Good Morning! 🌞 

Did you know that, Venus spins so slowly on its axis that one full day (243 Earth days) takes longer than it takes to orbit the Sun (225 Earth days)! This happens because Venus rotates at a snail’s pace while zipping around the Sun. 🪐✨

Health Sciences

Opioid-free Pain Medication

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Journavx (suzetrigine), marking the first new class of pain medication in over 20 years. Developed by Boston-based Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Journavx offers an alternative to opioids for adults experiencing moderate to severe acute pain. Unlike traditional pain relievers, it works by blocking pain signals through sodium channels in the peripheral nervous system, preventing them from reaching the brain. The drug is taken twice daily and will be priced at $15 per dose.

Journavx’s approval was based on two randomized, double-blind clinical trials that demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing acute surgical pain. Compared to a placebo, the drug achieved a statistically significant reduction in pain levels. Safety data was collected from 874 surgical patients and an additional open-label study involving 256 participants. While generally well tolerated, common side effects include itching, muscle spasms, elevated creatine phosphokinase levels, and rash. Patients are also advised to avoid grapefruit products while using the medication. FDA spokesperson Jacqueline Corrigan-Curay called the approval a major milestone in acute pain management, providing patients with a much-needed non-opioid option.

While opioids can be very helpful for those who need them, they also cause a lot of damage. Having another option could make a big difference for those who struggle with pain and opioid addiction and that is something to be glad about.

World News

Mined for Millions

From rare gemstones hidden deep underground to prized marble slabs carved from mountainsides, the world’s most valuable natural resources don’t come easy. Miners and craftsmen risk their safety every day—blasting rocks, diving into tunnels, and scaling heights—to extract materials worth millions. In this video, we’ll follow their journeys, starting in Scotland, where expert stonemasons transform rare granite into Olympic curling stones, each valued at over $600.

Environment

Wolf Pup Boom

A litter of eight Indian wolf pups has been born in Karnataka’s Bankapur Wolf Sanctuary, marking a significant moment for one of the country’s most endangered subspecies. The sanctuary, one of only two dedicated to Indian wolves, is a key site for their conservation. Despite their protected status since 1972, only about 3,000 Indian wolves remain in India, with smaller populations in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Bankapur, a small reserve, is home to various species, including leopards, blackbucks, and peacocks, but its primary focus is the Indian wolf. This short-haired subspecies is genetically distinct from the Himalayan wolf and has adapted to a range of habitats, from deserts to forests. The birth of these pups is a rare event and a hopeful sign for the species' future.

Karnataka’s Environment Minister, Eshwar Khandre, credited forest officials for their efforts in ensuring the wolves’ safety. "Typically, only 50% of wolf pups survive, but measures have been taken to protect them," he stated. With the new additions, the sanctuary’s wolf population now stands at approximately 35-40 individuals, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts in securing their survival.

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Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

I tell you truth in feet or inches,
A builder’s friend, a tailor’s riches.
I bend, I snap, I roll up tight,
Yet measure things both left and right.
What am I?

Yesterday’s Answers to the Mind Stretchers:

What has a neck but no head? —a bottle, James Godfrey got this correct first 🌞 

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