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Midwife Created a Game-Changing Kangaroo Pouch for Babies Born via Caesarean Section

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Marianne Hay and Stacey Boyle with Cozy Cuddle Scrubs (by Stacey) – SWNS
Marianne Hay and Stacey Boyle with Cozy Cuddle Scrubs (by Stacey) – SWNS

A midwife has created a “game-changing” kangaroo-style pouch that promises to upgrade neonatal care for babies delivered by Caesarean Section and improve outcomes for the tiny newborns.

Stacey Boyle invented the special top for birth partners to wear during surgery, instead of the normal scrubs. It features a pouch that allows vital skin-to-skin contact to take place as soon as a baby is born—while the surgical team shifts focus toward the mother and completing the procedure.

Babies delivered by Caesarean Section can be carefully placed into the sling-like pouch worn by the birth partner. The baby can nestle inside the top and reap all of the benefits of life-changing ‘skin-to-skin’ contact.

This has been proven to regulate temperature, stabilize heartbeat, support steady breathing, and even help with early feeding, as well as improve long term health outcomes, according to the health care team.

41-year-old Stacey came up with the pioneering idea while working in St John’s Hospital, in Livingston, Scotland, after noticing how challenging such contact was for a mom after this type of childbirth.

“We know how good skin-to-skin can be, but it can also be challenging because of the size of the table,” she said. “Most women were uncomfortable trying to do it and it can be unsafe for babies when mums are lying flat.

“More and more birth partners were interested in stepping up to do skin-to-skin, in the interim (and) I wondered if there was a way for partners to have the skin-to-skin contact without taking off their scrubs.”

Stacey approached her line manager, Marianne Hay and together they turned her idea into reality by helping to design and trial different types of material that would help keep babies at the right temperature.

Marianne said they created three different prototypes and found the most effective design to be one for which they used a recycled fleece jacket from the NHS (the UK’s National Health Service) as the covering material, with a secure Velcro opening which was sewn onto newly purchased scrubs.

Marianne Hay and Stacey Boyle with Cozy Cuddle Scrubs (by Stacey) – SWNS

After a huge team effort and lots of positive feedback from patients, Cozy Cuddle Scrubs (by Stacey), was born.

BABY LOVE: Texas Woman Sets Record for Donating Almost 700 Gallons of Breastmilk

Among those to benefit already is Sarah Kean, a 28-year-old mom who gave birth to a baby girl, Ayla, via C-Section on November 20—while her new dad Michael wore the scrubs.

“The scrubs Michael wore this time were very different from those at the birth of our two children,” Sarah reported.

“In our previous procedures, skin to skin contact was not made with our baby until I was in recovery approximately 30 minutes after they had been born.”

This time, Sarah was excited about the excellent outcome.

“It was incredible, Ayla was crying very loudly while her cord was being cut, and when she was weighed, but as soon as she was inside the scrubs with Michael, she settled and was very content.

“They were both able to sit next to me whilst my surgery was completed and I was moved into the recovery room, (compared to) when Michael had to leave the room immediately with the previous scrubs.”

ALTERNATIVE CHILDBIRTH: Water Births ‘Provide Clear Benefits’ For Moms and Newborn Babies, Large Analysis Shows

Michael agrees. “Having that skin-to-skin contact with Ayla was an incredibly magical moment, and it meant so much to be able to stay with her and my wife throughout the entire process.

“The scrubs were really comfortable, and it was so easy to secure Ayla in the pouch, keeping her wrapped up and cradled safely. I would highly recommend them to anyone wanting to create that special bonding moment with their newborn.”

Alison MacDonald, the Nurse Director at NHS in Lothian, said: “By creating a solution that allows partners to provide vital skin-to-skin contact, she has taken an important step toward enhancing neonatal care and supporting families in those precious first moments.”

Alongside NHS Lothian’s Research and Development team, formal NHS Scotland partner InnoScot Health helped protect and register the design, so it can now become more widely available through manufacturing partners. (Stay tuned for more information.)

Fiona Schaefer, at InnoScot Health, described it as “a game-changing innovation for promoting skin-to-skin contact with newborns.”

LUCKY BIRTH: Unaware She Was Pregnant, Lucky Lady is on Same Flight As NeoNatal Crew When She Gives Birth Prematurely

“The scrubs have the potential to reach hospitals across the UK, and possibly even globally, improving neonatal care and outcomes for families.”

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New Solution for Metastatic Ovarian Cancer Based on Approach From Nearly a Century Ago Shrinks Tumors

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Nan Zhang (left) studies cancer tumors in lab – Courtesy of The Wistar Institute
Nan Zhang (left) studies cancer tumors in lab – Courtesy of The Wistar Institute

A novel combination resulted in tumor regression during preclinical lab testing by scientists at the nonprofit Wistar Institute in Philadelphia.

Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecological cancer, with low survival rates because it is naturally resistant to chemotherapy, so its presence is difficult to combat anywhere in the body.

The cancer tends to metastasize through peritoneal fluid in the peritoneal cavity—around the stomach and intestines—which is naturally immunosuppressive, so limits the body’s response to any tumors.

To combat the challenging cancer, Nan Zhang, Ph.D. and his collaborators turned to a possible solution from nearly a century ago.

In the late 1800s & early 1900s, New York surgeon William B. Coley achieved a cure rate greater than 10% for some cancers by injecting patients with dead pathogens. Scientists later reasoned that this anti-cancer effect was the result of the immune system’s activation of myeloid cells—the plentiful cells in the peritoneal cavity—that when activated can mount a cancer-killing response.

Building on the concept, Zhang’s team designed an approach that specifically activates myeloid cells within the peritoneal cavity through combination treatment with beta-glucan, a pathogen-derived activator of myeloid cells, and interferon-gamma (IFNγ).

Preliminary reports suggest the approach can work to reverse the immunosuppression around tumors, leading to positive results.

DID YOU KNOW? Frequent Aspirin Use is Linked to Lower Risk of Ovarian Cancer in Women Most Likely to Develop the Disease

Their findings, published in The Journal of Experimental Medicine, confirmed that this combination therapy worked when tested in preclinical lab models. After treating metastatic ovarian cancer models with both β-glucan and IFNγ, total tumor burden “shrank substantially”, relative to controls.

The disease reversal was consistent even in chemotherapy-resistant strains of ovarian cancer, which the team also modeled.

Supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the team announced their new approach on November 21, saying their discovery for treating ovarian cancer “shrinks tumors and improves survival rates, while simultaneously making tumors more receptive to chemotherapy treatment”.

“Our work has opened the door to a possible new method of treating a particularly aggressive cancer,” said Brennah Murphy, Ph.D., first author of the paper. “Ovarian cancer is infamous for resisting treatment, but we’ve shown—at the preclinical level—our treatment overcomes that resistance.”

OVARIAN CANCER REVELATION: Vitamin D Could Help Protect Women Against and Even Reverse Ovarian Cancer – Study

Dr. Nan Zhang in the lab – Courtesy of The Wistar Institute

“This is the first time researchers have been able to indirectly target ovarian cancer cells in peritoneal fluid by inducing an immune reaction, in preclinical models,” said Zhang, an assistant professor in the Wistar Institute’s Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program.

“We look forward to taking this research further—particularly our findings on the role of IL27—so we can continue to identify other strategies to improve this new anti-ovarian-cancer approach.”

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Little Boy With Leukemia Returns to Hospital to Deliver 400 Christmas Gifts to Kids Still There for Holidays

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Elliott Hole dropping off presents at a children's hospital – SWNS
Elliott Hole dropping off presents at a children’s hospital – SWNS

A four-year-old boy with leukemia has dropped off more than 400 bags of Christmas presents at the children’s hospitals where he received care.

Elliott Hole and his mother Harley decided to give back by distributing advent calendars and and other fun items to keep sick kids entertained through the holidays

The mom in Kent, England, set up an Amazon Wishlist so that members of her community could purchase gifts, and they ended up with 346 items for tucking into party bags, including chocolate, games, bubbles, stickers, stationary, and more.

The family then dropped them off in crates to three local hospitals: the Royal Marsden in Sutton, Kings College in London, and Princess Royal University Hospital in Farnborough.

“From what I have experienced, you are stuck in a room and unable to leave because of viruses and it gets very boring,” Harley, who is a hairdresser by trade, told SWNS news.

“The reception from the patients was brilliant. The nurses were all amazed by how much there was. We wheeled in this huge crate of presents.”

MORE GREAT KIDDOS: Kids Leave Halloween Candy on Doorstep, Seeing Signs of Son’s Hospitalization–Family ‘Overwhelmed’ by Kindness

Elliot, dropping off presents at a children’s hospital – SWNS

“I stopped counting when we got to 400 but I would say in total we did about 440, as well as over 100 calendars.”

Harley first noticed something was wrong with Elliott in January 2022, when he had starting limping. They took him to the hospital where some blood tests were done, and three days later they were told he had Acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Elliott then started a three-year treatment plan, that entails daily chemotherapy, which will end in March.

“I sometimes forget what we have been through. When I hear other families’ stories, I think ‘wow that’s awful’—then I remember that we are that family too.

“When he was first diagnosed, we basically lived between Kings, Marsden, and Darent Valley Hospital for the first four months. Now, I need to be on hold for Elliott at all times, because if his temperature spikes we need to get him to Kings within the hour.

“He is a very kind little boy. He is quite outgoing. Considering everything that he has been through you would never think that anything was ever up. He is quite strong willed—and just powers through.”

BOY GIVES BACK: Boy Given 1% Chance of Survival Walks 5k for Hospital That Saved Him–After Air Rifle Shot to the Head as Baby

Elliot and his mother Harley, dropping off presents at a children’s hospital – SWNS

Harley says that receiving a gift bag like this would have meant a lot to Elliott and herself at the peak of his treatment.

“The kids love it, and it is nice to know that people are with you, standing alongside you.

“The community has been amazing. It was heartwarming to see how many people got involved.”

KINDNESS AT 30k FEET: When 5-year-old Missed His Graduation, Plane Passengers Give Special Midair Ceremony – (WATCH)

As Elliott approaches the end of his treatment he is beginning to take part in more hobbies and has just started playing soccer.

Harley says she is thrilled that her son is finishing treatment: “It is a milestone that obviously not all children get to reach.”

SHARE THE HOSPITAL IDEA With Other Families On Social Media…

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

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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 December 7, 2024
Copyright by Rob Brezsny, FreeWillAstrology.com

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
In his song Voodoo Child, Sagittarian musician Jimi Hendrix brags, “Well, I stand up next to a mountain / And I chop it down with the edge of my hand.” I encourage you to unleash fantasies like that in the coming days, Sagittarius. Can you shoot lightning bolts from your eyes? Sure you can. Can you change water into wine? Fly to the moon and back in a magic boat? Win the Nobel Prize for Being Yourself? In your imagination, yes you can. And these exercises will prime you for an array of more realistic escapades, like smashing a mental block, torching an outmoded fear, and demolishing an unnecessary inhibition or taboo. To supercharge your practical power, intensify your imagination’s audacity.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
The name of my column is “Free Will Astrology” because I aspire to nurture, inspire, and liberate your free will. A key component in that effort is to help you build your skills as a critical thinker. That’s why I encourage you to question everything I tell you. Don’t just assume that my counsel is always right and true for you. Likewise, I hope you are discerning in your dealings with all teachers, experts, and leaders—especially in the coming weeks and months. You are in a phase of your cycle when it’s even more crucial than usual to be a good-natured skeptic who poses exuberant, penetrating questions. To serve your soul’s health, refine your practice of the art of creative rebellion.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
Be like a beautifully made fountain that people love to visit, Aquarius. Not like a metaphorical geyser or stream or waterfall out in the natural world, but a three-tiered marble fountain. What does that entail? Here are hints. The water of the fountain cascades upward, but not too high or hard, and then it showers down gently into a pool. Its flow is steady and unflagging. Its sound is mellifluous and relaxing. The endless dance of the bubbles and currents is invigorating and calming, exuberant and rejuvenating. Be like a fountain.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
Around this time of year, persimmon trees in my neighborhood have shed their leaves but are teeming with dazzling orange fruits. Pomegranate trees are similar. Their leaves have fallen off but their red fruits are ready to eat. I love how these rebels offer their sweet, ripe gifts during our winter season. They remind me of the current state of your destiny, Pisces. Your gorgeous fertility is waxing. The blessings you have to offer are at a peak. I invite you to be extra generous as you share your gifts with those who are worthy of them—and maybe even a few who aren’t entirely worthy.

ARIES (March 21-April 19):
Blaming others for our problems is rarely helpful. If we expend emotional energy focusing on how people have offended and hurt us, we diminish our motivation to heal ourselves. We may also get distracted from changing the behavior that ushered us into the mess. So yes, it’s wise to accept responsibility for the part we have played in propagating predicaments. However, I believe it’s also counterproductive to be relentlessly serious about this or any other psychological principle. We all benefit from having mischievous fun as we rebel against tendencies we have to be dogmatic or fanatical. That’s why I am authorizing you to celebrate a good-humored Complaint Fest. For a limited time only, feel free to unleash fantasies in which you uninhibitedly and hilariously castigate everyone who has done you wrong.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
What you are experiencing may not be a major, earth-shaking rite of passage. But it’s sufficiently challenging and potentially rewarding to qualify as a pivotal breakthrough and turning point. And I’m pleased to say that any suffering you’re enduring will be constructive and educational. You may look back at this transition as a liberating initiation. You will feel deep gratification that you have clambered up to a higher level of mastery through the power of your intelligent love and feisty integrity.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
You are now about halfway between your last birthday and next birthday. In the prophecy industry, we call this your Unbirthday Season. It is usually a time when you receive an abundance of feedback—whether you want it or not. I encourage you to want it! Solicit it. Even pay for it. Not all of it will be true or useful, of course, but the part that is true and useful will be very much so. You could gather a wealth of information that will help you fine-tune your drive for success and joy in the months to come.

CANCER (June 21-July 22):
Legend tells us that the Buddha achieved enlightenment while meditating beneath the Bodhi Tree in Bihar, India. He was there for many weeks. At one point, a huge storm came and pelted the sacred spot with heavy rain. Just in time, the King of Serpents arrived, a giant cobra with a massive hood to shield the Buddha from the onslaught. Now I am predicting that you, too, will receive an unexpected form of protection and nurturing in the coming weeks. Be ready to open your mind about what help looks and feels like. It may not be entirely familiar.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
In written form, the Japanese term oubaitori is comprised of four kanji, or characters. They denote four fruit trees that bloom in the spring: cherry, plum, peach, and apricot. Each tree’s flowers blossom in their own sweet time, exactly when they are ready, neither early nor late. The poetic meaning of oubaitori is that we humans do the same: We grow and ripen at our own unique pace. That’s why it’s senseless to compare our rate of unfoldment to anyone else’s. We each have our own timing, our own rhythm. These ideas are especially apropos for you right now, Leo.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
I hope you will hunker down in your bunker. I hope you will junk all defunct versions of your spunky funkiness and seek out fresh forms of spunky funkiness. In other words, Virgo, I believe it’s crucial for you to get as relaxed and grounded as possible. You have a mandate to explore ultimate versions of stability and solidity. Shore up your foundations, please. Grow deeper roots. Dig down as deep as you can to strengthen and tone your relationship with the core of your being.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
Every one of us is a hypocrite at least some of the time. Now and then, we all ignore or outrightly violate our own high standards. We may even engage in behavior that we criticize in others. But here’s the good news for you, Libra. In the coming weeks and months, you may be as unhypocritical as you have ever been. According to my analysis of the astrological, omens, you are likely to be consistently faithful to your ideals. Your actual effects on people will closely match your intended effects. The Americans might ask, “Do you practice what you preach?” I expect the answer to that question will be yes as it pertains to you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
Author George Orwell advised us that if we don’t analyze and understand the past, we are likely to repeat the mistakes of the past. Alas, few people take heed. Their knowledge of our collective history is meager, as is their grasp of recurring trends in their personal lives. But now here’s the good news, dear Scorpio: In the coming months, you will have exceptional power to avoid replicating past ignorance and errors—IF you meditate regularly on the lessons available through a close study of your life story.

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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“Conflict cannot survive without your participation.” – Wayne Dyer 

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Quote of the Day: “Conflict cannot survive without your participation.” – Wayne Dyer 

Photo by: Lina Trochez

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, December 7

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Blessed Ludovica Albertoni, - CC 3.0.

426 years ago today, Gian Lorenzo Bernini was born. This Italian master sculptor and architect created the Baroque style, one of the four great European architectural styles. Praised by lords, celebrated by peers, patronized by Popes and cardinals, and hailed as the next Michelangelo and as the equal to Shakespeare in contribution to his art, Bernini’s sculptural works dot the houses of European royalty and the finest museums. READ about some of his pieces… (1498)

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Non-Verbal Boy Bakes Dozens of Christmas Pies to Replace Michelin-Star Chef’s Stolen Holiday Batch

By
Andy Corbley
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Family photo courtesy of Dan Harris
Family photo courtesy of Dan Harris

When a Michelin-starred chef in England had over 2,000 Christmas pies stolen on their way to a Christmas fair, an unlikely baker stepped in to help.

The story comes from the country’s northeast, where an award-winning Christmas market called the St. Nicolas Fair in the city of York, was set to feature 2,500 pies baked by Chef Tommy Banks, whose restaurant received the coveted star in 2013 during his first year as head chef.

However, the van transporting the pies to the event was stolen, driven off, and abandoned, with all the pies inside perishing.

Autistic 11-year-old Joshie Harris was reading the news with his father, and although he is non-verbal, he understood what was happening—that a man was sad, and that pies needed to be baked.

When they had finished reading the news report, Joshie held up an iPad which he uses to communicate. On it, he wrote, “I see sad man, pies finished.”

“Joshie doesn’t speak but cooking and baking is his way of showing creativity,” Dan Harris, Joshie’s father, told the BBC. “He wanted to show especially at Christmas that these kinds of things shouldn’t be happening.”

OTHER INSPIRED CHILDREN: Young Man With Autism Finds His Jam at Local McDonald’s, Singing Every Order at ‘Best Drive Thru Ever’ –WATCH

Since then Joshie has been busy baking dozens of pies of all different flavors, but especially his personal favorite, apple pie.

Mr. Harris has been in touch with Chef Banks, and the family hopes to be able to hand off all the pies on Saturday. Any which he can’t use will be donated, the family told the BBC, to a food bank.

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS: Joyous New York City Coffee Shop Hires and Trains People with Autism and Down Syndrome

“[I]t shows how that even though Joshie can’t speak, he can still be an active member of society doing good,” said his father proudly.

You can follow Dan and Joshie’s mission on their social media accounts, including Facebook, and Instagram.

SHARE This Sweet Boy’s Sweet Mission To Bake Up Some Simles On Christmas…

Billions of People Could Benefit from This Breakthrough in Desalination That Ensures Freshwater for the World

By
Andy Corbley
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A novel approach to making seawater evaporate faster has been hailed as a significant breakthrough in desalination technology that will benefit billions of people worldwide.

Up to 36% of the world’s eight billion people currently suffer from severe freshwater shortages for at least four months of the year, and this could potentially increase to 75% by 2050.

Seawater desalination is one of the most effective strategies to alleviate the impending scarcity, but existing processes consume massive amounts of energy, leaving a large carbon footprint.

Other problems plague the production of fresh water from the sea, including the necessity to de-scale membranes used in the reverse-osmosis desalination process with chemicals that are toxic to sea life. Furthermore, once the water is produced, the briny by-product is so overly rich in salt that it has the effect of an ecological contaminant.

Researchers from the University of South Australia (UniSA) have already demonstrated the potential of solar-powered evaporation as an energy-efficient, sustainable alternative to current desalination methods, but they are still limited by a lower evaporation rate for seawater compared to pure water due to the negative effect of salt ions on water evaporation.

UniSA materials science researcher Professor Haolan Xu has now collaborated with researchers from China on a project to develop a simple yet effective strategy to reverse this limitation.

By introducing inexpensive and common clay minerals like zeolite and bentonite into a floating photothermal hydrogel evaporator, the team achieved seawater evaporation rates that were 18.8% higher than pure water. This is a significant breakthrough since previous studies all found seawater evaporation rates were around 8% lower than pure water.

The researchers say the hydrogel evaporator maintained its performance even after months of immersion in seawater.

“The key to this breakthrough lies in the ion exchange process at the air-water interface,” Xu says.

ALSO CHECK OUT: Wave-Powered Desalination System Produces 13,000 Gallons of Drinking Water a Day From Each Buoy

“The minerals selectively enrich magnesium and calcium ions from seawater to the evaporation surfaces, which boosts the evaporation rate of seawater. This ion exchange process occurs spontaneously during solar evaporation, making it highly convenient and cost-effective.”

Considering the global desalination market numbers around 21,000 operational plants worldwide, even small declines in desalination performance can result in the loss of tens of millions of tons of clean water.

MORE SALTY STORIES: Solar-Powered Desalination Device Will Turn Sea Water Into Fresh Water For 400,000 People

“This new strategy, which could be easily integrated into existing evaporation-based desalination systems, will provide additional access to massive amounts of clean water, benefitting billions of people worldwide,” Xu says.

Fossil fuels are what power most of the world’s desalination plants, and experimental machines trying to de-carbonize the industry have used solar power, and mechanical energy from the movement of waves.

Take The Salt Out Of The News And Share This Fresh Innovation…

Visionary Fuels First Car Powered By Seaweed Piling Up on Beaches That Reduces Tourism

By
Andy Corbley
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Credit: Dr. Legena Henry, supplied to the Daily Express.
Credit: Dr. Legena Henry, supplied to the Daily Express.

A woman from Trinidad and Tobago has created a startup that’s turning heaps of smelly seaweed and other waste from the island’s rum distilleries into a new, low-emission fuel for cars.

Along with members of her team, she is working on creating the first product under the brand name Rum and Sargassum—a mixture that produces energy when burned, and which they had no idea would work when they started.

The story begins when Dr. Legena Henry began teaching a sustainable energy course at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill campus on the island of Barbados.

“One day in class, while we were discussing transportation, a student raised her hand and said, ‘I am seeing all these electric vehicles around Barbados, but I cannot afford an electric car’,” Henry told the Trinidad Daily Express.

That got Henry thinking—how could Barbados transition 150,000 gasoline cars off gasoline if people can’t afford the alternative? At first, she and a group of students began looking over the summer into one of the great industrializations of Brazil.

Two-thirds of all ICE cars in that country are powered by a renewable fuel derived from sugarcane. However, after three weeks of research, Henry and her students realized that the sugarcane industry on Barbados was shrinking, and couldn’t supply nearly enough feedstock to replicate Brazil’s success.

Instead, Univ. of West Indies student Brittney McKenzie came to a team meeting one day with the suggestion that they look into using sargassum seaweed.

Millions of dollars are spent by Barbados’ beach resorts every year to remove sargassum seaweed that piles up on the beaches, releasing a salty smell similar to rotten fish and driving tourists away.

Tourists are the islands’ largest economic driver, so there was no risk of a drop in production of waste sargassum unless the winds and currents bring it elsewhere in the Caribbean.

While Dr. Henry was doubtful, she didn’t want to dampen her students’ enthusiasm, and with three weeks into summer break, there wasn’t much time left to think of other ideas.

Henry explained that, typically at the start of such a project, she would have her students do a review of the literature to find out if sargassum had ever been used for energy, whether could it generate substantial energy like the kind needed to power a vehicle, or if there were any other inputs needed.

But she deigned there wasn’t enough time left in their project, and advised them to just go ahead and run the experiment.

INSPIRATIONAL EFFORTS LIKE THIS: Compostable Plastic Wrap Made from Seaweed Can Withstand Heat–and Biodegrade in Weeks

“So we did not read the articles. The journals would have told us don’t put sargassum in any biodigester because you are not going to get any energy out of it. But we didn’t read. We didn’t read so we went and did it and guess what? Energy came out of it we got a biogas from sargassum, but it was mixed with rum wastewater,” Henry said.

The rum was the key, and suddenly they had a lead, and began seeking capital from various development agencies and funds to expand their research into a business.

The students involved in the business are now working to study sargassum. Where does it come from and where does it grow, and whether one can map the patterns of its distribution across the Caribbean where it’s a colossal menace to many different countries.

MORE ON SEAWEED: Visionary Gardener Turns Piles of Beached Seaweed Into Bricks for Sustainable Construction

Dr. Henry sees the hypothetical market offering of a simple conversion kit to change ICE cars from burning gasoline into burning Rum and Sargassum fuel products as substantially attractive compared with the cost of a new electric vehicle.

The project could potentially remove 103,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually in Barbados, she estimated.

SHARE This Brilliant Woman And Her Brilliant Students’ Brilliant Idea For Barbados…

Knee Arthritis Treatment Relieves Pain and Could Prevent Need for Replacement Surgery

By
Andy Corbley
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Knee osteoarthritis before and after treatment by genicular artery embolization – Dr. Florian Nima Fleckenstein / Charite University Hospital Berlin / SWNS
Knee osteoarthritis before and after treatment by genicular artery embolization – Dr. Florian Nima Fleckenstein / Charite University Hospital Berlin / SWNS

A minimally invasive procedure provided significant relief from knee pain and may prevent the need for knee replacement surgery in people with osteoarthritis, according to a new study.

Osteoarthritis, a chronic, degenerative, and progressive condition, is the most common cause of chronic joint disorders. According to the World Health Organization, knee osteoarthritis affects over 365 million adults worldwide.

Most available therapies, such as pain medication and steroid injections, only mask the symptoms. They don’t slow the progression of the disease. As osteoarthritis worsens and conservative treatments become ineffective, many people turn to joint replacement surgery.

“This study addresses osteoarthritis, which is a significant public health issue and the leading cause of chronic pain and disability worldwide,” said the study’s lead author, Florian Nima Fleckenstein from University Hospital Berlin in Germany.

“With millions of people affected by knee osteoarthritis, particularly in aging populations, finding effective, minimally invasive treatments is critical.”

The presented treatment is called genicular artery embolization (GAE). The genicular arteries have several branches that form a network around the knee joint. These vessels are altered in patients suffering from osteoarthritis.

In GAE, an interventional radiologist injects small particles into selected branches that correspond to the site of knee pain to block blood flow to that area. Embolization of the abnormal blood vessels helps to disrupt the cycle of inflammation, cartilage destruction, and sensory nerve growth that characterizes osteoarthritis.

For the study, Dr. Fleckenstein and colleagues conducted a retrospective analysis of 403 cases from patients aged 40 to 90 with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis who didn’t respond to conservative treatments. They were assessed with pain and quality of life scores, recorded at baseline and during follow-up visits at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year post-procedure.

No severe complications were reported and the quality-of-life index and pain score improved by 87% and 71% respectively at the end of 1 year.

NEW OSTEO TREATMENTS: New Procedure Could Improve Quality of Life for Millions of People after Knee Replacement Surgery

The findings show that GAE is a safe and effective treatment option across all severity grades of knee osteoarthritis, including advanced cases where other treatments have very limited efficacy.

“Our study found that GAE can effectively reduce knee pain and improve quality of life early after the treatment, with these benefits being maintained over the long term, especially for people who haven’t had success with other treatments like physical therapy or pain medications,” Dr. Fleckenstein said. “This could potentially offer a new lease on life for many patients who suffer from debilitating pain and mobility issues, caused by osteoarthritis.”

However, the study also showed that GAE is particularly effective in the early stages of knee osteoarthritis. This indicates that early intervention could potentially delay or even prevent disease progression, reducing the need for more invasive treatments, such as surgery.

MORE STUDIES LIKE THIS: Analysis Strongly Supports Turmeric Supplementation to Improve Arthritis and Osteopenia

The researchers hope that by demonstrating the procedure’s success in a large and diverse patient population, the study could influence medical practice and policy, encouraging broader adoption of GAE in clinical settings worldwide.

“GAE has the potential to reduce the need for more invasive surgeries, lower health care costs, and significantly improve the quality of life for countless individuals suffering from knee osteoarthritis,” Dr. Fleckenstein said.

AVOIDING SURGERY: Patients Could Avoid Thyroid Surgery With New Minimally Invasive Procedure

He and his team plan to continue their research on degenerative joint disorders to provide patients with new options in the field of interventional radiology.

WHO WANTS SURGERY? Share This Exciting Alternative Treatment…

“I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.” – Henry David Thoreau

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Good News Network
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Getty Images / Unsplash+ (cropped)

Quote of the Day: “I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.” – Henry David Thoreau

Photo by: Getty Images / Unsplash+ (cropped)

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, December 6

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Good News Network
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And, 60 years ago today, Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the animated stop-motion Christmas special, was first broadcast on CBS television. The beloved Rankin/Bass production chronicles the bullying endured by Rudolph (at reindeer school) and a misfit elf named Hermey, who wants to be a dentist. WATCH the No.1 broadcast TV holiday tradition below… (1964)

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Woman Looking for Birth Parents Learns That Dad Was a ‘Friend’ on Facebook

By
Andy Corbley
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Credit: Tamuna Muserhidze, supplied to the BBC
Credit: Tamuna Museridze, supplied to the BBC

A woman in Eastern Europe has found her biological father after suddenly discovering she was adopted from birth.

Moreover, her search eventually landed him at her virtual doorstep on Facebook—where the two had been friends for three years.

It all began in 2016, when Tamuna Museridze was going through the personal effects of the woman whom she once thought was her mother. Among them, she found a birth certificate with her name on it, but the wrong date.

A journalist by trade, Tamuna began to wonder if she were adopted—or perhaps a victim of a child trafficking ring in her home country of Georgia.

After doing some research, she set up a Facebook group called Vedzeb, or ‘I’m Searching’ in the beautiful Georgian language. Time passed, and eventually someone from rural Georgia messaged her on the social media platform saying that, on the off-chance it might help Tamuna’s search, she knew a woman who had concealed a pregnancy and traveled to the capital of Tbilisi in September 1984—the month of Tamuna’s birth.

This message included a name—but it didn’t exist on social media, so Tamuna posted as far as her virtual words could carry: did anyone know this woman? As it turned out, someone did, and they reached out saying if Tamuna would agree to take the post down for privacy’s sake, she would take a DNA test in sync with Tamuna.

The name was the stranger’s aunt, and the DNA test confirmed the two women were cousins. It wasn’t long before she found the name of her biological father as well.

“The first two months were shocking, I couldn’t believe these things were happening to me,” Tamuna told the BBC. “I couldn’t believe I had found them.”

Gurgen Khorava, a man from a rural village in western Georgia, had been following Tamuna’s work as a journalist, and the two had been friends on Facebook for three years.

“He didn’t even know my birth mother had been pregnant,” says Tamuna. “It was a huge surprise for him.”

LOST SISTERS MEET: Sisters Who Found Each Other Through DNA Discover They Had Mysteriously Named Their Kids After Each Other

The two reached out and organized a meeting at the 72-year-old’s home. When she arrived, the stunned daughter explained they just sat together for some time staring at each other trying to create a connection that matched the feeling of connection they both had in their hearts from the moment they saw each other.

Tamuna (L) with her newly-found half-sister Rusiko (C) and cousin Manoni (R), who Gurgen introduced her to.

Eventually, a very Georgian connection arose—a love of dancing. Gurgen had been a renowned man at the State Ballet of Georgia, while Tamuna’s daughters practice the same art form.

Tamuna also got in contact with her biological mother, but unfortunately this meeting was not a merry one.

MORE FAMILY REUNIONS: After Decades Searching, Woman Finds Biological Mom on Facebook and Meets Grandma Days Before her Death

Gurgen decided to invite his whole family—up to the level of second cousins—for a dinner and reunion to welcome Tamuna into the family, delightful clips of which were captured by the BBC. 

“It was strange, the moment he looked at me, he knew that I was his daughter,” she recalls. “I had so many mixed emotions.”

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Spray-on ‘Tattoos’ Are Easily Attached for Making Brain Scans, Replacing Outdated EEGs

By
Andy Corbley
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EEG setup with e-tattoo electrodes –Credit: Nanshu Lu / University of Texas at Austin
EEG setup with e-tattoo electrodes –Credit: Nanshu Lu / University of Texas at Austin

From Texas comes a bio-technology interface nearly impossible to believe: tattoos that double as brain sensors.

The engineers of this technology explain how for almost 100 years, the electroencephalogram (EEG) has been the standard method for monitoring brain activity, but along with being prohibitive to long or dense hair, it loses efficacy after about 6 hours.

The tattoos by contrast are applied via a spray-on, biocompatible gel made of conductive polymer that’s filled with hundreds of tiny sensors that read brain activity like a standard EEG.

The benefits are legion—including percolating effortlessly through hair and 24-hour effectiveness.

“Our innovations in sensor design, biocompatible ink, and high-speed printing pave the way for future on-body manufacturing of electronic tattoo sensors,” Nanshu Lu, one of the lead researchers at the University of Texas at Austin who designed the technology, told ZME Science. “It has broad applications both within and beyond clinical settings.”

The application is remarkably simple. The positions where the EEG-tattoo points should sit are mapped out by a computer, then a specialized inkjet printer applies the ink which dries within minutes into the tattoo.

There’s no discomfort, no long hours needed to apply each individual EEG which must be connected with wires to a bulky machine, and no need to reapply anything within the same day.

Lu and her colleagues tested the EEG-tattoo against a traditional EEG and found that by 6 hours, the traditional electrodes applied with the gel began delivering weaker and fainter signals as the gel dried out, while one third stopped working altogether.

The EEG-tattoo spray had not lost any signal 24 hours after the first application.

ALSO CHECK OUT: Device from MIT Startup Helps People Fall Asleep–Putting Your Mind on ‘Do Not Disturb’

Taking their project further, and with a little tweak to the ink mixture, the researchers were also able to spray on the ‘wires’ which were able to transmit data effectively to a small collection device.

“E-tattoos represent a new frontier in wearable technology,” says Lu. “This is just the beginning of what we can achieve.”

ZME noted that athletes are already using similar technologies on their torsos to monitor athletic performance.

MORE BLENDING OF MACHINE AND MAN: Incredible Internal Cochlear Implants on the Way as Massachusetts Engineers Overcame All Obstacles

“Our study can potentially revolutionize the way non-invasive brain-computer interface devices are designed,” added José Millán, another co-author. “By printing sensors directly onto the scalp, e-tattoos could eliminate the need for headsets altogether, making these devices more accessible and easier to use.”

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Illinois Deputies Save Pregnant Driver Whose Runaway Car Was Heading Straight for a Lake

By
Andy Corbley
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Credit: Williamson Sheriff's Office
Credit: Williamson Sheriff’s Office

A pregnant motorist was recently saved from plunging into a lake when her brakes failed.

Shortly after 2 a.m. on Monday, 911 received a call from a distressed woman saying her car would not stop.

Moving at approximately 30 miles an hour, Williamson County Sheriff’s Office deputies eventually reached her on Old Route 13 near Carterville, Illinois, and found that the Chevrolet’s brake lights were on, but the car wouldn’t slow.

The deputies then performed a ‘rolling roadblock’ maneuver, wherein they positioned themselves in front of the distressed motorist and gradually slowed until the front bumper of her car touched the back bumper of the patrol car.

The deputy then applied his thankfully functional brakes, which slowed both cars until the danger was over.

The site of the car’s ultimate stop was just a quarter of a mile from the local Crab Orchard Lake.

MORE RESCUES LIKE THIS: Adrift for Days in an Inflatable Tube, Woman Rescued Off Coast of Japan by Passing Sailors

“Had the Deputy not been on scene or delayed performing this maneuver the driver and vehicle would have likely gone into the water upon reaching the lake,” stated Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Diederich in a Facebook post.

EMS arrived on the scene out of “an abundance of caution,” as the driver later informed the deputy she was pregnant. [CORRECTION: An early version of this story said it took place in Missouri, rather than Illinois.]

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Spending Time in the Great Outdoors Helps Children with Mental Health Issues, Says New Study

By
Andy Corbley
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Credit Webster, Unsplash
Credit Webster, Unsplash

It’s new news; it’s old news; it’s news that can never be repeated too often: spending time in nature reduces emotional distress among troubled 10 to 12-year-olds.

The Canadian researchers behind the new study say their findings suggest that an inexpensive school-based, nature-born program may help the most vulnerable youngsters.

Canadian researchers discovered that spending two hours a week of class time in a natural environment can reduce emotional distress among child participants who had the most significant mental health problems before the program began.

The research, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, follows the recent publication of a UNICEF report pointing to the importance of green space for children’s development.

The Canadian team looked at the effects of spending time in nature on the behavior and mental health symptoms of more than 500 schoolchildren across Quebec in the spring of 2023.

“The idea for the project came up during the pandemic when people were worried about the health risks of children spending so much time inside the school each day,” said study senior author Professor Marie-Claude Geoffroy, of McGill University.

They found that at the end of a three-month period, teachers noted that the biggest changes in behavior occurred in children with the most significant problemsat the outset. These included anxiety and depression, aggressivity and impulsivity, and social problems relating to interaction with their peers.

Interviews with the teachers following the program also suggested that children were more calm, relaxed, and attentive in class after time spent in nature.

“This suggests that nature-based programs may offer targeted benefits for children with higher levels of mental health vulnerabilities and potentially act as an equalizer of mental health among school-age children,” co-author Professor Sylvana Côté, from the University of Montreal, added.

The research builds on earlier observational studies but is the first to use a randomized controlled trial—the gold standard of medical research—to provide concrete information about the benefits to children of spending time in nature.

All the schools involved in the study were within a mile of a park or green space, and half of the children stayed in school, while a similar number of children took part in the nature-based intervention.

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“My kids and I spend lots of time in parks, so I’ve seen the benefits of spending time in nature, both for myself and for them,” added Professor Geoffrey. “So, I thought maybe we can have a free and accessible intervention where school children can spend time in nature, and we can measure the effects this has on their mood and behavior.”

During the two hours they spent in the park each week, teachers were asked to offer their regular classes in subjects such as math, languages, or science.

They were also asked to incorporate a 10- to 15-minute activity designed to promote mental health, with examples drawn from a teachers’ kit designed by the research team.

MORE STUDIES LIKE THIS: Visiting Green Spaces 3-4 Times Weekly May Lower Your Need for Meds, According to New Study

The activities included drawing a tree, writing haikus, and mindful walking.

Study first author Tianna Loose, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Montreal, added that the intervention was low-cost, well-received, and posed no risks, making it a promising strategy for schools.

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“A loving heart is the truest wisdom.” – Charles Dickens

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Good News Network
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Fanny Beckman For Unsplash+

Quote of the Day: “A loving heart is the truest wisdom.” – Charles Dickens

Photo by: Fanny Beckman / Unsplash+

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, December 5

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Good News Network
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Clyde Cessna in 1917

145 years ago today, Clyde Cessna was born. Founding the Cessna Aircraft Company in the 1920s, the company was one of the highest-volume and most diverse producers of general aviation aircraft in the world during the 20th century. Cessna’s interest in aviation began in 1910 after witnessing an aerial exhibition in his home state of Kansas. He moved to New York state to pursue a career in aviation, and built his first airplane at age 32. READ more about his innovations… (1879)

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Bride’s Venue Burns Down Only for Her Big Day to Rise from the Ashes, ‘It took a village’

By
Andy Corbley
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The venue after the fire - Credit: Meredith Dietrich, released to People
The venue after the fire – Credit: Meredith Dietrich, released to People

What’s the worst wedding day disaster you’ve ever heard? For Meredith Diedrich, a wedding venue that burns to the ground and a hospitalized hair and makeup artist promised to ruin one of her most memorable days—and it all happened in an instant.

On the morning of the wedding day, Three Notch’d Brewery, Distillery & Craft Kitchen in Nellysford, Virginia, burnt down, with nothing but fragments of the timber frame left standing.

Meredith’s mother got the call from the venue organizer at 7 a.m. explaining what happened. Initially, she thought her mom was joking, but when she arrived to survey the damage, she had “no clue even how to react.”

A video made by Meredith’s sister captured the bride joking on TikTok that it was all “typical wedding day s&%$t.”

Simultaneously, Meredith’s hair and makeup artist was admitted to the hospital for pregnancy related health complications.

@bl.starke if we dont laugh we will cry #unreal #photographer #photographersoftiktok ♬ Type Shit - Future & Metro Boomin & Travis Scott & Playboi Carti

“My bridesmaids had stayed overnight with me, so I called them into the room and told them what had happened. We all were in shock for a few minutes, then started to laugh,” Meredith told People Magazine. “I had thought, ‘what else is there to do but laugh?'”

Taking it all in stride, and boosted by a team of dedicated bridesmaids, Meredith got to work calling all the guests and explaining what happened while the venue organizer at Three Notch’d began to contact other potential venues in the area to see if a space was available.

OTHER NEAR DISASTERS: When Tornado Interrupts Wedding They Had First Dance in Basement Shelter: ‘Restored my faith in humanity’

“The moment we got the confirmation for the new venue we all got to work,” Meredith told People Magazine. “Me, the bridesmaids, some family friends, my parents, and the staff at both venues all worked to put everything together as quickly as possible at our new location, seven minutes down the street at Blue Toad Hard Cider.”

The effort to move all the catering, favors, table sets, and more “took a village” but produced a beautiful, intimate wedding that rose like a phoenix from the ashes of a near disaster.

DISASTER STRIKES: 4-month-old Baby Sucked Up into Tornado is Found Asleep and Unharmed in a ‘Cradle’ of Fallen Tree Limbs

“It wasn’t what we originally planned, but it turned into a day filled with deep love, meaningful moments, and memories we’ll treasure forever. It was a testament to love and resilience.”

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Once Bright and Lively the Sombrero Galaxy Mellows Out Under James Webb Telescope’s Infrared Light

By
Andy Corbley
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The Sombrero galaxy seen in mid-infrared light - Credit: NASA
The Sombrero galaxy seen in mid-infrared light – Credit NASA

In a new image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, the nature of the Sombrero galaxy seems completely different.

When seen in visible light, the galactic core whites out the inner disk, while the outer disk roils with dust and gas.

The Sombrero galaxy seen imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope in visible light – Credit: NASA

But when seen under Webb’s mid-infrared view, the Sombrero galaxy, also known as Messier 104 (M104), the core does not shine; instead, a smooth inner disk is revealed.

The sharp resolution of Webb’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) also brings into focus details of the galaxy’s outer ring, providing insights into how the dust, an essential building block for astronomical objects in the universe, is distributed. The galaxy’s outer ring, which appeared smooth like a blanket in imaging from NASA’s retired Spitzer Space Telescope, shows intricate clumps in the infrared for the first time.

Researchers say the clumpy nature of the dust, where MIRI detects carbon-containing molecules called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, can indicate the presence of young star-forming regions.

However, unlike some galaxies studied with Webb, the Sombrero galaxy is not a particular hotbed of star formation. The rings of the Sombrero galaxy produce less than one solar mass of stars per year, in comparison to the Milky Way’s roughly two solar masses a year.

Even the supermassive black hole, also known as an active galactic nucleus, at the center of the Sombrero galaxy is rather docile, despite its hefty 9-billion-solar masses. It’s classified as a low-luminosity nucleus.

JAMES WEBB IMAGES: New James Webb Image Shows ‘Crowded, Tumultuous’ Heart of Our Galaxy in Never-Before-Seen Detail

Also within the Sombrero galaxy dwell some 2,000 globular clusters, collections of hundreds of thousands of old stars held together by gravity. This type of system serves as a pseudo laboratory for astronomers to study thousands of stars within one system with the same age, but of varying masses and other properties; an intriguing opportunity for comparison studies.

MORE GALACTIC ANALYSES: Hubble Telescope Still Hard at Work Snapping Photos Like This Star-Packed ‘Triangulum Galaxy’

In the MIRI image, galaxies of varying shapes and colors litter the background of space. The different colors of these background galaxies can tell astronomers about their properties, including how far away they are.

The Sombrero galaxy is around 30 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Virgo.

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