During a small earthquake in the New York City area, Pennsylvania resident Justin Allen was undergoing a vasectomy when the tremors startled his surgeon, causing a brief pause in the procedure. Despite being awake under local anesthesia, Allen found the experience amusing and not worrisome due to his doctor’s thorough preparation. He later shared his unique ordeal on social media, while his wife humorously declared that it was a clear sign they should not have another child.

Verve Therapeutics, an experimental biotech startup, has halted the initial phase of a groundbreaking human gene-editing trial named “Heart-1” due to concerning side effects in a patient. This trial aimed to use gene editing to lower cholesterol levels in individuals with familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetic disorder causing high LDL cholesterol and increased risk of heart attack. Despite setbacks, Verve remains hopeful, pivoting to a new trial with improved drug delivery for potential life-saving gene therapies.

Costco, the reigning champ of the $1.50 hot dog and colossal-sized products, now offers weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. Through an online consultation with Sesame, shoppers can access these drugs, boosting their popularity. Despite its irony, Costco’s move caters to the demand for weight loss solutions in a country where obesity is prevalent. Besides weight loss, these medications may offer additional health benefits, although side effects like stomach problems can occur. Novo Nordisk is even developing a potentially more effective weight loss pill called amycretin, which could hit Costco’s shelves in the future.