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Score (99)
These Firefighters Rescued a Baby Elk From a Wildfire
Firefighters rescue newborn elk calf found amid ashes of nation's largest wildfire. The calf, dubbed "Cinder," was taken for care to a nearby ranch. Cinder is now regaining strength at a wildlife rehabilitation center in Espanola, north of Santa Fe. Climate change and enduring drought are fanning the frequency and intensity of forest fires.
Score (96)
New Discovery Suggests Body's Own Molecule May Combat Alzheimer's
A small molecule already found in the human body may hold a powerful key to fighting Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease — and it works a bit like cheese on spaghetti. Researchers at Switzerland’s Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) have discovered that spermine, a molecule long known to regulate key cellular functions, can help protect the brain from the buildup of harmful proteins linked to neurodegenerative disorders. Their findings, published in Nature Communications, shed new light on how the body naturally fights back against these diseases, and could pave the way for future therapies. As people live longer, age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are becoming more common. Both are driven by clumps of misfolded proteins, called amyloids, that accumulate in the brain. These long, fibrous strands damage nerve cells and, to date, no treatment can reliably prevent or remove them. That’s where spermine comes in. In lab experiments, researchers led by Jinghui Luo found that spermine helped clear these toxic proteins by encouraging them to stick loosely together — a process called biomolecular condensation. This clumping makes them easier to break down and recycle through autophagy, the body’s natural cellular cleanup system. “Autophagy is more effective at handling larger protein clumps,” Luo explained. “And spermine is, so to speak, the binding agent that brings the strands together.” Luo compared it to a familiar kitchen scene: “The spermine is like cheese that connects the long, thin noodles without gluing them together, making them easier to digest.” The team used a combination of lab-based imaging, including a technique called SAXS scattering at PSI’s Swiss Light Source, to study the molecular behavior of spermine both in glass tubes and in live organisms. They tested its effects on C. elegans, a microscopic nematode worm commonly used in aging research. The results were striking: worms given spermine lived longer, moved better in old age, and showed stronger cellular energy activity through healthier mitochondria. Crucially, spermine also appeared to support the immune system in clearing away the brain-damaging amyloid deposits — a major obstacle in treating Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Spermine is part of a family of molecules called polyamines, found throughout the body in cells that divide and stay active. It’s been known for over 150 years, originally identified in semen, but its full role in brain health is only now becoming clearer. Among its other jobs: helping cells regulate which genes get switched on, and assisting with cell division, movement, and death. Previous studies hinted that spermine could protect nerve cells and reduce memory decline in older animals, but the exact mechanism hadn’t been understood — until now. The findings don’t just help explain a natural defense system. They also raise the possibility that spermine, or similar polyamines, could be used in new treatments. Researchers caution that more work is needed to fully understand the molecule’s role, especially in humans, but the early data is promising. Spermine may also be involved in other diseases, including cancer, and understanding its mechanisms could have broader medical value. “If we better understand the underlying processes,” Luo said, “we can cook tastier and more digestible dishes, so to speak, because then we’ll know exactly which spices, in which amounts, make the sauce especially tasty.” Artificial intelligence is already being used to accelerate this work. By analyzing massive datasets, AI tools can help researchers find optimal combinations of polyamines and other factors that might enhance therapeutic effects. High-resolution imaging and time-resolved scattering techniques, which can monitor processes deep inside cells in real time, are also crucial. Those technologies are only available in a handful of facilities worldwide, making PSI’s work especially important. For now, the idea that a molecule already inside us might be harnessed to prevent or slow brain disease offers a hopeful new angle in the ongoing battle against neurodegeneration. And if Luo’s kitchen metaphor holds, future treatments might come down to finding the right recipe — one where a dash of spermine could make all the difference.
Score (97)
This Delta Pilot Kept a Childhood Promise, Flies Grandfather’s Plane for Thanksgiving
Delta Captain Malik Sinegal didn’t just fly a plane this Thanksgiving — he flew straight into a dream fulfilled. In an emotional holiday moment, Sinegal surprised his grandfather, Albert Partman, by serving as the pilot on his flight — a promise he made as a little boy and finally kept. “I’m really surprised by it,” Partman said. “I can’t be more happy for him and for me too.” The gesture was years in the making. Sinegal credits his grandfather for helping launch his career, recalling how Partman once scraped together money the family didn’t have to buy him a flight simulator. "To finally give that dream back to them and to show them that it paid off and thank you for believing in me — it means a lot to me," Sinegal said. "It’s just a full circle moment and I finally get to share something I love with him, for the first time." It wasn’t just his grandfather who got to share in the milestone. Sinegal was able to fly his entire family together for the first time — a rare family reunion in the skies during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. They were among the estimated 81.8 million Americans hitting the road or taking to the skies this Thanksgiving, according to AAA. Sunday is expected to be the most crowded day at airports and on highways, as travelers head home and brace for another blast of winter weather. But for one family, at least, the holidays started with something warmer — a promise kept, a dream realized, and a seat on a flight that meant far more than miles.
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Score (97)
Scientists Discover Molecule That May Explain How Exercise Slows Aging
We know exercise is good for us. But the how, at the deepest molecular level, is still being figured out. Now, a new long-term study may have uncovered a big piece of the puzzle. Researchers in China have identified a molecule called betaine that appears to play a major role in the benefits of exercise, particularly its ability to slow aging. Betaine is a small compound found in foods like sugar beets and spinach. Scientists have previously linked it to improved health, but this is the first time it’s been directly connected to exercise. In the study, led by a team from Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, researchers tracked changes in the bodies of 13 healthy men who ran regularly over the course of a month. After just one 5-kilometre run, the body showed signs of stress. But with repeated exercise, researchers observed a deeper transformation: lower levels of cell damage and aging, better gut health, and stronger immune responses. At the heart of that transformation was betaine. The men’s kidneys started producing more of it as their exercise habits became consistent. But this wasn't just a side effect of exercise — it was a mechanism. Tests on mice showed that betaine actively blocked a molecule known as TBK1, which has been tied to inflammation and aging. So, rather than betaine simply being boosted by exercise, it appears to be part of why exercise works to slow biological aging in the first place. “Our study delineated the molecular blueprint through which exercise reshapes human physiology, providing mechanistic insights into its health benefits,” the researchers wrote in their paper, published in Cell. “The identified exercise-induced factors, including betaine, offer potential for developing ‘exercise in a pill’ to promote healthy aging.” That doesn’t mean skipping the gym and popping pills instead. The researchers emphasized that exercise provides a host of benefits this molecule alone can’t replicate, like improving muscle strength and boosting mental health. But for people who are aging, or those who can’t exercise due to illness or disability, understanding betaine’s role could help scientists develop new treatments to slow aging and support overall health. “This study gives us a fresh way to turn how our body works into something we can target with chemicals,” said Liu Guang-Hui, a biophysicist from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. “It opens the door to geroprotective treatments that can tweak how multiple organs work together.” The research used a sophisticated approach known as multi-omics, tracking changes in genes, proteins, immune responses, and molecules like betaine. The team says their work offers a new framework to map the molecular impact of exercise and better understand its long-term health benefits. There’s still a long way to go. Thirteen volunteers is a small group, and much larger, long-term studies are needed to confirm these findings and understand how betaine might work across different populations. But for now, scientists are hopeful. Not only does this study bring us closer to understanding how exercise helps us live longer, it also provides a new target in the search for treatments that could one day help more people age better — even if they can’t lace up their running shoes.
Score (94)
John Oliver Sells Bob Ross Painting, Raises Record $1.5 Million For Public Television
What started as a record-breaking art sale turned into a full-blown fundraising spectacle for public media—thanks to a “happy little” painting and a comedy host with a flair for the absurd. Following the recent auction of three Bob Ross originals that raised over $600,000 for public TV and radio, Last Week Tonight host John Oliver stepped in with a fundraising twist of his own: auctioning off an original Ross painting from the show’s own archives. The painting, Cabin at Sunset, featured in Season 10 of The Joy of Painting, headlined a quirky auction dubbed John Oliver’s Junk and went on to set a new record for a Bob Ross piece—selling for $1,035,000 after 35 bids. But that was just the start. The auction, which included 34 other items from the Last Week Tonight studio, ultimately raised a total of $1.5 million. All proceeds were donated to the Public Media Bridge Fund, which supports financially struggling public broadcasting stations and programs. “We’ve actually accumulated a bunch of weird artifacts on this show over the years that we could definitely auction off to raise some much-needed money,” Oliver said in the final episode of the season. “I am proud to announce Last Week Tonight’s first ever auction in aid of public media.” Among the oddities up for bid: a pair of golden sneakers Oliver once promised to wear if disgraced FIFA president Sepp Blatter resigned, a cabbage he once “married” during a segment on AI art, and a jockstrap worn by actor Russell Crowe. A pair of VIP tickets to a live taping of the show alone fetched over $110,000. The idea for the Ross-centered auction came from Bob Ross Inc., the company that manages the late painter’s work and legacy. Ross, who died in 1995, was a longtime supporter of public television, where his gentle voice and landscape tutorials became staples of PBS programming. “I think this actually would have been Bob’s idea,” said Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Inc. “And when I think about that, it makes me very proud.” The original Ross auction, handled by Bonhams in Los Angeles, featured three of the artist’s works: Home in the Valley (1993), Cliffside (1990), and Winter’s Peace (1993). Each was initially expected to go for between $25,000 and $30,000—but bidders had other plans. Home in the Valley brought in $229,100, Cliffside sold for $114,800, and Winter’s Peace went for a whopping $318,000. While the Corporation for Public Broadcasting receives more than $1 billion annually in federal funding, stations across the country rely heavily on additional fundraising—including pledge drives and philanthropic campaigns—to stay operational. The Public Media Bridge Fund was created to support smaller, at-risk stations and keep diverse programming alive. In typical fashion, Oliver turned a highbrow fundraiser into a strange and hilarious spectacle—and helped public media in the process. The only question now is what he’ll dig out of storage for next year’s auction.
Score (97)
How the Wild Turkeys Staged a Remarkable Comeback from Near Extinction
For millions of Americans, Thanksgiving isn’t complete without turkey on the table. But not long ago, spotting one in the wild was next to impossible. In the early 20th century, wild turkey populations across the United States plummeted due to overhunting and large-scale deforestation. By the 1930s, their numbers may have dipped as low as 30,000 nationwide. Today, there are more than six million. “It’s one of the greatest conservation success stories we have,” said Michael Chamberlain, National Wild Turkey Federation Distinguished Professor at the University of Georgia, in an interview with Scientific American’s Science Quickly. Turkeys aren’t just back—they’re everywhere. In some places, maybe too everywhere. From suburban New England towns where they strut across intersections and block mail carriers, to places like Staten Island where they’ve carved out a place in urban parks, wild turkeys have made an unlikely return to the spotlight. But that success story came from decades of effort. Starting in the 1950s and ‘60s, conservationists, wildlife agencies, and nonprofits worked together to trap and relocate wild turkeys from remnant populations to places where they had disappeared. That “trap and transfer” method sparked a population boom that lasted through the 1990s. Chamberlain, who has spent his entire career studying wild turkeys, said their comeback reflects just how adaptable they are. “As long as they can sleep off the ground, find adequate food, and avoid predators, they can do really well,” he said. “Even in suburbs and cities.” Their intelligence and strong social systems also play a role. Turkeys live in structured dominance hierarchies—every group has a pecking order from top to bottom, and birds spend much of their time reinforcing their rank. “They’re constantly testing each other,” Chamberlain said. “It’s a complex, social world.” That structure has survival advantages. Dominant birds eat first, nest first, and reproduce more successfully. Earlier nests produce more viable chicks, known as poults. Still, while turkeys are thriving in many parts of the country—including in states like Massachusetts, where they were considered “functionally extinct” by the 1950s—the story isn’t all rosy. In their historical strongholds like the Southeast and Midwest, populations are once again declining. “Predator populations have rebounded, habitat is being lost or degraded, and disease is becoming a concern,” Chamberlain said. “The challenges facing turkeys now are very different than they were 40 or 50 years ago.” And while they’ve become suburban icons in some towns—Brookline, Massachusetts even unofficially adopted the turkey as its mascot—they can be a handful. With no natural predators in urban areas and hunting off the table, turkeys sometimes behave like they own the block. “They’re doing that because there’s no risk involved,” Chamberlain said. “You won’t see turkeys attacking a mailman in rural Georgia where I live. But in cities, they know they’re safe.” That difference creates challenges for wildlife managers, who must balance turkey conservation with nuisance complaints, all within vastly different environments—sometimes within the same state. Despite the mixed bag, Chamberlain remains hopeful. He believes the best way to support wild turkeys is to pay attention to them outside of Thanksgiving. “Try to think about turkeys more than just on that one day a year when you eat them,” he said. “If you do, you’ll gain a greater appreciation for what incredible birds they really are.” For those curious to learn more, Chamberlain runs a website called WildTurkeyLab.com , where he shares updates on turkey science and conservation efforts. So while millions of Americans are slicing into a roasted bird this holiday, it’s worth remembering that the wild version of that species nearly disappeared—and that their survival today is due to decades of hard work, scientific dedication, and a surprising amount of street smarts.
Score (98)
Still in Her Wedding Dress, Off-Duty Nurse Stops to Save a Crash Victim on Her Wedding Night
Heather Schubert had just said "I do" when she found herself running toward a crash scene instead of a honeymoon suite. The off-duty nurse was still wearing her wedding dress and on her way home with her new husband late on Saturday, Nov. 22, when they spotted a badly damaged car and a man lying in the middle of the road on I-10 in New Orleans. Without hesitation, she pulled over and rushed to help. “When you’re a nurse and you always put other people first, that’s always my first instinct,” Schubert told WDSU. The man was critically injured, with airbags deployed and no clear signs of consciousness. Schubert immediately began checking for trauma responses and pupil reactivity. “His pupils were not reactive to light,” she recalled. “He, in fact, did have trauma.” Schubert, who works at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, stayed by his side until emergency crews arrived. The man’s current condition hasn’t been publicly shared. Despite having just gotten married and being on her way to celebrate, Schubert said stopping to help wasn’t even a decision. “There’s never a question. There’s never a hesitation,” she said. “I would hope that anybody, whether they’re a nurse or not, would run and do the same thing.” Steven Tafoya, a critical care paramedic, told WDSU that what Schubert did reflects the deeper instincts many healthcare workers carry, regardless of whether they’re on the clock. “Just because we're off the clock doesn’t mean that instinct stops,” he said. “What this lady did—on her wedding day no less—is just remarkable and shows her commitment to health care in general.” The moment may not have been part of the plan, but it was one her husband, and likely everyone who witnessed it, won’t forget. In the end, it was a wedding night that turned into a life-saving mission. And Schubert says she wouldn’t have done it any other way.
Score (98)
School Bus Driver Saves Missing 4-Year-Old From Lake Despite Never Having Swum
Mebal Kaanyi had just wrapped up her afternoon school route in Roseville, Minnesota, when she saw something that didn’t sit right. A young boy, dressed only in underwear and a short-sleeve shirt, was running barefoot down Chandler and Owasso Boulevard in the cold. He was crying, clearly upset—and clearly alone. Kaanyi didn’t know it yet, but the child had just been reported missing. His aunt had called 911, and deputies were already en route. From behind the wheel of her Schmitty & Sons school bus, Kaanyi watched as the boy ran toward the nearby lake. She called out from her window, trying to get his attention. He didn’t stop. Then the gate by the lake swung open. “My heart skipped,” Kaanyi said. Without hesitating, she secured the bus, got out, and ran after him. By the time she reached the shore, the boy had stepped into the water. It was a deep section, and he immediately began to struggle. Here’s what makes what happened next even more remarkable: Kaanyi is terrified of water. She’s never learned how to swim. “I get goosebumps just looking at the water,” she said. “I’m so afraid of water, but that day, I was determined to do anything possible to save that kid.” As the boy flailed, he managed to push himself toward her. Kaanyi reached out, grabbed his hand, and pulled him to safety. She then carried him back to her bus and wrapped him in towels until first responders arrived. Ramsey County Sgt. Matt Marson was among the deputies who responded. He later credited Kaanyi with preventing what could have been a tragic outcome. “She was integral in saving that child’s life,” he said. “She’s a hero, plain and simple.” Kaanyi, now being hailed for her bravery, isn’t looking for praise. She insists she simply did what anyone should do. “We need to live in a society whereby we care for one another,” she said. Local officials say she will be formally honored with a life-saving award.
Score (97)
Post Malone Just Treated Nashville First Responders to Free Thanksgiving Meals
Post Malone is making sure Nashville’s first responders don’t miss out on a good Thanksgiving meal—even if they’re stuck on duty. The music star and entrepreneur is offering free meals to uniformed first responders this week at his new Nashville restaurant, Posty’s. The offer runs from Wednesday, November 26, through Friday, November 28, and aims to give a little gratitude to those keeping the city safe during the holiday season. “To the ladies and gentlemen who keep Nashville safe each day, we’d love to thank you for your service!” the restaurant announced on Instagram. “On-duty, uniformed first responders are invited to please join us…to enjoy a complimentary meal at Posty’s!” The gesture quickly won praise from fans—many of whom know firsthand how tough working holidays can be. “Being a retired first responder, this means so much to those away from their families during the holidays,” one commenter wrote. “At least they can eat with their work families. THANK YOU.” Others chimed in with support, calling it “fantastic” and “exactly the kind of respect and acknowledgment they deserve.” Located in the heart of Nashville, Posty’s is one of Malone’s latest ventures outside of music. While fans have already been loving the food, this latest move is giving people even more reason to show up—and show appreciation. For anyone who can’t make it to the restaurant this week, Posty’s also released new holiday merch just in time for Christmas. As one fan put it, “Just returned from NASH and LOVED your new joint!” It’s a reminder that beneath the tattoos and flashy style, Post Malone continues to show up in real ways for people—and this Thanksgiving, it’s the city’s first responders who get a taste of that generosity.
Score (96)
Gemini South Telescope Captures Stunning New Image Of The Butterfly Nebula
The Gemini South telescope is turning 25, and to mark the occasion, astronomers have released a stunning new image of the Butterfly Nebula, a swirling, colorful cloud of gas shaped like wings and glowing with the remnants of a dying star. Also known as NGC 6302, the nebula sits in the constellation Scorpius, between 2,500 and 3,800 light-years from Earth. At its heart is a white dwarf blazing at 250,000 degrees Celsius—the burnt-out core of a star that once resembled our own sun, only slightly bigger. That now-dead star reached the end of its life by expanding into a red giant, shedding its outer layers in a final burst of stellar drama. What was left behind became this cosmic butterfly: slower material ejected along its equator formed a dusty dark band in its center, while faster gas flowed out along the poles, creating the wings. A hot stellar wind gave those wings their final sculpting. Today, the material in the nebula glows at about 20,000 degrees Celsius, ionized by the radiation from the white dwarf. In the new image, ionized hydrogen appears red, while ionized oxygen glows blue. It’s not just beautiful—it’s also a preview. Astronomers say our own sun will meet the same fate in about 5 billion years. The anniversary image was selected as part of a student competition in Chile, where Gemini South is located. Schoolchildren picked the Butterfly Nebula to be imaged in high detail using the observatory’s 8.1-meter-wide mirror. Perched atop Cerro Pachón in the Chilean Andes, Gemini South is one half of the International Gemini Observatory. Its twin, Gemini North, sits atop Mauna Kea in Hawaii. Together, they give astronomers a nearly complete view of the night sky from both hemispheres. Operated by the U.S. National Science Foundation’s NOIRLab, the project is funded by a partnership between the United States, Brazil, Canada, Chile, and the United Kingdom. The Gemini telescopes were the vision of astronomer Fred Gillett, who died shortly after Gemini South's first light in 2000. The northern telescope now bears his name—the Frederick C. Gillett Gemini Telescope. Both observatories are equipped with advanced tools like adaptive optics and infrared cameras, allowing astronomers to peer deep into dusty regions of space and capture sharp, wide-field images of objects like the Butterfly Nebula. As Gemini South enters its second quarter-century, its team is already looking forward to even more discoveries—and more views of the universe as dramatic as this one.
Score (93)
Jug Older Than Christianity to Be Returned to Cyprus After UK Auction Discovery
A tiny ceramic jug believed to be nearly 2,800 years old is being returned to Cyprus, after it was spotted at a UK auction and identified as a significant antiquity. The 7cm-tall artefact, dated to around 750 BC, was discovered during a sale at The Cotswold Auction Company in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. Once experts recognised its cultural value, the item was quickly withdrawn from auction. Marios Theocharous from the Cypriot government collected the piece—known as a "juglet" due to its small size—earlier this month as part of an ongoing repatriation effort. “This jug is significant,” said Theocharous. “It’s a piece of our collective memory.” The jug is currently being kept at the Cypriot High Commission in London, where it will remain until its return to Cyprus, where officials expect it will eventually go on display in a museum. Its return is part of a broader campaign by the Cypriot government to reclaim items that were “illegally removed” from the island in the 1960s and 70s. Many cultural artefacts were taken during a time of political unrest, and the government has spent years trying to trace and recover them. In a statement on December 3, 2024, Cypriot authorities announced that more than 100 objects had been repatriated from the UK. These included Neolithic stone stools dating as far back as the seventh millennium BC, and pottery from the Early Bronze Age, around 2,000 BC. The Cotswold Auction House said it was committed to respecting cultural heritage and fully supported the return of the jug. “As a company, we are committed to respecting the cultural heritage of other countries, as well as our own, and fully support the Cypriot government in its efforts to repatriate antiquities,” said Niall Fry, saleroom manager at the auction house. He also noted that there was no suggestion of wrongdoing on the part of the seller. “The jug may have been in the UK for decades or centuries, and they would not have been aware of its legal status in Cyprus,” he said. For Cyprus, efforts to reclaim lost heritage items continue, with authorities pursuing artefacts that represent the island’s deep and layered history—from Neolithic tools to Bronze Age ceramics and beyond.