Good morning! The weekend edition is 739 words, a 3 minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Infant memory formation

• India’s health insurance program has helped 6.8 M cancer patients

• Octopus takes a ride on a shark

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Today’s Big Story

Alpha-gal Syndrome

Scientists have discovered that more tick species than previously thought can trigger alpha-gal syndrome (ASG), a rare but serious red meat allergy.

• The lone star tick found in the Southeast and lower Midwest was believed to be the primary culprit. Now, new CDC case reports reveal that black-legged deer ticks in Maine and western black-legged ticks in Washington have also caused the condition.

• ASG occurs when tick saliva containing the alpha-gal sugar molecule triggers an immune response in some people. Unlike typical food allergies with immediate reactions, symptoms appear 2-8 hours after eating red meat, making diagnosis difficult. Reactions range from hives and swelling to full anaphylactic shock. (Read more about ASG here)

• Nearly half a million Americans have alpha-gal syndrome, with cases concentrated in Southern and Mid-Atlantic states. Scientists are still investigating why only certain people develop the allergy after tick bites.

• Experts warn that tick populations are "exploding" nationwide, with ranges expanding due to climate change. Though doctors can treat the symptoms, preventing tick bites is vital since ASG has no cure.

Saturday’s Quick Hits

• A fire at a nearby electrical substation shut down London Heathrow Airport for 18 hours, disrupting over 1,350 flights and affecting hundreds of thousands of passengers. The first plane landed Friday evening after the closure was lifted. The cause remains unknown but isn't considered suspicious. The impact will likely continue for days as airlines reschedule flights and reposition crews. (More)

• New research shows babies as young as 12 months can form memories. Using fMRI scans, scientists identified hippocampus activity during memory tasks in infants. This challenges the belief that babies can't create memories and suggests that infantile amnesia—our inability to recall early childhood—likely happens because we can't retrieve these memories, not because they weren't formed in the first place. (More)

• Joe Biden has offered to fundraise and campaign for Democrats as Trump dismantles party programs. He pitched DNC chairman Ken Martin in a private meeting last month. Despite his willingness to help rebuild the struggling party, many Democrats aren't embracing Biden's offer, viewing the 82-year-old former president as tied to their 2024 defeat and representing the past rather than the future. (More)

• Sudan's army has recaptured the presidential palace in Khartoum from the paramilitary RSF after nearly two years of fighting. While this marks a major victory and recent advance for the army, the war is far from over with large parts of Sudan still under RSF control. The RSF claims they remain in the area, and bloody clashes are expected to continue. (More)

• Columbia University has agreed to a list of demands from the Trump administration to potentially restore $400 million in recently canceled federal funding. The university will ban masked protests, hire 36 new security officers with arrest powers, appoint a new supervisor for Middle Eastern studies, commit to "institutional neutrality," and review admissions processes to ensure they're unbiased. (More)

Weekly Dose of Positive

• India's health insurance program called Ayushman Bharat has treated 6.8 million cancer patients (75% rural). Those living below the poverty line are helped by significant medication discounts and financial assistance of up to $17,500. (More)

• Since installing safety nets on the Golden Gate Bridge, suicides have dropped 73%. The project, completed in January last year, has worked despite initial resistance from those worried about altering the landmark or its potential effectiveness. (More)

• Utah teacher Kati Jo Christensen makes one-minute dance videos on TikTok to monetize views and raise donations. She's collected over $11,000 to clear school lunch debt for students in her area. She has completely paid off her own school's $4,000 balance and is now helping three additional schools. (More)

• When 3-year-old Bridger's great-grandmother fell and injured her head, he bravely overcame his fear of the dark to retrieve her phone from the car, enabling her to call for help. (More)

Extra Credit

☀️ NASA shares high-def photos of a sunset on the moon.

⚰️ Man gets final send-off in a Snickers-themed coffin.

🐙 Watch: Octopus takes a ride on a shark’s back.

🇮🇪 Connor McGregor is running for president of Ireland.