How Afghanistan's Women's National Team Is Finally Finding Safety And Freedom

Zara is one of the Afghan women's national football team players. She escaped her country in August, secretly enrolled in the tournament and scattered among existing teams from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide. She first played a proper football match in 2017 when she was still at school. "Football changed my life. Right now, why I'm here, is because of the sport I love to play."

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Study Finds Caffeinated Coffee and Tea Linked to Lower Dementia Risk

Your daily coffee or tea habit might be doing more than keeping you awake—it could be helping your brain stay sharper as you age. A large new study from researchers in Boston suggests that people who regularly drink caffeinated coffee or tea have a lower risk of developing dementia. The findings, published Monday in JAMA, are based on long-term data from over 131,000 medical professionals, tracked for as long as four decades. “Greater consumption of caffeinated coffee and tea was associated with lower risk of dementia and modestly better cognitive function, with the most pronounced association at moderate intake levels,” the researchers wrote. The team, which includes scientists from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Mass General Brigham, and Harvard Medical School, analyzed data from two landmark studies: the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. Participants in both groups periodically reported their diet and health over a span of up to 43 years, allowing researchers to look at how consistent caffeine consumption might influence brain health over time. Out of the total participants, about 11,000 went on to develop dementia. Those in the top 25 percent of caffeine consumers were found to be 18 percent less likely to develop the condition compared to those who drank little to none. Moderate coffee and tea drinkers also reported fewer signs of cognitive decline: 7.8 percent, compared to 9.5 percent among non-drinkers. But not just any brew seems to help. The protective pattern didn’t appear among those who drank decaffeinated coffee or tea, pointing to caffeine as the likely key factor. While some previous studies have hinted that even decaf could offer minor benefits, this new data supports the idea that caffeine plays a more central role. Though the study can’t prove causation—only a strong association—the results align with earlier findings suggesting caffeine’s possible role in supporting brain health. A 2024 meta-analysis estimated that coffee drinkers had a 10 percent lower risk of developing dementia. And more isn’t necessarily better. The greatest benefits were linked to drinking about two to three cups of coffee or one to two cups of tea per day. People who drank more didn’t see additional reductions in risk. Researchers caution that caffeine is no miracle cure. Even if it does offer some protection, the effect is likely modest. Still, as long as your intake stays within reasonable limits, you’re probably helping your brain—not hurting it. So if you’re sipping a cup of coffee while reading this, you might be doing your future self a small favor.

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New Wearable Airbag Vest Is Protecting Downhill Skiers at Extreme Speeds at the Olympics

At this year’s Winter Olympics in northern Italy, elite skiers are getting a boost from an unusual piece of safety gear: an airbag vest that inflates during crashes. The vest, developed by Italian engineering firm Dainese, is designed to cushion athletes in high-speed wipeouts—something all too common on the slopes of Cortina d’Ampezzo, one of the fastest courses in the world. Downhill skiers routinely top speeds of 145 km/h there, and even a small mistake can lead to serious injury. The International Skiing Federation (FIS) has now made the airbag vests mandatory for all World Cup speed events and Olympic downhill races. The gear uses GPS and motion sensors, trained on years of skiing data, to detect when a crash is imminent. It deploys instantly in real-time—without interference from normal, aggressive movements on the course. “You can’t make a sport of speed totally safe… but you can do much more on training pistes,” retired Italian downhill star Kristian Ghedina told Reuters. The move follows a string of high-profile crashes, including a brutal stretch in late December when five World Cup athletes were seriously injured on the Stelvio course in Bormio. That slope, where Olympic Downhill and Super-G events are being held this year, includes sections where racers exceed 145 km/h. One athlete suffered a brain hemorrhage. For years, ski gear innovation has focused mostly on making athletes faster: stiffer boots, sleeker suits, more aerodynamic skis. But safety hasn’t kept pace. Some skiers admitted they were skeptical of the airbag vests at first, worried a misfire could affect their times. Others say the small risk of deployment error is worth the extra peace of mind. Post-crash studies back that up. Researchers have found that in several cases, injuries would likely have been worse without the airbag. The technology has been quietly evolving for more than a decade, but its formal introduction into Olympic and World Cup competition marks a major shift. Beyond airbags, the FIS and event organizers are also modifying courses to improve safety. They’ve widened fall zones, added more netting, and reworked training slope layouts. Equipment manufacturers are even exploring innovations like quick-release bindings and redesigned boots to reduce lower-leg injuries during crashes. Still, the nature of the sport makes total safety impossible. Speed skiing thrives on risk, adrenaline, and split-second decisions. But the new rules aim to make that risk a little more survivable. For many Italian athletes, the rollout of the Dainese vest represents a long-overdue adjustment—one that finally brings protection in line with two decades of speed-obsessed innovation. And for fans watching from home, it’s a quiet revolution that could help keep the world’s best skiers racing for years to come.

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Scientists are Reviving This Legendary Golden Fabric Lost For 2,000 Years

A shimmering textile once worn exclusively by emperors and popes has been successfully recreated by researchers in South Korea, reviving a rare luxury material long thought to be lost to history. Using byssus threads from Atrina pectinata, a species of pen shell clam farmed in Korean coastal waters, a team led by Professor Dong Soo Hwang and Professor Jimin Choi at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) has reproduced what’s known as sea silk — a luminous golden fiber famed for its strength, lightness, and royal exclusivity. Sea silk, often called the “golden fiber of the sea,” dates back more than 2,000 years. In the ancient Roman era, garments made from it were so rare and valued that only the most powerful figures in society — emperors, popes, and nobility — could wear it. Its origin lies in the Mediterranean Pinna nobilis, a large clam now critically endangered due to pollution and habitat loss. With harvesting banned in the EU, authentic sea silk had faded into legend, preserved only in a few religious relics and artisanal workshops. The POSTECH team’s breakthrough offers a sustainable alternative. By studying Atrina pectinata, a close cousin of the original clam that’s widely available in East Asia, they discovered its byssus threads share similar structural and chemical properties with those of Pinna nobilis. From that starting point, they developed a new method to spin the threads into a fabric nearly identical to the historical sea silk. But the achievement goes beyond replication. The researchers also unlocked the centuries-old mystery behind sea silk’s enduring golden glow. It turns out that the signature brilliance doesn’t come from dye or metallic treatments, but from structural coloration — an optical effect created when nanoscale structures interact with light, much like the iridescence in soap bubbles or butterfly wings. The team found that this effect comes from protein spheres called photonins that form precisely ordered layers within the fiber. The more uniform the arrangement, the richer and more durable the golden hue becomes. Because the color is embedded in the material’s microscopic architecture, not applied on the surface, it doesn’t fade over time — even after centuries. That property makes it not just beautiful but incredibly stable and sustainable, according to the team. “Structurally colored textiles are inherently resistant to fading,” said Professor Hwang. “Our technology enables long-lasting color without the use of dyes or metals, opening new possibilities for sustainable fashion and advanced materials.” The project also adds an environmental benefit. The pen shell’s byssus threads, once discarded as marine waste, can now be transformed into a high-value textile. That shift from waste to wearable luxury aligns with global efforts to reduce pollution and create sustainable alternatives in fashion and materials science. The findings were published in Advanced Materials, and researchers believe the new method could eventually lead to scalable production of sea silk — reviving one of history’s most exclusive textiles for a new generation, with none of the ecological cost.

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Farmer Begins 142-Mile Walk to London to Highlight Rural Mental Health Crisis

Sam Stables, a Herefordshire farmer and mental health campaigner, has begun a 142-mile walk to London in a powerful bid to raise awareness about the mental health crisis facing Britain’s farming community. Stables, who co-founded the support charity We Are Farming Minds, set off from Ross on Wye Market early Monday morning. Over the next five days, he plans to walk roughly 30 miles a day before reaching The Farmers Club in central London on Friday. “It’s really important to me, not just because of my own personal struggles with mental health, but because I’m also aware British farming is in crisis,” he said before starting the journey. “A farmer a week takes their own life, and certainly, it’s really, really important to raise awareness — but it’s also a message of hope.” The trek is part of the Mind Your Head campaign, led by the Farm Safety Foundation — also known as Yellow Wellies — which focuses on highlighting mental health challenges in agriculture. Their research shows that 95 percent of farmers under 40 believe mental health is the biggest hidden issue in the industry today. Stables will complete the walk alone to represent the deep sense of isolation that many farmers face. “Farming families are facing something unprecedented,” he said. “This walk is to make the general public aware of what farmers are going through — often in silence.” To deepen the symbolism, he’s carrying a heavy backpack throughout the journey. “It portrays all the different things farmers carry on their back, often on their own in isolation,” he explained. At the same time, he’s relying on farming families to host him each night — a reflection of the strong but often unseen solidarity within rural communities. “This part is about showing the togetherness of the community,” he said. “There are some incredible charities and some amazing people to talk to if you are in that dark place.” Stables hopes his walk will not only bring attention to the mental burden on farmers but also encourage more open conversations and greater public support. For him, the walk is not just a challenge — it’s a lifeline for others in crisis.

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Beatboxer Teams Up With Schoolchildren To Spread Anti-Litter Message Through Musical Bins

In Chatham, Kent, taking out the trash just got a whole lot cooler. Three talking, beatboxing bins have been installed along Luton Road — and every time someone uses one properly, it responds with a thank-you and a beat. The goal? Use sound and fun to tackle a persistent local litter problem. The bins are part of a creative anti-litter campaign by Medway Council, in collaboration with artist Thor McIntyre-Burnie and Ideas Test, a local arts agency. They feature 40 unique sounds recorded by world champion beatboxer Rupert Oldridge and students from Luton and Phoenix Primary Schools. “When you put something in the bin, you get a little message of thank you for using the bin and for not littering from the young people in the primary schools,” explained Wayne Parsons of Ideas Test. “Some of those messages are spoken, and some are beatboxed.” The “talking bins” are designed to encourage responsible waste disposal while making the act rewarding — literally. Each interaction triggers a random sound: from a quick burst of beatboxing to a shout-out from one of the local pupils. Councillor Simon Curry, Medway’s portfolio holder for climate change and strategic regeneration, said the initiative addresses a real concern. “A lot of people complain about it a lot of the time and they should do because it’s a real problem,” he said. But he added the bins were “fantastic” and had the potential “to do a lot of good.” The project is part of a larger Medway Council health campaign, which focuses not only on environmental responsibility but also on improving physical and mental wellbeing. In addition to the musical bins, the campaign includes litter-picking walks and surprise beatboxing lessons offered to pedestrians along the street. Passers-by can scan QR codes on the bins to hear the full library of messages created by the kids and artists. The bins will remain on Luton Road for two months — and judging by the community’s reaction so far, they’re already making noise in more ways than one.

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Cathedral's Organ Pipes Travel 300 Miles For Repairs

Nearly 4,000 pipes from the historic organ at Wells Cathedral have been sent on a 300-mile journey to Durham as part of a major £3 million restoration project. The 19th-century organ — a centrepiece of worship and music at the Somerset cathedral — had become increasingly unreliable in recent months. Mechanical faults were threatening the entire instrument, raising fears it could soon become unplayable. “Our cathedral organ has become less and less reliable in recent months, and leading up to Christmas the problems became worse,” said Timothy Parsons, Director of Music at Wells Cathedral. “Unfortunately it was reaching the point where the instrument wouldn’t have been playable at all.” To prevent that, workers began carefully dismantling the instrument. Pipes, wind reservoirs, electrical systems, and the console have been removed and packed into 60 crates, now en route to the renowned organ builders Harrison & Harrison in Durham. The parts are expected to return in summer 2027. Some of the organ’s largest components will be restored on-site at the cathedral, while the majority will be repaired at the specialist workshop in the North East. A temporary organ has been installed at Wells to maintain services and musical programming during the multi-year restoration. Parsons said the timing of the project’s start “could not have come at a better moment.” The organ’s current structure dates back to a rebuild in the 1970s, but its roots go much further — with foundations laid in the 1850s. Over time, wear and aging systems created increasing maintenance challenges. Funding for the restoration has come in part from The Friends of Wells Cathedral, which has committed to covering two-thirds of the total cost. Arnold Wills, chair of the group, said they’ve played a central role in moving the project forward. “The Friends has committed to two-thirds of the total cost and has been lead partners in getting this project initiated,” he said. “I can’t wait to play the organ when it’s returned.”

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This Iconic Bird is Staging a Remarkable Comeback After Near-Extinction

Conservationists in Saudi Arabia are celebrating a breakthrough in efforts to bring the threatened Asian houbara bird back from the edge of extinction. Once pushed out of its natural habitat by overhunting and land degradation, the bird is now returning to the wild thanks to reintroduction programs and habitat restoration initiatives. The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve recently released 20 Asian houbaras into the wild — the first time the species has returned to this part of the country in 35 years. The release is part of a broader conservation strategy tied to the Saudi Green Initiative and Vision 2030, which aim to revive native biodiversity and protect fragile ecosystems. “Habitat restoration across the reserve is re-establishing suitable conditions for the species to survive and disperse,” said Andrew Zaloumis, CEO of the reserve, in a statement to Arab News. “At the same time, our advanced ranger program and community engagement initiatives provide the capacity needed to monitor wildlife effectively and counter the risk of illegal hunting.” Houbara bustards, particularly the Asian subspecies, have long been under pressure across the Arabian Peninsula. Their decline accelerated after the 1950s due to unregulated hunting and habitat loss. Despite decades of breeding programs, the bird struggled to reestablish itself in the wild — until now. The Royal Reserve’s success with the houbara is part of a larger rewilding push. Thirteen native species have already been reintroduced to the area, and plans are in place to restore at least ten more. Conservationists have used a combination of long-term monitoring, genetic management, and scientific expertise to improve survival odds for the birds. Key to the effort: ensuring reintroduced animals face limited human disturbance, sufficient food sources, and strong protection from poaching. The houbara holds cultural significance in the region, especially through its historic link to falconry. In 2021, UNESCO recognized Arabian falconry as an element of Intangible Cultural Heritage, adding further symbolic weight to the bird’s return. On social media, the news drew widespread praise. One media group called the reintroduction “a major step for wildlife conservation and biodiversity restoration,” and SceneNow Saudi wrote on Instagram, “The Asian houbara holds cultural significance in the region as a traditional quarry in Arabian falconry.” The reserve’s model builds on conservation successes seen elsewhere. Countries like New Zealand, the UK, and the United States have reestablished vulnerable birds including the takahē, bittern, and common loon through targeted habitat work and public support. Zaloumis says the Saudi project shows what’s possible when science, political will, and community engagement align. “This is conservation done right,” he said. With more species lined up for reintroduction and a newly restored habitat to receive them, the reserve is positioning itself as a regional leader in ecological recovery — and giving threatened species like the houbara a real shot at survival.

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Olympic Excuse Wins Over McMaster University Prof — And the Internet

Madeline Schizas didn’t have a dog eat her homework. She had the Olympics. The 22-year-old Canadian figure skater and McMaster University student went viral over the weekend after posting a screenshot of her very real, very relatable request for a sociology assignment extension — sent just hours after skating for Team Canada at the Milan Cortina Winter Games. “Wondering if I could get a short extension on this week’s reflection,” she wrote in the email to her professor. “I was competing in the Olympic Games yesterday and thought it was due on Sunday, not Friday.” She even included a link to the Canadian Olympic Committee’s press release to prove it. The request, posted with her signature deadpan humour on Instagram — “LOLLLL I (heart) being a student athlete” — quickly took off online, drawing cheers from fellow students and Olympic fans alike. The verdict? Extension granted. “Since it seems everyone was quite invested, I did get my extension lol,” Schizas wrote in a follow-up post on Sunday, hours before taking the ice again for the team event’s free program. “I can’t believe anyone cared so much,” she added, with a crying emoji. “Good learning lesson about the spotlight of the Olympics.” The Oakville, Ontario skater is known not just for her performances on the ice, but also for her wit and unfiltered charm off it. She’s scheduled to graduate in May with a degree in Environment and Society — a program she says is similar to environmental studies. Between essays and edgework, Schizas has made balancing school and sport look almost graceful. But even Olympians get deadlines wrong sometimes. Fortunately, this time, going viral might’ve been her best move yet.

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Trail Camera Captures Rare Creature in US Wilderness, Experts Thrilled

A trail camera in Ohio’s Five Rivers MetroParks has captured a rare sight: a bobcat quietly padding through the Twin Valley area. The image, released by park officials, set off a wave of celebration across social media and conservation circles. “If not friend, then why friend-shaped?” joked MetroParks CFO Emily Foote, reflecting the delight many locals felt at seeing the elusive predator. The sighting is more than just cute. It’s a sign the local ecosystem is thriving. Bobcats are solitary animals that need large, connected natural areas to survive — think unbroken forest, healthy wetlands, and clean waterways. Seeing one in Twin Valley suggests the area’s habitat is in excellent condition. It also highlights the success of long-term conservation efforts to restore and protect land across the region. “This kind of sighting tells us the landscape is working,” said park officials. “Healthy wildlife corridors support species like bobcats, but also countless others.” Trail cameras, like the one that caught the bobcat, are a key part of modern conservation. They let researchers observe wildlife without interfering, providing valuable data on species presence, recovery, and ecosystem health. In another part of Ohio, a different species that hadn’t been seen in over a century was recently captured on a trail cam, reinforcing just how useful the tools are in tracking nature’s comeback. Predators like bobcats play a vital role in ecosystems. They help control rodent populations, which in turn supports cleaner water, richer soil, and more stable food webs. So when wildlife recovers, local communities benefit too — not just emotionally, but ecologically. Five Rivers MetroParks sees the bobcat’s return as a broader climate and conservation success. The park system has prioritized habitat protection as part of its climate strategy, restoring floodplains, forests, and wetland corridors to give wildlife space to move and adapt. That long-term focus is paying off. Across Ohio, the news of the bobcat sparked joy. “So excited! Nature can heal and prosper… I am proud to live here,” one local wrote. “Oh my, how exciting for our area!” another added. And a third: “Kudos once again to the amazing team at Five Rivers MetroParks, who are protecting our nature spaces!” The bobcat may have stayed hidden for years, but for residents and park staff alike, it was worth the wait.

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Scientists Achieve Quantum Teleportation Over The Internet For First Time

In a world-first achievement, U.S. researchers successfully teleported a quantum state of light across more than 30 kilometers of standard fiber optic cable — while that cable was also transmitting high-speed internet traffic. The feat, led by Prem Kumar and his team at Northwestern University, pushes quantum communication technology one major step closer to practical, real-world use. Until now, most quantum teleportation experiments happened in isolated labs or under tightly controlled conditions. Kumar’s team managed it in the wild — with 400 gigabits per second of typical internet traffic buzzing alongside their delicate quantum signal. “This is incredibly exciting because nobody thought it was possible,” said Kumar. While it won’t help commuters beam to work or speed up YouTube videos anytime soon, this kind of quantum teleportation opens a potential future of highly secure communications, next-gen sensing systems, and a global “quantum internet” that could work over existing infrastructure. Quantum teleportation isn’t like science fiction transporters. Nothing physical is moved. Instead, a quantum state — essentially, the set of all possibilities that define a photon — is destroyed in one place and recreated in another using a phenomenon called entanglement. But preserving that fragile quantum state through noisy, everyday fiber optic cables is no small feat. “Think of it like trying to send fairy floss down a firehose without it getting wet,” Kumar said, describing the delicate balance. The quantum state is a haze of potential outcomes, vulnerable to disruption from other light waves, heat, and movement in the system — a phenomenon known as decoherence. To protect their “quantum fairy floss,” the researchers used advanced techniques to reduce interference and isolate their photons from the traffic-packed internet lines. They identified a narrow spectral window — a kind of quiet zone within the busy cable — where their quantum particles could travel undisturbed. “We carefully studied how light is scattered and placed our photons at a judicious point where that scattering mechanism is minimized,” said Kumar. “We found we could perform quantum communication without interference from the classical channels that are simultaneously present.” Others had tested this concept in simulated environments. But Kumar’s team was the first to show it working on a live data stream — not a lab model, not a placeholder, but a functioning chunk of the real internet. The experiment marks a key milestone toward building a quantum internet: a future network where quantum computers, sensors, and communication devices are linked by quantum-entangled connections. “Quantum teleportation has the ability to provide quantum connectivity securely between geographically distant nodes,” Kumar explained. And crucially, his team’s work shows that we may not need to build entirely new infrastructure to get there. With the right wavelengths, quantum and classical data could share the same cables. The findings were published in the journal Optica. If successfully scaled, quantum teleportation could allow encrypted messages to be sent over vast distances without risk of interception, enable powerful new distributed computing tools, and unlock advances in fields ranging from materials science to navigation. “Each test further suggests the quantum internet is inevitable,” the researchers wrote. And this time, the future didn’t need a new network to get started — just a smarter way of using the one we already have.

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