Good Morning! 🌞 

It’s the day after Black Friday—hope you survived the shopping madness and enjoyed Thanksgiving week! Did you know, bees can recognize human faces this helps them remember who’s been kind enough to leave them flowers. Also, there's an article about bees in today’s edition that you’ll definitely want to check out! 🐝 

Health Sciences

Fungi Medicine

British researchers have unveiled how a compound from a traditional Chinese medicine, derived from the caterpillar fungus Cordyceps militaris, may help fight cancer. The compound, cordycepin, has been known for its anti-inflammatory and health benefits, but its precise mechanism was previously unclear in Western medicine. A groundbreaking study by the University of Nottingham’s School of Pharmacy has demonstrated that cordycepin disrupts the overactive cell growth signals driving cancer, potentially leading to treatments that are gentler on healthy tissue than existing therapies.

Using advanced high-throughput techniques, the research team analyzed how cordycepin impacts thousands of genes across different cell lines. Their findings reveal that cordycepin is metabolized within cells into cordycepin triphosphate, a molecule resembling ATP, the primary energy carrier in cells. This mimicry interferes with pathways that enable uncontrolled cancer cell proliferation, providing a clearer picture of how this compound works at the molecular level.

Dr. Cornelia de Moor, who led the study published in FEBS Letters, highlighted the transformative potential of these findings. “This data confirms cordycepin’s potential as a foundation for new cancer medicines,” she stated, emphasizing the role of modern technology in uncovering its mechanisms. The insights gained could pave the way for creating derivatives that enhance its active form and developing tools to monitor its effectiveness, such as tracking responsive genes in blood cells. This research bridges ancient remedies and contemporary science, offering hope for innovative, less invasive cancer treatments.

US News

California’s Youngest Lawyer

Sophia Park has made history as the youngest person ever to pass the California bar exam at just 17 years and 8 months old. Her achievement surpasses the previous record held by her older brother, Peter Park, who passed the bar at 17 years and 11 months. The siblings’ extraordinary accomplishments underscore their remarkable drive and talent, a feat celebrated by the State Bar of California. “Her accomplishment, following her brother’s success last year, is extraordinary,” said State Bar Executive Director Leah Wilson.

The Parks, who immigrated from South Korea 15 years ago, have built a legacy of excellence in Southern California. Sophia began law school at the age of 13 while still attending junior high at Oxford Academy in Cypress, California. She graduated high school in 2022 via the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE) and earned her law degree from Northwestern California University School of Law in 2024. Both siblings took advantage of a state bar rule permitting early law school enrollment through College-Level Proficiency Exams (CLEPs). Sophia, currently a law clerk at the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office, plans to officially begin her career as a prosecutor there after her 18th birthday, following in Peter’s footsteps.

Sophia’s achievement is celebrated not only by her family but also by legal professionals. Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward praised her as a shining example of young legal talent, calling her accomplishment “remarkable.” Her father, Byungjoo Park, credited years of hard work and a strong commitment to justice for her success. As the youngest sibling, Sarah Park, is already attending law school, the Parks' legacy in law shows no signs of slowing down.

Environment

Beehive Fences

In Kenya, near the edge of Tsavo National Park, a buzzing innovation is helping farmers tackle a pressing issue: protecting their crops from elephants. African honey bees, strategically integrated into "beehive fences," are becoming a vital tool for communities struggling with crop destruction and property damage caused by the growing elephant population. Charity Mwangome, a Kenyan farmer, explains how this method transformed her perception of elephants, saying, "We used to hate elephants a lot." For villagers like her, the fear of losing livelihoods to elephant raids during the growing season is ever-present.

Tsavo’s elephant population, a conservation triumph, has surged nearly 300% since the 1990s, now numbering 15,000. However, this increase has heightened human-wildlife conflict, driving organizations like Save the Elephants to promote sustainable solutions. Beehive fences, while costing nearly $1,000 to set up, are proving their worth. They not only deter elephants, whose sensitive trunks are irritated by buzzing bees, but also provide economic benefits. The honey produced can be sold to cover school fees, creating an additional income stream for the 49 farmers who have adopted the approach. To protect the hives from predators like badgers, they are suspended on greased wires, and any disturbance by elephants triggers a swarm response from the bees.

This strategy is part of a broader effort across Africa to balance conservation with community well-being. Similar projects in Zambia and Malawi are enriching local economies while reducing human-wildlife conflict and poaching. For instance, the International Fund for Animal Welfare recently distributed nearly 300 beehives to cooperatives in Malawi’s Kasungu region, located within the expansive 32,000-square-kilometer Malawi–Zambia Transfrontier Conservation Area. By turning a natural deterrent into a community asset, beekeeping offers a promising solution that protects both people and wildlife.

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Mind Stretchers

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Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers

I’m the prize of shoppers, sought with glee,
A bargain found, with joy and spree.
What am I?

— A sale! — Gerry Moore got this bright and early 🌞 

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