Scientists Are Hoping Lab-Grown Coral San Save the Florida Keys Reef

Scientists are working to save the world's third-largest coral reef, which is threatened by an outbreak of stony coral tissue loss disease. They have moved some species hundreds of miles away to a lab in Orlando, where they are working to simulate breeding conditions. The task of relocating the lab-grown coral to the sea is delicate and painstaking, but scientists hope it will be worth it in order to save this endangered ecosystem.

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The Best From Around The World This Week

From Olympic Housing to Ocean Guardians: 20 of the Week’s Best Good News Stories From repurposed Olympic housing in Milan to a potential Nobel Prize for the planet, here are the most uplifting stories this week, proving that progress is happening all around us — even if it doesn’t always make the headlines. After the 2026 Winter Olympics wrap up in Italy, the main athletes' village in Milan will be converted into student housing, with 1,700 beds including subsidized units for locals. Another village in Cortina will be removed entirely to restore the site to nature. The move reflects a broader shift in how host cities are thinking about sustainability and long-term legacy. Meanwhile in Oklahoma, a longtime school bus driver is knitting custom winter hats and scarves for every child on her route. Tina Hutcherson has already handed out 25 hats, using a knitting machine her daughter gave her. “I just don’t want nobody to be without,” she said. One of the biggest stories this week came out of Detroit, where 88-year-old grocery store worker and veteran Ed Bambas received over $1.7 million in donations after a viral video revealed he had lost his pension and was still working to pay off debt. More than 50,000 strangers contributed. Another remarkable act of generosity: a San Jose couple opened their home to 50 strangers fleeing a nearby mall shooting. “They were like angels,” said one person who found shelter. In global health, a new report shows measles deaths have dropped 88 percent since 2000, saving nearly 59 million lives, thanks largely to vaccinations. Africa stood out for making even more progress, with a 40 percent decline in cases in just five years. On the clean energy front, Connecticut’s Solar Marketplace Assistance Program has funded $145 million in solar projects across schools, towns, and housing developments typically overlooked by private investors. Despite its small size, the state now ranks fifth nationwide for solar power in schools. Portland, Oregon, just approved over $64 million in clean energy grants for 60 nonprofit-led projects. The city’s voter-backed Portland Clean Energy Fund has now committed $1.7 billion to nonprofits tackling everything from sustainable housing to electric vehicle access. And while the debate often pits emotion against reason, a new study shows that empathy and logic together are what most often drive people to help others. That’s also true online: the simple act of opening a browser tab through “Tab for a Cause” has now raised over $2 million for charity. On the philanthropy front, billionaire MacKenzie Scott announced she donated $7.1 billion in 2025 alone — almost triple her previous year’s giving. Most of her donations are no-strings-attached and focused on equity-based causes. Also in the works: a campaign led by climate activists is pushing the Nobel Committee to create a Climate Nobel Prize. Tree-planting nonprofit Ecosia even offered to fund the first €1 million prize if the committee agrees. Other highlights from the week: .• New fossils in Qatar show that “sea cows” like manatees and dugongs have been quietly protecting ocean ecosystems for tens of millions of years. • A Denver middle school cut chronic absenteeism after offering incentives like getting to “pie a teacher.” • U.S. museums and libraries are getting their federal grants reinstated, after previous cuts. • Delta is giving out gift cards to 100,000 people who commit small acts of kindness. • Mexico is raising its minimum wage by 13 percent and planning to limit the workweek to 40 hours by 2030. • This year’s Rhodes Scholars include students focused on housing, health, and sustainability. • Over 230 environmental groups are calling for a national pause on new energy-hungry data centers. • Chile banned smartphone use in schools to improve focus and mental health among kids. • Girls Who Code has now reached 760,000 students, half from underrepresented groups. • New York City tied its record for the longest stretch without a homicide, and saw its lowest-ever number of shootings in 2024. • A major coal-fired power plant in Utah shut down operations with no disruption to energy users. • In India, 118 million women are now receiving unconditional cash transfers for unpaid domestic work. • A Colorado city invested $21 million in affordable housing this year, its biggest-ever one-year commitment. • A gene-editing cancer therapy reversed aggressive blood cancers in some patients, with one still in remission years later. • A Detroit restaurant transformed itself into a full-time art gallery to support Black artists. • A 3D-printed, plant-based surfboard company is reducing microplastic pollution in oceans. • A local school district in Colorado is teaming up with Habitat for Humanity to build affordable homes — and teach students skilled trades at the same time. • A grassroots climate group is supporting local political candidates in city and state elections. • After 16 years of work, volunteers helped red squirrels return to northeastern Scotland. • Finally, in a feel-good moment for London wildlife, white storks are expected to return to the city after being extinct there since 1419.

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Rescue Team Saves Hiker From Quicksand in Utah's Arches National Park

It turns out quicksand isn’t just a cliché from Saturday morning cartoons — it’s a real hazard, at least sometimes, in Utah’s Arches National Park. An experienced hiker found that out the hard way last Sunday when he sank up to his thigh in wet, shifting sand while crossing a small canyon. He was on the second day of a 20-mile backpacking trip when he became stuck and couldn’t free himself. Stranded and alone, he activated an emergency satellite beacon. The distress call was relayed to Grand County Search and Rescue, and coordinator John Marshall got the call just after 7 a.m. “I was just rolling out of bed,” Marshall said. “I’m scratching my head, going, ‘Did I hear that right? Did they say quicksand?’” The hiker wasn’t officially named by authorities, but he spoke with Fox13 and identified himself as Austin Dirks. “Before this trip, I honestly thought quicksand was more of a folklore or a legend,” Dirks told the outlet. Dirks had stumbled into a section of wet sand that refilled as quickly as he could dig it away. A park ranger who arrived first had tossed him a shovel, but the flowing muck made self-rescue nearly impossible. Temperatures in the canyon were in the minus-single digits Celsius — and Dirks had been standing in the freezing slurry for hours. Rescuers arrived with a drone, traction boards, a ladder, and backboards. They used the drone to scout the scene, then slowly worked Dirks’ leg free using the boards and ladder for stability. Once free, he was warmed up until he could stand — and remarkably, he hiked out under his own power, carrying his backpack. Dirks later described the experience as very different from the way it’s shown in movies. “The human body is more buoyant than the quicksand, so you’ll never sink to above your head,” he said. Marshall backed that up, explaining that while quicksand can be dangerous, full-body submersion is more myth than reality. “In quicksand you’re extremely buoyant,” he said. “Most people won’t sink past their waist.” Marshall should know — he’s dealt with quicksand rescues before. Back in 2014, he helped rescue a 78-year-old woman who got stuck for over 13 hours in a canyon just two miles from where Dirks had his ordeal. The woman’s book club raised the alarm after she missed a meeting. They found her car at a trailhead and alerted authorities. She made a full recovery. “Both had very happy endings,” Marshall said. Quicksand in Arches National Park may be rare, but it’s not unheard of. The park is better known for its stunning red rock formations and its more than one million visitors a year. Most rescues involve heat exhaustion, broken bones, or lost hikers — not slow-sinking sand traps. Even so, 2025 has been a busy year for the Grand County Search and Rescue team. According to a Facebook post earlier this month, they’ve responded to 140 calls so far this year, racking up nearly 2,900 volunteer hours. Among the more unusual rescues: a canyoneer who got her hair stuck in a rappel device and a couple trapped in their Jeep after trying to drive through a flooded road. As for Dirks, he’s got a story that sounds like it came straight out of a movie — only this time, it’s real.

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Grinch, Grotto, and Giving: Families Hand Out Free Food and Gifts for Christmas Kindness

A Nelson, England, family known for decking their house with dazzling lights and a towering inflatable Grinch are once again giving back to the community in a big way—by handing out dozens of free food hampers and Christmas presents to families who need a little extra help this season. Joanne and Andrew Bridge have been running their festive display and giveaway since 2022, after their grandchildren encouraged them to go big with the Christmas decorations. What started as a fun way to light up their street has quickly grown into a full-fledged community event, complete with marshmallow toasting, Santa’s grotto, and a meet-the-Grinch photo opportunity. “We recognise things are hard for people,” said Joanne. “We just wanted to offer something free, something fun, something that helps.” Their event—dubbed The Bridges Who Stole Christmas—is entirely free to attend, and this year the couple set a goal of giving away 80 food parcels over the holidays. They've already handed out 41 in the first week alone. The Bridges’ neighbours, the Meadway family, joined the effort in 2023 and now host Santa’s grotto. Together, the two families have created a festive pop-up unlike anything else in the area. “There’s nothing ever like this around Nelson,” said Courtney Fielding, who brought her kids to the event on Wednesday. “It’s amazing. It’s nice for the community how they do it for free.” In addition to their eye-catching display—which includes a two-storey inflatable Grinch looming over the hedge—the Bridges put together food hampers filled with staples like pasta, coffee, and cereal. The food is packed into washing-up bowls, wrapped in clear plastic, and tied with ribbon. Each one carries a note that reads: “Merry Christmas. In a world where you can be anything, be kind. From our family to yours. #merrybridgemas.” While many visitors offered to donate money, Joanne said the family wasn’t interested in financial gain. Instead, they asked for food donations to help fill the hampers. “We just go with smiles and joy and we are happy to be helping people out,” she said. “It can be quite emotional for some, some embarrassment, but we just want to make it feel normal, generous, and kind.” On the gift-giving side, the Meadways have distributed dozens of presents to families who might otherwise struggle to put gifts under the tree. They've already given away 13 toy packages, with another five scheduled to go out before Christmas. “There’s no judgement,” said Andrew Meadway. “They can come and take what they need for their families. And that way, no kid should go without a present this year.” For kids like Niveya, the experience is pure magic. “It’s really good, and it’s amazing how they put it up,” she said. “It looks really good.” Siblings Benjamin Samuel and Billy agreed. “It’s amazing, it’s proper good,” said Benjamin. “It’s good to make kids happy,” added Billy. The final event of the year will take place on Wednesday evening from 18:30 to 19:30 GMT. The families hope to hand out the rest of their hampers before Christmas, continuing a tradition that has quickly become one of Nelson’s most uplifting holiday stories.

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This Reporter Covering a Routine Assignment Just Got the Surprise of a Lifetime: A Marriage Proposal

A Des Moines reporter got the surprise of her life when what she thought was a routine assignment turned out to be her own engagement. KCCI’s Pepper Purpura arrived at the Robert D. Ray Asian Garden in downtown Des Moines believing she was there to cover a story. Instead, she found her partner, Kai, waiting with a ring—and a camera crew ready to capture the moment. The station revealed that the proposal had been in the works for weeks, with Kai coordinating behind the scenes with the KCCI news team to pull off the perfect surprise. The setup meant that cameras were rolling without raising any red flags, and the snowy park served as the ideal backdrop. “Our own Pepper Purpura is engaged! And we got the proposal on camera,” said KCCI anchor Ben Kaplan during the evening broadcast. Video footage shows Kai dropping to one knee as a stunned Purpura takes in what’s happening. Her expression quickly shifts from shock to joy before she says yes and the couple shares a warm embrace. “Everyone involved was excited to play a part, and I’m so glad that it all worked out,” said KCCI executive producer Tisa Tollenaar. “And, of course, that she said yes.” KCCI also shared a photo of the ring: a black marquis-cut gemstone surrounded by white stones on a gold band, a non-traditional choice that stood out just as much as the proposal itself. Kaplan had high praise for his colleague and her new fiancé. “Pepper is like the sweetest, kindest person, and so good on Kai for making a proposal worthy of a girl like Pepper! So, really happy for you guys — Kai, welcome to the KCCI family!” he said. The newly engaged couple now has a proposal video that doubles as a top-tier news segment—and a moment neither of them will forget.

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This Café Owner Tries to Sing His Way Into the Record Books — One Christmas Song at a Time

GLoucester’s historic docks are getting a little extra cheer this week, thanks to a café owner with a big voice and an even bigger goal: to break the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous singing of Christmas songs. Dave Purchase, who runs the toasted sandwich café On Toast, is attempting to sing holiday tunes non-stop for 42 hours straight. That’s 38 songs, repeated 18 times each — from midnight on 10 December to the evening of the 12th. Why do it? Purchase said it was part stunt, part community spirit. “I really want to bring the world record to Gloucester,” he said. “A real community event here.” The idea started as a way to help the city’s docks draw in more foot traffic. “I’ve worked at On Toast for 15 years,” he said. “I wanted to try something mad.” He started training for the challenge back in January. “All the way through summer... anybody who passed my flat probably thought there was some nutcase in there,” he joked. The singathon began on schedule, but a technical hiccup forced him to restart about half an hour later. Since then, Purchase has been working his way through the marathon playlist, supported by a rotating cast of choirs and costumed characters. A local dementia choir and a children’s choir are helping lift his spirits along the way. So are members of the public — many dressed as characters from popular Christmas songs. That includes appearances from the Wombles and a Mariah Carey impersonator. The rules set by Guinness are strict. Purchase is only allowed a five-minute break every hour, or he can earn a 20-minute break by singing non-stop for four hours. Between songs, he gets just 20 seconds to catch his breath. He’s being closely monitored at all times. Two official timekeepers are with him at all hours, and the entire event is being filmed with a visible clock to verify the attempt. Despite the grueling schedule, Purchase says the support from his community has made it doable. “The team helping me have been brilliant,” he said. “They’ve been working tirelessly... without them I couldn’t have done this.” If successful, Purchase will bring the record to Gloucester — and spread more than just holiday cheer. He hopes the festive feat draws attention and visitors to the area during the busy season. With songs on repeat and the clock ticking, the local sandwich-maker-turned-record-chaser is banking on stamina, support, and a steady stream of Christmas classics to get him across the finish line.

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How the Mariachi Rams Are Changing the Sound of the NFL

At SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, the pregame roar of 70,000 football fans is punctuated by something unexpected — the opening notes of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train,” not from a guitar amp, but a trumpet and guitarrón. Perched on the concourse above the field, Crystal Hernández steadies her violin as fans wearing blue-and-gold Rams jerseys pass by. Some wear charro suits and sombreros. A rock guitarist rips a solo while her mariachi ensemble locks in behind her. Phones come out. Fans stop in their tracks. This is what NFL game day sounds like in Los Angeles now. The Mariachi Rams are the league’s first official mariachi band, and they’re rewriting the soundtrack of American football by blending traditional Mexican music with the hip-hop and rock beats that define the city. At any given game, you might hear mariachi versions of Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny, Beyoncé — or Tupac. “It’s special because we get to show how versatile mariachi music is to the NFL audience,” said Crystal Hernández, the ensemble’s only female member and the daughter of mariachi legend José Hernández. José founded the group in 2019 after a Rams staffer showed him a video of a mariachi band performing at a soccer match and asked: “Could this work for football?” He didn’t hesitate. Today, the Mariachi Rams are a 10-piece ensemble performing everything from “El Rey” to a brass-heavy take on “California Love.” For Hernández, it’s all about pride and passion — and representing a city with no single sound. “The things that come out of our communities, all of our communities, we all represent each other,” said rapper Xzibit, who performed with the USC Marching Band during halftime of a Rams game against the Buccaneers. “To be brought into something where culture is embraced on that level — that’s when you feel like you’re part of something that matters.” José Hernández’s vision for the Mariachi Rams was about more than just performance. It was about cultural fluency — making sure the sounds of Los Angeles were reflected inside its biggest stadium. “When they see young musicians on that jumbotron at SoFi playing songs they completely connect with, you can’t even imagine the pride they feel,” he said. The band features Santiago Espinoza on vihuela, Mateo Real on guitar, Joshua Gutierrez on guitarrón, Kevin Ramirez and Christopher Rubalcava on trumpet, Crystal Hernández, Adrian Arias, Ricardo Rios, Ricardo Cisneros, and Joaquin Telles on violin. Many of them spend their weekdays far from stadium lights. Some are teachers, graphic designers, bankers, or classical musicians. Several teach at the Hernández family's mariachi academy. On Sundays, they step into the spotlight. “They have careers, their regular jobs during the week,” said José Hernández. “For them to put on that suit and to go to SoFi and to play … you just can’t imagine the pride that they feel.” That pride shows up in the crowd, too. Espinoza, who plays the vihuela and teaches music, says people often stop to tell them it was their first time hearing mariachi live — and that they loved it. “The energy and the vibe that it gives is just electric,” Espinoza said. “Even the players on the field notice… the whole stadium is interconnected. It’s like a big family. We like to call it the Ramilia.” The Mariachi Rams perform three times during home games: once when the gates open, again during the first quarter, and later depending on the game’s pace. They’ve also expanded into community events and team activations around Los Angeles. Earlier this month, they joined the band War for a holiday rendition of “Feliz Navidad” at SoFi. Marissa Daly, the Rams’ senior vice president of studio and marketing, said the band has become so integrated into game day that fans notice when something’s off. “There was maybe one game where we had to cut one of their performances,” Daly said. “It was like, ‘Why did they only play twice?’” Other NFL teams have taken note. The Houston Texans now include mariachi in their cultural programming, but the Rams were the first to build it into the game-day routine. That decision aligns with the NFL’s broader strategy to reach more diverse and global audiences. In Los Angeles, mariachi is more than tradition — it’s part of everyday life. It’s heard at quinceañeras, parades, weddings, and even championship celebrations. Bringing that sound into the NFL wasn’t about importing culture. It was about showcasing what was already there. “Our main logo is the two letters ‘Los Angeles.’ It’s LA, right?” said Daly. “You can’t not celebrate Mexican American culture if you’re an Angeleno.” For Crystal Hernández, the moment is personal. She’s the only woman in the band, and the first in seven generations of her family’s musicians to do it at this level. She says being on that stage is about more than just performing. “It makes people feel seen,” she said. “It makes them feel excited to see that their home team, the Rams, recognizes that and embraces it.” Her father sees it as a starting point. “I think it’s the beginning of a movement in the NFL,” said José Hernández. “If these teams know they have Latino fans supporting them, they’re going to think of bringing mariachi too.”

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Supergirl’ Trailer Teases a Flawed, Gritty Hero—and a Reluctant Journey into Heroism

The trailer for Supergirl just dropped, and DC Studios followed it up with a press conference featuring star Milly Alcock, director Craig Gillespie, and DC boss James Gunn. Together, they broke down what fans can expect when Kara Zor-El arrives in theatres this June—and what makes this version of the character so different from anything DC has done before. For Gillespie, best known for directing Cruella and I, Tonya, taking on Supergirl wasn’t a stretch—it was an extension of the kinds of messy, complicated protagonists he’s always been drawn to. “I was very interested because I love James’s work. I love the tone,” Gillespie said. “I feel a kinship there with a sensibility with what I like to do and what James has done. And the idea that they were going to now take over the studio felt like a huge opportunity.” Gunn and Peter Safran, now co-heads of DC Studios, were the ones who greenlit the project—and it was Kara’s imperfection that sealed it for them. “That’s really what spoke to me, both in the book and in the script,” Gunn said. “A lot of times for some reason, our female superhero leads are just so much more perfect than our male [ones].” But in Supergirl, he added, we meet “somebody who was just so imperfect and such a mess but just really a beautiful soul.” Alcock, best known as young Rhaenyra on House of the Dragon, brings that rawness to the role. She was invited to audition after her breakout performance on the HBO series. And like her character, she arrives in the story with scars. “Supergirl, compared to Superman, she’s had a completely different upbringing,” Alcock explained. “She was brought up on a planet that was dying. Everyone that she’s ever known and loved is dead. She’s got a very big wall up and she’s very skeptical of people. And Clark is the opposite of that. He’s very overtly trusting. He expects the good in people. He’s had a very sheltered life, and he’s also pretending. Kara never pretends. If she’s not feeling well, you will know.” That honesty—emotional and physical—is what Alcock leaned into on set. She recalled people being moved to tears just seeing her in costume. “Not only for myself, but for all of the people who’ve spent years of their [lives] trying to get this film up and made, and what it will mean to other young girls and other young women coming to see this movie,” she said. “Because I think she’s so flawed, and I think we really need a flawed hero.” Gillespie praised Alcock for bringing that balance of toughness and vulnerability. “There’s a real punk quality to it, and Milly just embraced all of it. It’s so effortless for her to dive into that role and do it with a certain sense of compassion underneath, but you can feel the vulnerability; you can feel the fractures in what she’s struggling with, but she still has a toughness to it. And it’s a tricky dance.” The film draws heavily from the Tom King graphic novel Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, adapted by Ana Nogueira. Gillespie said the screenplay hooked him within the first two scenes. “The adaptation of that was just so beautifully done. And honestly, I read the first two scenes of the film and the extremes of what is happening—it encompasses the whole movie.” Without spoiling too much, Gillespie described Kara’s journey as something far more emotionally weighty than Clark Kent’s. “The script really went to some hard and difficult places for the character, for the audience, and really has a lot of soul-searching involved and surprises you with the dark places that it ends up landing in.” According to Gunn, the film plays with the idea of Kara trying not to be a hero. “It is fun watching the movie because she’s going in and out of these planets with red planets and yellow planets,” he said. “Superman’s powers [and] Supergirl’s powers don’t work on a red planet. They’re just ordinary human beings.” That sense of being human—and wanting to avoid the mantle of hero altogether—is central to Gillespie’s vision. “She doesn’t want the role. When we meet her, she’s, in a very hard way, running away from it and in her own space. And she gets dragged very reluctantly into the world of having to be a superhero.” Even the fight scenes reflect Kara’s emotional state, Gillespie noted. “Where she is in the story dictated a lot of how these fight sequences go. So if she’s in a very angry place, it’s going to be a much more frenetically messy, aggressive kind of camera work. If she’s feeling in the zone, so to speak, the camera work gets more fluid.” For Alcock, Kara’s journey toward accepting herself is what makes this version stand out. “She doesn’t want to be a hero until the end of the movie, and then she’s like, ‘I have to be this,’” she said. “I think that what Supergirl represents for young women, especially, is that you can be flawed. And you don’t have to be perfect in order to come to some internal self-resolution.” Gillespie added that his career has always gravitated toward underdogs, and this version of Supergirl fits that mold. “There’s been this consistency of outsiders as leads that I’m attracted to and underdogs, and Supergirl is all of that. And she doesn’t want to take on the role. She’s got a lot of demons that she’s dealing with. So from a character standpoint, I really related to it. I think she’s doing everything not to be Supergirl.” That makes Supergirl less about capes and punches, and more about identity. And if the trailer is any indication, the team behind it is ready to bring a grittier, more emotionally grounded take to the DC universe. Supergirl hits theatres in June.

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United Nations Recognizes Swiss Yodelling as World Cultural Heritage

Yodelling, the centuries-old singing tradition rooted in the Swiss Alps, has officially been added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The announcement came Thursday during a UNESCO meeting in New Delhi. Switzerland’s culture ministry celebrated the move, calling yodelling “the emblematic song of Switzerland” and describing it as “deeply rooted in the population.” Unlike previous UNESCO bids that involved cross-border efforts — such as the successful 2020 application with France to recognize Jura mountain watchmaking — Switzerland submitted the yodelling nomination on its own. Yodelling is also practiced in parts of Austria and Germany, but it holds a special place in Swiss culture. More than 12,000 Swiss yodellers are registered with the country’s Federal Yodelling Association, which includes over 700 local groups. The vocal technique involves alternating between chest and head voice, using syllables without meaning that often reflect regional dialects. It’s typically passed down within families, community clubs, or music schools, and is just as likely to be taught informally between singers. “Natural yodelling consists of melodies without lyrics,” the ministry said, while “yodelling songs combine verses and refrains and often touch on nature and everyday experiences.” Whether performed solo, in small ensembles, or as part of larger choirs — and sometimes accompanied by instruments like accordions — yodelling remains a vibrant part of Swiss life, featured at concerts, festivals, and singing competitions. These performances are often paired with regional costumes, adding another layer of cultural identity to the music. UNESCO’s recognition is likely to bolster efforts to preserve and promote the tradition, which has long echoed through the Alpine valleys and now finds itself officially protected as part of the world’s shared cultural heritage.

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She Flew 7,000 Kilometres for a First Date — And It Just Might Be Love

The holidays can feel extra lonely when you're still looking for love. But Dallas comedian and actress Theresa Rowley decided to take a leap—and a long flight—to change that. After weeks of online chats and FaceTime calls with Sean Rooney, a man from Longford, Ireland, Rowley boarded a plane and flew more than 7,000 kilometres for their very first date. “Terrified,” she admitted, when asked how she felt before meeting. “But I felt in my gut it was a safe situation.” Rowley, who shares much of her life online with thousands of followers, says that despite her growing platform, fame hasn't exactly made dating easier. “It was difficult, and it was quite lonely,” she said. “So I focused on other things, being creative.” That changed when Rooney sent her a message. “He shot me a message, and it was a nice compliment, in that creative Irish way,” Rowley said. “I’d see Theresa pop up online and I’d think, ‘This girl is funny,’” Rooney recalled. “I figured it couldn’t hurt to try.” Just in case, Rowley brought a friend along for the trip. But once the pair met in person, the nerves melted away. “He just seemed to understand me,” she said. “I just knew it was going to be something.” Rowley began documenting their relationship online, and the story quickly went viral. It even caught the attention of Ireland’s media and tourism department, which later flew her back for another visit at no cost. Rooney has since made the trip to Texas, sampled brisket and Buc-ee’s, and joined Rowley’s family for Thanksgiving. “The difficult part is not being able to reach out and touch that person,” Rooney said of their long-distance setup. “But it hasn’t prevented us from getting to know each other well.” A 2025 global study found that one in six couples now meet online—a 21 percent increase since 2010. Rowley and Rooney are one of them. For now, the couple is taking things day by day, enjoying what they’ve found and sharing it openly in the hope that others might take the same leap. “We never saw this coming,” Rowley said. “Don’t give up,” Rooney added. “You just have to believe there’s another connection out there for you.”

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750-year-old “mortar Wreck” Takes Center Stage at Newly Reopened Poole Museum

What began as a hunch from a local charter boat skipper has turned into one of the most important maritime discoveries in England’s recent history — and now it has a permanent home at the Poole Museum. Known as the “Mortar Wreck,” the remarkably well-preserved remains of a 13th-century cargo ship were discovered off the coast of Dorset in 2020 by skipper and scuba diver Trevor Small. The site, long dismissed by experts as underwater debris, turned out to be England’s oldest known protected wreck with a surviving hull. Now, the shipwreck is the focus of a brand-new gallery at the Poole Museum, which reopened last month following a multi-million-dollar renovation. Located about 185 kilometers southwest of London, the museum is giving visitors a rare look at life — and death — at sea nearly 800 years ago. “This is the kind of story you can’t help getting sucked into,” said collections officer Joe Raine. “Hopefully [visitors] start to see a little of themselves in those people from 800 years ago.” Dating to around 1250 C.E., the Mortar Wreck was carrying a heavy load of Purbeck stone — including limestone gravestone slabs and grinding mortars — when it sank just a mile from shore in Poole Bay. The vessel is a classic example of a “clinker” ship, built using overlapping wooden planks. Tree-ring analysis shows the wood likely came from Irish oak felled between 1242 and 1265, though its exact place of construction remains unknown. The ship’s demise is still a mystery, but experts believe the heavy cargo may have contributed to its sinking — especially if the vessel ran into stormy weather shortly after leaving Poole Harbour. “It’s close enough to swim to shore, but, in stormy weather, it could have been fatal,” said marine archaeologist Hefin Meara of Historic England. After centuries under water, the Mortar Wreck was protected by layers of sand, stones, and low-oxygen water, which helped preserve the wooden hull and its cargo. Since the discovery, maritime archaeologists from Bournemouth University, including Tom Cousins, have been diving and excavating the site. Among the items recovered are cooking cauldrons, limestone mortars, and two massive gravestone slabs in unusually good condition. One features a wheel-headed cross, popular in early 13th-century England, while the other bears a splayed arm cross design typical of the mid-century. The slabs weigh 154 and 440 pounds respectively and may have been coffin lids or crypt monuments intended for high-status members of the clergy. “They’re remarkably well preserved,” said Cousins. “The 13th century is the heyday of the marble industry — you won’t find a church or cathedral that doesn’t have Purbeck marble in it.” The stone, technically a type of limestone formed from freshwater snail shells, is locally known as “Purbeck marble” because of its ability to polish to a glossy finish. It was widely used in medieval Britain and across Europe in religious monuments and major buildings such as the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey. The Mortar Wreck has now taken its place alongside other important maritime finds at the Poole Museum, including an Iron Age logboat discovered in 1964 and artifacts from the nearby Swash Channel Wrecks and Studland Bay. The new exhibit also coincides with the wreck’s recent appearance in a new episode of the Time Team archaeology series. As for Trevor Small, the man who first suspected there was something more beneath the waves, his instincts have now helped reshape the historical record. What was once mistaken for underwater “rubbish” is now a centerpiece of national heritage — a shipwreck that not only tells a story of trade, craftsmanship, and tragedy, but also connects today’s visitors with the people and priorities of medieval England.

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