Saccharin, the artificial sweetener used in diet foods like yogurts and sugar-free drinks, can kill multidrug-resistant bacteria—including one of the world’s most dangerous pathogens.

In 2019, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) killed 1.27 million people globally, with resistant infections contributing to nearly 5 million deaths.

Drug-resistant bacteria such as Acinetobacter baumannii, which causes life-threatening infections in people with a weakened immune system, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, linked to chronic lung infections and sepsis, are on the World Health Organization’s list of top-priority pathogens.

“In exciting work led by our team, we’ve identified a novel antimicrobial—saccharin,” Prof McCarthy said. “Saccharin breaks the walls of bacterial pathogens, causing them to distort and eventually burst, killing the bacteria. Crucially, this damage lets antibiotics slip inside, overwhelming their resistance systems.”

Saccharin has been part of the human diet for longer than 100 years. While it has been extensively tested for safety in people, little was known about its effect on bacteria—until now with a study appearing in EMBO Molecular Medicine.

The international team found that saccharin both stops bacterial growth and disrupts DNA replication and stops the bacteria from forming biofilms—sticky, protective layers that help them survive antibiotics.

They also created a saccharin-loaded hydrogel wound dressing that, in tests, outperformed market-leading silver-based antimicrobial dressings currently used in hospitals.

“This is very exciting,” Prof McCarthy added. “Normally it takes billions of dollars and decades to develop a new antibiotic. But here we have a compound that’s already widely used, and it not only kills drug-resistant bacteria but also makes existing antibiotics more effective.

“Artificial sweeteners are found in many diet and sugar-free foods. We discovered that the same sweeteners you have with your coffee or in a ‘sugar-free’ drink could make some of the world’s most dangerous bacteria easier to treat.”

The World Health Organization has warned that the world is heading toward a “post-antibiotic era,” where common everyday infections could once again become deadly. Overuse of antibiotics in medicine and agriculture has accelerated resistance, and new antibiotics have been slow to arrive.

“This has created a dangerous situation,” said Prof McCarthy. “We urgently need new drugs to treat resistant infections—and saccharin could represent a new therapeutic approach with exciting promise.”

More information: Rubén de Dios et al, Saccharin disrupts bacterial cell envelope stability and interferes with DNA replication dynamics, EMBO Molecular Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44321-025-00219-1

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BEHUMAN. It’s the only way to get ahead in business today.

Competition today is fiercer than ever. It seems that every job candidate is flashing a world-class resume and every business competitor is the absolute best at what they do. Add to that a worldwide pandemic shutting down business you never thought would go away while others are having trouble spring up in their place, and your competition just got that much more fierce.

Ryan Foland has a message for your audience, however: Don’t. Be. Fooled. and Don’t. Be. Discouraged. People exaggerate out of desperation. By revealing stories off ailures, setbacks, and personal flaws without shame or fear, you exhibit greater self-confidence than your competition. You cultivate connections with serious, smart people, and you build loyalty that lasts.

Ditch the Act shows how to present your humanness―imperfect and flawed but honest, resilient, and willing to learn―in strategic ways to achieve clear, defined goals. It provides an actionable program for building an authentic, long-lasting personal brand, explaining why exposure is important and how it cultivates more durable connections than any polished persona can.

By creating a personal brand that’s honest and authentic and that reveals personal struggles, you’ll build stronger, longer-lasting relationships―and achieve greater success.

Career sand businesses based on authenticity and truth aren’t just more rewarding than those founded on hyperbole and the “hard sell.” Because they’re founded on durable, robust relationships, they’re rock-solid―and better withstand business uncertainty and tough times.

Ditch the act, be real―and jump ahead of the competition before they even know you are there.

On your program, Ryan can discuss:

• His background as a personal branding expert.
• The importance of exposure to cultivate connections and grow personal brand loyalty far better than any polished persona.
• Defining lessons that can teach the value of truth, candor, and clarity when it comes to building a personal brand.
• How a brand can more easily and clearly share their story by ditching the act and removing the masks that prevent the consumer from seeing the “real you”. 
• How fear can be a precise guide and a key component in brand building. 
• How a new brand can bridge the gap between themselves and the people they want to emulate effectively.
• What opportunities for brand building exist during the pandemic that did not exist prior?

Praise For DITCH THE ACT

“Ditch the Act will change your perspective on why telling your story can open doors to unimaginable opportunities–that have always been right in front of you, you just weren’t letting them in.”

―Tiffani Bova, Keynote Speaker, Growth and Innovation Evangelist at Salesforce, and bestselling author of Growth IQ

“We think people only want to hear about our successes. We think that’s where our credibility will come from. And in that false assumption we leave one of our greatest powers untapped. Ryan and Leonard have it just right in this book. You’ll never think of your attempts to influence the same way again.”

―Greg McKeown, New York Times bestselling author of Essentialism

“Whether you’re building a new business, reinventing yourself, or trying to stand out at work . . . when you tap into the power ofyour authentic self, you become unstoppable at achieving your life’s true potential.”

―Dorie Clark, Duke University Fuqua School of Business adjunct professor, Harvard Business Review contributor and author of Stand Out, Reinventing You and Entrepreneurial You

“As much as we want to put on a brave and glorious image, not providing hardship makes us serve fewer people. Ditch the Act is one of the few books that makes me become a better leader, business owner, and person by knowing my true journey is the one that mustbe told. This is a must-read book for anyone that wants to connect more with their customers, loved ones, and themselves.”

―Kim Orlesky, author of Sell More. Faster and President, KO Advantage Group

“Ditch the Act is an honest and engaging conversation built to challenge you, your perceptions, and your ability to value imperfection in a seemingly perfect world. It’s time to rethink the roles of perception and failure, and Ditch the Act couldn’t come at a better time.”

―Matt Prince, Senior Manager Public Relations and Brand Experience, at Taco Bell

“Ditch the Act is the clear and compelling playbook I didn’t know I needed–an easy read that models vulnerability at its finest, while offering practical guidance for how to accelerate personal brand-building.”

―Tara Jaye Frank, Keynote Speaker, Leadership Consultant, and former VP Hallmark Cards

“Ditch the Act shows that the time is NOW to expose our own humanity to achieve not just success, but LONGSTANDING IMPACT. When I coach individuals to tap into that humanity, they gain a surefire foundation to achieve their full potential.”

―Dr. Aviva Legatt, The Ivy League Executive Coach; Author of Get Real and Get In; Forbes Contributor; and Affiliated Faculty: University of Pennsylvania/The Wharton School.

“At Zoom, we know the power of human to human connection. In a world where there is more digital connection than ever before, a reminder to be more human when on digital platforms is highly valuable. In Ditch the Act, Foland and Kim dive deep into how to showcase your real and whole self, both online and offline, in a way that builds trust by being truthful.” ―Eric Yuan, founder and CEO, Zoom

“As a chief marketing officer who specializes in inbound marketing, I see Ditch the Act as not only a practical guide, but quite tactical as well, to not only take an individual and turn them into the face of a brand, but to rally large teams at companies to do the same. I will be implementing these practices at my company with all our employees.”

―Ryan Bonnici, chief marketing officer at G2, former Hub spot, Salesforce and Microsoft

“Being vulnerable is essential to innovation, but very few know how to actually do it in an authentic way. Ditch the Act is the most comprehensive guide I’ve seen that provides a step-by-step actionable plan on how to get started now.”

―Josh Linkner, five-time tech entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author, and founder/former CEO of Detroit Venture Partners

“In Ditch the Act, Leonard and Ryan teach readers how to turn their biggest weaknesses into their greatest strengths. They show you how transparency and vulnerability can make you stronger, not weaker, and how you can go from fearful to fearless. They provide an easy-to-implement guide that includes highly effective exercises that help you cut through the nonsense and noise and establish a bold and honest brand.”

―Jonathan Alpert, Psychotherapist, performance coach and author of Be Fearless: Change Your Life in 28 Days

“Many people look great on paper, but few know how to translate that to real relatability. In fact, the more success you find, the more unrelatable you can become (without even realizing it). We live in a world where people crave authenticity. Ditch the Act shows you how to be more comfort- able with yourself, and shows the value in sharing the struggles that built your success. Doing so helps others see themselves in your story, and that is what creates real connection

What is Good News For Ryan Foland?, go to: http://goodnewsplanet.com/what-is-good-news-for-ryan-foland/

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LADY GAGA “STAPLES FOR STUDENTS”:60

INTRO: FROM TAKING THE STAGE IN FRONT OF MILLIONS OF FANS, TO VISITING CLASSROOMS, POP STAR LADY GAGA CONTINUES TO RE-SHAPE THE WORLD.

LADY GAGA: I’M LADY GAGA AND I WILL BE YOUR SUBSTITUTE TEACHER! RECENTLY I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO SPEND THE DAY WITH A CLASS OF STUDENTS AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT THEIR DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE. I WAS SO INSPIRED TO HEAR WHAT THESE KIDS WANTED TO DO.

ANNOUNCER: TALKING TO THE KIDS, LADY GAGA REALIZED THEY NEEDED MORE TOOLS TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR DREAMS.

LADY GAGA (:34)I REALIZED MORE THAN EVER, THE STRUGGLE THAT TEACHERS FACE EVERY DAY TO SUPPLY THEIR STUDENTS WITH THE RIGHT TOOLS AND THE RIGHT ENVIROMENT TO PURSUE THEIR PASSIONS. THAT’S WHY I’M TEAMING UP WITH STAPLES FOR STUDENTS. THEY’RE DONATING TWO MILLION DOLLARS TO DONORS CHOOSE DOT ORG AND BORN THIS WAY FOUNDATION. TOGETHER, WITH ALL ORGANIZATIONS, WE’RE WORKING TO GIVE TEACHERS THE SUPPLIES AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO EMPOWER THEIR STUDENTS AND CREATE A POSITIVE CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE. BUT WITH YOUR HELP, WE CAN HAVE A BIGGER IMPACT. DONATE IN STAPLES STORES OR LEARN MORE AT STAPLES FOR STUDENTS DOT ORG.

READER SCRIPT – Does not fully match audio
FROM TAKING THE STAGE IN FRONT OF MILLIONS OF FANS, TO VISITING CLASSROOMS, POP-STAR LADY GAGACONTINUES TO RE-SHAPE THE WORLD. RECENTLY, SHE WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO SPEND THE DAY WITH A CLASS OF STUDENTS–AND TALK WITH THEM, ABOUT THEIR DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE; SHE WAS INSPIRED TO HEAR WHAT THESE KIDS WANTED TO DO. BUT, WHILE TALKING WITH THE KIDS, LADY GAGA REALIZED THAT THEY NEEDED MORE TOOLS, TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR DREAMS. SHE REALIZED, MORE THAN EVER, THE STRUGGLE THAT TEACHERS FACE, EVERY DAY, TO SUPPLY THEIR STUDENTS WITH THE RIGHT TOOLS–AND THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT–TO PURSUE THEIR PASSIONS. THAT’S WHY LADY GAGA HAS TEAMED UP WITH”‘STAPLES’ FOR STUDENTS”–WHICH IS DONATING TWO-MILLION DOLLARS, TO “‘DONORS-CHOOSE’-DOT-ORG” AND “BORN THIS WAY FOUNDATION”. TOGETHER, THEY’RE WORKING TO GIVE TEACHERS THE SUPPLIES AND SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED, TO EMPOWER THEIR STUDENTS–AND CREATE A POSITIVE CLASSROOM-EXPERIENCE. BUT, WITH THE PUBLIC’S HELP, THEY CAN HAVE A BIGGER IMPACT. CUSTOMERS CAN DONATE IN “STAPLES”-STORES–OR LEARN MORE AT “STAPLES-FOR-STUDENTS”-DOT-ORG

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