Goodable

Robin Williams will forever be known as a Hollywood legend.

Whether it was teaching us about life as Sean Maguire in Good Will Hunting, or showing us how to love and laugh as Mrs. Doubtfire, or the way he embodied John Keating in Dead Poets Society, the beloved Oscar winner was one of a kind. His humor, his charm, and his kindness are fondly remembered to this day. 


Today would have been his 74th birthday. To celebrate his everlasting legacy, here are seven incredible things Robin Williams did that most people don’t know about.

1. The time he became a doctor for Christopher Reed

When Christopher Reeves was paralyzed, Robin Williams put on scrubs, burst through his hospital door, and pretended to be a Russian doctor. He said he was a proctologist and needed to do an exam ASAP.

Reeves said it was the first time he'd laughed since his accident.
<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E61f0hQWYAYAIhh?format=jpg&amp;name=360x360">
2. The time he added a special clause in his contract


After he became famous, Robin Williams had a special clause in his contract: for every movie or event he did, the hiring company had to hire a certain number of homeless people in the area and give them work.<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E61f_nVXoAMc52G?format=jpg&amp;name=900x900">
3. The time he testified to the US senate about the homelessness crisis
In the 1990's, Robin and his friend, Whoopi Goldberg, testified before the US Senate, asking them to end the homelessness crisis.

He spoke with compassion, hope, and his classic Robin charm.

"You can't keep picking people up. You have to stop them from falling."

<a href="https://twitter.com/Goodable/status/1550143887825567751" target="_blank">It's one of the most powerful speeches you'll see.</a><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FTSIu90WYAEM5qR?format=jpg&amp;name=small">

4. The time he recorded a special message for the crew of Discovery
Discovery was the first space shuttle to launch into orbit after the Challenger disaster in 1986. To boost their morale, Robin Williams recorded this surprise wakeup message for them.

"Gooooood morning Discovery!"

<a href="https://twitter.com/Goodable/status/1417900567658123266" target="_blank">The reaction in the control room was priceless</a>.<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DK-G1NxWsAEThxY?format=jpg&amp;name=small">


5. The time he went out of his way to make someone laugh
Robin was once in a coffee shop in San Francisco at 2:30am, when he saw a man who was depressed. The man had just lost his parents.

Robin walked over, sat next to him, and made him laugh.
<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E61hUpaXIAQPpGc?format=png&amp;name=medium">

6. The time he stood up for his costars
While filming Mrs. Doubtfire, Robin Williams' child co-star was expelled from school because she couldn't attend classes in person.

When Robin found out, he personally wrote this letter to the principal, insisting they allow her to stay.
<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E63YEY0XEAcqf1Y?format=jpg&amp;name=small">

7. The time he stood up for his costars (again)
Robin Williams starred alongside Ethan Hawke in the film Dead Poets Society. At the time, it was only Hawke’s second film, and he was still trying to make a name for himself.

One day, after the movie wrapped up, Hawke got a call from an agent. He told him “Robin Williams says you’re going to do really well” and signed him. It’s what helped Hawke begin his career.
<img src="https://imgix.ranker.com/user_node_img/50129/1002579310/original/1002579310-photo-u132827612?auto=format&amp;q=60&amp;fit=crop&amp;fm=pjpg&amp;dpr=2&amp;w=650">

Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a father, a husband and everything in between. Happy Birthday, Robin.

Remembering The Legacy of Robin Williams on His 74th Birthday

Sunny Skyz

A man in St. Louis is earning widespread praise after taking snow removal into his own hands — literally.

Kenneth Harrell doesn’t live in the snow-covered neighborhood he helped dig out. But when he saw how badly the streets were iced over and how stuck people were, he didn’t wait around for the city to do something. He rented a Bobcat-style skid steer loader for about $500 and got to work.

“Originally we were putting out a crew to hand shovel and we were charging for sidewalks,” Harrell told KSDK. “It just didn’t make sense to me that people could get out of the house, but not off the street.”

Instead of making money, he offered help for free. For several days, Harrell cleared narrow streets that plows hadn’t reached, using the compact machine to carve paths through packed snow and ice. As word got around, neighbors started sharing videos of him in action. Some said they’d heard rumors of “someone with a skid steer” quietly showing up to help before seeing it for themselves.

Even business owners took notice. Karen Wiley Vails, who runs a local restaurant, messaged Harrell asking for help clearing her parking area. He got back to her right away.

“He inboxed me today and I said, ‘I’ll be there,’” she told reporters. “And I said yay — this is what community looks like.”

City officials didn’t seem to mind either. When asked if it was legal for residents to do their own snow removal, St. Louis Streets Commissioner Kent Flake said, “I mean, if they’re helping, I’m not going to tell them no.”

Harrell didn’t do it for attention. He says he simply felt connected to the neighborhood and knew how much a clear street could mean for people trying to get to work, pick up groceries, or just get out safely.

Now, thanks to his quiet decision to act, the community is moving again. And Kenneth Harrell is being hailed as a hometown hero — no cape required.

St. Louis Man Uses Own Money To Clear Snow-Covered Streets, Gains Online Praise

Talker News

After surviving a coyote attack and spending six months in rabies quarantine, a resilient orange tabby named Kyle has officially graduated—and he did it in style.

The two-year-old domestic shorthair, who was brought to the San Diego Humane Society’s Escondido Campus on July 27, 2025, following a coyote attack, marked the end of his mandatory isolation with a quirky, heartfelt celebration thrown by staff.

“Kyle’s resilience has been remarkable,” said Rebecca Smith, the shelter’s Associate Director of Guest Relations and Animal Placement. “From learning to play with enrichment toys, to enjoying window time and treats, he’s shown us he’s a fighter.”

Kyle had been rescued by a community member who witnessed the attack and rushed him in for emergency care. He suffered injuries to his neck and chest but survived the ordeal. Because coyotes are considered potential rabies carriers, California law requires that any pet they bite must undergo a six-month quarantine.

But Kyle wasn’t left alone. To keep his spirits high during the long wait, staff gave him an upgraded setup: a large enclosure inside Smith’s office, where he had company, toys, and a window view.

When his quarantine officially ended, staff went all out to celebrate. Kyle wore a tiny graduation cap and gown, and the party featured cupcakes with his face on them, a Kyle-themed trivia game, and a crochet version of Kyle as the top prize.

Now cleared for adoption, Kyle is ready for the next chapter. Though he’s described as a “cuddle enthusiast,” he also enjoys leisurely indoor strolls in his personal enclosed stroller, greeting admirers as he goes.

The Humane Society praised Kyle’s recovery as a testament to the power of compassionate care. His story is more than just survival—it’s about second chances and the people who make them possible.

Kyle the Cat Graduates from Rabies Quarantine With Cap, Gown—and a New Lease on Life

Smithsonian Magazine

Sometimes, the name really does say it all.

While working on a routine construction project at Dinosaur National Monument last fall, crews uncovered exactly what the name promises: actual dinosaur fossils—several hundred million years old and just inches below the surface.

On September 16, 2025, workers were removing asphalt from a parking lot just east of the Quarry Exhibit Hall in Utah when they stumbled upon a massive shin bone embedded in sandstone. It was the first fossil discovery from that part of the park since 1924. As soon as paleontologists with the National Park Service took a closer look, the dig quickly turned into a major find.

Over the next month, the team uncovered 14 tail vertebrae, multiple limb bones, and even a few toes—likely from a large, long-necked sauropod, possibly from the Diplodocus genus, which roamed North America around 150 million years ago during the Late Jurassic Period.

“There’s still more in the ground,” said ReBecca Hunt-Foster, the park’s lead paleontologist, who expects the skeleton could be “reasonably complete.” The dig paused for winter, but excavations will resume in the spring once weather conditions improve.

In total, around 3,000 pounds of fossil and rock were removed between mid-September and mid-October. Most of the remains are now being studied and cleaned at the Utah Field House of Natural History, but some are already on display at the nearby Quarry Exhibit Hall.

The parking lot itself sits on a historic dig site once explored by Earl Douglass, who led early fossil excavations for the Carnegie Museum of Natural History over a century ago. “So many people have been driving over [the dinosaur] for decades,” Hunt-Foster told the Denver Gazette. “It was just right underneath the surface.”

This isn’t the first time a routine dig has unearthed dino history. In early 2025, a vertebra was found 763 feet beneath the Denver Museum of Nature and Science during a core sample collection. But Dinosaur National Monument remains one of the most fossil-rich locations in the U.S., split across 210,000 acres between eastern Utah and western Colorado.

The site’s rich sediment layers, known as the Morrison Formation, have preserved countless bones and plant imprints from when the region was a lush, river-laced ecosystem. Though many of the dinosaurs preserved here likely died in ancient droughts, it wasn’t until the early 20th century that their remains began to be unearthed and studied.

Now, more than 100 years later, even the parking lot is part of the story.

“It just goes to show you never know what’s right under your feet,” Hunt-Foster said.

Dinosaur Fossils Unearthed Beneath Parking Lot at Dinosaur National Monument

Space

NASA’s Artemis program is aiming for something the U.S. hasn’t done since the Apollo era: send astronauts back to the moon. While Artemis 2 won’t include a lunar landing, it’s a crucial 10-day mission around the moon designed to test life-support, communication, and safety systems ahead of future crewed landings.

And a big part of that prep? The suits.

The bright orange Artemis 2 suits, officially called Orion Crew Survival System suits, aren’t made for moonwalking. They’re designed to keep astronauts safe inside the Orion spacecraft during launch, flight, and the intense reentry to Earth. In case of a pressure loss or emergency, these suits act as a personal life-support system.

A photo taken on January 17, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida showed all four suits lined up in the suit-up room of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building. That room is where the crew will suit up before boarding their ride around the moon—and where every element of the gear gets checked, rechecked, and tested again.

Technicians work methodically: helping each astronaut gear up, securing gloves, helmets, and seals, confirming oxygen and cooling systems, and making sure every suit interfaces perfectly with Orion’s systems. Communications are tested. Every connection is double-checked. This isn’t just procedure—it’s about finding and fixing the tiniest issue before it becomes a serious problem in space.

Unlike Apollo-era flights, Artemis 2 is focused on sustainability and precision. It’s a proving ground not just for the hardware, but for the humans using it. What’s learned here will directly shape the future Artemis 3 and 4 missions, where astronauts will land on the lunar surface—and stay longer than ever before.

In this mission, even the suits are making history. Want to follow along? Learn more about Artemis 2 and NASA’s journey back to the moon at nasa.gov/specials/artemis.

NASA’s Artemis 2 Spacesuits: Bright, Bold, and Built for the Ride Around the Moon

People

Mary Heffernan always knew the name she carried meant something special. But she probably didn’t expect it to go viral.

The California mom of four is drawing attention online after sharing the story behind her family’s unique naming tradition: each of her daughters shares the same first name—Mary.

It’s not just a stylistic choice. For Heffernan and her husband Brian, the name Mary is a tribute to generations of women on both sides of their family. “Mary is a strong name that carries strength, humility and steadiness,” she told PEOPLE. “Qualities I value deeply as a mother and as a woman.”

That connection runs deep. “When we named our first daughter Mary, it felt timeless and special to carry on the name of one of our grandmothers,” Heffernan explained. “When we had our second, we honored another grandmother. We honestly didn’t think we’d have four daughters, but fortunately we had a lot more strong Marys to name them after!”

The result? Four daughters—each named Mary, each with a full name variation and nickname to match their personality.

There’s MaryFrances, nicknamed Francie, who Heffernan describes as steady and thoughtful with an old-soul presence. MaryMarjorie, or Maisie, is joyful and full of heart. MaryJane goes by JJ and is a natural leader with grit and grace. The youngest, MaryTeresa—Tessa—is spirited, bold, and curious.

Despite sharing a first name, Heffernan says there’s rarely confusion around the house. “We tend to use each other’s nicknames when we’re communicating,” she said, though she jokes things get complicated “when we try to clear TSA as a family!”

Now 47, Heffernan says the shared name has helped shape a strong family identity without overshadowing individuality. “It’s a reminder that individuality doesn’t come from a name. It comes from rooted family tradition and the strong women who came before them.”

Whether her daughters carry on the tradition themselves one day is entirely up to them, she added. “If they do, I’ll be honored. If they don’t, I’ll respect it just as much—and have a feeling they might carry on family names in one way or another.”

For now, the four Marys—Francie, Maisie, JJ, and Tessa—are proof that one name can hold a lot of meaning, and still make space for four very different lives.

Mom Goes Viral for Naming All Four Daughters Mary in Family Tradition

CNBC

When Susannah Rosen was just 2½ years old, her parents noticed something that didn’t sit right. During bath time in their New York apartment, when her mother Sally Jackson encouraged her to kick her legs in the water, Susannah couldn’t.

What at first felt like a developmental delay quickly became something far more serious. “She was couch surfing and army crawling around the apartment at an age when toddlers typically take off running,” her father, Luke Rosen, recalled. When she tried to walk, her gait was wide, and her balance unsteady.

Eventually, the Rosens were told their daughter had a mutation in her KIF1A gene, a rare and devastating neurological condition known as KIF1A-Associated Neurological Disorder (KAND). The mutation causes a toxic gain of function—producing abnormal proteins that slowly damage nerves throughout the body and brain. At the time, there were no treatments. No clinical trials. No playbook. Just heartbreak.

Doctors warned that Susannah might never walk, and she’d likely develop seizures. “That was the beginning of our incredibly new and terrifying normal,” Luke said.

But it didn’t end there. With a recommendation from physician Dr. Wendy Chung, the Rosens launched KIF1A.org, a foundation aimed at finding 100 other patients with the same disorder. “We were told we had five years to find a treatment,” Luke said. Today, their foundation has connected over 700 families.

The search for hope led them to n-Lorem, a nonprofit founded in 2020 by Dr. Stanley Crooke, a pioneer in genetic medicine. His team develops customized antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapies for patients with ultra-rare—or “nano-rare”—diseases, affecting as few as one to 30 people worldwide. Treatment, once developed, is provided free for life.

Susannah became n-Lorem’s first patient to receive an ASO therapy designed specifically for her mutation. Delivered via a spinal procedure, the therapy swaps cerebrospinal fluid with a drug that allows normal protein production in her cells.

After her second dose, Luke noticed a shift. “Her tremor was gone. That’s not an FDA-approved outcome measure, but it meant the world to us,” he said. “We could have breakfast together. Just sit in quiet.”

Susannah has now been receiving ASO treatments for three years. It hasn’t been a cure. She still faces setbacks. The disease continues to challenge her. But it has given the Rosen family something they never expected to have again: time.

“We’re afraid the disease is catching up to the treatment,” Luke said. “And we just wish we had gotten this treatment for her five years ago. But I know the next kiddo will be younger. The treatment will reach every brain cell. I know it. Our gal is a pioneer.”

From that first moment in the bathtub to now, Susannah’s story has become a catalyst—not just for her own care, but for a growing global effort to treat the rarest of the rare. She is one of just 40 patients n-Lorem has treated so far. Hundreds more are waiting.

“Susannah’s amazing and tough as nails,” Luke said. “She’s helped us find a purpose we never asked for—but now can’t imagine living without.”

To learn more or support families like the Rosens, visit KIF1A.org.

A Father’s Fight: How One Girl’s Rare Diagnosis Sparked a Global Movement for a Cure

Euro News

The Grammys are finally giving Fela Kuti his due.

Almost three decades after his death, the Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer will be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Grammy Awards—the first African artist to ever receive the accolade.

The award comes two years after the Grammys introduced the Best African Performance category, signaling a broader recognition of African music’s global influence. Kuti’s son, Seun Kuti, said the honour acknowledges what fans across the continent and beyond have long known.

“Fela has been in the hearts of the people for such a long time,” he told the BBC. “Now the Grammys have acknowledged it, and it’s a double victory.”

Kuti died in 1997 at age 58, leaving behind more than 50 albums that blended jazz, funk, and traditional Yoruba music with searing political commentary. He used music not just to entertain, but to challenge oppression and speak truth to power—becoming one of Africa’s most potent cultural voices in the process.

His influence stretched far beyond Nigeria. The Afrobeat sound he helped pioneer became a global phenomenon, shaping generations of musicians, from his sons Femi and Seun to contemporary artists like Burna Boy, who cited Kuti as a major inspiration in his own Grammy-winning work.

Rikki Stein, Kuti’s longtime manager, called the award long overdue. “Africa hasn’t in the past rated very highly in their interests. I think that’s changing quite a bit of late,” he told the BBC. “Better late than never.”

Fela’s family, friends, and former collaborators will attend the ceremony to accept the award on his behalf.

The 68th Grammy Awards will take place on Sunday, 31 January 2026, with Trevor Noah returning as host for the sixth year in a row. Kendrick Lamar leads the pack with nine nominations, including album, record, and song of the year.

But it’s Kuti’s posthumous recognition that will mark one of the ceremony’s most symbolic moments—a nod not just to a legendary artist, but to the enduring power of African music to shape the world.

Fela Kuti Becomes First African To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award At Grammys

Positive.News

1. England’s murder rate hit a historic low
Contrary to political talking points claiming “lawless Britain,” new crime stats from the Office for National Statistics tell a very different story. The murder rate in England and Wales fell to its lowest level since 1977. Gun crime and knife crime also dropped, supported by hospital data showing fewer sharp object injuries. Domestic burglary and vehicle theft dropped by double digits. “Many aspects of violent crime and theft… have fallen,” said ONS’ Billy Gazard.

2. France voted to ban under-15s from social media
In a major push to protect kids from the influence of addictive algorithms, French lawmakers approved a bill that would bar children under 15 from using social media. The legislation still needs Senate approval but could be passed into law as early as next month. The draft also includes a ban on smartphones in schools. President Emmanuel Macron said the bill defends children’s emotional wellbeing from “American platforms and Chinese algorithms.”

3. The world broke a nuclear test-free record
It’s been more than 2,700 days since the last nuclear explosion—the longest period since 1945. That test, by North Korea in 2017, remains the most recent thanks in part to the 1996 Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, signed by 187 nations. “The world has quietly broken a record,” wrote scientist Dylan Spaulding. While experts warn the moratorium remains fragile, the milestone was welcomed as a “quiet victory for humanity.”

4. India’s clean energy leap is accelerating
India’s economic growth is decoupling from fossil fuels in ways China’s never did, according to new analysis by Ember. India’s road oil use per person is half what China’s was at a similar development stage. The country also uses 40% less coal and is ahead on solar—already generating 9% of its electricity this way. “India is seizing the opportunity,” the report says, thanks to plunging electrotech costs that didn’t exist a decade ago.

5. EVs outsold petrol cars in the EU for the first time
Battery-electric cars outsold petrol models in the EU in December—22.6% of new car sales versus 22.5%. Hybrids were the top sellers overall. “Petrol is bombing and diesels are all but dead,” said Carbon Brief’s Simon Evans. Despite some EU governments backtracking on combustion engine phase-outs, consumer momentum is heading full-speed toward electric.

6. U.S. offshore wind projects are back on track
Work has resumed on three major offshore wind farms after federal judges overturned a suspension order issued by the Trump administration. The projects, including the nearly completed Vineyard Wind 1 off the Massachusetts coast, were halted in December for “national security” reasons. “Federal judges have sided with the American people,” said the Sierra Club’s Nancy Pyne. Vineyard Wind 1 is due online in March.

7. Scotland passed a law to protect swifts
A new law will require all new homes in Scotland to include “swift bricks”—simple, hollow bricks that provide nesting space for the declining bird species. The Scottish Green Party pushed the measure through after a four-year consultation. “This is a cheap, simple and common-sense solution,” said MSP Mark Ruskell, calling on England to follow suit.

8. Bamboo got its big UK breakthrough
The UK’s Institute of Structural Engineers published a new manual on using bamboo in permanent construction—potentially a game-changer for low-carbon building. The fast-growing, durable plant has long been used in Asia and South America but is now getting serious consideration in Europe. “This marks a significant milestone,” said lead author Dr. David Trujillio.

9. Writers reshaped the narrative on poverty and homelessness
A new UK anthology titled More Than One Story brings together 37 writers with firsthand experience of poverty and housing insecurity. Curated by Cardboard Citizens, the collection aims to challenge stereotypes through raw, joyful, angry, and deeply human stories. “What we received was a chorus—voices carrying truths shaped by resilience, love, survival,” said CEO Chris Sonnex.

England's Murder Rate Falls, France Limits Social Media for Kids, and More Good News This Week

BBC News

Twelve-year-old Lucy Foyster isn’t just dreaming about her tennis future—she’s already living it.

The rising star from Hethersett, near Norwich, made her junior Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open this month, becoming the youngest player ever to compete in the tournament’s junior wheelchair draw. Ranked sixth in the world for girls' wheelchair tennis, Lucy earned a wild card entry and quickly made her mark, going toe-to-toe with some of the top-ranked players in the world.

“This is what I wanted and I achieved it,” she said after her debut match. “It’s given me a lot of self-belief.”

Lucy faced world No. 1 Luna Gryp of Belgium in her first match. She lost, but not without a fight—taking a set off the top seed for the first time, something BBC sports presenter Gemma Stevenson described as a major milestone. Because the junior tournament is a round robin format, Lucy also got the chance to test herself against the rest of the top three players in the world.

“For me and my coaches, this is more about growth and learning,” she said. “Because I am so young, I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself.”

Her appearance in Melbourne is just the latest step in a remarkable journey that started only three years ago.

Before she picked up a racquet, Lucy was already turning heads in standing tennis. But at age seven, she was diagnosed with bone cancer, which led to her transition to wheelchair sport. After her treatment, her mother Helga reached out to wheelchair tennis champion Alfie Hewett, who invited them to Wimbledon in 2022. That moment would prove life-changing.

Not long after, Lucy joined a Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) training camp and entered its under-14s program—a pipeline that could eventually lead to elite international competition, including the Paralympics. She’s already smashed through milestones: in 2023, she became the youngest winner of both the women’s wheelchair event at SW19 and the national singles title at the Wheelchair Tennis National Finals in Gloucester.

Now, she’s holding her own on one of the sport’s biggest stages.

“Luna is a great player, she’s very experienced,” Lucy said of her Australian Open debut. “It’s my first time taking her to three sets, so I’ve got to take that positive out of that match and go back to training and fix those errors.”

Despite being up to six years younger than some of her competitors—who can enter the juniors until they’re 18—Lucy said the age gap hasn’t felt like a barrier. “We all get along, so we don’t really notice it,” she said. “It’s so much fun to be around the girls.”

Some might wonder why she didn’t wait until she was older to make a run at a title, but Lucy was clear about her motivation: “There were a few things that really motivated me to come here—just to take in this experience, and it was just amazing.”

Her mentor Alfie Hewett, currently defending his men’s singles title in Melbourne, has been following her progress closely.

“To have that sort of influence on someone is something that does really, really mean a lot to me,” he said. “She’s done amazing things out here already. I think she’s definitely got a bright future ahead if she keeps on the right path and keeps pushing.”

Lucy’s journey is just beginning—but with talent, perspective, and a love for the game that shines through in every match, it’s clear she’s not just part of the future of wheelchair tennis.

She’s helping shape it.

At Just 12 Years Old, Lucy Foyster Makes History in Junior Wheelchair Tennis

Science Daily

Scientists at Mount Sinai have unveiled a new type of cancer immunotherapy that doesn’t attack cancer cells directly. Instead, it goes after the tumor’s support system—specifically, the cells that protect cancer from the body’s immune response.

The experimental therapy, described in the journal Cancer Cell, uses engineered immune cells to target tumor-associated macrophages, a type of immune cell hijacked by cancer to suppress the body’s defenses. In preclinical trials, this approach dramatically extended survival in mice with metastatic lung and ovarian cancers, with some animals effectively cured.

“Tumors act like a walled fortress,” said Dr. Jaime Mateus-Tique, the study’s lead author and a faculty member at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “With immunotherapy, we kept running into the same problem—we can’t get past this fortress’s guards. So, we thought: what if we turned the guards into allies?”

Those “guards” are macrophages—normally helpful cells that respond to infections and injuries. But inside tumors, they’re reprogrammed to protect cancer cells, suppress immune responses, and help tumors grow and spread. In many cancers, they’re so abundant they outnumber the cancer cells themselves.

Mount Sinai’s team designed a modified version of CAR T cell therapy—an approach that uses a patient’s own immune cells, genetically reengineered to fight disease. But instead of targeting cancer cells, the scientists retooled the CAR T cells to seek out and eliminate tumor macrophages. They also built in a payload: IL-12, a potent immune-stimulating molecule that turbocharges the attack by calling in killer T cells.

In mice with advanced lung or ovarian cancer, the results were striking. Treated animals lived far longer than untreated ones, and many experienced complete tumor regression.

“To see this level of response in aggressive models of metastatic cancer is incredibly promising,” said Dr. Brian Brown, the study’s senior author and Director of the Icahn Genomics Institute. “What’s so exciting is that our treatment converts these cells from protecting the cancer to killing it. We’ve turned foe into ally.”

The therapy also sidesteps a common hurdle in cancer treatment: finding the right molecular “tag” on cancer cells. Because this strategy works by transforming the tumor environment itself, it doesn’t rely on identifying specific cancer markers. That gives it the potential to work across a wide range of cancers, including those that haven’t responded to other immunotherapies.

Using advanced spatial genomics, the researchers saw that the treatment reshaped the entire tumor environment. Immune-suppressing cells were cleared out. Cancer-killing immune cells flooded in.

Still, the scientists stress that the results are preclinical. Human trials are not yet underway, and questions remain about safety, especially when delivering something as potent as IL-12. The next step is to refine the system in mouse models to better control when and where IL-12 is released.

“This is not a cure yet,” Brown said. “But it establishes a new way to treat cancer—by targeting the cells that enable it rather than the cancer cells themselves.”

The research, supported by NIH grants and private foundations, was conducted by an international team including co-authors from Mount Sinai, the Marc and Jennifer Lipschultz Precision Immunology Institute, and other research centers. Their work may help pave the way for the next generation of CAR T therapies—ones that can finally crack the fortress of solid tumors.

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