Washington

Washington – September 08, 2026 -- Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) is joining the global Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy community to mark World Duchenne Awareness Day on September 7th, a date recognized by the United Nations.

This Year's Theme Focuses on Access to Care

The 2026 theme, "Access Changes Lives," spotlights the need for people living with Duchenne and Becker to reach trusted information, knowledgeable care, appropriate therapies, clinical trial opportunities, and community support. PPMD says access should not depend on where someone lives or what resources they have.

"Access can change the trajectory of a person's life," said Katherine Beaverson, PPMD's Chief Executive Officer. She added that PPMD is committed to breaking down barriers so families can make informed decisions and benefit from scientific progress.

Washington – September 08, 2026 -- Humane World for Animals, formerly known as the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International, has issued a set of travel guidelines aimed at helping tourists avoid attractions that profit from wild animal suffering.

Captive animals face stressful travel and forced public interactions for profit

Nicola White, a wildlife expert at the organization, said captive wild animals are often forced into stressful travel and public interactions marketed as entertainment, conservation or rescue. She said public demand for these encounters drives the capture, breeding and trade of wild animals, subjecting them to significant daily stress with little chance to express natural behaviors.

Washington – September 08, 2026 -- The American Red Cross and the NAACP will premiere "Iconic Excellence: The Legacy of Dr. Charles R. Drew" on Sept. 18 on the American Red Cross YouTube channel, marking the 85th anniversary of Drew's appointment as the first medical director of the Red Cross Blood Program.

The short documentary traces Drew's breakthroughs in blood plasma preservation, work credited with saving hundreds of thousands of lives during World War II and shaping modern blood collection and distribution methods.

Washington – September 07, 2026 -- The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum has launched "On Air," a free educational video series aimed at students in grades five through eight.

Monthly video collections cover a rotating set of aerospace topics

Each month during the school year, the museum releases a new collection built around a single theme. Confirmed topics for the 2026–2027 school year include weather in September, the solar system in October, art in November, air ships in February, moons in March, and comets and meteors in April.

Every collection contains four videos, each under 10 minutes, plus an educator guide with classroom resources, student activities and full lesson plans.

Washington – September 07, 2026 -- A new analysis published in Blood Advances finds that treatment advances for leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and other blood cancers have saved an estimated 25.8 million life-years in the United States since 1949. The study, led by Blood Cancer United, introduces a first-of-its-kind "life-years saved" methodology built on data from the National Cancer Institute's SEER Program, tracking cancer incidence, mortality and U.S. life expectancy from the era of the first chemotherapies through 2024.

Blood cancers now account for nearly 10% of all U.S. cancer diagnoses, with more than 192,000 new cases expected this year. Unlike many solid tumors, where screening and prevention drive survival gains, progress against blood cancers depends almost entirely on new therapies and access to them.

WASHINGTON – September 04, 2026 -- A new survey from U.S. News & World Report finds that health experts overwhelmingly favor basic lifestyle habits over trendy biohacks, supplements or wearable tech when it comes to healthy aging.

Physical activity and diet top the list of proven longevity factors

The second annual 2026 U.S. News Healthy Aging Survey polled 63 health experts -- including longevity researchers, dietitians, doctors and pharmacists -- from July through August 2026. Physical activity and a nutrient-dense diet each earned support from 89% of respondents as critical factors for healthy aging, followed by restorative sleep at 30%.