Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,184 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Muscle-degenerating diseases may finally have a treatment

• Ozzy rocks for the last time

• Who talks more: men or women

First-time reader? Sign up here!

Big Story

“Murder Nurse” Challenge

A group of medical experts has challenged the evidence used to convict UK nurse Lucy Letby of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill seven others in England.

• Dr. Shoo Lee, who led the review, announced that the panel found no proof of murder. Instead, they concluded that the babies likely died from natural causes or poor medical care, refuting the prosecution’s claim that Letby killed the babies in a variety of ways.

• The expert panel discovered serious issues at the Countess of Chester Hospital where Letby worked. They found that the hospitals were understaffed, and the medical workers lacked important skills like CPR and the ability to diagnose illnesses. They were also slow in treating acutely sick infants.

• Lucy Letby, who is 35 years old, is currently serving 15 life sentences with no possibility of release. She has already lost two attempts to appeal her convictions, but now her legal team is trying another approach. They argue that there is now strong evidence that Letby was wrongly convicted.

Big Story

Muscle-degenerating Disease Treatment

Scientists found that a special device implanted in the spine helped three people with a muscle-destroying disease called spinal muscle atrophy (SMA).

• SMA is a genetic condition that weakens muscles over time by damaging nerve cells in the spinal cord. While there are some treatments for SMA, there is no cure. Patients with this disease typically don't get stronger - they either stay the same or get worse.

• The device sends small electrical currents to the spinal cord, similar to treatments already used for chronic pain. The researchers thought this electrical stimulation might wake damaged muscle cells by activating sensory nerves. They tested this idea by implanting electrodes over the lower spinal cord of three adults with SMA and measuring various aspects of their movement both when the device was on and off.

• All three participants showed improvements while using the device. They could walk farther in six-minute tests, and one person who couldn't stand from kneeling could do so. Some benefits continued even when the device was turned off, though they eventually faded after the study ended.

• While this was a small study, scientists see it as an important first step that could potentially help people with various muscle-degenerating diseases.

Big Story

Baltimore Bridge Plans

Maryland Governor Wes Moore and the Transportation Authority have unveiled plans for Baltimore’s Francis Scoot Key Bridge replacement.

• On March 26, 2024, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed after being struck by a massive container ship that lost power. The accident killed six construction workers who were fixing potholes on the bridge at the time, while two others were rescued. In the following 11 weeks, officials cleared the channel and reopened the Port of Baltimore.

• The new design will maintain the architectural style of the original bridge while incorporating the most advanced industry standards and materials available today. The project, estimated to cost about $2 billion, will be funded through a federal spending package approved by Congress in December.

• Construction of the new bridge is scheduled to be completed in 2028, and pre-construction work began in January. The project is part of a larger initiative to strengthen Baltimore's maritime industry, with plans to increase the Port of Baltimore's container capacity by 70%. The expansion is expected to create over 8,000 jobs and generate more than $1 billion in private investments.

Quick Stories

US News

• Pam Bondi was confirmed as attorney general with a 54-46 Senate vote, including support from one Democrat, Senator Fetterman. She was sworn in Wednesday at the White House. (More)

• A major winter storm brought sleet, freezing rain, and snow to the Midwest Wednesday and will hit the Northeast Thursday morning. The storm affects 22 states and more ice and snow is possible this weekend. (More)

• Texas Democrat Rep. Al Green announced plans to introduce impeachment articles against President Trump after Trump's comments about taking over Gaza. Green declared on the House floor that the impeachment movement has begun. (More)

World

• Argentina's president announced the country's withdrawal from the World Health Organization, citing major disagreements with the UN agency. Though Argentina's financial contribution was relatively small at $8 million, the move further weakens global health collaboration. (More)

• Protesters in Bangladesh vandalized a historic family home-turned-museum belonging to exiled former PM Sheikh Hasina. The building was targeted after Hasina planned a speech from India, where she fled during protests against her rule. (More)

• Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan IV, leader of Ismaili Muslims and philanthropist who used billions in religious tithes to build hospitals and schools in developing nations, died at 88. His son Rahim succeeds him as the new Aga Khan. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed higher on Wednesday (S&P +0.39%, Nasdaq +0.19%, Dow +0.71%). All three major averages finished higher for the second day in a row. (More)

• Nissan has reportedly ended merger discussions with Honda, which were valued at over $50 billion. While initial talks focused on creating a joint holding company, Honda later suggested buying Nissan outright. (More)

• The US Postal Service briefly suspended mail from China and Hong Kong before quickly reversing its decision. They're now working with Customs to implement new tariff collection methods while maintaining efficient package delivery. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• The Milwaukee Bucks have traded star player Khris Middleton and rookie AJ Johnson to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kyle Kuzma and Patrick Baldwin Jr., along with draft picks being exchanged between the teams. (More)

• Fox News has announced that Lara Trump, Donald Trump's daughter-in-law, will host a new Saturday show called "My View with Lara Trump" starting Feb. 22 at 9 p.m. ET. (More)

• Ozzy Osbourne will perform one final show with the original Black Sabbath members in Birmingham on July 5. The charity concert, "Back to the Beginning," features major metal bands like Metallica and will be their first reunion in 20 years. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's trial of a personalized cancer vaccine for advanced kidney cancer shows promising results. All nine patients remain cancer-free three years after receiving the treatment, which trains their immune system to fight remaining cancer cells. (More)

• Scientists found a 69 million-year-old bird fossil in Antarctica belonging to Vegavis iaai, an ancient waterfowl related to modern ducks and geese. It is believed to be the oldest modern bird ever discovered. (More)

• Google has publicly released Gemini 2.0, its latest AI model suite, after limited testing in December. The release includes three versions: Flash for high-volume tasks, Pro Experimental for coding, and Flash-Lite for cost efficiency. (More)

Extra Credit

🚀 Private spacecraft captures incredible shots of Earth.

 🐈️ Italian doctor in trouble for giving his cat a CAT scan.

💎 Why are rubies red and emeralds green?

👩 Women do talk more than men.