In what is a major breakthrough thanks to new research, scientists are claiming they have found a potential cure for hair loss.
With statistics and estimations showing that approximately 85% of men and 40% of women will be affected by hair loss at some point in their lives, researchers at the University of California Riverside have been studying hair follicles in depth to try and find out as much as possible.
In a new study published in the Biophysical Journal, the team at UC Riverside explained that they decided to focus on hair follicles as they’re the only organ in humans that regenerates automatically and regularly, even if they haven’t been injured – and it’s from this research that they they discovered that just a single chemical is the key cause for hair follicle cells dividing and dying.
They discovered a type of protein named TGF-beta.
TGF-beta controls the process in which cells in hair follicles – including stem cells – divide and form new cells, or orchestrate their own death, which eventually leads to the death of the whole hair follicle.
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But could this be reversed and successfully cure baldness and heal wounds? Scientists hope so.
Explaining more about the discovery in the study, UC Riverside mathematical biologist and study co-author Qixuan Wang said: “In science fiction when characters heal quickly from injuries, the idea is that stem cells allowed it.
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Scientists have discovered a potential cure for baldness thanks to new research / Credit: Tengyart (via Unsplash)
“In real life, our new research gets us closer to understanding stem cell behaviour, so that we can control it and promote wound healing.”
“TGF-beta has two opposite roles,” Wang added.
“It helps activate some hair follicle cells to produce new life, and later, it helps orchestrate apoptosis, the process of cell death.”
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While no one is entirely sure why follicles kill themselves, and some hypotheses suggest it’s a trait inherited from animals shedding fur to survive hot summer temperatures, or trying to camouflage, what we do know is that with TGF-beta, as is the same with many chemicals, it’s the amount that makes the difference, and if the cell produces a certain quantity of TGF-beta, then it activates cell division.
Wang continued: “Even when a hair follicle kills itself, it never kills its stem cell reservoir [as] when the surviving stem cells receive the signal to regenerate, they divide, make new cell and develop into a new follicle.”
Of course, there’s still some way to go until baldness is cured – however, researchers have suggested that it may be possible to activate follicle stem cells and stimulate hair growth if more research is carried out on how TGF-beta communicates with other genes and promotes cell division.
If they can find a way to accurately control levels of the protein, then it could lead to an effective treatment for hair loss.
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“Potentially, our work could offer something to help people suffering from a variety of problems,” Wang concluded.
Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury announce unique name of new baby boy
Emily Sergeant
Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury have welcomed their second child, the couple has announced.
The former Love Island stars already share daughter Bambi, who turned three earlier this year.
Molly-Mae, who met boxer Tommy on the hit ITV reality show in 2019, announced that she was pregnant again in February.
In a sweet post confirming the birth of their second child shared to social media earlier this week, Molly wrote: “And then there were 4” – but at that time, the couple chose to share no further details on the new arrival’s gender or a name, leaving their millions of fans who have been anticipating the birth on the edge of their seats.
Now, deciding to share the news during the Misfits Boxing match last night, where Tommy defeated Eddie Hall, it has been confirmed that their second child is a little boy, who they have chosen to name Midas.
Fans were expecting the name to be a little more unusual than your typical ‘top 10’ baby name, given the fact that their first daughter is called Bambi – a name which, very much, divided public opinion when it was announced at the time – but Molly had already conceded in her earlier YouTube vlogs that the second child’s name wasn’t as ‘crazy’ as the name Bambi.
She also expressed worries that people would spell and pronounce the name incorrectly, but believed that those who already knew of the name wouldn’t have any trouble with it.
The name Midas is comes from Greek mythology, and is best recognised through the story of King Midas – whose touch turned everything to gold.
Manchester City Council green-light new venue at Medlock Square, with Mamma Mia! The Party to open the immersive space
Danny Jones
The smash-hit ‘Mamma Mia: The Party’ is set to land in Manchester next year as the maiden event of another brand-new space set to open as part of the upcoming Medlock Square development.
Etihad Campus has seen a lot of moving pieces over the past few years, be it the building of Co-op Live, the ongoing expansion of Man City’s home ground, the soon-to-launch hotel attached to the stadium and now Medlock.
But those in control of the land are content with stopping there; this looks to be just the start of a whole new evolution for the East Manchester area, with an as yet untitled new immersive arts, experience and events venue also set to join the new slate of projects.
You see another glimpse of the purpose-built mini arena, of sorts, down below.
With plans having now been approved by the City Council, the ‘immersive’ space will be situated between the Etihad, Co-op Live and Medlock Square itself, holding up to 600 guests per performance.
Currently set to open in late 2027, following the rest of the square’s launch window being fully rolled out, we still don’t know the name of this next addition, but the structure itself will dovetail with the surrounding buildings and areas as part of seasonal activations, live shows and sports screenings, as well as pop-ups, brand collaborations and more.
Looping back, the interactive, multimedia extravaganza that is ‘Mamma Mia! The Party’ will finally be making its Manc debut as part of the 10th anniversary of the all-singing, all-dancing and even all-dining in-demand production.
As per an official press release from the Medlock Square media team, the show will combine “live music, theatre, food and storytelling” and “offer visitors an unforgettable night out.”
The original UK production at The O2 in London has now surpassed more than 1,500 performances, with a total of 700k guests attending these shows in 110 countries across the globe. Safe to say it’s rather popular.
As for Medlock Square and the surrounding Etihad Campus, Manchester City supporters have also been given another look at the soon-to-open, immersive hotel tie-in experience.
With a skywalk, rooftop bar, a new MCFC shop and various other bits set to spill out onto Medlock Square, it all feels like a period of wholesale changes over in the blue half of the city – especially with the football club bidding farewell to their manager Pep Guardiola after more than a decade.
Following the new and improved North Stand being named after him in the first of many tributes, the City Football Group (CFG) are also set to commission a statue in his honour over the coming months.
Meanwhile, Medlock Square is also due to open later this year, although an official completion date has not been confirmed.
You can stay up to date with all the latest on Mamma Mia! The Part’s Manchester shows right HERE.
Not forgetting a brand-new women’s football facility, too, there is so much stuff going on over at the Etihad that it can be hard to keep track, but here’s the latest look at some of the rooms set to feature in the hotel of the same name.
Emily Sergeant -
26th July 2022 
