Leaderboard

Researchers at Mass General Brigham have uncovered evidence that the thymus, a small immune system organ long thought to lose its importance after childhood, may play a major role in adult health. Two new studies found that adults with healthier thymuses were more likely to live longer and less likely to develop serious diseases. The research also suggests that thymic health may influence how well cancer patients respond to immunotherapy. The findings were published in two papers in the same issue of Nature and challenge decades of assumptions about the thymus. The results indicate that the organ remains important throughout adulthood and could eventually help guide disease prevention strategies and cancer treatment decisions. "The thymus has been overlooked for decades and may be a missing piece in explaining why people age differently, and why cancer treatments fail in some patients," said Hugo Aerts, PhD, corresponding author on the papers and director of the Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (AIM) Program at Mass General Brigham. "Our findings suggest thymic health deserves much more attention and may open new avenues for understanding how to protect the immune system as we age." What the Thymus Does Located in the chest, the thymus helps train T cells, a type of immune cell that helps defend the body against infections and disease. Because the organ gradually shrinks after puberty and produces fewer new T cells over time, many scientists assumed it played only a limited role in adult health. As a result, the thymus has received relatively little attention in large population studies. Earlier research connected T cell diversity to aging and declining immune function, but those studies were typically small and focused on blood samples. The new research took a much broader approach. Investigators analyzed data from more than 25,000 adults participating in a national lung cancer screening trial, along with more than 2,500 people enrolled in the Framingham Heart Study, a long-running study that tracks the health of generally healthy adults. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260601025352.htm

A new three-year study from researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas' Center for BrainHealth (CBH) suggests that getting older does not automatically mean losing mental sharpness. Instead, the findings indicate that brain health and cognitive abilities can continue to improve throughout life. The research, published in Scientific Reports, a Nature journal, draws on data from The BrainHealth Project (BHP), an initiative launched by CBH in 2020 to better understand how people can strengthen and optimize brain health across the lifespan. Researchers tracked 3,966 adults ranging in age from 19 to 94. This group represented roughly one-fifth of all BrainHealth Project participants. Over the course of three years, participants completed brief training activities that required only five to 15 minutes per day. BrainHealth Index Tracks Changes Over Time To evaluate changes in brain health and performance, the team used the BrainHealth Index (BHI), a patent-pending assessment developed by CBH researchers and first introduced in a 2021 pilot study. The BHI is designed to detect both improvements and declines in brain health. It measures three primary areas: clarity, emotional balance, and connectedness to people and purpose. "The BrainHealth Index brings together about 20 metrics, including validated gold-standard measures like the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, as well as tasks designed at the Center for BrainHealth to focus on more complex thinking skills," said Lori Cook MS'02, PhD'09, CBH director of clinical research and corresponding author of the Scientific Reports study. "This battery of assessments produces insights into individual brain health and change over time. Progress is measured by comparing results with participants' own earlier scores." Cook, who also serves as an adjunct assistant professor in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, said the findings challenge common assumptions about aging and cognition. "Every brain is as unique as a fingerprint and has potential for growth," Cook said. "This study challenges the prevailing narrative of inevitable cognitive decline, suggesting instead that brain health can be proactively cultivated at any age." Brain Improvement Seen Across All Ages According to the researchers, positive changes were observed even among participants in their 80s, showing that efforts to improve brain health can be beneficial long before symptoms or disease appear and can remain effective later in life. "For too long, we've operated under the outdated notion that we need to wait until something bad happens to our brains before we do anything for them," said Sandra Bond Chapman PhD'86, senior author of the study, CBH chief director and Dee Wyly Distinguished University Chair for BrainHealth. "This study reminds us that our brain is not defined by age -- it is defined by possibility." One of the study's most notable findings involved participants who started with the lowest BrainHealth Index scores. This group experienced the largest improvements over time. "Those who are starting at the lowest level appear to have the most opportunity for growth and may be coming in with more preexisting concerns," Cook said. "As such, they may be more motivated to invest the time needed to see more growth potential. But it is noteworthy that we saw measurable growth even in those entering as high performers." https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260613034222.htm

For centuries, losing human teeth meant living with a permanent gap in your smile or relying on artificial replacements. But a groundbreaking discovery by Japanese researchers could change this reality forever, offering the possibility of naturally regrowing teeth where they’ve been lost. Led by Dr. Katsu Takahashi at Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, scientists have developed a drug that could stimulate the body to grow new teeth—a breakthrough that might one day make dental implants and dentures a thing of the past. https://japandaily.jp/regrowing-human-teeth-ending-dental-implants/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tooth regeneration therapy enters first human clinical trials in Japan Synopsis A groundbreaking human trial in Japan is exploring a revolutionary treatment to regrow teeth. Researchers have identified a way to activate dormant tooth buds, potentially offering a natural solution for tooth loss. Early results are promising, with a drug aiming for a 2030 release, heralding a new era in dental care. In Japan researchers have taken the first step of their kind by starting the first-ever human trial in a treatment that aims to help grow teeth. In May 2026, the trial is progressing with a cautious optimism, and are aiming to release the drug in 2030. Many people across the globe are who suffer from teeth loss as a result of the effects of aging, injury or genetics, this breakthrough can revolutionize dental treatment. Read more at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/japanese-scientists-begin-human-trials-for-tooth-regrowth-drug/articleshow/130710567.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

For generations, scientists have viewed the inability to regrow lost body parts as one of the fundamental limitations of humans and other mammals. While creatures such as salamanders can regenerate entire limbs, humans typically heal injuries by forming scar tissue. New research from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS), however, suggests that regenerative abilities may not be entirely absent in mammals. Instead, they could be hidden within the body's normal healing machinery, waiting to be activated under the right conditions. "Why some animals can regenerate and others, particularly humans, can't is a big question that has been asked since Aristotle," said Dr. Ken Muneoka, a professor in the VMBS' Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology (VTPP). "I've spent my career trying to understand that." In a study published in Nature Communications, Muneoka and colleagues describe a new two-step treatment that enabled the regeneration of bone, joint structures, and ligaments. Although the regrown tissues were not perfect replicas of the originals, the researchers believe the approach could eventually help reduce scarring and improve tissue repair after amputations. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260618041508.htm

Researchers in Brazil have created a new biomaterial made from jackfruit latex, pomegranate peel extract, and simvastatin (a statin-based medication) that could offer a more effective way to treat periodontitis, a serious form of gum disease. The team, from the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences (FCMS) at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP) in Sorocaba, developed the material as part of an effort to improve treatment options for a condition that affects the tissues supporting the teeth. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by infection. Over time, it can destroy the structures that hold teeth in place, leading to bone loss and reduced attachment between teeth and surrounding tissues. Current treatments are designed to control infection and inflammation, but they generally do little to regenerate damaged periodontal tissue. Other approaches, including guided tissue regeneration and bone grafting, have been explored, but their results can vary and are often difficult to predict. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260618041508.htm ------------------------------------------------------------ I have a Jackfruit tree in my yard. The fruit is the size of two smaller bowling balls. It is very popular here. When one fruit is ready, we cut it down and cut it up into pieces, then share with the neighbors. Nothing is waisted. Even the seed (about the size of dates) are boiled and eaten. Gum disease is not a problem here.

See: https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2026-06-03/lawsuit-virginia-state-tuition-religious-studies-21865305.html

Joe, Several years ago, the idea of a sexual accountability and transparency committee [SATCOM] was conceived. Their purview would include investigating suspected homosexuals in the denomination. Of course, they would approach the individuals with pastoral concern. In view of Kinship's president openly advocating the introduction of homosexuality, transgenderism, etc. to SDA youth at Pathfinder meetings, these individuals certainly pose a danger to SDA young people. Not all young people involved in homosexual activity are actually same sex attracted. Some are conned into the relationship[?] by older men who are attracted to younger men or even children. These "victims" would include youth who lack responsible parenting. SSA men groom and seduce them over time. For that reason, the church should be vocal in its protestations contra homosexuality. Protecting young people who are not actually same sex attracted but long for companionship can easily be identified by older, more experienced predator types. Pathfinders should be warned of the dangers these individuals pose. These predatory types could be exactly the kind of people you mentioned--long time members, respected in the community and church, people broken by life in a sinful world. Research has been done on the dynamics of molestation. It sometimes occurs "accidentally" due to a specific situation, e.g, camping trips with no agenda. More often, predator types scheme to exploit vulnerable youth. The president of Kinship advocating the introduction of homosexuality to Pathfinders is no accident. It is a scheme.

On the evening of June 5, 2026, in a chapel in Riverside, the president of La Sierra University stood before seven graduates and told them, “I am La Sierra,” and… The post The Shield They Are Dismantling appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

Three Protestant bodies spent one week at war over the body. The only church adding members is the one that refused to hold the argument. The Southern Baptist Convention reached… The post Everybody’s Wrong, and Rome Is Filling Up appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

The big picture: The intersection of faith and public policy is tightening. Courts and legislatures remain the primary battlegrounds, with a distinct shift toward administrative action and conscience protections as… The post RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: A WEEKLY BRIEFING appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

I like the presenter. It's interesting.

The view from Pepperdine’s law school in Malibu runs straight out to the Pacific. For three days in early June the people gathered there kept their attention on something harder… The post Pepperdine and Founders’ First Freedom Bring the Religious Freedom Conversation Home to Malibu appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

The passage of Bill C-9 marks a significant shift in Canadian criminal law, broadening the scope of hate-motivated offenses while removing traditional safeguards for religious speech. The post Canada’s “Combatting Hate Act”: Legislative Expansion of Criminal Speech Laws appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

We live in an Internet age. Some may wonder, how Adventists fair in regard to their presence on the Internet. There is a ranking of Internet websites. It lists many SDA sites. In this ranking, the lowest numbers have the highest visitations IOW a Website that ranks 1,723 Will have much better visitation than a website that ranks at 10,562,321. That website is: https://hypestat.com/ NOTE: To obtain an individual listing, one must enter exactly how the forum is listed on the Internet. The following are some individual SDA rankings: NOTE: the listings below are the common listings and not the precise listing, which is required to obtain a ranking. Ministry Magazine 654,401 Spectrum Magazine 1,439,118 Adventist Review 1,598.651 Adventist Today 1,623,037 Granite Bay SDA Church 2,189,564 Sacramento SDA church 3,403,274 Northern California Conference of SDA 4,112,561 Adventist Dating 5,594,606 Club Adventist: 6,029,648 Carmichael SDA Church 21,146,4414

Just 90–120 minutes of strength training a week may deliver some of the biggest long-term health rewards, according to a study tracking more than 147,000 people for 30 years. That amount was linked to lower risks of death overall, particularly from cardiovascular and neurological diseases. Combining strength workouts with aerobic exercise produced even stronger benefits. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260611024609.htm All the YouTubers I watch on longevity agree, we need to be doing strength workouts.

I am very suspicious of these articles. A research student at the University of Michigan, has found contamination in the research studies. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260329222938.htm

Simon goes to the wedding in Canaan with Jesus and His other disciples. Jesus performs His first public miracle at the wedding feast. There were many problems in the world. The Jews were being oppressed by the Romans. King Herod had married his brother's wife. Changing water into wine does not address any major societal problem of the time. The miracle at the wedding feast reminds me of the story of Elisha in 2 Kings. The axe head flew off its handle into a Jordon River. The young man was distressed because it was a borrowed axe. He would have to return, with the handle only, and explain what had happened. Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the river where the axe head had sunk. When the axe head floated to the surface of the water, Elisha commanded the boy to grab it. Both the stories of the axe head and the Canaan wedding show that God cares about even the small things in life that cause us distress. They also show that we have a role to play. At the wedding, the servants had to fill the jars with water. At the river, the young man had to jump in and retrieve the axe head. God cares for us but also requires us to do our part.

Governor Ned Lamont’s enactment of Public Act 26-3 on April 27, precludes Connecticut's Religious Freedom Restoration Act from serving as a basis for exemptions from school immunization mandates. The post Conscience Is Not a Coupon appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

An appeals court rules that a lower court improperly interpreted church governance, allowing a lawsuit regarding university control to proceed. The post Fifth Circuit Reverses Dismissal in Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Governance Dispute appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

More than 3,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria last year, according to one tally, even as the government attributes the bloodshed to land disputes. The post U.S. Brands Nigeria a Religious Freedom Violator as Christian Death Toll Climbs appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

I was reading the lesson and came to this part, "Real Repentance The secular world bombards us with messages of independence, indulgence, and self-promotion--the opposite of the principles of God’s kingdom. Interestingly, the first words recorded in the Bible by John the Baptist and Jesus were similar. John said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matt. 3:1-2, NKJV). Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14-15, NKJV; see also Luke 24:46-47). Both Jesus and John called those listening to repentance because the kingdom of heaven was near. Could it be that this same message is equally as relevant to us today?" So what does repentance do for us, does it lead to change, real repentance does. Does it bring us closer to God, as we clear out the anger and hate and addiction to sin, I would say it does. Most importantly, how does it bring us to the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal life with Christ? True repentance is not merely feeling guilty or avoiding punishment or being shames, it is a sincere turning away from sin and toward God, involving humility, honesty, and a change of heart. We must allow the Holy Spirit to do its work and guide us down the path of transformation, and stop holding on to hating our brother or breaking what allows for sin and iniquity, and what takes us away from loving God and our fellow man. True repentance involves as what is simple as we see, 'two steps: (1) sincere pain and sorrow for our sins; and (2) the honest decision to abandon sin. In the Bible, repentance is almost always connected to forgiveness. We genuinely repent; God forgives. It’s that simple.' So why dont we repent and turn from what is evil?

The one on sin last week was very good, and the class was 'somewhat familiar' with....😊

Men love darkness rather than light.

The temple was plundered, defiled, closed by different kings at different times in the OT Ahaz: 2 Ch 28: 24 And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem. 2 Kings 16: 1-20 describes in greater detail the evil Ahaz did. He rearranged the sea and its supports, changed the lavers and altar. He had a new altar built, patterned after one he had seen in Damascus. He gave silver and gold stored in the house of the Lord to the king of Assyria. This action was reversed by his son Hezekiah: 2 Ch 29: 3 He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them. ]4 And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street, 5 And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy [place.] [ ]6 For our fathers have trespassed, and done [that which was] evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned [their] backs. 7 Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy [place] unto the God of Israel.

ReligiousLiberty.TV turns 18 today The post Eighteen Years, and the Doors Are Still Open appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

Perhaps I should state the official SDA position on such issues: * All who come in peace, are welcome to worship in our congregations. * Marriage is only accepted within a male/female arrangement. * Homosexuals are asked to be celibate, if they wish to become members. * We require any homosexual clergy person to be celibate. * SDA clergy are not allowed to perform the marriage of a homosexual couple. * I am aware that as a rare exception a non-celibate person has been allowed to become a member. This would be both rare and a violation of the normative standards. * I am aware of SDA clergy who have been terminated from employment and clergy status for a violation of the above.

A hidden-camera video caught Sean Hudson admitting the team kept Williams off social media over his faith. Now the DOJ is reviewing it. The post Nationals Fire Executive for Blackballing Catholic Pitcher Trevor Williams appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

The actress, Lara Silva, gets into character and puts on an incredible performance. She nails all the gestures. Her facial expressions are just the beginning of the body language. She also displays a powerful woman which is a model of a what it means to be a woman of faith. When Peter confesses to her that he is in trouble, she demands to know where is his faith. His solution is to violate the Sabbath and she isn't having any of it. She scolds him for trying to fix everything himself instead of depending on God. She tells him the reason he is stuck and feels desperate is because he has not been looking to God for answers. The she says, "No more talking. Maybe God can get your attention now." BOOM! So many times it has taken some tragic event in my life for God to get my attention. I have been in Peter's place. And, in my case, I didn't need an "Eden" to tell me. I knew God wanted my attention.

I will propose to Stan: * If people inform us of their multiple names, we will allow them to choose the one they want to remain and we will remove the rest. * If they do not inform us of their multiple names, we wil remove all such and ban them from future posting. * Yes, we already have some knowledge.

My life was changed by a part of one sentence "Our Father, who art in heaven...."

I meditate on the scripture regularly. Like today. James 4:17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. That's only one sentence, but it is deep and has deep implications.

🇮🇸 Parting shot: Adventures in Iceland Photo: Christine Clarridge Over in Iceland, Axios Seattle reporter Christine Clarridge broke out her phone to snap watery wonders along the Golden Circle scenic loop. Above is the Gullfoss Waterfall; below is the Strokkur Geyser. Gif: Christine Clarridge Christine also checked out Thingvellir National Park, where visitors can stand at the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.

I also found this interesting: https://library.biblicalarchaeology.org/article/under-siege-how-rome-conquered-jerusalem/final-bar-spring-2026-indd-2/ https://library.biblicalarchaeology.org/article/under-siege-how-rome-conquered-jerusalem/ And https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Masada

Barna research -- What about in your church? Major Gender Shift: Men are significantly outpacing women in church attendance since the pandemic, reversing a long-standing trend in Barna’s decades of tracking. The 2025 gender gap is the largest recorded so far (43% for men vs. 36% among women). Married Dads Show Up; Moms Step Back: Among parents of kids under 18, married dads have the highest show-up rate at church compared to all other parents. Only 1 in 4 single moms (24%) attend church weekly—significantly trailing other married moms and dads. Why It Matters: These shifts reveal new patterns of participation and disengagement among key groups that may reshape the fabric of church life in the years to come. Leadership Consideration: How will churches adapt to support the growing faith engagement of young men—and the growing disengagement of women, particularly single mothers? How can leaders assess what people are experiencing inside the church that shapes whether they return? For decades, women have outnumbered men in church attendance and have often led the way in spiritual participation. But a significant shift is occurring in American Christianity that demands attention: Women—particularly younger women—are attending church less frequently than men. This reversal isn’t just a numerical milestone; it signals a broader cultural and spiritual turning point. While men traditionally have been less likely to participate in church life, the current data, released as part of Barna’s ongoing State of the Church initiative with Gloo, tells a different story—one that points both to signs of renewal in the Church and to specific, concerning areas of decline. This article explores the generational and gender dynamics now reshaping American church attendance. As women’s engagement patterns change, the effects on church communities, leadership, and culture are likely to be profound. These are trends the Church can’t afford to overlook. https://www.barna.com/trends/church-attendance-women-men/ I don't see that in the Philippines. What about your church?

The following article is sobering and should be read by every Adventist. https://spectrummagazine.org/views/a-look-at-school-loans-and-the-adventist-context/

Sadly our current administration is going full speed at developing ways of making it difficult if not impossible for people to buy or sell. We are living in a time where you don't need much imagination to see the idea of enforced religion (we tend to limit out eyesight to the specific application of Sunday Laws in and of themselves, and miss the big picture of what Mrs. White predicted: However, today even the idea of the application of Sunday Laws does not seem far fetched, but we still need to look at the larger picture. I'm sure that Satan has a way to sneek past us if we limit ourselves to the application and example instead of the larger principle.)