Making Personalized Crispr Cures to Save More Babies
In May, baby KJ Muldoon made history as the first person to get a custom-made treatment using the gene-editing tool Crispr. Now a push is underway to do the same thing for eight more kids.
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Gizmodo
11 minutes ago
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‘Solar Opposites' Creators on Crafting the Show's Final Season
A lively crowd turned up for what may be Solar Opposites' last San Diego Comic-Con panel—the animated Hulu sci-fi series will end after its sixth and final season drops October 13. But executive producers Mike McMahan and Josh Bycel told fans they'll walk away satisfied, even if they also feel like they still want more. 'We were starting to write this season when we found out that it was most likely going to be the end,' McMahan said. 'And then we were scrambling around panicking, trying to make them not let it be the end. But just in case, we figured there's some stuff we have to do with [side plot] the Wall, there's the stuff we had to do with the Solars, there's some really cool stuff coming. So, we've been saying that this kind of feels a little bit like our Fellowship of the Ring. Like this is the end of the first book of Solar Opposites. So, we do culminate some stuff, we do get some storylines finished, but we leave it open to more adventures too, at the same time.' The SDCC panel included a screening of a season-six episode that—no spoilers—digs into the deep family relationships that've formed between the Solar Opposites aliens. They may have started off the show merely as partners on a scientific mission, but that's definitely transformed into something far more emotionally resonant. 'That's the most heart we've ever done in an episode,' Bycel said. 'And it ends in this amazing, unexpected way when you realize the family stuff. But because we were sort of cosplaying as drama writers, we knew that we backed ourselves into a corner with [side plots] the Wall and Silver Cops. And our big goal was to sort of take all these breadcrumbs we've done throughout the years and wrap them up with the Solars. So it really makes you realize that the Wall and Silver Cops, they all come back to the Solars, because without them, none of those stories would be able to live. So that was really important for us.' Added McMahan, 'It was all about balance, where it almost had to be funny and dumb and then smart, and we had to pay attention to everything we had said and done. When you're going into the season, I really recommend you go back and watch your favorite episodes, especially the '99 Ships' episode [season three, episode six] before you finish the season because it all ties together. The whole series ties together.' You still have time to rewatch that particular episode or even the whole series to date (including the holiday specials) if you want: Solar Opposites releases all 10 episodes of season six October 13 on Hulu. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Forbes
12 minutes ago
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Can Dopamine Fasts Improve Your Focus, Sleep And Sex Drive?
Photo by Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images If motivation feels harder to access, sex drive has dipped, or attention span is fleeting, dopamine could be the missing piece. Dopamine, often dubbed the "motivation molecule," is paramount to how we experience pleasure, learn new behaviors and pursue goals. But in our hyper-digitized world, we may be numbing the very system we rely on to feel engaged, alive and alert. From endless algorithmic feeds to reward-chasing behaviors like texting, swiping and doomscrolling, we are unknowingly participating in what some researchers now call "neural hijacking." A 2025 study in Current Biology suggests that the average adult receives more than 300 digital dopamine hits per day, microbursts of pleasure and novelty that, over time, dull the brain's sensitivity to natural rewards, such as movement, connection, rest and intimacy. The result? A modern epidemic of anhedonia, burnout, sexual apathy and disrupted circadian rhythms, among others. The term "dopamine fasting" may sound like a trend, but its roots lie in fundamental neurobiology. The mesolimbic dopamine pathway, particularly the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex, plays a crucial role in reward anticipation, habit formation and emotional resilience. When overstimulated, this circuit becomes desensitized, leading to what Stanford psychiatry professor Dr. Anna Lembke refers to as the "dopamine deficit state." "Every time we flood the reward pathway, our brain adapts by downregulating dopamine receptors," Dr. Lembke writes in her 2021 book Dopamine Nation. "Eventually, we need more stimulation just to feel normal, and the absence of stimulation begins to feel like pain." Recent research from the University of Zurich (2024) demonstrated that a five-day reduction in high-dopamine behaviors restored baseline reward sensitivity in participants, who reported: This aligns with findings from the Journal of Psychosomatic Research, which observed that even brief digital abstinence can improve parasympathetic tone, reduce perceived stress and help re-regulate hormonal rhythms, such as cortisol and melatonin. Contrary to popular belief, a dopamine fast is not about eliminating dopamine itself, a neurotransmitter essential for survival, but instead reducing unnatural overstimulation that hijacks the brain's reward loop. Dr. Cameron Sepah, the clinical psychologist who popularized the concept in Silicon Valley, defines dopamine fasting as a "behavioral intervention that restricts impulsive reward-seeking behaviors to allow neurochemical rebalancing." That includes: Instead, the reset invites people to reconnect with low-dopamine, high-meaning experiences, such as creativity, genuine human connection, nature, stillness and analog pleasures. The result? A more finely tuned nervous system, better boundaries and a return to self-led desire. When digital stimulation is reduced, profound shifts often occur across mind-body systems. That's because dopamine doesn't operate in isolation. It modulates other neurohormones that influence everything from libido to cognition. Here's how: This science-informed protocol draws from clinical insights, behavior change models and circadian biology. It's designed not as deprivation but as repatterning, allowing your brain to remember how to enjoy life offline. Day 1: Reclaim Your Mornings Day 2: Set Up Boundaries, Not Bans Day 3: Create A Pleasure Rewire Day 4: Strengthen Connection Circuits Day 5: Reflect, Recalibrate, Recommit In a world hyper-focused on high performance and instant gratification, digital dopamine resets might offer a radical act of restoration. They can remind us that pleasure doesn't have to be fast, loud or filtered to be fulfilling. However, what we're really detoxing from isn't dopamine; it's disconnection from ourselves and our inner mental and emotional ecosystems. Whether you're a founder, a creative, a parent, or a burnout survivor, learning to manage your reward system is one of the most profound and revolutionary skills of the modern age. Remember, unplugging for a few days won't change the world. But it might just change how you show up in it: awake, aware and fully alive.
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
‘I'm 53-Years-Old With Six-Pack Abs—Here's My Exact Weekly Workout Routine'
'I'm 53-Years-Old With Six-Pack Abs—Here's My Exact Weekly Workout Routine' originally appeared on Parade. Walter Gjergja has always been active. As a teen and young adult, he practiced martial arts, competing at an elite level. But in his 30s, he noticed that his performance was stalling, despite a dedicated training schedule.'In your 30s, speed, power and flexibility start declining slightly and then in your 40s, there's a substantial change in metabolism and recovery,' Gjergja says, adding that he experienced these changes first-hand as he moved through his 40s and into his explains that he has seen many people in their 50s de-prioritize fitness, assuming they just can't be as active anymore. He didn't want to do that. But he also knew that he couldn't keep working out the way he used to in his 20s. Here, he shares what his workout routine is now and how he's using AI to help others achieve their health goals.🩺SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week💊 'I'm 53-Years-Old With a Six-Pack—Here's My Weekly Workout Routine' Before seeing what Gjergja's workout routine is, it's important to know that just because this routine works for him, it's not for everyone. Gjergja spends 1.5 hours working out every day, which he says is too intense for those who aren't used to being as active. 'Start where you are and work up from there,' he mentioned, Gjergja works out an hour and a half every day—that is, unless something organically comes up. 'I don't build days off into my workout schedule because I find that they happen naturally because life happens,' he says. 'Family plans come up, traveling…So I just always have the intention of working out every day and my days off happen as life unfolds.'Gjergja structures his workouts into three sections: cardio, strength training, and mobility and flexibility. They aren't always the same length, but he says he hits every area each Cardio Typically, Gjergja does 45 minutes of cardio a day. 'Cardio fitness is important for daily activities, like being able to chase your kids or grandkids around,' he says. Often, Gjergja says he'll get his cardio in by going on a 45-minute top of his 45-minute cardio workout, Gjergja shares that he tries to work as much movement into his day as possible, which serves as smaller bursts of cardio. This can look like, for example, taking the stairs instead of the elevator or parking a block away from somewhere he needs to Strength training Since Gjergja does some form of strength training every single day, he varies how he does it to prevent overworking his muscles. For example, he says that on Mondays, he does pushing exercises, like bench presses, overhead presses and dumbbell lateral raises. The next day, he'll do pulling exercises, like pull-ups, bicep curls and deadlifts. The day after that, he'll focus on core strength. Then, the cycle repeats. 'I push every rep until I'm close to failure on the last rep,' he Mobility and flexibility This is the part of fitness that Gjergja says many people neglect, but it's increasingly important with age. 'When we are kids, we have a lot of flexibility. Think about how a baby can put their foot in their mouth. But with age, we become more rigid and stiff. That's why flexibility exercises are so important,' he explains. Related: How He's Using AI To Help Others Achieve Their Health Goals As a former athlete, Gjergja knows more than the average person about fitness. He also studied exercise physiology at Stanford University and is a Shaolin Master, trained at a temple in China. With the help of technology developers, he created Zing Coach, an app that uses AI to help people reach their fitness explains that Zing Coach creates a personalized training program based on the individual's current health, what their goals are and how they prefer to be motivated. (For some people, it's all tough love, but others prefer gentle encouragement.) One way Gjergja says that people can track their progress is through the app's virtual body composition scan. 'This is more accurate than using a scale because you can be losing fat, but gaining muscle,' he app can also measure flexibility. 'You put the screen far enough away where it can see your whole body and then move through some guided exercises. From there, it will tell you what you can do to improve flexibility and feel better in your body,' he says. Nutrition advice is also a cornerstone of the app. Users can take photos of their meals and the app can estimate what the nutrient and calorie content is, then offer recommendations related to their health goals. 'I primarily use Zing to track my workouts and progress,' Gjergja says, explaining how he uses it himself. His Advice for Getting Fit After 50 If you are 50 or older and want to start being more active but aren't sure how to get started, Gjergja recommends starting small. 'Maybe it's just moving your body for 15 or 20 minutes a day and gradually working up from there,' he of focusing on aesthetics, Gjergja says to think about how you want to feel. 'Instead of focusing on wanting six-pack abs, more muscle-toned arms or wanting to weigh less, focus on wanting to feel more energized so you can go hiking with your spouse or play with your kids, for example. Aesthetics and fitness are not the same. If you prioritize feeling more fit, the aesthetics will come anyway,' he explains. Gjergja also reiterates the importance of moving throughout the day (not just sitting around all day and then heading to the gym for a strenuous workout) and also prioritizing eating nutrient-rich foods. 'A workout at the end of the day doesn't make up for spending the rest of the day sitting,' Gjergja says. One way that he says can help with working more movement into your day is spending 60 seconds every hour doing one type of exercise, such as squats or push-ups. Over the course of the day, these mini workouts add up! Most importantly, he says to just get started. Start small, but start today. Over time, you may be amazed to see how far you come. Up Next:'I'm 53-Years-Old With Six-Pack Abs—Here's My Exact Weekly Workout Routine' first appeared on Parade on Jul 26, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
