No, really? Swearing can have positive effects? According to the BBC, “It turns out that swearing helps mitigate pain. It is easier to keep an arm in ice-cold-water for longer if you are simultaneously effing and blinding [using very strong swear words].”  Cursing out loud also appears to increase power and strength during physical exertion. It’s […]

Taylor Swift, The Eras Tour, Munich

by Ann Mettler, Vice President, Europe, Breakthrough Energy I never considered myself a Swiftie and never quite got the hype around Taylor Swift’s music and persona. That is, until I accompanied my Swiftie son to one of two concerts [July 27 and 28, 2024] she gave in Munich. Since one of my key mom deliverables […]

autism spectrum disorder

People with autism have trouble with communication. They have difficulty understanding what other people think and feel. According to the American Psychiatric Association, “Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental condition involving persistent challenges with social communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behavior. While autism is considered a lifelong disorder, the degree of difficulty in […]

Dr. Jack Preger at work in Calcutta in 1982

Dr. Jack Preger provided free healthcare to more than half a million people on the streets of Kolkata for over 40 years. This British doctor’s mission is “to serve those most in need whatever their caste or religion,” according to Calcutta Rescue, the charity he established in Kolkata, India.  Dr Jack started Calcutta Rescue in 1980 to […]

Exercise to boost the brain

Both aerobic exercise and resistance training help prevent cognitive decline, which refers to issues related to a “person’s thinking, memory, concentration, and other brain functions beyond what is typically expected due to aging.”  That’s according to researchers who reviewed studies on exercise and cognition to learn which methods offer the greatest benefit. “Aerobic exercise was […]

therapy dog and medical center staff countering cancer

More and more people are talking about all that dogs are capable of doing. They can be loyal and provide love and and companionship, and many are the sight, hearing, and mobility of individuals, or provide emotional support.  And dogs have even been used to predict earthquakes. One study shows that some dogs can detect […]

live-saving work in Ukraine

The news from the Ukrainian front isn’t good. But many people there are doing great deeds with little or no recognition. These heroes are the doctors, nurses, and volunteers who are providing frontline trauma and medical care to those injured in combat and deployed personnel. Currently in Ukraine, medics put their own lives in danger […]

Mosquito on skin

For the 20% of the population who are more susceptible to being bitten by mosquitoes than the average person, here’s some very good news. A new repellent shows great promise in preventing mosquito bites by up to 80%. It is made from combining a renewable raw material found in cotton and wood, called cellulose nanocrystals […]

Mark Pollock

By now everyone’s heard of Mark Pollock. He is blind and paralyzed but is optimistic about finding a cure for paralysis. Pollock is Chairman of Collaborative Cures, which works to “bring people together to cure paralysis in our lifetime.” The charity gathers scientists, investors, and philanthropists to collaborate on innovative research and make treatments accessible […]

Mina Guli running in Paris

June 5th is Global Running Day. Today, Wonder Woman for Water Mina Guli, CEO of Thirst Foundation, has embarked on yet another journey to highlight the need for healthy, restored rivers worldwide.  Mina is a water advocate, ultra marathon endurance runner and speaker, who believes that “every single one of us can make a difference.” […]