What Else Is News, Early 2024 Edition
Here are some leftover stories from 2023 and a few interesting tidbits to start off the new year.
Helping Man’s Best Friend to Stick Around Longer
The FDA says a new drug is effective and could help dogs live longer. The injectable drug, manufactured by San Francisco-based biotech firm Loyal, is intended to increase longevity for large-breed dogs. The company hopes to have final approval from the FDA by 2026. Loyal is also developing longevity drugs for dogs of all sizes and breeds.
Kidney Infection Leads to Woman’s Quadruple Amputation
A Kentucky woman says she’s happy to be alive following an infection that forced doctors to amputate her arms and legs. Cindy Mullins, a nurse, wife and mother of two, had a kidney stone that became infected. She contracted sepsis as a result. The infection led to the amputation of her legs from the knees down and her arms from the elbows down.
Mullins focused on the positive side of the situation. “I'm just so happy to be alive,” she said. “I get to see my kids. I get to see my family. I get to have my time with my husband."
Migrants Continue to Cross Southern Border
Just over 300,000 migrants sought access to the United States from the southern border in December. That is said to be the highest number of migrant encounters in the United States in a single month.
There’s lots to discuss about this issue, but a few aspects are particularly intriguing. Read how Nicaragua is helping migrants from Africa and Asia bypass dangerous areas so they can more easily head to Mexico and the United States. Catch a glimpse of the migrant situation in Eagle Pass, Texas. Read an article that explains why the influx of migrants isn’t likely to slow down any time soon, and another that delves into the political climate over the situation.
‘Virtual Rape’ Reported in UK
A 16-year-old British girl playing a virtual reality game claims that her avatar (online persona) was gang raped by a group of adult male avatars. Although there was no actual contact, the police investigating the case say that she “suffered the same psychological and emotional trauma as someone who has been raped in the real world as the VR experience is designed to be completely immersive.”
In response to the incident, Ian Critchley, the National Police Chiefs' Council's Child Protection and Abuse Investigation Lead, said that 'the metaverse creates a gateway for predators to commit horrific crimes against children.”
New Lab Has Goal of Adding 10 Healthy Years to Human Life
If your dog is going to live longer, you might as well live a bit longer, too. According to Bloomberg, the startup Retro Biosciences “wants to give every human 10 additional years of healthy, vigorous life. To pull this off, and pull it off quickly, Retro has eschewed a number of biotechnology startup traditions. Most notably, instead of chasing a single super-promising compound or treatment, it’s decided to pursue five tracks of research at the same time.”
About 50 team members at Retro Biosciences are working on breakthroughs including removing damaged cells and rejuvenating blood plasma.