Good Morning! 🌞 

Innovation

Microscope with AI

Japanese researchers have developed a groundbreaking way to observe blood clotting in real time without invasive procedures. By combining a high-speed imaging system with artificial intelligence, scientists can now track how platelets clump together in patients with coronary artery disease. “Platelets play a crucial role in heart disease, especially in coronary artery disease, because they are directly involved in forming blood clots,” said Dr. Kazutoshi Hirose, lead author and assistant professor at the University of Tokyo Hospital. Anti-platelet drugs are commonly used to prevent these clots, but determining how well they work in each patient has been a challenge—until now.

Hirose’s team built a system that monitors platelets in motion using a frequency-division multiplexed (FDM) microscope and AI-powered image analysis. “Just like traffic cameras capture every car on the road, our microscope captures thousands of images of blood cells in motion every second,” said Dr. Yuqi Zhou, a co-author and chemistry professor at the University of Tokyo. “The AI can tell whether it’s looking at a single platelet—like one car—or a clump of platelets, like a traffic jam, or even a white blood cell tagging along—like a police car caught in the jam.” The study, published in Nature Communications, tested blood from over 200 patients and found that those with acute coronary syndrome had significantly more platelet clusters than patients with chronic symptoms.

Importantly, the new method works with blood drawn from a patient’s arm, removing the need for more invasive catheter-based techniques. “That’s exciting because it makes the process much easier, safer, and more convenient,” said Dr. Hirose. “Taking a regular blood sample from a vein in the arm can still provide meaningful information about platelet activity in the arteries.” This advancement allows doctors to better tailor anti-platelet treatments to individual patients. “Some patients are affected by recurrent thrombosis and others are suffering from recurrences of bleeding events even on the same anti-platelet medications,” Hirose added. “Our technology can help doctors see how each individual’s platelets are behaving in real time.”

World News

100th Birthday Celebration

Identical twins Bill and Jack Casey just celebrated their 100th birthday at a retirement home in Oxfordshire, England, marking the occasion with cake, drinks, and birthday cards from King Charles. Bill, older by ten minutes, remains active with a daily 20-minute exercise routine and enjoys painting in his spare time. Reflecting on a century of life, he called the computer the most important invention he’s witnessed, praising its “amazing possibilities.” When asked about his secret to longevity, he credited “clean and healthy living, staying active, sheer determination, and good genes,” adding, “I always intended to reach 100 and now it’s here, I’m looking forward to the next 100.” His advice for younger generations: “have an interest in sports – and keep yourself active.”

The brothers, originally from south London, joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in 1945 and served for 15 months in Malaysia. Bill recalled their time in service fondly, noting they “got up to lots of tricks being identical twins.” In 1951, Bill met his wife Joan and later settled in Surrey. He went on to work for the government as a skills and training instructor, eventually retiring as a manager in 1984. Their post-war lives were marked by steady careers and strong family bonds, with Bill continuing to pursue his hobbies and health well into his retirement.

Today, Bill resides at Williams Place retirement home, where he’s known for his warmth, friendliness, and sense of humor. “He’s a remarkable man,” said Nina Woodbridge, the home’s manager. With his upbeat attitude and disciplined lifestyle, Bill serves as an inspiring example of healthy aging—and a reminder that a positive mindset and active life can go a long way.

Earth Science

How Big Is Space, Really?

It’s one of the oldest questions in human history—and still one of the hardest to answer: How big is space?

The more we explore, the more we realize how little we truly know. We’ve mapped the universe in every direction, reaching back billions of light-years, yet we still haven’t found an edge. In fact, we don’t even know if an “edge” exists. In today’s featured video, a NASA scientist breaks down what we’ve discovered so far—from the visible universe to theories about what may lie beyond it. It’s a mind-bending journey through time, distance, and cosmic scale that will leave you both awestruck and humbled.

If you’ve ever stared up at the night sky and wondered just how far it goes… this one’s for you.

Support Daily Upsider!

Help our mission to share positive, meaningful news! Your support keeps us going without the need to bombard you with annoying ads!

Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

Yesterday’s Answers to the Mind Stretchers:

I’m a network you hold, though you never see wires, I bring you news, laughs, and long‑lost friends’ desires. I’m more than a phone, more than a book in your hand— What am I that links every corner of land? — the internet! Debbie Ettinger 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] or reply to email.

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.