Cancerous acne treatments, woolly mammoth, and 217 jabs.

Adam Rogers
March 07, 2024

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Big Stories

An independent lab petitioned the FDA to recall a group of acne products suspected of containing elevated levels of cancer-causing benzene.

The lab, Valisure, identified benzene as a byproduct of the breakdown of benzoyl peroxide, a common ingredient in over-the-counter acne treatments. The Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization have classified the colorless liquid as carcinogenic.
Even low levels of exposure to benzene have been linked to blood and lymphatic cancers. The FDA has set strict guidelines prohibiting benzene use in drug product manufacturing. It has also mandated recalls for products exceeding 2 parts per million (ppm) of benzene. However, the research found 94 benzoyl peroxide products contained the carcinogen, often with values well above 2 ppm.
Valisure's research found that benzene levels increased significantly when samples were exposed to temperature increases— like a hot car or steamy shower bathroom. The brands tested by Valisure included Proactiv, Target's Up & Up, Clinique, Clearasil, and CeraVe.

A biotech company is progressing towards resurrecting the wooly mammoth.

Colossal Biosciences announced a significant breakthrough in creating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for the Asian elephant — the closest living relative of the woolly mammoth. The company hopes to bring the mammoth, the dodo bird, and other extinct species back to life.
Now, scientists can play around with cloning and gene editing techniques to tweak the iPSCs and hopefully create elephants that have some mammoth-like traits, like thick fur coats and extra layers of fat that kept them warm in cold climates.
Critics say the project is taking money away from conservation efforts, but the biotech company argues it is helping the cause. Colossal believes the project could lead to new ways to protect endangered species by expanding their habitat. Still, many agree that protection efforts should be focused on the species here today.

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer for the film "Rust," was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter by a New Mexico jury.

Guiterrez-Reed was found not guilty of a second charge — tampering with evidence. She could face up to three years in prison.
The shooting occurred during a rehearsal on the set of "Rust," when Alec Baldwin discharged a prop gun containing a live round. The bullet fatally struck Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza. Prosecutors argued that Gutierrez-Reed’s job was to ensure that the gun was only loaded with dummy rounds and that her negligence led to the tragedy.
Alec Baldwin also faces a manslaughter trial over the incident. The verdict may bolster Baldwin's defense, as his attorneys could argue that Gutierrez-Reed bore responsibility for firearm safety. However, Gutierrez-Reed's attorney maintained that she was not solely accountable and pointed to Baldwin's role as both the actor and producer of the film.

Nikki Haley ended her presidential campaign on Wednesday after a disappointing showing on Super Tuesday, leaving Donald Trump as the leading contender for the 2024 Republican nomination. Haley didn’t endorse Trump and instead urged him to appeal to moderate Republicans and independent voters who had supported her candidacy. (More)

New York Governor Kathy Hochul is responding to recent subway crimes in New York City by deploying National Guard members. Nearly 1,000 people, including 750 National Guards, state police, and MTA officers will conduct bag checks at busy stations to improve safety and arrest criminals. (More)

Patients nationwide must choose between paying out of pocket for medications or going without after a cyberattack on Change Healthcare, a UnitedHealth Group subsidiary. The Feb. 21 attack has caused widespread disruptions in medical billing and insurance claims systems, impacting pharmacies, doctors' offices, and patients for the last three weeks. (More)

New research suggests ancient stone tools found in western Ukraine could be Europe's oldest evidence of humans. The tools were excavated from a quarry in Korolevo in the 1970s and are over 1 million years old. Researchers believe that the tools might have been made by the homos erectus species. (More)

The war in Sudan has caused the world's largest hunger crisis, affecting over 25 million people, according to the United Nations. The World Food Program reports that nine out of ten people in the country face emergency levels of hunger. The violence and interference from warring parties make many of these people inaccessible to relief organizations. (More)

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