It's mooving time for Michigan cows! Earlier this week, more than 250 dairy cattle made their way to Michigan State University's brand-new Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center. The state-of-the-art facility will be an opportunity for students to learn on a modern, high-tech farm. "It's a new beginning," George Smith, head of the school's AgBioResearch department, told the Associated Press. Watch footage of the cows on the moove (sorry, that was the last one).
Must Reads
The New York Times asked eight couples counselors: What's the piece of relationship advice you keep repeating?
Check out Nice News founder Sean Devlin's cameo on a recent episode of the #L.A.Rising podcast
Health
How 2 Cancer Drugs Might Be Repurposed to Slow Alzheimer's Progression
Michael Short/Gladstone Institutes
It seems every day we're hearing about an exciting new development in Alzheimer's research — and today is no exception. Scientists at UC San Francisco and Gladstone Institutes have discovered that two drugs originally designed for treating cancer may offer unexpected hope for Alzheimer's patients, potentially slowing or even reversing the disease's effects. When used together, the two FDA-approved drugs — letrozole (for breast cancer) and irinotecan (for colon and lung cancer) — were found to reverse harmful brain changes in mice. The combination reduced toxic protein clumps and brain degeneration, and even restored memory. Researchers identified these two drugs by homing in on medications capable of reversing gene expression changes in neurons and glia cells, both of which are affected by Alzheimer's disease. The team then examined millions of digital medical records, finding that patients treated with some of these drugs for other conditions had a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's. While more research and human trials are needed, the study opens the door for a new "computational approach" to identifying drugs that can potentially improve cognition, co-author Marina Sirota explained in a press release. She said: "Alzheimer's disease comes with complex changes to the brain, which has made it tough to study and treat, but our computational tools opened up the possibility of tackling the complexity directly."
Together With Timeplast
Meet the Founder Making Plastic Obsolete
The world produces 450 million metric tons of plastic waste each year. Microplastics are seeping into our oceans and food. They even show up in our bodies. So you can imagine how revolutionary a new kind of plastic that completely dissolves in water would be. Thatʼs what CEO Manuel Rendon created with Timeplast. The former PepsiCo exec spent a decade perfecting a water-soluble, time-programmable plastic that vanishes without harming the environment. It can potentially disrupt the entire $1.3 trillion plastics industry, from water bottles to packaging — and even materials beyond plastic. The company has already seen more than 1,500 paying customers, 6,000% revenue growth, and over 8,000 investors. But it's now the final day to become a shareholder: Invest in Timeplast before midnight tonight.
This is a paid advertisement for Timeplast's Regulation CF Offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.timeplast.com.
Culture
Archaeologists Discovered Traces of a 7,000-Year-Old Village on an Alaskan Island
Gfed/ iStock
What was life on an Alaskan island like 7,000 years ago? Archaeologists are now closer to answering that question after discovering remnants of stone tools and other artifacts from what is believed to be the oldest inhabited site on Shuyak Island, near the city of Kodiak. Analysis of these finds revealed the island's villages weren't the sparse settlements they were previously assumed to be. One of the more recent sites, dating back about 300 years, likely had several hundred people living in it at one point. "Shuyak has always sort of been a place where I think it seems like there were fewer people up there," Patrick Saltonstall, archaeology curator with the Alutiiq Museum, told Alaska Public Media. "But finding that [site], you know what your preconceptions are and what you actually find often don't match." The mere discovery of the artifacts is also a positive sign for the land, which was heavily damaged during the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake. Seeing as the word "Suu'aq" [Shuyak] means "rising out of the water" in Alutiiq, it's especially fitting that the island itself is rising at a faster rate than the sea level is, reducing the risk of erosion. "All the sites are much more stable," Saltonstall said. "You see grass growing on all the beaches, and it demonstrates … the land sank in 1964 and it's rebounded ever since, and it's outpacing sea level rise up there."
Tech
School Smartphone Bans Improve Learning Environment, Dutch Study Finds
Daniel de la Hoz/ iStock
When it comes to the debate around restricting phones in schools, here's another entry to add to the pros column: A recent study found that smartphone bans in Dutch schools, which were recommended by national guidelines in January 2024, have fostered a more positive learning environment. Researchers surveyed more than 600 primary and secondary school leaders and conducted 12 focus groups with teachers, teaching assistants, students, and parents, per The Guardian. They found that 75% of secondary schools reported an increase in student concentration, 59% noted an improved social environment, and 28% observed some learning progress. Although smartphones didn't appear to play a major role in primary schools before the ban, a quarter of respondents still viewed the change favorably. The initial ban recommendation wasn't met with open arms by everyone, but it seems the positive effects may be winning over some skeptics. "There was quite a lot of protest at first from schools, teachers, students, parents, questions about how it would all work," said Freya Sixma, a spokesperson for a Dutch association that represents schools and governing boards. "But now you see that actually everyone is pretty happy." The benefits go beyond the classroom, with Alexander Krepel of the Kohnstamm Instituut noting the biggest improvement has been in student interactions: "Especially in the breaks between the lessons, students would be on their phones, and now they're forced to talk." Perhaps a lesson we could all learn a thing or two from!
In Other News
Two for one: A NASA spacecraft documented the moon and Earth passing the sun on the same day (read more)
The first transcontinental freight railroad in America, spanning 43 states, could soon become a reality (read more)
An elusive little gecko is bouncing back on a Galápagos island after invasive rats were eradicated (read more)
Firefighters are using a simple solution to rapidly cool heatstroke victims in Phoenix, the hottest U.S. city (read more)
Grand Canyon fossils dating back over 500 million years are shedding light on the history of life on Earth (read more)
Inspiring Story
A gift that keeps on giving
Mateo, an 8-year-old in the Chicago area, had big plans to spend his birthday money at Walmart, but that all changed when he spotted an unhoused woman on the side of the road. "He ended up giving her $23, and when I asked why, he told me, 'So she can buy her baby baby milk,'" Mateo's mom explained. See the sweet moment and learn how it's inspiring more acts of kindness.
Photo of the Day
NPS / Paula
Cuffing season may be a few months away for humans, but the bison rut, or mating season, is in full swing. This time of year, it's not uncommon to see bulls engaging in intense displays of strength and aggression, all in the name of love (that is, securing a mate). Keep in mind: If you're visiting an area with bison and see this kind of action, the U.S. Department of the Interior recommends grabbing your binoculars and keeping a safe distance of at least 25 yards.
With Case Kenny
Life isn't a straight line — and thank goodness it isn't, because how boring would that be? Still, when we're in the "downs" of the ups and downs, it can be hard to see that beautiful destination. Today's lesson from Case Kenny: Keep going. To hear more from Case, register for the Nice Book Club on Aug. 21 and get a copy of his bookThe Opposite of Settling.
Horizon IX: The Best Hearing Device in 2025 Offers "Insane Clarity"
Imagine this: you're in a noisy restaurant catching up with friends. Music's playing, conversations are buzzing — and you're struggling to hear. You could lean in and read lips, or you could try hear.com's Horizon IX. The hearing device makes conversations effortless, and the sound clarity is incredible. Click below to see if you qualify for a 45-day, no-risk trial.
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