,” Graham laughed. “My son has to learn the value of having received such generosity... and the role he needs to play as the giver.” For now, the collection lives in their living room, where Reid slowly works through the stacks. “This volume means he always has something new to explore,” Graham said. Even the rare cards, the ones collectors would guard, now sit in the hands of a kid who just loves the game. Graham isn’t a Pokémon expert, but he’s seen enough to understand why strangers rushed to help. “There are a lot of adults who were very interested in it, and it's cool that they see themselves in this 7-year-old who has this passion, and they don't want his soul to be crushed or his passion to go away because he lost these cards,” he said.

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'So Cute!': Viral Punch Mimics Older Monkey During Rain Shower

The internet’s favorite monkey, Punch, continues to star in rain or shine for visitors at Ichikawa Zoo in Japan. Video posted on a rainy February 25 shows Punch taking his cue from an older monkey as they shelter from the downpour. “So cute!” the recorder wrote on X. Punch won hearts around the world after videos showed him cuddling a stuffed toy after he was abandoned at birth. Despite difficulties, including receiving a beating from one of his zoo-mates, Punch has begun settling in and making friends, the zoo said. 📸 @tate_gf via Storyful

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37-Year-Old Mare Named Fancy Breaks Record As World's Oldest Living Horse

If you think your joints creak in the morning, meet Fancy, a Virginia mare who just trotted past nearly four decades and straight into history. The 37-year-old brown mare has been officially crowned the oldest living horse by Guinness World Records, a title confirmed when she reached 37 years and 329 days. Born on April 1, 1988, Fancy now spends her days in Aldie, Va., doing what most retirees dream of: slow strolls, good meals, and time with her best friend. In this case, that best friend happens to be a donkey. Her owner, Paige Sigmon Blumer, first crossed paths with the American Quarter Horse in the late 1990s at a training facility, back when Fancy went by a very different name: Josey Wales. "I met Fancy and was immediately drawn to her strength," Blumer told Guinness World Records. "She also had such a loving presence. I just always trusted her to take care of me, no matter the situation. Her loyalty never wavers." The bond formed fast. By June 2000, Blumer was eight years old and Fancy was twelve when her parents made the purchase official. The name didn’t last long. “I told my parents she was ‘way too fancy to have such an ugly name,’” she recalled. And just like that, Fancy became Fancy. She has since outlived the typical lifespan of her breed, which usually tops out between 25 and 35 years. Blumer says there’s nothing mystical at play — just steady care, a team of attentive veterinarians, and a whole lot of love. “Any horse needs a steady and loving home, a talented farrier, a knowledgeable team of veterinarians, a consistent diet and good company,” she said. That “good company” includes Rosie, Fancy’s seeing-eye donkey. As Fancy’s eyesight has weakened with age, Rosie has stepped in like an old friend who won’t let you miss a step. “Fancy and Rosie took to each other like two old peas in a pod,” Blumer joked, adding that she imagines the pair spending afternoons reminiscing about “the good old days.” Fancy’s later years haven’t been without challenges. She manages Cushing’s disease, a condition that causes the body to overproduce cortisol and requires careful nutrition and medical oversight. Still, she sticks to her routine of twice-daily “granny walks” around the farm, proving that old age can come with a gentle rhythm instead of a full stop. Those quiet moments seem to mean as much to Blumer as they do to her mare. "For anyone who puts their love, time, energy, and pocketbook into a horse — it is such an honour to see them grow old," she shared. "For me, Fancy has taught me way more later in life than she ever did when we were riding and competing." With her Guinness title secured and her 38th birthday just around the corner on April 1, Fancy is settling comfortably into her well-earned spotlight. A long life, a loyal friend, and a donkey sidekick — not a bad way to grow old.

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A Recovered Vintage Camera Still Had Unseen Skiing Photos Inside: Do You Recognize These Vacationers?

In Salisbury, a roll of film forgotten inside an old thrift-shop camera has turned into a small, charming mystery spanning decades and countries. When Ian Scott of the Salisbury Photo Center developed the film, he and the camera’s new owner found themselves staring at clear, time-capsule images of a skiing trip to St. Moritz, Switzerland. The trouble is, no one knows who the people are — or how long the camera sat unnoticed at Alabaré Wilton Emporium before someone picked it up. Scott decided the photos were too good, and too personal, to let fade into anonymity. So he launched a nationwide effort to find anyone who might recognize a face. “No leads on the photos yet,” he told Smithsonian Magazine on February 19. “It has been on TV and the Sunday Express and [my] Instagram, which had 8,000 views in 24 hours, but sadly, no leads.” What the photos don’t reveal outright, the camera and film offer in clues. The camera itself was a Zeiss Ikon Baby Ikonta, a pocket-sized model made between the world wars. But the film inside was Verichrome Pan 127, first sold in Britain in 1956, placing the trip sometime after that. The skiers were also wearing numbered pinnies branded with Cow & Gate, the baby formula company that sponsored a ski trophy in the 1950s. Beyond those breadcrumbs, the scenery does plenty of heavy lifting. One frame shows a woman ice skating in front of St. Moritz’s unmistakable Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, confirming the setting. And while the photos feature crisp alpine backdrops, some of the skiers seem surprisingly underdressed for Swiss winter — proof, perhaps, that wool really does pull its weight. Scott told the Salisbury & Avon Gazette he hopes someone will recognize a smile or a stance. “There appears to be a great story behind these photographs, and it would be brilliant if someone could recognize a face amongst them,” he said. “At the very least, it has been a privilege to have played a small part in preserving these moments from the past.” Until then, the mystery remains: a handful of strangers frozen in time, captured on film that waited more than half a century to be seen again.

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Astronomers Woke Up To 800,000 Notifications From This Observatory Watching The Night Skies — Here's Why

If the cosmos had a notification setting, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory just turned it on. The telescope spent Tuesday night watching the dark sky and then blasted out its first batch of real-time alerts, firing off 800,000 notifications to astronomers around the world. Those alerts came from the observatory’s new Alert Production Pipeline, a software system built at the University of Washington that’s eventually expected to push out as many as 7 million alerts a night. Every ping marks something that changed in the sky since Rubin last looked. “The scale and speed of the alerts are unprecedented,” said Hsin-Fang Chiang, a software developer at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and lead of operations for data processing at the U.S. Data Facility. After months of testing, she said the system can now take each fresh image and say, “Here is everything. Go.” This moment has been nearly 20 years in the making. Rubin is armed with the largest digital camera ever built for astronomy and an ultra-sensitive 8.4-meter primary mirror. Its new alert system lets astronomers know about interesting cosmic activity within two minutes, quick enough for them to request follow-up observations before a fleeting event fades away. “By connecting scientists to a vast and continuous stream of information, NSF-DOE Rubin Observatory will make it possible to follow the universe’s events as they unfold, from the explosive to the most faint and fleeting,” said Luca Rizzi of the National Science Foundation. The first wave of alerts included a grab bag of cosmic activity: supernovae, variable stars, active galactic nuclei, and newly discovered asteroids. Each one marked a change — a brightening star, a newly visible source of light, or an object drifting across the night sky. Behind the scenes, a team has spent a decade figuring out how to process 10 terabytes of images every night. “Enabling real-time discovery on such a massive data stream has required years of technical innovation in image processing algorithms, databases and data orchestration,” said Eric Bellm, the astronomy professor who leads the pipeline group. Tuesday’s launch sets the stage for Rubin’s next big milestone: the Legacy Survey of Space and Time, a decade-long project starting later this year. The telescope will scan the southern sky every few nights, building a deep, evolving record of the universe. As that happens, astronomers’ inboxes are about to get much busier. “Rubin Observatory’s groundbreaking capabilities are revealing untold astrophysical treasures and expanding scientists’ access to the ever-changing cosmos,” said Kathy Turner of the U.S. Department of Energy. The observatory sits high atop a mountain in the Chilean Andes, where the air is thin and the view is sharp. It first shared images from its 3,200-megapixel camera in June 2025, capturing millions of galaxies and stars and identifying more than 2,100 previously unknown asteroids during early tests. When the survey begins in earnest, Rubin is expected to observe more objects in its first year than all other optical observatories combined. And thanks to its new alert system, the universe’s latest news won’t just be discovered. It’ll be delivered.

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These Brothers Turned a Public Toilet Into a Restaurant — It was Just Named the Best Fish and Chip Shop in the UK

If there were ever a case for not judging a book by its cover, it might be the little fish and chip shop in a layby outside York that just beat the entire country. The Scrap Box in Dunnington, once a disused public toilet block along the A1079, has been crowned Britain’s best fish and chip takeaway. For co-owner Aman Dhesi, the moment felt bigger than a trophy. The shop won Takeaway of the Year at the 2026 National Fish and Chip Awards, a title he described as the “Oscars of our industry.” It’s the kind of honour, he added, that “every chippy dreams of”. Aman and his brother Gavin run the shop together, and the award—given by the National Federation of Fish Friers—felt like validation for the way they approach Britain’s most famous comfort food. “It was testament to the craft, care, and consistency we put into every portion of fish and chips,” Aman said. Yorkshire was well represented on the shortlist. Mister C’s in Selby, Shaws Fish and Chips of Dodworth in Barnsley, and The Fish Bank in Sherburn-in-Elmet were also in the running, but this year the converted loo in a layby took the crown. Gavin said hearing their name called at the London ceremony was “surreal”. His first reaction wasn’t triumph, he said, but gratitude. “Our first thought went to our staff, our customers, and everyone who has put in the hard work to get where we are today.” Their rise hasn’t been glamorous. The Scrap Box is small, unassuming, and physically about as far from a white-tablecloth dining room as one can get. But inside, the brothers have invested heavily in technique, equipment, and quality ingredients. “We have put a lot back into the shop to make sure everything is best practice,” Gavin said. He also made a case for the food itself, defending fish and chips’ reputation in an age when takeaway meals often come with a nutritional warning label. In his view, the national dish deserves better PR. “You have got a piece of white fish which is pure protein from the sea,” he said. Their batter, he explained, is just flour and water “with a few added products”, and the chips are cut from whole potatoes and fried in beef dripping. “I think the purity of the product is what sells.” For a business that started with modest ambitions and an unconventional building, the win lands like a love letter to tradition, craft, and the belief that a simple meal made well still carries weight.

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Tennessee Children’s Hospital Renamed In Honor Of Dolly Parton’s Lifelong Mission To Help Kids

Dolly Parton is already known for rewiring American pop culture — from belting out factory-floor anthems to building a theme park empire — but now her name will greet families walking into one of Tennessee’s most important medical centers. East Tennessee Children’s Hospital announced that it will now be called Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital, marking a rare tribute to a living figure whose philanthropy has become as influential as her music. Parton shared the news in a video message, framing the gesture the way she frames most of her work. “Ever since I've been in a position to do my part, to help others, I have tried to do just that. Especially when children and families need it most,” she said. “I've always believed that every child deserves a fair chance to grow up healthy, hopeful and surrounded with love.” Her imprint on Tennessee is enormous. Through her Imagination Library program, families can request free books delivered monthly — a reach now topping 3 million books every month. She donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for research that contributed to Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine. Her foundation hands out college scholarships and regularly supports disaster relief efforts. The hospital did not disclose how much Parton contributed for the naming gift, but leaders said her involvement strengthens their long-standing mission. “Every child who walks through our doors receives the treatment they deserve,” said Matt Schaefer, the hospital’s president and CEO. Adam Cook, chief development and public affairs officer, called the partnership a long-term catalyst. “This is a generational collaboration that will transform pediatric care in this region,” he said. “It will positively impact patients and families for decades to come.” The timing is meaningful. Rural hospital closures have left millions of Americans with shrinking access to care, particularly in states like Tennessee where geography and income can make health services difficult to reach. Since its founding in 1937, the Knoxville-based hospital — now officially bearing Parton’s name — has held to an open-door policy: no child turned away because of race, religion or inability to pay. Parton closed her announcement with a characteristic mix of sincerity and practicality. She said she was honored to stand behind the hospital’s doctors and nurses — but she didn’t pretend she could carry the mission alone. “I can’t do it all myself,” she said, inviting the public to help sustain the work. The name on the building has changed. The mission, hospital leaders say, hasn’t. But with Parton’s support — and her ability to rally just about anyone — they expect its impact to stretch much further.

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Ancient DNA Reveals Ireland’s Native Goat Has A 3,000-Year-Old Lineage

Ireland’s rare Old Irish Goat has always looked ancient, but now scientists can say just how ancient. A new study has found that the breed shares a direct genetic link with goats that lived in Ireland roughly 3,000 years ago, during the Late Bronze Age — an unbroken lineage stretching back millennia. The research, led by University College Dublin with Queen’s University Belfast and international partners, used biomolecular testing, radiocarbon dating and archaeological evidence to assemble one of the clearest pictures yet of Ireland’s early farming history. Published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, the work strengthens the case for conserving the Old Irish Goat as a living remnant of the island’s earliest agricultural communities. Researchers examined goat bones recovered from Haughey’s Fort in Co Armagh — a Late Bronze Age hillfort dated to around 1100–900 BCE — along with medieval remains from Carrickfergus in Co Antrim. Using radiocarbon dating, DNA sequencing and protein fingerprinting, they confirmed that the Bronze Age bones are the oldest goat remains identified in Ireland. When they compared the ancient genomes to hundreds of modern breeds worldwide, one match stood out: the critically endangered Old Irish Goat. “Combining genetics, proteomics, and archaeological science has allowed us a glimpse of our animals hundreds and thousands of years ago — and how their descendants likely still live with us, as part of our biocultural heritage,” said co-lead author Kevin Daly of UCD’s School of Agriculture and Food Science. The Old Irish Goat, historically known as an Gabhar Fiáin — the wild goat — holds an unusual place in Irish folklore. Long before cattle dominated mythology, goats appeared in local customs, place names and seasonal traditions. The best-known example is Puck Fair in Killorglin, Co Kerry, where each August a goat is crowned “King Puck” in one of Ireland’s oldest festival traditions. For generations, the breed has persisted in small roaming herds, valued for its toughness, ability to survive on marginal land and nutrient-dense milk that once supported rural families. But goats have often been overlooked in archaeological records because their bones closely resemble sheep. “Goats tend to get overlooked compared to sheep in the archaeological record because it is notoriously difficult to distinguish between their bones,” said co-lead author Professor Eileen Murphy of Queen’s University Belfast. She noted that medieval records suggest goats were kept not only for farming but also for a trade in skins from ports such as Carrickfergus. To avoid misidentifying samples, researchers first used ZooMS protein fingerprinting to confirm they were indeed goats. Then came the DNA sequencing, which revealed something striking: both the Bronze Age and medieval goats showed their closest genetic relationships with today’s Old Irish Goat. This continuity suggests a stable goat population on the island for more than three millennia. The study also uncovered a warning. While medieval goats displayed broad genetic diversity, the modern breed shows clear signs of inbreeding — evidence of a more recent population collapse rather than a long-term trend. “This research is a huge milestone for the Old Irish Goat, and provides powerful scientific validation of what local communities and conservationists have long believed — that the Old Irish Goat represents a living piece of our ancient heritage,” said Sinead Keane of The Old Irish Goat Society. She added that the findings highlight “the urgency of protecting this critically endangered breed, which carries within it a living genetic record of Ireland’s ancient past.” The work also serves as a tribute to co-lead author Dr. Judith Findlater of Queen’s University Belfast, who passed away before publication. Portions of the research stem from her PhD work examining Medieval Carrickfergus. For now, the study offers something rare: a direct, uninterrupted thread between Ireland’s earliest farmers and the goats that still roam parts of the island today — living links to a past that is only now coming into full view.

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Chicago Mailman Sings To Grieving Grandma, Receives Heartwarming Surprise

Some viral moments start big. Others begin on a quiet Chicago doorstep with a mail carrier who likes to sing. Lavonte Harvey is known on his route for breaking into song as naturally as he delivers letters. On one stop, caught on a doorbell camera, he greeted a resident with a warm, “This is for you, Grandma,” before offering a heartfelt serenade. He didn’t know she had recently lost her husband of 50 years. He also didn’t know the moment would change both of their lives. The song meant so much to her that she shared the clip with her granddaughter, Whitney Cumbo. Cumbo posted it with a caption that framed the moment perfectly: “My grandmother lost her husband of 50 years, and the mail man is her daily dose of life. You are appreciated.” Two weeks later, the video had amassed millions of views and more than 10,000 comments. A small, simple act — meant to brighten a single person’s day — became a global moment of comfort. “I didn’t expect for it to go viral,” Harvey said. Singing, he explained, is something he does to ground himself and connect with people along his route. “For me, singing isn’t just music. It’s about ministry, it’s about spreading hope and joy.” After the video exploded, Harvey appeared on Good Morning America, where he thanked Cumbo and her family for believing in him from the start. They did more than post a video — they helped launch an online fundraiser that allowed him to buy a new car. “I love you guys so much,” Harvey said on the show. “It’s because of you so many doors have been open for me that I’ve only dreamed of. There are not enough thank-you’s in this world… Just know that you have my heart.” Harvey still keeps in touch with the family. What began as a quiet moment of kindness outside one Chicago home has rippled outward, carried by millions of people who saw something in his song: a reminder that small gestures can widen into something far bigger than we ever expect.

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