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12-year-old Liam of Eldersburg, MD, is having his wish granted by the NHL’s Washington Capitals. Liam was diagnosed in December with aggressive brain cancer and wished to skate with the Capitals and meet his favorite Caps player, Lars Eller, through Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic. This is the moment he was told he'd be joining the team behind the bench. Want to make the world a better place? Share this video with friends and family!

12-year-old Liam of Eldersburg, MD, is having his wish granted by the NHL’s Washington Capitals. Liam was diagnosed in December with aggressive brain cancer and wished to skate with the Capitals and meet his favorite Caps player, Lars Eller, through Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic. This is the moment he was told he'd be joining the team behind the bench.

Watch: A Special Night For This 12-Year-Old Battling Cancer

Science Alert

A new study has found that certain immune cells in the brain can shift into a protective mode that slows the progression of Alzheimer’s disease — a discovery researchers say could open the door to new treatments aimed at harnessing the brain’s own defenses.

Scientists have long known that microglia, the immune cells that patrol the brain, are involved in Alzheimer’s. But their role hasn’t always been clear. Sometimes, microglia help by clearing away harmful proteins. Other times, they worsen inflammation and speed up damage.

Now, researchers led by neuroscientist Pinar Ayata at the Icahn School of Medicine say they’ve identified a special version of microglia that kicks in when these cells get close to the clumps of amyloid-beta proteins — the sticky plaques that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s.

“Microglia are not simply destructive responders in Alzheimer’s disease — they can become the brain’s protectors,” said Anne Schaefer, a neuroscientist at Icahn who co-authored the study. “This finding extends our earlier observations on the remarkable plasticity of microglia states and their important roles in diverse brain functions.”

In the mouse models used for the study, these protective microglia had two defining features: lower levels of a protein called PU.1, and higher levels of CD28, a molecule better known for its role in the immune system.

That specific combination seemed to matter. The microglia were not only better at slowing the buildup of amyloid-beta plaques but also reduced accumulations of another damaging protein called tau, which is also linked to Alzheimer’s.

When researchers genetically blocked the production of CD28 in mice, the results were dramatic: the number of harmful, inflammation-producing microglia increased, and amyloid-beta plaques became more common.

The finding backs up earlier studies showing that people with naturally lower PU.1 expression — due to genetic differences — tend to develop Alzheimer’s later in life than others.

“These results provide a mechanistic explanation for why lower PU.1 levels are linked to reduced Alzheimer’s disease risk,” said geneticist Alison Goate, also from the Icahn School of Medicine.

The protective state these microglia enter appears to be a kind of built-in defense system, one that slows the disease but isn’t strong enough to stop it completely. That’s where researchers hope future treatments can help — by boosting the number or activity of these protective cells.

It’s a promising lead, but one that still needs to be confirmed in humans. For now, the research is based on mouse models, and microglia in human brains may behave differently.

Still, the findings are part of a growing shift in how scientists think about Alzheimer’s. It’s not just a disease of the brain’s wiring — it also involves the immune system. And the body’s own cells may hold clues for how to fight it.

Alexander Tarakhovsky, an epigeneticist at Rockefeller University, said the research draws a fascinating link between immune behavior in the brain and the rest of the body. The modified microglia resemble regulatory T cells, which help control immune responses in other parts of the nervous system.

“This discovery comes at a time when regulatory T cells have achieved major recognition as master regulators of immunity, highlighting a shared logic of immune regulation across cell types,” said Tarakhovsky. “It also paves the way for immunotherapeutic strategies for Alzheimer’s disease.”

The study was published in the journal Nature.

Scientists Find That Brain’s Own Immune Cells May Help Hold Off Alzheimer’s

Science Daily

In one of the Amazon’s least-explored corners, a remote stretch of Bolivian wetland is rewriting what we thought we knew about human history in the rainforest — and offering powerful insights for its future.

The Great Tectonic Lakes of Exaltación, located in the department of Beni, may not be a household name. But this wetland region, part of the Llanos de Moxos and the UNESCO-recognized Río Yata Ramsar complex, is quietly revealing a sophisticated story of ancient innovation, environmental stewardship, and Indigenous resilience that spans more than a thousand years.

In September 2021, a multidisciplinary team of archaeologists, ecologists, and anthropologists embarked on a major expedition into this landscape. Organized by Bolivia’s Grupo de Trabajo para los Llanos de Moxos (GTLM), the team included experts from institutions like the Wildlife Conservation Society, Embrapa, the National Museum of Natural History, and the University of Bonn.

Their findings, published after multiple field seasons and extensive LiDAR mapping, document a region shaped as much by human hands as by natural forces. Raised agricultural fields, fish canals, geometric enclosures, and interconnected ditches dot the grasslands around tectonic lakes like Rogaguado and Ginebra — signs of generations of Indigenous communities engineering the land to work with water, not against it.

A Deeply Engineered Landscape
Archaeological sites like Paquío, Isla del Tesoro, Coquinal, and Jasschaja reveal a long, layered history of settlement. Radiocarbon dating shows that people lived here continuously from around 600 CE to at least 1400 CE. They built complex water management systems, cultivated maize and palms, and relied on a protein-rich diet of fish, reptiles, and mammals.

At Paquío, researchers found traces of early settlement followed by a more intensive phase around 1000–1200 CE, marked by dense ceramic debris and advanced wetland farming. Jasschaja, occupied in the 1300s, shows signs of even more extensive land modification and botanical diversity.

Their innovations weren’t one-size-fits-all. From rectangular ditches to circular ponds and elevated planting platforms, communities adapted their earthworks to seasonal flooding, ecological shifts, and social needs. The result: centuries of sustainable food production and water control in one of the planet’s most flood-prone environments.

Living Landscapes, Living Knowledge
These achievements didn’t vanish into history. The Cayubaba and Movima peoples still live here, and their knowledge remains central to the region’s cultural and ecological identity.

“Working with stingless bees, in some way, is working for that more profound purpose,” said Joaquim dos Reis Rodrigues, a beekeeper and smallholder in nearby Pará state, whose story echoes similar patterns of Amazonian stewardship.

During the pandemic-era fieldwork, researchers collaborated closely with the Cayubaba Indigenous Council — which represents 21 communities — to ensure cultural sites were respected and local priorities were centered in the research process. This relationship wasn’t just a formality; it reflected a broader view of archaeology as a tool for strengthening Indigenous rights and environmental justice.

Lessons in Resilience
Today, the Llanos de Moxos are under threat from the same pressures facing much of the Amazon: expanding agriculture, cattle ranching, deforestation, and climate change. But the ancient infrastructure buried beneath these savannas holds a different vision of land use.

Rather than clear-cutting forest or draining wetlands, the region’s past inhabitants developed strategies that embraced complexity. They worked with seasonal floods instead of resisting them. They grew food in raised beds above swampy soil. They wove together farming, fishing, hunting, and gathering into one adaptable system.

That knowledge is valuable now, say scientists and community leaders. It challenges modern assumptions about what “development” should look like — and reminds us that innovation doesn’t always mean extraction.

“These people didn’t just survive here,” said Daniel Santiago, an Embrapa researcher who has studied Amazonian stingless bees and agroforestry systems. “They thrived by listening to the land and understanding its cycles.”

Protecting What Remains
The wetlands of the Llanos de Moxos still perform vital ecological functions. They store carbon, support wildlife, and moderate the flow of rivers that stretch across the continent. Their continued health depends not just on fences or park boundaries, but on the survival of the human relationships that have shaped and cared for them.

That’s why the GTLM project aims to link archaeological research with conservation, placing Indigenous stewardship and biocultural heritage at the center of Amazon sustainability planning.

As the Amazon faces intensifying pressure, the quiet, grassy plains around Bolivia’s tectonic lakes offer a rare and timely message: The rainforest isn’t just a place of untouched wilderness. It’s a living archive of how people and nature can thrive together — if we listen.

Archaeologists Uncover Ancient Human Innovations in Bolivia's Amazon Basin

BBC News

Weymouth looked a little more magical than usual this weekend as hundreds of people in pointy ears and red-and-green costumes flooded the seaside town, hoping to break the world record for the largest gathering of elves.

From stormtrooper-turned-elves to hand-knit pom poms, the effort was serious—but despite the turnout, the UK couldn’t quite topple Thailand, the current record holders with 1,762 elves.

“The record was 1,762 people and we got the numbers but just in the wrong order,” said Dawn Rondeau-Irvine, a local business leader who helped organize the attempt. Still, she’s hopeful Weymouth can try again in 2026.

The whimsical parade saw elves of all ages led through the town by stilt walkers and Santa in his sleigh. Registration kicked off at Weymouth Pavilion, where aspiring elves had to pass a costume check before being issued a wristband. Those not quite elf-ready were sent to the ear-making workshop or to get make-up help.

Some participants took things to the next level. Heather and Andy, visitors for the second year in a row, combined their love for cosplay with the holiday spirit. “Andy has taken his spare stormtrooper and turned it into an elf,” said Heather. “He’s done some upgrades this year with added lights.”

Lorraine, a local, topped her elf hat with mistletoe and shared a quick kiss with Santa. “Only a small one,” she clarified with a laugh.

For others, the prep started long before December. Three staff members from the Winchester School of Art said they had spent “months and months” planning their outfits. Claire, who grew up in Weymouth, brought her colleagues to her hometown for the event. “We even knitted our own scarves and all the pom poms that go on the end,” she said. “It took hours but it was so much fun.”

Participants traveled from across the UK, including Wales and Yeovil, to be part of the festive record bid. Even though the title slipped through their fingers this year, the spirit of the day was undeniable.

And with a few more elf ears and pom poms, Weymouth just might clinch the crown in 2026.

This Town Was Overrun by Elves in a Festive World Record Attempt

Walk into what used to be a typical charity shop in parts of Greater Manchester or Lancashire and you might think you’ve stepped into a boutique instead.

That’s exactly what Ashira Denab was going for. The interior design graduate and charity shop manager in Northenden decided to throw out the old-school layout and turn her store into the kind of space she’d actually want to shop in.

“People tell us they like it and they have never been in a shop like it,” she said. And clearly, it’s working — she and her assistant, both in their 20s, have seen profits double.

It’s part of a wider rethink happening across the UK, where charity shops are moving away from the mismatched rails and cluttered corners many associate with secondhand stores. Instead, they’re leaning into stylish interiors, curated stock, and a focus on customer experience.

Take Poulton-le-Fylde in Lancashire, where the charity Trinity Hospice has rebranded one of its shops as Attire. Located in the heart of the market town, it’s filled with high-end menswear and well-stocked bookshelves. But you wouldn’t necessarily know it’s a charity shop from the outside.

“It’s quite urban. It’s quite funky,” said Paul Guest, Trinity Hospice’s head of retail and volunteer services. “So a lot of people like it because it doesn’t look like a traditional charity shop.”

Nora Masefield, who lives nearby, agreed. “I didn’t know what it was at first, I was pleasantly surprised,” she said. “It looks nothing like the average charity shop — they used to look like jumble sales.”

Attire’s “urban masculine” theme, complete with props and mood lighting, was designed to fill a gap in the town after high street retailers pulled out. According to Guest, menswear has long been underserved in charity shops, even though it sells for more on average than women’s clothing. “We had a lot of customers over the years who say we never had enough,” he said.

Now, Trinity Hospice is cherry-picking the best menswear from its warehouse for the Poulton location and doing the same with women's fashion for its other shops in Lytham and St Annes.

“It’s a totally different concept and people like it,” said shop manager Ash Kochar, who has two decades of retail experience. “Although we are a charity shop, we have brought menswear and a bookshop to a town which doesn’t have them any more.”

Not everyone can afford the higher-end items. Sarah Bullough, a 20-year-old student, said some of the clothes were “a bit pricey,” but she and her friends still browse for books, DVDs, and CDs. “You can get some good bargains,” she said, holding a copy of Four Weddings and a Funeral.

Guest said takings are up and that better-quality displays are drawing better-quality donations. He’s now working on another store in Great Eccleston that will resemble a Charles Dickens-style curiosity shop. “I’ve had a preview and it looks amazing,” he said.

Elsewhere in Greater Manchester, Rick Hartley, retail and income generation manager for Age UK, is also pushing boundaries. With shops in Didsbury and Northenden, Hartley was given “free rein to be creative and a bit artistic” — and he ran with it.

His Northenden shop, a modern glass-fronted space, was envisioned as a “statement building,” and Denab was the perfect person to bring it to life. She wanted to make it a place that felt personal, not generic.

Hartley says innovation is the future of charity retail, especially as high street footfall continues to shift. “I quite like cheap charity shops,” he admitted, “but what I’ve noticed is that the really cheap ones don’t seem to last.”

The reinvention is helping charity shops compete not just with fast fashion but also with online resale platforms. With stylish interiors and curated stock, they’re appealing to a younger crowd while staying true to their mission: raising funds and cutting waste.

And if the results are anything to go by, it’s a strategy that’s paying off.

Used Clothing Shops are Rebranding as Designer Stores, Boosting Sales and Surprising Shoppers

A Christmas tree rental service in rural Leicestershire has become so popular that it’s had to stop taking new orders weeks before the holidays.

Alastair and Diane Lucking, who run Love a Christmas Tree from their four-acre farm in Kirkby Mallory, say 2025 has been their busiest season yet. The couple, now in their 70s, started the business nearly a decade ago as a post-retirement project—and it’s grown well beyond their expectations.

“It’s quite a buzz,” said 72-year-old Alastair. “Seeing their faces light up when they see their trees coming back again. That is fantastic.”

The idea is simple: instead of buying a tree each year, customers rent one. It’s delivered to their home before Christmas, then picked up and returned to the farm, where it’s cared for until the following season. The trees—mostly Nordmann firs imported from Denmark—are planted in pots and reused year after year.

The Luckings had to stop taking new orders more than two weeks ago after surpassing 300 customers. “It has been adopted and accepted by families, businesses, pubs—it is really amazing how people have bought into what we are trying to achieve,” Alastair said.

When they launched in 2016, there were only a handful of tree rental businesses across the UK. Now, the idea has taken off as more people look for eco-friendly alternatives to traditional tree buying.

The inspiration came after what Alastair called an “epiphany moment.” The couple were already managing a plot of land that had previously hosted animals, and they wanted a project that would be stimulating in retirement. Their sons, who live in the US, advised against going too big—but the couple now have more than 7,000 trees on site. At their peak, they’ve had as many as 15,000, though many are still maturing and not yet ready for rental.

The rental trees start at £30 for the smallest size, and customers can choose their preferred height. Once the holidays are over, the trees are collected, maintained, and prepped for the next year—a process Alastair compares to a lawn care service.

“If they can find someone that can look after their tree for them—it is a shrink wrap process,” he said. “It is an environmental approach. They know that the tree is going to come back year after year.”

And that sustainability aspect is a major draw for many of their repeat customers. Instead of tossing out a tree every January, renters get the same tree back the next season, growing alongside their family.

“It’s rewarding,” said Alastair. “It keeps the brain going, and it’s something that’s doing some good.”

This UK Christmas Tree Rental Business Halts Orders After Record-Breaking Season

Bow Jackson knows pressure. Whether it’s charging into a burning building or leading a team out onto the pitch, the Exeter City captain is used to high-stakes situations. But for her, it’s all about perspective.

“If it’s a big game, I’ve got to try and relax and remember I’m not going to a fire – no one’s going to die,” she said.

Jackson has spent the last seven years working for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, first as a personal trainer and now as a full-time firefighter at Danes Castle Fire Station in Exeter. Alongside that, she’s also captaining Exeter City’s women’s team, who have climbed to their highest level ever – the third tier of the women’s game – since she joined in 2022.

The two roles couldn’t be more different on paper, but Jackson says they complement each other. Firefighting, with its intense physical and emotional demands, has sharpened her mental resilience on the football field. Football, with its tactical challenges and team dynamics, has made her a more adaptable firefighter.

“I’m probably exposed to pressures more than most people,” she said, “but it doesn’t mean I’m indestructible.”

Her career has included stints at Plymouth Argyle and Yeovil Town in the Women’s Super League, plus a season at Calgary Foothills in Canada. But it’s now, with Exeter, that she says she’s enjoying football the most.

That said, the demands of juggling both jobs can take a toll. “If it’s a quiet week, then actually you can manage the pressure quite well,” Jackson explained. “You’re still getting your sleep, you’re still getting the moments with friends and family.”

But when work picks up – long shifts, overnight calls, and training sessions crammed in between – it’s not always easy to maintain top performance.

“It really has an impact on that recovery and that ability to function at your highest capacity,” she said.

Her colleagues in the fire service call her “Guppy,” a nickname from her early days at the station. On the pitch, though, she’s seen as the veteran – the one younger players look up to.

“I’m learning so much from all my colleagues in the fire service,” she said. “But at football, I’m the one that people are asking questions of, so I’m trying to transfer those skills across the two.”

She sees a common thread in both roles: teamwork and problem-solving.

“In reality, both as a firefighter and footballer, I always try and solve problems with my team.”

Exeter City’s women’s side has seen record attendance figures in recent years, a sign that the club’s momentum is real. And with Jackson as captain, they’ve continued their rise through the football pyramid.

Despite her unusual double life and the praise she gets from fans and parents, Jackson plays down the idea of being a role model.

“I’m just being me,” she said. “I’m just turning up and doing my job or turning up and doing my job as a footballer.”

That hasn’t stopped people from letting her know she’s had an impact. “I’ve had a load of people speak to me and say how much that I’ve inspired their kids or inspired them and that’s fantastic and it’s really nice to hear,” she added. “I don’t want to take that for granted in any way, shape or form.”

This Soccer Captain Balances Firefighting Duties With a Pro Football Career

CTV News

Emma Mazzenga isn’t your typical 92-year-old. She’s a world-record-holding sprinter, still lacing up her spikes and flying down the track.

The Italian runner shot to international attention in 2024 when she shattered the 200-metre world indoor record for the over-90 age group, clocking in at 54.47 seconds. This June, she set a personal best of 50.34. “I just like the competition,” Mazzenga told CNN Sports. “And even now, maybe a little less than in the past, I still feel tense before each race.”

Her story has drawn interest not just from sports fans, but from scientists eager to understand how someone her age continues to perform at such a high level.

Mazzenga wasn’t always an elite athlete. As a teenager, she played basketball and later competed in university athletics. But after graduating, life took over. She married in 1963 and spent the next 25 years focused on work and raising a family, putting competitive sports aside.

It wasn’t until 1986, at age 53, that she returned to training. Since then, she’s been remarkably consistent, working with a coach and training three times a week. “Initially a couple of hours, now one hour a day,” she said.

Inside her Padova apartment, the walls are lined with medals from decades of Masters competitions. One of her favourites is from Sacramento in 2011, where she won the 400-metre W75 race — her first world title.

She doesn’t follow a strict diet. Breakfast is often a ham or salami sandwich. Lunch includes a modest portion of pasta — 30 or 40 grams — followed by meat or fish and vegetables. Dinner is usually light. She enjoys a daily glass of red wine, walks to the market, reads in the afternoon, and frequents a nearby cinema. “At five in the morning, I’m awake,” she said. “I never stay a whole day in the house unless the weather prevents me from going out.”

That daily movement, she believes, is key. “This is important. This is how it should be continued. And above all – do not isolate yourself,” she said.

Her remarkable physical condition caught the attention of Simone Porcelli, a physiology professor at the University of Pavia, who invited her to participate in the TRAJECTORAGE Project — a long-term study tracking the decline of neuromuscular function in healthy adults over 60.

Led by researchers from several Italian institutions and supported by international partners in the US and Spain, the study is trying to pinpoint when and how age-related physical decline begins, and what role exercise might play in slowing it down.

Martino Franchi, one of the scientists leading the project from the University of Padova, said the team was especially interested in Mazzenga’s resilience. “As we age, we get slower… So what we want to understand with this study is: is there a point in our life where things start to go downhill?”

Mazzenga, the oldest and most active participant in the study, has become the team’s “cherry on the cake.” Her physiological data offers a rare glimpse into what’s possible late in life. When researchers tested her 18 months ago, they found her cardiorespiratory fitness matched that of someone in their 50s. Even more astonishing, the mitochondrial function in her muscles — the parts responsible for producing energy — was comparable to a healthy 20-year-old.

This month, Mazzenga returned to the lab for another full day of testing. Scientists took a muscle sample from her quadriceps to examine cell structure, blood supply, and energy production. She underwent cardiovascular stress tests, ultrasounds, and evaluations of leg strength and oxygen efficiency.

She had aged, as expected. But compared to the average 92-year-old, the decline was minimal. That’s exactly what the researchers are trying to unpack.

“(Mazzenga) will give us a reference point that we will use as a comparison to look back… and understand if the same traits that we see on Emma can be found on some people,” said Franchi. “And if those are related to either, you know, like somebody that found the Fountain of Youth… or if this is related to exercise and physical activity.”

Mazzenga remains modest. She continues training three times a week, but says movement is more than just a routine — it’s a mindset. She avoids isolation by attending local community groups, reading, and staying socially active. “We meet with different topics, we read some books… so that we can find each other. It is very, very, very important.”

She may not have found the Fountain of Youth. But in her case, the science of aging is running to catch up.

At 92, She's Breaking World Records — and Rewriting The Science of Aging

When Meghan Jenkins noticed her energetic toddler Malachi wasn’t himself in March 2021—tired, coughing, with black stool—she trusted her instincts and rushed him to the ER. Hours later, doctors delivered the diagnosis that would change everything: acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer.

He was just 3 years old.

“In that moment, you question God,” Jenkins said. “This was my only child… and then I had a big hit.”

Malachi’s white blood cell count was more than ten times the normal level, and the cancer had already taken hold. He was quickly admitted to the pediatric ICU and started on intense chemotherapy. The treatment was hard. Malachi regressed in potty training, grew weak, and was too immunocompromised for his mother to touch without gloves.

“There were days I didn’t even think I was going to go on, but I had to,” Jenkins said. “It was stressful. It was depressing, constantly being in there.”

For the first month, Malachi remained in the hospital. After that, he continued chemotherapy from home—taking eight medications a day and still spending much of his week at the hospital. The “maintenance phase” followed, stretching over two years of oral medication and hospital visits every few weeks.

But in August 2023, two and a half years after that terrifying ER visit, Malachi rang the bell signifying the end of his treatment.

“You look at him, you can’t tell he ever had leukemia,” said Dr. Julio Barredo, director of pediatric cancer programs at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. “For all practical purposes, he is pretty much cured at this point in time.”

Now 7, Malachi is in remission—and thriving. He’s a big reader, loves sharing facts, excels in his gifted classes, and still roots for the Miami Dolphins. His immune system is still recovering, but his doctors say his prognosis is excellent. After passing the crucial two-year post-treatment mark without relapse, the odds are now firmly in his favor.

“This whole process was very hard. It’s still hard,” Jenkins said. “But there is a brighter situation. There are happier days than just being in the hospital and being sad.”

For Malachi and his mom, those days are finally here.

Toddler Defies Odds After Doctors Predict Just 3 Years To Live

People

Netflix Unwraps Five Brand-New Christmas Movies for 2025 — Here’s What to Watch

Netflix is delivering a sleigh-full of holiday cheer this season, with five new Christmas movies premiering throughout November and December 2025. Packed with snowy settings, cozy small towns, second chances at love, and even a department store heist, the lineup offers something for every kind of festive mood.

Here’s your ultimate guide to Netflix’s newest holiday movies — from rom-coms to rescue missions:

🎄 A Merry Little Ex-Mas
Premiere Date: November 12
Starring: Alicia Silverstone, Oliver Hudson, Jameela Jamil, Pierson Fode

Eco-conscious architect Kate (Silverstone) and her soon-to-be-ex Everett (Hudson) plan to spend one final Christmas together before finalizing their divorce. But things spiral when Everett shows up with his glamorous new girlfriend (Jamil), and Kate arrives with a much younger rebound (Fode). What follows is a tangled mess of old feelings, awkward moments, and holiday hijinks. As tensions rise — and snow falls — the exes are forced to ask themselves: is it really over, or does love deserve a second chance?

🍷 Under the Mistletoe at Château Cassell
Starring: Minka Kelly, Tom Wozniczka

When high-powered American executive Sydney (Kelly) is sent to France to secure a prestigious family-owned vineyard before Christmas, she expects a quick deal — not a romantic detour. But when she meets Henri (Wozniczka), the charming son of the vineyard’s owner, her heart begins to compete with her business instincts. With snow-dusted vines and sparkling wine as the backdrop, Sydney must choose between closing the deal or opening herself up to love.

🛍️ Jingle Bell Heist
Starring: Olivia Holt, Connor Swindells

Set inside a lavish London department store during the holidays, this romantic caper follows Sophia (Holt), a retail clerk moonlighting to support her ailing mother, and Nick (Swindells), a former security pro trying to rebuild his life. Together, they hatch a bold Christmas Eve heist — but things get complicated when feelings start to interfere. Is the biggest score love itself?

🎅 My Secret Santa
Starring: Alexandra Breckenridge, Tia Mowry, Ryan Eggold

Single mom Taylor (Breckenridge) lands a job as a resort Santa to get discounted snowboarding lessons for her daughter — but to do so, she disguises herself as “Hugh Mann,” a bearded Kris Kringle with a secret. Her no-nonsense boss Natasha (Mowry) is suspicious, and Taylor finds herself falling for Matthew (Eggold), the resort owner’s son. With her cover at risk, Taylor must decide if the truth — and love — is worth unwrapping.

🎁 The Night My Dad Saved Christmas 2
Starring: Ernesto Sevilla, Unax Hayden, Santiago Segura

The father-son duo from The Night My Dad Saved Christmas is back — and so are the holiday shenanigans. This time, Santa’s been kidnapped by a toy company CEO with bad intentions. With Christmas on the line (again), Salva (Sevilla) and Lucas (Hayden) race against time to save the day. Expect gadgets, snowball fights, and lots of laughs in this festive family sequel.

Whether you’re in the mood for stolen kisses or stolen goods, Netflix’s 2025 Christmas lineup has all the ingredients for a cozy holiday binge. So queue up the hot cocoa, grab a blanket, and let the festive marathons begin.

Netflix Unwraps Star-Studded Holiday Movie Lineup For 2025

The Guardian

Across the UK, a new kind of stress relief is drawing crowds: rage rooms. For £50 or so, customers suit up in protective gear and spend 30 minutes smashing bottles, TVs, plates, and furniture in a safe, controlled environment.

It’s loud. It’s messy. And it’s wildly popular.

“We can’t keep up with demand,” said Amelia Smewing of Smash It Rage Rooms in south-east London. She and her husband started the business after exploring ways to help their son manage PTSD. Now, they’re at capacity and eyeing a second venue.

Their customers vary widely—from teenagers referred by therapists to groups of women celebrating breakups. According to Rob Clark at Urban Xtreme Ltd, the rage room is now one of their fastest-growing attractions.

“The feedback we get is consistently good,” Clark said. “It gives people a safe, constructive way to release pent-up anger and frustration. For some, it’s genuinely improving their mental wellbeing.”

Some youth care homes even bring teenagers in regularly, and a handful of therapists reportedly refer clients when traditional therapy isn’t cutting it.

Lucy Bee, who runs Rage Rooms Leamington Spa, says her typical customer is “a woman in her early 40s with a good job, a couple of kids—someone who's just at breaking point.”

“A lot of women are permanently teetering, living in survival mode,” she said. “And this gives them a way to just let it out.”

Bee, who has a background in holistic therapy, says many of her clients carry shame and guilt about feeling angry. Rage rooms, she believes, offer a non-judgmental space to feel something—without having to apologise for it.

And yet, not everyone is sold.

What the science says

Experts in psychology and behavioural science warn that smashing things may not be the healing breakthrough it appears to be.

Dr Sophie Kjærvik, a researcher at the Norwegian Center for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, co-authored a major review on anger and catharsis. Her conclusion: smashing things might actually increase feelings of rage, not reduce them.

“You’re activating your body in a way that your brain can interpret as that you’re getting more angry,” she said. “Meditation, mindfulness, muscle relaxation—these are far more effective ways of managing anger.”

Dr Ryan Martin, a psychology dean at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, said the appeal of rage rooms is understandable—but potentially misleading.

“It feels good, so people assume it’s good for them,” Martin said. “But so do other things like drinking and overeating, and they’re not great coping strategies either.”

Professor Brad Bushman of Ohio State University echoed that concern: “When people feed their anger in these rage rooms, they’re just practising how to behave more aggressively.”

Still, many find value—if not resolution

Smewing disagrees. “Just because they’ve smashed up the air fryer at the rage room doesn’t mean they’re going to go home and smash up the air fryer in their kitchen,” she said. Her point: it’s a controlled space, not a model for everyday behaviour.

Psychologist and author Suzy Reading takes a more balanced view. She acknowledges that rage rooms can provide a short-term release, but warns they don’t address root causes.

“If there isn’t an understanding of what caused the anger, then we just go back into our home lives and work lives and nothing changes,” she said. “And for a lot of women, [the cause is] going to be unmet needs.”

Reading suggests anger shouldn’t be suppressed—but neither should it be left unexamined. “We want to regulate our nervous system so that we can articulate well. Then we can actually do something about what’s making us angry.”

A noisy release, but no magic fix

On a recent visit to a rage room, one participant described the experience as more chaotic than cathartic. “I’m smashing wine bottles and laughing at myself,” they said. “But I don’t enjoy the noise, and I’m thinking more about the mess than anything else.”

For some, that might be enough—a laugh, a break, a bit of space.

But for those hoping to find lasting peace by swinging a crowbar at a microwave, the science says: maybe look deeper.

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