Here’s why Catherine O’Hara could not film for second season of ‘The Studio’It is being reported that Catherine O’Hara could not film the sophomore season of The Studio just days before her death.For those unaware, the Canadian-American actress and comedian passed away at the age of 71…
Here's why Catherine O'Hara could not film for second season of 'The Studio'
Early Parkinson’s could be detected decades before symptoms with simple blood test
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A new study from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, along with Oslo University Hospital in Norway, may have discovered a way to detect biomarkers of Parkinson’s disease in the blood up to decades earlier.
In the very early stages of the disease, the body goes through changes related to DNA repair and stress in cells. These changes leave detectable clues in the blood before major brain damage occurs, according to a press release for the study.
This could allow for early detection of Parkinson’s, when treatments might have a better chance of slowing or preventing serious damage.
NEW VITAMIN COMPOUND SHOWS PROMISE FOR REVERSING ALZHEIMER’S DAMAGE TO THE BRAIN
The processes of DNA repair and cellular stress response can occur for up to 20 years in Parkinson’s patients before motor symptoms fully develop, according to the researchers.
The team used machine learning to discover patterns linked to these processes, which were not found in healthy individuals or patients who were already diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
European researchers discovered a way to detect early Parkinson’s disease via a blood test. (iStock)
Annikka Polster, assistant professor at the Department of Life Sciences at Chalmers, who led the study, suggested in a statement that the study has found an “important window of opportunity” in which the disease can be detected “before motor symptoms caused by nerve damage in the brain appear.”
“The fact that these patterns only show at an early stage and are no longer activated when the disease has progressed further also makes it interesting to focus on the mechanisms to find future treatments,” she added.
‘HARMLESS’ VIRUS FOUND LURKING IN PARKINSON’S PATIENTS’ BRAINS, NEW STUDY SHOWS
Polster confirmed that the study highlighted biomarkers that “likely reflect some of the early biology of the disease,” which “paves the way for broad screening tests via blood samples: a cost-effective, easily accessible method.”
The findings were published in npj Parkinson’s Disease.
Blood tests for early Parkinson’s diagnosis could become more common, researchers predicted. (iStock)
The researchers plan to further develop tools to more easily detect these active mechanisms and understand how they work, according to the university.
The team predicts that within five years, blood tests for early Parkinson’s diagnoses could become more common within clinical practice. They are also optimistic about the development of new drugs to prevent or treat the disease.
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“If we can study the mechanisms as they happen, it could provide important keys to understanding how they can be stopped and which drugs might be effective,” Polster said.
“This may involve new drugs, but also drug re-purposing, where we can use drugs developed for diseases other than Parkinson’s because the same gene activities or mechanisms are active.”
More than 10 million people around the world are estimated to be living with Parkinson’s disease. (iStock)
Study limitations
The researchers acknowledged that the study had some limitations, including that the gene activity measured in the blood only partly matches what’s happening in the brain.
External factors, such as medication use, may have affected the results, they added.
Also, the study population may not represent all people, so findings may not apply broadly.
By the numbers
More than 10 million people around the world are estimated to be living with Parkinson’s disease, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation. About 90,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed each year.
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Numbers are expected to continue rising, as Parkinson’s is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s.
While research is advancing, there is currently no cure for the disease, although medications are available to manage symptoms.
Common motor symptoms of Parkinson’s include tremors, slowed movement, muscle stiffness, balance and walking difficulties. (iStock)
Common motor symptoms include tremors, slowed movement, muscle stiffness, balance and walking difficulties, a shuffling gait and freezing episodes.
Non-motor symptoms include loss of smell, sleep problems, constipation, fatigue, depression or anxiety, speech and swallowing changes, cognitive slowing and reduced facial expression, according to Parkinson’s Foundation and Mayo Clinic.
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Danish Anwer, a doctoral student at the Department of Life Sciences at Chalmers and the study’s first author, detailed in a statement how Parkinson’s impacts the brain.
“By the time the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease appear, 50% to 80% of the relevant brain cells are often already damaged or gone,” he said. “The study is an important step toward facilitating early identification of the disease and counteracting its progression before it has gone this far.”
“By the time you have actual motor symptoms … a large majority of affected cells have been damaged and destroyed.”
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel agreed that Parkinson’s is a “very difficult disease” with an increasing global impact.
“By the time you have actual motor symptoms affecting gait, tremor, etc., a large majority of affected cells have been damaged and destroyed,” he told Fox News Digital.
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Siegel called the new research “exciting,” suggesting that it “opens the door for earlier and more effective diagnosis and treatment.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the study authors for comment.
Catherine O’Hara, legendary comedian and “Schitt’s Creek” star, dies at 71
Catherine O’Hara made audiences laugh for years. She started working in comedy in Canada in the 1970s and spent decades stealing scenes on screen before her death at 71. Here’s a look back on her incredible career.
How ‘Captain Cool’ MS Dhoni’s Words On Consistency Still Connects With Youth
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MS Dhoni’s February 2025 summit remarks on handling success, failure and steady effort continue to resonate a year later.
MS Dhoni’s guidance on setbacks continues to draw attention. (Picture Credit: PTI)
A year has passed, but MS Dhoni’s short message to students at a national education summit is still being discussed. The advice did not depend on a specific field. Academic paths, professional careers, and sport all follow similar cycles—progress, pause, setback, recovery. His message stayed within that practical frame.
Speaking on February 4, 2025, at the ALLEN Career Institute national summit, the former India captain addressed students on handling both success and failure with the same steady approach. His line was simple: outcomes are temporary, but learning and effort continue.
MS Dhoni’s Key Message On Success And Failure
“Success and failure are part of life. The key is to learn from failures and keep moving forward,” Dhoni said during the session. He also spoke about respecting leadership, accepting challenges, and staying consistent with effort over time.
There was no long speech. No dramatic build-up. The point stayed on process, not applause. For many in the audience — largely students preparing for competitive exams — the theme was familiar but timely.
Dhoni has long been associated with that approach in cricket. Close matches. Sudden turns. Plans shifting mid-game. His on-field manner rarely changed much. Calm decisions. Few outward reactions.
What Dhoni’s Advice Means For Students And Professionals
The idea he shared applies widely. A good result does not secure the next one. A setback does not close the path either. The focus, as he framed it, is on adjusting and continuing.
In academic spaces especially, results often take centre stage – ranks, marks, visible milestones. Setbacks are less visible but common. Dhoni’s remarks placed attention on how people respond after outcomes, not the outcome itself.
His own career offers reference points. Dhoni captained India to the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup, the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. He built a reputation for finishing matches under pressure and backing younger players in uncertain situations.
Though retired from international cricket, he remains active in the IPL and has been training ahead of the 2026 season with the Chennai Super Kings.
First Published:
January 31, 2026, 19:29 IST
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This tiny Madagascar spider spins silk 10 times stronger than steel and scientists are stunned | – The Times of India
Deep in Madagascar’s rainforests lives a spider no bigger than a coin, easy to miss and rarely noticed. Yet this tiny creature is responsible for one of nature’s most astonishing feats. It spins vast webs across flowing rivers, stretching threads more than 80 feet from bank to bank. The real surprise lies in the silk itself. Tests show it can outperform steel of the same thickness, combining extreme strength with remarkable flexibility. Unlike rigid materials, the silk absorbs huge amounts of energy before breaking, making it tougher than many synthetic fibres used in body armour. Scientists have studied this spider for years, and each experiment raises new questions.
This spider builds massive webs stretching over 80 feet
The spider spins huge orb webs. Reportedly over rivers, streams and even some fast-flowing water. Anchored on trees on opposite banks. Experts say some threads reach 25 metres. That’s insane for a creature so small. It seems like something out of a comic book.Researchers Igni Agnarsson and Matjaž Kuntner first spotted them back in 2008. It appears the webs can stretch over 30 square metres.
Spider silk in Madagascar outperforms Kevlar in toughness
Then there’s the silk itself. Experts say it’s extraordinary. Jessica Garb from the University of Massachusetts Lowell reports it’s “10 times better than Kevlar,” not just in strength but in toughness. It stretches twice as far as most orb-weaving spiders before snapping.Scientists aren’t exactly sure why it’s so resilient. The spider itself is tiny. Barely an inch across. Yet it catches dozens of insects in a single web. And the effort seems worth it. Madagascar’s ecosystem is isolated and unique. Lots of weird creatures but Darwin’s bark spider stands out. Not for beauty. Bur brains.
NASA’s Perseverance discovers white kaolinite rocks on Mars, revealing millions of years of rainfall and wet conditions | – The Times of India
Bright white rocks. Scattered across the rusty red plains of Mars. NASA’s Perseverance rover spotted them in Jezero crater which the scientists have been staring at them ever since. At first glance, they might seem ordinary. But analysis tells a different story that these rocks aren’t just rocks. They’re kaolinite clays, aluminium-rich, and rare. On Earth, such clays form after millions of years of warm, wet rainfall. Rainfall that shapes landscapes. Finding them on Mars suggests the planet might once have had long periods of rain. Maybe millions of years.
NASA finds white kaolinite rocks on Mars, showing it once rained
The rocks were identified using Perseverance’s SuperCam and Mastcam Z instruments. Chemical analysis compared Martian clays with similar samples on Earth from California, South Africa, and other wet regions. Some scientists say the evidence is strong. But it’s still early. “It’s tricky,” Adrian Broz, a postdoctoral researcher at Purdue University, reportedly said. “Kaolinite requires long, sustained water exposure. That doesn’t happen easily.” Jezero crater once held a lake twice the size of Lake Tahoe. Rivers might have carried minerals across the region. Or perhaps asteroid impacts spread the white clays around. The exact origin remains uncertain.
Evidence of humid, wet periods on Mars
Professor Briony Horgan, planetary scientist at Purdue, points out that similar rocks are rare on Earth. They form slowly, under constant water exposure. On Mars, their presence hints at persistent wet conditions. Oases that might have lasted for millions of years. The clay fragments range from small pebbles to large boulders. Even tiny pieces carry chemical signatures of sustained rainfall. Experts say these challenges contradict older ideas of Mars as a frozen, mostly dry world.Perseverance’s instruments compared the Martian rocks with Earth analogues. SuperCam measures composition and mineralogy and provides high-resolution images. Rain seems the simplest explanation but it’s still a hypothesis.
Federal govt announces Rs11.30 increase in diesel prices | The Express Tribune
Diesel will be available at Rs268.38 per litre, while petrol rates will remain unchanged at Rs253.17 per litre
People wait for their turn to get fuel at a petrol station in Peshawar on January 30, 2023. Photo: Reuters/ File
The federal government increased the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs11.3 per litre for the next fortnight on Saturday, while the petrol price remained unchanged.
According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Finance on Saturday night, the price of HSD has risen from Rs257.08 per litre to Rs268.38 per litre, while the price of petrol will remain at Rs253.17 per litre.
The notification further stated that the revised prices take effect immediately from Feb 1 and will remain in force for the next 15 days.
Fuel prices in Pakistan are reviewed fortnightly and are influenced by changes in international oil prices, exchange rate fluctuations, and domestic tax adjustments. Diesel prices are of particular concern as HSD is widely used in transport, agriculture, and power generation, meaning increases often have a direct impact on inflation and the cost of essential goods.
On January 15, the federal government kept the prices of petroleum products unchanged. A press release from the Petroleum Division said the price of petrol would continue at Rs253.17 per litre, while HSD would remain at Rs257.08 per litre, effective from January 16.
Read more: Govt rings in New Year with Rs10.28 per litre petrol cut
Earlier on December 31, 2025, the government announced a reduction in the prices of petroleum products. The price of petrol was reduced by Rs10.28 per litre, bringing the new price to Rs253.17 per litre.
Additionally, the price of HSD was slashed by Rs8.57 per litre, with the new price set at Rs257.08 per litre.
Hundreds of political prisoners in Venezuela could be released under new amnesty bill
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Hundreds of political prisoners in Venezuela, including opposition leaders, journalists and human rights activists, could soon be freed under an amnesty bill that the country’s acting president announced on Friday.
The move represents the latest concession Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez has made since the Jan. 3 capture of the country’s former leader Nicolás Maduro by the U.S.
Rodriguez told a group of justices, magistrates, ministers, military brass and other government leaders that the National Assembly, which is controlled by the ruling party, would promptly take up the bill, The Associated Press reported.
“May this law serve to heal the wounds left by the political confrontation fueled by violence and extremism,” she said in the pre-taped televised event, according to the AP. “May it serve to redirect justice in our country, and may it serve to redirect coexistence among Venezuelans.”
VENEZUELA RELEASES ALL KNOWN AMERICAN DETAINEES AFTER MADURO’S CAPTURE AND GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER
Relatives of people they consider to be detained for political reasons protest holding chains in front of police guarding the Zona 7 Bolivarian National Police detention center in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, on the same day acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced an amnesty bill. (Ariana Cubillos/AP Photo)
Rodriguez said the amnesty law would cover the “entire period of political violence from 1999 to the present,” and that those incarcerated for murder, drug trafficking, corruption or human rights violations would not qualify for relief, the AP reported.
In addition to the amnesty law, Rodriguez announced the shutdown of Venezuela’s notorious El Helicoide prison in Caracas. Torture and other human rights abuses have been repeatedly documented at El Helicoide. The facility is set to be transformed into sports, social and cultural center, according to reports.
Alfredo Romero, the head of Foro Penal, Venezuela’s leading prisoner rights organization, welcomed the legislation while expressing some skepticism.
“A General Amnesty is always welcome as long as its elements and conditions include all of civil society, without discrimination, that it does not become a blanket of impunity, and that it contributes to the dismantling of the repressive apparatus of political persecution,” Romero said in a post on X.
Relatives of detainees gather near El Helicoide, headquarters of Venezuela’s intelligence service and a detention center, in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, on the same day acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced an amnesty bill that could lead to the release of hundreds of prisoners, including opposition leaders, journalists and human rights activists detained for political reasons. (Ariana Cubillos/AP Photo)
VENEZUELA’S DELCY RODRÍGUEZ SNAPS AT WASHINGTON, DECLARES ‘ENOUGH’ OF US INFLUENCE
Relatives of some prisoners livestreamed Rodríguez’s speech on a phone as they gathered outside Helicoide, according to the AP.
Opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado said in a statement that the moves were not made “voluntarily, but rather in response to pressure from the US government,” the AP reported. She also reportedly noted that people detained for their political activities have been held for anywhere between a month and 23 years.
Foro Penal estimates there are 711 political prisoners held in Venezuela, 183 of whom have been sentenced, the AP reported. The outlet identified prominent members of the opposition who were detained after the 2024 election and remain in prison as former lawmaker Freddy Superlano, Machado’s lawyer Perkins Rocha, and Juan Pablo Guanipa, a former governor and one of Machado’s closest allies.
Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodriguez speaks under a framed image of former President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a ceremony marking the opening of the new judicial year at the Supreme Tribunal of Justice in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (Ariana Cubillos/AP Photo)
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On Friday evening, Venezuela released all known American citizens being held in the country.
“We are pleased to confirm the release by the interim authorities of all known U.S. citizens held in Venezuela,” the U.S. embassy wrote on X. “Should you have information regarding any other U.S. citizens still detained, please contact American Citizen Services.”
The Associated Press and Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
Powerful storm threatens East Coast including parts unaccustomed to heavy snow
A powerful storm bore down on the East Coast on Saturday, with forecasters warning of howling winds, flooding and heavy snow, including in some Southeast coastal communities more accustomed to hurricanes than blizzards. Temperatures plummeted even as tens of thousands of homes and businesses remained without power.
In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina — whose official seal is the sun, palm trees and a seagull — 6 inches (15 centimeters) of snow was expected. The city has no snow removal equipment, and authorities planned to “use what we can find,” Mayor Mark Kruea said.
Subfreezing weather was forecast into February, with heavy snow in the Carolinas, Virginia and northeast Georgia over the weekend including up to a foot (30 centimeters) in parts of North Carolina. Snow was also said to be possible from Maryland to Maine.
Saturday night and early Sunday, forecasters said, wind and snow could lead to blizzard conditions before the storm moves out to sea.
The frigid cold was expected to plunge as far south as Florida.
Temperatures neared the teens (minus 10 Celsius) in Nashville, Tennessee, and frustrations bubbled over for those who had been without power for a week.
Terry Miles, a 59-year-old construction worker whose home has had no electricity since a previous storm struck Sunday, resorted to using a fish fryer for heat and worried about the danger of carbon monoxide.
“I’m taking a chance of killing myself and killing my wife, because — Why?” Miles said after attending a Nashville Electric Service news conference intended to showcase the utility’s repairs on poles and lines. He then pointed to officials.
More than 170,000 homes and businesses were without electricity, mostly in Mississippi and Tennessee, according to the outage tracking website poweroutage.us. That included more than 57,000 in Nashville as of Friday night.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said he shared “strong concerns” with leadership of Nashville Electric Service, adding that residents “need a clear timeline for power restoration, transparency on the number of linemen deployed, and a better understanding of when work will be completed in their neighborhood.”
The utility has defended its response, saying the storm that struck last weekend was unprecedented.
Mississippi officials said the massive winter storm was its worst since 1994. About 80 warming centers were opened, and National Guard troops delivered supplies by truck and helicopter.
Experts warned of the growing risks of hypothermia. Frostbite was also a concern in the South, where some people may lack sufficiently warm clothing, said Dr. David Nestler, an emergency medicine specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.
More than 100 people have died from Texas to New Jersey, roughly half of them in Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana. While some deaths have been attributed to hypothermia, others are suspected to be related to carbon monoxide exposure. Officials have not released specific details about some deaths.
In North Carolina, hundreds of National Guard soldiers readied to help and state workers worked to prepare roads.
The city of Wake Forest saw a steady stream of people filling propane tanks Friday at Holding Oil and Gas, including José Rosa, who arrived after striking out at three other places.
“I’m here in this cold weather, and I don’t like it,” Rosa said as he held a 20-pound (9-kilogram) tank.
In Dare County, home to much of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, residents worried that more unoccupied houses in communities like Rodanthe and Buxton could collapse into the Atlantic Ocean.
Debunking Myths Linked To Fibroids
Fibroid is commonly seen in large number of women. Fibroids are benign growths that develop from the muscle tissue of the uterus. Women can have one fibroid or many fibroids of various sizes. These fibroids can grow slowly or even quickly. Moreover, they can also remain of the same size.
The symptoms of it are painful menses, heavy menses, cramps, abdominal or pelvic pain, back and leg pain, painful sexual intercourse, constipation, diarrhoea, fatigue, discomfort, weakness and even bladder dysfunction. Hence, timely intervention is key for women. However, there is a lack of awareness regarding fibroids and women suffer in silence. It is time to dispel the myths linked to fibroids as shared by Dr. Shruti Kotangale, Consultant Gynecologist, Obstetrician, and Infertility Expert, AIMS Hospital.
Busting myths surrounding fibroids
Myth: Fibroids are a commonly seen in older women ONLY
Fact: While fibroids are a common occurrence in women in their 30s and 40s, they can develop at any age during the reproductive years. So, younger women aged 23-29 can also be detected with fibroids but they may be less likely to experience symptoms until the fibroids grow larger.
Myth: Fibroids always cause symptoms
Fact: A large number of women may experience no symptoms at all. Are you aware? The severity of symptoms mainly varies depending on the size, number, and location of the fibroids. Hence, some women tend to suffer from menstrual problems like heavy bleeding, frequent urination, others may not even realize they have fibroids until a routine pelvic examination confirms the presence of fibroids. Hence, it is necessary to take utmost care of your reproductive health and go for regular gynaecological check-ups.
Myth: Fibroids are cancerous
Fact: Women, don’t believe this myth and panic. A fibroid is a benign tumor and rarely transforms into cancerous lesion.
Myth: Fibroids equal to infertility
Fact: This statement is false as many women with fibroids can conceive and carry a pregnancy to term. The impact on fertility depends on the size and location of the fibroids. If you have fibroids and are concerned about your fertility, seek help of an expert who will guide you regarding this. Many women with fibroids achieve successful pregnancy, so don’t get bogged down.
Myth: Fibroids can be tackled via diet and lifestyle modifications
Fact: There is no evidence or study available to prove that diet or lifestyle changes such as exercise can manage fibroids. However, treatments such as medication, surgery, and other medical interventions will help to shrink fibroids. So, instead of relying in diet, it is necessary to seek expert’s help to make informed decisions when it comes to the reproductive health.
Myth: Fibroid management involves ONLY a hysterectomy
Fact: Hysterectomy is not the only option for fibroids; many women can be treated with medicines, lifestyle changes, or minimally invasive procedures.
Options like myomectomy, uterine artery embolization, and laparoscopic treatments help to shrink fibroids while preserving the uterus. The last word: So, women, beware of these myths and seek timely treatment with the help of an expert.