Facts For You To Know

7/20/26

Estimates for the death toll in Sudan’s bloody three-year civil war range from over 61,000 to more than 150,000, with the true figure in the hundreds of thousands when factoring in indirect deaths from disease and starvation.  The conflict has internally displaced over 11 million people, with an additional 4 million fleeing to neighboring countries.

7/18/26

In the US, high temperatures claim more older victims every year than floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes – combined.  Just before the summer solstice, a climate scientist recorded a temperature of about 125°F in Portland, Oregon, where high temperatures normally average about 74°F. Europe’s most extreme heat wave in June may have killed between 17,000 and 25,000 people - and things are only going to get worse in the US, but especially in Europe, because the collapse of a key ocean current may already be locked in.

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) carries warm, salty water from the tropics into the North Atlantic Ocean, where it cools, sinks, and then returns South. This circulation regulates the climate across Europe, Africa, and the Americas. There are signs that the system is weakening, partly due to the melting of Greenland's ice sheets caused by climate change.

7/16/26

Women may be more sensitive to common dementia risk factors than men.  For example, high blood pressure and elevated body mass index (BMI) - which are risk factors for both men and women - show stronger associations with cognitive decline than they did with men.  The same was true for hearing loss and diabetes; women with hearing loss were more likely to suffer from diabetes than men.

Choline is an essential nutrient that helps build cell membranes, transforms fats, and synthesizes certain neurotransmitters involved in memory, mood, and muscle control.  Recent research suggests that people with anxiety disorders tend to have lower levels of choline in certain brain regions, such as the prefrontal cortex, which is tied to emotional control and decision-making. 

The researchers suggested people examine their diets to see if they are getting the recommended amounts of choline. Choline-rich foods include fish, poultry, dairy, and eggs, but I have a better idea – take a daily multivitamin. I posted the following about slowing biological aging just a few days ago.

7/15/26

Among the estimated 396 million people worldwide who speak French, only about 69 million (17%) live in France or are French citizens.  Worldwide, 57% of people who speak French live in Africa, where French is an official language in 29 mostly African countries and is a working language in several more.

The Boston Consulting Group estimated the financial worth of the world totaled 333 trillion dollars in 2025, which was a startling 10.7% increase from 2024.

It is estimated that households spent $28,596 on home ownership in 2025, including mortgage, taxes, and maintenance, an increase of 39% from $20,618 in 2019.

7/13/26

After a very prestigious teaching career, Paul Krugman became a commentator for the New York Times on economic issues in the year 2000, a position he held with esteem through 2024, when he abruptly resigned after management suggested he tone down his rightful criticism of right-wing politics. I became a faithful follower of his NYT articles, marveling at his expertise in all matters. I urge you to review his amazing biography on Wikimedia.

After leaving the Times, Krugman decided to have his own Substack, where he would be free to criticize right-wing politics. His newsletter titled “Paul Krugman” is a co-production of him and his wife, Robin Wells, herself a noted economist, who edits and publishes the newsletter. For in-depth coverage, I happily pay $70.00 a year.

Health care is a major concern to virtually all Americans, as the oligarchs who gave us Project 2025 try to privatize everything. Accordingly, Krugman has studied the debate and published a three-part report on US healthcare. I am sure you will find this the best possible discussion of our Healthcare System.

https://stonecenter.gc.cuny.edu/curing-us-healthcare-part-ii-paul-krugman/

Here’s to Your Health                   7/13/26

Drinking beetroot juice may help lower blood pressure. The key appears to be a connection between bacteria in the mouth and compounds that support vascular health. Certain types of bacteria in the mouth help convert nitrates present in beetroots (and many other vegetables) into compounds that support the production of nitric oxide, which in turn helps blood vessels relax and function properly.

Depression is typically diagnosed by how patients describe their symptoms; however, recent research shows that a blood test that shows how changes in the way certain white blood cells age may detect depression before the symptoms appear.  The researchers found that accelerated aging in monocytes is strongly associated with the cognitive and emotional symptoms of depression.

7/11/26

Although about 90% of adults have never heard of the CKM Syndrome, because it was coined only in 2023, 90% of adults unknowingly have this syndrome: The Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) Syndrome is not a single disease but rather a broad disorder that encompasses the overlap among cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic conditions. Doctors have long known that people often have more than one of these conditions at the same time.

7/08/26

The war in Ukraine has reached a grim milestone.  A new study found that more than two million Russian and Ukrainian troops have been killed or wounded since Russia invaded four years ago.  Russia, which sent many more troops to the battlefield, has borne a much heavier death toll: Ukraine has suffered 125,000 to 150,000 deaths, while about 450,000 Russian troops have been killed, resulting in a kill ratio of more than 3 to 1 in favor of Ukraine.  In fact, Russia's toll is roughly four times the number of U.S. military fatalities in all conflicts combined since World War II.

7/04/26

Recently, Colombia shifted really far to the political right, electing Abelardo de la Espriella, a conservative outsider backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, as President.  Calling him a conservative outsider is a gross understatement.  Espriella is a former Miami-based lawyer with no political experience who also holds U.S. and Italian citizenship.  In fact, he has never held public office and is not a member of any of Colombia’s political parties.

7/01/26

People with advanced pancreatic cancer taking an experimental pill lived nearly twice as long as those receiving chemotherapy infusions.  About 70% of people with pancreatic cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage, where treatment options are limited.  More than 90% of pancreatic cancers are driven by mutations in the KRAS gene, which encodes for a protein known as K-Ras.  When the gene is mutated, K-Ras gets stuck in a state that drives cancer cells to divide uncontrollably.

Researchers wondered if a drug called daraxonrasib, which binds to the protein, could slow the growth of cancer cells.  In an experimental test, 500 people with metastatic pancreatic cancer were divided into two groups.  One group was given chemotherapy, while the other group was given daraxonrasib.  It was found that the daraxonrasib group went on to survive for 13.2 months, on average, compared with 6.7 months for the chemotherapy group.

6/20/26

ICYMI, click here to read the full draft text of the 14-point Agreement between the US and Iran, which was leaked to the media today.

6/14/26

Contrary to long-held concerns, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs, acid reflux medications that reduce stomach acid) have no connection with cancer of the main and lower sections of the stomach.

New oppressive and onerous Federal work rules for CalFresh food benefits put at risk 17,000 of the poorest and most needy Santa Barbara County residents.  The Central Coast has the second-highest poverty rate in the state, at 19.3%, and nationwide 3.5 million poor people had been cut off from SNAP food benefits, thanks to Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill.

6/12/26

For years, California has been the epicenter of America’s homeless crisis as the cost of shelter rose inexorably.  But new federal data suggest that, for a variety of reasons (click here to see), California’s new approach may finally be showing signs of progress.  Year-over-year, California saw a 2.8% decrease in its homeless population, marking the first decline since 2018 and one of the largest drops in the country.

6/11/26