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World’s Biggest Underground Thermal Lake Discovered in Albania

Largest-known underground thermal lake, Albania – Credit: Neuron Foundation
Largest-known underground thermal lake, Albania – Credit: Neuron Foundation

The little country of Albania was recently discovered to be harboring a giant secret: the largest geothermally-heated underground lake in the world.

Discovered in 2021 by Czech scientists, geopolitical troubles on the border region with Greece saw them depart before a proper investigation of the cave could be made.

What they did find though was a massive column of steam rising out of the hills in an area around the town of Leskovik. Approaching it, they encountered a massive abyss descending 330 feet (100 meters) under the Earth. Exploring down, they found this massive lake of turquoise water that was geothermally heated.

Funded by a research grant from the Neuron Foundation, which supports pioneering scientists in Czechia, the team was able to return in 2024 for a proper study.

The scientists used state-of-the-art technologies during the expedition, including a mobile LiDAR scanner, which allowed for detailed mapping of the underground spaces. Precise geodetic measurements created a comprehensive map of the Atmos Cave and other nearby caves, such as Sulfur, Breška, and Kobyla, which were already discovered in 2021.

“It’s something that could have a huge impact on understanding underground ecosystems and geological processes,” Marek Audy, a caver and scientist in the research team, told Nat Geo CZ. “We want to look at other parts of the cave, learn more about the geology and biology of this area.”

The LiDAR survey produced a total size of 454 feet (138 meters) of length and 138 feet (45 m) of depth. With over 8,000 cubic meters of water, it contains more 3.5 Olympic swimming pools of water volume, making it larger than the previously-recognized subterranean heated lake in the world in Hungary.

EASTERN EUROPEAN NEWS: While Czech Region is Busy Planning Hydro-Project, Beavers Do it For Them–Saving Millions

They named it Lake Neuron after the foundation that funded them.

“I am incredibly proud that we could support Czech scientists in such a groundbreaking project,” Monika Řasa Vondráková, director and co-founder of the Neuron Foundation, said in a statement.

MORE WORLD WONDERS: Oceanographers Explore Underwater Mountain Bigger Than Mount Olympus Teeming with Wonders

“This achievement underscores the importance of supporting scientists directly in the field, where their expertise and dedication lead to new discoveries. Expeditions like these are vital for advancing science and expanding our understanding of the world around us.”

SHARE This Story With Your Friends Who Think The World Has No More Secrets…

New Deepfake Detector Inspects Pixels to Uncover Falsehoods on Your Phone Within 6 Seconds

HONOR's deepfake detector - credit, HONOR released
HONOR’s deepfake detector – credit, HONOR released

A Chinese smartphone manufacturer is preparing to debut a new deepfake detection software, which it says uses AI to detect AI.

Embodying the schoolyard concept of it takes one to know one, the company says it analyzes the millions of individual pixels on a phone screen to look for things like faceswaps or other AI artifacts.

The pixel-level flaws include issues with border compositing, irregularities between video frames, and unusual facial features like face-to-ear ratios or hairstyle anomalies.

Called the GUI for Graphic User Interface, it was developed by the Chinese smartphone operator HONOR, and is included in the company’s new Magic Pro 7 smartphone.

It’s preparing the device for a presentation at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next month, Reuters reports.

OTHER PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET: Intel Unveils Real-Time Deepfake Detector, Claims 96% Accuracy Rate

Generating a percentage chance that what you’re looking at might be generated or influenced by AI, the software works in just 6 seconds.

Other features on the phone include voice-command photo modification, allowing photography fans to remove elements in their pictures with their voice.

WATCH the story from Reuters and see what else their phone can do…

SHARE This Story With Your Friends Who’ve Encountered A Deep Fake… 

“We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.” – Kenji Miyazawa

By rudis – CC license

Quote of the Day: “We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.” – Kenji Miyazawa

Photo by: rudis (CC license)

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

By rudis – CC license

Good News in History, March 11

Gorbachev - CC 3.0. Yuriy Somov

40 years ago today, Mikhail Gorbachev became leader of the Soviet Union. His policies of glasnost (“openness”) and perestroika (“restructuring”) and his negotiations with President Reagan over strategic nuclear arms contributed to the end of the Cold War, ended the Communist Party’s hold on governing, inadvertently led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and won him a Nobel Peace Prize. Born into a Ukrainian-Russian peasant family, Gorbachev wrote books and lectured long into his retirement. GNN memorialized the man who ended the Cold War upon his death in 2022. READ an excerpt from the article… (1985)

Citrus Fruit Consumption Helps Protect Against Depression via Gut Microbiome: Study

Photo by Odiseo Castrejon on Unsplash
Photo by Odiseo Castrejon on Unsplash

A new study has identified several corresponding lines of evidence which all point like a divining rod to citrus fruit being associated with lower risks of developing depression.

Clinical depression affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide, 70% of whom fail to respond to medication. The causes are varied and difficult to understand, but being that you can’t medicate your way out of a poor diet, one scientist thought he’d look for a dietary solution.

Dr. Raaj Mehta, an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School and a physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, has found evidence that just one medium-sized orange can reduce a person’s risk of developing depression by 20%.

“I was working with a fantastic postdoc named Chatpol Samuthpongtorn, who was reading through the literature on depression, looking for an interesting project to take on,” Dr. Mehta explained to the Harvard Gazette. “And he came across this one paper from 2016 that pointed to the possibility that citrus lowers the risk of depression.”

“That piqued our interest because we had access to a rich data set that we could use to follow up on this finding. It’s called the Nurses’ Health Study II (NHS2), and it began in 1989 with the goal of finding risk factors for major chronic diseases in women.”

“It involves over 100,000 women, and roughly every two years they provide researchers with detailed information about their lifestyle, diet, medication use, and health. So we decided to leverage these data to look for evidence that nurses who ate a lot of citrus had lower rates of future depression than those who did not. And that’s what we found!”

Dr. Mehta’s findings show that total fruit and vegetable consumption was not correlated with anything—citrus stood alone as a deciding factor, and it worked, he later hypothesized, by increasing the total amounts of a gut bacterial species F. prausnitzii. Citrus increased the population of this species in the guts of the nurses who consumed the most citrus.

OTHER STORIES LIKE THIS: Healthy Gut Bacteria Can Reduce Risk of Asthma and Food Allergies in Children, Experts Discover

Furthermore, because the NHS2 contained only women, he looked for the same parameters and gut microbes in men, and the findings remained: 20% reduced risk of depression, higher levels of F. prausnitzii.

When asked how this data might work to reduce depression, Dr. Mehta suggested the S-adenosyl-L-methionine cycle I pathway may be utilized by these bacteria as a way to influence human neurotransmitters dopamine and seratonin, produced by human cells in the gut.

MORE DIET BASED MEDICINE: Holy Mackerel! Fish Really Is Brain Food – Even if You Only Eat a Small Amount

“There’s so much evidence now suggesting a strong link between the gut and the brain that I was not surprised to find more,” he told the Gazette. “At the same time, I had not associated citrus with the brain before we got these results. You often hear that fish is ‘brain food,’ but nobody says that oranges are brain food.”

One future question would be whether the effect was unique to oranges. Could it be replicated with lemons, bergamot, grapefruit, tangerines, or limes?

SHARE This Sweet And Sour News With Your Friends Who Love A Nice Orange… 

Stunning Flower Fields in California Have Been Enchanting Tourists and Locals For Decades

Credit - The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch
Credit – The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch

Along I-5 in Southern California, a beautiful bed of blooms stretches 55 acres across the landscape and is officially open for the season.

The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch have been captivating Californians with their incredible panoply of ranunculus flowers for decades, but have added other activities as well.

Native to Turkey, ranunculus are also known as the Persian buttercup, and over a long career of dazzling drivers and day-trippers, pioneer Edwin Frazee and other local growers have created every color of the rainbow.

They’ve grown along the California coastline for 100 years, but it took more than half of that in dedicated horticulture to create this masterpiece that’s open every year in March. Visitors can see them in all their glory for the next five to seven weeks, with admission priced at $27 for adults.

The field is open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, with other activities including a “sweet pea” maze, tractor rides, a sea of sunflowers, a giant American flag grown from petunias, green house orchid and poinsettia displays, a sculpture garden, and a butterfly encounter area for children.

MORE COOL US TRAVEL IDEAS: Family-Owned Vermont Ski Resort Offers the Common Man 1,200 Acres of Powder for $100

Tickets are sold only online, not on-site, and no reentry is allowed. Flowers and food are sold on-site.

FLOWERS, BUT THE WILD KIND: Millions of Wildflowers Now Delight the Town After Vermont Couple Got Tired of Mowing the Lawn All Day

The final entry day is May 11th, which happens to be Mother’s Day, and might make a great trip.

SHARE This Great Day-Trip Idea With The Californian In Your Life… 

Double Lung Transplant Recipient Helps Students Make Comfort Blankets for Organ Donor Families

Jackie Dennis after her transplant - credit, released
Jackie Dennis after her transplant – credit, released

A special education teacher who received a double-lung donation recently led her class in making comfort blankets for donor families.

Jackie Dennis says that even though the donation she received made her joyful, grateful, and relieved that she’d be able to watch her daughter grow up, she knew in her heart it also represented the worst tragedy for someone else.

Dennis has taken that experience forward with her into a deep connection with the family of the girl whose lungs saved her life, and she hopes the blankets can act as warm, comfy bridges for others to do the same.

It was in 2020, during the pandemic when Dennis gave birth. Quickly thereafter her health deteriorated, and it wasn’t long in the hospital before her doctors had her on a waiting list for two lungs.

They were found, and the operation, a first for Henry Ford Health at the time, was successful. In the years that followed, she got to know the donor’s family, to a point where they enjoy a close connection.

“I’m lucky enough to have such a good relationship that I can send pictures of my daughter, I can send pictures of what my students are doing, and I get to show her the impact her daughter [the donor] has had on me—and her little sisters get to see that, and it’s so beautiful,” said Dennis.

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS: 6 ‘Memory Bears’ Sewn With Love and Grandpa’s Flannels For Widow’s Grandchildren

Last week, the teacher at Huron High School in New Boston, Michigan, organized a workshop to make comfort blankets to send off to the families of donors. Dennis said it’s not unusual that a donor’s family has not contact with the person who received a donation, and that the blankets can go a long way towards helping them understand the gratitude and warmth a recipient has for them.

WATCH the story below from CBS news… 

SHARE This Comfy, Heartwarming Story With Your Friends On Social Media… 

Lucky Find in Perth Returns Beloved War Medals to New Zealand Family

William O'Shea's medals with new medals and a new clasp - credit, supplied to the media
William O’Shea’s medals with new medals and a new clasp – credit, supplied to the media

A New Zealand military chaplain recently recovered a fallen airman’s war medals and reunited them with the man’s next of kin.

It cost the chaplain a few hundred dollars to perform this good deed, one which has seen them restored and presented to the aviator’s grand-niece.

Dying during an RAF bomber raid over Hamburg in 1942 during Winston Churchill’s terror bombing campaign on Germany, New Zealand Sergeant William O’Shea’s medals were given to his Widow Ann, before the family lost track of them in 1990.

Royal Australian Air Force Chaplain Hayden Lea saw the collection of four authentic medals at an auction, and noticed that one was missing a ribbon clasp for bomber command units that were presented to airmen after the war. It’s absence meant that the man to whom the medals were issued had died.

Lea decided to buy the lot, replace the “tattered” ribbons, and see if he could get the bomber command clasp added to them.

“Once I’d purchased the medals and was able to look up a little bit more information about Billy, I was able to confirm that he didn’t have his other awards, so I contacted New Zealand honors and awards to be able to apply for that for him,” Chaplain Lea told ABC News Australia.

According to the Chaplain, part of his duty is to advocate for soldiers like O’Shea, and their families, which he considers his responsibility despite the man being dead for 80 years.

Karen Curtis with three of her grandchildren, and the returned medals – credit, supplied by the family

After obtaining the bomber clasp, he started to try and track down the family.

FAMILY HISTORY: Sunken Class Ring Returned to Canadian Man Who Lost it in 1977 off Barbados Coast

As it happened, O’Shea never met his grand-niece, Karen Curtis, who was born after his death. She had tried after the disappearance of the medals to get them re-issued, which the New Zealand authorities told her was not possible. During the process however, she made herself officially known as Billy’s next of kin, which meant that Lea was able to contact her.

Curtis said she and her family were still coming to terms about the amazing way in which the medals were returned.

MORE MEMORABILIA RETURNED: 101-Year-old Woman Is Amazed After Being Reunited with Her Lost Painting Looted by Nazis

“He died in 1942, but he was my father’s uncle and my father really looked up to him,” said Curtis. “And now I’ve got grandchildren who I’m teaching about the family history. They look so alike and looking at photos of Billy I could swear it was my dad.”

SHARE This Selfless Act On Behalf Of A Man Long Gone… 

“They tried to bury us. They didn’t know we were seeds” – Dinos Christianopoulos

Kelly Sikkema

Quote of the Day: “They tried to bury us. They didn’t know we were seeds” – Dinos Christianopoulos (Greek poet)

Photo by: Kelly Sikkema

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Kelly Sikkema

Good News in History, March 10

145 years ago today, members of the Salvation Army landed in the United States to begin their charitable operations, fifteen years after the group was founded in England. With a worldwide membership of over 1.7 million today, the Protestant Christian church sect runs the well-known international charity in 131 countries with a mission to run charity shops, operate shelters for the homeless, and provide disaster relief and humanitarian aid. READ stories GNN has written on the organization… (1880)

Four Best Friends All Move to Houses On the Same Street: ‘These Girls are my Sisters

Sarabeth Stine, Erinn Cottman, Kelly Holbin, and Kristi W. (via SWNS)
Sarabeth Stine, Erinn Cottman, Kelly Holbin, and Kristi W. (via SWNS)

Four women in their 40s who’ve been best friends for 17 years have all moved to the same street—and they now feel like they’ve built their own community.

Sarabeth Stine was delighted when her pal Kelly Holbin found a house just around the corner 10 years ago in Atlanta, Georgia.

Three years ago, when their buddy Erinn Cottman needed a new home, the girlfriends couldn’t believe their luck when the house across the street from Sarabeth became available.

And, one year later, Kristi W. surprised her friends by purchasing the house one door down.

Now the quartet are loving the fact that they live seconds from each other, so they can hang out whenever they want.

They also keep boundaries in place—so they can maintain individual lives and not overuse their welcome.

“Having people you can count on that are like family,” said the newest arrival. “That’s really important.”

“It’s a true blessing for me,” Kristi told SWNS news agency. “It feels like these girls are my sisters.”

Kristi has been friends with Kelly for 25 years after meeting her in college and becoming besties.

Kelly moved to Atlanta in 2008 and met Sarabeth and Erinn—and the group now has a strong 17-year bond.

Erinn Cottman and Kelly Holbin – via SWNS

“We all developed our own individual relationships, which fused the bond amongst the group,” said Erinn.

While Sarabeth and her family were the first ones in the neighborhood, she was suddenly surprised when Kelly spotted a house for sale and asked if it would be strange if she lived there.

“I text her to ask would it be weird if I lived in the same neighborhood. She was like ‘absolutely not’.”

Kelly moved in 2014 and has loved living round the corner from her friend. The pair goes to morning workouts and walks together.

“Three-and-a-half years ago Erinn needed a new home,” explained Sarabeth. “The house across the street became available.”

“At first she said it would be creepy, but then went for it.”

For Erinn and Sarabeth, it has meant their sons—eight and ten—have been able to grow up together.

“Our boys are a year and a half apart and they run back and forth between our houses,” said Sarabeth.

“They did Christmas morning together!”

ALSO LOOKIN’ AMAZING! Four Girlfriends Recreate Photo From Their First Fun-Loving Vacation 50 Years Ago

Sarabeth Stine, Erinn Cottman, Kelly Holbin and Kristi – SWNS

The friend that finally joined the group, after the pandemic, was Kirsti—when the house next to Sarabeth came up for sale.

Sarabeth had suggested to Kirsti: ”Please come and buy this house.”

Kirsti started thinking about it, then decided to go for it—but kept it a secret from the others, even going so far as disguising herself when she came for the home inspection.

Kirsti recalled: “I made up a story and said ‘would you guys come and look at a house – I really want your opinion?’

“We got in the car and pulled away and then I turned around as if I’d forgotten something.

“Then I told them I was buying the house.”

Sarabeth remembers, “That’s when we lost our minds.”

AMAZING MEETING: The Breathtaking Moment Enemy Soldiers Who Saved Each Other Reunite By Chance in Waiting Room 20 yrs Later

She moved in March 2023 and the ladies have loved living close ever since.

“I’ve got built-in folks,” said Erinn.

Sarabeth says, “It’s a true community we have built.”

Despite living so close they don’t always see each other every day. In fact, sometimes they go three or four days without running into anyone.

COMING TOGETHER AFTER 7 DECADES: Pen Pals Finally Get to Meet in Person–68 Years After They Began Writing Letters Back and Forth

“We’re all so busy. It’s easy to miss each other.” But they know someone has their back.

“What makes us special is regardless of what has happened, we have an ability to accept each other–and be vulnerable with each other.”

SPREAD THE LOVELY IDEA By Sharing With Friends On Social Media…

Ingredient Found in All Mushrooms Can Reprogram Immune Cells to Fight Deadly Flu Infections

Credit: Andrew Ridley
Credit: Andrew Ridley

A component found in all fungi may provide a shield that prevents flu-related lung damage, according to a new Canadian study.

The preclinical trial uncovered how beta-glucan—which is found in all mushrooms, and also yeast, oats, and barley—can ‘reprogram’ immune cells to prevent lung inflammation.

A team of scientists at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, demonstrated that administering the compound to mice before their exposure to influenza, reduced lung damage, improved lung function and lowered the risk of illness and death.

The scientists led by Professor Maziar Divangahi discovered that a unique structure of this component can boost defenses against pathogens.

While most research focuses on stopping the virus from replicating, this study explored how to regulate the body’s immunity to infection, a concept known as “disease tolerance.” The researchers discovered that beta-glucan significantly enhanced flu survival rates by modulating immune responses and preventing severe lung inflammation, a common cause of fatality.

These results, published in Nature Immunology, highlight beta-glucan as a promising therapy for influenza, as well as other emerging viral pathogens.

“It is remarkable how beta-glucan can reprogram certain immune cells, such as neutrophils, to control excessive inflammation in the lung,” said first author Nargis Khan, who conducted this research at McGill and is now an Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary.

“Neutrophils are traditionally known for causing inflammation, but beta-glucan has the ability to shift their role to reduce it,” added co-first author Kim Tran, who recently completed her Ph.D. at McGill.

CHECK OUT: The Medicinal Value of Chaga Mushrooms as a Nutraceutical for Good Health

Rebalancing the immune system

Most flu-related deaths aren’t caused by the virus itself, but by an overreaction of the immune system, said the researchers. This suggests the true danger lies in the host’s own immune response. However, how the immune system becomes so imbalanced remains poorly understood.

“Beta-glucan is found in the cell walls of all fungi, including some that live in and on our bodies as part of the human microbiome,” explained Divangahi.

“It is tempting to hypothesize that the levels and composition of fungi in an individual could influence how their immune system responds to infections, in part because of beta-glucan.”

With flu season underway and the looming threat of bird flu (H5N1), developing effective therapeutic strategies for respiratory diseases is more critical than ever, he added.

MORE FANTASTIC FUNGI:
Fungi Are ‘Mind-blowing’: They Have Memories, Learn Shapes, Can Make Decisions and Solve Problems
Mushrooms Help Turn Toxic Brownfields into Blooming Meadows
Fungi Could Be Answer to Global Warming – They Store 1/3 of All Carbon Emissions

The research was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Future studies will explore how exactly the findings apply to humans.

SHARE THE FASCINATING FUNGI With Mushroom-Lovers On Social Media…

42-Year-old Woman With Black Belt Sends a Would-Be Robber Packing–Wearing Her New Heels

Mairi Kerin gets award for bravery from Chief Superintendent Edd Williams (Released)
Mairi Kerin gets award for bravery from Chief Superintendent Edd Williams (Released)

A woman with training in martial arts jumped into action sending a would-be robber scampering from a convenience store, after he threatened the shopkeeper.

Karate expert Mairi Kerin was at the counter buying chocolate treats for her nieces when the hooded man came into the LOCO store in Shropshire, England—and dramatic CCTV video captured the encounter.

But she had already noticed the suspicious man in the parking lot.

“As I got out of the car I noticed this person all covered up and thought ‘You look like you’re going to rob a shop’,” the 42-year-old told SWNS news agency.

But then she reminded herself, “You can’t think that about people, can’t pigeon-hole people like that… Maybe he’s just got a bike somewhere, he’s been out riding, or whatever.”

Mairi entered the store and spent a couple minutes shopping and was getting ready to pay the cashier when the man appeared.

“I heard the shopkeeper ask, ‘Why did you put something against the door?’, and I heard him reply, ‘Because I’m going to take your money’.

“He said it really cool, really calm.

“He stepped forward, I could see his pockets were full and I thought he had weapons, my eyes were glued to his pockets.

“When I saw his left hand still in his pocket I took the chance.”

She grabbed the would-be thief’s arm and delivered a couple of firm kicks to the shin causing him to run out of the store. (See the video at the end of the article…)

Mairi Kerin (via SWNS)

Mairi, who lives in Staffordshire, received a Commendation Award from the Police Chief Superintendent of West Mercia Police following her heroics on March 3.

She described how she didn’t think twice about jumping to the shopkeeper’s defense.

“We would later find out a knife and a firearm were involved but whatever was in the left pocket, for that moment it was not coming out.”

She said her John Wayne-style swagger on the CCTV footage was due to the pain of breaking in some heels for a new job.

“I was wearing new heels at the time and I was trying to break them in, I hadn’t worn heels since lockdown so I needed some practice.

“It makes me laugh when I watch it now.

Mairi said that her intervention wasn’t bravery. She credits it to self-belief after 20 years of martial arts training that has seen her represent England and the Republic of Ireland.

MORE HEROES:
Quick-Thinking Hero Saves Trapped Family From Sinking Car by Lashing it to Bridge
Man Sprints Along 4-Lane Snowy Highway to Stop Woman’s Runaway Car

“The time was right, and I’m glad I was there. People have asked whether I was scared. No, I was not.

“I’ve trained with this type of event in mind (and) sparred in full-contact sessions with people far heavier than me.

“In my opinion this is not stupidity or bravado, it’s a reflection of self-belief.”

After the robber was caught and jailed for his involvement, Chief Superintendent Edd Williams praised Mairi’s intervention as “an inspiring act of bravery from an upstanding member of the public.”

WATCH: Teen Lifts a Truck to Free His Trapped Father: ‘My Son is My Hero’

“Her quick thinking meant that no one was harmed during this attempted robbery and no money or goods were stolen.” (Watch the video footage of the encounter below…)

SHARE THE INSPIRATION With Martial Arts Fans On Social Media…

Serious Knee Injury Repairs ‘Significantly’ Improved With Cartilage Grown From Nasal Septum Cells

Doctor collects nasal septum cells used to repair knee injuries – Credit: University of Basel Hospital
Doctor collects nasal septum cells used to repair knee injuries – Credit: University of Basel Hospital

Engineered cartilage from nasal septum cells is helping treat complex knee damage, according to researchers in Switzerland who have developed the implants.

Their new study shows that giving the cartilage implants more time to mature “significantly” improved clinical efficiency and outcomes—even in patients with complex cartilage injuries, which are painful and seriously limit mobility.

Their work also shows that the method could also be suitable for the treatment of degenerated cartilage in osteoarthritis, says the team from the University of Basel.

They explained that an unlucky fall while playing football or skiing can end an athlete’s career, and such damage to articular cartilage does not heal by itself. It also increases the risk of osteoarthritis.

Researchers at the University Basel Hospital have been working on the new method for several years and can now show that even complex cartilage injuries can be repaired with engineered cells taken from a tiny piece of the patient’s nasal septum cartilage and then allowing them to multiply in the lab on a scaffold made of soft fibers.

The newly grown cartilage is then cut into the required shape and implanted into the knee joint.

Earlier studies have already shown promising results because the nasal cells have particular characteristics that are ideally suited to cartilage regeneration.

Cartilage from nasal septum cells – Credit: University of Basel Hospital

“For example, it has emerged that these cells can counteract inflammation in the joints,” said Professor Ivan Martin, who co-led the research with Dr. Marcus Mumme and Professor Andrea Barbero.

In a clinical trial involving 98 participants at clinics in four countries, the team compared two experimental approaches.

One group received cartilage grafts that had matured in the lab for just two days before implantation – similar to other cartilage replacement products. For the other group, the grafts were allowed to mature for two weeks.

During that time, the tissue acquires characteristics similar to native cartilage.

For 24 months after the procedure, the participants self-assessed their well-being and the functionality of the treated knee via questionnaires.

The results, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, showed a “clear improvement” in both groups.

But patients who received more mature engineered cartilage continued to improve even in the second year following the procedure, overtaking the group with less mature cartilage grafts.

MRI scans further revealed that the more mature cartilage grafts resulted in better tissue composition at the site of the implant, and even of the neighboring cartilage.

CHECK OUT THE LATEST ON CARTILAGE:
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Study co-author Anke Wixmerten emphasized that the longer period of prior maturation is worthwhile. “The additional maturation time of the implant only requires a slight increase in effort and manufacturing costs, and gives much better results.”

Prof. Barbero said it was noteworthy that patients with “larger injuries” benefit from cartilage grafts with the longer prior maturation periods.

“This also applies to cases in which previous cartilage treatments with other techniques have been unsuccessful.”

“If we look at the results from standard questionnaires, patients treated with our approach achieved far higher long-term scores in joint functionality and quality of life,” concluded Prof. Martin.

FRIENDS WITH KNEE DAMAGE? Share This Breakthrough On Social Media…

“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Quote of the Day: “When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Photo by: Tingey Injury Law Firm

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Good News in History, March 9

Japanese imperial army soldier Hiroo Onoda (R) offering his military sword to Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos (L) on the day of his surrender, March 11, 1974.

51 years ago today, Hiroo Onoda, the Japanese infantryman holdout finally surrendered 29 years after the end of World War II. Operating out of the remote jungles of the Philippines, Onoda followed his orders to the letter—to disrupt Allied operations on the island chain, and not surrender until his commanding officer relieved him—orders which had been given along with a promise “whatever happens, we’ll come back for you.” Well, this presented a problem for post-war Japan, because in Onoda’s own words, if Japan had lost, there shouldn’t be a post-war Japan; there should be no Japan of any kind—echoing the Imperial Army’s famous samurai-like sensibilities. READ how they got him out of there… (1974)

10-Year-old Paramedic Teaches Adults Lifesaving Skills and CPR as ‘The Mini Medic’

SWNS
10-yo paramedic Jack Dawson teaches lifesaving skills – SWNS

Meet the 10-year-old paramedic who teaches adults life-saving procedures as an in-demand mini-medic.

Jack Dawson was just two-years-old when it became obvious he was interested in becoming a paramedic.

His grandfather owns a first response company in Staffordshire, England, and Jack would ride along in his ambulances with the flashing blue lights. By age three, he would start “randomly performing CPR on his teddies, pumping the bear’s chest”.

“So, at the same time he was learning to speak, my husband and I decided to teach him first aid,” said his mother, Danielle. “He was like a sponge. He just picked everything up so quickly.”

Jack, quickly grasped the act of CPR, understanding the different recovery positions, and learned how to use a defibrillator.

Then, at age seven, the youngster started to lead workshop sessions of his own, overseen by his father and other trainers for their charity, Tamworth Have A Heart, which aims to make automatic defibrillators publicly accessible and train people to use them confidently.

Jack teaches both children and adults how to perform CPR and use defibrillators, while also patrolling his town centre and checking that the public defibrillators’ pads and batteries are up to date and fit for use. (Watch a demonstration at the end of the article…)

“His motto was ‘if I can save a life, then you can’,” says Danielle.

The sessions often draw 20-40 people and sometimes Jack gives presentations teaching in front of 100 people.

10-yo mini-medic Jack Dawson teaches lifesaving skills to adults – SWNS

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He does step-by-step walkthroughs on how to perform CPR with practice dummies laid on the floor, informing people about the dangers—including “looking into patients airways before pumping, in case of vomit or blood”. He gives tutorials on how to operate defibrillators which are used to revive someone from sudden cardiac arrest.

“He absolutely loves teaching,” Danielle told SWNS news agency. “I’ve never seen him so confident before and the fact he’s helping people to save a life determines him even more.”

“People are very surprised. He gets a lot of positive feedback and even special requests to teach people.

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“I think people appreciate the information coming from a child, as it makes them think that if a 10-year-old can do it, then they can.”

Under the name ‘Mini Medic’, Jack has a YouTube channel and a page on TikTok posting medical tutorials and training nights for those unable to attend.

As a result of his community work, the 10-year-old is a finalist for Children of Courage Birmingham Awards.

SO SWEET: 10-Year-old Girl’s Idea for a ‘Postbox to Heaven’ is Rolled Out Nationally Across Cemeteries in UK

Looking forward, Danielle said he’s enthusiastic about going to university and being a paramedic. “It’s all he thinks about!”

WATCH the video below from the news agency SWNS.com…

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New Obesity Gene Identified Causes Dogs to Want More Food–And it’s Also in Humans Prone to Over-Eating

Jordan González / Unsplash+
Jordan González / Unsplash+

Obesity genes that cause dogs—and people—to pile on the pounds have been identified.

Researchers studying Labrador retrievers discovered several genes associated with canine obesity—and the Cambridge University team showed that the same genes are associated with obesity in humans.

The gene is called DENND1B, and the researchers explained that it directly affects a brain pathway (called the leptin melanocortin pathway) responsible for regulating energy balance in the body.

An additional four genes associated with canine obesity, but which exert a smaller effect than DENND1B, were also mapped directly from human genes.

“The results emphasize the importance of fundamental brain pathways in controlling appetite and body weight,” explained Alyce McClellan, of Cambridge’s Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience who co-authored the study. “(But) these genes are not immediately obvious targets for weight-loss drugs, because they control other key biological processes in the body that should not be interfered with.”

The team measured how much dogs pestered their owners for food, and whether they were fussy eaters.

“We found that dogs at high genetic risk of obesity were more interested in food,” said Cambridge co-author Natalie Wallis.

“Dogs at high genetic risk of obesity showed signs of having higher appetite—as has also been shown for people at high genetic risk of obesity.”

The study, published in the journal Science this week, found that owners who strictly controlled their dogs’ diet and exercise managed to prevent even those with high genetic risk from becoming obese—but much more attention and effort was required.

The researchers say that, similarly, people at high genetic risk of developing obesity will not necessarily become obese, if they follow a strict diet and exercise regime, but they are more prone to weight gain.

By Karolina Grabowska / Unsplash+

As with human obesity, no single gene determined whether the dogs were prone to obesity; the net effect of multiple genetic variants determined whether dogs were at high or low risk.

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Study leader Dr. Eleanor Raffan said: “Studying the dogs showed us something really powerful (and the same is true of people). If you have a high genetic risk of obesity, then when there’s lots of food available you’re prone to overeating and gaining weight unless you put a huge effort into not doing so.”

“By studying dogs we could measure their desire for food separately to the control owners exerted over their dog’s diet and exercise. In human studies, it’s harder to study how genetically-driven appetite requires greater willpower to remain slim, as both are affecting the one person.”

The current human obesity epidemic is mirrored by an obesity epidemic in canines with between 40% and 60% of pet dogs overweight or obese, which can lead to several health issues.

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The research team recruited owners with dogs and they then measured the pet’s body fat, scored ‘greediness’, and took a saliva sample for DNA. They then analyzed the genetics of each dog. By comparing the obesity status of the dog to its DNA, they could identify the genes linked to canine obesity.

Dogs carrying the genetic variant most associated with obesity, DENND1B, had around 8% more body fat than those who didn’t have it.

The researchers say owners can keep their dogs distracted from constant hunger by spreading out each daily food ration, for example by using puzzle feeders or scattering the food around the garden so it takes longer to eat, or by choosing a more satisfying nutrient composition for their pets.

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The researchers explained that dogs are a “good model” for studying human obesity. They develop obesity through similar environmental influences as humans. And, any given breed has a high degree of genetic similarity with the others.

“This work shows how similar dogs are to humans genetically,” says Dr. Raffan, who believes the work has led to “a big advance in understanding how our own brain controls our eating behavior and energy use.”

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First Ever HD Footage From the Moon Shows Incredible Lunar Landing of Blue Ghost Spacecraft (WATCH)

Blue Ghost lunar lander on the Moon March 2, 2025 – Firefly Aerospace via SWNS
Blue Ghost lunar lander on the Moon March 2, 2025 – Firefly Aerospace via SWNS

In 1969 NASA live-streamed a moon landing on television by mounting a robust TV camera on the Apollo 11 and pointed it toward the steps—but, oh, how technology has changed in 55 years.

Firefly Aerospace engineers were cheering last Sunday as their Blue Ghost lunar spacecraft touched down and landed upright–the first time that a private company has done that.

And three days later the Texas-based company released amazing HD video of their accomplishment.

Blue Ghost had cameras attached to every side of its 6ft-tall by 11ft-wide frame to capture every angle of the descent.

The team at mission control identified surface hazards and selected a safe landing site. After that, Blue Ghost landed directly over the target in Mare Crisium.

“We have Moon dust on our boots!” wrote Firefly in an announcement.

“Our Ghost Riders have since downlinked our landing footage for the world to see—a historic moment on March 2 we’ll never forget.”

The descent of Blue Ghost lunar lander onto the Moon – Firefly Aerospace via SWNS

Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 1, named Ghost Riders in the Sky, was launched out of Earth’s atmosphere and into orbit by a SpaceX rocket on 15 January.

It made its own way over to the Moon within 45 days using solar powered batteries, before softly touching down on the craggy surface, and becoming the first commercial spacecraft in history to achieve a fully-successful lunar landing.

The descent of Blue Ghost lunar lander onto the Moon surface on March 2, 2025 – Firefly Aerospace via SWNS

Proving it had the right stuff, the lander delivered 10 science and technology instruments to the surface, including a drill that will attempt to dig down nine feet (3m) to measure the temperature.

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The Blue Ghost mission was part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative but, best of all, it delivered the first HD footage from the moon.

Watch a video from CBS News—and ALSO the Final Descent from Firefly…


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Your Weekly Horoscope from ‘Free Will Astrology’ by Rob Brezsny

Our partner Rob Brezsny, who has a new book out, Astrology Is Real: Revelations from My Life as an Oracle, provides his weekly wisdom to enlighten our thinking and motivate our mood. Rob’s Free Will Astrology, is a syndicated weekly column appearing in over a hundred publications. He is also the author of Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How All of Creation Is Conspiring To Shower You with Blessings. (A free preview of the book is available here.)

Here is your weekly horoscope…

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY – Week of March 8, 2025
Copyright by Rob Brezsny, FreeWillAstrology.com

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
No cars drove through London’s streets in 1868. That invention was still years away. But the roads were crammed with pedestrians and horses. To improve safety amidst the heavy traffic, a mechanical traffic light was installed—the first in the world. But it had a breakdown a month later, injured a police officer, and was discontinued. Traffic lights didn’t become common for 50 years after that. I believe your imminent innovations will have better luck and good timing, Pisces. Unlike the premature traffic signal, your creations and improvements will have the right context to succeed. Don’t be shy about pushing your good ideas! They could revamp the daily routine.

ARIES (March 21-April 19):
The world’s darkest material is Vantablack. This super-black coating absorbs 99.96% of visible light, creating a visual void. It has many practical applications, like improving the operation of telescopes, infrared cameras, and solar panels. I propose we make Vantablack your symbol of power in the coming weeks. It will signify that an apparent void or absence in your life might actually be a fertile opportunity. An ostensible emptiness may be full of potential.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
Among their many sensational qualities, rivers have the power to create through demolition and revision. Over the centuries, they erode rock and earth, making canyons and valleys. Their slow and steady transformative energy can be an inspiration to you in the coming months, Taurus. You, too, will be able to accomplish wonders through the strength of your relentless persistence—and through your resolute insistence that some old approaches will need to be eliminated to make way for new dispensations.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
Centuries before European sailors ventured across the seas, Polynesians were making wide-ranging voyages around the South Pacific. Their navigations didn’t use compasses or sextants, but relied on analyzing ocean swells, star configurations, cloud formations, bird movements, and wind patterns. I bring their genius to your attention, Gemini, because I believe you are gaining access to new ways to read and understand your environment. Subtleties that weren’t previously clear to you are becoming so. Your perceptual powers seem to be growing, and so is your sensitivity to clues from below the visible surface of things. Your intuition is synergizing with your logical mind.

CANCER (June 21-July 22):
The Maeslant Barrier is a gigantic, movable barricade designed to prevent the flooding of the Dutch port of Rotterdam. It’s deployed when storms generate surges that need to be repelled. I think we all need metaphorical versions of this protective fortification, with its balance of unstinting vigilance and timely flexibility. Do you have such psychic structures in place, Cancerian? Now would be a good time to ensure that you have them and they’re working properly. A key factor, as you mull over the prospect I’m suggesting, is knowing that you don’t need to keep all your defenses raised to the max at all times. Rather, you need to sense when it’s crucial to assert limits and boundaries—and when it’s safe and right to allow the flow of connection and opportunity.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
The authentic alchemists of medieval times were not foolishly hoping to transmute literal lead and other cheap metals into literal gold. In fact, their goal was to change the wounded, ignorant, unripe qualities of their psyches into beautiful, radiant aspects. The coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to do such magic. Life will provide you with help and inspiration as you try to brighten your shadows. We all need to do this challenging work, Leo! Now is one of your periodic chances to do it really well.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
Cosmic rhythms are authorizing you to be extra demanding in the coming days—as long as you are not frivolous, rude, or unreasonable. You have permission to ask for bigger and better privileges that you have previously felt were beyond your grasp. You should assume you have finally earned rights you had not fully earned before now. My advice is to be discerning about how you wield this extra power. Don’t waste it on trivial or petty matters. Use it to generate significant adjustments that will change your life for the better.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
In North America, starlings are an invasive species introduced from Europe in the 19th century. They are problematic, competing with native species for resources. They can damage crops and spread diseases that affect livestock. Yet starlings also create the breathtakingly beautiful marvel known as a murmuration. They make mesmerizing, ever-shifting patterns in the sky while moving as one cohesive unit. We all have starling-like phenomena in our lives—people, situations, and experiences that arouse deeply paradoxical responses, that we both enjoy and disapprove of. According to my analysis, the coming weeks will be prime time to transform and evolve your relationships with these things. It’s unwise to sustain the status quo. I’m not necessarily advising you to banish them—simply to change your connection.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
Buildings and walls in the old Incan city of Machu Picchu feature monumental stone blocks that fit together precisely. You can’t slip a piece of paper between them. Most are irregularly shaped and weigh many tons. Whoever constructed these prodigious structures benefited from massive amounts of ingenuity and patience. I invite you to summon some of the same blend of diligence and brilliance as you work on your growing masterpiece in the coming weeks and months. My prediction: What you create in 2025 will last a very long time.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
Bioluminescence is light emitted from living creatures. They don’t reflect the light of the sun or moon, but produce it themselves. Fireflies do it, and so do glow-worms and certain fungi. If you go to Puerto Rico’s Mosquito Bay, you may also spy the glimmer of marine plankton known as dinoflagellates. The best time to see them show what they can do is on a cloudy night during a new moon, when the deep murk reveals their full power. I believe their glory is a good metaphor for you in the coming days. Your beauty will be most visible and your illumination most valuable when the darkness is at a peak.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
Capricorn-born Shah Jahan I was the Emperor of Hindustan from 1628 to 1658. During his reign, he commissioned the Taj Mahal, a magnificent garden and building complex to honor his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. This spectacular “jewel of Islamic art” is still a major tourist attraction. In the spirit of Shah Jahan’s adoration, I invite you to dream and scheme about expressing your devotion to what you love. What stirs your heart and nourishes your soul? Find tangible ways to celebrate and fortify your deepest passions.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
Over 2,100 years ago, Greek scientists created an analog computer that could track astronomical movements and events decades in advance. Referred to now as the Antikythera mechanism, it was a unique, groundbreaking invention. Similar machines didn’t appear again until Europe in the 14th century. If it’s OK with you, I will compare you with the Antikythera mechanism. Why? You are often ahead of your time with your innovative approaches. People may regard you as complex, inscrutable, or unusual, when in fact you are simply alert for and homing in on future developments. These qualities of yours will be especially needed in the coming weeks and months.

WANT MORE? Listen to Rob’s EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES, 4-5 minute meditations on the current state of your destiny — or subscribe to his unique daily text message service at: RealAstrology.com

(Zodiac images by Numerologysign.com, CC license)

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