Scroll For More
Score (89)
Here's How You Can Protect Your Pets From The Heat This Summer
In the heat of summer, it's important to take precautions to prevent heatstroke in pets. Pets can also overheat if they don't have access to shade or water, or if they are left in a car. Signs of heatstroke include panting, vomiting, and weakness, so if you think your pet is suffering from heatstroke, move them to a cooler setting and bring them to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Score (98)
Rescued Dogs from an Abandoned House are Beginning New Lives as Police Sniffer K-9s
Four spaniels rescued from a derelict house in South Yorkshire are being retrained as police sniffer dogs, Greater Manchester Police confirmed. Bruce, Pablo, Lola, and Nellie were among 82 dogs discovered in April living in what officers described as “squalid” conditions at a property in Tickhill, Doncaster. The rescue was carried out by the RSPCA with support from South Yorkshire Police. When officers entered the home, they were overwhelmed by the smell. “Working their way around the property the team were met with faeces, filth and round every corner and room, more dogs,” a South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said. In addition to the spaniels, police also found two cats and a chicken. The dogs were seized and moved into kennels, where five were initially chosen for assessment as potential working animals. One was quickly rehomed after not meeting the requirements, while the other four showed promise for police work. The RSPCA partnered with Greater Manchester Police’s Tactical Dog Unit to begin training them as detection dogs. PC Wes Donnelly said the transformation has been remarkable. “We’re giving them the best life possible. These dogs have gone from being neglected to having a real purpose. Providing their training goes well, they’ll soon be helping us detect drugs, cash and other items that support investigations.” The spaniels are now in specialist training and, if successful, will join the force’s K-9 unit in the months ahead.
Score (96)
Unveiling The Mystery: Scientists Decoded Blue Pigment In This Pollock Masterpiece
Jackson Pollock’s Number 1A (1948) is one of those paintings at New York’s Museum of Modern Art that stops people in their tracks. It’s a sprawling web of paint, with foggy whites, muscular strands of black and blue, and jolts of pink and red. Now, scientists say part of its impact comes from the chemical makeup of one particular color: the blue. Researchers from MoMA and Stanford University have confirmed that Pollock used manganese blue, a synthetic pigment once popular with artists but phased out in the 1990s for environmental reasons. They made the discovery using Raman spectroscopy, a laser-based method that measures how molecules vibrate. Earlier scholars had thought Pollock’s blue was a form of turquoise. Manganese blue was first synthesized in 1907 but didn’t hit the market until the 1930s. It was prized for its purity and brilliance, qualities that come from how electrons in the pigment respond to light. The pigment absorbs green and violet wavelengths, reflecting back an unusually clean, intense blue. This property made it a favorite not only for artists such as Sergei Gerasimov and Lado Gudiashvili in the Soviet Union, but also for industrial uses like tinting cement. The findings, published September 15 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, build on earlier studies of Number 1A that identified cadmium yellow and cadmium red in the work. Together, they give conservators better tools to care for Pollock’s painting. “It offers insights into the development of the artist’s practice and to contextualize the work within the oeuvre and understand trends in the manufacture and use of certain colorants over time,” MoMA conservation scientist Abed Haddad said in an email. “This knowledge can be critical for developing effective strategies for display, since many pigments are sensitive to environmental factors such as intense light, ultraviolet radiation, and fluctuations in humidity.” Pollock made Number 1A at a turning point in his career. He had begun abandoning traditional titles in favor of numbers—“Numbers are neutral,” his wife Lee Krasner later explained—and he worked on unstretched canvas laid flat on the floor rather than on an easel. The painting carries his handprints in its underlayer, followed by brushstrokes and squeezed-out paint, topped with his signature pours and drips. When it was first shown in 1949, the painting went unsold. MoMA acquired it the following year, and it has since become a landmark in Abstract Expressionism. The researchers note that Pollock couldn’t have known the atomic physics behind manganese blue’s appeal. Still, as they wrote, “they nonetheless created the color that he intuitively chose to create the dynamic contrast and depth of Number 1A.”
Get even more good news on the free app!
Score (92)
New Experiment QROCODILE Sets Record Sensitivity in Light Dark Matter Search
For decades, scientists have been chasing one of the universe’s biggest mysteries: dark matter, the invisible substance that makes up 85 percent of the cosmos but has never been directly detected. Now, a new international experiment is pushing the search into uncharted territory. Researchers from the University of Zurich and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, working with teams at Cornell, MIT, and Germany’s Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, have unveiled first results from their novel detector, QROCODILE (Quantum Resolution-Optimized Cryogenic Observatory for Dark matter Incident at Low Energy). Unlike traditional dark matter searches, which look for heavier particles, QROCODILE targets “light” dark matter — particles thousands of times smaller than those previously tested. The secret lies in a superconducting detector cooled to near absolute zero. This ultra-sensitive instrument can measure energy deposits as tiny as 0.11 electron-volts, millions of times smaller than the energy scales probed in conventional particle physics. Over a 400-hour run, the detector picked up a handful of unexplained signals. While they cannot yet be confirmed as dark matter — cosmic rays or background radiation could be responsible — the results already set world-leading limits on how such light particles might interact with electrons and nuclei. One of QROCODILE’s key advantages is its potential to capture the direction of incoming signals. Because Earth moves through the galaxy’s dark matter halo, scientists expect particles to arrive from a preferred direction. Proving that directional pattern would be a game-changer in separating real dark matter interactions from random noise. “For the first time, we’ve placed new constraints on the existence of especially light dark matter,” said Prof. Yonit Hochberg of Hebrew University’s Racah Institute of Physics. “This is an important first step toward larger experiments that could ultimately achieve the long-sought direct detection.” The team is already planning the next phase: NILE QROCODILE. This upgraded experiment will move underground to shield the detectors from cosmic rays, while boosting sensitivity with larger detector arrays and even lower energy thresholds. If successful, these efforts could help answer one of the deepest questions in science: what makes up the missing mass of the universe. For now, QROCODILE’s early results suggest the hunt for dark matter is entering a new, more precise era.
Score (98)
A New Bakery Employing Adults With Learning Disabilities Just Opened in the UK
Great British Bake Off judge Dame Prue Leith has hailed the opening of a new Oxfordshire bakery that trains and employs adults with learning disabilities, calling it “astonishing and wonderful.” The Life-Changing Bakery, run by local charity Yellow Submarine, was officially opened by Dame Prue at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday night. Located on the outskirts of Witney, the bakery will supply two cafés already operated by the charity — one in Witney town centre and another in Oxford — both staffed by trainees. The bakery provides opportunities for participants to develop catering skills, gain qualifications, and build confidence as they move gradually into employment. “I feel quite emotional about this, because running a charity is hell — it’s really difficult,” Dame Prue said. “So to make a success of it as you have over the years is astonishing and wonderful.” For trainees, the benefits are already clear. “It makes a huge difference because when I was first a trainee I would never talk to strangers,” said Jack Howard, who has just completed his first year with the programme. “But now I’ve got used to it, I’m more confident about doing that kind of stuff.” Yellow Submarine was founded in 2013 with the aim of increasing the proportion of adults with learning disabilities in paid employment, a figure that currently stands at just 5 percent nationwide. Alongside its cafés and bakery, the charity also runs life skills workshops and days out. In 2022, its Oxford café was named High Street Shop of the Year in the Independent Awards. Dame Prue said the project’s impact goes far beyond job training. “It’s not just about learning to get a job, though they do that brilliantly,” she told the audience. “But on the way they learn to make friends, they get confidence, and everybody’s having a good time. You can tell by talking to the trainees that they love it here.” For Yellow Submarine, the new bakery is more than just a workplace — it’s another step toward creating inclusive spaces where skills, confidence, and community can rise together.
Score (96)
World's Oldest Camera Obscura Continues to Captivate Visitors in Scotland
High on Corbelly Hill in Dumfries, Scotland, sits what looks like a sturdy 19th-century observatory. But inside, it holds a piece of living history: the world’s oldest functioning camera obscura, in operation since 1836. The device, whose name comes from the Latin for “dark chamber,” projects a 360-degree panorama of the surrounding landscape onto a table for viewers. Long before photography as we know it, it was one of the most magical ways to see the world. Its story began when locals sought to save an abandoned windmill from demolition in the 1830s. A resident purchased the mill in 1835 for about $350, and 100 townspeople bought $5 shares each to repurpose it. Working with architects, they decided to create a public observatory. Judith Hewitt, curator at the Dumfries Museum, explained: “There were two main proposals they liked the look of — one by a local architect called Walter Newell, and that was the one that was eventually taken up. He did it in an Egyptian revival style, so it’s a nice, big, chunky building with chunky windows and doors — sort of like the Valley of the Kings.” The winning design included not just telescope floors but also a camera obscura at the top. Installed by Thomas Morton of Kilmarnock, who also built the telescope still on display, the system has been projecting images since the tower opened in 1836. “It’s got some of the original pieces still in it, which makes it the oldest functioning camera obscura in the world,” Hewitt said. “The main parts are still the functioning pieces from the 19th century.” The museum now welcomes thousands of visitors each year, with staff offering live presentations whenever the weather allows. Rainy days are the only exception, as moisture could damage the delicate mechanism. “People’s reactions are absolutely fantastic — they can’t believe it!” Hewitt said. “And people in the 1800s used to call it the ‘Wizard Watchtower of Dumfries,’ because they couldn’t understand what they were seeing.” Nearly two centuries on, the “Wizard Watchtower” continues to amaze, offering a rare chance to step into the past — and see the world through the same lens that left visitors spellbound in the 1800s.
Score (98)
Miracle Match: How a Last-Minute Donor Saved This Cancer Patient
What started as a chance encounter during last-minute Christmas shopping has ended with a young man helping save a stranger’s life. Brendon Craister, 26, was out in Telford last December when he stumbled across a stem cell donor drive at Telford Minster. The event was organized to find a potential match for Marshall Davies, a local man diagnosed with a rare form of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2023. “I didn’t end up matching with that blood cancer patient, but two or three months later I was contacted by Anthony Nolan who told me I was a match for another,” Craister said. “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.” Saying yes was immediate. “I wouldn’t feel right saying no to the opportunity to help someone,” he explained. “If you’ve got a chance to help another person I don’t see why you wouldn’t do everything you could.” Craister said the decision was made even clearer because one of his colleagues was also waiting for a transplant at the time. The initial test was simple — some personal details and a cheek swab, coordinated by the charity Race Against Blood Cancer. Months later, when he was told he was a match, he underwent a peripheral blood stem cell collection (PBSC). “I was pleasantly surprised by how simple and seamless the entire process was,” he said. While keeping his arm in one position for hours caused some discomfort, he described the procedure as “overall quite manageable.” “It’s amazing to think that such a straightforward process has saved a life,” Craister added. Meanwhile, Davies is still searching for his match. Race Against Blood Cancer says around 2,000 people in the UK are currently waiting for stem cell donors. For Craister, the message is simple: sometimes, helping can be as easy as being in the right place — and saying yes.
Score (96)
This Adventurer Received an Honorary Degree After Running the Length Of Africa
Russ Cook, the endurance athlete known as the Hardest Geezer, has been awarded an honorary Master of Sport degree from the University of Chichester. The 28-year-old from Worthing, West Sussex, gained worldwide attention after running the entire length of Africa, a feat he completed in April last year. The journey took 352 days and covered more than 16,400 km, raising over £1 million for charity. Cook said receiving the honorary degree was “a big honour and not something that I thought would ever come my way.” He added that the lessons from his challenge go far beyond the finish line. “I’ve learnt that I’m more capable than I ever gave myself credit for. All of my successes have been built on failure and learning from it. Don’t be scared of it, it’s all part of the process. When you fail, dust yourself off and try again.” Speaking directly to this year’s graduates, Cook offered advice rooted in his own experience: “My advice to students is don’t be scared to fail and keep attacking life with as much passion as you can.” Cook’s run began at South Africa’s southernmost point on 22 April 2023 and ended in Tunisia, more than 10,000 miles to the north. Along the way, he faced visa complications, illness, geopolitical unrest, and even an armed robbery. Despite the setbacks, he completed the extreme challenge and inspired followers around the world. Since returning, he has launched a travel company designed to help others experience adventure on their own terms. Cook has also tackled endurance runs in New Zealand and Iceland, but says his Africa expedition taught him the most. “It’s not so much about the achievement but about the journey along the way,” he said.
Score (98)
'Shed Enthusiasts' Transformed an Old Playhouse Into a Favorite Retreat for School Children
What started as a rotting wooden playhouse left in a field has been given a second life — and is now delighting schoolchildren in the UK. The playhouse was rescued and restored by the Looe Shedders, a group of shed enthusiasts who spent two years repairing the tiny structure before installing it at Trenode Primary Academy. “Seeing the kids really enjoying [their new Wendy house] is worth all the agony we went through to renovate it,” said Peter Heywood of the Looe Shedders. Head teacher Beth Pike said the children had already taken to it enthusiastically. “It’s a very big hit,” she said, noting that both girls and boys were enjoying the new play space. “They love all the details in it. There are seats in there, the bunting, and I think the biggest favourite is definitely the door with the window through it.” She added that beyond fun, the Wendy house gives pupils “an outdoor imaginary area” that also helps them develop language skills. The project is part of the broader “Men’s Sheds” movement, which creates spaces for people of any gender to “connect, converse and create.” In addition to the playhouse, the Looe Shedders have also built a playground tractor for Trenode, a mural for Hillcrest Nursing Home, and a playground bus for Looe Primary Academy. Heywood said the group managed the restoration in a temporary workshop but is now hoping to find a more permanent home for future community projects. For the children at Trenode, the shed’s revival has already paid off — a once-forgotten playhouse has become a treasured part of their daily adventures.
Score (98)
Blooming Bus Stops: This City is Leading The U.S. With Its Green Roofs Initiative
ChatGPT said: A simple bus stop might not look like a game-changer. But in Boston, it just might be. Last summer, the city became the first in the U.S. to roll out “green bus shelters” — low-profile transit stations topped with living roofs designed to beat the heat, support pollinators, and soak up stormwater. The idea started in the Netherlands and has spread across Europe. Now it’s gaining traction in North America. Boston’s pilot included 30 shelters along Route 28, one of the city’s busiest bus corridors and a line that runs through neighborhoods hit hardest by extreme heat. The goal? Use everyday infrastructure to tackle some of the city’s biggest climate challenges — and make the daily commute a little greener, literally. “These green roofs on bus shelters are not just a representation of Boston’s progress on sustainability,” Mayor Michelle Wu said when the project launched. “They are a practical, scalable solution to some of the most pressing challenges we face as a city.” The shelters are built with layered roof panels that include drainage systems, a thin layer of soil, and drought-resistant plants like Sedum, which can survive Boston’s winters. Together, these green roofs provide shade, reduce surface temperatures, and help capture rainfall that would otherwise flood city drains. Zoe Davis, senior climate resilience project manager with the Climate Ready Boston team, said each shelter can absorb up to 1,500 gallons of water during a one-inch rainfall. She called the project “a small step with big potential.” “What if the key to a cooler, more livable future can be found in the places we pass by every day?” Davis said during a TEDxTalk about the project. “It’s small steps like growing living roofs on bus shelters that can compound and ripple into big impacts.” Boston’s green shelters were made possible through a mix of public and private collaboration. Local firm Social Impact Collective led the design. Weston Nurseries supplied the plants. YouthBuild Boston — a nonprofit that trains underserved young people in construction and design — helped with installation. “The number of public and private partners involved in this project demonstrates the all-of-government approach this administration has taken to enhancing sustainability, livability, and justice,” said Oliver Sellers-Garcia, Boston’s Green New Deal director. And the effort could grow. If green roofs were added to all 8,000 bus shelters across Boston, the city estimates it would create about 17 acres of green space — the equivalent of 13 football fields. Though still early, Boston’s results will be closely watched. Studies in other cities have already shown promise. In Montreal, thermal imaging found that green-roofed shelters were significantly cooler than standard ones. In Utrecht, the Netherlands, nearly 500 “bee-line” bus shelters have helped stabilize local pollinator populations. Similar projects are now being planned in parts of Maryland, with proposals underway in Arlington, Virginia and New York City. The message is clear: Green infrastructure doesn’t always need to be massive. Sometimes, it can be as modest as the roof over your head — or the one above your bus stop.
Score (97)
A Surprise Solar Storm Just Sparked Stunning Auroras Across The US
Aurora enthusiasts got an unexpected treat this past weekend as a surprise geomagnetic storm dazzled the skies across the U.S. The unexpected event, driven by a peculiar feature in the sun known as a coronal hole, lit up the night with stunning displays of northern lights. Space weather physicist Tamitha Skov shared insights into the phenomenon on her YouTube channel. She explained that most experts had been monitoring larger solar eruptions for potential geomagnetic activity. Instead, it was a seemingly insignificant coronal hole that stole the show. "The source of the big solar storm is due to this coronal hole right here," Skov said. This particular coronal hole had an unusual twist—a hidden "island" of positive polarity—that transformed what could have been a minor storm into an impressive G3-level spectacle. Initially, forecasters anticipated only minor to moderate geomagnetic storms from this butterfly-shaped coronal hole. But when the solar wind hit Earth’s magnetic field, it sparked far more intense auroras than expected. Geomagnetic storms are graded from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme). The surprise G3 storm took scientists by surprise but thrilled skywatchers everywhere. Auroras occur when charged particles from the sun interact with Earth's atmosphere, causing gases like oxygen and nitrogen to emit light. These interactions create colorful displays that attract both amateur and professional photographers eager to capture their beauty. Photographers across America wasted no time documenting these breathtaking sights. Ross Harried snapped vibrant green and purple auroras over Monroe, Wisconsin, while Hasan Akbas captured stunning green hues against Anchorage's night sky in Alaska. Images poured in from places like Casper, Wyoming, thanks to Andrew Towne’s lens capturing both auroras and the Milky Way. In New York, Tony Rodriguez shared vivid red and green pillars above Seneca Lake on social media platform X: "Spectacular #aurora on the southern shore of Seneca Lake in NY! The structures were visible to the naked eye." Pavilion local Joshua Grisewood also expressed his awe at witnessing such unexpected beauty right outside his door: "Awesome surprise Aurora here in New York!" Even Texas saw action during this rare occurrence; Blake Brown posted online about catching glimpses of northern lights mixed with lightning strikes nearby: "Northern lights made an appearance down to Texas tonight!" Gabe Zago echoed similar sentiments, saying how unforgettable witnessing auroras competing alongside lightning truly felt: "Bro, this day will be impossible to beat forever."