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In Nanchang, near a cancer hospital, two elderly residents, Wan Zuocheng and Hong Gengxiang, operate a “community cancer kitchen” to assist caregivers of cancer patients.
For two decades, they have provided this service, which has recently gained national attention. Mr. Wan is very particular about the importance of good food, stating, “No matter what life throws at you, you must eat good food.” For just 3 RMB (around $0.32), anyone can use the kitchen facilities to prepare meals, whether for patients seeking familiar food or for their caregivers. The couple originally ran a restaurant next to the Jiangxi Cancer Hospital, but after it was demolished in 1993, they set up a breakfast stall. In 2003, they decided to start their charity kitchen after a family came to them with a child who refused treatment but wanted a meal cooked by his mother. They allowed the family to use their kitchen, marking the beginning of their charitable efforts.

Over time, they expanded their kitchen with additional utensils, appliances, and cooking facilities. As costs for utilities increased, community support also grew, allowing them to continue their work. Donations now exceed expenses, and nearly 10,000 people have used the cancer kitchen. Food holds significant cultural importance in China, often serving as a greeting. Research shows that positive experiences, such as receiving home-cooked meals, can enhance cancer treatment outcomes. In 2019, the local government renovated the kitchen, moving it indoors and adding over 20 cooking stations and ventilators. In 2020, they were recognized as one of the “People Who Move China,” a television honor akin to CNN Heroes.

A recent study involving stroke patients has found that a discreet armband equipped with electrodes can help restore flexibility in their impaired arms.

Developed by the startup Neubond, the device is designed to integrate into daily routines, enabling patients with limited motor functions to engage more effectively in rehabilitation. Neubond’s co-founders, Jumpei Kashiwakura and Patrick Sagastegui Alva, have collaborated with a stroke support group in London, near the Imperial College London campus, to refine their device. The findings were published in the journal NYU Scholars. The prototype armband, worn on the upper forearm, includes electrodes that detect muscle activation and stimulate nerves to help re-establish their connection with the brain. According to Kashiwakura, the device promotes neuroplasticity, allowing the brain to reorganize and form new neural pathways for regaining control over the affected limb. After just eight sessions, one patient, Lisa Vincent, reported significant improvements; her left arm, previously rigid, gained much greater flexibility and control. “Three weeks ago, my daughter put my granddaughter on my lap, and I held her with this arm because I felt in control of the wrist. I cried myself to sleep that night. It was amazing to be able to do that,” Vincent told Reuters.

Neubond was selected as one of five finalists in the Imperial College’s Venture Catalyst Challenge (VCC), which supports early-stage businesses in developing innovative ideas for commercialization. The VCC program includes coaching, expert meetings, workshops, and pitch training over three months, culminating in a competition for a £20,000 Grand Prize, part of a total prize pool of £100,000, making it the largest university competition focused on entrepreneurship in the UK.

A British couple, Chris and Marianne Fisher, quit their jobs with the National Health Service and sold everything to travel the world in a campervan. Starting their journey in January 2020 in a 20-year-old Fiat Ducato van, they traveled 67,000 miles through 29 countries, building a large online following on their YouTube channel, Tread The Globe.

The couple, both in their mid-50s, sold all their belongings and rented out their home in Telford, England, to fund the trip. After leaving Britain, they reached Turkey just as COVID-19 lockdowns hit, so they became Turkish residents for 18 months before continuing their journey. They shipped their van to South Carolina and drove across the U.S., eventually making it to Canada and Alaska, where they drove the Dempster Highway to Canada’s northernmost road. Following stints across the U.S. and Mexico, they shipped their van to Japan, where they stayed for three months before heading to South Korea. Visa issues blocked them from entering China, so they went through Malaysia, Thailand, India, and Pakistan. Though they initially planned to enter Saudi Arabia, restrictions on right-hand-drive vehicles redirected them to South Africa, where they toured southern Africa before finally heading home.

Over the four and a half years of travel, they logged more than 137,000 miles in their van. The couple managed on a budget of £27 a day, capturing their travels for an audience of 180,000 subscribers and over 28 million YouTube views. Back in Telford, they were welcomed by a crowd of supporters.
Reflecting on their journey, Marianne said, “If we do nothing else in our life, we’ve done something fantastic.” Now, they’re already planning their next adventure.

New reports from the FBI and Bureau of Labor Statistics show continued declines in crime and strong job growth in the U.S.

In its final annual report covering over 94% of the U.S. population, the FBI reported that violent crime dropped nationwide last year, with murders down nearly 12% from 2022 to 2023, marking the largest decrease in decades. The number of reported rapes fell over 9%, and property crime dropped an estimated 2.4%. This data included full-year contributions from all major cities with populations over a million, though agencies like the Los Angeles Police Department did not participate. Chicago’s Police Department reported a 12.9% drop in homicides for 2023 compared to 2022. A new preliminary report shows further declines, with violent crime down 10.3% from January to June 2024, including a 22.7% drop in murders and a 13.1% decrease in property crime.

The job market also beat expectations with the addition of 254,000 new jobs in September, most of them in food services, healthcare, government, social assistance, and construction. Average hourly earnings rose 4% over the past year, well above inflation, which is now back to pre-pandemic levels at 2.5%. The Dow Jones surged on this positive economic news, closing at a record high of 42,352.

Sleep, exercise, heart rate, and mood can impact our brains for up to two weeks, according to a study by Finnish researchers. They tracked one person’s brain and behavior for five months using brain scans, wearables, and smartphones.

“We wanted to look beyond one-time events,” says lead researcher Ana Triana. “Our mental states are constantly shaped by our environment and experiences, but we know little about how brain connectivity responds over different timescales.” The study found that our brains don’t react to daily life in isolated bursts. Instead, brain activity gradually shifts in response to factors like sleep, physical activity, mood, and heart rate over days. This means a workout or poor sleep from last week could still be influencing attention, memory, and cognition today. Physical activity was shown to improve brain connectivity, potentially benefiting memory and cognitive flexibility, while mood and heart rate changes left lasting effects for up to 15 days. The study also suggests tracking brain changes in real-time could help identify neurological disorders early, especially in mental health where subtle signs are often missed.

“Linking brain activity with physiological and environmental data could change personalized healthcare, enabling early intervention and better outcomes,” concludes Triana.