Here's Why Having Friends of All Ages is Good For Your Health

What if the solution to loneliness was as simple as befriending someone from a different generation? According to research, intergenerational friendships can help curb loneliness, widen perspectives, and increase social inclusion. The benefits of intergenerational friendships go both ways – older adults are more likely to learn new skills and be open-minded when they befriend someone from a younger generation.

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Solar Panels Could Help Grow More Food, Not Less, According to Canadian Researchers

Solar farms are often criticized for taking up land that could be used to grow food. But new research suggests the panels might actually help crops grow better. A Canadian study found that farms combining solar panels and agriculture could boost global crop yields by hundreds of billions of pounds. The reason is something farmers know well: a little shade can go a long way. Researchers led by Prof Joshua Pearce at Western University in Ontario studied agrivoltaic systems, where crops grow beneath rows of solar panels. The panels create a cooler, more stable microclimate that protects plants from harsh weather. That shelter can reduce damage from heatwaves, hail and other extreme conditions. The shade also helps improve soil health and supports nutrient recycling in the ground. The surprising part of the study is that the benefit does not stop when the panels stop producing electricity. Pearce’s team found that even unpowered or decommissioned solar panels can continue helping crops simply by providing passive shade. According to the researchers’ modelling, this effect alone could increase global crop yields by about $580bn (£435bn). “Decommissioned or unpowered arrays should not be dismissed as obsolete but rather reconsidered as durable agronomic assets,” Pearce wrote. “These systems can continue to support soil conservation, reduce crop heat stress and sustain livestock grazing even beyond their energy-producing lifespans.” The findings add to a growing body of research suggesting that solar energy and agriculture do not have to compete for land. Instead, they can work together. Agrivoltaic systems allow farmers to produce food and electricity on the same fields. The panels generate renewable energy while the shaded ground below helps protect crops from increasingly volatile weather patterns. As climate change drives hotter summers and more extreme storms, that kind of protection could become even more valuable. For critics worried about solar farms swallowing farmland, the research points to a different possibility: the panels might end up helping feed the planet.

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Teen Trades Supermarket Job For Thriving Career As Spiderman Impersonator

Nate Frindall didn’t plan to become Spiderman. The 19-year-old from Dorking in Surrey was working at a supermarket when he decided to walk into a cinema wearing a Spiderman costume, just for fun. What happened next changed the way he thought about work. "When I walked in, someone shouted 'do a flip,'" he said. "I did one, and everyone started clapping." That moment sparked an idea. With encouragement from his parents, Frindall began performing as a superhero impersonator on evenings and weekends. Soon, the side gig paid better than his day job. The custom-made costume wasn’t cheap, but the investment paid off quickly. Frindall said he could earn the same amount in a single hour as Spiderman that he once made during an eight-hour shift at the supermarket. "When I got paid at the end of the month, it felt like it wasn't worth what I put in," he said of the supermarket job. "I was not happy there. Time went so slowly." So he quit. Now Frindall performs at events and parties, flipping, posing for photos and entertaining crowds dressed as the famous superhero. He is also planning to expand the business by hiring other performers. The work has opened doors to other interests too, including producing music and performing gigs. "I love having multiple jobs," Frindall said. "I don't have much interest in getting a nine-to-five." Frindall is part of a growing trend. Across the UK, more people are juggling multiple sources of income. Some do it for flexibility or creative freedom. Others say they feel they have little choice as living costs rise. Dr Matthew Cole, assistant professor of technology, work and employment at the University of Sussex, said many workers are turning to side hustles because stable jobs with predictable career paths have become harder to find. "If people earned higher wages and things cost less, they wouldn't be working as much," he said. He added that real wages have struggled to recover since the 2008 global financial crisis and that there are not as "many decent jobs" with long-term stability as in the past. "Side hustles are a coping mechanism," Cole said. Still, not everyone takes on extra work out of necessity. Amber Vellacott from Folkestone, Kent, said she chose the side-hustle life for variety. The art marketing consultant reduced her main job to part time and began freelancing in social media marketing while also pet sitting. The combination doubled her income and gave her a more varied routine. "One day I'm marketing to sell original Banksy works - the next I'm walking a dog and scooping a cat's litter tray," she said. For Vellacott, moving between different jobs breaks up the routine of a traditional workweek. "It is good to spice things up," she said. But juggling multiple roles also comes with risks. She warned that balancing different commitments can become overwhelming. "I've definitely overburdened myself at points and had a little cry," she said. Experts say that risk is real. Cole noted that people working several jobs can end up with less time for family, friends and hobbies. A 2022 survey of 4,000 UK workers found that 16 percent had taken on an additional role to cope with rising living costs. For Amy Baldwin, the extra work started with a simple goal: paying for a family holiday. Alongside her job with the NHS, Baldwin began selling clothes online, completing paid surveys and mystery shopping. Eventually the side work grew into her main source of income. The mother of three from Hastings said the change allowed her husband to leave his job and help run the reselling business full time. "I got a buzz off... providing things for the kids that I wouldn't otherwise be able to provide," Baldwin said. She said the new lifestyle also gives her control over her schedule. "I manage my own time," she said. That flexibility means she no longer has to ask permission to attend school events such as sports day or a nativity play. Still, Baldwin admits the trade-off is uncertainty. "It is a constant worry," she said. Working for herself can also be hard to switch off from. "It's hard to switch off." For Frindall, though, the leap into freelance life started with a single flip in a cinema lobby. And a teenager in a superhero suit discovering that sometimes the side hustle can become the main event.

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A Brave Fisherman Just Rescued This Woman and Her Dog from a Flooded River in Nottinghamshire

A quiet day by the river turned into something far bigger than a fishing trip. On 23 February, Alexandra Szilvasi jumped into the River Trent in Gunthorpe, Nottinghamshire, after her dog Snickers dove in chasing a ball. Within seconds, both the 36-year-old and her 10-month-old spaniel were caught in powerful winter floodwaters. Not far away, a fisherman heard the screams. That fisherman was Steven Ballard. Now the two have finally met again after the rescue, sharing a drink and talking about the moment that nearly turned tragic. "It's so lovely to be able to have a pint, see Alexandra and Snickers and just chat about what happened," Ballard said. Ballard, 39, had been fishing for barbel along the river when the commotion broke the calm. "First, I saw the dog was in the water which I knew was quite serious because the river was extremely flooded and then before I knew it, I heard a splash and Alexandra was in the water as well," he said. The River Trent that day was not forgiving. Floodwaters had raised the river about a metre and a half above normal levels, sending debris rushing downstream. "As horrible as it sounds, I did think that because the river was in full winter flood, and it's a dangerous place, if I didn't get down there quick enough the worst case scenario may occur," Ballard said. Adrenaline took over. The plumber from Barrow-Upon-Soar climbed down a ladder along the riverbank and reached the struggling dog first. Snickers, a cross between a springer spaniel and a cocker spaniel, was pulled up onto dry land. "Once I took Snickers, Alexandra managed to pull herself up," he said. Only later did the weight of the moment sink in. "It was only after sitting in the cold light of day, knowing how powerful that river is, that I realised we were just so lucky that it didn't go really really wrong." In the chaos that followed the rescue, Szilvasi and Ballard spoke briefly but did not exchange contact information. Szilvasi returned home still shaken and determined to properly thank the man who helped save both her and her dog. "I was in shock. I was just so scared and I thought I was going to lose Snickers and I wanted to say thank you properly," she said. So she turned to the public for help, making an appeal through the BBC to find her mystery rescuer. The message worked. Friends and family recognized Ballard from the description and contacted him. Soon, the pair arranged to meet again, this time under calmer circumstances. "I just really wanted to find him and say thank you with a pint," Szilvasi said. "He deserves it. It would have been impossible to get out without him." For Szilvasi, the experience also came with a lesson. "Everyone should learn the lesson from us that dogs can be quite unpredictable," she said. "I never thought she would go in the water because she never did, but one day she did." Her instinct to follow came from love. "I was super worried. I just really love her and she's my dog, my family." Still, officials say jumping in after pets can quickly turn dangerous. A spokesperson for Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service praised the bystander who stepped in but warned people not to attempt water rescues themselves. The service "commends the bystander for their bravery, which contributed to saving a life," the spokesperson said, but "strongly advises members of the public never to enter the water to rescue people or pets". "In any situation where someone is in difficulty in the water, please call 999 immediately and ask for the fire and rescue service." For Ballard and Szilvasi, though, the story now ends with relief instead of regret. A fisherman heard a cry for help. A stranger stepped in. And a dog named Snickers made it safely back to shore.

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Two Strangers, A Drone and a Lot of Determination Helped Find a Missing Man In a Cold Texas Park

When Jacob Bates disappeared inside a sprawling Texas park as temperatures dropped into the 30s, his family feared the worst. Instead, the search ended with something they now call a miracle. “We feel like it’s a miracle,” Jacob’s uncle, Tim Gundlach, told PEOPLE. “These guys don’t know us from Adam, but what they did made the difference.” Jacob, a 24-year-old man with autism, had been biking with his father Scot Bates on Feb. 23 along a trail in River Legacy Park in Arlington, Texas. The park spans about 1,300 acres and includes dense brush and wildlife habitats. The outing started as a simple father-son ride. “We were having the best time,” Scot Bates, 57, said. “And then it turned into a complete nightmare.” At one point, Scot briefly lost sight of his son on the trail. What seemed like a small moment quickly became a crisis when Jacob did not reappear. Scot searched for about an hour and called his daughter Emily for help. When they still couldn’t find Jacob, the family contacted the Arlington Police Department. Officers arrived around 6:42 p.m. and began an extensive search effort. Teams combed the park on foot while drones and a helicopter scanned from above. Still, hours passed without any sign of Jacob. Authorities then called for volunteers to help widen the search. That’s when two strangers stepped in. David Dedwylder, 51, a local real estate agent and outdoorsman familiar with the park’s terrain, joined the search. He knew the area could be dangerous, with thick brush and wildlife including bobcats, coyotes and wild pigs. As the search dragged on into the early morning hours, Dedwylder had an idea that could change everything. What if they used a drone equipped with thermal imaging? That thought led him to Chance Sauser, a drone company owner who lived about 90 minutes away in Rowlett. At about 1:40 a.m., Dedwylder called Sauser. He was asleep. But when he heard what was happening, he didn’t hesitate. “He said I think you might be this kid’s only hope,” Sauser recalled. “And I was like, man, when you put it like that, I’ve got to come, right?" Sauser got in his car and drove through the night to the park. Once he arrived, the two men discussed where Jacob might be. They decided to search in a direction opposite from where most of the earlier efforts had been focused. Using the thermal camera on Sauser’s drone, they scanned the dark landscape below. Nearly two hours passed. Then, with only minutes of battery power remaining, the drone detected a figure. Sauser called Scot Bates. “He called me and asked if Jake was wearing a blue shirt. I told him yes and I asked if he was standing. He said yes, he is,” Bates said. “I knew then he was OK.” Finding Jacob from the air was one thing. Getting to him was another. A chain fence topped with barbed wire blocked the path. Gundlach grabbed bolt cutters from his truck and cut a gap so they could reach the area. Beyond the fence, the terrain was even tougher. “It was some of the thickest brush you’ve ever seen, with brush higher than our heads and it was blacker than midnight out there, but we followed the drone,” Gundlach said. Even when they reached the right area, they couldn’t see Jacob through the darkness and thick vegetation. So they started calling his name. “I’ll never forget when I heard him yell back,” Gundlach said. “I knew he may not be in great shape, but he’s alive.” When they finally reached him, Jacob was smiling. “He’s just all smiles pretty much all the time,” Dedwylder said. “And that is the best way to describe Jacob.” By that point, he had been missing for nearly 12 hours. His father asked if he had been scared. Jacob said no. He was just cold. Scot removed his warm clothing and wrapped it around his son while the group helped guide him back toward the trucks, where they waited for an ambulance. Jacob was taken to the hospital but released just a few hours later. He is now doing well. For Dedwylder and Sauser, the experience is something they say they will never forget. “The story of Jacob is one that will stick with me forever,” Dedwylder said. “It’s crazy what you run across in life, and this says you’re here for a reason.” Sauser says people had questioned why he spent money on an expensive drone several months earlier. Now he has his answer. “This recovery paid it off in my mind,” he said. “One of my buddies said, ‘You never know. That might have been the whole reason you bought the drone, just to find that one guy.' ”

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Researchers Release Thousands Of 'Prehistoric' Creatures In Remote River To Reclaim Ancestral Home

For decades, the Atlantic sturgeon seemed like a ghost of Europe’s rivers. A fish that had survived since the time of the dinosaurs simply vanished from the continent’s waters. Now, scientists in Sweden are trying to bring it back. Thousands of Atlantic sturgeon are being released into the Göta River as part of a long-term rewilding effort aimed at restoring the ancient species to Northern Europe, according to Discover Wildlife. The massive fish once thrived across European rivers and coastal waters. But by the mid-20th century, heavy fishing, dam construction and river pollution had wiped them out from the region. A group of scientists now believes the Göta River could become one of the first places where the species returns. The effort is led by Linnéa Jägrud of the Swedish Anglers Association and biologist Dan Calderon, who have spent years researching the river’s history and ecological potential. For a long time, one key question remained: had Atlantic sturgeon ever actually spawned in the Göta? Calderon searched for proof. In 2016, the answer appeared in an unlikely place. Three young sturgeon collected from the Göta during the 1800s were discovered in storage at the Gothenburg Museum of Natural History. That detail changed everything. Because juvenile sturgeon cannot survive in the ocean, the young fish must have hatched in the river itself. That meant the Göta had once been a spawning ground. With that evidence in hand, scientists began the slow work of bringing the species back. The first group of fish arrived in 2024, when 100 sturgeon about 10 months old were released into the river. The program expanded in 2025, with another 140 juveniles and roughly 2,000 fry added to the water. The fish come from a breeding program in northern Germany. Researchers eventually hope to release between 5,000 and 10,000 juvenile sturgeon into the Göta each year as the project grows. The return of the species could also help restore the health of the river. Sturgeon play an important role in aquatic ecosystems, and monitoring their movements can help scientists identify areas where the river habitat needs improvement. "Sturgeon — alongside all other wildlife species — are part of a future where nature and people thrive together, so let's do all we can to bring them back," Jägrud told Discover Wildlife. For the researchers involved, the moment carries both scientific and personal meaning. When Jägrud watched the fish being released into the river, the moment felt almost surreal. "I was nervous, relieved, and elated all at the same time — I actually had goosebumps," she said. She also thought about the deep history of the river itself. "One of my ancestors worked as a soldier in the Bohus Fortress in the 1600s," Jägrud said. "When he stood on the walls and looked down on the Göta flowing below, there would have been Atlantic sturgeon swimming in the water." Knowing she had helped restore that lost piece of the river’s past made the moment even more meaningful. "Knowing that I'd played a role in bringing this majestic fish back to the same river — which was the culmination of collective efforts over many, many years — was very special." Scientists hope the Göta River project could become a blueprint for bringing Atlantic sturgeon back to other parts of Europe. If successful, one of the continent’s oldest fish could soon return to waters where it once swam for centuries.

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Viral Star Punch The Monkey Bonds With Zoo Mates In Dramatic Breakthrough

For months, a tiny macaque in Japan had just one companion: a bright orange stuffed orangutan. Now, he may finally have a real friend. Punch, the young macaque at the Ichikawa Zoological and Botanical Garden, has become an unlikely internet star after visitors noticed his deep attachment to the plush toy he carried everywhere. But this week, something remarkable happened inside the zoo’s “monkey mountain.” Punch was seen cuddling another macaque and even hitching a ride on its back, a key social behavior for young monkeys. For zookeepers who have spent months carefully guiding him back into the troop, it was a moment they had been waiting for. Punch’s story began with a difficult start. Shortly after he was born in July 2025, his mother abandoned him. To keep the newborn alive, zoo staff stepped in and raised him by hand. Hand-rearing can save an infant animal, but it also comes with challenges. Without growing up alongside other monkeys, Punch struggled to learn the social cues needed to live within a troop. When the zoo began trying to reintroduce him to the group earlier this year, things did not go smoothly. On Jan. 19, 2026, Punch was moved into the “monkey mountain” enclosure, where dozens of macaques live together. But the troop did not immediately accept him. As a hand-raised infant, Punch was often bullied or ignored by the other monkeys. Visitors frequently saw him sitting alone, clutching the orange stuffed toy for comfort while the rest of the troop played nearby. Still, the zoo’s staff remained patient. In a statement released Feb. 27, the Ichikawa Zoological and Botanical Garden explained the careful process behind Punch’s reintegration. "From an animal welfare perspective, our primary goal is to reintegrate Punch with the troop," the zoo said. Zookeepers used several strategies to help him adjust. They nursed Punch inside the enclosure so the other macaques would recognize him as part of their group. They also paired him with a calm young female macaque before fully releasing him into the troop. The goal was to build his confidence and slowly introduce the social interactions he had missed early in life. The latest footage suggests that approach may finally be working. A video shared online by X user @tate_gf shows Punch approaching another macaque and seeking physical contact. Soon after, the young monkey climbs onto the other’s back. For young macaques, piggyback rides are a normal and important behavior, helping infants bond and feel safe within the group. Punch still carries his stuffed orangutan toy at times, especially when he feels threatened or uncertain. But zookeepers say that is not unusual during the transition. They point to a similar story from the zoo’s past. In 2009, another hand-reared macaque named Otome also relied heavily on a stuffed toy when she first joined the troop. Over time, she gradually left it behind as she bonded with the other monkeys. Otome eventually fully integrated into the group and later raised four offspring of her own. Punch’s story has drawn large crowds to the zoo, with hundreds of visitors lining up for a chance to see the young macaque in person. Online, many people have been rooting for him as he learns how to be part of the troop. "I'm hoping Punch has a good life like everybody else does, and think he's a cute little guy," one person commented. "Such a precious baby," another wrote. For now, Punch still has his stuffed toy close by. But for the first time since his difficult start, it looks like he may not need it quite as much.

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This Paralympic Snowboarder Designed a Prosthetic Leg Worn By 25 Competitors In Italy

When Mike Schultz lost his left leg in a snowmobiling accident in 2008, doctors told him amputation above the knee was the only way he would survive. For someone who had spent his life racing snowmobiles and riding BMX, it sounded like the end of everything. “To hear that as a top-level athlete is something you’re not really prepared for,” Schultz told NBC Sports in October 2025. At the time, Schultz was 27 and already deeply immersed in motorsports. He had been snowmobile racing competitively since 2002 and built his identity around high-speed competition. But even after surgery, he couldn’t imagine leaving it behind. Just weeks into recovery, Schultz began sneaking out for short rides on his snowmobile. The feeling confirmed what he already knew: he needed a way back. “It was just like, I can’t give it up. I just need to find a way. And that’s when I started thinking about developing my own prosthetic leg to get back into riding,” he said. The prosthetic he was initially given worked for everyday walking, but it couldn’t handle the impact and motion of motorsports. So Schultz decided to build his own. Despite having no formal engineering training, he started experimenting in his garage workshop. “I’m Mr. Fix it,” he said. “I just look at something, and I want to make it better in some way or another. That’s just how my mind works.” Five weeks later, he had created something entirely new. His invention, called the Moto Knee, used a mountain bike shock absorber and other custom parts designed to handle extreme movement and impact. The homemade design allowed him to ride again. Less than a year after building it, Schultz competed in the ESPN Summer X Games Adaptive Super-X and placed second using the prosthetic he had built himself. The success pushed him toward a bigger idea. In 2010, Schultz founded BioDapt, a company dedicated to building advanced lower-limb prosthetic components for athletes who want to participate in high-intensity sports. His first customer was Walter Reed Medical Center, where injured military veterans were fitted with Moto Knees designed to help them return to athletic activity. “The goal originally was to create something to get back on my motocross bike and my snowmobile,” Schultz told NBC Sports. “And about a year later, [I realized] that there were so many other adaptive athletes that could utilize the equipment I was developing.” BioDapt’s prosthetics are built differently from typical everyday models. They can be adjusted to match the demands of different sports and riding styles. In para snowboarding, for example, athletes may ride with the prosthetic on either their front leg or back leg. The alignment can be modified to match that position. When placed on the front leg, the prosthetic stands more upright. When used on the back leg, it is flexed more to accommodate the rider’s stance and movement. The devices also include hydraulic and pneumatic shock systems designed to handle jumps, turns, and rough terrain while supporting an athlete’s knee flexion range. Schultz eventually transitioned from motorsports to snowboarding after some of his clients encouraged him to try it. It turned out he was good at it. Very good. He became a two-time Paralympian and began racing with his prosthetic serving as his forward leg. “I feel it gives me more power to generate speed through the rollers and features on the race course,” he told Paralympic.org. “Exiting a turn, I can use my strong leg or my real leg to absorb and extend to try and accelerate quicker.” Now 44, Schultz is preparing for his third Paralympic appearance, already holding one gold medal and two silver medals. His influence on the sport stretches far beyond his own results. The entire United States Paralympic snowboarding team now competes using prosthetics designed by Schultz. In fact, BioDapt equipment supports roughly 90 percent of lower-limb athletes competing in para snowboarding worldwide. At the upcoming Paralympics in Italy, about 25 athletes are expected to compete using the technology he developed. After competing at the Milan-Cortina Games, Schultz plans to retire from competitive para snowboarding and focus entirely on growing BioDapt. His goal is to keep improving prosthetic technology and help other athletes prepare for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. The company recently announced a partnership with Autodesk, an AI-powered manufacturing firm that will help refine BioDapt’s designs and scale production. The collaboration aims to create prosthetic equipment that performs at the highest levels of competition while also improving durability and usability for everyday life, travel, and changing terrain. For Schultz, the work reflects the two sides of his life that have always existed side by side. “I’ve always had two sides to my career — competing and building,” Schultz said in a statement for BioDapt. “For years, I’ve pushed myself to be the best athlete I could be, while spending countless hours refining the gear that makes that performance possible. As I step away from competition, I'm excited to take everything I've learned and apply it to helping the next generation of athletes go even further.”

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Teen’s CPR Saves Mom After Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Some heroes don’t wear capes. Sometimes they’re 15 years old, standing in the living room, doing everything they can to keep their mom alive. That’s what happened in Cleveland, Ohio, when Mahogany Milton sprang into action and performed CPR on her mother, B’Lon Calloway, after the 42-year-old suddenly collapsed at home. The frightening moment unfolded in March 2025. Calloway had just come home from work feeling unwell when things took a sudden turn. “She took one big breath, and then she stopped breathing. She started turning blue, and she started getting cold,” Mahogany told Cleveland 19. Panicked but focused, the teenager called 911 and immediately began CPR, pressing on her mother’s chest while emergency operators guided her through the process. Every second mattered. Cardiac arrest cuts off blood flow to the brain, and survival often depends on someone nearby stepping in fast. Mahogany had that training. Two years earlier, in 2023, she learned CPR through her mother and the American Heart Association’s STEM Goes Red program, an initiative designed to encourage young people, especially girls, to explore science and health careers while learning lifesaving skills. In that moment, the lessons came rushing back. “I was like dear God please let my momma live,” Mahogany said, recalling the desperate minutes before help arrived. Her quick response kept oxygen circulating through her mother’s body until paramedics reached the house and rushed Calloway to University Hospitals. Doctors soon discovered how close the family had come to tragedy. Calloway had a 99 percent blockage in her left anterior descending artery, often called the “widowmaker,” caused by atherosclerotic heart disease. Without treatment, the blockage could easily have been fatal. Intervention cardiologist Dr. Ryan Christofferson inserted a stent to reopen the artery and restore blood flow. Doctors also confirmed that Calloway had suffered a heart attack during the episode. Despite the severity of the situation, she survived. Calloway spent a week recovering in the hospital under the care of Dr. Michael Zacharias and the critical care team. In cases like hers, survival alone can be rare. Recovering full heart function is even less common. “Very few people, one, survive cardiac arrest. Two have completely recovered function of the heart. It’s truly incredible,” Dr. Zacharias said. He credited Mahogany’s immediate CPR for giving her mother the best possible chance. Without someone nearby to start compressions, brain damage or death can occur within minutes. Early CPR keeps blood moving until medical teams can step in with advanced care. For Calloway, that someone happened to be her daughter. “I could have been driving home that night in the car by myself. But, God saw a system to let me make it home. Even if it was just for her, he felt that she was strong enough to endure that,” Calloway said through tears. In the months since the emergency, the pair have shared their story publicly, hoping it inspires others to learn CPR. They recently spoke at an American Heart Association Go Red luncheon, where they encouraged community members to take the same kind of training that helped Mahogany save her mother’s life. Cardiac arrest remains one of the leading causes of death, but experts say immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chances of survival. For the Milton-Calloway family, those statistics are no longer abstract. They’re personal. The experience, Calloway says, has only strengthened the bond between mother and daughter. “If you don’t have faith look at me. I’m living testimony,” she said. And for Mahogany, the lesson is clear: the skills she learned as a teenager turned into something far bigger than a classroom activity. They became the reason her mother is still here today.

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Britain’s ‘Loneliest Sheep’ Becomes a Mom — and Her New Lambs Have Perfect Shrek Names

Fiona the sheep has gone from isolation at the bottom of a 200-meter cliff to full-on motherhood — and her newborn twins now share her Shrek-inspired origin story. Fiona captured hearts across Britain last year when she spent two years stranded at the base of a steep cliff, earning her the nickname “Britain’s loneliest sheep.” Rescuers eventually brought her to Dalscone Farm in Scotland, where she quickly became a mental health mascot and a fan favorite. Last month, she added a new chapter to her story: she gave birth to twin lambs, one male and one female. And since Fiona was named after Princess Fiona from the Shrek films, farm staff kept the theme going. They named the lambs Fergus and Felicia, after Shrek and Fiona’s own children introduced in Shrek the Third. Ben Best, manager at Dalscone Farm, said the team couldn’t be happier. “We are absolutely over the moon,” he said. “To see Fiona go from the base of a lonely cliff to being such a protective, attentive mother is just incredible.” “She took to them immediately, and watching her look after these lambs has been a really emotional moment for everyone here,” he added. “She’s traded the title of ‘Loneliest Sheep’ for ‘World’s Best Mum,’ and we couldn’t be prouder of her.” For a sheep once defined by solitude, Fiona’s story now looks very different — full of company, care and two tiny lambs with fairy-tale names.

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A Dutch Canal Has a Digital Doorbell for Fish — and the World Is Ringing It

In Utrecht, a centuries-old lock is getting a little help from modern technology and a whole lot of strangers on the internet. Each spring, migrating fish gather behind the Weerdsluis lock, hoping to reach upstream spawning grounds. The problem: the lock is closed for weeks at a time, and opening it isn’t as easy as flipping a switch. So the city gave the fish a doorbell. For the sixth year in a row, the Fish Doorbell — or Visdeurbel — is back online. The project livestreams footage from an underwater camera, inviting people around the world to press a digital button whenever they spot a fish waiting to get through. Operators then decide when to open the gate. “The project is a good mix of doing something for nature and for people to join and do something,” said Anne Nijs, an ecologist for the city and one of the project’s co-creators. The idea came from a simple problem. Many fish species in the Netherlands — bleak, catfish, eels, pike — migrate in the spring as the water warms. But ships are scarce early in the season, so locks like the Weerdsluis often remain closed, leaving fish clustered outside with no way forward and no escape from predators. Some miss their chance to spawn altogether. The lock itself, built in the 1600s, requires operators to manually turn an iron wheel for up to an hour. Before opening it, they needed to be sure fish were actually waiting. So Nijs and fellow ecologist Mark van Heukelum installed the camera and added a digital doorbell. They expected maybe a handful of curious locals. Instead, the project exploded. “We put flyers in the streets about the Fish Doorbell because we were afraid that maybe nobody would join, but ... lots of people joined, [and] every year more,” Nijs said. Last year the website drew more than 2.3 million unique visitors. Together, they rang the doorbell about 200,000 times, helping thousands of fish continue their journeys. For many, watching the underwater feed brings a moment of calm — and a quick hit of joy when a fish appears. For the fish, the payoff is even bigger. In a country threaded with locks, dams and water-control structures, the doorbell has become a way to balance human needs with those of wildlife. Other countries facing similar challenges are already asking how they might build their own versions. Until then, Utrecht’s lock is quietly becoming a piece of global community science — a place where anyone, from anywhere, can help migrating fish get where they need to go, just by pressing a button. You can watch the livestream and ring the doorbell yourself here.

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