How a Stuffed Animal Inspired a Christmas Project For Seniors in Need

Nine years ago Patricia Gallagher decided to call two nursing homes at random and offer to read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' to the residents. She brought some of her kids' stuffed animals with her for the seniors to hold while she read, but when it came time to leave, nobody wanted to give them back! Seeing the power of a simple gift, Patricia put an ad on Craigslist asking for gently used stuffed animals. Now, every year she collects thousands of donated toys and brings happiness (and warmth!) into nursing homes all over Philadelphia.

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Sting is Making a Big Donation to a Local Arts Center, Says He Has a Lifelong Debt to Its Creative Spirit

Sting has credited the art galleries and music venues of his youth with sparking the dream that led him to global stardom — and now, he’s giving back. The Wallsend-born musician has made an undisclosed donation to support the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead, backing a £10 million Endowment Fund to ensure “creative futures on Tyneside.” Speaking ahead of an intimate fundraising concert at the venue, Sting reflected on how the arts opened doors for him growing up in north-east England. “I didn’t want to work at the shipyard, I didn’t want to work in the coalmine,” he told the BBC. “I had no idea [what I wanted], but art gave me some sort of clue as to what I would aspire to be.” As a teenager, he would venture across Newcastle to watch Jimi Hendrix at the Club a’Gogo, catch black-and-white European films, or hear Andrés Segovia perform with the Northern Symphonia. “There was this exposure to something that was outside of what was offered to me,” he said. “It lit a fire.” Now 74, Sting described himself as “a curious child” who found hope and identity through art. The Baltic, which he remembers as a flour mill from childhood visits to the quayside with his father, has since become a symbol of cultural renewal — and he’s proud to support it. “I never imagined that building would become a world-famous contemporary art gallery,” he said. “It’s free to enter, and our future artists will come from this place.” Sting emphasized the importance of accessible creative spaces, especially for young people who might not see a future in the industries around them. He also urged fellow “successful Geordies” to help sustain the region’s cultural life. The former Police frontman also reiterated his criticism of government cuts to the arts, calling them a “short-term solution, but a long-term false economy.” “Britain punches well above its weight in storytelling — the world loves our songs, our plays, our art,” he said. “But the shop floor for that is in galleries and music venues.” He called the north-east a “hotbed of talent” that deserves more investment, not less. For Sting, giving to the Baltic is more than a donation — it’s a tribute to the venues that shaped him, and a vote of confidence in the next generation of artists waiting in the wings.

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Mindfulness in Schools Is Helping Students of Color — and One Program Is Leading the Way

Across the U.S., schools are turning to mindfulness, meditation, and yoga to help students manage stress and support their mental well-being. And research shows these tools may be especially impactful in communities with fewer resources — including schools serving more students of color. In Atlanta, that impact is being felt firsthand. Thanks to support from GreenLight Fund Atlanta, school systems across Georgia are adopting a program called Inner Explorer — an audio-based platform that guides students and teachers through daily five- to 10-minute sessions of breathing, meditation, and self-reflection. It’s now being used in Atlanta Public Schools and more than 100 districts across the country. The goal: make accessible mental health support part of the school day — especially for Black youth, who face a growing mental health crisis. According to the CDC, the suicide rate among Black youth surged by 144% between 2007 and 2020 — the fastest rise of any racial group. But mental health professionals are in short supply — and even more so for psychologists of color. “There are not enough psychologists of color,” said Joli Cooper, executive director of GreenLight Fund Atlanta. While mindfulness doesn’t replace professional care, educators say it’s helping. Teachers at Roberta T. Smith Elementary School in Atlanta told the Associated Press that incorporating Inner Explorer into the classroom has made a noticeable difference. And students are feeling it, too. “I love myself how I am,” said 9-year-old Aniyah Woods. “But Inner Explorer just helps me feel more like myself.”

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Scientists Discover Remarkable Viability in 4,000-Year-Old Buried Wood

A 3,775-year-old log unearthed in Quebec is offering scientists a surprising clue in the fight against climate change — and it involves burying wood. Discovered in 2013 under six feet of clay in Saint-Pie, Quebec, the ancient eastern red cedar was recently carbon-dated after being dried for nine years. Remarkably, it had retained 95% of its original carbon, suggesting that burying biomass could significantly slow decomposition and lock away carbon for thousands of years. “The wood was carbon-14 dated to be 3775 ± 35 years old,” researchers noted in a new study published in Science, calling it “direct evidence for the viability of wood burial as an approach for carbon removal and durable storage.” The implications are significant. Photosynthesis removes over 220 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide from the air annually, but most of it reenters the atmosphere through natural decay. Burying even a small portion of trees, plants, or other organic matter could drastically reduce emissions — and do so cheaply. Current estimates suggest that the burial method could cost between $100 and $200 per 1.1 tons of CO₂ in the first decade, dropping to $30–$100 after scaling. By comparison, traditional direct air capture costs range from $100 to $300 for the same amount. Other emerging technologies include a Minnesota-based reactor that turns captured carbon into a coal-like substance, and a Bill Gates–backed startup producing plant-based bricks for carbon storage. Researchers are now studying how different soil and wood types affect results. They see wood burial as a potentially scalable, nature-based solution — one that could also bring economic benefits to forest communities. “In practice, it can be incorporated into a sustainable forest management plan,” the study said, “providing a new income source for a struggling industry and local communities around the world.”

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Literal CAT Scans: 3 Big Felines Undergo Checks to Pinpoint Source of Mobility Issues

Three big cats underwent literal CAT scans at an animal sanctuary in Kent, England, in a recent effort to pinpoint the source of “unexplained and persistent mobility issues.” The Big Cat Sanctuary released this footage, which shows residents Luca, a four-year-old Amur tiger, Django, a 10-year-old mainland clouded leopard, and Mo, a four-year-old Southern African cheetah, undergoing specialist CT (or computed tomography) scans inside a mobile medical unit. “All three have experienced intermittent lameness or stiffness in their limbs, a complex issue that has so far evaded traditional diagnosis,” the sanctuary wrote in a press release. “The advanced CT imaging was deployed as the next level of non-invasive investigation to reach the root cause of their discomfort.” The animals were first safely sedated, then, once immobilized, gently moved to the medical unit to carry out the day’s procedures. “Following their scans, the three wild cats were transported back to their respective habitats whilst still sedated, where the anesthetic was reversed to facilitate a safe and monitored wake-up,” according to the press release. The images were expected to be analyzed by specialist veterinary radiographers who would provide a detailed report and, if necessary, prescribe a course of treatment.

Brave Rescuers Save San Francisco Dog From Cliff Edge After 20-Minute Ordeal

A dog in San Francisco is safe and back with his owner after a terrifying fall off a cliff at Fort Funston on October 28 — thanks to a coordinated rescue by local firefighters and police. The brown and white dog had been playing with another pup near the oceanfront cliffs when he slipped and fell, landing on a narrow ledge about 40 feet down. Fort Funston’s rugged terrain includes bluffs that drop as far as 200 feet to the beach below, making the situation especially dangerous. According to officials, the dog clung to the ledge for roughly 20 minutes before help arrived. A San Francisco police drone operator who happened to be in the area spotted the stranded animal and called in for assistance. Soon after, crews from Fire Station 19 arrived and set up what they described as a “high-angle rigging system” to reach and recover the dog. Video released by the San Francisco Police Department shows rescue teams carefully lowering a harness and hoisting the 40-pound dog back up to solid ground, waves crashing below as the tense operation unfolded. “He was happy. He knew he got rescued. He was wagging his tail. He was giving everyone kisses,” Rescue Captain Samuel Menchaca told the Associated Press. Despite the fall, the dog was not injured. The San Francisco Fire Department confirmed he was “conscious, alert, and able to walk on his own after being brought to safety.” Menchaca used the opportunity to remind people to exercise caution in areas with unmarked paths and sudden drops, especially when accompanied by dogs or children. “You may think that it’s a little berm or a hill, but it is a significant drop,” he said. Firefighters have performed multiple rescues in the Fort Funston area over the years, and while they're trained for situations like this, Menchaca emphasized that prevention is key. “One of the best ways to not get hurt on these cliffs and our beautiful seaside parts of San Francisco is to stay on the marked paths,” he said. The dog’s grateful response — tail wags and kisses for his rescuers — was a happy ending to a potentially tragic situation, and a reminder of the dangers lurking just off the trail.

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Teen Fixes And Donates Over 500 Computers To Help People In Need

What started as a hobby for Sam Nadol — fixing broken computers he found at a recycling center — has turned into a life-changing mission for hundreds of people. As a middle schooler in Westchester, New York, Nadol began collecting discarded electronics, repairing them, and flipping them on Craigslist. By the time he was 12, he had already refurbished eight computers — and each one sold within hours. But Nadol wasn’t just looking to make a quick buck. When he entered high school, he discovered a $600 student grant program and used it to launch Reboot PC, a school project that grew into a full-fledged nonprofit. His first official donation came through Roger Battacharia, a volunteer with Ossining Padres Hispanos, a local group focused on educational opportunities in the Hispanic community. Through that connection, Nadol donated a dozen computers. “Sam brings computers where they’re desperately needed,” Battacharia said. “That would have been another several thousand pounds of electronics in a landfill.” Since then, Nadol has donated hundreds of devices to people and places where access to technology is limited — including students in Haiti and, most recently, Ukrainian refugees in Brooklyn, New York. In August 2024, he began his freshman year at Purdue University, where he’s studying computer engineering. Just a few months later, he celebrated a major milestone: donating his 500th computer. “I get thank-you letters from recipients saying my computer helped them get a job or keep in touch with family,” Nadol said. “Being able to make an impact in people’s lives is the most rewarding part of what I do.” From fixing his first broken laptop as a middle schooler to bridging the digital divide for families around the world, Nadol’s journey shows just how far a simple idea — and a lot of dedication — can go.

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Scientists Discover Method To Grow Diamonds Without Heat Or Pressure

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a surprising new way to make artificial diamonds—using nothing but carbon-based molecules, a bit of clever chemistry, and a tightly controlled electron beam. In a study published in Nature, Professor Eiichi Nakamura and his team revealed how they successfully converted a material called adamantane into nanodiamonds, all without the high pressures or extreme heat typically needed for diamond formation. “This is the ultimate demonstration that electrons do not destroy organic molecules but let them undergo well-defined chemical reactions,” Nakamura said. For the chemist, this breakthrough marks the end of a 20-year scientific pursuit. A low-pressure path to diamonds Traditionally, diamonds are made under conditions that mimic the Earth’s mantle—crushing pressure, searing temperatures—or grown with chemical vapor deposition, a method requiring special gas chambers. Nakamura’s team took a very different approach. They focused on adamantane (C₁₀H₁₆), a cage-like hydrocarbon whose carbon atoms are already arranged in a structure similar to diamond. To turn adamantane into actual diamond, the team had to remove hydrogen atoms (C-H bonds) and stitch the remaining carbon atoms into a solid diamond lattice. Theoretical models had predicted this reaction might be possible, but most scientists assumed it would never work in practice. “The real problem was that no one thought it feasible,” Nakamura said. Watching diamonds form in real time The team used transmission electron microscopy (TEM)—a tool that can image atoms—to bombard tiny adamantane crystals with electron beams ranging from 80 to 200 kiloelectron volts. The reactions occurred in a vacuum chamber, at temperatures as low as -173°C (100 K). This setup allowed them to observe the transformation as it happened: the adamantane chains slowly fused into near-perfect nanodiamonds, roughly 10 nanometers across. The process even released hydrogen gas, a clue that the chemical pathway was working as expected. Notably, other hydrocarbons didn’t yield the same result, highlighting adamantane’s unique structure as the key to success. Not just diamond-making—new doors for science The implications go far beyond diamond production. Because the team could control the process and watch it unfold in real time, this technique may transform how scientists study chemical reactions at the atomic scale. TEM, once thought too destructive for organic compounds, is now showing potential as a tool for building molecular structures. There are also potential applications in fields like electron-beam lithography, materials science, and quantum tech. The researchers suggest this process could even explain how diamonds form naturally in meteorites or uranium-rich rocks, where similar irradiation may occur over long timescales. In the future, this method could also help in fabricating doped quantum dots—tiny semiconductor particles crucial to quantum computing and advanced sensors. A long road to a glittering finish For Nakamura, the discovery is a personal triumph. Since 2004, he’s been chasing the idea that electrons, under the right conditions, could guide rather than destroy complex molecules. “Computational data gives you ‘virtual’ reaction paths, but I wanted to see it with my eyes,” he said. Now, with one of Earth’s hardest and most iconic materials forming under a microscope, that vision has become crystal clear.

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'Supergirl' Turns 10: How The Arrowverse Series Paved The Way For James Gunn's DC Universe

James Gunn’s Superman might be promoting kindness as the new rebellion, but that message has already flown across our screens — cape and all — thanks to Supergirl. Long before David Corenswet’s Clark Kent lifted hopeful heroism back into the spotlight, Melissa Benoist’s Kara Danvers was showing us what it really means to lead with compassion, vulnerability, and heart. Premiering in 2015, Supergirl began as a standalone series on CBS before joining The CW’s interconnected Arrowverse in its second season. At the time, DC’s cinematic universe was chasing gritty realism with a darker, more brooding Superman, while Supergirl went in the opposite direction — all sunshine, sincerity, and sleeves-worn emotions. It was a show unafraid to be earnest. Kara Zor-El wasn’t just fighting aliens and supervillains; she was wrestling with identity, responsibility, and belonging. Was she Kara Danvers, the journalist with a messy apartment and deep friendships? Kara Zor-El, the last daughter of Krypton? Or Supergirl, the symbol of hope? The show didn’t shy away from the fact that she was all three — and that her humanity, not her powers, was her greatest strength. “I love her humanity,” Benoist said in an interview before the show’s debut. “She is an alien, [but] I love that she really has a lot of discovering to do, and growth, and makes mistakes. I think she's so relatable, and I just want to stay true to that.” That approach became the foundation of the show. Sure, there were world-ending threats and sci-fi spectacle, but Supergirl always found time to explore what it meant to be kind — especially when it was hard. Whether she was facing Lex Luthor’s manipulation, the rise of the anti-alien Children of Liberty, or the isolation that comes from being “other,” Kara never let hate dictate her path. She stood up, again and again, for what was right — not because she was bulletproof, but because she believed people could be better. It’s a message Gunn echoes in Superman, where hope isn’t a corny afterthought but the whole point. His take on the Man of Steel leans more toward Tyler Hoechlin’s warm, goofy Superman from Supergirl and Superman & Lois, rather than the grim, conflicted version in Zack Snyder’s DC films. It’s no coincidence. If Supergirl taught us anything, it’s that superheroes can still be symbols of optimism without sacrificing depth. That’s why Supergirl resonated. It wasn’t about building a cinematic universe or stacking cameos (though it eventually had its share). It stayed focused on character — and Kara’s arc always led back to one question: How do you lead with compassion when the world gives you every reason not to? The answer: You just do. By the time the show wrapped its six-season run, it had donated its entire beating heart to the Arrowverse. It proved that kindness isn’t weakness. It’s power. It’s punk. And it’s what sets heroes apart from everyone else — not just their strength, but their refusal to give up on others. So while Milly Alcock’s Supergirl may be headed in a different direction in Gunn’s evolving DC Universe, Benoist’s legacy is already part of its DNA. Her version of Kara reminded audiences that empathy is a superpower. And in a world where being earnest feels countercultural, Supergirl was quietly revolutionary. Before kindness was punk rock, Supergirl was already in the band.

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These Nurses Just Saved a Passenger's Life While Flying To Abu Dhabi For New Jobs

Two Indian nurses headed to the UAE to begin new medical careers found themselves performing life-saving CPR at 30,000 feet — before they even started their first day of work. Abhijith Jees, 26, from Wayanad, and Ajeesh Nelson, 29, from Chengannur, were on their first-ever international flight when the emergency unfolded on board an Air Arabia flight from Kochi to Abu Dhabi on October 13. “It was like someone gasping,” Jees said. “When I looked, I saw a man unresponsive. I checked his pulse, but there was none. I knew he was in cardiac arrest.” The 34-year-old passenger, from Thrissur, had suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. Jees immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while alerting the flight crew. Within moments, Nelson joined him, and together they performed two rounds of CPR until the man regained a pulse and began breathing again. “When I saw him move, I felt a deep sense of relief,” Jees said. “It reminded me that we carry our responsibility wherever we go.” A doctor on the flight, Arif Abdul Khadir, also stepped in to assist. The trio stabilised the patient, started IV fluids, and monitored his condition until the flight landed safely in Abu Dhabi. “When we saw him respond, it felt like a blessing,” Nelson said. “It was our first journey abroad, and to be able to save a life before even starting our new jobs felt like the best welcome we could have received.” Both men had worked as staff nurses in Kerala and were travelling to begin new roles as registered nurses with Response Plus Medical, a subsidiary of the UAE’s largest emergency medical provider, Response Plus Holding. Dr Mohamed Ali, medical director of RPM Projects, said the incident showed how vital rapid intervention is during cardiac emergencies. “In any cardiac arrest, every second counts,” he said. “Early recognition and prompt CPR can make the difference between life and death, whether it happens mid-flight or on the ground. What these two nurses did reflects the very essence of medical readiness and teamwork.” The passenger was reported to be in stable condition after being treated by the airport medical team upon arrival. His family later shared a message of gratitude: “We cannot thank these nurses enough. They were strangers to us, yet they gave our loved one another chance at life. Their kindness and courage will always stay in our prayers.” For Jees and Nelson, the experience was more than a dramatic welcome to their new country — it was a powerful reminder of why they entered the profession. “We came to the UAE to start our careers,” said Nelson. “Saving a life on the way made us realise what this profession truly means.” “You never expect something like this to happen,” Jees added. “But when it does, you just do what you are trained for. That morning in the sky will stay with us forever.”

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Woman's Wheelchair Has Crazy Horsepower...Literally

A Belgian equestrian with a passion for the outdoors found a quirky way to get around as she recovered from a bicycle accident that left her temporarily unable to walk or ride horses. Footage here shows wheelchair user Samantha Salmon, an equestrian teacher, being pulled by a horse harness-racing-style through the streets of a sleepy suburb of Liege. “This stallion has received many years of training,” Salmon told Storyful. “He responds with great precision to voice commands and works here in a halter.” “Life reminded me of its fragility through an incident that could have ended much worse,” she said of the September bike accident that injured her. “I was trying to rediscover a bit of a zest for life and this wonderful stallion helped me with that.”