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Renowned Chimpanzee Researcher and Animal Advocate Jane Goodall Passes Away at 91

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Jane Goodall, a renowned researcher who studied chimpanzee behavior and social structures, later emerged as a prominent figure in the animal welfare movement, passed away on Wednesday.

At the age of 91, Goodall died of natural causes in California while on a speaking tour, as reported by the Jane Goodall Institute in a statement.

“Dr. Goodall’s contributions as an ethologist transformed scientific understanding, and she was an unwavering advocate for the preservation and rejuvenation of our natural world,” the statement added.

Jane Goodall participated in the TV special “Miss Goodall and The World of Chimpanzees” in 1965.
CBS via Getty Images File

Hailing from the UK, Goodall gained recognition in the 1960s for her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees in Tanzania. She meticulously documented their social interactions over several decades.

The foundation noted that she adopted an “unconventional approach” to chimpanzee research, “immersing herself in their environment to experience their intricate societies as neighbors rather than distant observers.”

Goodall’s research revealed that chimpanzees used sticks to fish for termites, challenging the prevailing notion that tool use was exclusive to humans. She also documented the chimps’ communication methods and complex social behaviors, including their meat-eating habits and occasional aggression.

“They are part of Elizabeth Freyman, a primate specialist and postdoctoral researcher at Brown University,” said:

Robert Seyfers, professor emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania who specialized in primate behavior, remarked that Goodall’s passing signifies “the end of an era.”

“Her thorough and detailed observations have resonated with our entire generation—myself included—and inspired many others interested in this scientific field,” Seyfers stated.

He noted that Goodall was among the first researchers to observe chimpanzees as individual beings with distinct personalities, unlike many of her contemporaries who lacked such observational training.

“Her insights into chimpanzee emotions were groundbreaking,” he conveyed, adding that Goodall was an “authentic chronicler” of animal behavior.

“Her goal was to help people comprehend chimpanzees in all their complexities,” Seyfers shared.

As Goodall’s career evolved, she became aware of the threats posed by habitat destruction and illegal trafficking to chimpanzee survival, leading her to prioritize conservation and animal welfare in her work.

The Jane Goodall Institute, which she founded in 1977, stated, “We entered the forest to study the extraordinary lives of chimpanzees, and she emerged from the forest to advocate for their protection.”

Jane Goodall in Paris during October 2024.
Joel Saaget/AFP via Getty Images

Ingrid Newkirk, the founder of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, stated that Goodall “played a pivotal role in helping the organization end the confinement of chimpanzees in desolate metal chambers for testing.”

At just 26 years old, Goodall embarked on her first journey to Tanzania to study chimpanzees. She began her career without any formal scientific training. Louis Leakey, a notable Kenyan and British anthropologist, recruited her to document her findings on chimpanzees. Goodall later attained her PhD from Cambridge University.

During an interview on this year’s podcast “Call Her Daddy,” Goodall recounted to host Alex Cooper that her initial expedition was funded through a shoestring budget provided by philanthropists.

With funding for six months, the first four months yielded little success, as primates were too wary for her to observe closely. However, one chimpanzee eventually became accustomed to her presence, leading to her groundbreaking discovery of their use of tools.

“This discovery was exhilarating because, at the time, it was believed in Western science that tool-making was a human-exclusive trait. We defined ourselves as the only tool-using species,” Goodall recollected. “So, when I wrote to my mentor, Louis Leakey, he was thrilled.”

That revelation captured the interest and support of National Geographic, ultimately altering the trajectory of Goodall’s career.

As Goodall rose to prominence, she leveraged her visibility to bolster public interest in animal welfare and scientific exploration. She authored numerous books about her experiences with chimpanzees, including several aimed at children.

Primate specialist Freyman reflected that he dressed as Goodall for Halloween in fourth grade. He later mentioned receiving fan mail from children while interning at the Jane Goodall Institute in Washington, D.C., at the age of 19.

“I became a primatologist because I had a hero I admired,” Freyman, now 29, shared.

Correction (October 1, 2025, 11:38pm ET): Due to an editing error, earlier versions of this article referred to primate specialist Elody Freyman using “he.” Freyman is a woman.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Jane Goodall, Nature Advocate, Passes Away at 91

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Jane Goodall researched chimpanzee behavior in Tanzania

Penelope Breese/Liaison

Renowned conservationist Jane Goodall has passed away at the age of 91. For decades, she dedicated her life to studying and advocating for chimpanzees, becoming a preeminent expert on our closest primate relatives and transforming our understanding of humanity. Her legacy is one of profound empathy and commitment to nature. She died from natural causes while on a speaking tour in California, as confirmed by the Jane Goodall Institute in a statement on October 1.

Goodall began her groundbreaking work with chimpanzees in Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park in 1960. Her studies made significant contributions to our understanding of their behavior and social structures. Over the next 65 years, she evolved into a passionate advocate and expert, enlightening the world on the similarities between humans and other primates and drawing attention to the challenges faced by chimpanzees and wildlife, including climate change, poaching, and habitat loss.

In 1977, she established the Institute bearing her name, a nonprofit focused on the study and protection of primates and their habitats while fostering a greater public understanding of nature. The institute’s mission has since broadened to include community health initiatives across Africa and conservation efforts aimed at protecting whales. Goodall also played pivotal roles in numerous other environmental projects.

She attributed her success to remarkable patience, stating, “There was a moment when I was feeling despondent and the chimpanzees were evading me, and I had plenty of time in the field. [But] If I had decided to give up, I would never have been able to forgive myself. I couldn’t live with that.” New Scientist 2022.

In her later years, Goodall focused her efforts on global conservation, traveling extensively to spread the message that chimpanzees and all animals share commonalities with humans. She persistently urged us to improve our treatment of the natural world.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

John L. Young, 89, Passes Away: We’ve Created a Collection of Categorized Online Documents

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John L. Young, a computer-savvy architect, utilized his expertise to establish Encryption, a significant repository of sensitive documents that predates WikiLeaks and often surpasses it with an unrestricted approach to disclosing government secrets. He passed away on March 28th at a rehabilitation facility in Manhattan, at the age of 89.

His death went largely unreported at the time and was attributed to complications from large-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, as confirmed by his wife, Deborah Nazzios.

Founded in 1996 by former CIA executives, Cryptome offers a collection of leaked, obscure documents in the public domain, organized in reverse chronological order, displayed in a minimalist style reminiscent of typewriter output.

Over time, the site has amassed about 70,000 documents, spanning from innocuous National Intelligence University course catalogues to sensitive disclosures, including the identities of numerous intelligence agents from the US, UK, and Japan.

“I am a steadfast opponent of all forms of government secrecy,” he stated to The Associated Press in 2013. “I’m pleased with the exposure and advocate for complete transparency.”

Young often received visits from the FBI and his internet service provider. At times, he would temporarily shut down the website to avoid legal issues, yet he was never charged with a crime, and Cryptome consistently returned online.

Around a decade ago, Cryptome had already been operating alongside WikiLeaks and other whistleblowing sites. Young initially supported WikiLeaks and even co-registered its domain, but later became critical of its leader, Julian Assange.

Unlike Assange, who considered himself a journalist, Young identified as an archivist, asserting that as long as a document was authentic, it deserved encryption. He maintained that he held vast amounts of information without being responsible for its content.

Young, who had been a leftist radical during the 1960s, retained his critical perspective of the government, often suggesting to journalists that they could be spies and accusing former associates of being double agents.

With degrees in philosophy and architecture, Young spent the 1970s leading a design nonprofit in New York.

In the 1980s, he specialized in ensuring that building systems and infrastructures complied with legal codes, a mission that would eventually parallel Cryptome’s objectives.

“As architects, we are mandated by state law to prioritize public health, safety, and welfare,” he explained to the website’s assistant in 2014. “In the interest of public welfare, we should act as architects who monitor those in authority.”

Young was an early proponent of computer-aided design, sparking discussions around digital privacy that began gaining traction in the late 1980s.

He joined the mailing list of cypherpunks, a collective of hackers and programmers advocating for internet openness and resisting government surveillance of online activity.

During a time when most government documents were only available in hard copy, Young made a scanner available for free to anyone wishing to leak secret documents online.

“Cryptome played a crucial role in demonstrating the potential for internet transparency,” he remarked, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to defending civil liberties in the digital domain.

Despite having admirers, Young faced criticism, even from those who appreciated his work, for not considering national security implications while uploading documents online.

Nonetheless, he countered that his efforts were, in fact, beneficial to the government.

“Understanding your vulnerabilities and confronting them is essential; you shouldn’t conceal them,” he told The Associated Press.

John Lee Young was born on December 22, 1935, in Millersview, a small town in central Texas. His mother, Beatrice (Rhodes) Young, was a homemaker, while his father, Orby Young, worked as a patrol construction worker. They divorced when John was young, and he spent his childhood living with various relatives throughout the state.

After graduating from school at 14, he spent three years picking cotton, peddling religious icons, and selling Fuller Brush products door-to-door before enlisting in the US military in 1953.

Assigned to the German Corps of Engineers, he traveled across Europe during his downtime, absorbing the extensive architectural heritage of the continent.

In 1956, despite not having a high school diploma, Young enrolled at Texas Tech. He later transferred to Rice University in Houston, graduating in 1963 with degrees in philosophy and architecture. He subsequently worked on a historic preservation project in the city.

Young pursued further education at Columbia University in 1967, where he enrolled in the inaugural Historical Preservation Program at the School of Architecture.

A year later, he joined fellow students in occupying Avery Hall, the university’s main building, in protest against the plans for a new gym.

Despite emerging as a leader among protesters, he graduated in 1969 without facing expulsion.

Young’s first wife, Martha (Calhoun) Young, passed away in 1968, leaving him to raise four children. His second marriage to Marjorie Hoogue ended in divorce. In 1990, he met Nazzios, and they married in 1998.

Surviving him are three children and two grandchildren from his first marriage—Malcolm, Lilac, and Anina Young—as well as the memory of his deceased daughter, Dara. He resided in Manhattan.

Even after founding Cryptome, Young continued his architectural practice, collaborating with Nazzios to maintain the website in a cost-effective manner, contributing roughly $2,000 a year for upkeep.

He regarded it as a public service, a means of giving back to society.

“Individuals like John Young contributed significantly to the internet and its unique offerings during the ’90s and early 2000s,” Cohn remarked.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Niede Guidon, 92, Archaeologist Renowned for Preserving Prehistoric Rock Art, Passes Away

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Nide Guin, a Brazilian archaeologist known for challenging long-held theories about early human life in the Americas, significantly influenced the transformation of the Hard Scrabble region in northeastern Brazil into Serra da Capybara National Park. She passed away on Wednesday at her home near the park in Saint-Rymande Nohto, at the age of 92.

According to park director Marian Rodriguez, the cause of death was a heart attack.

Dr. Guidon gained international recognition for her controversial assertion that humans may have arrived in the Americas over 30,000 years ago. However, there was little dispute about her accomplishments in documenting and preserving ancient rock paintings in Piau’s semi-arid, cactus-laden landscape.

In 1979, following her claims, the Brazilian government designated the area as a national park, and by 1991, it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, largely thanks to her efforts. She also played a crucial role in establishing two nearby museums: the American Museum opened in 1996, and the Natural Museum in 2018. Moreover, she was instrumental in attracting investment to the town, leading to the creation of a new airport and a federal university campus, thereby enhancing public education in the region.

Antoine Lourdes, a French archaeologist who collaborated with Dr. Guidon from 2006 for nearly a decade, remarked in an interview, “The most effective way to safeguard the paintings was to empower people to protect their environment.” He emphasized that many archaeologists are often unaware of the social implications of their work.

Dr. Guidon was particularly adept at training and employing women in regions where domestic violence and gender inequality prevailed. Dr. Guidon’s 2023 biography captures many poignant testimonies from women who achieved financial independence and improved their situations significantly.

In addition to her work in parks and museums, many locals have become guides and custodians. Local products like honey and ceramics are sold across the nation, thanks to an initiative Dr. Guidon launched in the 1990s.

Nide Guidon was born on March 12, 1933, in Hau, a small city in São Paulo. While “Nade” is a common Brazilian name, “Nide” is not. She was named after the River Need, which flows through France and Germany, reflecting her father’s French heritage.

After obtaining a degree in natural history from the University of São Paulo in 1958, Guidon began her career as a teacher in a small Roman Catholic community in Itápolis. However, following her exposure of corruption within the school system in early 1959, she faced backlash from the town’s administrators.

As a single woman who drove cars, publicly taught evolution, and challenged conservative norms, she became a target in the traditional town of Itápolis. Following intense protests, she and two colleagues were forced to flee with police protection.

“All that was missing to complete the medieval scene was a bonfire to burn witches,” she recounted to reporters at that time. A 2024 podcast delves into her life.

Later that year, she secured a position at the Paulista Museum in São Paulo, where her interest in archaeology blossomed, particularly during an exhibition showcasing rock paintings from northeastern Brazil.

However, her initial attempts to see the paintings in 1963 were thwarted by a bridge collapse that blocked access. Following a brief exile in Paris, she was arrested by the military dictatorship that had taken power in Brazil.

While studying archaeology in France, she earned her PhD from the University of Paris in 1975, returning to Brazil frequently for fieldwork. By 1970, Dr. Guidon finally visited the rock paintings in Piau, intrigued by their complexity, and began organizing teams for extensive cataloging of hundreds of archaeological sites.

She settled in San Raimundo Nonato in 1986, where she became known affectionately as “the doctor.”

In the 1990s, excavations near the painting sites uncovered carbon-dated materials suggesting human presence 30,000 years ago — a finding that astonished Dr. Guidon. Yet, other scientists, particularly those adhering to the Clovis model, were highly skeptical, proposing that humans arrived in the Americas much later, around 13,000 years ago.

While the consensus today acknowledges ancient human settlement in North America, Dr. Guidon’s findings continue to spark debate, as questions linger regarding the origins of the materials uncovered near the painted area.

Nevertheless, her work has drawn attention, funding, and resources to Piau, with even some of her academic critics recognizing her contributions.

Andre Strauss, an archaeologist at the University of São Paulo, expressed his doubts about some of Dr. Guidon’s findings but acknowledged her charisma. He likened her to Churchill, noting her ability to engage people dramatically. Despite the scholarly debates, she never abandoned the vibrant life she carved out in Paris.

On the morning of June 5th, she was laid to rest in the garden of her home in San Raimundo Nonato.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Hydrogen Bomb Developer Richard L. Garwin Passes Away at 97

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Richard L. Gerwin, the American architect behind the hydrogen bomb who significantly influenced postwar defense policies, as well as advancements in space exploration and medicine, passed away on Tuesday at his residence in Scarsdale, New York.

His son Thomas confirmed the news of his passing.

At just 23, Dr. Gerwin became the mastermind behind the world’s first fusion bomb. He later served as a scientific advisor to several presidents, contributing to the development of Pentagon weaponry and satellite reconnaissance systems, while advocating for a balanced approach to Soviet-American nuclear policies during the Cold War, and promoting a verifiable agreement on nuclear arms control.

His mentor, Nobel laureate Enrico Fermi, referred to him as “the only true genius I’ve ever met,” yet Dr. Gerwin was not the sole creator of the hydrogen bomb. Hungarian physicist Edward Teller and Polish mathematician Stanislaw Ulam, who played pivotal roles in bomb theory, hold substantial claims to that title.

From 1951 to 1952, Dr. Gerwin served as an instructor at the University of Chicago and a consultant at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, where he designed a real bomb based on Teller-Ulam’s concept. The experimental device, named Ivy Mike, was tested at the Marshall Islands in the Western Pacific.

The device was designed not merely as an explosive but rather to demonstrate the fusion concept. Weighing in at 82 tons, it was aircraft-unfriendly and resembled a massive thermos. Soviet scientists, who did not conduct similar tests until 1955, referred to it intermittently as the installation of thermonuclear nuclei.

On November 1, 1952, at the Enewetak atoll, an extraordinary fusion of atoms unleashed a blinding flash of light and a fireball measuring two miles in diameter, generating a force 700 times that of the bomb that obliterated Hiroshima 100 miles away in 1945.

As the development of American thermonuclear weapons remained cloaked in secrecy, Dr. Gerwin’s involvement in the creation of the first hydrogen bomb remained largely unknown to the public for decades, aside from those within government defense circles and select intelligence agencies. He was commonly referred to as Dr. Terror, and it wasn’t until later that he received public acknowledgment.

“According to Gerwin’s design, this test was conducted almost precisely as intended,” Dr. Teller acknowledged in a 1981 statement, recognizing the crucial role played by the young prodigy. However, this late recognition barely permeated the public consciousness.

Compared to later nuclear weapons, Dr. Gerwin’s bomb was rudimentary. Still, its sheer power evoked the ancient Hindu texts of the Bhagavad Gita, harkening back to the first atomic bomb test in New Mexico in 1945 and the haunting response from its creator, J. Robert Oppenheimer.

To Dr. Gerwin, however, it meant little.

“I didn’t consider the construction of a hydrogen bomb to be the most pivotal achievement in the world, or even in my life at the time,” he reflected in a 1984 interview, addressing feelings of guilt. “I believe the world would be better off without hydrogen bombs.”

Although the first hydrogen bomb was crafted to his specifications, Dr. Gerwin was absent during its explosion at Enewetak. “I’ve never witnessed a nuclear detonation,” he mentioned in a 2018 interview. “I didn’t want to spend the time there.”

By 1952, following the success of the hydrogen bomb project, he found himself at a crossroads: he could return to the University of Chicago, where he had earned his PhD under Fermi and was now an assistant professor, or leverage a more flexible role at International Business Machines Corporation. This position provided faculty appointments at the Thomas J. Watson Institute at Columbia University, allowing greater freedom in his research interests while also permitting him to continue consulting for the government in Los Alamos and Washington.

He opted for IBM, where he remained for 40 years before retiring.

At IBM, Dr. Gerwin engaged in a continuous series of applied research projects leading to groundbreaking patents, scientific papers, and technological innovations in computing, communications, and medicine. His work was vital in the advancement of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), high-speed laser printers, and subsequent touchscreen technologies.

An innovative maverick, Dr. Gerwin dedicated decades to exploring gravitational waves, as predicted by Einstein. In 2015, the costly detector he supported succeeded in detecting ripples, opening new frontiers in astrophysics.

Throughout this time, Dr. Gerwin also provided government consulting on national defense issues. With expertise in weapons of mass destruction, he aided in identifying Soviet targets and conducted research on various military aspects including nuclear submarines, military and civilian aircraft, as well as satellite reconnaissance and communications systems. Much of his work remained classified, keeping him largely unknown to the public.

He was a trusted advisor to numerous U.S. presidents including Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton. Notably, he was linked to President Ronald Reagan’s proposal for a space-based missile defense system dubbed Star Wars, aimed at safeguarding the nation from nuclear threats. However, the system was never realized.

One of Dr. Gerwin’s most notable controversies did not revolve around national security. In 1970, while on Nixon’s Scientific Advisory Committee, he opposed the administration’s support for the development of supersonic transport (SST) aircraft. He argued that SST would be prohibitively expensive, excessively noisy, and detrimental to both the environment and commercial airline operations, leading Congress to withdraw funding. The UK and France, however, pursued their own SST, the Concorde, but Dr. Gerwin’s predictions ultimately proved largely accurate, resulting in dwindling interest.

Despite his modest appearance, Dr. Gerwin, with his slightly disheveled hair and gentle demeanor, became a legendary figure within the defense sector, crafting speeches and articles as well as testifying before lawmakers regarding what he described as the Pentagon’s misleading options.

Many of his disagreements with military bodies were long-standing and intense. These included disputes over the B-1 bomber, Trident nuclear submarines, the MX missile system, and the MX missile system—a network of mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles, notorious as one of history’s most lethal weaponry—all of which eventually formed part of America’s extensive arsenal.

Frustrated yet determined, Dr. Gerwin maintained his stance that America should uphold a strategic equilibrium with the Soviet Union and other nuclear powers. He argued against weapons policies that could jeopardize that balance, believing that Moscow cared more for the survival of its citizens than the loss of American lives.

Dr. Gerwin endorsed nuclear disarmament, including the 1979 Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT II), which was negotiated by President Carter and Soviet Premier Leonid Brezhnev. Nonetheless, he argued that mutually assured destruction remained essential for preserving peace.

In 2021, he joined 700 scientists and engineers, including 21 Nobel laureates, in an appeal to President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to commit that the United States would not initiate a nuclear strike in conflict. Their correspondence also advocated for the termination of the presidential authority to unilaterally order nuclear strikes, arguing that such limitations would safeguard against potential reckless decisions made by future presidents.

This notion was politically charged, and Biden did not follow through with such a commitment.

In a 1981 interview with Quest Magazine, Dr. Gerwin stated, “Nuclear weapons are consequential, and their power lies in the deterrent of massive destruction, which prevents nuclear confrontations.”

Richard Lawrence Gerwin was born on April 19, 1928, in Cleveland, Ohio, the elder of two sons to Robert and Leona (Schwartz) Gerwin. His father worked as an electronics instructor at a technical high school by day and at a film theater by night, while his mother was an attorney general. From a young age, Richard, affectionately known as Dick, exhibited remarkable intelligence and technical skills, having repaired household appliances by the age of five.

He and his brother Edward attended public schools in Cleveland. Dick graduated from Cleveland Heights High School in 1944 at the age of 16, and he obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Physics in 1947 from what is now known as Case Western Reserve University.

In 1947, he married Lois Levy, who passed away in 2018. He is survived by two sons, Thomas and Jeffrey, a daughter, Laura, and five grandchildren, along with one great-grandson.

Under the mentorship of Fermi, Dr. Gerwin earned his master’s degree in 1948 and his doctorate in 1949, achieving the highest score in the university’s history on doctoral exams. He joined the faculty, but under Fermi’s influence, he also spent his summers at Los Alamos Lab, where he made his mark on the hydrogen bomb project.

After retiring in 1993, Dr. Gerwin chaired the State Department’s Arms Management and Non-Proliferation Advisory Committee until 2001. He served on the committee in 1998 to evaluate the ballistic missile threats to the United States.

Dr. Gerwin’s home in Scarsdale was in close proximity to the IBM Watson Lab, which relocated from Columbia University to Yorktown Heights, Westchester County, in 1970.

He held faculty appointments at prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Cornell, and Columbia. Over his career, he secured 47 patents, authored over 500 research papers, and wrote significant books including “Nuclear Weapons and World Politics” (1977, co-authored with David C. Gompert and Michael Mandelbaum) and “Megawatts and Megatons: The Turning Points of the Nuclear Age” (2001, co-authored with Georges Charpak).

His life was chronicled in the biography “The True Genius: The Life and Work of Richard Gerwin, the Most Influential Scientist You’ve Never Heard Of” (2017) by Joel N. Sherkin.

Throughout his career, Dr. Gerwin was honored with numerous accolades, including the 2002 National Medal of Science, the highest award for scientific and engineering achievements in the U.S., presented by President George W. Bush, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded by President Barack Obama in 2016.

Obama praised him during a light-hearted introduction at the White House, stating, “He tinkered with his father’s film projector and never shied away from problems in need of solutions. From reconnaissance satellites to MRI, GPS technologies, and touchscreens—his fingerprints are everywhere. He even patented a shell washing machine.”

William J. Broad and Ash Wu contributed to this report.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Philip Sunshine, 94, Passes Away; Doctors Innovate Treatments for Premature Infants

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Philip Sunshine, a physician at Stanford University, significantly advanced neonatal theory as a medical specialty, transforming the care for premature and severely ill neonates, who previously faced little hope of survival. He passed away on April 5 at his home in Cupertino, California, at the age of 94.

His daughter, Diana Sunshine, confirmed his death.

Before Dr. Sunshine and a few other dedicated doctors took an interest in caring for infants in the late 1950s and early 1960s, more than half of these incredibly vulnerable patients died shortly after birth, often without insurance coverage for their treatment.

As a pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr. Sunshine believed that with proper attention, many premature babies could be saved. At Stanford, he assembled a multidisciplinary team to treat these infants in specialized intensive care units. Alongside his colleagues, he developed innovative feeding methods and breathing assistance techniques using ventilation.

“We managed to keep babies alive who would have otherwise not survived,” Dr. Sunshine recounted during an interview in 2000 with the Pediatric History Center at the American Academy of Pediatrics. “And now, this progress is often taken for granted.”

The early 1960s marked a pivotal moment for the care of premature babies.

As noted by the Oxford English Dictionary, the term “Neonatology” first appeared in the 1960 book “Isises of Newborn” by pediatrician Alexander J. Schaffer from Baltimore. By that time, Stanford’s Neonatology School, one of the nation’s earliest schools for this field, was already functional.

In 1963, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, the second son of President John F. Kennedy, was born nearly six weeks prematurely and sadly passed away just 39 hours later. This tragic event captured the attention of newspapers across the nation and spurred federal health officials to begin funding research focused on newborns.

“Kennedy’s situation was a significant turning point,” Dr. Sunshine remarked in 1998 to Aha News, a publication of the American Hospital Association.

Serving as the Newborn Dean at Stanford from 1967 to 1989, Dr. Sunshine played a crucial role in training hundreds, if not thousands, of doctors who went on to work in neonatal intensive care units worldwide. Upon his retirement in 2022 at the age of 92, the survival rate for babies born at just 28 weeks had surpassed 90%.

“Phill is one of the pioneers in neonatology—an exceptional neonatologist and one of the finest in our field’s history,” stated David K. Stevenson, the head of the neonatology division at Stanford, who succeeded Dr. Sunshine, in a 2011 graduate journal.

Dr. Sunshine understood that providing care for young children involves both technical skills and personal connection. He advocated for allowing parents to visit the neonatal intensive care unit to hold their newborns, noting that skin-to-skin contact was highly beneficial.

He also encouraged nurses to exercise their judgment and express concerns when they felt something was amiss.

“Our nurses have always been invaluable caregivers,” Dr. Sunshine recounted in oral history. “Throughout my career, I collaborated with nursing staff who often recognized baby issues before the doctors did, and they continue to do so.”

A newborn nurse who worked alongside Dr. Sunshine for over 50 years shared in a blog post for Stanford Medicine, “Phil exuded a deep kindness—towards the babies, us, and everyone around him.”

“He viewed everyone as equally important,” she commented.

It was a challenging journey, and the pressure was immense.

“He had a calming, encouraging presence and was completely unflappable,” Dr. Stevenson said in an interview. “He would often say, ‘If you’re going to be up all night in the hospital, what better way to spend your time than by giving someone 80 or 90 years of life?'”

Philip Sunshine was born in Denver on June 16, 1930, to parents Samuel and Molly (Fox) Sunshine, who owned a pharmacy.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado in 1952 and graduated from medical school in 1955.

After his first year of residency at Stanford, he was drafted into the US Navy, where he served as a physician. Upon returning to Stanford in 1959, he trained under pediatrician Louis Gulac, later developing a modern neonatal intensive care unit at Yale University.

“He inspired my passion for caring for newborns and made the field so fascinating,” Dr. Sunshine recalled. He stated.

Since there was no neonatal fellowship available at the time, Dr. Sunshine pursued advanced training in pediatric gastroenterology and pediatric metabolism fellowships.

“This was a really thrilling period,” he commented in a Stanford Medicine Children’s Health blog post. He remarked. “People from diverse backgrounds were contributing valuable skills for newborn care—like neonatal specialists, cardiologists, and those with interests in gastrointestinal issues with infants. I learned a wealth of information and enthusiasm from them.”

Dr. Sunshine married Sarah Elizabeth Vryland, dubbed Beth, in 1962.

He is survived by his wife, daughter Diana, four other children—Rebecca, Samuel, Michael, and Stephanie—and nine grandchildren.

In many ways, Dr. Sunshine’s surname aptly captured his essence; it resonates perfectly with his profession and approach.

“Beyond being a pioneer in neonatology, he truly brought light to every environment he entered,” Susan R. Hintz, a neonatologist at Stanford University, shared in an interview. “He was a soothing presence, especially during incredibly stressful times. Nurses frequently remarked, ‘He is someone everyone remembers.’

Source: www.nytimes.com

Sybil Sheinwald, 96, Pioneering Lawyer Advocating for Women’s Health, Passes Away

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Sybil Shainwald, a pioneering advocate for women whose health was irrevocably affected by pharmaceuticals and medical devices for nearly fifty years, passed away at her Manhattan residence on April 9th. She was 96 years old.

Her daughter, Laurie Scheinwald Krieger, announced her passing, although it hasn’t received widespread coverage.

At 48, Scheinwald graduated from law school and joined the New York City law firm Schlesinger & Finz, where she represented Joyce Bichler, a survivor of rare clear-cell adenocarcinoma, linked to medications her mother took during pregnancy. The synthetic hormone DES, marketed under various brand names, was intended to prevent miscarriage.

At the age of 18, Bichler underwent a radical hysterectomy, which removed two-thirds of her ovaries, fallopian tubes, and vagina. She was among thousands known as “DES daughters,” suffering due to their mothers’ medication use, and sued Eli Lilly, a major drug manufacturer, for damages.

In 1947, when the Food and Drug Administration approved DES for use in pregnant women, studies had already shown its cancer-causing effects in mice and rats. It was known to potentially harm the fetus beyond the placenta, yet companies marketed it as a safe treatment for various pregnancy issues, continuing even after evidence of its ineffectiveness surfaced.

By the late 1960s, clear cell adenocarcinoma was increasingly diagnosed in young women whose mothers had taken DES. In 1971, the FDA advised doctors against prescribing it. By then, the National Cancer Institute estimated that 5-10 million women and their children had been exposed to DES.

Bichler’s case arrived in court in 1979, part of numerous lawsuits. However, it faced challenges in proving which manufacturer was liable for the drug. Approximately 300 companies produced DES.

Bichler’s legal team proposed a groundbreaking argument that all manufacturers shared liability. After five days of deliberation, the jury agreed, and Bichler was awarded $500,000 in damages.

Scheinwald’s contribution was pivotal. Bichler stated in an interview, “I was a shy young woman discussing my reproductive health publicly. It was daunting. Sybil was the only woman who understood.”

On the fourth day of jury deliberation, Eli Lilly proposed a $100,000 settlement. Most of her legal team suggested Bichler consider accepting it.

“Sybil pulled my husband and me aside and asked, ‘What do you and Mike wish to do? Don’t be afraid,'” recalled Bichler. “Sybil empowered us to reject that offer.”

She added, “I did what needed to be done, but it was Sybil’s support that made it achievable.”

By the early 1980s, Scheinwald established her own office and became the leading legal representative for DES daughters. Over the next four decades, she represented hundreds of women.

In 1996, she won a class action lawsuit that secured a fund for the affected daughters, funded by pharmaceutical companies to cover medical expenses, counseling, and educational outreach.

Additionally, she fought against other harmful products affecting women.

She represented a woman whose silicone breast implants led to autoimmune issues, women harmed by the Dalkon Shield intrauterine device, and those affected by Norplant. She once urged the FDA not to approve Norplant due to potential unknown side effects.

She also assisted women internationally in securing compensation for false breast implants and Dalkon Shield. She was particularly concerned that African women were often uninformed about the risks associated with Dalkon Shield, which continued to be prescribed even after being withdrawn from the U.S. market.

Additionally, she addressed another long-acting contraceptive that, like DES, was tied to cancer in animal studies, which had been prescribed for decades starting in the late 1960s. This contraceptive was given to women across around 80 countries, disproportionately affecting marginalized populations, including poor and disabled women. She viewed it as a form of dangerous population control. However, it wasn’t approved by the FDA as a birth control option until 1992.

“Birth control pills have always been about drugs and devices for women,” Scheinwald stated in an oral history session conducted by the Veteran Feminists of America in 2019. “We stake our lives on these medical interventions.”

“We’ve tirelessly fought for representation,” noted Cindy Pearson, former executive director of the National Women’s Health Network. “Sybil was fearless in addressing any issue, regardless of the power of the opposition.”

Sybil Brodkin was born on April 27, 1928, in New York City. She was the sole daughter of Anne (Zimmerman) Brodkin and Morris Brodkin, who owned a restaurant. She graduated from James Madison High School in Brooklyn at the age of 16 and went on to William & Mary University in Williamsburg, Virginia, earning a Bachelor of Arts in History in 1948.

She married Sidney Scheinwald, an accountant and consumer advocate. He served as the Associate Director of Consumer Union in 1960, now known as Consumer Reports.

Sybil earned her Master’s in History from Columbia University in 1972 and received funding to create the oral history of the consumer movement at the Consumer Movement Research Center, which she directed until 1978.

At 44, she began attending New York Law School as a night student, ultimately completing her law degree in 1976. She aspired to study law while pursuing her history degree at Columbia, but the joint program did not come to fruition; as she recounted in her 2019 oral history, “You’d be replacing a man who had practiced for forty years.”

Scheinwald was still actively addressing issues up until her death.

She is survived by her daughter Krieger, another daughter, Louise Nasr, a son, Robert, brother Barry Schwartz, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Her husband Scheinwald passed away in 2003, and her daughter Marsha Scheinwald died in 2013.

“My practice involves suing corporations on behalf of women, ensuring that my work continues for many years to come,” Scheinwald remarked in a 2016 speech. “And regrettably, I won’t run short of clients.”

Source: www.nytimes.com

David Paton, the visionary behind the Flying Eye Hospital, passes away at age 94

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David Patong, an innovative and ideal ophthalmologist, initiated Project Orvis, where he transformed United Airlines jets into flying hospitals, transported surgeons to developing nations, trained local doctors, and passed away on April 3 at his residence in Reno, Nevada.

His son Townlee confirmed his demise.

Dr. Patong (pronounced Pay-Ton), the son of a renowned New York ophthalmologist and descendant of Iranian Shah and financier J. Pierpont Morgan, taught at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University in the early 1970s. He was disheartened by the rising number of preventable blindness cases in remote regions.

In his memoir “Second Sight: A View from The Anay Doctor’s Odyssey” (2011), he wrote, “We needed more ophthalmologists… but also needed to enhance medical education for existing physicians.”

Considering various options like shipping equipment trunks and using medical ships similar to Project Hope, he ultimately founded Project Orvis in 1973 with the support of wealthy individuals like Texas oilmen Leonard F. McCollum and Betsy Trippe Wainwright.

After the moon landing in 1969, Dr. Patong believed that the concept of Moonshot was feasible. He envisioned converting large aircraft into operating rooms, educational classrooms, or any required facility.

He relentlessly sought ways to obtain an airplane, approaching the military and universities without success. Dr. Patong, described by Bruce Spivey as charming and unrelenting, eventually raised the necessary funds himself.

In 1980, with the help of Betsy Trippe, he secured a donated DC-8 Jet from United Airlines to create a flying hospital. This marked the beginning of life-changing missions to various countries where local health workers witnessed surgeries in specially-equipped classrooms onboard.

The Flying Eye Hospital facilitated surgeries in multiple nations like Peru, Jordan, and Nepal, receiving visits from prominent figures like Mother Teresa and Fidel Castro. Their impactful work caught the attention of media outlets like the Sunday Times, sharing stories of patients like Julia.

Julia’s transformative surgery showcased the effectiveness of their efforts in restoring vision to the visually impaired. Despite challenges, the procedure led to profound moments of discovery for Julia as she regained her sight gradually.

Born on August 16, 1930, in Baltimore, David Paton hailed from a family with a rich medical background. His upbringing in Manhattan and exposure to eminent personalities shaped his journey towards medical innovation.

His formative years were filled with experiences among intellectuals and socialites, leading to his academic pursuits at Hill School and Princeton University. He maintained close ties with lifelong friend James A. Baker III while excelling in his medical career.

In addition to his contributions to Project Orvis, Dr. Paton served as a distinguished medical director in institutions like King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital. His dedication to providing eye care to royalty in Saudi Arabia reflected his commitment to improving global healthcare.

Although his formal ties with Project Orvis ended in 1987, Dr. Patong continued to offer guidance informally. The organization, now known as Orbis International, has expanded its operations with a fleet of planes and a robust track record of surgeries and training sessions.

Orbis International’s enduring impact is a testament to Dr. Patong’s visionary approach to healthcare. The organization’s innovative use of airplanes as a platform for medical missions has revolutionized the way eye care is delivered globally.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Xavier Le Pichon, Renowned Geophysicist Who Pioneered Earth’s Crust Movement Modeling, Passes Away at 87

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Xavier Le Pichon, a French geophysicist who revolutionized the way in which a pioneering model of the Earth’s tectonic plates was able to understand the movement of the Earth’s crust, and died on March 22 at his sister’s home in southern France. He was 87 years old.

His death was announced in a statement from Collegie de France, France’s premier educational institution. There, Dr. Le Picon was Professor Emeritus and Chairman of Geodynamics.

Dr. Le Picheon, who internized in Japanese concentration camps as a child, continued to build a second career as a deep sea explorer, working with Mother Teresa of India for a while. However, it was in the field of geodynamics that he made his biggest contribution. Use a computer to create a model of the Earth plate.

His formulation has six such plates, as he said when he won in 2002, “for what is essential to the structural symptoms of the Earth’s surface.” Balzan PrizeAwarded in science fields not covered by Nobel.

Plate tectonics with Earth’s surface studies is a “framework” for understanding earthquakes, volcanoes, and the Earth’s long-term “climate stability.” David BelkovichYale geophysicist. He added that Dr. Le Picon was one of the architects of the framework.

Professor Bercovici emailed him “one of the giants of the plate structure revolution, especially when practicing its mathematical theory.”

His work was built on the theory of plate tectonics developed by Princeton scientist W. Jason Morgan in 1967. “Now we are entering an age of quantification for tectonics,” wrote Dr. Le Picon.

“The University of Rochester has a great opportunity to develop a new world of geophysics,” said John Taldono, professor of geophysics at the University of Rochester.

Dr. Pichon came to view the Earth as “an extraordinary creature with ocean and continental movement.”

After years of studying the ocean and its floors, including Columbia University, Dr. Lupicheon achieved a breakthrough in the mid-1960s. He called the “incredibly unpleasant” months of cruise hosted by Columbia, and observed a 37,000-mile-long ridge in the South Atlantic and Southwest Indian oceans.

The object was to detect seismic activity along the coat of arms of the ridge and test predictions made in the 1950s by Jean Pierre Rothet, another French scientist. “We went zigzag on this famous earthquake line for nine months,” Dr. Le Picon wrote in his 2003 book, Plate Tectonics: The Insider’s History of Modern Theory of the Earth.

The trip confirmed it and he continued to earn his Ph.D. Based on that study, at the University of Strasbourg in 1966.

“As such, the central ridge has achieved a victory over tectonics, becoming the most important structure in the world due to stroke,” he wrote.

But this was in the early 1960s, and he ran “in what we call “fixed mentors,” things weren’t moving.” Like he put it down On the 2009 episode of the podcast “Being With Krista Tippett.”

“The Earth was considered everything to be a static place,” he said. “Things were moving up and down, but never sideways. The continent was always there. The ocean was always there.”

Dr. Le Picon initially defended these concepts, but he realized they were wrong. He returned from the lab one day and told his wife, “My paper’s conclusions are wrong.”

Rather, I felt that he was an American geologist. Harry Hess The assumption in 1962 that the seabed had continued expansion was correct. After all, there was seismic activity along the top of the ridge. Measuring magnetic anomalies along the ridge is important in proofing Dr. Hess’s hypothesis.

Dr. Le Pichon recalled his Eureka moment in an episode of the podcast. “I worked all night on a computer, and one night I put it all together and found out that Hawaii approaches Tokyo at 8 centimeters each year.”

He recalls what he told her: “I discovered how the Earth works. I really know that now.” And I was so excited. ”

His passion for what was happening under the ocean developed quickly. After growing up in what was a French protectorate in Vietnam at the time, he was interrupted by his family during World War II when Japan invaded.

“When I was in the concentration camp, we were on the Pacific coast, and I was wondering what was under the water, and I was on the beach,” Dr. Le Picon said in 2009.

After publishing his groundbreaking paper in 1968, Columbia and Massachusetts Institute of Technology presented the first quantitative global model of plate boundaries and movement, offering him a teaching position. However, he instead led the Institute of Oceanography in Brittany, France, where he began his second career as an underwater ocean explorer, advancing into the depths of small submarines on joint Franco-American expeditions.

In 1973, he said he had taken such a ship 3,000 meters below him while exploring the ridges in the Mid-Atlantic Ocean.

“I had the impression that I was a religious man and had the return to Genesis,” he added. Other sea floor trips in Greece and Japan followed.

Dr. Lupichon, a Roman Catholic who attended Mass every day since childhood, experienced what was called a “great crisis in my life” in 1973 and worked for Mother Teresa in the city of Calcutta, India.

“I was very immersed in my research. I wasn’t looking at anyone else anymore,” he said. “In particular, I didn’t see people suffering and difficulties. It was a very strong crisis.”

His experience in Calcutta changed him by his account, and then he, his wife and his children engaged in charity and charity in the French Lach community for people with intellectual disabilities. They lived there for nearly 30 years. He and his family then find a similar community and help them live there.

Xavier Thaddée Le Pichon was born on June 18, 1937 in Quy Nhon, Vietnam, France, to Jean Louis Le Pichon and Helene Pauline (Tyl) Le Pichon, rubber plantation managers.

The family moved to France in 1945, with Xavier attending the Institute of Cherbourg Saint Paul and the Lyce Sainte Geneviève in Versailles. In 1960 he received his Bachelor of Engineering from the Institut de Physique Du Globe He received a Fulbright Fellowship in Strasbourg to study at Columbia University’s Lamont Daughertier Observatory.

His original works will be carried out over the next decade, and in 1973 he wrote with Jean Bonnin and Jean Franciteau.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Dr. Le Picheon taught at the Sorbonne and Ecole Normal Superfoil. He became a professor at the French Collège de France in 1986 and remained there until his retirement in 2008. Besides Balzan, he won many awards and was a member of the National Academy of Sciences in the United States.

He was survived by his wife Bridget Suzanne (Barselmee) le Pichon, a pianist. His children, Jean Baptist, Marie, Emmanuel, Raffaère, Jean Marie and Pierre Guien. 14 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren.

In lectures and interviews, Dr. Le Picon linked his discoveries to his Catholic faith as a scientist and the prayer work it stimulated. The bridge between them was his concept of “vulnerability,” and he said, “is the essence of men and women, at the heart of humanity.”

The earth is also vulnerable. “I have a very close relationship with the Earth, so I think a little like a mother,” he said in 2009.

Sheila McNeill and Daphne Angles Contributed research.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Robert W. Macchesney passes away at 72 after sounding the alarm on corporate media dominance.

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Robert W. McShesney, an influential, left-leaning media critic who argued that corporate ownership was bad for American journalism and that the Silicon Valley billionaire who dominated online information was a threat to democracy, died on March 25th at his home in Madison, Wisconsin.

The cause was glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor, said his wife, Inger, stole it.

Both Professor McChesney were grounded in academia. He had a PhD. I’m taught communication and at university. And Ink-On Paper Journalism: He was the founder of Rocket, the Seattle music magazine that reviewed Nirvana’s first single.

His main papers were expressed in more than a dozen books and numerous articles and interviews, but the corporate-owned news media was overly compliant with a certain political force, limiting the views that Americans were exposed to. He further argued that the internet (the promise of the wild west market of opinion) was squeezed by some huge owners of online platforms.

An early book, Rich Media, Poor Democracy (1999) warned that the integration of journalism undermines democratic norms. Perhaps his most famous work, “Digital Cutting: How Capitalism Does the Internet Against Democracy” (2013), he rejected the utopian view that the digital revolution would arrive at the public frontier of sources and stimulate democracy.

Instead, he shows how the internet is destroying the business model of newspapers, while local government civilly hearted coverage features the lowest common denominator fluff, celebrity gossip, cat videos, and personal naval gaze.

Professor McChesney condemned capitalism.

“Profit motivation, commercialism, public relations, marketing, advertising – all the critical features of modern corporate capitalism – are the basis for an assessment of how the Internet can develop and potentially develop,” he writes.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Leonardo Patterson, Infamous Dealer of Latin American Artifacts, Passes Away at 82

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Leonardo Augustus Patterson was born on April 15, 1942 in Limon, the Caribbean coastal town of Costa Rica. Little is known about his family history. He said his father left home when he was very young and his farmer mother died when he was a teenager.

He said he found his first ancient, ancient pottery shard in the Yam field when he was seven years old.

He moved to San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, when he was 15 years old. There he found a job with a jeweller.

But Patterson saw even more possibilities.

“I was wondering why we melt these old things and make some terrible rings.” He told the German magazine Der Spiegel 2016.

After selling items locally for several years, he moved to Miami, where he imported them to a local gallery. A chance encounter with a wealthy collector led to an opportunity in New York, where he had moved by the late 1970s.

Patterson kept his family’s life a lot secret. He claimed that five women had at least 13 children. The list of survivors was not available immediately.

Few people suspected that Patterson had committed a long list of crimes, but even some of his opponents have admitted that he has a loving side. They cited his gentle personality and his dry wit – a quiet charisma that appears to take on his entire career.

“He was adorable guy,” Brand said.

When he told Patterson he was planning to write a book about him, Brand recalled, and Patterson replied, “Wait until you’re dead.”

Tom Mashberg Reports of contributions.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Renowned Anthropologist Ralph Holloway, Expert in Brain Evolution, Passes Away at 90

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Ralph Hollogay, a pioneering anthropologist who emphasized the importance of changes in brain structure in human evolution, passed away on March 12th at his Manhattan home at the age of 90.

His death was announced by the School of Anthropology at Columbia University, where he had been a professor for nearly 50 years.

Holloway’s theory challenged the notion that brain size alone distinguished humans from apes and early ancestors, highlighting the significance of brain organization.

Although no brains from millions of years ago exist, Dr. Holloway focused on creating fossil skull endocasts from latex to overcome this limitation.

In a 2008 paper, he detailed how he obtained information from these casts, providing insight into brain structure by examining the outer edges of the brain.

Using endocasts, Dr. Holloway concluded that the fossil skulls from South Africa’s Town’s Children quarry belonged to early human ancestors, supporting Raymond Dart’s controversial discovery.

His meticulous research included studying natural endocasts found in the quarry to validate his conclusions, emphasizing the importance of independent investigation in scientific discovery.

Dr. Holloway’s focus on the Lunath groove behind the endocast provided evidence that aligned with human brain positioning, confirming the accuracy of Dr. Dart’s initial findings.

The contentious debate surrounding the Town’s Children’s findings has subsided, with Dr. Holloway’s and Dr. Dart’s conclusions about the Lunate Sulcus now widely accepted in the scientific community.

Dr. Holloway’s emphasis on brain structure over volume played a pivotal role in validating human ancestry, highlighting the significance of reorganization in evolutionary development.

Throughout his career, Dr. Holloway’s dedication to studying brain evolution through three-dimensional modeling remained unwavering, emphasizing the importance of understanding the human brain’s journey to its current complexity.

His contributions, such as his work on TaungChild, continue to shape our understanding of human origins and evolution.

Dr. Holloway’s legacy extends beyond his scientific achievements, as he leaves behind a lasting impact on the field of anthropology and evolutionary studies.

His commitment to rigorous research, innovative methods, and interdisciplinary collaboration sets a standard for future generations of scientists.

Dr. Hollogay’s contributions will continue to inspire and guide anthropologists, researchers, and educators in their quest to unravel the mysteries of human evolution.

His impact will be felt for generations to come, shaping the future of evolutionary studies and advancing our understanding of human origins.

Ralph Hollogay’s legacy lives on through his groundbreaking research and profound influence on the field of anthropology.

His work continues to shape our understanding of human evolution and the complexities of brain development.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Kilmer McCurry, a pathologist known for his groundbreaking theory on heart disease, passes away at age 91

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In the 1960s and 1970s, Kilmer S. McCurry, a pathologist at Harvard Medical School, was controversially expelled into the basement. He claimed that the amino acid homocysteine had been overlooked as a potential risk factor for heart disease.

His daughter, Martha McCurry, later revealed that he passed away due to metastatic prostate cancer. His death was not widely reported at the time.

Dr. McCurry’s theory, which is still debated, suggested that inadequate vitamin intake could lead to high homocysteine levels in the blood, causing plaque buildup and artery stiffening. This challenged the prevailing cholesterol-centric view supported by the pharmaceutical industry.

Although Dr. McCurry acknowledged the importance of cholesterol, he believed homocysteine should not be ignored. However, his superiors at Harvard disagreed, leading to his lab being moved underground and eventually being told to leave.

In a 1995 interview, Dr. McCurry described his experience as “very traumatic.” He felt isolated and misunderstood by his peers.

At a medical conference in Boston, Dr. McCurry learned about Homocystinuria, a genetic disorder linked to high homocysteine levels. This discovery sparked his interest in the role of homocysteine in disease.

One case involving a young girl with homocystinuria who had a family history of the disease stood out to Dr. McCurry. This prompted him to further investigate the connection between homocysteine and artery stiffness.

“How did an 8-year-old die in the way an elderly man?” Dr. McCurry wrote in The Heart Revolution, recalling the incident that led to his controversial research.
credit…HarperCollins

After studying tissue samples, Dr. McCurry found evidence that homocysteine could lead to artery stiffening without cholesterol or fat buildup. This discovery further fueled his research into homocysteine’s role in heart disease.

The rejection of Dr. McCurry’s theory in the 1960s and 1970s took a toll on his career. He struggled to find employment for years after leaving Harvard.

Despite facing resistance, Dr. McCurry continued his research on homocysteine and its impact on heart health. His persistence ultimately paid off, as studies in the 1990s confirmed his earlier findings.

Dr. McCurry’s work shed light on the importance of homocysteine as a marker for cardiovascular disease risk. His perseverance and dedication to his research have since been acknowledged by the medical community.

Dr. McCurry’s early research laid the foundation for later studies linking homocysteine levels to heart disease risk. Subsequent investigations have supported his initial claims, validating his work and legacy in the field of cardiology.

Despite initial skepticism, Dr. McCurry’s contributions to the understanding of homocysteine have been recognized by the medical community. His insights have paved the way for further research into the role of this amino acid in cardiovascular health.

Dr. McCurry’s groundbreaking work continues to inspire researchers and clinicians to explore the complex relationship between homocysteine and heart disease. His legacy lives on in the ongoing pursuit of innovative approaches to cardiovascular care.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Elwood Edwards, famously known as the voice behind AOL’s “You’ve got mail” greeting, passes away at 74 years old

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Elwood Edwards, the iconic voice behind AOL’s famous “You’ve got mail” greeting, passed away at the age of 74.

Edwards died at his residence in New Bern, North Carolina, on Tuesday, following complications from a stroke last year, as confirmed by his daughter Heather.

In 1989, Edwards recorded the greetings for AOL in his living room. The phrase “You’ve got mail” became widely recognized in the late 1990s, even inspiring a movie starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in 1998.

Elwood Edwards. Photo: Social Media

“He always blushed when people mentioned it,” shared his daughter. “He enjoyed the attention but never quite got used to it.”

Apart from “You’ve got mail,” Edwards also lent his voice to AOL’s “Welcome,” “Goodbye,” and “File Completed” messages, earning $200 for the recordings.

He landed the gig while his wife Karen, who worked at AOL as a customer service rep, heard about the voiceover opportunity and recommended him for the job.

Despite being unseen by most, Edwards’ voice resonated with millions daily. “For a while, America Online [AOL] kept me a secret, turning me into a bit of a mystery figure. But it’s out now, that’s that,” Edwards stated in 1999.

He made a memorable appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2015, delighting the audience by delivering his famous phrase, and even made a guest voice appearance on The Simpsons in 2000.

Before his AOL fame, Edwards worked in radio and later transitioned to television. His daughter fondly recalled his self-deprecating humor and cheerful demeanor.

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Transitioning to TV, Edwards worked as a “graphics guru, camera operator, and all-around talent” at WKYC-TV in Cleveland, where he also did voice-over work for commercials in addition to freelancing for radio.

He is survived by his daughter Sally, granddaughter Abby, and brother Bill. The family plans to hold a memorial service in New Bern on Monday.

Source: www.theguardian.com

US Congress passes bill targeting TikTok, prompting ban speculation | Tick-tock

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The House of Representatives passed a bill requiring TikTok owner ByteDance to sell the platform or risk a complete ban in the US. The Senate quickly followed suit, and the bill was signed by Joe Biden the next day.

This move poses a significant threat to TikTok in the US, especially since a previous ban in Montana was ruled unconstitutional and never enforced.

Here’s what you need to know about the bill, the possibility of a TikTok ban, and its implications for the platform’s 170 million US users.

Is the US really trying to ban TikTok and why?

The bill passed by the House is part of an ongoing political battle over TikTok, a platform that has seen massive growth since its launch in 2017. Lawmakers are concerned about data privacy and censorship issues related to TikTok’s Chinese parent company.

Despite TikTok’s assurances about data storage and access, lawmakers remain skeptical, leading to the recent legislation.

Various attempts to regulate TikTok in the US have been made, culminating in the recent bill passing in the House.

Does this bill really ban TikTok?

Under the bill, ByteDance must divest from TikTok within 165 days to avoid a ban. App stores could face penalties for hosting TikTok if the divestiture does not occur.

Supporters argue the bill offers ByteDance an opportunity to avoid a ban by selling TikTok to non-Chinese companies.

TikTok disputes this, claiming uncertainty about the sale’s approval and completion within the specified timeframe.

How did we get here?

Past bans and restrictions on TikTok, including efforts by former President Trump, have laid the groundwork for the current situation. Montana and other states have previously attempted bans, but legal challenges have prevented enforcement.

Recent demands from the Treasury Department raised concerns, leading to the development of the current bill.

How will the TikTok ban be enforced?

Enforcing a ban on TikTok faces technical and legal challenges due to the decentralized nature of the internet. Methods like blocking IP addresses could be circumvented using VPNs.

To fully restrict TikTok, the US would need to adopt stringent internet restrictions used by countries like China.

Who supports a possible TikTok ban?

Most Republicans and the Biden administration back the bill, with President Trump’s stance evolving over time. Efforts to ban TikTok have garnered bipartisan support.

Despite some opposition, the bill’s supporters believe it is crucial for national security and data privacy concerns.

Who opposes the TikTok bill?

TikTok vehemently opposes the bill and urges the Senate to reject it. Some lawmakers and civil rights groups argue the bill threatens free speech rights and could set a dangerous precedent.

Opponents of the bill emphasize the need for comprehensive social media regulation rather than targeting specific platforms like TikTok.

What will happen to TikTok in the future?

The bill still faces hurdles in the Senate, and its enforcement could be complex. TikTok’s lobbying efforts and legal challenges could impact the bill’s implementation.

Even if passed, legal challenges may arise, similar to previous bans that were blocked on constitutional grounds.

Source: www.theguardian.com

House Passes Bill Requiring ByteDance, Owner of TikTok, to Sell or Risk US Ban | Ticktock

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The House of Representatives passed a bill on Wednesday mandating that ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, must sell the social media platform or face a complete ban in the United States.

The vote resulted in overwhelming support, with 352 members of Congress voting in favor and only 65 voting against. The bill, which was swiftly approved in committee last week, gives ByteDance 165 days to divest from TikTok. Failure to do so would result in app stores like the Apple App Store and Google Play being legally prohibited from hosting TikTok or providing web hosting services for ByteDance-managed applications.

Following the vote, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew expressed disappointment and stated that the company is doing everything possible to protect the platform’s integrity and enforce their legal rights.

Chew emphasized TikTok’s efforts to secure data and shield the platform from external influences, raising concerns about the implications of the bill on other social media companies, creators, and small businesses.

The decision in the House of Representatives marks a significant development in the ongoing debate surrounding TikTok’s alleged data collection practices and potential political censorship. Despite assurances from TikTok that they do not share U.S. user data with the Chinese government, challenges persist, including past bans and legal battles.

The future of the bill in the Senate remains uncertain, as some Democrats have raised free speech concerns and proposed broader social media regulations to address foreign influence concerns without singling out TikTok specifically.

The White House supports the bill, aiming to provide a pathway for ByteDance to sell TikTok and mitigate national security risks associated with Chinese ownership. The authors of the bill stress that the goal is not to ban TikTok outright but to facilitate its sale to circumvent the block in the U.S.

While the outcome of the bill continues to unfold, TikTok and its supporters remain steadfast in advocating for the platform’s survival, raising uncertainties about China’s approval of a potential sale and the timeline for such a transaction.

As the debate continues, concerns persist about the impact of the bill on other Chinese-owned platforms in the U.S., such as Tencent’s WeChat. The discussions reflect broader efforts to address national security and privacy considerations in the social media landscape.

Reuters contributed to this report

Source: www.theguardian.com

TikTok sensation Cat Janis passes away at the age of 31

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Cat Janis, the singer who gained fame on TikTok for dedicating her final song to her son, has passed away from cancer, as announced by her family on Wednesday.


Her family announced The news was shared on her Instagram account: “This morning, from her childhood home, surrounded by her loving family, Katherine peacefully entered the light and love of her Heavenly Creator.

“We are forever grateful for the outpouring of love that Duchess Kate and our family have received over the past few months. Kat has seen her music go places she never expected. I am resting with the peace of mind that I will continue to provide for my son through music. None of this would have been possible without your support.”

Janice had sarcoma cancer, a rare type that affects bones and soft tissues. She passed away at the age of 31.

Janice documented her cancer journey on TikTok, revealing that she discovered a lump on her neck in November 2021, which later turned out to be cancer. Despite announcing she was cancer-free in July 2022, it returned in her lungs, leading her to hospice care last month.

Proceeds from Janice’s viral song were dedicated to her son after she learned about her impending death.

Her song “Dance You Outta My Head,” released on January 19th and dedicated to her youth, topped the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart and made it into the Top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart. The song garnered over 12 million streams worldwide on Spotify.

“I transferred all the rights to my songs to my son so that I could leave him something. I don’t have much,” the singer wrote in a video Posted on TikTok on January 15th, urging fans to save this song for the future.

In her final TikTok video, Janice expressed her strength and mentioned feeling trapped due to her health, looking forward to dancing with God in heaven.


Source: www.theguardian.com