They were like two different species—a massive Great Dane with dinner plate feet, and a Chihuahua no larger than a coffee cup. But when Reggie and Pearl met each other for the first time, something extraordinary happened. Although on opposite ends of the size range of dogs, the two animals shared a moment of friendship that was poignant and enlightening. This session was not a feel-good story. It was an impressive illustration of what two hundred years of human-controlled selective breeding can produce—sometimes with pleasant outcomes, and sometimes with unexpected consequences. A Meeting of Extremes On April 4–5, 2025, in Idaho Falls, two of the world’s most remarkable dogs met face to face . Reggie, the tallest living male dog at 3 feet 3 inches (99 cm) tall at the shoulder, welcomed Pearl, the shortest living dog at just 3.6 inches (9.14 cm) tall. Pearl traveled from Florida to meet Reggie at his home. The meeting was arranged by Guinness World Records to celebrate their 70...
You might not think of your childhood diet as something that could impact your risk of cancer decades later. But emerging research is pointing to a surprising link between early-life exposure to certain gut bacteria and the growing number of young adults developing colorectal (colon and rectal) cancer. This isn’t about food poisoning or bad takeout. It’s about a subtle, long-term shift in the gut microbiome—especially from diets high in ultra-processed foods—that may be fueling one of the fastest-growing cancer trends of our time. The Surge in Early-Onset Colon Cancer Colon cancer has traditionally been considered a disease of the elderly. Something is changing, however. If current trends continue, colorectal cancer will be the leading cancer killer in young adults by 2030. This rise has puzzled doctors and researchers. While lifestyle factors like alcohol and obesity play a role , they don’t fully explain why more people under 50 are being diagnosed—and often with aggressive forms of...