Good Morning!

Did you know Butterfly vision is unique and more advanced than human vision? With 12,000 tiny individual eyes and six or more photoreceptor classes, they can see a wider range of colors, including ultraviolet light, which is invisible to humans. Their compound eyes and numerous ommatidia allow them to detect fast-moving objects and changes in their surroundings more effectively.

Innovation

S.F. Startup Boosting Dog Lifespan Gains FDA Support

San Francisco-based biotech firm, Loyal, has received conditional approval from the FDA for an experimental drug (LOY-001) aimed at extending the lifespan of large-breed dogs by at least one year. This marks the FDA's first endorsement of a longevity drug, paving the way for further clinical trials. Loyal's CEO, Celine Halioua, expects the drug to be available by 2026. Administered via veterinarian injection every three to six months, LOY-001 targets the growth hormone IGF-1, potentially enhancing the well-being of large dogs. Despite the initial nod, Loyal must demonstrate full efficacy in a pivotal study to stay on the market beyond the five-year conditional approval period. The drug is now set for a larger study involving 1,000 older large and giant breed companion dogs.

Loyal's broader goals include mitigating age-related ailments like cancer, arthritis, muscle atrophy, cognitive decline, and neurodegeneration in dogs. Simultaneously, Loyal is recruiting for clinical trials on LOY-002 and LOY-003. The company aims to maintain an affordable pricing structure for LOY-001, which has received $60 million in venture capital backing. In the context of canine longevity, other research at UC Davis has spotlighted the gene ERBB4 as a potential driver, emphasizing promising developments for dog lovers.

Culture

“Godzilla Minus One" Storms the U.S.

"Godzilla Minus One," the 33rd installment in the Japanese franchise Godzilla, has exceeded expectations in the U.S. box office since its release on December 1st. Despite an extremely small $15 million budget, the film has grossed over $15.7 million in ticket sales in the U.S. and earned a 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. This brings the current Worldwide Box Office to over $42 million.

Directed, written, (as well as supervising VFX) by Takashi Yamazaki, the film explores post-World War II Japan and reactions to Godzilla's return. Yamazaki aimed to recapture the original spirit of Godzilla while focusing on the impact of war on individuals, specifically on the lead character, former kamikaze pilot Kōichi Shikishima.

"Godzilla Minus One" has generated interest in action movies, especially those with reused characters, reinforcing the view that franchise films can still be well received if the quality is high. The film's success has created lots of buzz where audiences appreciate its freshness and creative approach.

Looking ahead, we will see if the upcoming release of "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" can keep up. Clearly, quality and creativity still resonate with U.S. audiences, despite concerns about franchise fatigue.

World News

Ghana’s Mobile Clinic

Osei Boateng, a man raised in a remote Ghanaian village, witnessed the struggles of his community in accessing healthcare, leading to preventable deaths, including that of his grandmother. Determined to make a difference, Boateng founded the OKB Hope Foundation.

Boateng, a scholar and biology graduate of Cornell University, identified the lack of preventive healthcare in remote Ghana, so he converted a van into a mobile clinic, bringing healthcare directly to communities.

The Hope Health Van, operated by a team of medical professionals, has served over 4,000 Ghanaians in 45 rural communities, addressing various health issues. Additionally, Boateng's organization empowers local communities by training 20 volunteers as health advocates, offering vital checks and data to the medical team.

Boateng, fully committed to OKB Hope Foundation, left his job to focus on delivering healthcare to his homeland.

To support their cause, visit OKB Hope Foundation or contribute through their GoFundMe page.

Environment

Sweden’s Site Zero

The world's largest plastic recycling plant, 'Site Zero,' in Motala, Sweden, can process up to 20,000 tonnes of plastic packaging annually, using cutting-edge technology such as infrared cameras to sort waste into 12 plastic types. Sweden Plastic Recycling, co-owned by industry groups, aims to double the country's plastic recycling with this facility.

The plant, with its efficient sorting capabilities, can send up to 95% of packaging for recycling, reducing incineration. The plastic can be recycled through conventional or chemical methods, though environmental concerns surround the latter. Industry leaders say that mixture can be made back into plastic pellets to make new products.  

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.

Mind Stretchers

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Four cars come to a four-way stop, each coming from a different direction. They can’t decide who got there first, so they all go forward at the same time. All 4 cars go, but none crash into each other. How is this possible?

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
Nothing 😆