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This One-Year-Old Just Met the Stranger Who Donated an Organ to Save Her Life
A 1-year-old girl named Emma Murphy who was diagnosed with a life-threatening liver condition shortly after birth has been able to meet the woman who saved her life. Last November, an anonymous donor stepped forward and donated a piece of her liver to Emma. Emma's donor was Lori Seitz, a stranger to the Terao-Murphy family who became a second-time donor when she gave a piece of her liver to Emma. The two recently met for the first time on Seitz's birthday, and Seitz was able to hold Emma,
Score (97)
How Independent Theaters are Thriving With Community And Creativity Amid Industry Challenges
For generations, movie theaters have been places of laughter, escape, and community. But with streaming reshaping habits and ticket prices climbing, small independent cinemas are finding that survival requires more than nostalgia — it demands reinvention. Kevin Smith’s big-screen rescue In Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, filmmaker Kevin Smith — the mind behind Clerks and Mallrats — stepped in to save the very theater where his love of movies began. He bought the struggling venue in 2022, renamed it Smodcastle Cinemas, and transformed it into a hub for film lovers. “I learned more about myself sitting in this theater than I ever did sitting in a classroom or church,” Smith said. “It led me to the rest of my life.” But running a movie theater, even for a Hollywood name, proved no easy feat. “Saving my childhood theater with my friends? Dream come true, worst financial investment I ever made in my life,” he joked. To keep the doors open, Smith turned Smodcastle into a nonprofit, hosting celebrity Q&As, special screenings, and a yearly film festival. “If we operated as a for-profit business,” he said, “we would die.” From video store to community landmark Across the country in Los Angeles, another beloved film institution has found new life. Vidiots, which began in 1985 as a Santa Monica video rental store, reopened in 2023 in the Eagle Rock neighborhood — this time inside the restored Eagle Theater. “We opened to uncertainty,” said executive director Maggie MacKay. “We had no idea if people would come — and they did. And they’ve been coming ever since.” Vidiots still rents movies, but it also screens new releases and cult favorites. Most importantly, it’s become a gathering place for young people. “Teens, tweens are getting dropped off by their parents,” MacKay said. “Because this place is affordable and welcoming and nonjudgmental and safe, they are coming here all the time.” One kid, she added with a laugh, calls it “my video store.” “That kid has no idea how rare that is in the 2020s,” MacKay said. Like Smodcastle, Vidiots operates as a nonprofit, built on the idea that access to movies — and the sense of belonging they bring — matters as much as profit margins. A new model in Manhattan In New York City, however, success has taken a different shape. Metrograph, a two-screen theater on the Lower East Side, has found financial footing as a for-profit venue. It caters to fans of arthouse and international cinema and has grown into a cultural destination with a bookstore, a magazine, a streaming service, and a stylish restaurant and bar. “People love going to the movies and people love the experience,” said CEO Christian Grass, who said Metrograph recently celebrated its best summer ever. The key, said programming director Inge de Leeuw, is community. “We’ve built a space where people don’t just see a movie — they connect.” Keeping the lights on Whether nonprofit or boutique business, all three venues share the same mission: keeping the magic of moviegoing alive. “Everybody wants movies in their lives, whether they realize it or not,” said MacKay. “To save this thing, you have to make available every point of access for it. You have to make a return to a social experience.” For Smith, that shared experience is what matters most. “You want to learn something about somebody? Sit in the darkness and watch movies with them,” he said. “You’ll find out if they’re empathetic, what makes them laugh, if there’s a real human being there — if there’s a heart underneath it all.” In an era of streaming solitude, these theaters remind audiences of what cinema has always been about: people, stories, and the quiet joy of watching them together in the dark.
Score (97)
Conservationists Celebrate Discovery Of a Thriving Red Squirrel Colony
Conservationists in North Yorkshire are celebrating what they’re calling a “super-exciting” breakthrough: the discovery and growth of a rare colony of red squirrels in a sitka spruce plantation in the western Yorkshire Dales. The colony was first identified in January by Julie Bailey from the UK Squirrel Accord (UKSA), a partnership of forestry and conservation groups. Since then, volunteers, scientists, and local landowners have been working together to monitor and protect the animals — and the results have been better than anyone expected. “We’re now finding evidence of new squirrels in all directions from the plantation,” Bailey said. “They’ve been spotted up to six miles away.” So far, 16 red squirrels have been confirmed in the area, a significant number for a species that’s been all but wiped out in most of England. “I’m very encouraged by the squirrels’ persistence and breeding success,” Bailey said. A growing movement The discovery has sparked the creation of the Yorkshire Dales Red Squirrel Alliance, a volunteer network formed earlier this year that now includes more than 40 active members. Their work ranges from maintaining feeders during food shortages to monitoring movements and managing populations of invasive grey squirrels — the main threat to reds. But Bailey says protecting the animals isn’t just up to experts. “When people are walking in woodlands and spot a squirrel, it’s vital they report the sighting,” she said. “It helps us track population densities and stay vigilant about any greys.” She also cautioned against human interference. “It is absolutely essential that the public don’t encourage the hand feeding of squirrels,” she said. “It makes red squirrels tame and puts them at greater risk of disease transmission.” Expanding territory Recent sightings near the West Yorkshire border suggest the reds are pushing beyond the plantation, exploring new territory in surrounding forests. Preliminary surveys have found activity near the plantation’s northern edge, indicating the animals are establishing a wider habitat. Bailey said that greater cooperation with landowners would be key to the colony’s future. “The more land access we have, the more squirrel range and sightings we can document,” she said. Red squirrels are native to the UK but have been in steep decline for more than a century, largely due to habitat loss and competition from North American grey squirrels, which also spread a virus fatal to reds. England’s remaining red squirrel population is estimated at fewer than 40,000. A model for recovery For conservationists, the thriving colony in North Yorkshire offers a rare success story — and a potential blueprint for other regions. The UK Squirrel Accord hopes to replicate the project’s community-driven model across the country. “We just want red squirrels everywhere in the natural environment — healthy, wild and free,” Bailey said. With evidence of breeding and a growing range, the Dales’ new squirrel stronghold may mark the beginning of a small but significant comeback for one of Britain’s most beloved native species.
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Score (98)
These Longtime Pen Pals Just Met In Person After 50 Years Of Letters
Two women who began writing to each other as pen pals nearly 50 years ago have finally met face to face. Jane Bean, from Sittingbourne in Kent, and Debbie Houschild, from New Jersey, were matched in the early 1970s through a cross-Atlantic pen pal initiative between a UK magazine and an American children’s TV show. Since then, the two have exchanged letters for five decades — but had never met in person until this summer. In August, Houschild flew to London, where the lifelong friends finally hugged for the first time. “It just felt so normal, natural, like we already knew about each other,” Bean told BBC Radio Kent. “It was just like meeting up with any of my other old friends.” The two were originally connected when Houschild signed up through Big Blue Marble, a children’s program that encouraged kids to write to peers around the world. Bean believes her name was entered through the magazine Look-in, though she admits, “I can’t remember who wrote to who first.” She also recalled how different communication was back then. “It was early ’70s, so even the thought of going to somewhere like the States was a pipe dream,” Bean said. “I just remember this awful airmail stationery that my mum used to get for me that was like writing on tracing paper.” The pair bonded over their teenage obsessions — music, movie stars, and crushes. Houschild even brought a Bay City Rollers T-shirt from the U.S. when they met, a nod to Bean’s favorite band at the time. There was one memorable early phone call, too. Bean said she once tried to call Houschild by asking the international operator for her number — but instead got through to her grandmother, who lived next door. “It was a very pleasant surprise, of course, but I was so surprised,” Houschild laughed. Though life and distance made it harder to stay in touch over the years, they never lost contact. “We’ve always kept up some way,” Houschild said. Now, after their first meeting, both women say they hope it won’t be their last. Bean said she’d “never say never” to a return trip to the U.S., and Houschild added, “I would love to come back.” After half a century of letters, their friendship has proven that the best pen pals really can become lifelong friends.
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Greece's Famed Parthenon Stands Free Of Scaffolding For First Time In Decades
For the first time in decades, visitors to Athens can now enjoy a clear, unobstructed view of the Parthenon — free of scaffolding. The massive restoration framework that had surrounded parts of the ancient temple for nearly 20 years was removed in late September, offering tourists a rare, uninterrupted look at the Acropolis’s most famous monument. The Parthenon, a marble temple dedicated to the goddess Athena and built in the 5th century BCE, is one of the most recognizable structures in the world. For much of the past two centuries, though, some part of it has always been under repair or covered by scaffolding. Now, according to Greece’s Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, this is the first time in about 200 years that the Parthenon’s exterior has been completely free of scaffolding on any side. “It is like they are seeing a different, a completely different monument,” she said in an interview with Skai radio. The cleared western façade — widely considered the best street-level view — has drawn special attention from visitors walking along the pedestrian promenade that wraps around the Acropolis Hill. Many have paused to admire the full symmetry and detail of the Parthenon, unobstructed for the first time in living memory. But the clear view won’t last forever. Conservation work on the temple is ongoing, and new scaffolding will be installed on the western side within the next month. Mendoni said the next phase of restoration will use lighter, more discreet scaffolding “aesthetically much closer to the logic of the monument.” The latest round of work is expected to be completed by early summer 2026. When it’s finished, Mendoni said, “the Parthenon will be completely freed of this scaffolding too, and people will be able to see it truly free.” The Acropolis remains Greece’s most visited site, drawing around 4.5 million people in 2024, according to the country’s statistical authority. For those walking its ancient paths today, the brief, unfiltered view of the Parthenon feels like seeing history unveiled.
Score (98)
Scientists Develop Stronger Wood Using Iron, Paving the Way For Sustainable Construction
Scientists in Florida may have just changed the future of construction — by giving ordinary wood a serious upgrade. Researchers at Florida Atlantic University say they’ve found a way to make hardwood stronger and more durable by adding a small amount of iron compound to it. The discovery, detailed in ACS Publications and reported by Technology Networks, could open the door to greener, lighter, and cheaper building materials. The study focused on lignocellulose, a component that gives wood and other plants their structure. Scientists have long tried to tweak it chemically to make stronger or more sustainable materials. This time, researchers from FAU’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, working with the University of Miami and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, tried something new — reinforcing red oak with a mineral called nanocrystalline iron oxyhydroxide. Their goal was to make the wood more durable without making it heavier, more expensive, or less sustainable. “Wood, like many natural materials, has a complex structure with different layers and features at varying scales,” said study author and FAU assistant professor Vivian Merk. “To truly understand how wood bears loads and eventually fails, it's essential to examine it across these different levels.” Merk’s team tested the modified wood using vibrations to measure elasticity and stickiness, then used nanoidentification tests to see how it performed under bending and stress. The results showed that the wood became stronger — and it only gained a small fraction of extra weight. “By looking at wood at different levels — from the microscopic structures inside the cell walls all the way up to the full piece of wood — we were able to learn more about how to chemically improve natural materials for real-world use,” Merk said. FAU’s dean of engineering, Stella Batalama, called the finding “a significant advancement in sustainable materials science.” “By reinforcing natural wood through environmentally conscious and cost-effective methods, our researchers are laying the groundwork for a new generation of bio-based materials that have the potential to replace traditional materials like steel and concrete in structural applications,” Batalama said. That could have a huge environmental impact. Concrete and steel production are among the world’s largest sources of carbon emissions. Cement manufacturing alone consumes enormous amounts of water and releases harmful pollution. Wood, meanwhile, is renewable and absorbs carbon as trees grow. It’s already being used in some of the most forward-looking construction projects. In Japan, engineers recently completed a wooden high-rise — part of a growing trend toward using timber in large-scale urban buildings. Other researchers are developing fire- and water-resistant wood to make such projects even safer. The FAU team’s findings could take that progress even further by making wood strong enough to replace traditional materials in more demanding structures. “The impact of this work reaches far beyond the field of engineering,” Batalama said. “It contributes to global efforts to reduce carbon emissions, cut down on waste, and embrace sustainable, nature-inspired solutions for everything from buildings to large-scale infrastructure.” If it holds up outside the lab, this strengthened wood could mark a turning point — a way to build stronger cities without breaking the planet.
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Butter and Sneakers: An Unlikely Partnership Feeds and Supports Food Bank Workers
Food banks across the United States have long been a lifeline for millions of families struggling to make ends meet. They don’t just distribute food; they’re often the only place where people can find essentials like diapers, toiletries, and clothing. But as the number of Americans facing food insecurity rises—44 million at last count—those lifelines are becoming strained. With government programs tightening and donations dropping, pantries are struggling to keep their shelves stocked. And when supplies run out, families go without. That’s why Land O’Lakes and Clove are joining forces this holiday season, teaming up to deliver a little extra comfort to communities that need it most. It’s an unexpected pairing: a farmer-owned dairy cooperative and a modern footwear company. But both brands share a focus on everyday comfort and care—one through food, the other through shoes designed for people who spend their days on their feet. Dairy products, it turns out, are among the most requested but least donated items at food banks nationwide. They’re rich in nutrients like calcium, potassium, and vitamin D—three of the four key nutrients many low-income households lack. And they’re especially valued during the holidays, when butter, milk, and cream become the foundation for countless family recipes. Shoes, meanwhile, are another quiet necessity. Nearly 96 million Americans work in jobs that require them to stand for hours, from nurses and caregivers to warehouse workers and kitchen staff. For them, comfort isn’t a luxury—it’s survival. "We are so excited to collaborate with Clove Shoes and take a moment to celebrate the color of the moment, but also our everyday favorite, butter yellow," said Heather Anfang, president of Land O'Lakes Dairy Foods. "As a company who shares our values of community, hard work and comfort, we are thrilled for the launch of their shoe but also for our shared donation to those in need in an important area for our two brands in Philadelphia." The collaboration has already resulted in tangible impact. Together, the two companies have donated dozens of sneakers and more than 3,750 pounds of butter to Philabundance, one of Philadelphia’s largest food banks and a member of Feeding America’s nationwide network. Clove, which is based in Philadelphia, also provided 88 pairs of shoes to students at the Philabundance Community Kitchen—a free workforce development program that helps people build skills for a better future. "As a Philadelphia-based brand, we’re proud to give back to the community we call home—nourishing our city and supporting those who care every day," said Jordyn Amoroso, co-founder and CBO of Clove. For families heading into a difficult winter, the impact goes beyond butter and sneakers. It’s about nourishment, dignity, and a reminder that comfort can take many forms—sometimes in a warm meal, sometimes in a good pair of shoes. Partnerships like this show how two very different companies can come together to help their communities—and prove that giving back can still be one of the most powerful ingredients in any recipe for change.
Score (98)
High School Team Returns Trophy, Declares Opponent the True Winner in Act of Sportsmanship
In a remarkable act of honesty and sportsmanship, a high school basketball team in Oklahoma City has voluntarily given up their championship title after realizing their victory was a mistake. The girls’ team from the Academy of Classical Christian Studies thought they had clinched the division championship last season with a dramatic buzzer-beater, edging out Apache High School 44–43. But when head coach Brendan King reviewed the game footage later that night, something didn’t add up. “As soon as I walked out of the locker room, my stomach kind of turned into knots,” King told CBS News. “I said, ‘I’m going to need to know if we really won this game or not.’” After carefully rewatching each play, King realized the scoreboard had been off — the actual score was 43–42, meaning Apache had been the true winner. “It really tore me to pieces,” he said. Under league rules, the result couldn’t be officially changed after the game ended. Still, when King told his players what he had found, their reaction left him deeply moved. Together, the team decided to give back their championship plaque and ask that the title be awarded to Apache High instead. The league agreed, and King personally delivered the plaque to Apache’s coach, Amy Merriweather. “It showed us there are still good people in this world,” Merriweather said. “It’s something we’ll always remember.” For Coach King, the lesson was far bigger than basketball. “It’s not about winning a game,” he said. “It’s about doing what’s right — even when it costs you something.”
Score (97)
Dozens of Drivers Lift Crashed Helicopter to Save Trapped Paramedic After Sacramento Freeway Accident
A terrifying moment on a Sacramento freeway turned into an extraordinary act of teamwork Monday evening when dozens of drivers stopped their cars to help rescue a trapped paramedic after a medical helicopter crash on State Route 50. The REACH Air Medical helicopter had just left a nearby hospital after transporting a patient when it experienced an in-air emergency and went down east of downtown Sacramento. Smoke was pouring from the wreckage when bystanders rushed toward it. Sacramento Fire Capt. Peter Vandersluis was one of the first on scene. Seeing that a paramedic was pinned beneath the helicopter, still buckled into her seat, he yelled for help — and about 15 to 20 strangers immediately surrounded the aircraft. “When I shouted ‘lift,’ they lifted. When I said ‘hold,’ they held,” Vandersluis told the Associated Press. “They didn’t hesitate — they just followed my commands, and we were able to lift it up with ease.” As the group held the aircraft steady, a firefighter crawled underneath, cut the woman’s seat belt, and pulled her out to safety. “As soon as I saw people pushing the helicopter, I just ran over and got in line,” said witness Aimee Braddock. “We held it for several minutes so the first responder could get the person out.” Fire officials called it a miracle that no one — including motorists on the busy highway — was injured. Witnesses Kenneth and Terry De Crescenzo described the rescue as “being in the right place at the right time.” Kenneth helped lift the helicopter while Terry captured the dramatic moment on video. Authorities are investigating what caused the crash, but for those who helped, the night will be remembered not for disaster, but for the unity that followed — a highway full of strangers who refused to stand by.
Score (97)
Scientists Explore Fungi-Based Hydrogels for Future Biomedical Uses
Fungi might soon do more than recycle life — they could help rebuild it. Scientists at the University of Utah have discovered that a common soil fungus, Marquandomyces marquandii, can grow into a hydrogel that mimics the soft, layered structure of human tissue. The finding could someday lead to new, living materials for healing wounds, regenerating cartilage, or even engineering artificial organs. Hydrogels — spongy, water-rich materials — are prized in medicine for their ability to replicate the flexibility and moisture of natural tissue. Engineers have long tried to design synthetic versions, but this fungus seems to make one all on its own. “Hydrogels are regarded as a promising alternative for applications in tissue regeneration and engineering, cell culture scaffolds, and wearable devices,” said lead author Atul Agrawal, a materials engineer at the University of Utah. “They closely mimic the viscoelastic properties of soft tissues.” A fungus with layers Marquandomyces marquandii might not look like much — just a yellowish mold that grows in soil — but under the right conditions, it produces a naturally structured hydrogel. When researchers grew it in a stationary liquid culture, the fungus formed a thick, multilayered mat that retained up to 83 percent water. “What you are seeing here is a hydrogel with multilayers,” Agrawal said. “It’s visible to the naked eye, and these multiple layers have different porosity. So the top layer has about 40 percent porosity, and then there are alternating bands of 90 percent and 70 percent.” The team believes these variations form naturally as the fungus adjusts its growth pattern — spreading sideways near the surface and branching downward as it expands. By tweaking oxygen levels, temperature, or nutrients, scientists could fine-tune these layers to suit different medical needs. Tough, flexible, and biocompatible Unlike other fungi tested for biomedical use — which often dried out or broke apart easily — M. marquandii formed what materials engineer Steven Naleway described as “big, beefy mycelial layers.” “Mycelium is made primarily out of chitin, which is similar to what’s found in seashells and insect exoskeletons,” Naleway explained. “It’s biocompatible, but also highly spongy.” That structure could make it a powerful base material for future implants or tissue scaffolds. “In theory, you could use it as a template for biomedical applications or mineralize it to create a bone scaffold,” Naleway said. Nature’s own blueprint Fungi grow through long filaments called mycelium — an underground network that can stretch indefinitely as long as nutrients are available. “They will grow forever as long as there’s enough nutrition around,” said Bryn Dentinger, a mycologist at the Natural History Museum of Utah. “There’s a lot we could exploit from those behaviors that really haven’t been explored fully.” Though the idea of mushroom skin or a fungus-grown hip replacement might sound far-fetched, the team’s research — published in The Journal of The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society — marks the first known instance of a fungus naturally forming a hydrogel under submerged conditions. The next step will be testing how the fungal material interacts with living tissue. While M. marquandii isn’t known to be harmful, scientists caution that mold-based materials could still trigger allergic reactions in some people. Still, the potential is vast. “To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a mycelium species achieving such hydrogel-like properties,” the researchers wrote. “It positions M. marquandii as a novel and promising material for biomedical applications.” It may be a while before doctors prescribe fungi for healing wounds — but someday, the same organisms that help forests grow back could help people do the same.
Score (96)
1-in-4 Older Adults Who Struggle With Happiness Regain Full Well-Being Within Three Years, Study Finds
Nearly one in four older adults who reported poor well-being were able to bounce back to a state of optimal wellness within just three years, according to a new study that offers a hopeful look at resilience in later life. The research, published September 24, 2025, in PLOS One by University of Toronto scholars Mabel Ho and Esme Fuller-Thomson, found that 24% of adults aged 60 and older who initially struggled with their health and happiness were able to regain strong overall well-being. The study tracked 8,332 Canadians over three years using data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. All participants were at least 60 years old and did not initially meet the criteria for “optimal well-being,” which the researchers defined as a combination of physical, psychological, emotional, social, and self-rated health. How older adults bounce back The findings show that recovery is not only possible — it’s surprisingly common. Those who began the study already showing signs of psychological and emotional stability were nearly five times more likely to achieve full well-being later on. Other key factors linked to a higher chance of recovery included: Being physically active Not smoking Sleeping well Avoiding or managing chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, arthritis, or osteoporosis Being younger than 70, married, and financially secure “These findings remind us that later life can still be fulfilling, even after difficult periods,” said first author Mabel Ho, a recent doctoral graduate from the university’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. “Good health is important, but so are the people, meaning, and joy we have in our lives.” Why it matters In Canada, where all residents have access to publicly funded healthcare, these results highlight the role of emotional, social, and financial stability alongside medical support. The authors note that the findings may not translate directly to countries without universal healthcare or to lower-income nations, where access to care can vary widely. Still, the message is clear: later life can offer opportunities for renewal. “This is a clear call to invest in prevention, financial stability, and accessible wellness supports,” said senior author Esme Fuller-Thomson, Director of the Institute for Life Course and Aging. “These aren’t just smart policies — they can improve the trajectory of aging for older adults who are struggling.” Building resilience through connection and care The study suggests that programs aimed at keeping older adults active, socially connected, and financially supported could help more people regain a sense of wellness after health or emotional challenges. If future research confirms that these lifestyle and social factors cause better outcomes, it could reshape how governments and communities approach aging — emphasizing not just medical treatment, but holistic well-being. In other words, the path to thriving in later life may not hinge solely on avoiding illness, but on nurturing purpose, connection, and joy.