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Scientists take a step closer to resurrecting the woolly mammoth

Colossal Biosciences, a pioneering biotech firm based in Texas, recently made a groundbreaking advancement by successfully reprogramming elephant cells to an embryonic-like state. This development is pivotal in their ambitious project to revive the characteristics of the extinct woolly mammoth.

The technique builds on a discovery from 2006 that earned the Nobel Prize, which demonstrated the possibility of reverting mouse cells to pluripotent stem cells that could differentiate into various tissues. Although this methodology has been applied successfully to humans, monkeys, and leopards, adapting it for elephant cells posed significant challenges, attributed to elephants' remarkable resistance to cancer. Despite these hurdles, the team at Colossal Biosciences achieved a milestone by creating embryo-like cells from elephants, which can potentially develop into specific elephant tissues, such as hair or blood. The ultimate goal is to engineer these cells to produce mammoth-like features in Asian elephants, particularly their distinctive thick, woolly coats.

While the realization of a living creature that exhibits mammoth attributes may still be some years off, the team has already managed to craft meatballs using mammoth gene sequences.

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‘Rust’ Armorer Guilty in Cinematographer's Fatal Shooting: Verdict Revealed

On Wednesday, a jury in New Mexico delivered a verdict of guilty for involuntary manslaughter against Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the set of the indie Western "Rust," where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot in 2021. However, Gutierrez-Reed was acquitted of a separate charge of evidence tampering.

The verdict came swiftly, with the jury of seven women and five men needing only a few hours to reach their conclusion following a two-week trial that concluded with closing arguments earlier in the day.

Following the announcement of the verdict, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ordered that Gutierrez-Reed be taken into custody immediately. A hearing for her sentencing is anticipated to occur the following month, although her defense team has already signaled their intention to file an appeal.

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Denzel Washington, and Jake Gyllenhaal to Star in ‘Othello’ on Broadway

Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal are set to appear in a Broadway production of Othello, scheduled for spring 2025. Washington will portray the tragic hero Othello, while Gyllenhaal will take on the role of the scheming Iago. The production will be under the direction of Kenny Leon, renowned for his direction in the recent production of Purlie Victorious as well as having previously worked with Washington in A Raisin in the Sun and Fences, the latter also starring Viola Davis.

Washington's Broadway history includes roles in productions such as Julius Caesar, Checkmates, and the 2018 revival of The Iceman Cometh, which also featured Austin Butler among its cast. On the film front, Washington is expected to appear in the much-anticipated Gladiator 2, adding to his illustrious filmography.

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