NEWSROOM
Boy has electrodes fitted to brain in world-first epilepsy trial
A 13-year-old boy from Somerset has had an 80% reduction in daytime seizures after receiving a pioneering neurostimulator fixed to his skull. Oran Knowlson developed a rare and treatment-resistant form of epilepsy called Lennox Gastaut syndrome aged three, causing him to suffer from multiple seizures a day. The surgery, conducted in October, involved the installation of two electrodes in the thalamus, near the centre of the brain, which work with the neurostimulator to block the abnormal signals that cause seizures. Three more children are in line for the treatment.
Iberian Lynx brought back from the brink of extinction
The Iberian Lynx is one of the world’s rarest cats, but following years of conservation, a population surge has seen the species lose its endangered status. Growing from 62 mature cats in 2001 to 648 in 2022, conservation leader Francisco Javier Salcedo Ortiz described the revival as “the greatest recovery of a cat species ever achieved through conservation” to the BBC. The increase in population is largely credited to conservation efforts focused on the cat’s main food source – the wild rabbit. Looking forward, there are now plans to reintroduce the lynx to central and northern Spain, with the aim of repopulating the entire Iberian Peninsula.
UK court rules on future impact assessments for fossil fuel projects
The long-term impact of burning oil, coal and gas in the UK must be considered when granting permission for new fossil fuel projects, according to a new Supreme Court ruling. The landmark decision follows campaigner Sarah Finch’s challenge to Surrey council’s decision to approve a new oil well, arguing that Scope Three or “downstream” emissions were not taken into account when assessing the project. The court ruled that extracted oil would go on to create emissions with “virtual certainty,” calling for such emissions to be considered going forward. The ruling comes as the International Energy Agency (IEA) has called for an immediate cessation of new oil and gas exploration worldwide.
Mnemba islanders fight to save beloved coral reef
The people of Mnemba, a small island in the Zanzibar archipelago, have brought a coral reef back from the brink of destruction. Islanders noticed the stress that oceanic warming, over-fishing, and tourism had put on the reef and were preparing to leave the island altogether, when sustainable tourism pioneers &Beyond joined forces with the Africa Foundation in 2021 to tackle the issues. Locals were trained as conservationists, tending underwater nurseries of coral, which were then established on the reef, resulting in 80% of the main reef being restored. The government of Zanzibar – a part of Tanzania – now plans to extend the work across the island chain, ensuring that locals are empowered to protect and restore their home.
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