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Good News

$11 Million Violin

The New England Conservatory has sold the legendary Joachim-Ma Stradivarius violin, crafted in 1714, to establish the institute’s largest endowed scholarship. The violin, once owned by the conservatory, was expected to fetch between $12 million and $18 million at auction. Named after its distinguished past owners—Hungarian virtuoso Joseph Joachim and Chinese-American musician Si-Hon Ma, who gifted it to the conservatory—the instrument carries a rich musical legacy.

Believed to have influenced Brahms' Violin Concerto, which was first performed on it in the 1800s, the violin went under the hammer at Sotheby’s in New York. The final sale price of $11.3 million fell short of the $15.9 million world record for a musical instrument but still marks one of the highest prices ever paid for a Stradivarius. The new owner has not been disclosed, ensuring the instrument’s story continues in the hands of another musician or collector.

Despite the lower-than-expected auction result, the sale provides critical funding for future students. “It has been an honor to have the Joachim-Ma Stradivari on campus, and we are eager to watch its legacy continue on the world stage,” said Andrea Kalyn, president of the New England Conservatory. The proceeds will support a transformative scholarship, ensuring that generations of musicians benefit from the violin’s enduring impact.

Health Sciences

Preventing Gray Hair

Graying hair is a natural part of aging, but researchers from Nagoya University in Japan have identified a potential way to slow the process. Scientists Masashi Kato and Takumi Kagawa discovered that luteolin, an antioxidant found in vegetables, could help preserve hair color. Their study, conducted on mice bred to gray similarly to humans, showed that those given luteolin retained their black fur, while untreated mice turned gray. The effect was observed whether luteolin was applied externally or taken orally, making it a promising candidate for anti-graying treatments.

Luteolin works by influencing endothelins, proteins that play a crucial role in cell communication. According to their study published in MDPI, luteolin preserved the expression of endothelins and their receptors, supporting melanocyte activity—the cells responsible for hair pigmentation. While the antioxidant had no impact on hair growth or shedding, it significantly helped maintain hair color. “We expected antioxidants might help prevent graying, but only luteolin showed significant results,” said Professor Kato, suggesting that luteolin may have a unique role in delaying gray hair.

Found in common vegetables like celery, broccoli, carrots, onions, and peppers, luteolin is already available as a supplement in both topical and oral forms. With its proven ability to maintain hair pigmentation, researchers believe it could be further developed for use in hair care products. Looking ahead, Dr. Kagawa plans to explore whether luteolin might also play a role in preventing baldness, opening the door for potential new hair health treatments.

Entertainment

Becoming Led Zeppelin

For over five decades, Led Zeppelin has stood as one of rock's most influential and enigmatic bands. Formed in 1968, the British quartet—guitarist and producer Jimmy Page, vocalist Robert Plant, bassist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham—revolutionized music with their genre-blending sound. Fusing blues, hard rock, folk, and global influences, they became the defining act of the 1970s, inspiring countless artists while remaining elusive in their mystique. Known for their musical mastery, extravagant lifestyles, and reluctance to engage with the press, Zeppelin has largely left their story untold—until now. Becoming Led Zeppelin, the first officially sanctioned documentary, offers an unprecedented look into the band's formative years.

Directed by Bernard MacMahon and Allison McGourty, the filmmakers behind American Epic (2017), the documentary explores Zeppelin’s rise as the final act of 20th-century rock evolution. Gaining the trust of the surviving band members was no easy feat, but Page, Plant, and Jones, already admirers of American Epic, agreed to participate. The film takes a chronological approach, steering clear of rock-star excess and tabloid scandals, focusing instead on the band’s creative process and relentless drive. Featuring two hours of rare archival material, personal photos, and performance footage, it includes early clips of Page and Jones as teenagers, along with never-before-heard audio of Bonham, providing an intimate portrait of the band’s chemistry.

The documentary captures Zeppelin’s transformation from ambitious musicians to arena-filling legends, highlighting pivotal moments like their electrifying 1970 Royal Albert Hall performance and the evolution of tracks such as Whole Lotta Love. Even rare, surreal moments—like the band playing to a disinterested audience on a French TV show—are woven into the narrative. Music writer Phil Alexander notes how Zeppelin’s true power lay in their live performances, describing their musicianship as “unmatched and unrepeatable.” Becoming Led Zeppelin ends just as the band reaches superstardom, leaving audiences with a sense of their early hunger and artistic vision. More than a nostalgic retelling, the film serves as an inspiring testament to passion, perseverance, and the relentless pursuit of musical greatness.
Premiering on February 14, 2025, in the U.S., the documentary is now showing in UK cinemas.

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Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

I hold no crown but shape the wise,
With silent power, I help minds rise.
I give no gold, yet wealth I share,
Guiding journeys everywhere.
Who am I?

Yesterday’s Answers to the Mind Stretchers:

Top row: 2-5-2
Second row: 3-3-3
Bottom row: 4-1-4 —Debbie Ettinger got this early first! 😎 

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