Good morning! 🌞 

It’s April 1st, but don’t worry—we’re keeping it prank-free (promise! 😉). While the rest of the world is busy plotting tricks, we’re here with your usual dose of news, insights, and updates—100% foolproof.

That said, if you do fall for a joke today… don’t worry, we won’t tell. 😆 Now, let’s dive into the real stuff!

Health Science

Groundbreaking Gene Therapy

A New York hospital has announced a groundbreaking milestone: a patient has been cured of sickle cell anemia using a cutting-edge genetic therapy. Cohen Children’s Medical Center reports that 21-year-old Sebastien Beauzile is the first New Yorker to receive Lyfgenia, a treatment developed by Bluebird Bio. Since undergoing the therapy in December 2024, Beauzile has been free from the disease’s debilitating symptoms, including skin ulcers, joint pain, and chest pain—marking what he calls his “new birthday.”

Sickle cell disease is caused by a genetic mutation that deforms red blood cells, impairing their ability to transport oxygen. Until now, bone marrow transplants were the only potential cure. Lyfgenia changes that equation by introducing healthy adult hemoglobin into the patient’s bone marrow, allowing the body to generate normal red blood cells. Dr. Jeffrey Lipton, director of pediatric hematology at Cohen Children’s, called the therapy “a fix” and suggested it could one day replace bone marrow transplants as the standard of care.

Gene therapy is rapidly transforming the landscape of sickle cell treatment. In a separate case, 20-year-old Brandon Baptiste appears to have been cured using base editing, a novel approach that doesn’t rely on CRISPR. After participating in an experimental trial, Baptiste has returned to an active lifestyle, including regular exercise. These breakthroughs signal a promising shift in the fight against sickle cell anemia, offering hope that more patients will soon have access to lasting, life-changing solutions.

World News

Another Pharoah Found

Archaeologists have uncovered a previously unknown pharaoh’s tomb in Egypt, marking the second major discovery in just a month. Following the February identification of Thutmose II’s final resting place near the Valley of the Kings, this latest find was made in the Mount Anubis necropolis in Abydos. Dating back to the Second Intermediate Period of the Middle Kingdom (1630–1540 BCE), the tomb’s structure is remarkably intact—but the identity of the buried ruler remains a mystery.

Professor Mohamed Abdel Badie of the Supreme Council of Antiquities believes the tomb likely belonged to a king who ruled before Senebkay, whose own tomb was found in Abydos in 2014. Significantly larger than other known tombs of the short-lived Abydos Dynasty, this structure hints at the importance of its occupant. The dynasty was eventually overtaken by the Hyksos, a foreign people from western Asia. While hieroglyphic inscriptions at the tomb’s entrance originally recorded the king’s name, they were heavily damaged by ancient looters, erasing key identifying details.

The excavation, led by Egyptologist Josef Wegner of the University of Pennsylvania, revealed a limestone burial chamber 20 feet underground, lined with mud-brick vaults. Though most burial goods were stolen long ago, fragments of pottery link the tomb to a local hub of brick and ceramic production. Wegner notes that AI tools may assist in analyzing the damaged inscriptions, but the obscurity of the Abydos Dynasty continues to challenge scholars' efforts to uncover the pharaoh’s identity.

Culture

History of April Fool’s Day

April Fools’ Day, celebrated annually on April 1, has delighted pranksters for centuries, though its origins remain a bit of a mystery. Known for jokes, hoaxes, and playful mischief, the day traditionally ends with the reveal of “April Fools!” to signal the punchline. In recent decades, media outlets and major brands have embraced the tradition with increasingly elaborate gags, helping keep the spirit of the day alive in the modern era.

One popular theory traces the holiday back to 1582, when France switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, moving New Year’s Day from April 1 to January 1. Those slow to adopt the change were mocked as “April fools” and subjected to pranks—like having paper fish stuck to their backs to symbolize gullibility. Similar traditions of satire and disguise were seen in ancient Rome’s Hilaria festival, and some historians suggest the unpredictability of spring weather may have also inspired the playful chaos associated with April Fools’ Day.

The custom spread across Britain in the 18th century and took on a life of its own in Scotland, where it became a two-day event full of practical jokes, including the infamous “kick me” signs. In more recent history, the day has featured iconic hoaxes: the BBC’s 1957 segment on spaghetti trees, Taco Bell’s 1996 claim to have purchased the Liberty Bell, and Burger King’s 1998 ad for a “Left-Handed Whopper.” Even tech giants like Google have joined the fun with pranks like “telepathic search” and Pac-Man on Google Maps. For everyday jokesters, simple tricks—like covering a toilet seat with plastic wrap or swapping sugar with salt—keep the mischief alive.

Just don’t forget to duck if you’re the jokester—and keep your wits about you if you’re the target. Happy pranking!

Mind Stretchers

❓️ 

I wear a smile but hide my face,
In laughter and jest, I find my place.
A painted grin, a fleeting sight,
Am I pure joy or masked in spite?

Yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:

I make you think, I twist your mind, A hidden answer you must find. Some say I'm tricky, some say I'm fun, Solve me right, and you’ve won! — a riddle! Gerry Moore you got this correct first! 🫡 

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected]

If you have any uplifting stories and experience you might want to share, send those over to [email protected] for the chance to be featured.