Scroll For More
Score (96)
This Man Created a Walking Group to Destigmatize Mental Health For Men
The Proper Blokes Club is a group of men who walk together to talk about their feelings and support each other through tough times. The group was started by Scott Oughton-Johnson, who wanted to create a safe space for men to talk about their mental health. The group has grown quickly, and now has walk leaders in different boroughs of London. The group has made a difference in the lives of its members, helping them to form lasting friendships and providing support during difficult times.
Score (98)
Grade School Teacher Dances for Six Days to Break World Record
When Carrie Swidecki stepped into an arcade 25 years ago, she had no idea she was about to change her life — and the record books. At 49, the California grade school teacher holds the Guinness World Record for the longest video game marathon ever after dancing for an astonishing 138 hours straight on Just Dance. She’s broken 13 dance-related records since 2011 and has even been inducted into the International Video Game Hall of Fame. Her obsession began in the summer of 2000, when she was 24 and struggling with her weight and confidence. “My mindset at the time was that my best years of my life were when I was an athlete in high school,” she told Guinness. Then one day, while walking past an arcade after buying a donut, she noticed Dance Dance Revolution flashing on a nearby screen. Curious, she gave it a try. “I quickly died after 10 steps and some guy came up to me and pointed at me and said, ‘You suck,’ because I was a woman and obese,” she recalled. “This moment struck a nerve with me and set me off on a journey to master the game. I had enough with people laughing at me due to my weight and I decided to fight back.” From that day on, she went back to the arcade every single day to practice. Within months, she placed third in a tournament and lost 34 kilograms in the process. What started as a personal challenge soon became a mission. “Age is truly just a number,” she said. “The impossible is possible if you have the courage to chase your dreams.” Swidecki now trains 45 hours a week and continues to use video game dancing to push her limits. In 2015, she officially claimed the Guinness record for the longest overall video game marathon, dancing for nearly six days straight. Now, she’s aiming even higher: “I’m on a journey to make history at the 2027 inaugural Olympic Esports Games in Saudi Arabia at the age of 51 years old, where I hope to break my iconic 138 hours Just Dance Guinness World Records title live on the global stage of the Olympics,” she said. She hopes her story motivates people of all ages to believe in themselves. “At 49 years old I am in the best shape of my life thanks to gaming and dancing,” she said. “I hope to show that strength and endurance comes in all shapes, sizes and ages.” Outside the spotlight, Swidecki teaches fourth grade and integrates her passion for movement into her classroom. She runs afterschool programs where kids play dance-based video games to stay active, and she’s now working to launch an elementary esports league for her school district. Her message to her students — and to anyone watching — is simple: it’s never too late to start something new, and determination can outlast even the toughest critics.
Score (95)
Woman, 53, Becomes Uk's Longest Survivor Of Heart And Lung Transplant
At 15, doctors feared Katie Mitchell wouldn’t live to see adulthood. Her heart and lungs were failing from a rare congenital condition known as Eisenmenger syndrome, which causes dangerously high blood pressure in the lungs and leads to irreversible heart and lung damage. That was nearly four decades ago. Today, at 53, Mitchell is the UK’s longest-surviving heart and lung transplant recipient — and proof of how far organ donation can go in transforming lives. Mitchell received her combined heart and lung transplant at Royal Papworth Hospital in September 1987, a procedure so rare that only about five are carried out in the UK each year. “Thanks to organ donation, I was given the gift of a normal life,” she said. She still doesn’t know much about her donor — only that she was a young woman. “I think about my donor a lot, especially on the anniversary of the transplant,” Mitchell said. “I think about their family and what their family must have felt at the time. I am so grateful.” Living for 38 years after such a complex procedure is remarkable. Many patients are told they might expect only five to 10 years after a heart-lung transplant. “It’s quite difficult to put into words how it feels to know I am now the longest-lived heart-lung recipient in the UK,” she said. “It’s mixed feelings. People I know who had the same transplant have passed away in front of me, but it’s a blessing and amazing to feel I’ve had all this extra time.” She believes her success may partly come down to how her body has responded to the medications that keep her immune system from rejecting the organs. “Perhaps the immunosuppressants suit me well,” she said. “Everybody has so many different reactions to the medications, and everyone has their own regimen.” Mitchell’s transplant continues to function well, even after two additional kidney transplants — both from deceased donors — in 1994 and 2015. Now living in Sidcup, south-east London, she’s using her story to encourage others to sign up as organ donors. “I went to an event at Papworth and there were a couple of young women who had their heart-lung transplants recently,” she said. “I think it did them good and their parents good to see how long I and other people have lived. To be able to see me and other people who had lived for many years made a big difference to them.” There are currently more than 8,000 people on the UK transplant waiting list, including 12 waiting for a heart and lung transplant. Mitchell hopes her story gives them hope. “I think my story is just proof that organ donation and transplantation do work and you can live a normal life,” she said. Her surgeon, Marius Berman, the surgical lead for transplant at Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It’s fantastic to see Katie continuing to live life to the full, 38 years on from her transplant. To see it succeed so profoundly is a testament to the skill of many NHS teams, the generosity of donors and the resilience of patients like Katie.” “Her journey offers real hope to others currently waiting for transplants and reminds us all of the importance of organ donation,” he added.
Get even more good news on the free app!
Score (97)
How Independent Theaters are Thriving With Community And Creativity Amid Industry Challenges
For generations, movie theaters have been places of laughter, escape, and community. But with streaming reshaping habits and ticket prices climbing, small independent cinemas are finding that survival requires more than nostalgia — it demands reinvention. Kevin Smith’s big-screen rescue In Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, filmmaker Kevin Smith — the mind behind Clerks and Mallrats — stepped in to save the very theater where his love of movies began. He bought the struggling venue in 2022, renamed it Smodcastle Cinemas, and transformed it into a hub for film lovers. “I learned more about myself sitting in this theater than I ever did sitting in a classroom or church,” Smith said. “It led me to the rest of my life.” But running a movie theater, even for a Hollywood name, proved no easy feat. “Saving my childhood theater with my friends? Dream come true, worst financial investment I ever made in my life,” he joked. To keep the doors open, Smith turned Smodcastle into a nonprofit, hosting celebrity Q&As, special screenings, and a yearly film festival. “If we operated as a for-profit business,” he said, “we would die.” From video store to community landmark Across the country in Los Angeles, another beloved film institution has found new life. Vidiots, which began in 1985 as a Santa Monica video rental store, reopened in 2023 in the Eagle Rock neighborhood — this time inside the restored Eagle Theater. “We opened to uncertainty,” said executive director Maggie MacKay. “We had no idea if people would come — and they did. And they’ve been coming ever since.” Vidiots still rents movies, but it also screens new releases and cult favorites. Most importantly, it’s become a gathering place for young people. “Teens, tweens are getting dropped off by their parents,” MacKay said. “Because this place is affordable and welcoming and nonjudgmental and safe, they are coming here all the time.” One kid, she added with a laugh, calls it “my video store.” “That kid has no idea how rare that is in the 2020s,” MacKay said. Like Smodcastle, Vidiots operates as a nonprofit, built on the idea that access to movies — and the sense of belonging they bring — matters as much as profit margins. A new model in Manhattan In New York City, however, success has taken a different shape. Metrograph, a two-screen theater on the Lower East Side, has found financial footing as a for-profit venue. It caters to fans of arthouse and international cinema and has grown into a cultural destination with a bookstore, a magazine, a streaming service, and a stylish restaurant and bar. “People love going to the movies and people love the experience,” said CEO Christian Grass, who said Metrograph recently celebrated its best summer ever. The key, said programming director Inge de Leeuw, is community. “We’ve built a space where people don’t just see a movie — they connect.” Keeping the lights on Whether nonprofit or boutique business, all three venues share the same mission: keeping the magic of moviegoing alive. “Everybody wants movies in their lives, whether they realize it or not,” said MacKay. “To save this thing, you have to make available every point of access for it. You have to make a return to a social experience.” For Smith, that shared experience is what matters most. “You want to learn something about somebody? Sit in the darkness and watch movies with them,” he said. “You’ll find out if they’re empathetic, what makes them laugh, if there’s a real human being there — if there’s a heart underneath it all.” In an era of streaming solitude, these theaters remind audiences of what cinema has always been about: people, stories, and the quiet joy of watching them together in the dark.
Score (97)
Conservationists Celebrate Discovery Of a Thriving Red Squirrel Colony
Conservationists in North Yorkshire are celebrating what they’re calling a “super-exciting” breakthrough: the discovery and growth of a rare colony of red squirrels in a sitka spruce plantation in the western Yorkshire Dales. The colony was first identified in January by Julie Bailey from the UK Squirrel Accord (UKSA), a partnership of forestry and conservation groups. Since then, volunteers, scientists, and local landowners have been working together to monitor and protect the animals — and the results have been better than anyone expected. “We’re now finding evidence of new squirrels in all directions from the plantation,” Bailey said. “They’ve been spotted up to six miles away.” So far, 16 red squirrels have been confirmed in the area, a significant number for a species that’s been all but wiped out in most of England. “I’m very encouraged by the squirrels’ persistence and breeding success,” Bailey said. A growing movement The discovery has sparked the creation of the Yorkshire Dales Red Squirrel Alliance, a volunteer network formed earlier this year that now includes more than 40 active members. Their work ranges from maintaining feeders during food shortages to monitoring movements and managing populations of invasive grey squirrels — the main threat to reds. But Bailey says protecting the animals isn’t just up to experts. “When people are walking in woodlands and spot a squirrel, it’s vital they report the sighting,” she said. “It helps us track population densities and stay vigilant about any greys.” She also cautioned against human interference. “It is absolutely essential that the public don’t encourage the hand feeding of squirrels,” she said. “It makes red squirrels tame and puts them at greater risk of disease transmission.” Expanding territory Recent sightings near the West Yorkshire border suggest the reds are pushing beyond the plantation, exploring new territory in surrounding forests. Preliminary surveys have found activity near the plantation’s northern edge, indicating the animals are establishing a wider habitat. Bailey said that greater cooperation with landowners would be key to the colony’s future. “The more land access we have, the more squirrel range and sightings we can document,” she said. Red squirrels are native to the UK but have been in steep decline for more than a century, largely due to habitat loss and competition from North American grey squirrels, which also spread a virus fatal to reds. England’s remaining red squirrel population is estimated at fewer than 40,000. A model for recovery For conservationists, the thriving colony in North Yorkshire offers a rare success story — and a potential blueprint for other regions. The UK Squirrel Accord hopes to replicate the project’s community-driven model across the country. “We just want red squirrels everywhere in the natural environment — healthy, wild and free,” Bailey said. With evidence of breeding and a growing range, the Dales’ new squirrel stronghold may mark the beginning of a small but significant comeback for one of Britain’s most beloved native species.
Score (98)
These Longtime Pen Pals Just Met In Person After 50 Years Of Letters
Two women who began writing to each other as pen pals nearly 50 years ago have finally met face to face. Jane Bean, from Sittingbourne in Kent, and Debbie Houschild, from New Jersey, were matched in the early 1970s through a cross-Atlantic pen pal initiative between a UK magazine and an American children’s TV show. Since then, the two have exchanged letters for five decades — but had never met in person until this summer. In August, Houschild flew to London, where the lifelong friends finally hugged for the first time. “It just felt so normal, natural, like we already knew about each other,” Bean told BBC Radio Kent. “It was just like meeting up with any of my other old friends.” The two were originally connected when Houschild signed up through Big Blue Marble, a children’s program that encouraged kids to write to peers around the world. Bean believes her name was entered through the magazine Look-in, though she admits, “I can’t remember who wrote to who first.” She also recalled how different communication was back then. “It was early ’70s, so even the thought of going to somewhere like the States was a pipe dream,” Bean said. “I just remember this awful airmail stationery that my mum used to get for me that was like writing on tracing paper.” The pair bonded over their teenage obsessions — music, movie stars, and crushes. Houschild even brought a Bay City Rollers T-shirt from the U.S. when they met, a nod to Bean’s favorite band at the time. There was one memorable early phone call, too. Bean said she once tried to call Houschild by asking the international operator for her number — but instead got through to her grandmother, who lived next door. “It was a very pleasant surprise, of course, but I was so surprised,” Houschild laughed. Though life and distance made it harder to stay in touch over the years, they never lost contact. “We’ve always kept up some way,” Houschild said. Now, after their first meeting, both women say they hope it won’t be their last. Bean said she’d “never say never” to a return trip to the U.S., and Houschild added, “I would love to come back.” After half a century of letters, their friendship has proven that the best pen pals really can become lifelong friends.
Score (96)
Greece's Famed Parthenon Stands Free Of Scaffolding For First Time In Decades
For the first time in decades, visitors to Athens can now enjoy a clear, unobstructed view of the Parthenon — free of scaffolding. The massive restoration framework that had surrounded parts of the ancient temple for nearly 20 years was removed in late September, offering tourists a rare, uninterrupted look at the Acropolis’s most famous monument. The Parthenon, a marble temple dedicated to the goddess Athena and built in the 5th century BCE, is one of the most recognizable structures in the world. For much of the past two centuries, though, some part of it has always been under repair or covered by scaffolding. Now, according to Greece’s Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, this is the first time in about 200 years that the Parthenon’s exterior has been completely free of scaffolding on any side. “It is like they are seeing a different, a completely different monument,” she said in an interview with Skai radio. The cleared western façade — widely considered the best street-level view — has drawn special attention from visitors walking along the pedestrian promenade that wraps around the Acropolis Hill. Many have paused to admire the full symmetry and detail of the Parthenon, unobstructed for the first time in living memory. But the clear view won’t last forever. Conservation work on the temple is ongoing, and new scaffolding will be installed on the western side within the next month. Mendoni said the next phase of restoration will use lighter, more discreet scaffolding “aesthetically much closer to the logic of the monument.” The latest round of work is expected to be completed by early summer 2026. When it’s finished, Mendoni said, “the Parthenon will be completely freed of this scaffolding too, and people will be able to see it truly free.” The Acropolis remains Greece’s most visited site, drawing around 4.5 million people in 2024, according to the country’s statistical authority. For those walking its ancient paths today, the brief, unfiltered view of the Parthenon feels like seeing history unveiled.
Score (98)
Scientists Develop Stronger Wood Using Iron, Paving the Way For Sustainable Construction
Scientists in Florida may have just changed the future of construction — by giving ordinary wood a serious upgrade. Researchers at Florida Atlantic University say they’ve found a way to make hardwood stronger and more durable by adding a small amount of iron compound to it. The discovery, detailed in ACS Publications and reported by Technology Networks, could open the door to greener, lighter, and cheaper building materials. The study focused on lignocellulose, a component that gives wood and other plants their structure. Scientists have long tried to tweak it chemically to make stronger or more sustainable materials. This time, researchers from FAU’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, working with the University of Miami and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, tried something new — reinforcing red oak with a mineral called nanocrystalline iron oxyhydroxide. Their goal was to make the wood more durable without making it heavier, more expensive, or less sustainable. “Wood, like many natural materials, has a complex structure with different layers and features at varying scales,” said study author and FAU assistant professor Vivian Merk. “To truly understand how wood bears loads and eventually fails, it's essential to examine it across these different levels.” Merk’s team tested the modified wood using vibrations to measure elasticity and stickiness, then used nanoidentification tests to see how it performed under bending and stress. The results showed that the wood became stronger — and it only gained a small fraction of extra weight. “By looking at wood at different levels — from the microscopic structures inside the cell walls all the way up to the full piece of wood — we were able to learn more about how to chemically improve natural materials for real-world use,” Merk said. FAU’s dean of engineering, Stella Batalama, called the finding “a significant advancement in sustainable materials science.” “By reinforcing natural wood through environmentally conscious and cost-effective methods, our researchers are laying the groundwork for a new generation of bio-based materials that have the potential to replace traditional materials like steel and concrete in structural applications,” Batalama said. That could have a huge environmental impact. Concrete and steel production are among the world’s largest sources of carbon emissions. Cement manufacturing alone consumes enormous amounts of water and releases harmful pollution. Wood, meanwhile, is renewable and absorbs carbon as trees grow. It’s already being used in some of the most forward-looking construction projects. In Japan, engineers recently completed a wooden high-rise — part of a growing trend toward using timber in large-scale urban buildings. Other researchers are developing fire- and water-resistant wood to make such projects even safer. The FAU team’s findings could take that progress even further by making wood strong enough to replace traditional materials in more demanding structures. “The impact of this work reaches far beyond the field of engineering,” Batalama said. “It contributes to global efforts to reduce carbon emissions, cut down on waste, and embrace sustainable, nature-inspired solutions for everything from buildings to large-scale infrastructure.” If it holds up outside the lab, this strengthened wood could mark a turning point — a way to build stronger cities without breaking the planet.
Score (94)
Butter and Sneakers: An Unlikely Partnership Feeds and Supports Food Bank Workers
Food banks across the United States have long been a lifeline for millions of families struggling to make ends meet. They don’t just distribute food; they’re often the only place where people can find essentials like diapers, toiletries, and clothing. But as the number of Americans facing food insecurity rises—44 million at last count—those lifelines are becoming strained. With government programs tightening and donations dropping, pantries are struggling to keep their shelves stocked. And when supplies run out, families go without. That’s why Land O’Lakes and Clove are joining forces this holiday season, teaming up to deliver a little extra comfort to communities that need it most. It’s an unexpected pairing: a farmer-owned dairy cooperative and a modern footwear company. But both brands share a focus on everyday comfort and care—one through food, the other through shoes designed for people who spend their days on their feet. Dairy products, it turns out, are among the most requested but least donated items at food banks nationwide. They’re rich in nutrients like calcium, potassium, and vitamin D—three of the four key nutrients many low-income households lack. And they’re especially valued during the holidays, when butter, milk, and cream become the foundation for countless family recipes. Shoes, meanwhile, are another quiet necessity. Nearly 96 million Americans work in jobs that require them to stand for hours, from nurses and caregivers to warehouse workers and kitchen staff. For them, comfort isn’t a luxury—it’s survival. "We are so excited to collaborate with Clove Shoes and take a moment to celebrate the color of the moment, but also our everyday favorite, butter yellow," said Heather Anfang, president of Land O'Lakes Dairy Foods. "As a company who shares our values of community, hard work and comfort, we are thrilled for the launch of their shoe but also for our shared donation to those in need in an important area for our two brands in Philadelphia." The collaboration has already resulted in tangible impact. Together, the two companies have donated dozens of sneakers and more than 3,750 pounds of butter to Philabundance, one of Philadelphia’s largest food banks and a member of Feeding America’s nationwide network. Clove, which is based in Philadelphia, also provided 88 pairs of shoes to students at the Philabundance Community Kitchen—a free workforce development program that helps people build skills for a better future. "As a Philadelphia-based brand, we’re proud to give back to the community we call home—nourishing our city and supporting those who care every day," said Jordyn Amoroso, co-founder and CBO of Clove. For families heading into a difficult winter, the impact goes beyond butter and sneakers. It’s about nourishment, dignity, and a reminder that comfort can take many forms—sometimes in a warm meal, sometimes in a good pair of shoes. Partnerships like this show how two very different companies can come together to help their communities—and prove that giving back can still be one of the most powerful ingredients in any recipe for change.
Score (98)
High School Team Returns Trophy, Declares Opponent the True Winner in Act of Sportsmanship
In a remarkable act of honesty and sportsmanship, a high school basketball team in Oklahoma City has voluntarily given up their championship title after realizing their victory was a mistake. The girls’ team from the Academy of Classical Christian Studies thought they had clinched the division championship last season with a dramatic buzzer-beater, edging out Apache High School 44–43. But when head coach Brendan King reviewed the game footage later that night, something didn’t add up. “As soon as I walked out of the locker room, my stomach kind of turned into knots,” King told CBS News. “I said, ‘I’m going to need to know if we really won this game or not.’” After carefully rewatching each play, King realized the scoreboard had been off — the actual score was 43–42, meaning Apache had been the true winner. “It really tore me to pieces,” he said. Under league rules, the result couldn’t be officially changed after the game ended. Still, when King told his players what he had found, their reaction left him deeply moved. Together, the team decided to give back their championship plaque and ask that the title be awarded to Apache High instead. The league agreed, and King personally delivered the plaque to Apache’s coach, Amy Merriweather. “It showed us there are still good people in this world,” Merriweather said. “It’s something we’ll always remember.” For Coach King, the lesson was far bigger than basketball. “It’s not about winning a game,” he said. “It’s about doing what’s right — even when it costs you something.”
Score (97)
Dozens of Drivers Lift Crashed Helicopter to Save Trapped Paramedic After Sacramento Freeway Accident
A terrifying moment on a Sacramento freeway turned into an extraordinary act of teamwork Monday evening when dozens of drivers stopped their cars to help rescue a trapped paramedic after a medical helicopter crash on State Route 50. The REACH Air Medical helicopter had just left a nearby hospital after transporting a patient when it experienced an in-air emergency and went down east of downtown Sacramento. Smoke was pouring from the wreckage when bystanders rushed toward it. Sacramento Fire Capt. Peter Vandersluis was one of the first on scene. Seeing that a paramedic was pinned beneath the helicopter, still buckled into her seat, he yelled for help — and about 15 to 20 strangers immediately surrounded the aircraft. “When I shouted ‘lift,’ they lifted. When I said ‘hold,’ they held,” Vandersluis told the Associated Press. “They didn’t hesitate — they just followed my commands, and we were able to lift it up with ease.” As the group held the aircraft steady, a firefighter crawled underneath, cut the woman’s seat belt, and pulled her out to safety. “As soon as I saw people pushing the helicopter, I just ran over and got in line,” said witness Aimee Braddock. “We held it for several minutes so the first responder could get the person out.” Fire officials called it a miracle that no one — including motorists on the busy highway — was injured. Witnesses Kenneth and Terry De Crescenzo described the rescue as “being in the right place at the right time.” Kenneth helped lift the helicopter while Terry captured the dramatic moment on video. Authorities are investigating what caused the crash, but for those who helped, the night will be remembered not for disaster, but for the unity that followed — a highway full of strangers who refused to stand by.