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You may have heard of the estimate that the average person ingests a credit card’s worth of microplastics every week (5grams). This analogy originated from a study commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and conducted by the University of Newcastle in Australia.

The physical presence of microplastics in tissues can cause inflammation, and potential long-term effects include tissue damage. Chemical concerns arise from the additives in plastics, such as phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA), which are known endocrine disruptors and have been linked to various health issues, including reproductive problems and metabolic disorders

In today’s article we feature a cheap & simple method to reduce exposure to microplastics.

Innovation

Removing Microplastics Now

Earlier this week we featured an article about two highschool students that developed a novel water filtration device that uses sound waves to remove microplastics from water. They are now working on a way to implement this technology across a wide range of industries and use cases that are badly in need of such a device.

However, researchers just recently discovered another method of removing microplastics contamination from drinking water that is right at your fingertips.

A group of scientists discovered that simply boiling water can remove between 25% and 90% of the microplastics present.

In a study conducted by Guangzhou University, researchers tested two types of tap water—hard water and soft water. Hard tap water is richer in minerals, especially calcium carbonate (limescale), compared to soft water. Anyone who uses an electric kettle or coffee maker is familiar with the limescale buildup that requires periodic cleaning. When the scientists boiled the hard tap water, the calcium carbonate precipitated out of the solution, effectively trapping a variety of plastic particles ranging in size from 5 to 10 micrometers. Remarkably, 90% of these particles were captured in the limescale layer.

The researchers noted, This simple boiling water strategy can ‘decontaminate’ [nano and microplastics] from household tap water and has the potential for harmlessly alleviating human intake of NMPs through water consumption,” in their paper published in February. Even in soft water, which contains less calcium carbonate, roughly 25% of the microplastics were removed. It's worth noting that most bottled water sold in the U.S. is hard water, as is much of the tap water across the country. Some brands use reverse osmosis or other methods to dissolve minerals, then sell the water as either soft water or ‘mineral water’ after re-adding minerals.

It is estimated that there may be as much as 7 credit cards’ worth of plastic circulating in your body at any given time. While the long-term effects of this contamination are still unknown, studies in mice have found microplastics in every organ, including the brain and placenta.

If you don’t want to wait for the slower, more comprehensive solutions, like the sonic filter, filtering and boiling your drinking water could be a great option. Or just drink tea I guess.

Entertainment

Meteor Shower Raining Down on Stonehenge

A photographer seized the opportunity presented by last weekend’s Perseid meteor shower to capture an extraordinary image of fireballs seemingly raining down on Stonehenge.

Josh Dury meticulously planned and executed the shot, which required a full day of editing to stitch together 46 photos he captured on Friday night (August 9). The resulting image showcases a breathtaking view of Stonehenge at night, with the Milky Way galaxy arching overhead. Star trails streak across the sky, creating a captivating celestial display above the ancient stone circle.

“Stonehenge has been close to my heart for many years with English Heritage having supported me for many years,” says Dury. Dury’s photo quickly gained widespread attention, with NASA selecting it as their Astronomy Picture of the Day. “It has always been a lifelong ambition to be recognised by NASA and I consider this a privilege,” said the U.K.-based photographer. NASA explains that the curved appearance of the meteors in the image is due to Dury’s use of a 15mm diagonal fisheye lens.

“The meteor streaks can all be traced back to a single point on the sky called the radiant, here just off the top of the frame in the constellation of Perseus,” the space agency notes.

More of Dury’s work can be found on his website, Instagram, Facebook, and X.

Innovation

FDA Approves Drug That Targets Brain Cancer Gene Mutation

This month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new drug for IDH-mutant low-grade glioma, a type of brain cancer. The drug, vorasidenib, is a targeted therapy that inhibits the IDH gene mutation, slowing cancer growth.

The IDH gene was first identified in 2008 by Dr. Bert Vogelstein and his team at Johns Hopkins, who mapped the genetic blueprint of brain cancer. This discovery revealed that IDH mutations are common in certain brain tumors, which had not been previously recognized.

Typically, treatment involves surgery, followed by radiation and chemotherapy. Vorasidenib may allow some patients to delay these additional treatments. According to Matthias Holdhoff, M.D., Ph.D., co-director of the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center brain tumor program, this drug could become a new standard for treating slow-growing IDH-mutant gliomas.

A phase 3 clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that vorasidenib significantly improved progression-free survival for 331 patients with grade 2 IDH-mutant glioma, compared to a placebo. Vogelstein's research also led to a new classification for gliomas, distinguishing between those with IDH mutations, which generally have better outcomes, and those without, such as glioblastoma, a more aggressive form of brain cancer.

About 80% of low-grade gliomas have IDH mutations. These tumors, which mostly affect younger adults, grow more slowly and are linked to longer survival rates compared to high-grade gliomas. Vogelstein notes that understanding diseases through research ultimately leads to better treatments.

The IDH discovery has also spurred further research into other brain cancers. Johns Hopkins University holds patents for the IDH discovery, licensed to Servier Laboratories, which funded the phase 3 trial. The university and its inventors, including Vogelstein, will receive royalties from this licensing agreement.

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Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

This thing all things devours:
Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;
Gnaws iron, bites steel;
Grinds hard stones to meal;
Slays king, ruins town,
And beats high mountain down.

Yesterday’s Answers to the Mind Stretchers:
Always in you, Sometimes on you; If I surround you, I can kill you. What am I? - Water

Gerry Moore got the correct answer first!

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.

If you have any uplifting stories and experience you might want to share, send those over to [email protected] for the chance to be featured.