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Good morning, it's Saturday, Aug. 22. People who live beyond 100 may have a cellular superpower. First time reading? Join over 4.7 million insatiably curious readers. Sign up here.
Also in today's Digest: race cars take over Washington, DC (Quick Hits), an Abercrombie sex trafficking trial moves forward (Quick Hits), a software engineer hosts an apple-eating party (Humankind), restaurants are offering multicourse desserts (Etc.), and much more.
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One Big Headline
Supercentenarian Secret
People age 100 and older appear to have elevated levels of a rare immune cell that kills cancerous cells, according to a study published this week. The finding suggests that late-age immune adaptations may play a role in longevity.
Researchers in Japan tested blood samples from 28 adults divided into three age groups: 70 to 99, 100 to 109, and 110 and older. They found that the older participants, on average, exhibited a higher ratio of CD4 CTLs, a rare immune cell also found in people fighting cancer (immune system 101, w/video). However, these older participants showed no signs of cancer. The researchers believe elevated levels of CD4 CTLs may signal a new stage of immune development that emerges around age 100 and helps the body eliminate abnormal cells, which become increasingly common with age.
Yesterday was the 117th birthday of the world's oldest living person, an Englishwoman named Ethel Caterham. The oldest living person on record died in 1997 at the age of 122 years and 164 days.
Explore how cancer develops and the future of treatments with 1440's expert-curated resources here.
In partnership with Pendulum
Scientists Cracked the Gut-GLP-1 Connection
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Quick Hits
Hong Kong's Tiananmen activists convicted in national security trial.
Hong Kong's High Court yesterday convicted two pro-democracy activists of inciting subversion for organizing annual vigils remembering Beijing's 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. Such vigils were effectively outlawed in 2020 with the enactment of a China-imposed National Security Law, which criminalizes a wide range of dissenting acts. The activists face a maximum of 10 years in prison. (More)
IndyCar race hits the streets around DC's National Mall this weekend.
The first-ever motor race in the nation's capital is part of celebrations for the US' 250th birthday. Top drivers, including 2026 Indianapolis 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist, will race 147 laps around a 1.66-mile course at speeds up to 180 mph (take a ride along the track here). Preservationists have raised concerns that vibrations from the race could damage paintings in museums and historic buildings. (More)
FIFA suspends four players, one official for World Cup final brawl.
Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes was fined $90K and suspended for 10 matches, effectively sidelining him from Argentina's national team for a year. It ranks alongside a 2014 sanction against a Uruguayan player as one of the most severe in World Cup history. Two of Paredes' teammates, one Argentine coach, and one Spanish player received lesser sanctions. Watch a clip of the altercation here. (More)
Supreme Court allows White House ballroom construction to continue.
Chief Justice John Roberts yesterday issued a temporary stay allowing President Donald Trump's roughly $400M White House ballroom renovation project to proceed as the high court weighs his appeal. Preservationists have sued, arguing that the project requires congressional approval. Meanwhile, Trump argues the renovation is necessary for security, citing recent shootings and threats in his vicinity. (More)
Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO mentally fit to stand sex trafficking trial.
A New York judge yesterday ruled that Michael Jeffries is competent to stand trial after being hospitalized for months with dementia and Alzheimer's symptoms. The 82-year-old is slated to go on trial alongside two codefendants in late October on allegations that they promised modeling jobs to lure men into drug-fueled sex parties. Jeffries led Abercrombie from 1992 to 2014. (More)
Court slashes $50M judgment against Infowars' Alex Jones.
A Texas appeals court yesterday reduced punitive damages against Jones over his claims that the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting was a hoax to $1.5M. The court ruled that the two parents who sued failed to show sufficient evidence that the harassment stemming from his claims justified exceeding the state's $750K damages cap per plaintiff. The ruling does not affect a $1.4B judgment against Jones in Connecticut. (More)
Rare tornadoes hit New York City area amid East Coast storms.
Tornadoes struck southern Queens, Long Island, and Delaware on Thursday night, damaging cabanas and buildings at a Long Island beach club. Two to three inches of rain were also reported across the area, with several reports of people trapped in their cars by flooding. No serious injuries have been reported as of this writing. Tornadoes are rare in the area because the Atlantic Ocean typically limits atmospheric instability. (More, w/video)
Depression stops the formation of new brain cells, according to new study.
New neurons appear to stop forming in the hippocampus of adults with major depressive disorder. Because the hippocampus plays an important role in memory and emotional response, researchers believe this lack of new neurons may make it harder to adapt to stress. The finding challenges a long-held belief that depression stems solely from an imbalance in neurotransmitters and points to a potential new therapeutic target. (More)
Humankind
Man extends an open invitation for people to eat apples with him in the park; hundreds of people show up. (More)
Bystander wades into a creek to save a 60-year-old man who fell 120 feet in Glacier National Park. (More)
Startup matches college students in need of housing with aging homeowners who need an extra hand. (More)
A 66-year-old job seeker encourages other older Americans not to give up after landing a job following a 16-month search. (More)
Former gang leader opens a nonprofit boxing gym to provide an outlet for young people. (More)
In partnership with Frontieras
The 'Clean' Coal Comeback Just Passed $45M
Call it coal's clean comeback: a way to convert coal into fuel without burning it. The innovation has already raised $45M+ from 14,000+ investors. That's how far Frontieras has come. But how far can they go? The company projects that capturing just 2% of the global market could position them as a global leader in the space.
Their first commercial plant, backed by $150M from institutional investor GEM, is now under construction in West Virginia. The project is expected to create 2,000 jobs and boost West Virginia's GDP.
Join the next phase of growth: invest before the opportunity ends on 8/27.*
Humankind(ness)
Today, we're sharing a story from reader Lorie D. in Utah.
"I had an emergency appointment with a specialist doctor in an unknown part of the city. As I followed my GPS, my phone died. I ran into a store and asked a kind woman if she would look up the doctor's address. But I had his name spelled wrong, as well. The woman called several specialists until she found the right place and name, and they agreed to see me. Then the woman went the third mile, and led me in her own car to the doctor's office! The over-stressed doctor saw me, though I was half an hour late getting there."
Humankind(ness) is a reader-built corner of joy. So, what act(s) of kindness did you experience this week? Tell us here. And if this story made you smile—share our email (copy URL here).
Etcetera
How long could you follow the sunset by car? (w/video)
Truckload of spilled squid creates a squidpocalypse.
Meet Oliver, a cat with a lifesaving titanium skull.
How much of the internet is written with AI? (w/visualization)
A family feud gave way to Aldi and Trader Joe's.
A $120 eight-course dessert tasting menu.
Why hot water may freeze faster than cold water. (w/video)
New snake species named in honor of Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash.
The most popular dog breeds, state by state.
Have you seen these huge invasive spiders yet?
The science behind people who attract mosquitoes.
Should students be learning cursive in schools?
Most Clicked This Week: The US' most fun states, ranked.
Historybook: First Geneva Convention held (1864); American author Ray Bradbury born (1920); Madonna's single "Who's That Girl" hits No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 (1987); Black Panther Party founder Huey Newton is murdered (1989); Singer Dua Lipa born (1995)
"Stuff your eyes with wonder, he said, live as if you'd drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories."
- Ray Bradbury, from "Fahrenheit 451"
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