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Chinese American neuroscientist dies after losing lab

Dr. Jane Ying Wu, a prominent neuroscientist at Northwestern University in Illinois, reportedly died by suicide on July 10 amid pressures of an ongoing investigation into her ties with China. Remembered as a devoted scientist and mentor, Wu was deeply impacted by the scrutiny that many Chinese American researchers have faced in recent years.

About Wu: Born in Hefei, China, in 1963, Wu earned her doctorate in cancer biology from Stanford University and conducted groundbreaking research on pre-mRNA splicing, which is crucial for understanding neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and ALS. She was a respected figure in the scientific community, having trained numerous researchers in the U.S. and China, according to the South China Morning Post. Her career included tenures at Harvard, Washington University in St. Louis and nearly two decades at Northwestern University. Her dedication to science was evident in her deep commitment to her lab, which was abruptly shut down following the investigation.

The big picture: Wu’s death has brought renewed focus on the controversial investigations into Chinese American scientists, particularly the Trump-era China Initiative, which unfairly targeted individuals based on their ethnicity. Although the initiative was terminated in 2022, similar efforts by the National Institutes of Health continued. “The investigations killed her career,” Xiao-Fan Wang from Duke University told SCMP. Wu’s death underscores the ongoing human cost of these policies, with many innocent researchers facing career-ending consequences.

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Suicides of Chinese students abroad expose mental health crisis

A pair of Chinese students in Australia recently died in an apparent murder-suicide, underscoring severe mental health challenges facing international students who often grapple with cultural isolation and limited support. The incident, along with a similar case in New Zealand, highlights a broader issue that experts warn is far from being adequately addressed.

What happened: On Aug. 12, Xiaoting Wang, 21, was found stabbed in her Sydney apartment, while an unidentified male Chinese student, who reportedly lived with her, was discovered dead in the courtyard. The case is being investigated as a possible murder-suicide. It brings to memory a 2021 incident in New Zealand, in which 28-year-old student Jian Di also died by suicide after stabbing her landlords — who survived — in a distressed state.

What experts are saying: The incidents highlight pervasive issues of cultural isolation, academic pressure and lack of tailored mental health support among international students. Experts warn that these problems are far from being adequately addressed and are even exacerbated by insufficient and culturally insensitive mental health services, leaving students feeling overwhelmed and unsupported. Gaby Ramia, a professor at the University of Sydney, said that despite government and institutional efforts, gaps persist due to the commercialization of international students, leaving them vulnerable to mental health crises.

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Almost 40,000 "lonely deaths" reported in Japan in 1st half of 2024

Nearly 40,000 elderly individuals in Japan were found dead alone in their homes during the first half of 2024, the country's National Police Agency reported on Aug. 28. The data showed that in roughly 10% of these cases (3,936), over a month passed before the bodies were discovered.

Disturbing numbers: Of the 37,227 individuals found deceased, over 75% were 65 or older, with the largest group being those aged 85 and above, with 7,498 deaths. A significant number of individuals under 65 also found deceased in their homes, including 512 people in their 30s and 431 in their 20s. The staggering statistics highlight a growing concern about the social isolation faced by a significant portion of Japan's aging population.

Preventing lonely deaths: The issue of "kodokushi" (lonely deaths) has been a growing concern for years in Japan, home to the world's oldest population. The government has launched initiatives to address social isolation, including the April 2024 implementation of the Act on Promotion of Measures to Prevent Social Isolation and Loneliness. The police agency's data will be used to inform further government efforts to combat this pervasive issue.

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Hi-tech urinals offer health checks in China's public restrooms

Futuristic urinals that conduct on-the-spot health checks through urine analysis have appeared in public restrooms in major Chinese cities like Beijing and Shanghai this year. For under $3, users can get a rapid analysis of various health markers, including Vitamin C, creatinine, white blood cells and glucose. 

How it works: The process is simple: users pay a fee via WeChat, use the urinal as usual and receive their results on their phone before they even leave the restroom. Health-testing urinals found in locations like a Beijing shopping mall carry a disclaimer emphasizing their role as a health management tool rather than a diagnostic device: "This product is not a medical device, and the results cannot be used as a basis for diagnosis. It is only used as a reference for health management data."

Not a doctor replacement: Shanghai documentary director Christian Petersen-Clausen shared his positive experience with these health-checking urinals, noting how quickly and easily he received results indicating a calcium deficiency. Petersen-Clausen even took a second test a few days later, showing an improvement in his calcium levels. He emphasized that while they shouldn't replace doctor visits, they could prompt individuals to seek medical advice if needed.

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Owning PS5, Nintendo Switch linked to better mental health, study reveals

A new Japanese study published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour suggests that video games can have positive effects on mental health. The research, conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, found that individuals who own gaming consoles like the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 demonstrated notably improved mental health and life satisfaction compared to those without them.

Pandemic-induced experiment: The study, led by Nihon University Assistant Professor Hiroyuki Egami, Ph.D., capitalized on the pandemic-induced scarcity of gaming consoles. The researchers analyzed survey responses from nearly 100,000 Japanese individuals aged 10 to 69 and compared the mental well-being of those fortunate enough to win lotteries for new consoles against those who did not.

Links to improved mental health: Survey data revealed a link between owning a console and improved psychological well-being. Specifically, winning a Nintendo Switch was associated with a 0.60 standard deviation improvement in mental health, while winning a PlayStation 5 led to a 0.12 standard deviation improvement. In general, owning a PlayStation 5 was linked to a 0.23 standard deviation increase in life satisfaction. “Our findings challenge common stereotypes about gaming being harmful or merely providing temporary euphoria,” Egami said.

Final Bites

David Fincher rumored to direct "Squid Game" U.S. spin-off for Netflix: Netflix is reportedly expanding the "Squid Game" universe with a U.S. spin-off titled "Squid Game: America." Renowned filmmaker David Fincher, who is currently under a multi-year contract with the streaming giant, is rumored to direct and produce the series. While Netflix has yet to officially announce the project, reports indicate that the upcoming show will be an original story and not a remake of the South Korean hit. Dennis Kelly, the writer behind “Utopia,” has been tapped to write the series, reported The Playlist in June. “Squid Game: America" is one of several projects Fincher is purportedly developing with Netflix, including a "Chinatown" spin-off series that is currently awaiting a green light due to budget concerns. The original "Squid Game," which returns for its second season in December, is set to conclude with its third season in 2025.

Paris Olympics gold medalist Zheng Qinwen secures U.S. Open quarterfinals spot: World No. 7 Qinwen Zheng secured her spot in the U.S. Open quarterfinals with a thrilling three-set victory over Donna Vekic early Monday morning. Zheng, who claimed China's first Olympic tennis singles gold medal by defeating Vekic at Paris 2024 last month, rallied after losing the second set to clinch the victory with a dominant 6-2 final set. The match lasted for 2 hours and 50 minutes, concluding at 2:15 a.m. and setting a new record for the latest finish in U.S. Open women's singles history. In facing World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals, Zheng remarked, “I really like to play against her and I’m looking forward to playing against her. I know she’s one of the greatest players on hard courts and I’ve been hoping for this moment.”

Viral Olympic Korean sharpshooter stuns in Louis Vuitton for W Korea: South Korean Olympic silver medalist Kim Ye-ji recently captivated fans with her debut fashion photoshoot for W Korea magazine. The sharpshooter, who gained viral fame for her beauty and calm demeanor during competitions at the Paris 2024 Olympics, showcased her distinctive charm in a series of photos in a range of Louis Vuitton outfits. Unveiled on Aug. 31, the images feature Kim striking shooting poses and even pointing a replica gun directly at the camera. Revealing the secret to her cool facade during competitions, Kim shared, “Shooting is all about concentration and intuition. Absorbing in, it gets silent. And it feels like I am alone. All I can see is the target and crosshair.”

Did K-pop idol really call her fans “dumb mfs”? A recent Instagram post from Mamamoo’s Hwasa showing moments from the beach caused a stir among fans due to an automated English caption that read “For the dumb mfs that would be choked.” The original Korean caption, however, stated “목이빠졌을무무청이들에게,” which actually means “For the Moomoos whose necks fell out.” In Korean, the phrase “neck falls out” is used to describe someone who has been eagerly anticipating something for a long time. Meanwhile, “Moomoo,” for the uninitiated, refers to Mamamoo fans. Thus, Hwasa — who is currently on her solo “Fancon” tour — simply intended to thank Mamamoo fans for their patience.

S. Korea’s Waterbomb Music Festival is coming to L.A.: South Korea’s famous Waterbomb Music Festival is set to make its U.S. debut in Los Angeles on Sept. 28-29. The festival, set at Dignity Health Sports Park, will feature performances by K-pop boy group Ateez, soloists Jessi, Kwon Eunbi, Jay Park and many more. In addition, the event will include a water-fighting program and its signature "Waterbomb Time," which will see the crowd doused with liters of water blasted from the stage. Ticket prices start at $135 per day for the “P8 Upper” section and go up to $380 for the “VIP Floor” area.

Enjoy hotpot and a movie at the same time in this Kuala Lumpur cinema: A cinema in Kuala Lumpur is set to introduce a unique experience for Malaysian moviegoers: enjoying hotpot while watching a movie. DADI Cinema announced the news in a Facebook post on August 24, sharing pictures of the hotpot cinema. The images feature Hong Kong actor Bosco Wong enjoying a hotpot alongside other fortunate moviegoers during his visit to promote his movie “The Unwavering Brotherhood.” The photos sparked some confusion among Facebook users, with one commenting, “How you going to cook and eat hotpot in the dark?” Another critical user commented in part, “Eeeeew… I can imagine the smell sticking on to the carpet over time.”