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.

Recently a secular fashion magazine decided to do an article on the health benefits of being a Seventh-day Adventist. They invited me to weigh in as an “expert witness”. I share below the question the reporter asked and my answer. I thought you might find it worth your time to read: (Reporter’s Question)What are ten […] The post Adventist Principles and Health appeared first on Jon Paulien's Blog. View the full article

For many Americans, middle age is becoming more challenging than it was for previous generations. People born in the 1960s and early 1970s report higher levels of loneliness and depression, along with poorer memory and reduced physical strength compared with those who came before them. What makes this trend especially notable is that it is not happening to the same extent in many other wealthy countries. In several peer nations, particularly in Nordic Europe, health and well-being during midlife have improved over time rather than declined. To understand why the United States appears to be moving in a different direction, psychologist Frank J. Infurna of Arizona State University and his colleagues examined survey data from 17 countries. "The real midlife crisis in America isn't about lifestyle choices or sports cars. It's about juggling work, finances, family, and health amid weakening social supports," Infurna said. "The data make this clear." The study, published in Current Directions in Psychological Science, points to several factors that may be driving these differences and suggests possible ways to improve outcomes. Family Support Policies and Loneliness One key distinction between the United States and many European countries involves support for families. Since the early 2000s, European nations have increased spending on family benefits, while spending in the U.S. has remained largely unchanged. Compared with Europe, the United States offers fewer programs such as cash assistance for families with children, income support during parental leave, and subsidized childcare. These policies can have a meaningful impact on people in midlife, who are often balancing careers while raising children and caring for aging parents. The researchers found that adults in countries with stronger family support systems reported lower levels of loneliness and experienced smaller increases in loneliness over time. In contrast, loneliness among Americans continued to rise across generations. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260613215430.htm

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.

✈️ Parting shot! Photo: Michael Meath Reader Michael Meath of Lewes, Del., sends us this view from the skies: "Flying my Cessna 172 over Cape Henlopen State Park and the Delaware Bay at sunset."

Before dawn in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, the roosters do not get to finish. The men arrive with rifles and machetes while the village is still folded in sleep, and by… The post U.S. Brands Nigeria a Religious Freedom Violator as Christian Death Toll Climbs appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

Bill C-9, the *Combatting Hate Act*, has cleared the Canadian Senate, instituting expansive new criminal penalties for hate-motivated activities. The legislation creates a specific criminal offense for intimidating or obstructing… The post Canada’s "Combatting Hate Act": Legislative Expansion of Criminal Speech Laws appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has reversed a district court decision that dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) against Concordia University… The post Fifth Circuit Reverses Dismissal in Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Governance Dispute appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

In 1890 the Supreme Court knew exactly what religion was, which should have been the first warning. Certainty on a question like this is usually the sound of a man… The post What is "Religion" anyway? appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

In April, Gov. Ned Lamont signed a bill that cut a hole in Connecticut’s own Religious Freedom Restoration Act. House Bill 5044, sold as a vaccine-standards measure, declares that the… The post Conscience Is Not a Coupon appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

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

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 plane lands and the visitor steps into a country she was warned about. She knows the America that shouts. She braces for it. Then a stranger holds the door,… The post Borrowed Light: The Faith Beneath the American Welcome appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

As an American, my baseline for “hate speech” is comfortably anchored in the First Amendment. In the United States, we operate under the near-absolute protection of the Brandenburg v. Ohio… The post The Great Northern Shift: How Canada’s Bill C-9 Reconfigures the Landscape of Hate Speech appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

The vice president of the United States found a free Tuesday and spent part of it posting about a baseball hat. A sitting governor’s press shop fired back. A state… The post Do Giants Pitchers Have a Legal Right to Refuse the Pride Cap? appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

As an American, my baseline for "hate speech" is comfortably anchored in the First Amendment. The post The Great Northern Shift: How Canada’s Bill C-9 Reconfigures the Landscape of Hate Speech appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

I like the presenter. It's interesting.

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

A dozen men gathered to pray in a private home in University Heights, Ohio. The city responded with a cease-and-desist letter. That sequence, simple on its face, now sits before… The post An Orthodox Jew Prayed at Home. The Supreme Court Will Decide if He Can Sue the City That Stopped Him. appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

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

When a university president blesses what the church forbids, private dissent becomes public policy, and parents are entitled to notice. The post The Shield They Are Dismantling appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

This week, the SBC goes hard right while PCUSA and Adventists drift to the left. Catholic Church is consistent. The post Everybody’s Wrong, and Rome Is Filling Up appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

🔥 Sunset du jour Photo: Dan Mahoney A fiery Wyoming sunset, snapped by Finish Line fan Dan Mahoney of Phoenix, during a fly fishing trip near Alcova, Wyo., last month.

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

Chicago Co-Founder Walt Parazaider Dies After Bout With Alzheimer’s Disease https://www.thedailybeast.com/founding-member-of-chicago-walter-parazaider-dead-at-81-from-tragic-illness/?

🏙️ Parting shot! Photo: Gary Hershorn/Getty Images A dreamy Manhattan sunrise, seen through low clouds from Jersey City, N.J. Share the best snaps of your summer with us at finishline@axios.com, along with your name and hometown!

Gene Shalit, longtime ‘Today’ show movie critic with bushy hair and massive mustache, dies at 100 https://apnews.com/article/gene-shalit-dies-b8ed6f4b7054e530e5fba9a808902cca?

49ers mourn the sudden death of former All-Pro linebacker Aldon Smith at 36 https://apnews.com/article/aldon-smith-death-b26fe7eaddfd6494e23dbb36b9e15771?

Ford recalls more than 250,000 Focus models because engines can stall unexpectedly Ford is recalling more than 250,000 vehicles that were incorrectly repaired under a previous recall meant to fix a problem that caused the engine to stall while driving. https://apnews.com/article/ford-focus-recall-safety-engine-stall-21edfd428bacbf9c9f5a45c62e45c1d1? Nara Organics recalls baby formula sold at Target after multistate infant botulism outbreak SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Nara Organics recalled its organic baby formula sold nationwide in Target stores and online Saturday after a multistate outbreak of infant botulism, federal authorities said. https://apnews.com/article/infant-botulism-byheart-formula-outbreak-90a0a08910d1162d77b9eb65d63ed667?

DAVAO CITY, PHILIPPINES —Several Seventh-day Adventist churches and educational facilities sustained significant damage after a powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Mindanao on the morning of June 8, 2026. According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the earthquake occurred at 7:37 a.m. with an epicenter located 32 kilometers west of Maasim, Sarangani Province, at a depth of 33 kilometers. The tremor registered at Intensity VII (Destructive) on the PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS), strongly affecting communities across Mindanao, particularly General Santos City and neighboring provinces. Initial assessments from the Southern Mindanao Mission (SMM), the local administrative headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the southern Mindanao, revealed extensive damage to several church properties within its territory. Among the most severely affected were Malapatan Central Adventist Church in Malapatan, Sarangani Province; Gadong Adventist Church in Balangonan, Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental; and Polo Adventist Church in Polomolok, South Cotabato. Reports indicate that these church structures either collapsed or sustained damage beyond immediate use. Other local congregations reported visible cracks and structural concerns, prompting church leaders to coordinate further inspections with local government authorities and engineers. https://sepumadventist.org/article/strong-earthquake-damages-adventist-churches-and-school-facilities-in-southern-mindanao

ADRA Mobilizes Assessment Teams as Southern Mindanao Earthquake Death Toll Rises The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Philippines has activated its National Emergency Management Plan and deployed assessment teams to Southern Mindanao following the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck offshore near Maasim, Sarangani, on June 8. According to ADRA’s latest situation report, the earthquake has claimed at least 34 lives, left 12 people missing, and affected more than 86,000 individuals across 56 barangays in regions IX, XI, and XII. More than 5,000 families remain in evacuation centers as government agencies and humanitarian organizations continue rescue, relief, and recovery efforts. The earthquake, described as the strongest to hit the Philippines since 1990, generated destructive ground shaking throughout South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos City, the Davao Region, and neighboring provinces. General Santos City recorded Intensity VII, while widespread evacuations were ordered in coastal communities following initial tsunami warnings. This is in the top 5 earthquakes in the Philippines. The local schools do earthquake drills every year non. Sometimes more than once.