Goodable

In New Zealand, Matthew Burrell noticed a bird lying on the ground outside his window.
After getting a closer look, he saw a bird's nest high in the tree above him. So he took out a ladder, picked up the bird and placed the bird back into the nest. After a few hours go by, the momma bird eventually returned with food. If you have a good news story, send it to us! Email us your video and info at hello@goodable.co.

<p>In New Zealand, Matthew Burrell noticed a bird lying on the ground outside his window.</p><p>After getting a closer look, he saw a bird's nest high in the tree above him. So he took out a ladder, picked up the bird and placed the bird back into the nest. After a few hours go by, the momma bird eventually returned with food. If you have a good news story, send it to us! Email us your video and info at hello@goodable.co.</p>

A Bird is Rescued After Falling From A Tree

When 10-year-old Myer Gallant from O’Leary, Prince Edward Island, was granted a Make-A-Wish, he took his time deciding. A pool? A Disney cruise? Maybe. But after weighing his options, Myer knew exactly what he wanted: to meet Sidney Crosby and Ryan Graves, and watch a Pittsburgh Penguins game in person.

“It’s just really cool,” he said simply. “I just figured it out somehow.”

Myer has spinal muscular atrophy, a rare genetic condition that affects his muscles and mobility. He’s been a devoted Penguins fan for the past three years. Last week, his dream came true as he travelled to Pittsburgh with his mom, Jaclyn Ellis, and cousin Rowan Rennie — and got far more than he imagined.

From the moment they arrived, the Penguins organization went above and beyond. At a team practice, Myer walked into the locker room to find his own stall waiting: helmet, hockey bag, and a personalized #87 jersey with his name on it.

Then, the big moment.

“Sidney Crosby came in, we shook hands and all that and we just talked for a while,” said Myer. “I actually had to do a little interview like this.”

And then it got official.

“I signed a contract to be on the Pittsburgh Penguins for a day,” Myer said. “I was red as a lobster, sweating.”

He fist-bumped players as they hit the ice and even read out the starting lineup before the game. “It was really cool, but stressful too at the same time,” he said.

For Myer’s mom, watching it unfold in person was unforgettable. “Make-A-Wish, they do an incredible job,” Ellis said. “But Myer’s experience was completely over the top, and that was because of the Penguins. They surpassed any potential expectation that we had for the trip.”

The family didn’t show up empty-handed either. As a thank-you, they brought gifts from the Maritimes — snacks and treats that NHL players don’t get every day. Both Crosby and Graves are Nova Scotians, and the gesture hit home.

“Funny story,” Myer said. “We told [Graves] there’s just a couple like treats in there. And he’s like, ‘Is there Cow’s chips in here?’ And the first thing he pulled out was Cow’s chips.”

That Maritime connection came through again later. After practice, Graves ran into the family outside the arena and invited them back into the dressing room before the next game — something that wasn’t part of the original plan. “Ryan had said: ‘They’re fellow Maritimers and we’re the players and we want them to come down,’” said Ellis.

One of the highlights for Myer was sharing the experience with his cousin and best friend, Rowan. Myer’s brother even stepped aside so Rowan could go instead.

“They’ve been best friends since they were born,” said Ellis. “There’s a little less than a year in between them and their relationship is just so special. They’re cousins, but they’re also besties.”

That bond didn’t go unnoticed. Near the end of the trip, Crosby handed Myer a gift — but it wasn’t just for him.

“I opened this thing and then I saw two jerseys,” Myer said. “I looked at it and it said ‘Rowan,’ and I was like, ‘Rowan?’”

Rowan remembers the moment clearly. “I was so excited and then I dropped to my knees. Like, what is happening?” he said.

Two Olympic Team Canada jerseys — home and away — one for each of them. For the boys, it was the perfect ending.

For Ellis, the trip was more than a dream fulfilled — it was a rare chance to watch her son be fully seen, included, and celebrated.

“From a parent’s perspective, to be able to watch your child have this experience and be present to watch his facial expressions and see how all of these players treated not just Myer, but Rowan too. It was just an exceptional experience.”

‘Red as a Lobster’: P.E.I. Boy Lives NHL Dream with Sidney Crosby and the Penguins

Scientific American

Bats are known for their ability to navigate in total darkness using echolocation, but how they manage to avoid obstacles in dense, chaotic environments has puzzled scientists for decades. A new study may have finally cracked the mystery.

Published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the research reveals that bats rely on the Doppler effect—the shift in sound frequency caused by motion—to make sense of the barrage of overlapping echoes bouncing off leaves, branches, and other objects as they fly.

“Imagine being at a party with hundreds or even thousands of people all talking at once,” said Marc Holderied, a sensory biology professor at the University of Bristol and co-author of the study. “That’s comparable to what a bat may be dealing with as the animal zooms around a dense forest.”

To test their theory, researchers built what they dubbed the “bat accelerator” — an 8-metre tunnel lined with about 8,000 plastic leaves, each stapled on by hand. The tunnel functioned like a treadmill, simulating motion through dense foliage. By adjusting the direction of the moving leaves, scientists could manipulate the bats’ perception of speed.

When the foliage treadmill moved in the same direction as the bats’ flight, the bats sped up. When the leaves appeared to move toward them, the bats slowed down. The researchers believe the animals were responding to the perceived change in pitch caused by the Doppler effect, using it to adjust their speed.

“We tricked them into thinking that their speed is different,” Holderied said. “This Doppler shift, in this complex echo of thousands of reflectors, carries information.”

Some bat species are known as Doppler specialists, adapted specifically to use this effect. But pipistrelle bats—small, common bats found across Europe—are not among them. The study’s findings suggest the Doppler effect plays a broader role in bat navigation than previously thought.

The implications go beyond bats. Athia Haron, a co-author and medical engineering researcher at the University of Manchester, said the findings could inform the design of better navigation systems for drones and self-driving cars, which often struggle in similarly cluttered environments.

“If that pans out,” Haron said, “that would benefit a lot of navigation systems that fail in these kinds of cluttered environments.”

By uncovering how bats use subtle changes in sound to move through their world, researchers are not only solving an old biological mystery—they may be paving the way for smarter, more adaptable machines.

Bats Use Doppler Effect to Navigate Cluttered Forests, Study Finds

BBC News

An off-duty police officer in Greater Manchester has been praised for saving a man's life after performing CPR for 45 minutes at a train station.

Chief Inspector Michael Parker was waiting for a train at Salford Crescent station on 6 June last year when he saw a man collapse and stop breathing. Relying on his police training, Parker began chest compressions immediately and kept going until emergency crews arrived.

“I just did what any member of the public would have done,” he said. “It is just a coincidence I was there at that time as an off-duty police officer.”

Parker, who works in Greater Manchester Police’s roads policing unit, continued CPR for 10 minutes on his own before paramedics arrived. Once on scene, medical staff began administering additional life-saving treatment while Parker carried on with compressions for another 35 minutes.

When an air ambulance arrived, medics confirmed that the man had regained a pulse — something Parker said took him by surprise.

“I was shocked to hear that he had regained a pulse as I have done CPR several times earlier on in my career and sadly, they have never made it,” he said. “So, to hear that this man would be able to see his family again was the most important thing.”

Despite the outcome, Parker refused to take credit. “Ultimately, I don’t see myself as a hero,” he said. “I just focused on giving him the best chance of survival possible until further help arrived.”

His efforts were recognised at Greater Manchester Police’s long service awards, where he received a Chief Constable’s commendation. A spokesperson for GMP said Parker’s actions had directly led to the man’s survival.

“He gave him the best chance he could have had,” the spokesperson said.

This Off-Duty Officer Just Saved a Man’s Life with 45 Minutes of CPR at a Train Station

At Ipswich Hospital, a small team of volunteers has been quietly making a big difference for more than five decades — broadcasting music, stories, and conversation to patients through Hospital Radio Ipswich.

The station, run entirely by volunteers, first went on air in 1971. Today, it still operates 24 hours a day, and thanks to the internet, it now reaches listeners far beyond the hospital walls.

John Alborough is one of the longest-serving members of the team, having joined in 1974. For him, the most meaningful part of the job hasn’t changed in 50 years: talking to patients at their bedside.

“I absolutely love, and still love, going around and talking to patients,” he said. “You could almost write a book of all the stories of where people have had such a pleasure from listening to their favourite piece of music and talking to people.”

Alborough believes those personal connections matter more than anything. “I’ve always said talking to people at their bedside is more important than coming away with a request... it’s fantastic,” he said.

Over the years, the station has seen major changes — in technology, music, and even how long patients stay in hospital. With hospital stays now averaging just two days, Alborough said it’s harder to build a lasting audience. “You’ve got to constantly work to remind people that we’re there,” he said. “Some people are of course in for weeks, so we’ve always got this challenge of mixed duration, mixed ages, mixed taste in music, and reminders that we exist.”

Still, he believes the station offers something uniquely valuable — especially in an era when patients have access to countless streaming services and independent radio stations.

“We now find that there is such a world of independent radios out there… some very good and some not so good, but that’s enabled us to really be identified as a special service that is different to other people,” he said.

What sets Hospital Radio Ipswich apart, Alborough believes, is the human connection. Volunteers don’t just broadcast; they visit, listen, and bring a sense of community to people in unfamiliar, often stressful circumstances.

It’s also why he encourages others to volunteer. “I went to Hospital Radio Ipswich at least once a week and met a different group of people to my family and friends... I think that’s the beauty of volunteering,” he said. “You come out of yourself, you go to a different world, you make good friends in a different world and then you go back to your own world again. I think that’s one of the strengths of volunteering.”

After more than 50 years, the mission remains the same: make patients feel seen, heard, and a little less alone.

For 50 Years, Hospital Radio Volunteers Have Brought Comfort to Patients

A pharmacist in Essex says artificial intelligence and robotics are helping her team keep up with rising patient demand — but warns the pharmacy sector is still financially “on its knees.”

At Cross Chemist in Benfleet, staff are now using automated dispensing technology to help process the 11,000 prescriptions they handle every month. The robotic system scans barcodes, picks out the right medications, and even prioritises stock by expiry date — saving time for pharmacists to focus on patient care.

“It’s a good proportion of those [11,000] prescriptions that don’t need to be checked because the robot and the system are doing that for us,” said pharmacist Hema Patel.

The automation has become essential for the pharmacy’s busiest branch, which now sees about 30 patients a day. Patel said the technology helps staff use their clinical training in a more meaningful way. “We didn’t go to university and study for the best part of five years to check a box, that’s not what I wanted to do,” she said. “We are making positive changes to people’s lives every single day.”

But Patel said the reality for most pharmacies is bleak. She can’t afford to install the same technology at her three other locations, and worries that without increased government support, many dispensaries won’t be able to cope with the pressure.

“The sector is on its knees with funding,” she said. “As long as funding is right, this can absolutely support healthcare and the NHS and the ever-growing population.”

Like many small businesses, Patel’s pharmacy is dealing with rising costs across the board — from wages and energy bills to drug prices and national insurance. She said reimbursement rates for medications don’t reflect the true costs pharmacies face, and building extra consultation rooms to meet demand only adds to the financial strain.

“Business rates are going up, minimum wage going up, national insurance contributions went up, electricity went up,” she said. “Drug costs are going up, our reimbursement isn’t right for those drugs either.”

In response, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said funding for community pharmacies had been increased to £3.1 billion for 2025–26. “This represented the largest uplift in funding of any part of the NHS at the time — over 19% across 2024–25 and 2025–26,” the spokesperson said.

The department also pointed to ongoing plans to expand the role of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. “Community pharmacists have a crucial role to play as we move more care out of hospital and into the community,” the spokesperson said. “We are also expanding the role of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to make better use of their skills and ensure patients can access the right care, closer to home.”

For now, Patel says she’s proud of the impact her team is having — but warns that without continued support, many pharmacies won’t be able to keep up.

“This is a great use of our skill as medical professionals,” she said. “But if pharmacies like ours are going to remain viable long term, we need more than just recognition — we need investment.”

AI And Robots are Easing Pressure On Pharmacies to Deliver Medication Quickly — Here's How

ABC News

Ryan Coogler’s vampire drama Sinners stormed into the Oscar race Thursday with 16 nominations, setting a new Academy Awards record and positioning itself as the frontrunner heading into Hollywood’s biggest night.

The Jim Crow-era horror epic, drenched in blues and myth, became the most-nominated film in the 98-year history of the Oscars, surpassing the previous record of 14 held by All About Eve, Titanic, and La La Land. It’s a major breakthrough for Coogler, who scored nominations for best picture, director, and screenplay, while lead actor Michael B. Jordan landed his first-ever Oscar nod.

One Battle After Another, the long-anticipated father-daughter saga from Paul Thomas Anderson, followed closely with 13 nominations. Despite being considered the early favorite, it now trails Coogler’s genre-defying entry. Four of its stars — Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro, and Sean Penn — earned acting nods, though newcomer Chase Infiniti was a surprise omission from best actress.

Both films dig deep into American identity at a time of political and social unrest. Sinners uses horror to explore the horrors of Black life in the segregated South. One Battle After Another sets its rebellion in a dystopian police state. Their nominations signal the Academy’s embrace of urgent, provocative storytelling.

They also mark a banner year for Warner Bros., which released both films. The studio — currently in the spotlight amid a pending $72 billion sale to Netflix — just had its most successful Oscar nominations day ever. The industry is watching closely as the proposed acquisition faces a challenge from rival bidder Paramount Skydance, setting the stage for a potential shake-up across Hollywood.

Rounding out the best picture category are Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, and Train Dreams. It’s a wide-ranging list, spanning sci-fi, literary adaptations, and intense character studies.

Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme, and Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value each received nine nominations, highlighting the Academy’s preference this year for emotionally complex, stylistically ambitious films.

Timothée Chalamet earned his third best actor nomination for Marty Supreme and is considered a strong contender after narrowly missing out last year. He’ll compete against Michael B. Jordan, Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), and Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent).

On the best actress side, Jessie Buckley leads the pack for her performance in Hamnet. She’s joined by Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), and Emma Stone, who notched her sixth nomination for Bugonia.

In supporting categories, Sentimental Value stood out with four total acting nominations, including dual nods for Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas in supporting actress. They’ll face Amy Madigan (Weapons), Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners), and Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another).

Supporting actor nods went to Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), Sean Penn and Benicio del Toro (both for One Battle After Another), Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value), and Delroy Lindo (Sinners).

This year’s Oscars introduced a new category for casting, which helped Sinners and One Battle After Another pad their tallies. Also nominated in that category: Hamnet, Marty Supreme, and The Secret Agent.

In original song, Sinners scored again with “I Lied To You.” It competes with “Golden” from Kpop Demon Hunters, “Train Dreams” from the film of the same name, “Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless, and “Sweet Dreams Of Joy” from Viva Verdi!.

The 98th Academy Awards will be held on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Conan O’Brien returns to host. While YouTube has inked a deal to exclusively stream future ceremonies, that won’t kick in until 2029 — meaning this year’s broadcast still belongs to ABC.

Oscar Nominations Announced: 'Sinners' Poised To Make History

Science Daily

Staying active isn’t just good for your heart and muscles — it could help keep your brain younger too.

That’s the takeaway from a year-long clinical trial by the AdventHealth Research Institute, where scientists found that adults who stuck to a regular aerobic exercise routine had brains that looked nearly a year younger than those who didn’t. The findings, published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science, suggest that committing to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity could help preserve memory, boost thinking skills, and support overall brain health.

“We found that a simple, guideline-based exercise program can make the brain look measurably younger over just 12 months,” said Dr. Lu Wan, lead author and data scientist at AdventHealth Research Institute. “These absolute changes were modest, but even a one-year shift in brain age could matter over the course of decades.”

What does it mean to have a ‘younger’ brain?

Researchers used MRI scans to estimate “brain age,” a measure that compares how old someone’s brain appears to be against their actual age. A higher “brain-predicted age difference,” or brain-PAD, means the brain looks older than it should — and that’s not a good sign. Earlier studies have linked higher brain-PAD to slower thinking, weaker memory, and greater risk of death.

In this trial, 130 healthy adults between the ages of 26 and 58 were split into two groups. One group stuck to their usual routines. The other followed a structured aerobic program based on public health guidelines: two supervised, 60-minute workouts each week, plus home sessions to reach about 150 minutes of aerobic exercise weekly.

After one year, the group that exercised saw their brain-PAD drop by an average of 0.6 years, meaning their brains appeared younger than when they started. In contrast, the control group saw a slight increase in brain-PAD — about 0.35 years older — but this change wasn’t statistically significant. The difference between the groups added up to nearly one full year.

“Even though the difference is less than a year, prior studies suggest that each additional ‘year’ of brain age is associated with meaningful differences in later-life health,” said Dr. Kirk I. Erickson, senior author and neuroscientist at AdventHealth and the University of Pittsburgh. “From a lifespan perspective, nudging the brain in a younger direction in midlife could be very important.”

The mystery behind the benefit

The study also measured changes in fitness levels, body composition, blood pressure, and levels of a brain-boosting protein called BDNF. Researchers hoped these might explain why the brain appeared younger, but none of them did.

“That was a surprise,” Wan said. “We expected improvements in fitness or blood pressure to account for the effect, but they didn’t. Exercise may be acting through additional mechanisms we haven’t captured yet, such as subtle changes in brain structure, inflammation, vascular health or other molecular factors.”

Midlife might be the sweet spot

Most research on brain health tends to focus on older adults, when signs of decline are already visible. This study focused instead on adults in their 30s, 40s, and 50s — a time when the brain is still relatively stable, but when habits may have long-term consequences.

“Intervening in the 30s, 40s and 50s gives us a head start,” Erickson said. “If we can slow brain aging before major problems appear, we may be able to delay or reduce the risk of later-life cognitive decline and dementia.”

What it means for you

The changes seen in the study were small, and the participants were relatively healthy and well-educated, so the findings may not apply to everyone. But the researchers say the results are encouraging — especially for people looking for simple ways to support brain health as they age.

“People often ask, ‘Is there anything I can do now to protect my brain later?’” Erickson said. “Our findings support the idea that following current exercise guidelines — 150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity — may help keep the brain biologically younger, even in midlife.”

The study was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Dr. Wan and Dr. Erickson are both part of the AdventHealth Neuroscience Institute in Florida. Erickson also previously served as a professor at the University of Pittsburgh and has published more than 350 papers on brain health and exercise.

Aerobic Exercise May Help Keep Your Brain Biologically Younger, New Study Finds

ESPN

Stan Wawrinka dug deep, fought cramps, and outlasted a 21-year-old opponent to make tennis history in what may be his final Australian Open.

In a gruelling five-set showdown that stretched 4 hours and 33 minutes — the longest match of the 2026 tournament so far — the 40-year-old Swiss veteran defeated French qualifier Arthur Gea 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3) on Thursday to reach the third round.

It’s a milestone not seen in nearly half a century. At 40 years and 310 days old, Wawrinka becomes the first man over 40 to reach the third round of a Grand Slam since Ken Rosewall did it at the 1978 Australian Open, aged 44.

The match was a test of endurance for both players, with Gea struggling with cramps in the final-set tiebreaker and Wawrinka leaning on decades of experience — and sheer will — to pull through.

“I’m exhausted!” Wawrinka said courtside after the win, grinning through the fatigue. “As I told you, it's my last Australian Open, so I'm trying to last as long as possible.”

The crowd at Melbourne Park, where he won the title in 2014, gave him the energy to keep going, he said. “Not only I had fun, but you gave me so much energy. I'm not young any more, so I need the extra.”

Wawrinka’s win wasn’t just historic for his age. It also marked the 49th five-set match of his Grand Slam career — more than any other male player in the Open Era. Known for his resilience and power, he has long been a fan favorite for his ability to thrive in tennis’ most dramatic moments.

As for how he plans to recover before facing ninth seed Taylor Fritz in the next round?

“I’ll pick up a beer,” Wawrinka joked, referencing a spectator who spilled one earlier during the match. “I deserve one!”

The 2026 season is Wawrinka’s farewell tour, but if Thursday’s match is anything to go by, he’s not going quietly.

A 40-Year-Old is Making History After an Epic Five-Set Win at the Australian Open

NBC News

Scientists in Indonesia have discovered what is now the oldest known cave art on Earth — a faint hand stencil dating back at least 67,800 years.

The reddish outline, found deep inside the Liang Metanduno limestone cave on Muna Island, off Sulawesi in eastern Indonesia, was created by a person who pressed their hand against the rock and blew pigment around it, leaving a silhouette.

That makes it more than 15,000 years older than the previous record-holder — a 51,200-year-old scene of human-like figures interacting with a pig, found in another Sulawesi cave by the same research team in 2024.

“This one image just completely blew that other one away,” said Adam Brumm, professor of archaeology at Griffith University in Australia and co-author of the study, published Wednesday in Nature. “It’s pretty extraordinary, because usually rock art is very difficult to date, and it doesn’t date back to anywhere near that old.”

Brumm and his colleagues — a joint team of Australian and Indonesian researchers — determined the stencil’s age by analyzing the mineral crusts that had formed on top of the painting over thousands of years. These crusts contain radioactive elements that decay at predictable rates, allowing scientists to calculate a minimum age.

The stencil appears to have been made by a human — possibly an ancestor of the first Australians — with reshaped fingertips that taper to a point. It’s one of several faded stencils the team uncovered after Indonesian rock art expert Adhi Agus Oktaviana noticed ghostly outlines hidden behind more recent cave paintings. “No one had ever observed them before. No one even knew that they were there,” said Brumm. “But Adhi spotted them.”

Most of the previously documented art in Liang Metanduno, a site open to tourists, features animals like chickens and is estimated to be around 4,000 years old. The newly found stencils had gone unnoticed for decades, likely because they’re so faint and were partially obscured by later artwork.

The discovery marks a significant shift in how scientists view the origins of human creativity. For years, European Ice Age cave art — found in France and Spain and dated between 30,000 and 40,000 years old — was thought to represent the dawn of sophisticated artistic expression.

Now, Brumm said, that assumption no longer holds. “It really just shows how long people have been making rock art in that part of the world,” he said. “It’s a very long time.”

It also fuels new debate over the migration timeline of early humans into Southeast Asia and Australia. Aboriginal Australians are widely believed to have arrived on the continent at least 50,000 years ago, but one archaeological site in Australia has been dated to 65,000 years ago. Brumm says this new finding strengthens that possibility.

“Now that we’re finding rock art dating to 67-68,000 years ago on the island of Sulawesi, which is essentially on Australia’s doorstep, it does make it considerably more likely that modern humans indeed were in Australia at least 65,000 years ago,” he said.

Researchers hope to find even older — and more complex — examples of cave art in the region, especially storytelling imagery. Much of Indonesia remains archaeologically unexplored, meaning more discoveries could still be waiting in the shadows.

For now, the faded red handprint stands as a reminder that the first sparks of human creativity may have flared much earlier, and in far more places, than once believed.

World’s Oldest Known Cave Art Found in Indonesia, Rewriting Timeline of Human Creativity

People

At 99 years old, Mel Brooks isn’t slowing down — he’s still cracking jokes, inspiring generations of comedians, and now, starring in his own documentary.

Mel Brooks: The 99-Year-Old Man! premieres January 22 on HBO, offering an intimate, two-part look at the life and legacy of the comedy legend behind The Producers, Blazing Saddles, and Young Frankenstein. It features fresh interviews with Brooks, his family, longtime friends, and comedy collaborators, along with a deep dive into archival footage from a career that’s spanned nearly eight decades.

Brooks believes his longevity isn’t just luck. It’s laughter.

“We all laughed a lot,” he told People, reflecting on his tight-knit bond with late comedy icons Carl Reiner and Sid Caesar, both of whom also lived into their 90s. “I think laughing keeps you healthy and happy.”

That joy has been the through line of Brooks’ life — from making his fellow soldiers laugh during World War II, to building a career that shaped modern comedy. “Making comedy is a great job,” he said. “It keeps you sane and happy. It gives you a reason to be alive.”

Born Melvin Kaminsky in Brooklyn in 1926, Brooks lost his father at age 2. His mother Kate raised four boys on her own, and Brooks credits her strength with shaping his own resilience. “She was an amazing example of courage,” he said. “What an example of a courageous life.”

That courage showed up early. At 17, Brooks enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in a combat engineering unit on the European front during the war. “I got through World War II as a soldier because I made my buddies in the Army laugh,” he said.

After the war, he turned his gift for humor into a groundbreaking career. He co-created Get Smart, won a screenwriting Oscar for The Producers in 1967, and in 1974 released Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein — two comedies that redefined the genre. His son, author Max Brooks, called Blazing Saddles “the first major anti-racist movie at a time when that was not cool,” adding, “My father had incredible courage; all his movies have incredible courage. My father is a true genius.”

Plenty of others agree. “Mel Brooks is the greatest of all time. The Rosetta Stone of comedy,” said Judd Apatow, who co-directed the new documentary. “We need wisdom from people like Mel who’ve lived so much.” His co-director, Michael Bonfiglio, called Brooks “a national treasure.”

The HBO film captures that wisdom, while still leaving room for plenty of laughs. In typical Brooks fashion, he jokes about any unfinished items on his bucket list: “I think I’ve done most of it,” he said. “But if I missed anything, it wasn’t my fault.”

Mel Brooks: The 99-Year-Old Man! airs Jan. 22 and Jan. 23 at 8 p.m. ET on HBO, with both episodes available to stream on Max starting Jan. 22.

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