This Neighborhood Litter Picker Found A Stolen Locket On Her Journey

Deborah Whittington found the locket while litter picking in Loughborough, Leicestershire. She handed it into police and it is due to be reunited with the owner once it has been forensically examined. The locket contains photographs of the owner's grandparents.

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A Paving Company is Turning 1 Billion Plastic Straws Into Driveways and Patios — Here's How

A paving company in the U.K. is turning plastic waste into driveways — and they've just hit a major milestone. Oltco, based in Cornwall, recently announced that its Recycle Bound product has now repurposed the equivalent of 1 billion plastic straws through paving projects across the country. The latest installations in High Wycombe, near London, helped push the company past that landmark figure. Recycle Bound, which launched in 2019, is a resin-bound surfacing solution that blends recycled plastic waste with stone and other aggregates to create durable, low-maintenance paving. The company says it’s their strongest surface yet — able to withstand heavy foot traffic, moisture, and even high temperatures, all while remaining permeable to meet urban drainage requirements. But it’s not just about strength. Each square meter of Recycle Bound paving contains the equivalent of 3,000 plastic straws or 100 plastic bottles — a significant amount, especially when you consider that the average U.K. household recycles only around 270 plastic bottles a year. “It’s incredibly inspiring to be part of something that’s making such a positive impact, not just here in High Wycombe, but across the country,” said Oltco director Adrian Eyre in an interview with Bucks Free Press. “The response to Recycle Bound has been fantastic, and it’s clear that the community is truly passionate about sustainability.” That enthusiasm comes at a time when the U.K.’s recycling system is under pressure. A 2024 report from Greenpeace found that only 17% of the country’s plastic waste is actually recycled. The rest is either incinerated, shipped abroad, or ends up in landfills — where it can leach harmful chemicals into the soil and groundwater or contribute to the buildup of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. By taking hard-to-recycle plastics — like straws, takeaway containers, and packaging — and locking them into long-lasting surfaces, Oltco’s approach offers a creative way to keep those materials out of landfills and oceans. Their projects have included everything from patios and footpaths to courtyards and commercial spaces. And while resin-bound paving won’t solve plastic pollution on its own, solutions like Recycle Bound show that it’s possible to rethink waste — not just as something to dispose of, but as something to build with.

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This Mom Launched a Creative Letter-Writing Kit to Inspire Kids in a Digital World

A forgotten letter in a childhood box turned out to be the start of something much bigger for Jennifer Yang — and now, thousands of kids are rediscovering the joy of handwritten notes. Yang, a mom of two, was cleaning up when she stumbled across something she hadn’t seen in years: a letter she wrote in third grade to a friend who had moved away. She had meant to say thanks for their friendship — but never mailed it. She was waiting on her parents to buy stamps, and somehow, the moment passed. That tiny memory hit her with surprising force. “Dearist was really born out of a simple truth, that a handwritten letter holds this timeless magic,” Yang told PEOPLE. “It has this quality of time travel, of putting you in another place.” That moment led her to create Dearist — a stationery and storybook series designed to teach children how (and why) to write letters, how the mail works, and what it means to connect through writing. Each kit includes materials kids need to write real, physical letters — even stamps — plus an educational three-book series that makes the whole process easy and engaging. One book walks through the emotional side of letter writing. Another explains what actually happens after a letter is mailed. The third is all about stamps — where they come from, how to use them, and why they matter. Yang says it’s more than just a cute activity. “Building empathy, giving them a time to reflect, working on that emotional intelligence and really giving kids the freedom and space [from the digital world] is at the heart of Dearist,” she said. Letter writing, she points out, was once a common skill — but that’s changing fast. “There are fewer opportunities to practice writing, especially by hand,” she noted. “We imagine kids at desks with books and pencils, but the truth is a lot of the work, especially upwards of 3rd grade, is submitted electronically these days.” Yang said her conversations with teachers and school administrators confirmed what she suspected: letter writing isn’t even part of many classrooms anymore, following the shift toward standardized testing with the 2010s Core Curriculum. “When I first came up with the idea, I tested it with some neighborhood kids,” she said. “What I learned is that a lot of kids just didn’t know why you would write a letter, much less how the mail works.” That was the spark to turn Dearist into more than just stationery. It became a tool to bridge gaps — between kids and their families, between analog and digital, and even between generations. Yang says kids are now excited to write to grandparents, cousins, and friends. Parents are often flooded with nostalgia. And educators see the value in giving kids something hands-on, reflective, and meaningful. “We’ve helped kids write and send over a thousand handwritten letters through Dearist,” Yang said. “One of the most common reactions people have is nostalgia, but that feeling is followed by a heavier feeling, that kids today are missing out on something.” That idea — of creating closeness through letters — has been with Yang since she was a kid herself. “Writing has always been a part of my life. Letter writing, in particular, was really the first tool I had for creating closeness with my friends,” she said. “Texts and email just don’t have that quality.” And as for the letter that started it all? Yang says she’s tried to mail it since, but has never been able to find the address. “I looked Rebecca W up on Facebook as well and could not find her,” she said. “Rebecca W, if you are out there, I would love to connect with you!”

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Empty Nester Reveals 8 Effective Decluttering Tips That Transformed Her Home

Deep cleaning and decluttering a home is never easy. For empty nesters, it can be even harder. After spending decades building a life and raising kids under one roof, many parents are left facing a mix of silence, nostalgia, and clutter. That’s the stage one 51-year-old mom found herself in — and she decided to do something about it. In a Reddit post that struck a chord with others in a cleaning community, she opened up about learning to keep house for the first time after her kids moved out. “In my entire life, my house has always been messy,” she wrote. “I mean, I didn’t have a disaster-level situation going on, but if someone dropped by unannounced, it would’ve been super embarrassing.” She said she used to rely on a housekeeper when her kids were younger, just to keep up. But once she became an empty nester, she realized she never actually learned the basics of home upkeep. That changed thanks to a book called Unfck Your Habitat: You’re Better Than Your Mess*, which gave her both the mindset and the tools to start fresh. She now follows a simple but consistent system — and offered eight tips that helped her turn things around. 1. Put stuff away, not down. It sounds obvious, but she says this one change made a huge difference. “Whatever you have goes right back where it’s supposed to go when I’m done with it.” 2. Do one load of laundry every day — and finish it. No more piles of clean clothes left on chairs or floors. “Just one load, start to finish. Wash, dry, fold, and put away,” she wrote. “Also, no chair or floor laundry. It gets put in the hamper or hung back up. No clothes are ever out.” 3. Make the bed. Every day. She says it instantly makes the bedroom feel more peaceful. “It just makes my bedroom look cleaner and I smile every time I come in my room,” she shared. “Plus we aren’t fighting over the covers when we get in because the bed is straightened out.” 4. Clean the rooms you use daily — daily. She and her husband mainly use the master bathroom and kitchen, so that’s where she focuses her attention. “I keep a stack of cleaning rags in my master bath… Every night, I spray the counter, wipe everything down, put everything back (that my husband leaves out), and wipe the mirror,” she explained. “I also wipe down the toilet. I find that I don’t need a huge, big cleaning of this space because I’m keeping it up daily. Same goes for the kitchen.” 5. No dishes in the sink. Ever. Even if the dishwasher’s not full yet. “Dishes are finished in the dishwasher? It’s emptied and dirty ones are placed inside while waiting for the dishwasher to get full.” 6. Shoes get put away immediately. No hallway piles. No scattered sneakers. “Shoes are put away immediately upon walking in the house,” she shared. 7. Use idle time to knock out small tasks. “If it takes less than 5 minutes, clean it while you’re waiting for something else to get done.” 8. Skip the schedule — clean a little every day. Instead of assigning cleaning days, she does small tasks constantly. “My life is kind of unpredictable, we love traveling or going out for the day so my so-called cleaning schedule would be shot to hell every time,” she explained. “It’s better this way, because now I never feel behind.” Her post struck a nerve with others going through the same phase of life — the part where the kids are gone, the house is quiet, and the clutter you once overlooked starts to feel overwhelming. But now, she says her home feels better than it ever has. “I smile every time I walk into a clean room,” she wrote. “It just feels like a fresh start.”

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New Jersey Governor Candidate Gets Surprise Visit from Army Son Ahead of Election

Just days before New Jersey voters head to the polls, Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli received a surprise that brought the campaign trail to a standstill — and left the crowd cheering. Ciattarelli’s son, Army Captain Jake Ciattarelli, unexpectedly returned home from deployment in Kuwait to surprise his father at a campaign event at Murph’s Tavern in Totowa. The emotional reunion was caught on camera by New Jersey State Rep. Mike Inganamort, who shared the moment on social media. “BIG SURPRISE GUEST: Jack’s son, Jake, straight from Kuwait! God Bless and thank you for your service. It’s time,” Inganamort wrote in the caption. The footage shows Ciattarelli visibly moved as his son walks in, drawing applause from supporters gathered at the event. Ciattarelli later shared the moment on X, writing, “What a crowd and what a surprise at Murph’s Tavern in Totowa today! The energy was absolutely unbeatable – you can feel it everywhere we go.” The timing couldn’t have been more meaningful. New Jersey’s gubernatorial election is set for November 4, with Ciattarelli facing off against Democratic challenger Mikie Sherrill. As the race tightens, the moment offered a rare pause in the campaign — and a powerful reminder of the personal stakes behind public service.

This 11-Year-Old's Doll Brand is Making Amazon’s Toy Book Again

For the fifth year in a row, Orijin Bees is making its mark in Amazon’s Toy Book, continuing a streak that highlights the company’s commitment to inclusion in the toy industry. The brand, co-founded by 11-year-old Esi Orijin, has become a go-to name for parents looking for dolls and plush toys that reflect the diversity of children’s skin tones, hair textures, and lived experiences. Two of the brand’s standout collections — the Baby Bee Doll Collection and the Cuddle Bees — have already caught the attention of Oprah Winfrey, earning spots on her coveted “Favorite Things” list. The dolls are widely praised for their authentic features, from curly hair to deep skin tones, offering options that are still too rare on most toy store shelves. Shoppers can find the full line of Orijin Bees products on the brand’s website, OrijinBees.com, which has served as both a sales platform and a storytelling hub. The site features not just products, but also stories and photos submitted by families who’ve finally found dolls that look like their children. Orijin Bees has grown significantly since its early days as a direct-to-consumer brand. Before landing on shelves at major retailers, the company relied heavily on online sales to reach families across the country. That strategy turned out to be more than just convenient — it was central to the brand’s identity and growth. Selling directly to customers gave Orijin Bees a unique advantage: the ability to quickly listen and respond to feedback from its community. Parents shared what they wanted to see more of, and the company listened — refining designs, adding features, and expanding its range in response to real voices. “Our community helped shape what Orijin Bees is today,” the company says on its site. “Their stories, their kids, their feedback — that’s who we build for.” But the connection goes deeper than commerce. OrijinBees.com also hosts educational resources and charitable programs, like the “Get One Gift One” initiative, where each purchase helps provide a doll to a child in need. It’s part of a broader effort to not just sell toys, but to build a culture of representation and care around them. The website has become a kind of digital village, bringing families together through shared values and lived experiences. And with each new collection, each feature in a retailer catalog or media spotlight, the brand gets closer to its mission: making sure that every child can see themselves in the toys they play with. For Orijin Bees, that mission isn’t just good business — it’s personal. And it’s working.

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Study Reveals Viewing Childlike Self Enhances Early Memory Recall

What if the key to unlocking your earliest memories was seeing yourself as a child again? A new study published in Scientific Reports suggests exactly that. Researchers found that when adults briefly saw a childlike version of their own face—reflected in real-time, as if it were their own—they were able to recall early childhood memories in greater detail than usual. It’s the first time scientists have shown that shifting how people perceive their own bodies can directly improve memory recall. The experiment, run by neuroscientists at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in Cambridge, used a technique called the enfacement illusion. Fifty adult volunteers took part. Half of them viewed a live video feed of their face digitally altered to look like a younger version of themselves, while the rest saw their regular adult face. In both cases, the video feed mirrored their movements, helping reinforce the sensation that the image on screen was their own reflection. After the illusion, all participants were asked to complete an autobiographical memory interview. They were prompted to recall moments from their childhood, as well as more recent events from the past year. The researchers then measured the level of detail in their responses. Those who had seen the younger version of themselves recalled significantly richer and more vivid details from their childhood. In contrast, the control group showed no improvement. Lead author Dr. Utkarsh Gupta, now a Cognitive Neuroscience Research Fellow at the University of North Dakota, said the reason may lie in how the brain encodes memories in relation to our physical self. “All the events that we remember are not just experiences of the external world, but are also experiences of our body, which is always present,” Gupta said. “We discovered that temporary changes to the bodily self, specifically, embodying a childlike version of one's own face, can significantly enhance access to childhood memories.” In other words, when people temporarily saw themselves as children, their brains may have responded by making it easier to retrieve memories that were formed when their body—and self-image—looked like that. The finding opens up new ways to explore the connection between memory and self-perception, particularly for what’s known as “childhood amnesia”—the common inability to recall memories from the earliest years of life. Senior author Professor Jane Aspell, head of the Self & Body Lab at Anglia Ruskin University, said the results could one day lead to new therapeutic techniques. “When our childhood memories were formed, we had a different body,” Aspell said. “So we wondered: if we could help people experience aspects of that body again, could we help them recall their memories from that time? “Our findings suggest that the bodily self and autobiographical memory are linked, as temporary changes to bodily experience can facilitate access to remote autobiographical memories.” While the study focused on faces, Aspell said future research could expand the illusion to other parts of the body, or create more immersive simulations—such as full-body avatars in virtual reality. These methods might eventually be adapted to help people with memory impairments or degenerative conditions. The broader implication is that our sense of self—how we feel in our own body—may play a more active role in how we access and organize memories than previously thought. “This might be because the brain encodes bodily information as part of the details of an event,” Gupta said. “Reintroducing similar bodily cues may help us retrieve those memories, even decades later.” For now, the research is still in its early stages. But it’s a step toward understanding how something as simple as changing the face we see in the mirror could help us reconnect with the earliest parts of our past.

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Brazil Launches National Geothermal Energy Program to Boost Clean Power and Energy Security

Brazil is taking a major step toward expanding its clean energy future with the launch of a new national geothermal energy program. The initiative, approved by the National Energy Policy Council and reported by Think GeoEnergy, will establish a framework to develop geothermal energy infrastructure, regulations, and investment pathways. The aim is to turn Brazil’s untapped geothermal potential into a reliable, renewable energy source that strengthens the country’s power grid and cuts emissions. “Brazil has significant geothermal potential in several regions of the country,” said Alexandre Silveira, Brazil’s minister of Mines and Energy and chair of the Energy Policy Council. “With this program, we will transform this potential into a concrete opportunity for clean energy generation, promoting regional development, energy security, and the country’s sustainable growth.” Geothermal energy is heat from beneath the Earth’s surface that can be harnessed to produce electricity or power heating and cooling systems. Unlike fossil fuels, it’s a renewable resource — the Earth’s internal heat never runs out — and it produces virtually no emissions once systems are operational. Brazil already leads globally in clean energy use, with over 90 percent of its electricity coming from renewable sources. But geothermal remains largely untapped. The National Geothermal Energy Program (NGEP) aims to change that by creating policy and funding support to scale up the technology. The plan brings together several national agencies, including the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Biofuels, and the National Electric Energy Agency. It also involves a partnership between state-owned energy giant Petrobras and geothermal drilling company GA Drilling. The two will co-develop a next-generation geothermal drilling system designed to lower costs and improve efficiency. One of geothermal’s biggest advantages is cost — particularly over time. While upfront setup costs can be high, maintenance and operation are cheaper than fossil fuel extraction or combustion. Once infrastructure is in place, geothermal systems provide long-term, stable, low-cost energy. This is a crucial benefit for Brazil, where energy security and affordability remain key concerns. By investing in domestic geothermal capacity, the government hopes to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, drive down long-term costs, and create jobs — especially in regions with geothermal resources. The program also marks a shift for Brazil, which hasn’t made significant geothermal investments in recent years. With this launch, the country is signaling a renewed focus and a commitment to scaling clean energy beyond hydropower and wind. While geothermal currently makes up a small fraction of global energy production, it holds vast potential — especially in countries like Brazil that sit on tectonically active or geologically favorable ground. Brazil’s program could serve as a model for other nations looking to diversify their renewable energy mix. The NGEP sets out to deliver on multiple goals at once: cleaner air, lower energy costs, energy independence, and regional economic development. And with Petrobras onboard, the program has a heavyweight partner to accelerate real-world implementation. If successful, Brazil’s geothermal push won’t just benefit its own citizens — it could help reshape how the world thinks about the future of clean energy.

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Maldives Implements World's First Generational Smoking Ban

The Maldives has officially implemented a sweeping generational smoking ban, making it the only country in the world with a nationwide tobacco prohibition tied to birth year. Starting Saturday, anyone born on or after January 1, 2007 is banned from purchasing, using, or being sold tobacco products in the island nation, according to a statement from the Maldives Health Ministry. The measure, first introduced by President Mohamed Muizzu earlier this year, is aimed at building a “tobacco-free generation,” the ministry said. The ban applies to all forms of tobacco and is enforced with mandatory age verification for all purchases. It also extends to tourists — a significant move for a country known globally for its luxury travel industry spread across 1,191 coral islets in the Indian Ocean. Retailers who sell tobacco to anyone in the restricted age group face fines of 50,000 Maldivian rufiyaa (about $3,200). The country also upholds a complete ban on the import, sale, distribution, possession, and use of e-cigarettes and vaping products, which carries a penalty of 5,000 rufiyaa (about $320) regardless of age. While other countries have proposed similar legislation — including the UK, where a generational tobacco ban is still moving through Parliament — only New Zealand had enacted such a law. It was repealed in late 2023, less than a year after being passed. With this move, the Maldives now stands alone in its commitment to ending tobacco use for future generations.

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This Minnesota Artist is Drawing Crowds With His Microscopic Messages Hidden in his Sketches

At the Minnesota State Fair, fairgoers shuffle past paintings and sculptures in the Fine Arts Building. But just around one corner, the crowd stops moving. People lean in, magnifying glasses in hand, trying to decipher what looks like squiggles from a distance. “It’s so cool,” Kate Nestingen says, peering through a lens. A young girl next to her marvels, “I couldn’t even write this small if I wanted to.” But Minneapolis artist Jeffrey Gause can — and does. His massive drawings, packed with messages no bigger than a grain of rice, are turning heads and stopping people in their tracks. “I’ve been drawing small my whole life,” says Gause, who sketches outdoors beneath the towering silos of the old Pillsbury flour mill where he lives and works. His latest piece, resting partly on his lap and partly on a railing, is a sprawling collection of micro-doodles and hidden quotes about freedom. Up close, through a magnifying glass, a stream of inspirational messages comes into focus: “If you can touch the moon, you will reach the stars.” “Anything is possible.” “There's so many messages,” says JT Caehne, scanning the canvas through her lens. Gause’s ability to see and draw on such a microscopic level stems from a condition called high myopia — extreme nearsightedness that affects about four percent of Americans. For Gause, it’s less of a disability and more of a superpower. “I can see inches away without any magnification,” he explains. “But when I don’t have my glasses on, I wouldn’t be able to recognize a person or read a sign.” He discovered his gift in elementary school. “In third grade, I remember a teacher telling me I didn’t write my name on a test,” he recalls. “She couldn’t see it — it was that tiny. I just said, ‘I think you might need glasses, because I can see that so clear.’” While eye surgery could correct his vision, Gause has never considered it. “Everybody has a gift, I think, that God gives them,” he says. “And if we really nurture those gifts, and realize what they are, this world would be a much, much better place.” Outside the fair, Gause is known in the Twin Cities art scene for his miniature magnetic art pieces, which he sells at local fairs and events. But it’s his large-scale sketches — built from months of focused effort and a face just inches from the canvas — that truly set him apart. Fairgoers linger in front of his work, silent except for the occasional gasp as a quote clicks into focus. The drawings don’t shout for attention. They whisper. You just have to look closely enough to hear. “Anything is possible,” one of the messages reads — a fitting reminder from a man who turned what some would call a limitation into a form of art you have to see to believe.

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Austistic Teen's Winning Playground Design to Shape 100 Inclusive Play Areas Across the UK

A 14-year-old from Nuneaton is helping redesign how children play across the UK — and it all started with a simple idea: no child should feel left out. Hayden Calvert, who is autistic, used his own experiences to create a winning playground design aimed at making outdoor spaces more inclusive for all children, regardless of ability. His thoughtful blueprint earned him the title of Junior Head of Play by construction firm Redrow Midlands, who say his ideas will influence the creation of 100 playgrounds every year. “Being an autistic child, I understand how it feels to be left out, so that’s what inspired me to help,” Hayden said. “I really like playgrounds and I wanted a playground for everyone, no matter who they are.” His design includes a wheelchair-accessible swing placed right next to a standard swing to encourage side-by-side play, along with ramps, cycle paths, quiet tunnels, and plenty of trees and plants to support children’s wellbeing. Hayden won a national competition launched by Redrow Midlands after the company’s research highlighted concerns about declining outdoor play — especially among children with disabilities or neurodivergence. A survey of more than 2,000 parents found that half of those with disabled children felt playgrounds were inaccessible. Sixty-five percent said their children spent less time outdoors than they had at the same age. Redrow Midlands said Hayden’s input would now help them build play areas that spark creativity, adventure, and meaningful connection between kids of all abilities. “We’re excited to be guided by Hayden as he helps shape the future of play, ensuring outdoor spaces are fun, inclusive and accessible for all,” said Elaine Cartwright, a spokesperson for the company. In addition to seeing his vision come to life, Hayden also received a £500 voucher for his win. But for him, the reward is knowing other kids will feel included where it matters most — on the playground.

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