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Watch: This Pilot Went the Extra Mile to Retrieve a Passenger's Lost Phone
When a Southwest Airlines passenger accidentally left their phone at Long Beach Airport, the staff quickly worked together to ensure it was returned to its owner. In a video shared by the airline, a pilot is seen leaning out of the cockpit window in a bid to retrieve it from ramp workers on the ground. The flight had already been boarded and pushed back by the time the passenger realized the phone had been left at the gate, but thanks to the pilot and ground crew going above and beyond, the passenger was reunited with their phone.
Score (98)
Heroic Neighbor Uses Sledgehammer To Rescue Wheelchair-Bound Woman From Burning Home
In a moment of crisis, one Arlington Heights resident didn’t wait for help to arrive—he became it. On the morning of Tuesday, February 3rd, a house fire broke out in the Illinois suburb with two elderly residents trapped inside. The 90-year-old husband was able to escape the flames, but his wife, 85, was still stuck inside, unable to move from her wheelchair. Desperate to save her, the man reportedly tried to reenter the burning home but had to be physically restrained by neighbors. The fire department had already been called—but time was running out. That’s when another neighbor, still unidentified, stepped up with a sledgehammer. Smashing through the door, the neighbor made it inside and emerged moments later carrying the woman in his arms. All three—the couple and their heroic neighbor—were taken to the hospital as a precaution and later discharged. “We want to recognize and commend the quick thinking and decisive action taken by one of our Arlington Heights residents that helped save a life,” said officials from the Arlington Heights Fire Department in a statement. “This situation serves as an important reminder that every second matters. The willingness of a community member to step in and help before first responders arrive can make all the difference.” The fire department praised the resident’s bravery and composure, calling him an example of the kind of neighborly care that defines their community. “We are proud to serve a community that looks out for one another,” the department added, “and we thank this resident for their actions when it mattered most.”
Score (97)
Women in Tech Pushes Forward at Web Summit Qatar as Female-Led Innovation Gains Ground
A decade after launching its Women in Tech programme, Web Summit is starting to see results—and not just in the numbers. At this year’s Web Summit Qatar, a 7 percent rise in women-founded startups was recorded, marking what many called a clear signal of progress. Participation among female founders in Qatar alone jumped from 31 percent in 2024 to 38 percent in 2025, according to Dima Wahbeh, Deputy Country Manager of Web Summit Qatar. “Globally, we’ve seen an increase in women’s participation at our events,” Wahbeh told Euronews. “Looking at Qatar specifically, we saw an increase in terms of female founders... it shows we’re on the right path.” The Women in Tech programme, first launched in 2015, was designed to address the gender gap in technology and entrepreneurship. Over the years, it’s grown into a platform for mentorship, networking, and access—connecting rising female talent with global leaders in AI, business, and innovation. That access was on full display in Doha, where women like IBM’s Justina Nixon-Saintil and Lumo Hubs’ Anie Akpe took the stage to lead discussions on artificial intelligence, access, and opportunity. For Nixon-Saintil, the future of work will belong to those who don’t just use AI but understand it. “Real workforce readiness is not just about access to tools,” she said. “It means having AI fluency and understanding how AI impacts your role.” To help build that fluency, IBM has been scaling up its free SkillsBuild platform, partnering with schools, universities, and nonprofits to deliver AI training that leads to credentials and, crucially, real jobs. “Seeing people move into new jobs because we’ve upskilled them... that’s where we see actual lives being changed,” Nixon-Saintil said. At the Summit, IBM announced a partnership with Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to launch a global request for proposals under its Impact Accelerator—part of a growing commitment to workforce development through tech. Anie Akpe, meanwhile, focused on inclusion as a driver of innovation. Through her African Women in Technology initiative, she’s spent the past 10 years helping young women across Africa get free training in AI and cybersecurity. The mission, she said, is to ensure women at every level—from tech labs to local markets—have the tools to grow their businesses. “AI is not going to be a complete solution for a lot of organisations, but AI will be a tool,” Akpe said. “It will give you the opportunities that you need.” She hopes the tech won’t remain exclusive or intimidating. “Innovation doesn’t have to sit at a table they don’t understand,” she said. “The goal is that they can use it however they see fit—to build a website, reach new customers, or grow their income.” This year, one of the standout startups at Web Summit Qatar was founded by a woman who knows that feeling of exclusion all too well. Dr Golnoush Golsharazi, a molecular biologist with a PhD from Cambridge, started ScreenMe after years of being dismissed by doctors while struggling with health issues. “That really pushed me to ask: what’s wrong in the system?” she said. “We don’t have sufficient screening. We don’t have sufficient research in women’s health. We deserve better.” ScreenMe offers at-home testing kits to monitor the reproductive microbiome, aiming to prevent infections and fertility complications through better early detection. The startup was selected as one of the top 10 women-founded ventures at this year’s summit. “The good bacteria act like a gate to your house,” Dr Golsharazi explained. “When that gate is broken, harmful bacteria can grow, increasing risks like HPV infection, miscarriages and unexplained infertility.” The platform’s recognition was about more than a business pitch—it was a statement. “They allow women like me to stand up and say: I have something important to say and I want you to listen,” she said. As the gender gap in tech persists, the tone at Web Summit Qatar was far from complacent. But there’s growing momentum—and optimism—that things are starting to shift. “This is just the start,” said Dr Golsharazi. “The region will see growth in women-led innovation and especially in women’s health.”
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Score (96)
Lost Renaissance Masterpiece by Famed Woman Artist Discovered in North Carolina After a Century
A painting lost for over a century has been rediscovered in the most unexpected place: an estate in Durham, North Carolina. Portrait of a Canon Regular, a long-missing work by Sofonisba Anguissola—widely considered the most celebrated female artist of the Renaissance—was quietly hanging in a private collection until a YouTube lecture brought it back into the light. The painting, depicting a priest delivering a sermon from the Gospel of St. John, was last documented in 1920 through a black-and-white photograph. Then it vanished. For 104 years, its whereabouts were unknown. That changed recently, thanks to a lecture posted online by Michael Cole, an art historian at Columbia University. In the video, Cole spoke about Anguissola’s life and legacy. Watching from Durham, a pair of art collectors recognized something familiar in Cole’s description. They thought they might own one of her paintings. They reached out and invited Cole to see it in person. When he arrived, he confirmed what they had suspected: the painting was Portrait of a Canon Regular, a signed work by Anguissola from 1552, composed when she was just 20 years old. The portrait features a solemn priest mid-sermon with a spectral eagle—St. John the Evangelist’s symbolic creature—hovering faintly over his shoulder. And crucially, the painting includes Anguissola’s signature, a rarity among her surviving works. Anguissola, born into a noble family in Cremona, northern Italy, was a child prodigy who received formal training in painting—almost unheard of for women at the time. She gained fame for her expressive, highly detailed portraits, eventually earning a position at the Spanish court of Philip II. There, she became lady-in-waiting to Queen Elisabeth of Valois and painted numerous portraits of the royal family. Her artistic skill impressed Giorgio Vasari, the famed biographer of Renaissance artists, who wrote: “[Anguissola] worked with deeper study and greater grace than any woman of our times at problems of design.” Though Anguissola was prolific, many of her works have been lost or misattributed over the centuries. Only about two dozen paintings bearing her signature are known today. Portrait of a Canon Regular now joins that list, adding valuable insight into her early career—before the rigid formalism of the Spanish court limited her creative freedom. Cole called the find extraordinary. The painting was recently shown to the public at the Winter Show, a prestigious art fair held at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City. It was listed for sale at $500,000. Born in 1532, Anguissola lived an extraordinary life. After her years in Madrid, she married Orazio Lomellino, the brother of the Viceroy of Sicily, and moved to Palermo. She lived into her 90s, an almost unheard-of lifespan for her era. Her husband, who adored her, inscribed a tribute on her tomb that read: “To Sofonisba, my wife, who is recorded among the illustrious women of the world, outstanding in portraying the images of man. Orazio Lomellino, in sorrow for the loss of his great love, in 1632, dedicated this little tribute to such a great woman.” The rediscovery of her painting is the latest in a series of high-profile art recoveries. A few years ago, a 17th-century Dutch masterpiece was found in an attic in Connecticut and later sold for $7 million. Like that find, this one offers a fresh chance to revisit the lives of overlooked artists—particularly women—who shaped art history despite being pushed to its margins. For Anguissola, this is a long-overdue return to the spotlight.
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Citizen Scientists Just Rediscovered This Rare South African Moth
A rare emerald-green moth last seen in the 1870s has been rediscovered in South Africa thanks to a team of citizen scientists and a few well-timed photographs. Drepanogynis insciata, known for its shimmering green wings tinged with red wine hues, was long believed extinct — until photos began surfacing online between 2020 and 2023. The discovery came through iNaturalist, a citizen science platform where observers uploaded images of the moth from four different locations near Swellendam. Until then, scientists only had two faded specimens collected in the 19th century and stored at the Natural History Museum in London. “It was quite an incredible feeling,” said South African lepidopterist Hermann Staude, who spotted the photos and confirmed the species’ identity. One of the moths was eventually captured and preserved for study by Finnish zoologist Pasi Sihvonen, who compared it to the original museum samples. “It’s difficult to describe how you feel when you see something you thought didn’t exist anymore,” he said. All of the rediscovered moths have been males, likely because they’re more mobile and drawn to light. Scientists are now working to identify the plant species their caterpillars rely on — a key step in conserving the moth and its fragile fynbos habitat. The find highlights the power of community science and technology to help protect even the smallest — and most overlooked — members of the ecosystem.
Score (96)
Young Boy Unearths Ancient Fossil During Family Outing
In a stroke of remarkable luck, 11-year-old Touren Pope stumbled upon a nearly 50-million-year-old fossil while rock hunting in Wyoming with his grandparents. What started as an ordinary day turned extraordinary when Touren's sharp eye spotted something unusual among the rocks. Out on public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in southwest Wyoming, Touren was initially just searching for interesting stones with Patti and Tom Patterson. His attention shifted from typical finds to something far more intriguing. "We went searching for rocks and found white, clam-like shells... I just got bored and it started doing weird stuff and I found it," he recounted to Wyoming News Now. Touren’s curiosity led him to a prehistoric turtle fossil that had been nestled in what used to be Lake Gosiute's ancient waters for about 48 million years. This region, now known as the Greater Green River Basin, was once a lush tropical area teeming with fish, crocodiles, and turtles. Recognizing their grandson's find as special, Patti and Tom sent a photo of the fossil to his mother, Tessa Patterson. She was astounded and immediately knew they had come across something significant. "It blew all of our minds," she told Wyoming Public Media. Following proper protocol, the family reported the discovery to BLM officials. The paleontology staff at Rock Springs Field Office quickly assessed the site. Museum specialist J.P. Cavigelli noted that within minutes they could see it was "a pretty complete turtle shell and worth collecting." The fossil was confirmed by BLM officials to be nearly complete and exceptionally well-preserved. Cavigelli identified it as a soft-shelled turtle species, related to those still seen today. He explained that if someone familiar with modern softshell turtles were to travel back in time 50 million years, they would recognize this creature instantly. Craig Thomas from BLM emphasized how critical timing is in such discoveries: fossils tend to degrade quickly once exposed at the surface. Touren didn’t just stop at finding the turtle; he also joined the excavation team to help uncover it further. As part of his reward for both discovering and reporting it properly, Touren received the privilege of naming his find "Little Timmy." "This discovery would not have been possible without Touren’s keen observation," stated a press release from BLM, praising him for responsibly reporting the find. The statement highlighted how public involvement plays a key role in preserving scientific resources on public lands. Now named Little Timmy, this ancient piece of history will be housed at the Tate Geological Museum where visitors can marvel at its story—and remember how an ordinary rock hunt turned into an extraordinary fossil discovery thanks to one observant young boy.
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Golden Retriever Helps 84-Year-Old Reconnect With Joy After Moving Into Care Home
When 84-year-old John Weller moved into Gillibrand Hall Care Home in Chorley, Lancashire, he struggled to adjust to life without his beloved dogs — Rocky the miniature schnauzer and Jovi the whippet. But everything changed when he met Dan, a golden retriever with a talent for lifting spirits. “I keep their photos in my bedroom and look at them often,” Weller said. “Seeing Dan makes me happy. Stroking him and feeding him treats reminds me of my own dogs. I look forward to Dan’s visits.” Staff at the care home say Weller was quiet and low in mood when he first arrived, missing the routines and companionship of his previous life. But they watched his confidence grow as he formed a gentle bond with Dan, who visits regularly. Dan’s owner, Fiona Hill, says her golden retriever has a gift for knowing just what each resident needs. “Dan is very gentle — albeit a bit giddy sometimes — and he seems to instinctively know how to respond to each resident,” she said. “Some even weep with joy when he arrives.” The visits don’t just offer comfort — they often spark stories, laughter, and emotional memories. “The residents love sharing stories about their own pets, which can be emotional at first, but often lead to happy conversations,” Hill added. The impact has been so profound that Dan was recently named “Employee of the Month” at the home. “For John, pet therapy isn't just about reducing anxiety — it’s about reconnecting with his passion for dogs and those happy memories,” said care home manager Kathy Spencer. “The bond they share brings him comfort and calm.” And for John, Dan’s visits are now the highlight of his week — a reminder of the dogs he’s loved, and the happiness that still lives in every tail wag.
Score (91)
'World's Loneliest Sheep Is Lonely No More' After Giving Birth to Twins
A sheep once dubbed the “world’s loneliest” has given birth to two healthy lambs. First-time mom Fiona made headlines in 2023 when she was rescued after being stranded in isolation for two years on a remote cliff in Scotland. Now the ewe has a family of her own. “The World’s Loneliest Sheep is lonely no more!” said Dalscone Farm, which gave Fiona a new home after her rescue. “Fiona has officially traded her title for ‘World’s Best Mum,’ and she is taking to her new role amazingly well,” the farm said, adding, “We couldn’t be prouder of her and these two healthy little lambs. Welcome to the world, little ones.” Dalscone Farm via Storyful
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Local Student Wins National Pun Championship With Clever Henry VIII Joke
A university student has taken the crown at this year’s UK Pun Championships after a night of rapid-fire wordplay and punchlines that had a Leicester audience in stitches. Adam Ernest Pickard, 22, emerged victorious at the 2026 showdown at De Montfort Hall, beating seven other comedians in a live pun-off held in a boxing-ring-style stage. The annual event, part of the Leicester Comedy Festival, is a highlight for lovers of clever one-liners and shameless groaners. Pickard, a Master's student in scriptwriting based in Norwich, said the win felt surreal. “It’s just very overwhelming, but very exciting as well,” he said. “It’s the biggest gig I’ve ever done and I’m very pleased there is a competition for something that I’m good at.” He had the audience laughing early with jokes like: “The song Greensleeves was composed by Henry VIII. I’d play some of it here, but it’s not royalty-free.” and “I’ve compiled everyone who works at my local takeaway pizza place into a book. It’s my Domino’s Who’s Who.” Another favourite: “Only women can use the herbal dumbbells. Thyme weights for no man.” Hosted by comedian Jason Byrne, the championships are known for their light-hearted intensity, with comedians battling it out in rounds themed around topics like history, food, or pop culture. Pickard, who was visiting Leicester for the first time, said the experience felt like “a very elaborate prank.” “I’ve always loved comedy,” he said. “One of the first comedians I really loved was Tim Vine, who of course is the pun master. I’d like to be part of the comedy world, and hopefully this is a stepping stone to get there.” Now in its 33rd year, the Leicester Comedy Festival features over 700 shows across 76 venues, with appearances from major names like Stephen Fry and Sue Perkins alongside rising talent. Michael Harris-Wakelam, chief executive of the Big Difference Company, which runs the festival, praised this year’s pun-off. “The skill on display this year was outstanding,” he said. “This event is a flagship of our festivals programme and celebrates and champions the art involved in great word play. Congratulations to all involved and to our worthy winner.” For Pickard, who just came for the gig, the trip ended with a title — and a few thousand more fans.
Score (98)
Still Bouncing at 91: Trampoline Champion Peter Quinney Wins Gold Again
At 91, Peter Quinney is still defying gravity — and expectations. The British trampolining champion and great-grandfather from Melksham, Wiltshire, has just added another gold medal to his collection after taking first place in his age category at a recent competition in Portsmouth. Decades after his first taste of gymnastics at school, Quinney’s passion for trampolining is stronger than ever. “I just enjoy it all,” he said. “With the coaching, it's like a little family at the club and somewhere I can share something I've been doing all my life.” Now a coach at a Salisbury trampoline club, Quinney traces his love of the sport back to his National Service in the Royal Air Force at age 18, where he trained as a physical training instructor. It was during that time that he first introduced trampolining to the RAF gymnastics display team. By 1960, Quinney had bounced his way to the top of the sport, winning gold at the British Championships just three years after the event was introduced. “At that time, I had the opportunity to train a lot and I managed to win the British Championship in 1960,” he said. “Being selected to represent Great Britain was absolutely great, smashing.” He went on to perform with the RAF team at Madison Square Garden in New York and at the Olympic stadium in Canada, later expanding his skills into parachuting. While stationed in Singapore, he introduced trampolining to schools and taught jungle and sea survival to troops. After retiring from the RAF, Quinney continued to shape the sport. He founded what became the Wiltshire School of Gymnastics, with a special focus on making the sport more inclusive for children with special needs. Now in his tenth decade, he still occasionally surprises his students by hopping on the trampoline to demonstrate a move. “I’ve passed the point where I can just leap on and demonstrate any skill,” he said, “but sometimes they can get a bit jealous when I do and demonstrate something they are finding difficult.” He’s also quick to acknowledge that mastering the trampoline comes with its knocks. “Fortunately I've never had any broken bones, just a few bumps and bruises — but you just get back on and try again when it goes wrong.” At an age when most are content to slow down, Quinney keeps moving — and keeps winning. “It can be exciting,” he said. “Especially when you achieve something that you didn't think you could even attempt, let alone achieve.”
Score (98)
UK's First Pickleball Scholarship Student Is Smashing Expectations
UK's First Pickleball Scholarship Student Is Smashing Expectations When Charlotte Pressley first picked up a pickleball paddle, she had no idea it would change her life — or make UK sports history. The 19-year-old from near Harlow, Essex, has become the first student in the UK to receive a university scholarship for pickleball, one of the world’s fastest-growing sports. Now in her first year studying sports coaching at Canterbury Christ Church University in Kent, Pressley says the award has opened doors she didn’t know existed. “I wasn't aware pickleball could get a scholarship because it's a new sport in the UK,” she told BBC Essex. “I got the scholarship and it's gone absolutely wild from there.” The scholarship not only supports her development as a player but also includes mentoring, nutritional guidance, and financial backing. “It helps me with my sport, but also stuff like mentoring, nutrition, and helps me financially too,” she said. Pressley recently won a bronze medal at the 2025 English Nationals in doubles alongside her coach and former tennis mentor, Mollie Knaggs. “She said, ‘I actually believe you can do this’ — and that's the confidence I needed to get myself to the professional side,” Pressley said. Pickleball blends elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. Played with solid paddles and a plastic ball on a smaller court, it limits the power of each shot, placing more focus on hand skills and strategy than raw strength or speed. Pressley’s love of the game began at her tennis club in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, where temporary pickleball courts were set up during the Covid-19 pandemic. After an injury sidelined her county-level tennis play at age 16, pickleball filled the gap. “I got addicted,” she said. “I’d played tennis since I was six, and then Covid hit… our coach put pickleball courts down in the mini courts and introduced me.” Now based in Canterbury, she’s joined a local pickleball club and has her sights set on international competition. But more than medals, she wants to grow the game itself — especially among young people. “There’s no real age bracket,” she said. “Families can do it, anybody can do it, and a lot of people who are retired play it. But youngsters are starting to come through, which is really nice to see.” Jemma Cullen, the university’s sports and active health delivery manager, said the school is proud to back Pressley’s rising career. “As a university that participates in pickleball, we are delighted to see she is excelling in the game both at regional and national level, and we are incredibly proud to support her continued success.” The university’s sports scholarship programme, now nearly two decades old, has supported athletes ranging from professional footballer Deanna Cooper to Kent cricket captain Megan Belt and Paralympic long jumper Desiree Bargiela. For Pressley, it all started with one question and one coach’s belief. Now, she’s not just making history — she’s making pickleball impossible to ignore.