Happy News

1. Polar Bear Gleefully Eating a 1,400-Pound Pumpkin Donated for His Dinner is a Sight to Behold

At the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat in Ontario, Canada, Inuk, a 1,200 pound polar bear, was surprised with a giant pumpkin that was donated by a local farm as part of the zoo’s ongoing enrichment program. The staff of the zoo saw the giant pumpkin, which weighed more than Inuk, at 1,400 pounds, while driving on the highway. The staff called the logo that was on the side of the truck, Aidie Creek Gardens, who said that the pumpkin would just go into the compost if they did not take it. While Inuk might have acted defensive towards the pumpkin at first, he eventually dug into the giant treat.

2. Nanotyrannus debate finally solved! New species of dinosaur confirmed!

The debate over whether some small dinosaur fossils are those of a young T-Rex or those of a different species, Nanotyrannus, has finally come to a conclusion. After being debated for over 4 decades, scientists now claim that there is a new species of dinosaur called Nanotyrannus. Two fossils–one that belongs to a Triceratops, and the other of a little predator–were found buried together in the middle of a “Dueling Dinosaurs” fight. Scientists wanted to know what this predator was, and though some argued for it being a T-Rex, others claimed it was an entirely different species. Dr. James Napoli, a Tyrannosaurus researcher alongside Dr. Lindsay Zanno, concluded that there were major differences between the two, specifically with vertebrae growth and the skull. They claimed it was impossible for the fossils to be that of a Tyrannosaurus, as the two are very different: one was a more slim, agile dinosaur, while the T-Rex was a stocky predator with a bigger skull. This conclusion suggests that these dinosaurs inhabited a more diverse ecosystem than we thought. Paleontologists are always finding new species and although it stumped them for a while, this proves it was a staggering discovery.  

3. Seniors Who Listen to Music May Slash Their Dementia Risk by Over a Third

A new study looked into how music affects the elderly, discovering that both listening to music and playing an instrument can lower the risk of dementia by over a third in people over the age of 70. The study included around 10,800 subjects, all of whom were over the age of 70. It was found that music lowered the risk of dementia and cognitive impairment by 17%. The combination of listening to music and playing an instrument regularly was found to increase both of these benefits. Although as of now, there is no cure for dementia, this new study can help many elderly people prevent or delay it. 

4. New Malaria Drug Succeeds in Large Clinical Trial to Combat Resistance

A major clinical trial has recently found that the new antimalarial drug combination KLU156, made from Novartis’ newly discovered compound ganaplacide paired with lumefantrine, is as effective as the current artemisinin-based treatments, which offers crucial hope as resistance to existing antimalarial drugs continues to rise. The drug was tested on 1,600 people in 12 different African countries: KLU156 was able to cure 99.2% of the malaria cases and eliminated parasite stages that enabled mosquito transmission. The drug does contain an extremely bitter taste, that led to 20% more vomiting and treatment interruptions. While Novartis plans to seek swift approval and sell the drug, researchers are still debating how best to use it, with some proposals ranging from immediate deployment to seasonal rotation with ACTs to slow resistance and help preserve its long term effectiveness.

5. A smart keyboard for Parkinson's wins the James Dyson Award(Kaia)

OnCue, a smart keyboard specifically designed to assist with typing skills for people with Parkinson’s, earned the Global title for the James Dyson Award on November 5 of this year. Developed by Alessandra Galli, its features include haptic and visual feedback, an AI lighting system, and functional design for human hands. These features work cohesively to help with consistent typing and adjust to Parkinson’s symptoms, allowing flexibility for people with the disease throughout their day. People can also customize it to their needs by adjusting the haptic and visual cue intensities. Galli observed two focus groups to understand their priorities, and noticed that many said feedback from the keyboard was helpful for tremors: “by delivering subtle vibrations with each keystroke, the keyboard enhances the user’s awareness of key activation” (Galli). She realized how beneficial it was as it brought about a confidence and comfortability with their typing flow. 

6. Coffee Shop raises over $80,000 to feed people losing SNAP benefits

A coffee shop in Portland has stepped up in the face of the recent government shutdown to support those who have lost SNAP benefits. The shop, Heretic Coffee Shop, raised $100,000 for those in need. Not only that, but the shop itself is run entirely by volunteers, and it operates on a not-for-profit basis: the coffee shop's owner, Josh White, states, “when the system fails us, it’s on everyday people to take care of each other.” The donation link is still active for those who wish to support.