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Daily Upsider - Tuesday, February 4th, 2025
Julia Mejia & James Linder
February 04, 2025
Tuesday, February 4th, 2025
Good morning! 🌞
In one of today’s articles we feature a chapel like no other. If you had the chance, would you make the climb?
Would you make the climb? |
Today’s Upside
World News
Wonder in the Sky: The Worlds Most Perilous Church
It is likely many of you have been inside a church before. But it is unlikely you have ever been inside one like this. Or had to make such a perilous journey to reach it.
Health Sciences
Gene Editing Technique
Branden Baptiste – credit: Michael Goderre / Boston Children’s Hospital
A new gene-editing technique called base editing is showing promise in treating sickle cell disease, offering hope to patients like Braden Baptiste, who has endured the debilitating effects of the condition since childhood. Sickle cell disease, caused by misshapen red blood cells, led Baptiste to frequent hospitalizations, hip replacements, and life-threatening complications. However, since receiving base editing treatment, Baptiste has experienced a dramatic transformation, now able to go to the gym daily for cardio and weightlifting.
Base editing differs from CRISPR by directly modifying single DNA bases—adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), or thymine (T)—using specialized enzymes. The experimental therapy, developed by Beam Therapeutics, targets a specific mutation in the hemoglobin gene responsible for sickle cell disease. This precise approach offers a potentially more effective and less invasive treatment for genetic disorders compared to traditional CRISPR editing.
Baptiste participated in the BEACON trial after suffering chronic organ complications from the disease. Following preparatory tests and chemotherapy, he received an infusion of his own edited stem cells in November 2023. By Christmas Eve, he was home, reporting a remarkable improvement in his health and quality of life. "I’m more than fine," Baptiste shared. "I’m operating in every way possible." This breakthrough offers new hope for many sickle cell patients seeking lasting relief.
Environment
Why Stingrays Jump
– credit: Ross Long, supplied to ABC News
Stingrays and manta rays aren’t just built for graceful swimming—these marine creatures use their wing-like fins to launch themselves out of the water and glide through the air. Scientists call this behavior "one of the most remarkable sights in the sea," yet its purpose remains a mystery. In the waters surrounding Heron Island in southeast Queensland, near the Great Barrier Reef, Associate Professor Ian Tibbetts from the University of Queensland’s School of Environment has spent years studying this fascinating phenomenon.
Rays of all sizes, from massive manta rays to smaller eagle rays, frequently breach, soaring over 10 feet before crashing back into the sea. While the leading theory suggests that breaching helps remove parasites, other possibilities include courtship displays, dominance contests, predator evasion, or even simple play. “I rather like the fun idea. If you can, why not?” Dr. Tibbetts told ABC News, noting that eagle rays are the most frequent “fun jumpers,” while mobula rays may leap to escape predators in shallow waters. Some scientists also theorize that belly-flopping rays create underwater noise as a form of communication.
Because breaching happens so quickly, capturing it on camera is rare, though some rays perform multiple jumps in succession. Heron Island, a national marine sanctuary, is one of the best places to witness these acrobatics, offering a thriving habitat for reef sharks, sea turtles, colorful fish, and 12 species of rays. For marine life enthusiasts, it’s a prime destination to observe one of the ocean’s most spectacular natural displays.
How to Spot and Avoid Online Scams & Phishing Attacks
Scammers are getting smarter, but with a few simple habits, you can protect yourself from phishing emails, fake websites, and online fraud. Here’s what to watch out for:
🚨 Red Flags of a Scam
✅ Unexpected Urgency – Scammers often pressure you to act fast, claiming your account will be locked or you’ve won a prize.
✅ Suspicious Links & Attachments – Hover over links (without clicking!) to check if the URL looks legitimate. Avoid downloading unexpected attachments.
✅ Strange Sender Details – If an email claims to be from your bank but comes from a random Gmail address, it’s likely a scam.
✅ Requests for Personal Info – Legitimate companies will never ask for your passwords, PINs, or security codes via email or text.
🛡️ How to Stay Safe
🔹 Verify Before Clicking – If you receive an alarming email from your bank, contact them directly using their official website or phone number.
🔹 Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) – This adds an extra layer of security for your accounts.
🔹 Use Strong, Unique Passwords – A password manager can help you create and store secure passwords.
🔹 Report Suspicious Messages – Most email services let you mark phishing attempts as spam to help others avoid them too.
When in doubt, pause and verify—it’s better to be cautious than fall for a scam! Stay safe online. 🚀
Mind Stretchers
❓️
I wake with the sun but never yawn,
I have no hands, yet scratch the lawn.
A traveler I’m not, yet I roam with ease,
I give what I make, with feathers to tease.
What am I?
Yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
I have four legs, yet I don't run, I'm often found when the work is done. I can be cozy or plain, But never leave without a stain. What am I? — a chair! James Godfrey got this right! 🌞
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]
From the Community
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.
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