Top Stories
TOP STORY
TOP STORY
Around 35% of tattoo inks contaminated
A microbiology study found that 26 of 75 tattoo inks sold in the US—around 35%—were contaminated with bacteria.
Researchers tested inks from 14 manufacturers to identify quantities of anaerobic bacteria that thrive without oxygen and aerobic bacteria that thrive with oxygen.
“Our findings reveal that unopened and sealed tattoo inks can harbor anaerobic bacteria, known to thrive in low-oxygen environments, such as the dermal layer of the skin, alongside aerobic bacteria,” the researchers report.
The researchers said this suggests both types of bacteria contribute to the increase in ink-related infections that have come with the rising popularity of ink usage and tattooing.
According to an Ipsos poll, about 30% of Americans have at least one tattoo. The results highlight the importance of monitoring inks for bacteria and pathogenic microorganisms.
The study authors plan to research more efficient microbial detection in tattoo inks and deepen the understanding of the contamination issues.
Running Stories
US POLITICS
US POLITICS
Doggett calls for Biden’s withdrawal
A House Democrat has become the first in the party to call publicly for President Joe Biden to end his presidential campaign.
Citing Biden’s poorly rated debate performance against Donald Trump, Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas said he should “make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw.”
Doggett represents an Austin-based district and is serving his 15th term in Congress. Biden conceded the debate didn’t go well for him but insisted he was ready to fight for a second term.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, Biden’s one-time Democratic opponent, said a presidential election is about “who has the best policies … I’m going to do everything I can to see that Biden gets reelected.”
Bubbling Under
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WORLD
WORLD
Boris Johnson's appearance to help Sunak
Boris Johnson said it was “not too late” to stop the Labour Party before introducing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at an election rally.
The former British Prime Minster said, “Too many good, kind moderate Tories are about to vote for other parties, which would mean they get exactly the opposite of what they really want.”
Johnson, who in 2022 blamed Rishi Sunak for helping to bring about his downfall as prime minister by resigning as chancellor in 2022, buried the hatchet to put the Conservative Party first.
Until now, Johnson stayed away from the campaign trail, offering only to record supportive videos for any candidates who requested them.
He was cheered by the audience as he said Labour would make the UK “nothing but the punk of Brussels” by reintroducing free movement and copying EU laws.
According to opinion polls, the Conservatives appear on course to lose more than two-thirds of the seats that Boris Johnson won in 2019. The UK election is on July 4.
HEALTH
HEALTH
FDA approves second Alzheimer’s drug
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday approved a drug shown to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Donanemab, to be marketed as Kisunla by manufacturer Eli Lilly, is the second medication approved by the FDA to treat patients showing early symptoms of the disease.
Last year, authorities cleared the drug Lecanemab, marketed under the brand name Leqembi, after it demonstrated a similar decline in the progression of Alzheimer’s in a control group.
The FDA said the treatments are not a cure but physically alter the course of the disease rather than just addressing its symptoms. Alzheimer’s affects almost 7 million Americans.
Eli Lilly reported that Kisunla slowed cognitive and functional decline by up to 35% after 18 months and reduced the risk of progressing to the next clinical stage by up to 39%.
A year’s course of Kisunla costs around $32,000. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said it planned to cover FDA-approved Alzheimer’s drugs so long as physicians maintained a rigid record of their performance.
OTHER NEWS
OTHER NEWS
Germany to aid surviving Nazi victims
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany is planning to provide aid for surviving victims of the Nazi occupation in Poland.
"Germany is aware of the gravity of its guilt, of its responsibility for the millions of victims of the German occupation and of the mission that arises from it," Scholz said.
Scholz (left) is on a state visit to Poland and spoke at a press conference in Warsaw with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (right) following joint government consultations.
Scholz did not say when or how much compensation would be paid to the approximately 40,000 victims of the German occupation of Poland who are still alive.
SCIENCE
SCIENCE
Ants perform life-saving operations
Scientists have discovered that ants in Florida perform life-saving surgery on their peers.
A study says that Florida carpenter ants identify limb wounds on their nestmates and then treat them with cleaning or amputation, making them and humans the only known animals to do this.
“This is the only case in which a sophisticated and systematic amputation of an individual by another member of its species occurs in the animal kingdom,” said study first author Erik Frank.
They observed the ants treated femur injuries by cleaning the wound with their mouths before amputating the leg by repeatedly biting it; the tibia wounds were just cleaned.
Survival rates for femur injuries improved from less than 40% to 90%–95% when amputations were performed. Survival rates for tibia injuries improved from 15% to 75% following cleaning.
An amputation takes ants at least 40 minutes to complete. The researchers said that the ability of ants to identify and treat wounds selectively is innate. They found no evidence of learning.
OFFBEAT
OFFBEAT
Real-life image disqualifies AI winner
Instead of an AI image being mistaken for the real thing, a real-life photo has done the opposite and won an AI photography contest.
Photographer Miles Astray entered his photo of a Flamingo into an AI photographic competition in all its pink glory, looking as stunning as unworldly.
The photo won not just one award but two: the Bronze Award in the judge’s category and the Peoples Vote Award. But he was disqualified when judges discovered it was real.
Astray did not use generative AI software Stable Diffusion, as he stated, but his Nikon D750 camera and 50mm lens. The photo was taken at a beach in Aruba and entered into the AI category.
The photographer said he submitted his work to take a jab at the “ethical implications” of AI. “There’s nothing more fantastic and creative than Mother Nature herself,” he said.
Otherweb Editorial Staff
Alex FinkTechie in Chief
David WilliamsEditor in Chief
Angela PalmerContent Manager
Dan KriegerTechnical Director