Good Morning! 🌞 

Do yourself a favor and (re)watch this incredible live performance of Kurt Cobain & Nirvana. The crowd did not know that they were watching one of his last performances. It’s so sad and beautiful at the same time and always reminds me to cherish life and the people I love!

Health Sciences

Experimental Cancer Treatment Gives Mom a 2nd Chance

After less than a year of undergoing treatment with a new cancer drug, a young woman saw her tumor disappear, easing concerns about her ability to have more children.

Kelly Spill's life took a difficult turn after giving birth to her first baby when she was diagnosed with cancer. Experiencing symptoms like fatigue, bleeding, weight loss, and loss of appetite, she suspected cancer despite doctors initially attributing her symptoms to childbirth.

Tests confirmed stage-3 colorectal cancer, leading Spill to seek treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Conventional treatment options posed a risk to her fertility, a concern as she hoped for a larger family.

However, just before starting chemotherapy, Spill became eligible for a clinical trial testing a new drug, dostarlimab. She received weekly injections for six months.

The treatment proved effective, with her tumor significantly shrinking after four treatments and disappearing completely by the ninth. Spill cautiously considered expanding her family and eventually gave birth to a healthy baby girl.

Today, Spill remains cancer-free, her journey showcasing the potential of innovative cancer therapies.

World News

The “Ancient Tree of Life” Explained

Scientists have traced the origins of ancient baobab trees to Madagascar, dating back 21 million years, according to DNA studies. Seeds from these trees were later dispersed by ocean currents to Australia and mainland Africa, resulting in distinct species.

The research team, including Dr. Ilia Leitch from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Prof. Andrew Leitch from Queen Mary University of London, emphasizes the urgent need for increased conservation efforts. They warn that baobabs may be closer to extinction than previously.

Baobabs, known for their unique shapes and longevity, support a diverse range of animals, plants, and human communities. The study covered eight baobab species, with six in Madagascar, one across Africa, and another in northwest Australia. Researchers call for heightened conservation status for two endangered Malagasy species, including the giant baobab.

The trees, referred to as the "tree of life" or "upside-down tree," can live for thousands of years, grow to enormous sizes, and store water in their trunks to survive dry seasons. Their fruits are considered a superfood, and their trunks provide fibers for ropes and clothing. The large white flowers attract bats for pollination, and baobabs serve as crucial nesting sites for birds.

This research was a collaborative effort between Wuhan Botanical Garden (China), Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew, UK), University of Antananarivo (Madagascar), and Queen Mary University of London (UK).

Sports

2024 FA Cup Final

Today, the 2024 FA Cup final is taking place at Wembley Stadium in London, England. The match will determine the winners of the 2023–24 FA Cup, marking the 143rd final of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup.

The final is being contested between Manchester City and local rivals Manchester United, in a repeat of the previous final, which City won 2–1. It's an exciting moment as it's only the second time these two sides have met in the final, and it's the first time in over a century that the same teams have featured in consecutive seasons since 1885.

The winners of today's match will earn the right to play in the league stage of the 2024–25 UEFA Europa League. Additionally, they will face the winners of the 2023–24 Premier League in the 2024 FA Community Shield.

Mind Stretchers

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Some are used for fabric And some are used for hair Some are used for paper And one is called a pair

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
Ice 🧊 

Linda Runatz got the correct answer 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 the 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.