Thursday, December 12, 2024

Good Morning! 🌞 

Did you know? 123 years ago on December 12, 1901, Guglielmo Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless signal, marking a huge leap in communication. 📶 

Innovation

Vitamin K— A Cure for Cancer

Vitamin K, found in leafy greens, plays a key role in blood clotting and calcium synthesis in tissues. A compound related to vitamin K, menadione, has shown potential in treating prostate cancer in recent studies.

Menadione, tested in a trial, interfered with tumor cell survival, causing them to rupture. Prostate cancer, one of the deadliest cancers in men, can be aggressive and resistant to treatment. In a 2001 study with 35,000 patients, researchers tested the effects of vitamin E, an antioxidant, on prostate cancer, only to find that more men taking the supplement developed the disease. This raised the question: Could a pro-oxidant have the opposite effect? Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) tested menadione in mice and found it depleted a lipid called PI(3)P, which acts as an identifier for tumor cells. Without this lipid, the cells couldn't process new material, causing them to rupture. Professor Lloyd Trotman, leading the research, hopes these results can be tested in men with early-stage prostate cancer.

The research also suggests that menadione may help slow the progression of myotubular myopathy, a severe genetic disorder in infant boys that stunts growth and leads to early death.

World News

Gateway to Ancient Greek Temple

Excavations at the Athribis temple site, located 125 miles north of Luxor, have unveiled a monumental 150-foot-wide sandstone pylon, shedding new light on Egypt's Ptolemaic dynasty. This significant find, attributed to the reign of King Ptolemy VIII, was uncovered by a joint Egyptian-German team leading the project into its 21st year. The pylon’s sloped design suggests it once soared to 18 meters, rivaling the grandeur of the pylon at Luxor Temple. Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, hailed the discovery as a vital clue in understanding the architectural and cultural achievements of the era.

The pylon is part of a broader excavation effort that has uncovered intricately carved walls, pillars, halls, and over 1,200 hieroglyphic inscriptions. Among the notable findings are depictions of a Ptolemaic king greeting Repyt, the lion-headed goddess and patron of the temple. Mohamed Abdel Badie, head of the Egyptian mission, confirmed these inscriptions provide evidence of the temple’s origins under King Ptolemy VIII. Despite these discoveries, much of the site remains unexcavated, hinting at even more treasures yet to be revealed.

Adding to the intrigue, Dr. Marcus Miller of the German team reported the discovery of a hidden chamber on the pylon’s second floor. Accessible via an exterior staircase, this room was likely destroyed in the 7th century CE, though its purpose remains unclear. The ongoing Athribis project, one of Egypt’s most significant archaeological endeavors, has also yielded 30,000 artifacts, further enriching our understanding of this historically rich site and the Ptolemaic period’s influence on ancient Egypt.

Good News

Retired K9 Reunites with Handler

Retired military dog Yyacob was recently reunited with his former handler, US Army Staff Sergeant Payton May, in San Antonio, Texas. Yyacob, an 8-year-old Belgian Malinois, served nearly seven years as an explosives detection and patrol dog, including nine months with May in Iraq. Throughout his service, Yyacob played a crucial role in protecting soldiers, civilians, and even US presidents. Their reunion, made possible by American Humane, marks both the end of Yyacob’s service and the beginning of his well-deserved retirement.

May and Yyacob’s bond was built during their intense training and deployment together. They were part of the exclusive Patrol Explosive Detection Dog—Enhanced Course, a challenging 60-day program that admits only ten teams each year. Although May initially described Yyacob as “nuts,” their relationship grew stronger during their time in Iraq, where they became inseparable. In 2020, May was reassigned, leaving Yyacob behind. When May heard about Yyacob’s retirement, he turned to American Humane, recalling how they had previously helped reunite another handler with their military dog.

Yyacob’s story isn’t over yet—he’ll join May on a deployment to Italy next year. May is committed to giving his loyal companion a peaceful retirement, and thanks to American Humane, Yyacob will receive transportation and lifetime veterinary care.

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Mind Stretchers

⁉️

I have supports but I don’t stand,
I’m often found where you rest your hand.
You might find me near a table or alone,
But I’m not something you’ll carry to town.

Yesterday’s Answers to the Mind Stretchers:

— a high chair! Chris Hostetler got this first again! 🌅 

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to[email protected]or reply to email.

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