Good News in History, September 4

Happy 62nd birthday to the Japanese Nobel laureate, Sinya Yamanaka, whose pioneering work in the science of stem cells led him to identify the “Yamanaka Factors”— 4 different genetic transcription factors that he used to turn any adult human cell into a stem cell. He shared the prize jointly with Sir John Gordon of England, and his discovery was described as world-changing. READ a bit more about his work… (1962)nnnn

nnThe discovery that mature, fully-formed cells from the skin or elsewhere could be reprogrammed to turn themselves back into pluripotent stem cells meant that stem cell research could not only be conducted without relying on fetal tissues from the placenta or umbilical cord, but also with the patient’s own genetic material. These two realities which arose in the wake of Yamanaka’s experiment changed the field of what stem cells do.nnOne of the most cutting-edge is cell replacement therapy. Stem cells can replace diseased or lost cells in degenerative disorders like ALS or Parkinson’s, and they are less prone to immune rejection. However, there is a danger that it may introduce mutations or other genomic abnormalities that render it unsuitable for cell therapy. Yamanaka’s research in this area is ongoing.nnMORE Good News on this Day:n

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• George Eastman registered the trademark Kodak, and received a patent for his camera which used rolled film (1888)

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• The important Wolfenden Report in Britain suggested that consenting sex between homosexual adults “in private” should no longer be a criminal offense (1957)

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• Mark Spitz won his seventh swimming gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Munich, becoming the first Olympian to win seven gold medals, swimming in only seven events and setting world records in each one (1972)

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• Google was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who adopted the unofficial slogan, “Don’t be evil,” while they were Ph.D. students at Stanford (1998)

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n52 years ago today, the first episode of The Price is Right premiered on CBS. It would go on to become the country’s longest-running television game show, with its combination of endless surprises in terms of prizes, and unique retail-price guessing challenges. Bob Barker became an iconic game show host after debuting alongside the show, and hosting it until retirement in 2007.  nnnnIn 2019 there were 9,000 episodes recorded. Prizes are donated by companies in exchange for the unique advertising opportunity. In the book Come On Down!: Behind the Big Doors at “The Price Is Right” staffer Stan Blits says the prizes require acres of warehouse space to store.nnThe Price is Right is often called the greatest game show in TV history, and by 2009, it had given away more than $250 million in cash and prizes. In 2007, Drew Carey took over role as host of the show. (1972)nnAnd, 243 years ago today, Los Angeles was founded by Spanish settlers.nn

nn12 diverse working families settled in El Pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles (The Town of the Queen of the Angels). Eight of the 23 adults arriving from the Mexican town of Álamos—held by Spain at the time—were Indians, ten were of African descent. They found a very spacious valley, well-grown with cottonwoods and alders, through which ran a beautiful river. (1781)nnOn this day 109 years ago, Rocky Mountain National Park was established by the US Congress, thanks to a man who was a sickly 14-year-old when he first moved near the majestic mountains and lakes and later lobbied for their protection.nnEnos Mills wrote many books and articles describing the region and later split his time between the mountains he loved and the cities of the eastern United States, where he fought for legislation to create the park. Mills Lake in 415 square-mile Rocky Mountain National Park is named in his honor. (1915)nnAnd, 35 years ago today, the first weekly meeting in favor of democratic reforms took place in East Germany, with peaceful political protestors gathering in Leipzig at the St. Nicholas Church to demand rights such as the freedom to travel to foreign countries and to elect a democratic government.nn

nnAfter the church’s weekly Monday prayer for peace, a few hundred people gathered, a number that swelled to more than 70,000 (out of the city’s population of 500,000), five days later. The next week, 120,000 demonstrators turned up—all united in peaceful opposition to the USSR-beholden regime and chanting “Wir sind das Volk!” (“We are the people!”) In one more week, the number more than doubled to 320,000, with East German military units again being deployed on stand-by in the vicinity. This pressure and other key events eventually led to the fall of the Berlin Wall two months later, marking the imminent end of the dictatorial regime. The local Lutheran churches offered sanctuary to alternative political groups, and also offered them financial aid, support from the congregation and a place to communicate. (1989)nnn

nAlso, Happy wedding anniversary to Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, who have stayed married for 36 years, a feat that’s rarely been equaled in Hollywood. They got to know each other during the making of the PBS TV movie Lemon Sky. They had two children together and committed to keeping the marriage a top priority, by always scheduling quality time on date nights. (1988)nnRELATED: SEE the Gag Gift Given to Bacon When he Turned 60 From his Mother-in-law