Styled By Lexie

12/17/2025

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim returned to Earth after months aboard ISS 🛰️✨

After spending 245 days orbiting Earth, NASA astronaut Jonny Kim has safely returned home. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Kim lived and worked aboard the International Space Station, floating hundreds of miles above the planet while conducting science experiments and supporting station operations. His return marked the end of a demanding mission that tested both body and mind.

Life in space is not just about stunning views. Astronauts face muscle loss, bone density changes, and mental strain from long isolation. During his mission, Kim followed strict routines to stay healthy while helping advance research that benefits life back on Earth. Every day required discipline, teamwork, and focus far beyond what most people experience.

His journey back is a reminder of what human dedication can achieve. From Earth to orbit and back again, Kim’s mission reflects years of training, sacrifice, and trust in science. As he begins recovery and reunites with loved ones, his return stands as a quiet celebration of exploration, resilience, and the ongoing push to understand our place beyond the sky.

12/17/2025

12/17/2025

Posted by FAM Networks | Octopuses hold grudges and throw things at creatures they dislike 😮🐙

Scientists studying octopus behavior have discovered something surprising and unsettling. These animals do not just react in the moment... they remember. Researchers observed octopuses recalling negative encounters and later throwing shells or debris at specific animals or objects. This behavior was not random. It appeared deliberate, repeated, and directed, suggesting memory, intention, and emotional response.

What makes this discovery so striking is what it says about octopus intelligence. Their brains are structured very differently from mammals, yet they solve problems, recognize individuals, and adapt based on experience. Remembering a bad interaction and responding later shows advanced processing. It suggests octopuses may form preferences and avoid or react to things they associate with stress or threat.

This research is changing how scientists view animal emotions. If octopuses can remember and react emotionally, it raises ethical questions about how they are treated in research and captivity. These findings push the idea that intelligence and emotional depth exist far beyond familiar animals... and that the ocean still holds minds we barely understand.



References
BBC Earth, Octopus Intelligence and Emotional Behavior
National Geographic, How Smart Are Octopuses Really
Scientific American, Octopuses Show Signs of Complex Cognition
Smithsonian Magazine, The Strange Minds of Octopuses

12/17/2025

Posted by FAM Networks | Swiss device claims to remove Alzheimer’s proteins in hours… hope or hype 🧠

Swiss researchers are testing a blood filtration device designed to reduce Alzheimer’s related proteins. The system filters blood outside the body and traps amyloid beta and tau while returning clean blood to circulation. Early clinical reports describe short outpatient sessions lasting a few hours. Scientists stress this is experimental and still under careful study.

The idea is indirect but intriguing. As protein levels drop in blood, natural fluid exchange may help reduce buildup in the brain over time. Some patients with moderate dementia showed modest cognitive changes within weeks. Researchers caution results vary and larger controlled trials are needed before any firm conclusions can be made.

Insurance companies currently label the therapy experimental and do not cover it. Families argue access should expand if safety and benefit continue to appear. Experts agree that Alzheimer’s care needs better options. This approach does not replace existing treatments yet, but it opens a new path worth rigorous testing and transparent evaluation.

12/17/2025

Posted by FAM Networks | Six year old cancer survivor returns to school to thunderous standing ovation ❤️🎗️

Six year old John Oliver, lovingly called J.O., returned to St. Helen Catholic School after completing his final round of chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. As he walked through the school doors, something unforgettable happened. Students, teachers, and staff stood up together, clapping and cheering with raw emotion. The hallway filled with applause that celebrated courage, survival, and a long hard journey finally reaching a hopeful milestone.

During years of treatment, J.O. spent countless days in hospitals, away from classrooms and friends. But his school never let him feel forgotten. Teachers stayed in touch, classmates sent love, and his place in the community stayed strong. That connection turned his return into more than just another school day. It became a moment of shared victory that touched everyone who witnessed it.

To honor his strength, the school later held a special assembly featuring a video that told J.O.’s story. It showed not just a child who fought cancer, but a community that stood beside him every step of the way. His walk back into school reminded everyone that courage has no age, and support can make even the hardest battles a little lighter.



References:
People.com, Young Cancer Survivor Receives Standing Ovation at School
Today.com, School Welcomes Back Student After Cancer Treatment
American Cancer Society, Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Local News Coverage, St. Helen Catholic School Community Story

12/16/2025

France has taken one of the strongest animal welfare steps in Europe by making pet abandonment a serious criminal offense. Under the new law, abandoning a dog, cat, or any domestic animal can lead to up to three years in prison and fines reaching €45,000. If abandonment results in the animal’s death, punishment increases to five years in prison and €75,000 in fines. The law directly targets a long standing problem that peaks during holiday seasons.

For years, tens of thousands of pets were dumped annually across France, often left on roadsides or outside shelters. Lawmakers now officially recognize abandonment as animal cruelty, not neglect or inconvenience. This legal shift changes how society views pet ownership, sending a clear message that animals are not disposable when life gets busy or plans change.

Alongside harsher penalties, France banned the sale of cats and dogs in pet shops and introduced a mandatory certificate of commitment before adopting a pet. Authorities say these steps aim to reduce impulse buying and long term suffering. The law reframes pet ownership as a lifelong responsibility, not a temporary choice, setting an example other nations are now watching closely.



References:
BBC News, France Toughens Laws Against Pet Abandonment
The Guardian, France Introduces Strict Animal Welfare Reforms
Reuters, France Bans Pet Shop Sales and Criminalizes Abandonment
French Ministry of Agriculture, New Animal Protection Legislation

12/16/2025

Professor Richard Scolyer, an Australian pathologist, was diagnosed with grade four glioblastoma, one of the deadliest brain cancers with very low survival rates. Instead of accepting the odds, he chose an unprecedented path. He became the first patient to receive pre surgery combination immunotherapy for brain cancer, using a treatment strategy inspired by his own melanoma research.

His approach was deeply personalized. It included tailored immunotherapy, a custom made cancer vaccine, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Doctors closely monitored every step. One year later, scans showed no trace of cancer. While this is a single case and not yet a cure, experts say the result is extraordinary for a disease that rarely responds this well to treatment.

Scolyer’s recovery has sparked global interest in how immunotherapy might be used earlier for brain cancer patients. His case offers hope not through hype, but through science, courage, and innovation. It shows what can happen when research meets urgency, and why breakthroughs sometimes begin with one patient willing to try something never done before.

12/16/2025

In 1983, Koko the gorilla shocked the world by asking her trainers for a cat as a Christmas gift. Koko was famous for using sign language to communicate her feelings and thoughts. When trainers gave her a stuffed toy cat instead, she did not celebrate. She signed “sad” repeatedly, clearly showing disappointment and expressing that the toy was not what she meant.

The following year, on her birthday, trainers decided to honor her request. Koko was allowed to choose a real kitten from a litter. She gently picked a small gray and white tailless kitten and named her All Ball. From that moment, Koko treated the kitten with extreme care, cradling her, grooming her, and carrying her as if she were her own baby.

Their bond became one of the most famous examples of animal emotion ever recorded. Koko’s actions showed intention, preference, sadness, joy, and love. This was not trained behavior for reward. It was genuine attachment. The relationship changed how many people viewed animal intelligence, proving that deep emotional connection is not limited to humans alone.

12/16/2025

Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle has sparked global attention with a bold and humorous challenge. The 76 year old billionaire announced he would give away his entire $3 billion company to anyone who can prove the Earth is flat. The challenge invites people to capture a real photo of the planet’s physical edge, not theories or drawings, but an actual ending point.

The announcement was made through a viral campaign video that blends satire with science. Boyle makes it clear that the proof must be undeniable and physical. A company spokesperson explains the rules plainly, saying the image must show a real termination of Earth’s surface. The message is playful, but the intent is sharp, calling out misinformation through humor.

The stunt has ignited debate online, drawing reactions from scientists, skeptics, and flat Earth supporters alike. While no one is expected to win the prize, the campaign succeeded in its real goal. It grabbed attention, encouraged critical thinking, and reminded people that facts still matter in an age of viral beliefs.

12/16/2025

Scientists studying the endangered Ethiopian wolf noticed something completely unexpected. Instead of hunting, the wolves were filmed gently licking red hot poker flowers for their sweet nectar. At first it looked like a simple snack. But closer inspection revealed pollen sticking to their muzzles, raising a surprising question about their role in the ecosystem.

Researchers believe that as the wolves move from flower to flower, pollen transfers between plants. This means the Ethiopian wolf could be the first known large carnivore to act as a pollinator. Until now, pollination was linked mostly to insects, birds, and small mammals. Seeing a top predator possibly support plant reproduction challenges long held assumptions in science.

This discovery matters even more because Ethiopian wolves are critically endangered. With fewer than five hundred left in the wild, their survival may be deeply connected to the health of their habitat. If wolves help pollinate native plants, protecting them protects entire ecosystems. It is another reminder that nature is more interconnected than we imagine

12/16/2025

Denmark is officially stepping back from the “cry it out” sleep training method after growing concern from child development experts. More than 700 psychologists signed an open letter urging authorities to stop promoting the practice. They warned that repeatedly ignoring a crying baby can disrupt emotional development and weaken the sense of safety infants need in their earliest months of life.

Researchers explain that babies cry to communicate needs, not to manipulate. When cries are ignored for long periods, stress hormones like cortisol can remain high. Elevated cortisol has been linked to changes in brain structure and long term difficulty regulating stress. Experts say this can affect emotional health well beyond infancy, shaping how children respond to relationships and pressure later in life.

Danish health guidance is now shifting toward responsive care that prioritizes comfort, closeness, and secure attachment. Psychologists emphasize that consistently responding to a baby builds trust and emotional stability. The change reflects a broader understanding that early care matters deeply. In Denmark, the message is clear… babies need connection, not conditioning.