In 2016, LJ was just 19 years old and on the brink of a transformative journey. After graduating from college with commendable grades, he was excited to explore the world. However, he soon discovered what seemed like a harmless lump on his neck.
“I remember finding a large lump on my neck,” he recalls. “I felt exhausted all the time. It started to interfere with my life.”
Despite visiting the doctor, LJ was convinced it was “just an infection” and delayed follow-up appointments until he was urgently called back for test results. “The doctor told me, ‘This is leukemia,’” LJ reflects. “I couldn’t believe it—cancer at my age? I didn’t even know what leukemia was back then.”
We spoke with LJ about his inspiring cancer journey, how photography became a vital coping tool during a year of intensive treatment, and how Macmillan Cancer Support played a crucial role in guiding him through pivotal decisions in his life.
LJ’s Story: A Life-Altering Diagnosis
In 2016, LJ received a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic lymphoma, an aggressive cancer necessitating immediate action. Instead of diving into student life, he faced grueling hospital stays with a bleak prognosis of only a 5% survival rate.
“I was stuck in a hospital bed undergoing chemotherapy, surgeries, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplants… it was overwhelming,” LJ shares. “I endured numerous procedures and constant needles…”
“The hardest part is hearing that treatments aren’t effective,” he continues. “Chemotherapy fails, radiotherapy fails, surgery fails. There’s a lot of chaos and distress. Despite your hopes and beliefs, things might not go as planned.”
LJ and his tutor Margot: discovering a passion for photography during treatment
Finding Freedom in Photography
Before his diagnosis, LJ was a typical teenager, exploring creativity, traveling, skateboarding, and enjoying time with friends in London. Suddenly, he found himself “isolated in a room or a ward”, painfully aware that days felt like they had no end.
As the walls of his physical environment closed in, LJ discovered that photography and videography opened a new world for him. By documenting his experiences through photos and videos, he created a much-needed escape: a creative outlet and a way to process his reality.
“I had a little Canon PowerShot G7 camera at the time,” he shares. “Taking photos helped me express my feelings without leaving the hospital. I could capture my emotions and enjoy the creative process. It was incredibly fulfilling.”
Macmillan’s guidance empowered LJ to make important decisions during critical moments
Macmillan Support During a Crucial Time
During this challenging treatment phase, LJ came across vital information from Macmillan Cancer Support in the form of a pamphlet, which provided essential guidance for his future. “I received a leaflet from Macmillan about cancer and fertility,” he states.
“After multiple surgeries, fertility can be affected, and I learned that I might not be able to have children,” he reveals. “The insights in that pamphlet helped me comprehend my situation significantly.”
Now, a decade after his diagnosis and in remission, the support from Macmillan has made a lasting impact on LJ’s life. “Without that booklet, I would have likely made decisions I’d regret,” he states.
Gifts in wills fund over a third of Macmillan’s services, including the resources that aided LJ, ensuring continued access to trusted cancer support, from helplines to informational booklets and community support across the UK. Having clear guidance and support from Macmillan was pivotal for LJ in making informed decisions about sperm storage at a critical time.
Thanks to Macmillan’s support, LJ is dedicated to raising awareness about cancer in young men
Why Consider Leaving a Gift to Macmillan Cancer Support in Your Will?
As LJ approaches a decade since his diagnosis, he has transformed his life, establishing himself as a skilled fashion and event photographer. You can view his remarkable portfolio here. Additionally, he is involved with Macmillan, helping to spread cancer awareness among young men.
“Macmillan helped me share my story and be heard. If my experience inspires someone to keep fighting, then I feel fulfilled,” he adds.
In the UK, someone is diagnosed with cancer every 90 seconds. LJ understands the importance of having Macmillan’s support when it matters most, and he has a special message for those contemplating leaving a legacy gift.
“Each day, many people receive a cancer diagnosis. While no one can fully understand your feelings, having someone who can clarify information about your cancer is invaluable. That’s the kind of support Macmillan offers.”
Thanks to Macmillan’s guidance, LJ was able to better understand his situation while focusing on his passions. Your legacy gift will empower Macmillan to provide essential care to more individuals facing cancer, regardless of their background. For more information on how to leave a gift in your Will to Macmillan Cancer Support, request our free Gifting in a Will guide.
“In 2050, the first 100m diameter telescope took shape in a crater on the moon.”
Vladimir Vasyansky/NASA
The Allsea eyes, operational since the 2070s, were the largest and most powerful optical systems ever constructed. Comprising eight telescopes dispersed across the lunar expanse, each equipped with a 100-meter mirror, the collective aperture of this composite telescope spanned the entire lunar surface, enabling exceptional imaging capabilities.
This marked the first occasion we could observe the “first light,” indicating the birth of the universe’s first star. We also captured details of distant exoplanet surfaces across great expanses of time.
In 2020, numerous proposals emerged for these ambitious, next-generation telescopes; however, the technological feasibility for large-scale space projects was limited at that time. By the 2050s, lunar transport became routine and economically viable, paving the way for lunar construction.
An earlier proposal from 2020 focused on what was termed Finally, a large telescope (ULT), with a mirror measuring 100 meters, came to fruition.
ULT utilized liquid mirrors instead of traditional glass. These liquids were more cost-effective to transport to the moon and could be molded into completely reflective surfaces. Given the moon’s gravity, constructing larger mirrors that exceed those on Earth became practical. For comparison, the James Webb Space Telescope, operational in the 2020s, features a 6.5-meter mirror.
While the lunar single telescope was powerful, it lacked the resolution to distinguish the detailed features of exoplanet bodies. Nonetheless, astronomers focused on expanding ULT’s capabilities.
A clever technique used in radio telescopes to enhance their range, Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), proved suitable for optical systems as well. In 2017, the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration employed VLBI to capture the first image of a supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy by merging inputs from eight Earth-based telescopes to amplify the effective telescope size.
In 2025, scientists spearheaded by Zixin Huang at the Engineering Quantum Systems Center at Macquarie University, Australia, proposed using VLBI for optical telescopes. Although technical, political, and financial barriers prolonged development, the advent of the first 100-meter diameter telescope in lunar craters by 2050 led to serious initiatives for constructing a lunar-sized optical telescope.
“
The telescope on the moon dates back 13 billion years and photographs the first generation of high-mass stars. “
By 2075, an additional seven telescopes were established on the lunar surface, linking to form an effective aperture equivalent to a 3000 km mirror.
In the mid-2020s, the James Webb Telescope revisited the past to observe the formation of the universe’s first galaxy. Now, through the combined observations, the enigmatic Population III stars have been unveiled. Stars are categorized into different groups; Population I contains recent stars abundant in heavy elements, Population II includes older stars with lower metal content, while Population III consists of the universe’s earliest stars formed post-Big Bang, characterized by minimal metallic content. The Big Bang primarily produced hydrogen and helium, with mere traces of lithium and beryllium. All heavier elements had to be synthesized in stars. The combined observations have looked back 13 billion years and documented the high-mass first-generation stars, including one blue giant star, 100,000 times the mass of the sun, dubbed Zixin-1 in honor of the astronomer who significantly contributed to the development of optical VLBI.
The moon-sized telescope concept has been referred to by various names over the years. Initially proposed in 2008 by a team from the University of Arizona, the lunar liquid spraying telescope eventually evolved into a larger project in 2020. To escape the possibly uninspired public names like Moony McMoonface, the term “Allsea Eyes” was officially adopted. The project is now affectionately dubbed Sauron: Super-Accessible Ultra-Resolution Optical Network.
The facility has enabled unprecedented imaging of black holes, but its primary objective was to determine if humanity is alone in the universe. The observations made of the exoplanet Gliese 667cc indicated the potential for alien civilizations to have developed in our cosmic neighborhood, particularly within the Trappist-1 system, about 22 light-years away. Despite debates surrounding the costs of constructing Sauron, they never gained significant traction.
Rowan Hooper is the podcast editor for New Scientist and the author of How to Spend $1 Trillion. These are 10 global issues that can be fixed. Follow him on BlueSky @rowhoop.bsky.social
What role does YouTube play in the lives of Australian families with children? As the federal government considers extending bans on social media accounts for minors under 16 to include YouTube, readers of the Guardian shared insights about their kids’ engagement with the platform and their opinions on the proposed ban.
Here’s what they had to say.
“Monitoring it simply isn’t feasible.”
Many parents reported making efforts to limit their children’s usage to shared spaces, often opting for co-viewing or utilizing parental controls. Nevertheless, many expressed concerns that this approach is time-intensive and nearly unmanageable, leaving them anxious about content that may go undetected.
“We rely on YouTube Kids and always monitor what they view beforehand. YouTube doesn’t seem to trust us, so we take these precautions. The algorithm is extremely fast, and we fear they may fall into endless rabbit holes.
“The primary reason we impose restrictions is due to my own adult experiences on YouTube. I feel like I have to fight the algorithms that lead me toward content I don’t want to see. After watching one Gel Blaster video, I suddenly had 100 videos of Americans shooting guns. One gym bodybuilder video led me to a flood of fitness models. If I have to struggle this hard, YouTube does the same to my kids.” Marty, father of two under nine, Brisbane
“Prior to deleting it, our kids would spend hours on YouTube. They easily get caught in a satisfying loop, jumping from one video to the next.
“I enjoy watching some videos with my kids. Some are educational and quite humorous. However, it’s ultimately challenging to regulate and filter content sufficiently, to ensure they aren’t exposed to anything inappropriate. We have three boys, and many videos have explicit messages that could negatively affect young boys’ perceptions of women.” Adelaide, parents of three children, ages 13, 11, and 6.
“YouTube is a bane in our lives. Ideally, it wouldn’t exist. Our son isolated himself in his room for nearly two weeks, immersing himself in YouTube and games during his recent school holidays. Dan, parents of 15 and 12-year-olds, Melbourne
“YouTube offers some degree of parental control over content, but certain aspects of their systems seem ineffective. [Our son’s] interests narrow down his feed, leading us to worry he might stumble upon something entirely inappropriate.” Gerald, father of a 13-year-old in Canberra
“We struggle to control what they’re watching. Even in the most secure settings on YouTube Kids, my children have inadvertently accessed frightening content disguised as children’s television. Peter, father of three children aged 2, 4, and 6, Sydney.
“It’s virtually impossible to monitor what they watch. Even a cursory glance at the feed reveals that my daughter is exposed to an abundance of material propagating beauty and body image stereotypes. Richard, parent from Hobart, ages 10 and 13.
“My kids are young, and their definitions can easily be swayed by repeated reward programming that triggers dopamine release from vibrant visuals. My issue with YouTube is that it operates much like a poker machine, monetizing the thirst for dopamine; we’re all drawn in. The bright lights and high-energy tropes are at the core of this massive platform.” Monique, parent of an 8-year-old and an 11-year-old in Bellpost Hill.
‘They can watch it non-stop for hours.”
From fleeting attention spans and wasted time to concerns about potentially harmful content slipping through, many parents feel YouTube’s algorithms promote excessive viewing and present harmful material.
“I’m concerned about how the short content affects my children’s attention spans. I have to offer warnings before turning it off to help them transition away from the screen. Sydney parents, ages 3 and 5
“The time wastage, actively encouraged through algorithms without forewarning on upcoming content, makes things stranger and more extreme. I lack trust in tech companies regarding the happiness of our children. Alicia, parents from Colonel Light Garden, aged 8 and 12
“When left unsupervised, they end up watching a bizarre mashup of short content, which includes both rubbish and terrifying videos like the horror game Poppy Playtime. Our youngest suffered from nightmares for months after watching this at a friend’s house for three hours a few years ago.
I genuinely support YouTube’s educational efforts, but kids seem more inclined to watch junk instead of that. ” Damian, father of ages 9 and 12 in Sydney.
“It’s frustrating because YouTube often exposes children to inappropriate content. The shorts are particularly troublesome. Mat, father of 16 and 11-year-olds in Ballarat.
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“I teach ethics at my local public school, and half my students express a desire to become gaming YouTubers.
“It’s all about content that lacks value. I’m not overly concerned about “inappropriate content” since it’s ultimately about completely worthless material, and children struggle to differentiate between what’s appropriate and what isn’t.” Parents of ages 15, 13, and 10
“It’s a real addiction, leading to severe tantrums when restrictions are applied.” A parent of a 16-year-old in Brisbane, Queensland.
“They can easily watch for hours without any breaks. Our current rule is limiting them to an hour a day, especially because when we turn it off, they quickly melt down and cry.
“My 12-year-old has better regulation but I’m still worried about videos that appear kid-friendly yet end up being problematic… We really dislike YouTube and wish it didn’t exist.” Harrisdale, parent of three children, aged 7, 10, and 12.
“He could choose what he wanted, but he primarily views the shorts. We’ve noticed that these shorts affect his mood. We’ve tried to stabilize his YouTube experience by steering him towards more educational content.” Kevin, father of a 13-year-old in Brua.
“He learned to crochet through YouTube.”
Many parents acknowledged the educational advantages YouTube offers, from supporting niche hobbies to serving as a platform for children to express themselves creatively as content creators.
“I worry about the vast amount of unfiltered content he could easily come across if not monitored, but my greater concern is losing access altogether. He learned how to crochet from YouTube. Single parent of a teenage son, ACT.
“We utilize YouTube for educational purposes (e.g., MS Rachel, Mads Made, Volcanoes, David Attenborough content) as well as for entertainment (e.g., Teeny Tiny Stevies for videos, Music Videos, etc.). YouTube is the best educational platform in history!!!” Melbourne parents of ages 2 and 5.
“My sons, 11 and 14, frequently use YouTube for information and gaming content. My oldest even has an account where he posts videos about Ali’s colony. [I support the ban]. Many kids share knowledge and enthusiasm in healthy ways.” Sydney parents, ages 11 and 14.
“Our son uses YouTube daily for his passion, creating stop-motion films using Lego. He dedicates hours to producing, editing, and uploading beautiful video clips to his channel, gaining followers. Dan Arno, father of an 11-year-old in Munich.
“If these companies refuse to regulate themselves, action must be taken.”
Parents expressed varied opinions on whether a ban on YouTube accounts for those under 16 would be beneficial or effective.
“I am wholly opposed to the current laws. We need to push for tech companies to alter their content policies. It’s essential to require personal identification for age verification when uploading content online.” Parents of 12 and 15-year-olds in Brisbane.
“Now, I have to restrict my child’s YouTube access and either provide oversight or create a fictitious account. This isn’t something I want to do. [Gen X] intervenes in areas they shouldn’t. Parent of two children in West Sydney.
“Digital platforms and high-tech corporations have generated a proliferation of violent and antisocial material from content creators, which is viewed countless times by impressionable children. Parents find it challenging to monitor this content, with only the content creators and technology giants benefitting.” Parents of a 16-year-old in Windsor.
“Their accounts give us access to their viewing history. However, a ban is impractical. Age registration infringes on my privacy.” Tim, parent of two children in Blackburn.
“I am fully in support of the ban. Tech companies have repeatedly demonstrated their lack of interest in fostering a safe environment for children.” Gerald, father of a 13-year-old in Canberra.
“I feel torn about this. I’m convinced the ban will be easily bypassed by those under 16. But I see it as a proactive attempt to curb children’s access to inappropriate content.” Parents of a 5-year-old in Adelaide.
Kidney disease can result in hypertension and infections
Mohammed Haneefa Nizamudeen/Getty Images
Recent animal research suggests that damage caused by the most prevalent hereditary kidney disease may not be as irreversible as previously thought. Researchers are using CRISPR gene editing to potentially reverse certain mutations responsible for the condition.
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) gradually alters kidney function, leading to debilitating effects. “It was generally believed that correcting the mutations would not change the outcome,” says Michael Kaminski from Berlin University of Medicine.
PKD results in the formation of fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys and liver, leading to organ failure and necessitating dialysis or transplants. Besides organ failure, damage and swelling can lead to other severe issues, including high blood pressure and infections.
The disease typically affects adults, with approximately 12 million individuals globally estimated to be affected. Symptoms may not manifest until the cysts reach significant size in one’s 30s, by which point there may already be extensive damage to the kidneys and liver.
Kaminski’s team has utilized a CRISPR method known as base editing to correct mutations in the PKD1 gene in mice models.
This technique successfully corrected mutations primarily in the liver, resulting in a reduction in both the size and number of cysts post-treatment. Kaminski noted potential improvements in the kidneys as well.
Specifically, Xiaogang Li’s team at Mayo Clinic conducted a similar study using more precise methods targeting the kidneys, indicating a reduction in cyst size and quantity, according to Li.
Both teams employed viral vectors to deliver gene-editing tools, which poses challenges with repeated doses due to immune responses might hinder treatment. “This is a legitimate concern,” Li notes. “However, we’ve observed limited immune responses in our animal models so far.”
Utilizing lipid nanoparticles instead of viral vectors, as seen in mRNA vaccines, could mitigate immune-related issues, but Kaminski warns that these particles may struggle to penetrate deeply into the kidneys through the bloodstream. “I believe that the delivery method using [lipid nanoparticles] might become more feasible through urinary pathways,” he says.
Another limitation is that base editing primarily addresses single-character mutations, rendering it ineffective for individuals with longer mutation sequences. However, Li reports successful outcomes using a technique known as Prime editing.
These findings are poised to be published shortly in scientific journals, with plans for human trials to follow. “After our publication, I aim to organize a small clinical trial,” he states.
The broader implications of this research suggest that if PKD can indeed be reversed, it could ignite more research into this potential therapeutic avenue. Currently, the only approved treatment is tolvaptan, which only slightly slows disease progression and requires significant fluid intake.
The parents of the family were left devastated when their aspirations for change were dashed after they sought to safeguard their children in the Colorado Legislature last month and online activism targeting a drug dealer resulted in tragedy.
Among those parents was Lori Shot, who was instrumental in crafting the bill. Her 18-year-old daughter Annaly tragically took her own life in 2020 after engaging with content on TikTok and Instagram related to depression, anxiety, and suicide.
“When lawmakers sidestep votes and shift discussions to an insubstantial calendar date without accountability, it feels like a betrayal to us as parents.” “It’s a betrayal to my daughter and to all the other children we’ve lost.”
Had the law been enacted, it would have necessitated investigations and the removal of accounts engaged in gun and drug sales, or the sexual exploitation and human trafficking of minors on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. It also required a dedicated hotline for law enforcement and a 72-hour response timeframe for police inquiries, which would significantly increase obligations compared to current legal standards.
Additionally, the platforms would have had to report on the usage statistics of minors, including how often and for how long they interacted with content violating company policies. Several major tech firms have taken official stances regarding the bill. As noted in Colorado’s lobbying records, Meta’s long-time lobbying firm, Headwater Strategies, has registered its support for revising the bill. Conversely, Google and TikTok employed lobbyists to oppose it.
‘[Legislators] chose self-interest over the protection of children and families. ” Illustration: Andrei Cojocaru/Guardian
“We are deeply disheartened,” said Kim Osterman, whose 18-year-old son Max died in 2021. “[Legislators] prioritized their own interests over the safety of my children and family.”
Protection for Social Media Users (SB 25-086) passed both legislative chambers, only to be vetoed by Democrat Governor Jared Polis on April 24th. His veto was justified by concerns that the bill would “erode privacy, freedom, and innovation.” On April 25, the Colorado Senate voted to override the veto, but on April 28, the House chose to delay the vote until the end of the legislative session, effectively blocking the override and keeping the bill alive.
Originally, the bill had passed the Senate with a 29-6 margin and the House with a 46-18 margin. On April 25, the Senate voted 29-6 for an override, and lawmakers anticipated that the House would take up the matter later that day, believing that there was enough bipartisan support to successfully overturn the veto.
“It was a straightforward vote for people because our goal was clear: to safeguard children from the predatory practices of social media companies,” remarked Senator Lindsey Dorgerty, a Democrat and co-sponsor of the bill. She expressed her disappointment that House leaders chose to sidestep the vote on Friday.
Advocating parents blamed the failure of the bill on an unexpected 11-hour lobbying blitz by The Far Right Gun Owners Association in Colorado. Two state legislators and seven other legislative participants corroborated the parents’ claims.
An unprecedented last-minute campaign disrupts bipartisan consensus
The owner of Rocky Mountain Guns (RMGO) characterized the bill as government censorship related to the statute against “ghost guns” assembled from kits purchased online.
RMGO initiated an extensive social media and email campaign, rallying its 200,000 members to contact lawmakers and voice their opposition to the bill. Sources familiar with the workings of the Colorado State Capitol explained that the gun group’s outreach included social media and text campaigns that encouraged Republican constituents to reach out to their representatives in opposition.
“[Legislators] were inundated with calls and emails from activists. It was an all-out assault. A campaign declared, ‘This is a government censorship bill,'” they stated.
The group’s actions contributed to efforts preventing Republicans from backing the veto override, leading to the bill’s demise. According to ten individuals involved in the bill’s development and the legislative process, this lobbying effort appeared unexpectedly robust, fueled by organizations that had previously faced financial constraints. An anonymous source from the Colorado State Capitol shared insights with the Guardian, citing fears of retaliation from RMGO.
The House of Representatives postponed its vote until April 28th, providing RMGO time to amplify its campaign over the weekend. When lawmakers reconvened on Monday, the House voted 51-13 to delay the override until the legislative session concluded, effectively dissolving the effort.
“It was a coordinated full-scale attack proclaiming this as a government censorship bill.” Illustration: Andrei Cojocaru/Guardian
A significant text messaging initiative targeted registered Republican voters, alleging that the social media bill “forces platforms to enforce extensive surveillance of content shared on their platforms,” claiming violations of Colorado’s gun laws, and framing the legislation as an affront to First and Second Amendment rights, according to texts reviewed by the Guardian.
A recurring adversary
Established in 1996, RMGO claims a membership exceeding 200,000 activists. It is recognized as a far-right organization staunchly opposed to regulations on firearms. Dudley Brown, its founder and leader president of the National Gun Rights Association, diverges significantly from the perspective of the National Rifle Association (NRA). RMGO is criticized for employing tactics labeled as “bullying” and “extremist” against both Democrats and moderate Republicans. The group has not responded to requests for commentary regarding legislative measures.
RMGO is a well-known presence at the Colorado State Capitol, typically opposing gun control measures. Daugherty described their usual campaign tactics as “intimidating.” Following backlash for her involvement in a bill banning assault weapons earlier this year, she deactivated her social media account.
“While advocating for gun legislation at the Capitol, RMGO published images of me and other legislators on their website,” she noted. An RMGO tweet depicted Daugherty alongside a bold “Traitor” stamp.
The group disseminated misinformation regarding the bill’s implications on gun ownership, as reported by sources who participated in the legislative discussions.
“My support for the bill and the veto override stemmed from concerns about child trafficking and safeguarding children,” stated Republican Senator Rod Pelton, who voted in favor of overriding the veto in the Senate. “I did not subscribe to the entire argument pertaining to the second amendment.”
The bill garnered support from 23 district attorneys in Colorado as well as bipartisan backing from the state House of Representatives.
RMGO’s late-stage opposition to the social media bill deviated from its usual tactics. Typically, the organization weighs in on legislation early in the process, according to eight sources, including co-sponsors Daugherty and Representative Andy Boesenecker.
“Their surge of focused efforts caught my attention,” Boesenecker remarked. “It was curious to note that their resistance materialized so late in the process and appeared to be well-financed.”
In recent years, RMGO has experienced reduced activity attributed to financial difficulties that limited their legislative campaigning capacity. In a 2024 interview, the organization’s leader candidly acknowledged struggles with fundraising. Daugherty believes RMGO’s capacity for such a substantial outreach campaign would be unlikely without considerable funding. Others within Colorado’s political landscape echoed this sentiment.
“The Rocky Mountain Gun Owners had been largely ineffective in the legislature for several years due to financial constraints. Suddenly, they increased their influence, seemingly backed by substantial funds,” said Dawn Reinfeld, from a Colorado-based nonprofit focused on youth rights.
This context caused lawmakers to feel pressured, especially concerning primary elections in their districts, following RMGO’s recent social media attacks on supporters of the bill.
“The bill had given me hope that Avery’s legacy would make a difference, and its failure was incredibly disappointing.” Illustration: Andrei Cojocaru/Guardian
“There was a palpable concern among many about party affiliation; it certainly played a role,” remarked Dorgerty.
Aaron Ping’s 16-year-old son, Avery, passed away from an overdose in December after buying what he believed to be ecstasy on Snapchat, only to receive a substance laced with fentanyl instead. Ping viewed the organized opposition to the bill as a purposeful distortion.
“The narrative painted the bill as an infringement on gun rights, depicting it as merely a tool for targeting people purchasing illegal firearms online,” he stated.
Ping had testified in support of the bill alongside other families, recovering teens, and district attorneys back in February before the initial Senate vote.
“This bill carried the hope that Avery’s legacy would incite change; its rejection was truly disheartening,” Ping shared.
In the absence of federal action, states initiate online child safety legislation
A number of states, including California, Maryland, Vermont, Minnesota, Hawaii, Illinois, New Mexico, South Carolina, and Nevada, have introduced legislation over the past two years aimed at enhancing online safety for minors. These initiatives encounter vigorous resistance from the technology sector, which includes extensive lobbying efforts and legal challenges.
Maryland successfully passed the Children’s Code bill in May 2024, marking it as the first state to enact such legislation. However, this victory may be short-lived. The high-tech industry coalition, NetChoice, representing companies such as Meta, Google, and Amazon, has already launched legal challenges against these measures.
In the meanwhile, federal efforts have stalled, with the Children’s Online Safety Act (KOSA) faltering in February after failing to pass the House despite years of modifications and deliberations. A newly revised version of the bill was reintroduced in Congress on May 14th.
California’s similar initiative, the age-appropriate design code law, which mirrors UK legislation, was halted in late 2023 following a NetChoice injunction citing potential First Amendment infringements.
aArchitectural surrealism is a defining characteristic of Monument Valley. The rigid and beautiful structures in the game transform and rotate with the player’s touch, creating new paths and stairs for the minimalist character to explore. Doorways can lead anywhere, and hitting a switch can cause pillars to rise from the ground, revealing hidden paths. Since 2014, these games have been popular on smartphones and are considered some of the best examples for touch screen puzzle enthusiasts. However, the latest entry in the series, released recently, offers a unique twist.
The iconic Moroccan-inspired architecture that made the game famous is still present, but this time, the geometric character Noor is accompanied by blooming flowers and winding vines. Noor is shown steering a small boat and getting lost in a bright yellow wheat field. The game also introduces more people, with Noor depicted as an apprentice lighthouse keeper responsible for a community devastated by a flood in various scenes. Throughout the game, she is accompanied or assisted by different characters, highlighting the theme of rebuilding together.
Monument Valley is now available as a game on Netflix, allowing subscribers to download all three entries for free. The game is developed by Ustwo Games, a small studio based in London. While some creators from the first game remain, the team has evolved over the past decade. Director Jennifer Estaris, who joined Ustwo Games in 2020, brings her experience as a climate change activist and game designer to the project. The game’s development is influenced by the play for the earth Initiative, with Monument Valley 2’s additional chapter, The Lost Forest, created as part of the Green Game Jam.
Calmly satisfied…Monument Valley 3. Photo: Ustwo/Netflix
“I believe that green nudging is crucial and that system change can be reflected in games,” says Estaris. “For Monument Valley 3, my main idea was to explore sustainable and resilient community building for a hopeful future. We focused on living in harmony with nature to provide the solutions we need.” The game offers a satisfying and visually stunning puzzle experience while subtly addressing themes of climate change through its natural shapes and architecture.
Lead Designer Emily Brown explains the team’s approach to Monument Valley 3, stating, “We wanted to explore a different perspective from the towering monuments and isolated characters of the previous games.” The game incorporates more natural elements and allows for a mix of styles and ideas, reflecting a shift towards a more hopeful and interconnected narrative.
“It was impossible for us as a team.” do not have To bring a part of myself to it”…Monument Valley 3. Photo: Ustwo/Netflix
Monument Valley’s minimalist design allows players to bring their own emotions and narratives to the game, creating a unique and personal experience. Despite the game’s focus on conveying messages about climate change and hope, the team aimed to retain the space for interpretation and personal connection. Lead Designer Brown expresses the team’s ambition for the game, stating, “We believe that things can improve when players bring a part of themselves to the experience.”
The development of Monument Valley 3 during the Covid-19 pandemic prompted the team to explore themes of community, unity, and recovery from disaster. The game embodies the concept of Hopepunk, offering a message of hope and resilience in the face of challenges. Estaris emphasizes the importance of unity in overcoming difficulties, stating, “We want people to feel that we can overcome challenges by working together.”
This year, from the first civilian moon landing (see “Elon Musk-led private missions boom, space is on sale in 2024”) to the first pig kidney transplant into a living human. It will be remembered for many pioneering events. Unfortunately, another dark first looms in 2024. Although the numbers will not be officially confirmed until next month, it is very likely that this will be the first year in which the totemic climate goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming is exceeded. (see “For the first time in 2024 reached 1.5°C, accelerating climate disruption.”)
Let’s clarify what this means. This number is generally considered to refer to a 20-year average, so it does not violate the 2015 Paris Agreement, the world’s most important climate change treaty. Under the agreement, each country commits to limiting long-term temperature rise to below 1.5°C. Nor is this a sign that the world is doomed and that we should give up all hope of combating climate change. Because if we lower temperatures even a little bit, billions of people will be better off than they would be if we didn’t do so. But reaching this level of warming, even in just one year (so far), is undoubtedly a global failure.
Breaking through 1.5°C also comes as the world enters a new and uncertain phase of climate change. As we have reported throughout the year, extreme warming in 2024 (which will only be matched by 2023) has scientists increasingly concerned about changes in major ocean currents, leading to unexplained levels of warming. They are desperately trying to understand what’s going on with the decline of Antarctic sea ice.
If you start the new year with a feeling of anxiety, you will inevitably feel pessimistic, but that may not be a bad thing. Next year will mark 10 years since the Paris Agreement came into force, and even then it was clear that the 1.5°C target had reached its achievable limits. As we wrote in our year-end leader at the time: “An odd call to action. The goal of capping global warming at 1.5°C looks almost completely unattainable.” In fact, greenhouse gas emissions Reshaping the modern world to stop and achieve net-zero emissions is the most ambitious goal ever set by humanity.
You can’t take good photos if you’re pessimistic. Ask, “What happens if I fail?” “What if we’re wrong?”
Given the scale of the challenges we face, such ambition is essential, but it is not sufficient. It’s easy to set ambitious and optimistic goals like the Paris Agreement, and politicians can line up to take pictures, smile and shake hands. It feels warm and fluffy.
However, to achieve such a goal, pessimism must prevail. You can’t take good photos if you’re pessimistic. The question is, “What happens if we fail?” and “What if we are wrong?” – Issues to be addressed include grappling with deep uncertainties in the green transition, whether technological, social or economic. Failure to do so will lead to failure.
There are lessons to be learned from success in 2024. Space engineers and surgeons alike tend to assume mistakes when considering the complexity of moon landings and complex surgeries. To alleviate this, they use a simple tool: the Humble Checklist. By identifying points of failure and taking steps to avoid them, you greatly increase your chances of success.
Although it makes less sense to have a “climate checklist” given that we are talking about ongoing global processes rather than a single operation or space mission, the underlying spirit still applies. Masu. One of the major failings is the annual United Nations climate change talks. At the 29th COP Summit held in Azerbaijan this year, organizers hailed fossil fuels as “God’s gift.”
COP30, scheduled to be held in Belem, Brazil next November, will be an opportunity to reset attitudes. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is already making noise in this direction, promising a “COP to change direction,” but will he be able to make it happen? Perhaps the most powerful message he can send is to take to the stage, stand aside unsmiling world leaders with clear plans to do better, and publicly acknowledge the failures of the COP process so far. That’s probably true. However, Santa doesn’t necessarily grant your wishes.
A degree of repentance and pessimism could also help with another problem that is quietly brewing in 2024: the imminent threat of an avian influenza pandemic. ). The H5N1 virus has spread to U.S. dairy herds despite minimal surveillance and mitigation efforts by U.S. health officials. As a result, the number of people infected there has also increased, reaching more than 50 people at the time of our reporting.
The virus has not yet adapted well to humans and is not known to be transmitted from person to person so far, but random mutations may change the situation with each new infection. increases. Optimistically rolling the dice and hoping for a double six is not good health policy. In an ideal world, the United States would already be planning for the possibility of a pandemic and sit back and watch it never materialize. We do not live in an ideal world as President-elect Donald Trump endorses vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services. That means other countries will need to come up with their own plans. This is the only rational response to uncertainty.
Obviously, this pessimism doesn’t stem from any particular holiday spirit. However, through these two issues, new scientist From the science of believing in Santa (see ‘Believing in Santa Claus doesn’t guarantee children will behave well at Christmas’) to the quest for the world’s largest snowflake (see ‘The plan to create the world’s snowflake’), there lies a world of festive feasts. The biggest snowflake was humbled by nature”).
Looking ahead to next year, I’d like to thank researchers and companies who are developing new ways to tackle climate change, from sucking carbon dioxide out of the air to genetically modifying food to make it more environmentally friendly. Raise a glass of water too. For more information, see the next issue’s 2025 preview). And we hope that the uncertainty caused by this year’s climate news will be a catalyst for change.
There are around 500 million people worldwide living with diabetes. This condition, characterized by elevated blood sugar levels, can lead to various health complications such as periodontal disease, nerve damage, kidney disease, blindness, amputation, heart attack, stroke, and cancer if not managed properly.
Current treatments for diabetes include medications, insulin, and lifestyle changes. However, a new approach involving stem cell transplants shows promise in reversing the disease. The first successful treatment of a woman with type 1 diabetes using stem cells from her own body was recently reported. Previously dependent on significant insulin doses, she is now able to produce insulin naturally.
Similarly, a 59-year-old man with type 2 diabetes was able to reduce his reliance on insulin after a stem cell transplant in April. Although there are still challenges in scaling up this treatment, the initial results have been impressive.
Cancer vaccine
ian sample
Following the success of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19, scientists are now exploring the use of similar technology to develop cancer vaccines. These vaccines aim to train the immune system to target and destroy cancer cells by producing specific proteins.
Clinical trials for personalized mRNA cancer vaccines have shown promise in melanoma and other types of cancer. These vaccines may have long-lasting effects and could potentially prevent cancer recurrence in high-risk individuals.
AI helps detect cancer faster
robert booth
Artificial intelligence is being increasingly used to improve the early detection of serious illnesses such as lung cancer and brain tumors. This technology has shown to enhance diagnostic accuracy and efficiency, leading to better outcomes for patients.
hannah devlin
The James Webb Space Telescope has provided stunning images of the universe, shedding light on the origins of stars, black holes, and the evolution of the cosmos. This powerful telescope opens up new possibilities for scientific discoveries and understanding the mysteries of the universe.
Renewable energy accelerates
Gillian Ambrose
The world is witnessing a rapid shift towards renewable energy sources. Projects utilizing renewable energy are expected to expand at a much faster pace, surpassing previous growth rates. This transition is crucial in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and combating climate change.
Stem cells are produced in the bone marrow and develop into different types of blood cells.
Katerina Conn / SPL/ Alamy
Human blood stem cells have been grown in a laboratory for the first time, which could dramatically improve how certain types of cancer are treated.
The lab-grown cells have so far only been tested in mice, but when injected into the animals, they resulted in functional bone marrow similar to levels seen after umbilical cord blood cell transplants.
Treating cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma with radiation and chemotherapy can destroy blood-forming cells in the bone marrow. A stem cell transplant means new healthy bone marrow and blood cells can grow. The umbilical cord is a particularly rich source of stem cells, but there is a limited amount they can provide, and the transplant may be rejected by the body.
The new method allows researchers to create stem cells from actual patients, eliminating supply issues and reducing the risk that the patient's body will reject the stem cells.
First, they transformed human blood and skin cells into so-called pluripotent stem cells through a process called reprogramming. “This involves temporarily switching on four genes, so that the patient's cells revert to an earlier stage of development that can become any cell in the body,” he said. Andrew Elefanti At the Murdoch Children's Research Institute in Melbourne.
The second step is to turn the pluripotent cells into blood stem cells. “You start by making thousands of tiny, free-floating balls of cells, each containing a few hundred cells, and then you induce them to turn from stem cells to blood vessels to blood cells,” Elefanti says. This process, called differentiation, takes about two weeks and produces millions of blood cells, he says.
When these cells were then injected into mice that lack immune systems, they produced functional bone marrow in up to 50 percent of cases. That means they made the same cells that carry oxygen and fight infection as healthy human bone marrow, Elefanti says. “This unique ability to make all blood cell types over an extended period of time defines them as blood stem cells,” he says.
Abbas Shafi A researcher from the University of Queensland in Brisbane said the work was an “exciting step forward” towards new treatments for blood cancers. “It's never been done before and has great potential for the future.” But even once animal testing is complete, he said a lot of human research still needs to be done before the technique can be used in the clinic.
Simon Cohn Researchers at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, say a key advantage of their approach is that it can be scaled up to produce “an essentially limitless supply” of blood stem cells, but they add that the work is based on blood or skin cells, and success rates and blood cell diversity depend on the starting cell type.
“This suggests that treatments are inconsistent even at the preclinical stage in mice, and will need to be addressed before clinical trials in human patients,” he says.
IThe start of term is fast approaching. Parents are starting to worry about packed lunches, uniforms, and textbooks. School leavers heading to university are wondering what welcome week will be like for new students. And some professors, especially in the humanities, are anxiously wondering how to handle students who are already more adept at Large Language Models (LLMs) than they are.
They have good reason to be worried. Ian Bogost, a professor of film and media, said: and He studied Computer Science at Washington University in St. Louis. it is“If the first year of AI College ended with a sense of disappointment, the situation has now descended into absurdity. Teachers struggle to continue teaching while wondering whether they are grading students or computers. Meanwhile, the arms race in AI cheating and detection continues unabated.”
As expected, the arms race is already intensifying. The Wall Street Journal Recently reported “OpenAI has a way to reliably detect if someone is using ChatGPT to write an essay or research paper, but the company has not disclosed it, despite widespread concerns that students are using artificial intelligence to cheat.” This refusal has infuriated a sector of academia that imagining admirably that there must be a technological solution to this “cheating” problem. Apparently they have not read the Association for Computing Machinery's report on “cheating”. Statement of principles for developing generative AI content detection systemsstates that “reliably detecting the output of a generative AI system without an embedded watermark is beyond the current state of the art and is unlikely to change within any foreseeable timeframe.” Digital watermarks are useful, but they can also cause problems.
The LLM is a particularly pressing problem for the humanities because the essay is a critical pedagogical tool in teaching students how to research, think, and write. Perhaps more importantly, the essay also plays a central role in grading. Unfortunately, the LLM threatens to make this venerable pedagogy unviable. And there is no technological solution in sight.
The good news is that the problem is not insurmountable if educators in these fields are willing to rethink and adapt their teaching methods to fit new realities. Alternative pedagogies are available. But it will require two changes of thinking, if not a change of heart.
First, law graduates, like the well-known psychologist from Berkeley, Alison Gopnik says They are “cultural technologies”, just like writing, printing, libraries, internet searches, etc. In other words, they are tools used by humans. AugmentIt's not an exchange.
Second, and perhaps more importantly, the importance of writing needs to be reinstated in students' minds. processI think E.M. Forster once said that there are two kinds of writers: those who know their ideas and write them, and those who find their ideas by trying to write. The majority of humanity belongs to the latter. That's why the process of writing is so good for the intellect. Writing teaches you the skills to come up with a coherent line of argument, select relevant evidence, find useful sources and inspiration, and most importantly, express yourself in readable, clear prose. For many, that's not easy or natural. That's why students turn to ChatGPT even when they're asked to write 500 words to introduce themselves to their classmates.
Josh Blake, an American scholar, Writes intelligently about our relationship with AI Rather than trying to “integrate” writing into the classroom, I believe it is worth making the value of writing as an intellectual activity fully clear to students. you If you think about it, naturally they would be interested in outsourcing the labor to law students. And if writing (or any other job) is really just about the deliverables, why not? If the means to an end aren't important, why not outsource it?
Ultimately, the problems that LLMs pose to academia can be solved, but it will require new thinking and different approaches to teaching and learning in some areas. The bigger problem is the slow pace at which universities move. I know this from experience. In October 1995, the American scholar Eli Noam published a very insightful article: “The bleak future of electronics and universities” – in ScienceBetween 1998 and 2001, I asked every vice-chancellor and senior university leader I met in the UK what they thought about this.
Still, things have improved since then: at least now everyone knows about ChatGPT.
I’ll be 60 in just over 5 years, which is a big deal. I already have an age-related disease (high blood pressure), and the odds are good that I haven’t been diagnosed with at least one more by then. After that, the symptoms of age will pile up and bring me to my inevitable end. Many of you will no doubt be in a similar situation. We are living longer than ever before, but those extra years don’t necessarily come with good health.
But judging by recent trends, my sons may be even luckier. Instead of facing a long list of common diseases in their 70s and 80s, they may be able to immunize themselves against them. They may be able to celebrate middle age with vaccinations that immunize them against Alzheimer’s, cancer, and hypertension. What’s more, they may even have access to an anti-aging panacea that vaccinates against all of these and more, allowing them to enter old age in better health than most of us today could hope to achieve.
Suddenly, an ancient medical technique looks set to become a game changer in the fight against diseases associated with age. Vaccines, the most commonly used injections for infectious diseases like COVID-19 and measles, are now showing promise for treating non-infectious diseases, particularly those associated with age. The field is advancing rapidly, and there are signs that, in the right winds, I and others my age might be able to benefit from these vaccinations. It’s so…
Snowboard boots on the kitchen table. A handle in the bedroom. And clothes are everywhere, and there's no system for determining which ones are clean.
These are just some of the sights that will tell you you're in the boys' room. It's a bedroom with little form or function, inhabited by a grown man who doesn't give much thought to either concept. The interior is usually made up of random trinkets, like your favorite old skateboard on the wall or your childhood action figures on the windowsill. Sneakers and trash are often so dense that it’s hard to see the floor. The thing about furniture is that there might be some furniture. Otherwise, the resident sleeps on a bare mattress placed directly on the floor with one pillow and an uncovered comforter.
To an outsider, it may seem immature and even unkind. Now, comedian Rachel Coster is exploring this phenomenon in her TikTok/Instagram series. boy room.
In every episode, a man in his 20s or 30s living in New York City offers his bedroom for anthropological research. Coster walks around the room and asks the boys questions about the decorations.
“What's that over there?” she asked Luke, 24, pointing to a dirty container next to a step stool. “It’s a bottle of bleach,” he answered.
“What's with the hat?” she asked Jerome, 32, pointing to the baseball cap under the bed. “That’s a cat’s hat,” he explains.
Some videos go in an even more surreal direction. One video features a windowless room with residents' nicknames painted on the walls, like something out of a horror movie. Another boy is wearing a nightcap and has an empty condom box taped to the wall.
Rachel Coster investigates a phenomenon familiar to many who have dated in New York. Photo: Provided by the gymnasium
Koster then offers some very practical tips for improving your space. “My vision for Blake’s room is to install a trash can for him,” she suggests. “Place all clothing on the floor on readily available racks.”
The boys in question are mainly Although he may be a little confused when he receives attention, he is sincere and likable. One commenter on Instagram said: “Blake seems like a really level-headed person. I think we have a lot in common.”
The idea for the boy room came from a friend of Koster’s who said her room “scared every girl I’ve ever taken.” She said she could help fix it within a few hours. In just her five weeks since the show began, Koster’s most-watched video has been her 2.7 million views on TikTok, and her Boy Room followers have surpassed her 121,000.
Perhaps it’s because she finds such a rich theme. Socializing, especially dating, means being exposed to a wealth of unknown homes and lifestyles. Family life of young people special scrutiny. For example, on TikTok, users canThree typical boy apartments in New York City” (the eldest of the siblings, the “dad has money” guy, and the guy with the fireplace that will hurt your feelings).Natural things in my boyfriend’s apartment” (e.g. a fire hydrant that has been recalled for some reason).
Why on earth is the men’s room the way it is? Coster theorizes that while girls are raised with the expectation that they will one day take care of the house and “look out for each other” when it comes to cleanliness, “that’s not the case when boys go to each other’s rooms.” I’m wearing it. ‘Hey, hey, why don’t you have more than one pillow?’ And, of course, there’s the relentless advertising, she says, ‘Men are sold on ‘you have to be stronger.’ You need focus. You have to be hardworking.’For girls, “You have to be beautiful, you have to be clean, and your house has to be clean.”
My lover, who was probably trying to send a message, warned me about the boy room first. She’s only just turned 39 and I’m just a boy, with a room where I’ve been told in no uncertain terms that I’m eligible to be on the show. Since I live on the other side of the country, Ms. Koster kindly agreed to do an evaluation via video chat.
Her first question was how to get it across the bedroom since there is a TV stand at the foot of the bed and together they take up the length of the room. I explained that I would have to climb over the bed to get to the closet. “It’s amazing,” she said. “And all your clothes are shoved in storage shelves,” she said of the boxes in the closet where I stuff my clothes (I don’t have a dresser, but I do have storage shelves, so there is no need).
Some of the posters in my room have not yet fallen. Photo: The Guardian
She also took note of my pile of keepsakes (which used to be filled with keepsake bags). There I keep things I can’t bear to throw away, like postcards, the magic wand from my Halloween costume from seven years ago, and a brochure from a hang gliding museum in Texas I don’t remember visiting. Her grandfather’s electric chess set is also on the mountain. “Yeah, that’s where he wants to be,” Koster said. “How long has it been sitting there?”
“Maybe it’s because I moved here a year and a half ago?”
“So how often do you look at them and say, ‘Wow, thank God I have this ‘Hoppy Easter’ card?”
Coster “loves tossing” things he doesn’t normally use. “I’d rather have noise-cancelling headphones than a million letters from her parents,” she said, adding: “Maybe if my parents had died, I might have felt differently.”
She also suggested putting memorabilia in a chest, or at least organizing the pile into smaller piles. “You’ll find that there’s a better shape to it than just putting it in a lump in the corner of the room.” Her other key advice was to put back posters that had fallen off the wall, but the theme I thought it might be a good idea to change it a little. I suffer from a condition that could be diagnosed as extreme Anglophilia, and the poster included her two maps of Britain, a vintage tube ad, and an overhead view of London. Masu. She said, “I’m going to introduce France or some other white European country to get you excited.”
After all, the boy room is for boys. Photo: Provided by the gymnasium
Actually, I already have a discarded poster from France, but the simplicity of her other suggestions made me want to take action. I did it the next weekend, reupholstered the posters, and got rid of some of my worst memorabilia. Two monocles with broken glasses.
Koster understands that getting rid of things can be difficult. “I don’t think sentimentality and peace of mind really go together, because if you’re always thinking about the past and always trying to protect things, it’s really hard to stay in the present.”, it is also rewarding to correct your posture. “When I wake up in a clean room, I feel completely in heaven.”
Boy Room has plenty of jokes, but what sets it apart from your standard internet troll is its underlying warmth. Yes, we’re laughing in the boys’ room, but Koster works with a small team that includes a director, cinematographer, and editor. sexy damion, very much on the boy’s side. she told one of the boys’ room customers. “This has nothing to do with your personality. You’re nice. You just don’t know what you’re doing with your space.”
She, and by extension we, simply want what’s best for these men, starting with their ability to move from one side of the room to the other without tripping. “My true wish is that if possible, everyone should love themselves enough to value their own space,” she said.
Researchers have discovered a unique case in a Colombian family where a woman with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease remained cognitively healthy due to a rare APOE gene mutation, the Christchurch mutation. This mutation disrupts the typical progression of Alzheimer’s disease and suggests new prevention strategies. Dementia may be prevented by breaking the link between early and late stages of the disease.
The disease has plagued one large Colombian family for generations, killing half of them in their prime years. But one member of the family avoided what seemed like fate. She remained cognitively healthy well into her 70s, even though her relatives inherited her genetic defect that caused her to develop dementia in her 40s.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis now think they know why. Previous research had reported that the woman was in possession of two copies of the rare variant, unlike her relatives. Apoe A gene known as the Christchurch mutation.
In this study, researchers used genetically modified mice to show that the Christchurch mutation was associated with early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, when a protein called amyloid beta accumulates in the brain, and another protein called tau, which causes cognitive impairment. begins to decline. So the women remained mentally alert for decades, even though their brains were filled with large amounts of amyloid.
“All protective factors are very interesting because they give us new clues about how the disease works,” said lead authors Barbara Barton, Ph.D., and Reuben M. said David M. Holzman, M.D., Morris III Professor Emeritus of Neurology.
Understanding the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, the researches found thatthe main difference was the level of activity of microglia, the brain’s waste-processing cells. Microglia tend to cluster around amyloid plaques. In mice with Apoe The Christchurch mutation activated microglia surrounding amyloid plaques, making them highly efficient at consuming and processing tau aggregates.
Reference: “APOE3ch alters microglial responses and suppresses Aβ-induced tau dissemination and spread” Yun Chen, Sihui Song, Samira Parhizkar, Jennifer Lord, Yiyang Zhu, Michael R. Strickland, Chanung Wang, Jiyu Park, G By Travis Tabor, Hong Jiang, Kevin Lee, Albert A. Davis, Carla M. Huede, Marco Colonna, Jason D. Ulrich, David M. Holtzman, December 11, 2023. cell.DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.11.029
A recent study led by Indiana University and the University of Chicago Medicine suggests that a drug called alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) could revolutionize the treatment of type 1 diabetes. Based on a decade of research, DFMO has demonstrated the potential to reduce insulin dependence, and larger clinical trials are currently underway to evaluate DFMO’s impact on beta cell preservation and disease amelioration. Tested.
A recent study led by Indiana University School of Medicine in collaboration with the University of Chicago School of Medicine shows exciting future possibilities for the management of type 1 diabetes and its potential reduction. insulin dependence. The researchers’ findings are cell report medicine, They suggest that repurposing the drug alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) could open the door to innovative treatments in the future.
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, resulting in high blood sugar levels and currently requires lifelong insulin treatment to keep patients alive. Is required. Many people living with type 1 diabetes find current treatments, such as daily insulin injections and frequent blood sugar monitoring, inconvenient and difficult to manage.
A 10-year research journey
These latest translation results represent more than a decade of research. Raghu Mirmila, M.D., Ph.D., co-corresponding author of the study, said in 2010 that while running his lab at IU School of Medicine, his team was able to develop beta It was discovered for the first time that cells can be protected from infection. Environmental factors suggest that type 1 diabetes may be preserved. The team then validated these findings in mice.
From 2015 to 2019, Linda DiMeglio, MD, MPH, Edwin Letzter Professor of Pediatrics at IU School of Medicine, Pediatric Endocrinologist and Division Director at Riley Children’s Health, provided guidance to people with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. He led a clinical trial to confirm the safety of DFMO. They also suggested that it may stabilize insulin levels by protecting beta cells. The trial was funded by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and used the drug provided by Panvera Therapeutics.
Dr. Emily K. Sims. Credit: Chapital Photography, provided by Emily K. Sims
“After several years of bench-to-bedside research, Drs. [Sarah] “We are pleased to finally share the promising results from the Tercy mouse model, a pilot study in humans,” said DiMeglio, senior author of the study. “Having established the preliminary safety of DFMO in patients with type 1 diabetes, we are excited to collaborate to further explore its potential benefits in a larger clinical trial.”
Regulatory benefits of DFMO and new formulations
Since 1990, DFMO has been approved by the FDA as a high-dose injectable to treat African sleeping sickness, and in 2020 received breakthrough therapy designation as a post-remission neuroblastoma maintenance therapy. Ta. This prior regulatory approval could streamline adoption as a treatment for type 1 diabetes and shorten the approval process from decades to just a few years.
“Using the new formulation of DFMO as a pill allows patients to take it by mouth rather than needing regular injections, and it has a very favorable side effect profile,” said Dr. said one Milmira. Chicago Medicine. “We are very happy to be able to say that we have developed a drug that works differently than other treatments for this disease.”
Current and future clinical research
Researchers have already begun the next steps to investigate the potential of DFMO. The study’s lead author and co-corresponding author, Emily K. Sims, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics at IU School of Medicine and pediatric endocrinologist at Riley Children’s Health, recently studied the effects of infectious diseases in more detail. To define it, we have begun a large-scale clinical study involving six institutions. His DFMO treatment to preserve beta cell function in type 1 diabetes. This new research was also funded by JDRF and supported by Panbela Therapeutics.
Sims, who is also a physician and scientist at the IU School of Medicine’s Herman B. Wells Pediatric Research Center and Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, hopes that DFMO, perhaps as part of a combination therapy, will not only help patients; There is. People who have recently been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes but are at risk of developing the condition may also be tested.
“As we embark on this new multicenter clinical trial to further investigate the efficacy of DFMO, we are confident that the encouraging results obtained to date will allow us to modify the underlying disease process of type 1 diabetes. ”Sims said. “We invite even more participants to this pioneering study. With their help, the knowledge we gain today has the potential to shape a brighter future for people affected by type 1 diabetes. Masu.”
Reference: “Inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis preserves beta cell function in type 1 diabetes” Emily K. Sims, Abhishek Kulkarni, Audrey Hull, Stephanie E. Werner, Suzanne Cabrera, Lucy D. Mastrandrea, Batur Hammoud, Soumyadeep Sarkar, Ernesto S. Nakayas, Teresa L. Mastracci, Susan M. Perkins, Ouyang Fangqian, Bobbie Jo Webb Robertson, Jacob R. Enriquez, Sarah A. Turcy, Carmela Evans. · Molina, S. Alice Long, Lori Blanchfield, Eugene W. Garner, Raghavendra G. Mirmila and Linda A. Dimeglio, November 1, 2023; cell report medicine. DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101261
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