Hello all! 🌞 

For our Social Saturday segment today we have decided to run a community poll. If you have an answer that is not on the list, just send us an email with your custom answer.

You can find the poll right below our daily articles!

Innovation

New Study: Ozempic Slashes Risk of Kidney Disease

Novo Nordisk's leading medication, Ozempic, has shown promise in reducing the risk of kidney disease advancement and related fatalities in patients with diabetes, according to preliminary findings from a late-stage clinical trial announced on Tuesday.

The study demonstrated that Ozempic significantly decreased the risk of kidney disease progression and deaths from kidney or cardiovascular issues by 24% among diabetic individuals with chronic kidney disease, in comparison to a placebo.

These findings contribute to the accumulating evidence of the broader health benefits offered by Ozempic and similar medications. These treatments have seen a surge in popularity over the last year, despite the challenges of variable insurance coverage and substantial costs. This has mostly come from non-diabetics who have been using it as a weight loss drug. Ozempic has not been approved as a weight loss drug, but has the same active ingredient as several drugs that are.

Novo Nordisk plans to release comprehensive data from the study later in the year and intends to seek broader regulatory approval for Ozempic in the U.S. and Europe based on the study’s positive outcome.

Addressing chronic kidney disease could represent a significant market for Ozempic, as approximately 40% of diabetes patients are affected by this condition, which is characterized by the gradual decline of kidney function.

The trial, named FLOW, was conclude in October — a year ahead of schedule— because of the encouraging results. Initiated in 2019, the FLOW trial monitored around 3,500 diabetic patients with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease.

This news arrives amidst growing competition from pharmaceutical rival Eli Lilly which aims secure broader insurance coverage for Wegovy, another weight loss injection by the company. Notably, Wegovy was shown in a previous late-stage trial to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes by 20%.

If this treatment option continues to produce safe results, it could be a great thing for people suffering from chronic kidney disease.

Culture

The First Man to Visit Every Country and Travel to Space

As a child, Jim Kitchen harbored the dream of venturing into space. During his college years in the 1980s, he even dabbled in selling low-orbit space travel, an idea that was met with skepticism and jest by his peers. Kitchen's commitment to his celestial ambition was so strong that he included a unique clause in his prenuptial agreement, ensuring he could seize any opportunity to travel to space.

However, opportunities to go to space were pretty rare, so Kitchen turned to traveling to all 193 countries. The inception of Kitchen's global adventures stemmed from a youthful enthusiasm for travel, evolving from collecting passport stamps to a deeper passion. "I just transitioned from a collector to a connector," he said. "I fell in love with the idea and the notion of meeting people."

It was only about a decade or so ago that Kitchen realized the full scope of his travels, and set a goal to visit every U.N. recognized country. He achieved this milestone in 2019 with a visit to Syria, just before the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily halted global travel. Reaching this milestone was a "bittersweet" experience for Kitchen, propelling him toward fulfilling his ultimate dream of space.

Kitchen participated in several zero gravity flights to mimic the sensations of space, but he wanted to do the real deal.

On March 31, Kitchen's childhood aspiration was fulfilled as he embarked on a Blue Origin flight into the cosmos. At 57, the North Carolina entrepreneur not only realized his own dream but also set a remarkable record. By reaching orbit, he became the first individual to have visited every one of the 193 countries recognized by the United Nations and to have journeyed into space.

Reflecting on his journey before boarding on his flight, Kitchen told Nice News, “Some of my friends, some of whom will be at the launch, they ridiculed me mercilessly for selling space travel. And to be able to actually accomplish that dream 40 years later … it’s just mind-numbing.”

“Having walked the planet, I just want to see it from space. I just want to see this blue, beautiful planet of ours, the eternal darkness of space, I want to take in that whole spectacle,” he expressed before the flight. “Then, I think I’m going to float upside down and take it all in upside down.”

Sports

The Newest Olympic Sport

Breaking, also known as breakdancing, has secured its place as one of the newest sports at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Originating in the Bronx in the 1970s, breaking, characterized by acrobatic movements and stylized footwork, gained global popularity in the 1990s through international competitions.

After a successful debut at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires in 2018, breaking earned its spot in the Paris 2024 Olympic sports program. The competition will consist of two events, one for men and one for women, with 16 B-Boys and 16 B-Girls engaging in solo battles, showcasing their skills to the beat of the DJ's tracks.

Breaking's inclusion, alongside surfing, skateboarding, and sport climbing, reflects the Olympics' embrace of diverse and dynamic disciplines. The breaking community eagerly anticipates this historic moment, celebrating the recognition of their craft as a legitimate and thrilling addition to the Olympic Games.

World News

Scotland Gives Away Forsaken Land

In Scotland, a fascinating land transfer program is set to rejuvenate local communities by handing over previously state-held, ownerless properties, including a neglected petrol station and a forsaken office building. The Ownerless Property Transfer Scheme aims to empower communities with the opportunity to revitalize such assets for public benefit, contingent upon presenting a viable business plan.

Launched in March, this initiative is orchestrated by the King’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer (KLTR), the official custodian of unclaimed property in Scotland. This approach markedly diverges from practices elsewhere in the UK, where the government typically retains or liquidates unclaimed assets.

The KLTR emphasizes that the scheme addresses the detrimental effects deserted properties can have on communities by offering a chance for local revitalization across Scotland. Among the first properties slated for community takeover are a dilapidated petrol station in Ayrshire and the historically significant Lion Chambers, an art nouveau building in Glasgow.

Giving people local to the area the chance to revitalize ownerless buildings is a great idea. Having a vested interest were you live can make all the difference in how city, town, or community looks and feels.

Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

I have no flesh, bones, feathers, or scales but I have my own fingers and thumbs. What am I?

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
Your name

Galen Garretson got the correct answer first!

We did see some good alternative answers as well. Such as “your shadow”, “your identity” (which is very close to you name), and “your will”.

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 the 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.