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A Decade, 120 Scientists, and One Big Discovery About How Your Cells Work
A decade-long international collaboration has unveiled a comprehensive blueprint of chemical transport pathways in human cells, marking a significant milestone in biomedical research. Spearheaded by Giulio Superti-Furga at CeMM, the Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, and backed by an international consortium under the European Union's Innovative Medicines Initiative, this project culminated in four groundbreaking studies published in *Molecular Systems Biology*. The research focused on solute carriers (SLCs), the largest family of transporter proteins essential for cellular exchange processes. These proteins play a crucial role in absorbing nutrients and expelling waste, yet many remain poorly understood. The project more than doubled existing knowledge about these transporters, offering new insights into their functions and potential therapeutic applications. "This effort represents an unprecedented push towards understanding a target class heavily involved in human disease," said Giulio Superti-Furga, Scientific Director of CeMM and Coordinator of the RESOLUTE consortium. "We hope to have lowered the barrier for transporter research." The initiative brought together 120 researchers from 13 institutions across eight countries. After five years of laboratory work and additional data integration efforts led by CeMM, the team produced transformative findings that illuminate chemical traffic within cells. Key outcomes include metabolic mapping of SLC genes, mapping protein-protein interactions for nearly 400 SLCs, identifying synthetic lethal interactions through genetic experiments, and creating an integrative functional landscape accessible via https://re-solute.eu. Ulrich Goldmann highlighted the project's impact: "We were able to annotate most solute carriers with functional information and create tools that serve the global research community."
Score (94)
Cook Saves Loyal Customer After Noticing His Absence from Daily Gumbo Routine
For more than ten years, the Shrimp Basket in Pensacola, Florida, could set its clock by one man. Every day, right around 11 a.m., the door would open, and their most loyal customer would stroll in for his usual: a cup of gumbo. “He’s like everyone’s grandpa,” said Donnell Stallworth, a cook at the restaurant. The man had become such a fixture that staff threw him a 78th birthday party a few months ago. So when he suddenly stopped showing up, everyone noticed. Days passed, and concern turned into worry. Something wasn’t right. “I just left work, went to his house, and I knocked on the door like two times,” Stallworth told WEAR-TV. “The third time I knocked on it… I kind of stayed up for a minute, and I knocked again, and I heard him like, ‘Help’ and ‘Who is it?’” When Stallworth identified himself, the man invited him in. What he found was heartbreaking — the elderly customer was lying on the floor, injured and unable to move after a fall. He had been there for days. His body was bruised, and several ribs were broken, according to the news report. Without Stallworth’s visit, it’s unclear how much longer he would have gone unnoticed. “He was in tears, like, ‘I don’t even know how long I’ve been here,’” Stallworth said. Paramedics arrived soon after, and the man was taken to the hospital. He’s now recovering, helped along by physical therapy — and by Stallworth, who still brings him gumbo every few days. The Shrimp Basket team hopes it won’t be long before that familiar door swings open again at 11 a.m., and their friend takes his usual seat. Not all heroes wear capes. This time, the hero wore an apron, and followed his gut when something felt wrong.
Score (97)
Family Reunion by Fate: Cousins Meet at Ancestor’s Grave by Complete Chance
A pair of British cousins visiting their ancestor’s grave in England made a remarkable discovery when they arrived to find two Americans already standing at the same headstone — and realized they were all related. Ian Brandon and Malcolm Atkins, both from the UK, had been tracing their family history for years. Their journey led them to St Peter’s Church in the town of Raunds, Northamptonshire, where their great-great-great-grandfather, Anthony Smith, is buried. When they arrived last month, they were stunned to find another couple at the same gravesite — Rand and Janeel Smith, who had traveled 3,700 miles from Kansas City to visit the grave of Rand’s ancestor. “You couldn’t make it up,” said Malcolm, a grandfather of two from East London. “We met at that precise moment, and now people are saying it’s divine intervention. I don’t have a religious bone, but if we arrived half-an-hour later, we wouldn’t have known they were there.” Malcolm and Ian had spent seven years planning their visit. Ironically, their trip got off to a rough start when their car became stuck trying to find parking near the church. “These two Americans went past the car and smiled as I was stuck,” Malcolm said. “Then these two people were literally standing by the headstone of my third great-grandad.” Rand was already reading the inscription when his wife asked the two strangers if they knew the person buried there. Ian replied, “That’s my third great-grandfather.” Rand answered, “That’s my third great-grandfather,” too. The realization left all four speechless. The odds of such a meeting, according to the family, were an astonishing 12 billion to one. “It was amazing, it was like we all knew each other,” Malcolm said. “Then we went to a nearby pub, where we found we had so much in common. We’d love to see him again. I’d love to go to Kansas.” Ian, from Danbury, Essex, said their timing was purely by chance. “We basically turned up together, it was most strange,” he said. “They were there two minutes before we were. We had so much in common. We exchanged emails, so we’ll keep in contact.” The three men discovered they were fourth cousins, all descended from Anthony Smith, who once owned a shoe factory in Raunds. For Malcolm, a dedicated genealogy enthusiast, the meeting was a once-in-a-lifetime validation of his hobby. “My wife Linda always wondered how I could do such a boring hobby,” he said. “It’s just names on a piece of paper, but on one account I’ve got 2,000 names. It’s helped us dig into this, which is incredible. You couldn’t have written it. I’m still shocked by it. It’s a day we’ll never forget.” Rand said the trip fulfilled a decades-old dream. “Forty years ago my grandfather travelled from the U.S. and visited the graves of our forefathers at St Peter’s Church,” he said. “Since that time, I’ve had the same desire. When we located the headstones, we were stunned to have several others come up and examine the same stones. To learn that they are our fourth cousins was absolutely thrilling.” After sharing lunch together, the families promised to stay in touch. “We feel that divine intervention put us together,” Rand said. “What a highlight of our lives.”
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Score (94)
This Canadian Man Credits His Dog With Saving His Life From a Charging Grizzly
A quiet walk on a familiar trail near Cochrane, Alberta, turned into a terrifying brush with death for Craig Campbell — until his 10-year-old Doberman, Night, leapt into action. Campbell and Night had walked that same wooded path countless times before. But this time, a grizzly bear and her two cubs had wandered close to the trail, hidden in the bushes between nearby farms. “I managed two thoughts,” Campbell told CTV News. “First of all, I said to myself, ‘This can’t be happening.’ And then I realized I wasn’t going to get the bear spray out (in time) and I said to myself, ‘I’m about to die.’” Before he could reach for his spray, Night bolted ahead, barking and standing between his owner and the bear. The grizzly rose on its hind legs, towering more than two meters high, but Night refused to back down. The dog’s courage bought Campbell just enough time to get ready — but before he had to use his spray, the bear huffed and retreated to her cubs. “He is a very brave dog,” Campbell said. “To have an animal that literally stood between me and death, there’s no better friend than that.” Campbell, an experienced trainer, believes Night’s quick thinking came from years of training in Schutzhund, a German dog sport used to teach obedience and protection skills to breeds like Dobermans and German Shepherds. Night’s heroism earned national recognition. He was inducted into Purina’s Animal Hall of Fame for 2025 — Canada’s longest-running award celebrating pets that save lives or make extraordinary contributions. The honour includes a medallion, a ceremony in Toronto, and a year’s supply of free pet food. Despite his newfound fame, Campbell says Night hasn’t changed. The loyal Doberman still loves splashing in streams and chasing minnows — the same playful spirit that makes him both a hero and a best friend. “To have a dog that brave,” Campbell said, “it just reminds you why they’re called man’s best friend.”
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Bride's Heartwarming Video of Dad's Sweet Text After Wedding Goes Viral with 6.5 Million Views
A heartwarming text message from a father to his daughter has captured the internet's attention, gathering 6.5 million views on TikTok. Just one day after her wedding, Dana Jesscari received a touching reminder from her father that he would always be there for her. The New Jersey native shared that the text wasn't unexpected. "I wasn’t surprised," Jesscari told PEOPLE. "My dad has always been somebody to do everything that he said — pick me up and be there for me." This reassuring message came just after she embarked on a new chapter in her life, reminding her of their enduring bond. In the viral video, Jesscari posted a screenshot of her dad’s message: “Remember not to be shy about calling me if you need me to pick you up at the train station or anything else. First ask your husband and if he can’t, ask me. OK?” In her caption, Jesscari expressed plans to frame the message as a reminder of his unwavering support. Jesscari and her father have maintained a strong relationship over the years. They speak almost daily, sharing conversations on topics ranging from history to travel plans. "I miss my parents more now than I thought I would," she confessed. The widespread attention from the video brought out various reactions in the comments section. Many viewers reflected on their own relationships with their parents, sparking discussions about family dynamics. Some shared sentiments of wishing for stronger connections with their fathers but feeling unsure how to initiate change. While acknowledging that familial relationships can be intricate, Jesscari encourages others not to hesitate when reaching out for support. “Don’t have any regrets," she advised. "Try to pursue that friendship versus parent-to-child and have them be needed in your life." For Jesscari’s father, being involved is a rewarding experience. "They want to feel needed because every time I need something, I feel like my parents’ eyes light up 'cause they're like, 'Oh, I get to be involved!'” she added.
Score (97)
Athens is Embracing Urban Beekeeping With Rooftop Hives, Boosting Honey Production
High above Athens, among the concrete rooftops and apartment terraces, a quiet movement is taking shape — one that hums with life. Perched on buildings with sweeping views of the Parthenon, 37-year-old Nikos Chatzilias spends his days tending to more than a million bees. What started as a personal project to make better honey has turned into a full-fledged passion — and a growing community of urban beekeepers across Greece’s capital. “I saw that it worked really well for the hives. For us, the daily contact with the bees brought us a lot of joy, and that’s why we continued,” he said. This summer alone, Chatzilias managed 30 hives spread across seven rooftops around Athens. Together, his bees produced about 500 kilograms of honey — roughly the weight of a large brown bear. Each jar is labeled by neighbourhood, and each neighbourhood’s honey tastes slightly different, depending on its mix of eucalyptus, acacia, bitter orange, or pine. Urban beekeeping isn’t new to Athens. Decades ago, many Greek families brought hives with them when they moved from rural villages to the city. But this new generation of beekeepers is doing it with purpose — not out of necessity, but as a way to reconnect with nature and strengthen local ecosystems. Chatzilias says he was always a heavy honey consumer, eating it with bread and tea every morning and using it in place of sugar in desserts. Dissatisfied with store-bought honey, he took up beekeeping classes in 2020 and turned professional soon after. Now, his rooftop colonies — including one with a view of the Acropolis — serve as both a livelihood and a statement about the potential for urban sustainability. One of his newer recruits, Aggelina Chatzistavrou, was first drawn to bees while studying at university. “I really liked the idea of having my own,” she said from her rooftop overlooking Athens. “If everyone could have a hive in an open space at their home, I believe it would change our environment in a big way.” But not everyone is as eager to share their building with thousands of bees. “There are fears along the lines of, ‘They might sting me, my children, my dog. What if I’m allergic?’” Chatzilias said. “For city people — because they have been cut off from nature for so many years — even something natural that happens can provoke fear.” The work itself isn’t easy. Hives can weigh more than 20 kilograms each, and hauling them up narrow staircases to rooftops each spring — and down again before winter — is grueling. Still, the rewards are sweet. Athens, with its year-round blooms of pollinator-friendly plants, offers a surprisingly fertile home for bees. Unlike in many cities, the mild climate allows Chatzilias to experiment with leaving his hives in place all year instead of moving them seasonally. “Even with a chaotic urban environment that we’ve created, nature, or whatever remains of it in the city, still responds and can give life,” he said. For Chatzilias and others, that’s the point. Amid Athens’ traffic and noise, their hives are proof that even a sprawling city can still buzz with the rhythms of the natural world, one rooftop at a time.
Score (97)
A 70-Year-Old Marine Biologist is Leading Coral Reef Restoration Efforts in Colombia
At 70 years old, Colombian marine biologist Elvira Alvarado still dives into the Caribbean Sea with the same passion she had nearly half a century ago. She still remembers her first glimpse of a coral reef. “Everything was alive. And it was green and bright orange. And there were fishes. And there were huge things. And they were corals. It was astonishing,” she says. “Can you imagine paradise? It’s paradise.” For decades, Alvarado has fought to keep that paradise alive. Known as “the mother of Colombian corals,” she has dedicated her life to rescuing coral reefs off Colombia’s Caribbean coast, where pollution, disease, and rising ocean temperatures have wiped out more than half the coral since the 1970s. “I saw them dying. I saw them turning white,” she says from the island of San Andrés, where once-vibrant reefs have turned ghostly pale. Coral reefs are essential ecosystems. They provide shelter and food for about 4,000 fish species, protect coastlines from erosion, and attract divers and tourists who sustain local economies. But coral bleaching, a stress response triggered by overheated water, is devastating these habitats. “The coral are still alive, but when they are bleached and are not feeding, they start to get weaker and weaker,” explains marine biologist Juliana Vanegas, one of Alvarado’s colleagues. “And if that lasts for enough time the coral die, basically of starvation.” To help, Alvarado and her team of about a dozen divers are using an unconventional tool — in-vitro fertilization. The method, pioneered by Australian scientist Peter Harrison, involves collecting coral eggs and sperm, fertilizing them in a lab, and then transplanting the baby coral back into the ocean. Alvarado has become Colombia’s most passionate advocate for the approach. “We can’t stop what is happening,” she says, referring to climate change and the deadly Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease spreading across the Caribbean. “But we can try to replace coral that’s dying.” Her journey began in the 1960s, when as a young girl living in the United States she became fascinated by TV shows like Sea Hunt and Flipper. The ocean called to her, and when she returned to Colombia, she became one of the country’s first female marine biologists focused on coral reefs. Along the way, she met her childhood idol, ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau. “We sat down, and he was talking to me. It was a dream,” she recalls. Alvarado’s early research focused on sharks and cancer, but as coral started to vanish, she shifted her focus to reef restoration. She learned to free dive to depths of 22 meters and began experimenting with growing coral in nurseries. Timing is everything for her team. Coral spawn only once a year, about a week after the full moon, giving them just a few nights to collect eggs and sperm. On San Andrés, Alvarado leads dives to gather the material using nets and tubes placed around selected coral. One night, she surfaces with nothing. The next, she spots movement in the water and shouts with joy: “They’ve spawned!” She hurries to a small lab where she and her team mix the eggs and sperm in plastic tubs of seawater. Under the microscope, the fertilized coral look like tiny raspberries. The baby coral will spend up to a year in seaside nurseries before being transplanted to reefs. By selecting coral that have survived higher temperatures, Alvarado hopes to breed hardier generations capable of withstanding the planet’s warming oceans. “The trick,” she says, “is to regenerate coral faster than they die.” She knows the reefs will never look as they did when she first dove beneath the surface in the 1970s, but she’s optimistic. “We will have reefs that are resistant to the warming conditions,” she says. Beyond her scientific work, Alvarado has inspired a generation of Colombian marine biologists, many of them women. “She’s a very inspiring woman,” says María Fernanda Maya, who heads the Blue Indigo Foundation. “She’s the mother of coral in Colombia.” For Alvarado, that may be her greatest legacy. “When I started this, we were just three people — two students and me,” she says. “And look what we’ve got now. This will continue even after I’m dead. That’s the good thing.”
Score (96)
Why Students are Restoring an Ancient Egyptian Mummy At the University Of Lincoln
A piece of ancient history is getting a modern touch-up at the University of Lincoln. A 2,300-year-old Egyptian mummy known as Pa-Sheri has been brought to the UK for some much-needed restoration work. This mummified man has been part of the Derby Museums collection since at least 1859, after being transported from Egypt to Britain during the 19th century. X-rays revealed that Pa-Sheri experienced significant damage when he was previously unwrapped and examined. The museum's findings showed his head, pelvis, and parts of his limbs were removed. His arm bones were even rearranged into his chest cavity before his outer wrappings were reattached to conceal the damage. Ella Maude, a conservator who recently completed a graduate diploma in conservation studies, remarked on the Victorian-era fascination with such artifacts: "We don't know if it was for scientific study or there are occasionally these things called mummy unwrapping parties where it was almost for entertainment." Maude and her fellow student Ella Monteiro have been working on preserving Pa-Sheri since July, under the guidance of a senior technician. They are part of a conservation project funded by the Pilgrim Trust. Their approach focuses on minimal intervention rather than attempting to restore Pa-Sheri to an imagined original state. Pa-Sheri lived around 300 BCE during Egypt's Ptolemaic period and is encased in a cartonnage—a painted funeral mask made from plastered layers of fiber. The intricate artwork suggests that he held high social standing in ancient Luxor. Monteiro described him as "absolutely stunning," noting the hieroglyphics, illustrations, and vibrant colors that adorn his cartonnage. The students have strengthened flaking plaster and paint layers while cleaning fragile surfaces and replacing aged supports beneath Pa-Sheri’s mask. "He's very well painted," Monteiro added with admiration. Once their work wraps up this week, Pa-Sheri will return to Derby Museums. He'll be featured alongside another mummy, Pypyu, in a new exhibition exploring how Egyptian artifacts ended up in British museums like Derby's. Monteiro emphasized the importance of discussing these cultural objects' histories: "It's really important to talk about some of the objects that get brought to the UK through colonialism and occupation. Sometimes they are poorly treated here and it's important to talk about this history."
Score (97)
This Non-profit Just Gifted an Adaptive Home To an Amputee Veteran In Idaho
Christopher Byers, a former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant, now has a new adaptive home in Idaho Falls thanks to the nonprofit Homes for Our Troops. This comes after Byers lost both legs below the knee from an improvised explosive device while on his third deployment in Afghanistan. The explosion also resulted in a traumatic brain injury and tinnitus. The road to recovery was challenging. After months spent relearning how to walk, Christopher managed to maintain an active lifestyle with his five children in Idaho. However, he often relied on prosthetics for daily tasks, which caused scars and blisters. Homes for Our Troops stepped in after learning about Christopher's story. They built him a specially adapted home that boasts over 40 accessibility features, including two wheelchair-accessible bathrooms and an accessible kitchen. During the welcoming ceremony on September 27, Christopher shared some humor about his military experience. "I made it about two months in, and then my time got cut short. That’s an amputee joke," he quipped. Christopher reflected on moving to Idaho during the pandemic when people initially viewed him as an outsider from Washington. However, within six months, he felt welcomed by new neighbors and friends. Speaking at the event, Cindy Baptiste from Homes for Our Troops emphasized their commitment to veterans like Christopher. "They sacrificed their freedom and independence when they served in a dangerous part of the world for our freedom and independence," she said. Mark Byers, Christopher's father and fellow veteran, highlighted how much this new home means to his son. Living in a traditional house had its challenges—steps, narrow halls, tricky entryways—and no garage meant dealing with snow and ice without a wheelchair during winter. "Because it was easier to wear his prosthetics to get things done," Mark explained, "this often led to painful sores." The adaptive home will significantly enhance Christopher's quality of life indoors and outdoors. Mark praised Homes for Our Troops as being driven and supportive in helping veterans achieve a better standard of living.
Score (95)
Space Startup Plans To Deliver Cargo Anywhere On Earth In One Hour
In a bid to reimagine global delivery, California-based startup Inversion Space has unveiled a spacecraft designed to bring cargo from space back to Earth in under 60 minutes. The vehicle, called Arc, was introduced this week as the company’s flagship reusable space delivery capsule. At 1.2 meters wide and 2.4 meters tall, Arc is a compact, autonomous spacecraft that can carry up to 225 kilograms of cargo and survive hypersonic reentry. Inversion says the vehicle is part of a broader plan to deploy a constellation of cargo capsules parked in low Earth orbit, ready to drop to Earth at a moment’s notice. The company’s vision is bold: deliver mission-critical supplies from orbit to anywhere on the planet in less time than it takes to order a pizza. “Our first spacecraft, Ray, has completed its mission on-orbit — serving as an extremely successful testbed for validating key technologies despite not attempting re-entry,” the company said. Ray, launched in January as part of SpaceX’s Transporter-12 mission, suffered a propulsion issue in orbit that prevented its deorbit engine from igniting. Still, Inversion is confident. Arc builds on the Ray mission with improved hardware, including a deorbit engine, autonomous guidance systems, and a maneuverable parachute designed to steer the capsule back to Earth safely. It’s designed to remain in orbit for up to five years, ready to deploy when needed. Once activated, Arc would ignite its engine to slow down, reenter the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds, and land using parachutes. Inversion says this allows the vehicle to reach even remote or infrastructure-poor locations quickly. The target market is clear: military logistics. In a post on X, the company said, “Arc reshapes defense readiness by enabling access to anywhere on Earth in under an hour — allowing for the rapid delivery of mission-critical cargo and effects to austere, infrastructure-limited, or denied environments.” The goal is to make space not just a place to send things, but a place to keep them — until they’re needed on Earth. Inversion hopes the U.S. military sees value in this model, especially for delivering urgent supplies in areas where conventional delivery is too slow or impossible. Founded in 2021, Inversion is still a small outfit, with just 25 team members and an in-house approach to engineering. The company says nearly all systems on Ray were built internally. Despite its size, it plans to scale fast, aiming to build hundreds of Arc vehicles annually and establish a full constellation by 2028. The next big milestone is getting Arc into space. Inversion is targeting a launch before the end of 2026. If successful, it could be the start of a new kind of logistics — one that begins in orbit and ends wherever you need it.
Score (97)
Microchip Reunites California Dog With Owner After a 2,000-Mile Journey
When Opie, a 5-year-old corgi-shepherd mix, bolted from his California home during a summer storm, his owner feared she’d never see him again. Two months and more than 2,000 miles later, she got a phone call she could hardly believe — Opie had been found wandering outside Chicago. On Sept. 28, police in Itasca, Illinois, picked up the small, scruffy dog after spotting him near the edge of town. His collar identified him by another name, confusing officers at first, said Laura Flamion, administrator for DuPage County Animal Services. But when they scanned his microchip, the real story came out. The chip traced back to his owner in California, who was stunned when the microchip company called her. “She thought she was being pranked,” Flamion told the Los Angeles Times. “It didn’t make any sense to her that her dog could’ve ended up in Illinois.” Once the shock wore off, Opie’s owner wasted no time. Within two days, she was on the road, driving halfway across the country to pick him up. By Oct. 1, the two were reunited at DuPage County Animal Services — a happy ending to a journey no one can fully explain. “She wasted no time,” Flamion said. “I spoke to her and she made it as far as South Dakota; she’s driving back.” Exactly how Opie got from California to Illinois remains a mystery. His owner last spotted him near a gas station shortly after he ran off in July. Flamion suspects someone may have picked him up and carried him east before he escaped or was let go. What’s certain, though, is that Opie’s microchip made all the difference. “It’s a perfect reminder to keep your pet’s microchip information up to date,” Flamion said. “That’s what brought Opie home.” Now, after his cross-country odyssey, Opie is heading back to California — this time safely buckled in the car beside his owner, watching the miles roll by on his long trip home.