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Innovation

Brain Implant for Epilepsy

For thirteen years, Oran Knowlson suffered from treatment-resistant epilepsy. Thanks to a new brain implant, he can now look forward to days without seizures.

Oran is the first person to receive this implant as part of a pilot study for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy causing up to 100 seizures a day.

The 13-year-old from Somerset, England, needed constant care since the age of 3. Some seizures were so severe they stopped his heart, requiring resuscitation. After receiving the implant, his mother told the Guardian, “I definitely now have a teenager,” highlighting Oran’s newfound ability to ignore her.

“The future looks hopeful, which I wouldn’t have dreamed of saying six months ago,” she said.

“Epilepsy completely changed Oran and his family’s lives, so seeing him ride a horse and regain his independence is astounding,” said Martin Tisdall, a consultant pediatric neurosurgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, where Oran was treated. “We’re thrilled to be part of their journey.”

During the surgery, Tisdall and his team inserted two electrodes deep into Oran’s brain, targeting the thalamus. Wires were connected to a neurostimulator on Oran’s cranium. Designed by Amber Therapeutics, it delivers constant neurostimulation to suppress seizures by blocking signals from reaching the thalamus. The device can be recharged with wireless headphones.

Oran is one of three children in the pilot study, which aims to recruit another 22 participants with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

“Deep brain stimulation brings us closer to stopping epileptic seizures for patients with very limited treatment options,” Dr. Tisdall added. “We hope to build enough evidence to make this a standard treatment for pediatric epilepsy in the future.”

Environment

The World’s Largest Mammal Migration

The world's largest migration of land mammals occurs in South Sudan, where the government, in collaboration with African Parks, is dedicated to protecting it.

Ecologists have long been aware of this migration through South Sudan's "No Man's Land" but only recently grasped its full scope. Unlike the caribou migrations in Canada or the wildebeest migrations in Kenya, No Man's Land hosts a variety of migrating species, including Mongalla gazelle, bohor reedbuck, white-eared kob, and tiang.

Recognizing the significant conservation opportunity in protecting these migration routes and the 6 million animals they host, African Parks and the South Sudanese government signed a 10-year agreement to manage No Man’s Land within Boma and Bandingilo National Parks, covering 12,700 square miles—four times the size of Yellowstone.

Remarkably, the 20-year civil war between Sudan and South Sudan largely spared this massive area. To kickstart management and modern protections, African Parks initiated the largest GPS collaring survey of large animals, tracking 12 species with 126 GPS trackers.

With aerial surveys and support from 17 local ethnic groups, African Parks began to comprehend the vastness of this animal movement.

“We flew for the first 30 to 40 minutes, and we didn’t see anything. I was like, ‘Oh, no, maybe it’s over. Maybe the wildlife has already disappeared,’” David Simpson, park manager for African Parks, told ABC News. “Then we get out there and we start hitting one, two, three, four. Then we start hitting hundreds and then we start hitting thousands, and then tens of thousands, then hundreds of thousands.”

For the indigenous peoples, the migration symbolizes abundance and balance. They rely on these animals for food, clothing, medicine, and shelter. To help preserve their traditional way of life, African Parks has involved local communities in conserving the ecosystem.

Entertainment

Pet Rats Driving Tiny Cars

Two Canadians are delighting animal lovers on Instagram with videos of their pet rats driving around in little cars.

While they were contemplating a dog, Kendal Crawford and Shaun Stephens-Whale ended up adopting two rats from the local animal shelter in their home in British Colombia. They recall being impressed upon by the ragged rescued rats’ curiosity with them, even from within their cage at the shelter.

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Mind Stretchers

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What has a neck but no head, two arms, and no hands?

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
I have a big mouth and I am also quite loud! I am NOT a gossip but I do get involved with everyone's dirty business. What am I? -Vaccum

A lot of people answered with “a washer machine”. Which is a great answer, just not the one we were looking for. 😄 

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.