Second Child Dies Amid Measles Outbreak in Texas, Urging Vaccine Support

A recent study suggests that substantial reservoirs of hydrogen may be hidden beneath the Earth's crust, with enough hydrogen produced over the last billion years to meet global energy needs for up to 170,000 years. This finding, published in *Nature Reviews Earth and Environment*, highlights that geological conditions across at least 30 U.S. states could harbor natural hydrogen accumulations, potentially accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels. Chris Ballentine, lead author and geochemistry professor at the University of Oxford, indicated that specific geological features, including ophiolitic landscapes and igneous rock formations, are of great interest for exploration. Kansas and a recent site in Albania have been identified as prime locations for potential hydrogen sources. The conditions necessary for hydrogen formation include a source of hydrogen, reservoir rocks, and natural seals to trap the gas. The study's co-author, Jon Gluyas from Durham University, emphasized that understanding these geological conditions is crucial for guiding exploration strategies, potentially leading to cleaner hydrogen production methods with a smaller carbon footprint.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a dramatic 27% decrease in U.S. drug overdose deaths for 2024, with approximately 80,000 fatalities compared to 110,000 in 2023. This represents the largest one-year decline in recorded history. Almost all states saw reductions, except for Nevada and South Dakota, which experienced slight increases. Experts attribute the decrease to multiple factors, including improved access to naloxone, expanded addiction treatment options, and shifts in drug usage trends. Furthermore, significant settlements from opioid manufacturers, promising about $50 billion to combat addiction issues, have contributed to increasing resources for prevention and treatment programs. Despite these improvements, overdose deaths remain higher than pre-COVID levels, with the CDC noting that such incidents continue to be the leading cause of death among individuals aged 18 to 44. Public health advocates caution that decreased federal funding and support could reverse this trend. Experts emphasize that sustained effort and resources are needed to combat the ongoing crisis effectively.

Four prominent U.S. scientists propose a controversial approach to advance medical research by using the bodies of brain-dead individuals for experiments. According to a report published in the journal *Science*, these researchers from California and New York advocate for utilizing brain-dead patients, referred to as physiologically maintained deceased (PMDs), to test drugs and experimental treatments, including organ transplants from genetically modified pigs, which has seen earlier success in the U.S. and China. They argue that conducting simultaneous experiments on brain-dead subjects could lead to significant breakthroughs in addressing lethal diseases. While historically, similar studies have raised ethical debates, the discussion now centers on securing consent from the deceased or their families, as stated by Federico de Montalvo Jääskeläinen, former chair of Spain's Bioethics Committee. He asserts that as long as prior consent is obtained, research using brain-dead bodies could be permissible. However, challenges remain in prioritizing these bodies for organ donation, as highlighted by surgeon Pablo Ramirez, who emphasizes the need for ethical considerations in employing such research methodologies.