Scientists have developed what they believe is the most widely effective antivenom ever — and the secret ingredient came from one man’s blood.

In the course of their research, the team found a man, Tim Friede, who had been bitten hundreds of times by 16 species of deadly snakes — the poison lethal enough to kill a horse, according to the scientists — over an 18-year period.

Friede had received the bites intentionally as part of a self-immunization process using escalating doses. As a result, he had become “hyper-immune” to the effects of snake neurotoxins, the researchers stated.

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“After being introduced to Tim Friede and his incredible journey and immune history, we decided there was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study his blood and isolate the basis of a universal antivenom,” lead study author Jacob Glanville, CEO of Centivax, a San Francisco biotechnology company, told Fox News Digital. 

Friede agreed to participate in a study in which he donated two blood samples. 

The researchers isolated target antibodies from Friede’s blood that reacted with neurotoxins found within 19 of the world’s deadliest snakes.

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They combined two of the antibodies with another molecule to create a new antivenom. In mouse trials, the antidote was found to be protective against venom from the black mamba, king cobra, coral snakes and tiger snakes, among others.

The results were published on May 2 in the journal Cell Press.

Friede said that by participating in the study, he is “helping humanity.”

The researchers isolated target antibodies from Friede’s blood that reacted with neurotoxins found within 19 of the world’s deadliest snakes. (Centivax)

“I know I am helping someone possibly 8,000 miles away, and that makes me feel really good,” he said in a statement to Fox News Digital. 

“I realize what I’ve been doing over the years hasn’t been in vain with this research.”

“I know I am helping someone possibly 8,000 miles away, and that makes me feel really good.”

“The reason I have been bitten so many times is to get more comfortable with it,” he added. “It became a lifestyle for me, almost like an addiction.”

The hope is that Friede’s “once-in-a-lifetime, unique immune history” could result in a “broad-spectrum” or universal antivenom, according to Glanville.

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“If formulated for intramuscular delivery in a ‘venom EpiPen’ form, which is our preference, it could then be deployed more broadly without any IV requirement, including very rural settings or hiker’s backpacks,” he told Fox News Digital.

The researchers now plan to expand the trials to treat dogs that have been brought to veterinary clinics after receiving snake bites, according to the release. 

Scientists combined two of the antibodies with another molecule to create a new antivenom that was found to be protective against poison from the black mamba, king cobra, coral snakes and tiger snakes, among others. (Centivax)

They will also work to create another antivenom to protect against viper bites. 

Prior to this research, the process for making antivenom has been more or less the same over the past century, according to the researchers.

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“Typically, it involves immunizing horses or sheep with venom from single snake species and collecting the antibodies produced,” they wrote. “While effective, this process could result in adverse reactions to the non-human antibodies, and treatments tend to be species and region-specific.”

Approximately 5.4 million people are bitten by snakes each year globally, according to the World Health Organization. Among those, 2.7 million are poisoned by venom, which can cause death or permanent disability. (iStock)

Approximately 5.4 million people are bitten by snakes each year globally, according to the World Health Organization. Among those, 2.7 million are poisoned by venom, which can cause death or permanent disability.

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The research was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health, the National Institutes of Health Small Business Innovation Research program, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Gossiping gets a bad rap, but psychology experts say it could actually benefit our mental health.

The activity can help “make meaning of our world and situations,” according to Thea Gallagher, PsyD, director of wellness programs at NYU Langone Health.

“It can also help us be more informed about the intentions of others when we are sharing true information about what someone did or didn’t do,” she said in an interview with Fox News Digital.

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Gossiping can be helpful in terms of exposing certain behaviors of others so that people can protect themselves, Gallagher noted.

“Or if it’s something that someone is struggling with, like an ill parent, it can actually give us more empathy [so we can] be more compassionate.”

Gossip can also help people process their feelings before reacting, Gallagher suggested.

“If you’re irritated at a friend and talk to another friend about it, you might actually be able to see the situation more clearly after you process it with someone,” she said. 

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The activity also offers a sense of bonding and connection with others, according to the expert.

“Human connection through shared information and communication is core to who we are and connects us to each other,” she said. “We might feel closer to someone when we know they are confiding in us with information and vice versa.”

“Human connection through shared information and communication is core to who we are and connects us to each other.”

“Just be careful not to jump to conclusions with little information,” she cautioned. 

Janet Bayramyan, licensed clinical social worker in Los Angeles, also weighed in on the mental health impact of gossip, noting that it’s regarded as “inherently negative.”

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“In some cases, it certainly can be, but gossiping can also serve as a form of venting or emotional regulation,” she told Fox News Digital.

“If someone has been wronged or is feeling confused by a social interaction, discussing it with a friend helps them process what happened, gain validation and potentially re-frame the experience.”

For kids and teens, gossiping can be a form of bullying, an expert warned. (iStock)

Dr. Brian Licuanan, a board-certified clinical psychologist in California, agreed that gossiping can be beneficial by providing a “safe place to talk and connect.”

“If someone is feeling alone, sad, rejected or mistreated, gossiping with others can create a commiseration that can help mitigate some of these emotions,” he told Fox News Digital.

The act can create a “level of unity” among certain groups who may “feel like outsiders,” Licuanan noted.

Potential negative impacts

Experts also warned that gossiping can sometimes backfire.

“People may lose trust in the person who gossips, because the belief could be that if this person is gossiping about others, they are likely to be gossiping about you,” Licuanan said. 

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Overall, Licuanan said he considers gossip “unhealthy for the mind and spirit.”

“This behavior can typically perpetuate emotions such as anger and resentment,” he said. “The more a person engages in these behaviors outside of these emotions, the higher levels of stress they harbor — and, if done too much, this behavior can actually isolate them from others rather than bring them together.”

Despite the potential benefits, one expert claimed that gossiping is overall “unhealthy for the mind and spirit.” (iStock)

For kids and teens in particular, gossiping can sometimes be used as a form of bullying, especially if the information is not true and is meant to hurt someone, Gallagher noted.

Those who initiate gossip that could have a malicious outcome should explore the motivation for gossiping in the first place, she suggested.

Gossip in the workplace

LiveCareer’s recent Office Gossip Survey of 1,000 U.S. workers revealed that workplace gossip is “widespread,” as 58% of employees reported witnessing it weekly and one in three heard it daily.

Gossip in the workplace is “running rampant,” a career expert said. (iStock)

Forty-seven percent of respondents said office gossip creates “tension and distrust.” The same percentage said they don’t trust anyone at work with confidential information.

The survey also found that 43% of respondents had been the subject of workplace gossip, and 20% admitted to spreading gossip that turned out to be false.

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In an interview with Fox News Digital, career expert Jasmine Escalera commented that gossip in the workplace is driving company culture in a “negative direction.”

“Workplace gossip is running rampant and taking a serious toll on office culture,” said the Florida-based expert. “In a time of increased layoffs, burnt-out and disengaged employees, and increased economic uncertainty, we don’t need to add extra stressors to the mix.”

An expert warned that workplace gossip can lead to a toxic environment. (iStock)

“Gossip has a direct effect on workplace morale, erodes trust among coworkers, and can quickly lead to the onset of a toxic work environment,” she added.

Bayramyan suggested that in uncertain social environments, including the workplace, gossip can “sometimes help people make sense of complex dynamics, which can provide a feeling of control and predictability.”

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“It’s mainly important to make sure that gossip is not mean-spirited,” she advised, warning that “chronic negative gossiping” can cause stress and impact mental health.

Licuanan echoed that workplace gossip can be problematic and sometimes job-threatening — “especially if [gossiping] is viewed as slander or is damaging to one’s reputation.”

A Grammy-winning singer and his family have revealed the surprising early symptoms of his brain cancer.

Michael Bolton, who was diagnosed in December 2023 with glioblastoma — the most aggressive and fastest-growing form of brain cancer — first exhibited signs that something was amiss the month prior, according to his daughters.

During a family night at the bowling alley, Bolton, 72, bowled out of turn several times, they told People during a recent interview.

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That same night, the singer had also fallen out of his chair, which was “very unusual,” Taryn, 45, told the outlet.

“He’s super athletic, and he doesn’t drink,” she said. “So he fell, and we were like, ‘What just happened?’”

“That was when we were like, ‘Something’s wrong with his brain.”

Looking back now, Bolton’s daughters recognize “so many things” they missed. 

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Earlier that fall, the Grammy winner had struggled to keep his balance and experienced nausea while performing at a charity event.

His daughters had assumed the strange symptoms were due to lack of sleep or excess stress, they said.

“He’d been working nonstop that whole time,” Taryn recalled while speaking to People. 

“It is truly among the most tragic diseases.”

“Traveling, doing shows, doing all of these things. We were like, he’s getting older, he’s tired, he’s stressed out. All of these things we sort of explained in a way, one by one.”

Following the strange symptoms while bowling, Bolton began experiencing headaches, his daughters shared.

The following Monday, he received an MRI that detected a brain tumor, which was removed surgically and found to be glioblastoma.

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While rare, glioblastoma is known for affecting people across all ages and for its fast, aggressive development, according to Michael Canney Ph.D., chief scientific officer of Carthera, a Colorado health tech company that develops medical devices to treat severe brain disorders.

“Although glioblastoma’s cause isn’t fully known, the disease begins when genetic changes in brain cells cause them to grow out of control,” Canney, who was not involved in Bolton’s care, told Fox News Digital.

Michael Bolton performs on stage during Starlite Occident 2023 at Cantera de Nagüeles on June 30, 2023, in Malaga, Spain. A few months later, he would undergo surgery to remove a glioblastoma brain tumor. (Getty Images)

“These cancerous cells rapidly invade surrounding brain tissue, making the tumor especially aggressive and hard to treat.”

Canney confirmed that the symptoms Bolton experienced — confusion, sudden falls and severe headaches — are consistent with glioblastoma warning signs. 

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“Other potential red flags include nausea, memory loss, personality changes, speech difficulties and vision changes,” he added.

“While the symptoms of glioblastoma are not unique to this disease, anytime you or a loved one experience an unexplained change in behavior, mental awareness or motor control, it’s important to see a medical professional.”

Michael Bolton is pictured during the 32nd annual Grammy Awards at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Feb. 21, 1990. (Getty Images)

After surgery, Bolton completed radiation and chemotherapy, which have so far kept cancer at bay, the report noted.

He receives ongoing MRIs every two months to ensure that he is still clear of tumors.

Treatment and prognosis

Glioblastoma is among the deadliest cancers, with patients living for an average of just over a year after diagnosis. The five-year survival rate is less than 5%.

“It is truly among the most tragic diseases,” Canney said.

“A number of clinical trials are underway that give us an immense sense of hope.”

Part of what makes glioblastoma so severe is its resistance to treatment, according to the expert.

“Around your brain, there’s a natural protective barrier called the blood-brain barrier,” he told Fox News Digital. 

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“While this barrier keeps the brain safe from toxins and other harmful substances, it also blocks the life-saving chemotherapy drugs used in treating most cancers.”

In some cases, including Bolton’s, glioblastoma treatment can begin with surgery to remove the tumor, provided it has not grown too deeply into the brain, Canney said.

Glioblastoma is among the deadliest cancers, with patients living for an average of just over a year after diagnosis.  (iStock)

Other treatment options include radiation and chemotherapy, which can “modestly extend survival,” he noted.

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“Although current treatment options are limited, a number of clinical trials are underway that give us an immense sense of hope,” Canney said, pointing out a new form of ultrasound-based technology that is showing promise. 

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“If approved, this technology will enable doctors to safely and temporarily open the blood-brain barrier for the first time ever — allowing a greater number of potentially more effective chemotherapy drugs into the brain.”