Name: Six-year-old steps up after Harvard axolotl lab lost funds
Uploaded: 2025-11-08T01:22:53.488Z
Duration: 2 min 23 s
Description: When a Harvard team lost its research funding into the axolotl, a 6-year-old girl came to their rescue, inspiring the researchers with her actions.

When a Harvard team lost its research funding into the axolotl, a 6-year-old girl came to their rescue, inspiring the researchers with her actions.

Cambridge

Harvard University's axolotl research lab, led by Professor Jessica Whited, faced significant challenges after losing nearly all of its government funding. The lab, which studies the regenerative abilities of axolotls in hopes of applying the findings to human medicine, received an unexpected boost when six-year-old Mary Ann Cohen from Springfield, Massachusetts, organized a fundraiser and donated $1,000.

Mary Ann's passion for axolotls and her efforts to support the lab brought renewed morale to the research team. Although the lab's funding has since been reinstated by the courts, the future remains uncertain, but Professor Whited emphasized that Mary Ann's contribution will have a lasting impact on the team.

Six-year-old steps up after Harvard axolotl lab lost funds

Why do you think that that would matter for humans? Professor Jessica Whited leads a team of researchers at Harvard University, all studying the axolotl, that's salamander with a superpower, to regrow body parts. And we want to find out the secrets, like the actual molecular secrets of how they regenerate limbs. So that people could regrow limbs? That is the hope, someday, yep. A hope that faded a few months ago when her team lost almost all its government funding. It was dark times, until the day a donor stepped forward. It definitely had a positive effect on everyone in the lab. Everybody was just flabbergasted. Flabbergasted, not by the size of the donation, but rather the size of the donor. Six-year-old Mary Ann Cohen of Springfield, Massachusetts is obsessed with axolotls. There's more to them than just being cute. They can grow back any limb. And, she says, they're endangered. And there's way other animals that need saving, but this one is my destiny to save. Parents Kat and Rob Cohen. And I think she took it kind of to the next level, honestly. She said, I want to raise money for axolotls. So, to support conservation and research, Mary Ann built a PowerPoint and held a fundraiser, made $1,000 for the lab. But, why is all this your responsibility? Not a lot of people get how important it is to save this animal. And, therefore, you have to take the lead. I feel like I do. Hi, Mary Ann. The courts have since reinstated the lab's funding. No telling if that will stand. But, regardless, Professor Whited says Mary Ann's contribution will always keep her going. Sometimes, you know who's fighting for you in life. And, sometimes, you don't. And, that's always the time when you're just like pause and be like, wow. So, there's a bone in here, right? And, certainly, in the world of axolotl research, that kind of encouragement is worth an arm and another arm. Eventually, it goes back and gets the whole thing. Steve Hartman, On The Road, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

World leaders are gathering at the heart of the Amazon for global climate summit COP30 in Belem, Brazil, with Earth set to surpass 1.5 C of warming in the next decade, a climate change skeptic in the White House and worry that global co-operation to fight climate change is collapsing.

Belém

World leaders gather in Brazil for COP30 climate summit

Tesla shareholders approved a historic pay package worth one trillion dollars to the company's CEO, Elon Musk. At the company's annual meeting they paved the way for Musk to become the world's first trillionaire.

San Francisco

Tesla approves $1 trillion pay deal for CEO Elon Musk

The White House meeting came after Trump managed to at least temporarily ease tensions between the U.S. and China over the export of rare earth metals, a major source of contention in their trade talks.

Washington

Trump hails Central Asian leaders to forge critical mineral ties

Sudan's army rebuffed a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire and said it will rally public support to fight rebels who've captured much of the western half of the country.

Johannesburg

Sudan army rebuffs U.S. ceasefire proposal, prepares to fight on

The U.S. Senate narrowly voted 51-49 to block a resolution that sought to prevent President Donald Trump from launching strikes on Venezuela without congressional approval. The measure, led by Senators Tim Kaine, Adam Schiff, and Rand Paul, followed reports that U.S. forces have carried out at least 16 strikes on boats off Venezuela since September, killing more than 65 people.

Washington County

U.S. war on drugs: Senate republicans block move to stop boat attacks

In a video letter to her constituents, California Democrat Nancy Pelosi ended months of speculation about her political future, announcing she would not seek reelection to Congress. Elected in 1987, Pelosi would become the most powerful women in politics as the first female House speaker.

Nancy Pelosi announces retirement after historic career in Congress

Israel’s military says it has begun conducting “a wave of strikes” targeting Hezbollah military sites in southern Lebanon.

Tyre

Israel launched ‘wave of strikes’ in southern Lebanon despite truce

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his government to submit proposals to potentially resume testing nuclear weapons. This comes after President Trump directed the Pentagon to resume nuclear weapons testing "on an equal basis" with other countries.

Moscow

Putin orders proposals for resuming nuclear weapons testing

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments challenging President Trump's authority to impose sweeping tariffs on foreign countries, with justices expressing skepticism about whether such actions fall within presidential powers or infringe on congressional authority over taxation.

Global Tariffs

Supreme Court justices appear skeptical of Trump's tariffs policies

The US government shutdown is now in its 36th day—a record-breaking length. While both political parties blame each other, the result is being felt by the public. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are going without pay, and government programs like food benefits have been slashed.

Republicans and Democrats trade blame as shutdown drags on

At least 90 people in the central Philippines have died in floods and heavy rains caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi. 75 others are missing. Tens of thousands have been evacuated after rains flooded homes and streets, swept away vehicles and left people trapped on their roofs.

Manila

Dozens killed as Typhoon Kalmaegi hits central Philippines

President Trump hosted a breakfast for Republican senators at the White House on Wednesday morning, where he urged them to end the filibuster as the government shutdown hits a historical milestone.

Trump doubles down on Republicans as government shutdown makes history

At least nine people were killed, officials say, after a UPS cargo plane crashed near the airport in Louisville, Kentucky. Video shows the jet's left wing on fire as it tries to take off before quickly losing altitude and exploding.

Louisville

Video shows moment UPS plane crashes in Kentucky, killing nine

People around the world are reacting to Zohran Mamdani's win in the New York City mayoral race against former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio spoke to Mamdani's mentor in his native Uganda about the election results.

New York

World reacts to Zohran Mamdani's win in NYC mayoral race

Typhoon Kalmaegi left a trail of destruction in the central Philippines, as the powerful storm unleashed heavy rains and floods across Visayas islands region. It's now headed towards the South China Sea and Vietnam where preparations are underway ahead of its expected landfall.

Visayas

Deadly Typhoon Kalmaegi lashes Philippines, heads towards Vietnam

A centuries-old legislative practice in the U.S Senate is being blamed as the latest roadblock in resolving the federal government shutdown. That shutdown is now in its 35th day—equaling the longest in the country's history.

Filibuster blamed for deepening U.S government shutdown

Injuries have been reported after a UPS plane crashed near the Louisville International Airport on Tuesday, officials said.

UPS plane crashes near airport in Kentucky, officials say

The U.S. Senate's 14th vote on a House-passed continuing resolution to fund the government has failed, setting up the shutdown to become the longest ever in American history.

Senate vote fails again to reopen government

A new UN report reviews the gap between countries’ climate commitments and global emissions targets.

UN report reveals climate pledges 'barely moving the needle'

Peru has severed diplomatic relations with Mexico after learning that former prime minister Betssy Chávez, accused of helping ex-president Pedro Castillo attempt a coup in 2022, has taken refuge in the Mexican embassy in Lima.

Lima

Peru cuts ties with Mexico over asylum for ex-prime minister

Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney has died at the age of 84. He was a major force in the Republican party for more than 30 years and served as vice president under former President George W. Bush.

Breakdown