These Stunning Photography Projects Tell Important Stories of Conservation

Photographers Musuk Nolte and Tailyr Irvine have been awarded grants by Vital Impacts to capture powerful images that shed light on environmental conservation. They aim to tell stories of community-led conservation efforts, promoting empathy and understanding. Nolte will focus on Peruvian communities reviving ancestral water harvesting practices, while Irvine will explore the bison restoration in Indigenous communities. Through their storytelling, Nolte and Irvine aim to break stereotypes, promote understanding, and amplify voices in their communities

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Kentucky Schools Are Serving Up Fajitas — and a New Food Philosophy

In the cafeteria at Boyle County High School, lunchtime sounds more like a neighborhood taco stand than a typical American school. Students line up for locally raised beef fajitas, stacked high with guacamole, queso, fresh tomatoes, and crisp lettuce—all wrapped in warm corn tortillas. Several gave them a solid “9.5 out of 10.” But this isn’t just about better lunch. It’s about a broader shift in how schools across Kentucky think about food—and where it comes from. The change took root during the pandemic, when Kentucky received $3.2 million in federal funds to support local food programs. The result: about 150 Kentucky farms now supply produce and meat to roughly 90 school districts across the state. The impact, says Boyle County School District Food Service Director Cheyenne Barsotti, goes far beyond what ends up on students' plates. “We do prioritize those center-of-the-plate items, so items like beef that are going to feature as an entree,” Barsotti told Lex 18 News. “As a director, I prioritize that because I know the quality is noticeable when you buy the local product, and I think our kids notice that as well.” She’s not just guessing. When students rave about the food, she knows they’re not just being polite—they’re genuinely enjoying it. And that feedback has given cafeteria staff the confidence to cook more from scratch, get creative with recipes, and try new things based on whatever produce is available. The shift is also changing how food workers think about their jobs. As trust grows between the kitchen and the student body, so does a sense of pride in preparing meals that feel more like home cooking and less like mass production. That change in culture has made its way to the farms, too. Just a few kilometers down the road from Boyle High, Circle G Farms pasture-raises cattle on feed grown on-site. The farm operates on a closed-loop system, using cattle manure to fertilize crops that go back into feeding the animals. The operation is rooted in sustainability and tight-knit community ties. “That’s the origin of Circle G Farms,” co-owner Carly Guinn explained. “We try to utilize every division of our farm to its highest potential and keep it sustainable.” Circle G has been working with local schools for years now. Even though the original pandemic-era grant has expired, Guinn and others say the program has changed expectations—for what farmers can provide, and what students should be eating. National nutrition guidelines are starting to catch up. The USDA’s most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans prioritize protein over carbs for the first time, and stress the importance of "real food"—meaning food that doesn’t come in a box and actually spoils over time. That direction aligns closely with what schools like Boyle are already doing. Barsotti believes the difference is noticeable—and meaningful. It’s not just about fajitas, she says. It’s about giving kids a meal that makes them feel cared for, about connecting farms to schools in a way that benefits both, and about rewriting the playbook on what school lunch should be. And if that happens to include a few second helpings, all the better.

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Shingles Vaccine May Help Slow Biological Ageing, Study Suggests

A routine vaccine designed to protect older adults from shingles may also help keep them biologically younger, according to new research. Scientists at the University of Southern California analysed data from nearly 4,000 Americans aged 70 and older and found that those who had received the shingles vaccine showed signs of slower biological ageing compared to those who hadn’t. The findings, published in The Journals of Gerontology, suggest the vaccine may do more than prevent a painful rash—it could also support healthier ageing overall. “This study adds to emerging evidence that vaccines could play a role in promoting healthy ageing by modulating biological systems beyond infection prevention,” said Jung Ki Kim, the study’s lead author. The research found that vaccinated individuals had lower levels of chronic inflammation, slower genetic ageing, and stronger biological ageing scores. The team measured two types of molecular ageing: epigenetic ageing, which looks at how chemical tags alter DNA activity over time, and transcriptomic ageing, which tracks how genes are converted into the proteins needed to keep cells functioning. Chronic low-level inflammation, often called “inflammageing,” is linked to a wide range of age-related diseases, including heart disease, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and frailty. According to Kim, the vaccine may reduce this background inflammation, possibly by preventing the reactivation of the virus that causes shingles. Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a reawakening of the dormant chickenpox virus. It causes a painful blistering rash and can lead to long-term nerve pain, especially in older adults with weakened immune systems. The shingles vaccine is already widely recommended in several countries, including the UK, where it's offered through the NHS to people turning 65, those aged 70 to 79, and anyone over 18 with a severely weakened immune system. Although the study is observational—meaning it cannot prove the vaccine directly slows ageing—it does show a strong association. And importantly, those who received the vaccine four or more years before their blood was tested still showed signs of slower biological ageing compared to those who had never been vaccinated. This helps to reduce concerns that the findings might simply reflect the “healthy user effect,” where people who get vaccinated are already more health-conscious. The results echo findings from another large review published last year in Age and Ageing, which looked at more than 100 million people aged 50 and older. That study found shingles vaccination was associated with a 24 percent lower risk of dementia and a 47 percent lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease. While more research is needed to fully understand the link between vaccination and ageing, the evidence so far suggests that routine immunizations might have benefits that go well beyond their original purpose.

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Rescuers Reunite Stranded Sea Otter Pup with Its Mother off California Coast

A southern sea otter pup that became stranded on a beach in Morro Bay, California, has been successfully reunited with its mother, thanks to a swift response by rescuers from the Marine Mammal Center. The pup was found alone on the sand, prompting a call to the center’s response team. Staff secured the pup in a crate and launched a boat search along the coastline, hoping to find its mother. Knowing the pup might tire during the search, the team recorded its vocalizations—high-pitched cries that baby otters use to call for their mothers. They played the audio continuously as they scanned the area. After two hours, a female otter began circling the boat, showing signs of recognition. In a video released by the center, staff are seen carefully lowering the pup into the water near the adult otter. Moments later, the female grabbed the pup gently with her mouth and swam off with it. “The team followed and watched them for the next hour to be sure that things were okay and they’d bond appropriately,” the Marine Mammal Center said in a statement. While the pair hasn’t been spotted again since the reunion, staff are optimistic. “We are hopeful they are doing well in their ocean home.” Southern sea otters are listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, with a population estimated at around 3,000. Every successful rescue and reunification effort plays a role in protecting the future of the species.

Colorado Scientists Step In as ‘Human Beavers’ to Save Damaged Valley

In Colorado’s Kawuneeche Valley, nature is out of balance. Once a thriving wetland ecosystem, the western stretch of Rocky Mountain National Park is now struggling—overgrazed by moose and abandoned by the beavers that once kept the landscape healthy. The problem has gotten so bad that beavers can’t return on their own. So a team of scientists is stepping in to do the work themselves—literally. “We’re trying to jump-start it,” said Jeremy Shaw, a research scientist at Colorado State University. “Our play here is to give them the best habitat we can, and then hopefully they build up their population.” Shaw is leading a project to build 29 man-made structures known as beaver dam analogs (BDAs). These simple, low-tech barriers mimic the way beavers shape rivers and streams—slowing water flow, creating ponds, and recharging the soil. The hope is that these artificial dams will create the kind of wetland conditions that might convince beavers to return and take over the job themselves. The idea isn’t new. Scientists in Oregon pioneered this approach in the early 2000s, building 100 BDAs that ended up inspiring real beavers to return and build their own dams nearby. Great Basin National Park tried a similar program with impressive results: it helped stabilize streambanks, protect endangered cutthroat trout, and bring native beavers back to the area. In Kawuneeche Valley, the stakes are high. The moose population has exploded in recent years, heavily grazing on willows and other plants that beavers rely on for food and building material. Without those plants, the beavers left. Without beavers, the valley’s wetlands dried up, leading to erosion, lower water quality, and habitat loss for countless other species. According to Shaw, the landscape is now “too far gone” for nature to recover without human help. The restoration effort is also about more than wildlife. Kimberly Tekavec, a source water protection specialist, says these beaver-style dams are good for people, too. “There are so many benefits that this project serves,” she said. By re-saturating the valley’s soils and slowing water flow, the BDAs help protect clean drinking water for more than one million Coloradans. If it works, the project could mark a new chapter for Kawuneeche Valley—where real beavers might one day reclaim their role, and the ecosystem can begin to heal itself once again.

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Clever Cow Uses Tools in Astonishing Scientific First

Tool use has long been considered one of the defining traits of intelligence. It’s why chimpanzees, crows, and even octopuses get high marks in the animal smarts department. But cows? They’ve never really been in the conversation — until now. A Swiss Brown cow named Veronika has just joined the ranks of animals known to use tools deliberately, and not just in a one-off fluke. In a series of experiments, Veronika showed that she doesn’t just know how to use tools — she knows how to adapt them based on the task and context. Her abilities are now documented in a new study published in Current Biology. “The findings highlight how assumptions about livestock intelligence may reflect gaps in observation rather than genuine cognitive limits,” said Alice Auersperg, a cognitive biologist at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna. Veronika’s not your average cow. She lives in Austria as part of the family of farmer and baker Witgar Wiegele, who’s been watching her use sticks to scratch itches for more than a decade. To him, it wasn’t news — just Veronika doing her thing. But when Auersperg and fellow researcher Antonio Osuna-Mascaró came across video footage of her behavior, they realized something else might be going on. “When I saw the footage, it was immediately clear that this was not accidental,” said Auersperg. “This was a meaningful example of tool use in a species that is rarely considered from a cognitive perspective.” Curious to see how far this behavior could go, the researchers designed a simple test using a deck broom — stiff bristles on one end, smooth handle on the other. They ran 70 randomized trials across seven sessions, giving Veronika access to the broom in different orientations. The results stunned them. Veronika used the broom to scratch herself 76 times. She didn’t just consistently use the bristle end as predicted — she used both ends, depending on the sensitivity of the area. Her tough-skinned back and sides got the stiff bristles; her belly, udder, and rear got the gentler handle. Not only that, she adjusted her movements based on the tool’s end — broad strokes with the brush, more precise motions with the handle. This behavior, the researchers say, is a rare example of what’s called multipurpose tool use. Outside of humans, only chimpanzees have been consistently observed using one tool in multiple ways for different functions. Because Veronika uses tools on her own body, researchers call this “egocentric” tool use — generally considered less complex than tool use aimed at external objects. But what makes her case remarkable is how she adapts her technique, grip, and movements despite having only her mouth to work with. “She faces clear physical constraints,” said Osuna-Mascaró. “What is striking is how she compensates for these limitations, anticipating the outcome of her actions and adjusting her grip and movements accordingly.” The fact that it took a pet cow in a non-industrial setting to reveal this kind of behavior also raises questions about what we don’t see in livestock. Veronika is 13 years old, an age few cows in farm environments reach. She lives in close contact with humans, is closely observed, and has access to a variety of objects to experiment with — conditions that are rarely present in typical cattle operations. “We suspect this ability may be more widespread than currently documented,” said Osuna-Mascaró. “We invite readers who have observed cows or bulls using sticks or other handheld objects for purposeful actions to contact us.” So the next time someone calls you a cow, maybe take it as a compliment. Especially if you’ve figured out how to wield a broom.

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Arizona teen drops 100 points in a high school game — and now the basketball world is watching

Adrian Stubbs didn’t start the week as a top recruit. He’s not in the SportsCenter Next 100, and he’s not on the radar for major NIL deals. But he may have changed that — in just three quarters of basketball. Stubbs, a 5-foot-10 senior guard from Maryvale High School in Phoenix, made state history on January 13 by scoring 100 points in a single game, leading his team to a 109–25 win over Yuma Kofa. The performance shattered Arizona’s previous high school record of 75 points, set in 1966. Even more shocking: 70 of those points came in the first half. “My mindset is always the same for every game and that’s to kill and do whatever to win,” Stubbs said. “In this one, shots were falling more than usual and my teammates realized I was on pace to get the 100 so they kept feeding me the ball.” Stubbs hit the milestone before the fourth quarter even began. Since then, life off the court has changed dramatically. He’s picked up thousands of social media followers, received hundreds of congratulatory messages, and even caught the attention of former NBA stars. One notable interaction came from Richard Jefferson, who left a comment on Stubbs' post. “Yeah, it’s been pretty crazy,” Stubbs said. “I never thought life would be this way. Just everything from more people following me, lots of likes and a lot of people congratulating me.” There’s even been autograph requests — something Stubbs has been preparing for since he was a kid. “Ever since I was younger, I just imagined signing autographs for people one day, so I always practiced,” he said. “These have been my first round of autographs, and it’s been pretty cool.” While Stubbs isn’t yet being courted by basketball’s biggest blue-blood programs, interest is starting to build. Pepperdine, Pacific, Northern Arizona, and Southern Utah have all expressed early interest. For Stubbs, the performance isn’t a finish line — it’s a launchpad. “It’s obviously a great accomplishment, but I just want to stay in a mindset of getting better,” he said. “I don’t necessarily want to top it or anything. I definitely want to keep winning and picking up interest from colleges for myself and my teammates.” Stubbs may not be a household name yet, but after a night like that, it’s likely only a matter of time.

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Implanted Nerve-Stimulating Device Offers New Hope for Patients With Severe Depression

For people with the most severe forms of depression, where medication and therapy fail to bring relief, a new study offers a reason to hope. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that a small implanted device, which stimulates the vagus nerve, can lead to long-term improvements in mood, daily functioning, and quality of life. The findings, published January 13 in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, are part of the ongoing RECOVER trial — a large, federally approved clinical study funded by medical device company LivaNova USA. The trial tracked nearly 500 adults with treatment-resistant depression, a condition that affects up to a third of patients who don’t respond to conventional treatments and often persists for decades. “This is one of the sickest groups of depressed patients ever studied in a clinical trial,” said lead author Dr. Charles Conway, a professor of psychiatry and director of the Treatment Resistant Mood Disorders Center at WashU Medicine. “There is a dire need to find effective treatments for these patients, who often have no other options.” Participants in the trial had been living with depression for an average of 29 years and had already tried about 13 treatments — including electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) — without success. The therapy being tested, known as Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS), involves surgically implanting a small device in the chest that sends electrical signals to the left vagus nerve, a key communication line between the brain and internal organs. Though VNS is already approved for epilepsy, its use in depression remains limited, in part due to cost and lack of insurance coverage. In the trial, all participants received the device, but only half had it activated in the first year so researchers could compare outcomes. The results showed that patients with active devices experienced more time in improved mood states, better daily functioning, and higher quality of life. The primary depression rating scale used in the study didn’t show a statistically significant difference between the active and inactive groups after one year, but that didn’t tell the whole story. In a new two-year analysis focusing on the 214 participants who had active devices from the start, the improvements not only persisted — they grew. By the end of the first year, 69% of these patients showed meaningful improvement in at least one measure. Among those who improved, more than 80% maintained or enhanced their gains into the second year. Of those who had what researchers called a “substantial” response — a 50% or greater reduction in symptoms — 92% continued to benefit at the two-year mark. One in five patients reached full remission after two years, meaning they were essentially symptom-free and able to return to normal daily life. “We were shocked that one in five patients was effectively without depressive symptoms at the end of two years,” Conway said. “These results are highly atypical, as most studies of markedly treatment-resistant depression have very poor sustainability of benefit. We’re seeing people getting better and staying better.” Even among participants who didn’t respond in the first year, nearly one-third reported benefits by the end of the second year — suggesting that VNS may take longer to work for some individuals. Relapse rates were also low, particularly among the strongest responders. Unlike fast-acting treatments like ketamine, which may wear off quickly or need repeated dosing, VNS seems to offer a slow but steady path to recovery. Conway said even modest improvements can make a significant difference for patients who are “paralyzed by life,” unable to perform basic daily tasks or hold jobs. Roughly three-quarters of the study participants were unemployed due to the severity of their depression. Making the therapy more accessible could be life-changing, but right now, insurance coverage is a major hurdle. One of the RECOVER trial’s goals is to provide evidence that could lead the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to expand coverage for VNS. That decision would likely influence private insurers as well. The device, made by LivaNova, costs several thousand dollars, and without coverage, most patients can’t afford it. If CMS approves broader reimbursement based on the trial data, it could make VNS therapy a realistic option for many more people. “This is not a miracle cure,” Conway said. “But it is a real, durable option for people who have tried everything else.” The RECOVER trial continues to collect long-term data, and researchers hope it will ultimately change how treatment-resistant depression is understood and managed — not just as a dead-end diagnosis, but as a condition that, with the right tools, can be treated more effectively over time.

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Harvard Dropout Raises $6.6M to Launch His AI Smart Glasses Startup

Caine Ardayfio left Harvard at 22 with a bold idea and a big bet on the future of AI — and now he’s raised $6.6 million to bring it to life. The African American tech entrepreneur is the co-founder of Mira, a startup that builds AI-powered smart glasses designed to make artificial intelligence a natural part of daily conversations. With early backing from General Catalyst and a vision to reach one million users within three years, Ardayfio is aiming to redefine how people interact with technology — one conversation at a time. Mira’s glasses don’t capture video and aren’t designed for flashy AR overlays. Instead, they focus entirely on audio. Worn like normal frames, they can listen, respond, translate languages, do quick math, remember key moments, and even suggest helpful follow-ups — all powered by AI. “It’s literally like a system that’s with you 24/7,” Ardayfio told AfroTech. “It’s with you during all of your conversations.” The glasses use built-in speakers to provide responses, and a sleek wearable ring lets users activate the AI or take calls. Users can review their daily conversations in the Mira app, where audio is deleted instantly but transcripts are saved for reference. Custom AI settings let users tailor how the assistant behaves. Retailing at $649 for non-prescription and $799 for prescription models, Mira’s early adopters include executives and business owners using the glasses to track meetings and recall important info. Calendar and email integrations are next on the roadmap. Ardayfio’s journey to Mira began back in eighth grade, when his father introduced him to coding. By high school, he had already launched a mental health startup inspired by his sister, raised $100,000 in funding, and hired a team. Those early lessons in building and pitching laid the foundation for his current venture. At Harvard, he met Mira co-founder AnhPhu Nguyen in the campus makerspace. The pair bonded over their love of hardware and wild side projects — building flamethrowers, robotic tentacles, and early versions of smart glasses. Their videos racked up more than 80 million views online, and eventually, the idea for Mira stuck. With $6.6 million now in hand, Mira plans to invest heavily in software, AI, and improving the glasses’ design. The first 300 pairs have already shipped, with another 1,000 expected by January. While other companies are experimenting with smart glasses, Ardayfio believes Mira stands apart by focusing on utility and reliability over novelty. “It’s not about having a screen in front of your face,” he said. “It’s about having something that helps you in real time — with the people around you, with your work, and with your life.” The goal is to make Mira’s AI assistant feel like a natural extension of yourself — always listening, ready to help, and fully embedded in the flow of everyday life.

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A New Building Material is Pulling Carbon from the Air Instead of Releasing It

A team of researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has created a construction material that doesn’t just lower carbon emissions — it removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Called Enzymatic Structural Material (ESM), the innovation could be a game-changer for the building industry, which is under increasing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint. ESM is strong, recyclable, and fast-curing, and it sequesters carbon during its production. The findings were published in Matter, a leading journal focused on materials science. The project was led by Nima Rahbar, head of WPI’s Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering. His team engineered ESM using an enzyme that triggers a chemical reaction to convert atmospheric CO2 into solid mineral particles. These particles are then bonded together and shaped into structural forms — all under mild conditions. “Concrete is the most widely used construction material on the planet, and its production accounts for nearly 8% of global CO2 emissions,” Rahbar said. “What our team has developed is a practical, scalable alternative that doesn't just reduce emissions — it actually captures carbon.” In terms of numbers, the difference is stark. Producing just one cubic meter of conventional concrete emits about 330 kilograms of carbon dioxide. ESM, on the other hand, removes more than 6 kilograms of CO2 for every cubic meter produced. Unlike concrete, which requires extremely high temperatures and can take weeks to fully cure, ESM sets within hours. It also allows for adjustable strength and full recyclability. According to the researchers, these traits make ESM suitable for a wide range of real-world applications, including roof decks, wall panels, and prefabricated modular structures. It’s also repairable — another advantage that could lead to lower long-term costs and reduce landfill waste in the construction sector. Rahbar believes the implications go well beyond green building. “If even a fraction of global construction shifts toward carbon-negative materials like ESM, the impact could be enormous,” he said. Because ESM is made using low-energy processes and renewable biological inputs, it fits well with goals around climate-resilient infrastructure and circular manufacturing. The material could be especially useful for affordable housing projects or rebuilding efforts after natural disasters, where speed and environmental impact are critical factors. The team at WPI hopes the development of ESM will serve as a model for how science can move the needle on climate solutions — not just by limiting harm, but by reversing it.

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Breast Cancer Survivor Undergoes UAE’s First Robotic-Assisted Breast Reconstruction

In a breakthrough for women’s health in the UAE, a breast cancer survivor in Abu Dhabi has become the first patient in the country to undergo robotic-assisted breast reconstruction surgery. The operation, performed at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, marks a major milestone in reconstructive surgery, offering a minimally invasive and highly precise alternative for breast cancer survivors seeking natural-looking results with reduced recovery time. Led by Dr Raffi Gurunian, Dr Ahmad Matalkah, and Dr Mario Cherubino, the procedure was carried out by a multidisciplinary team that included breast and plastic surgeons, anaesthetists, and nursing staff. Using robotic tools, the team harvested tissue from the patient’s abdomen through small incisions, preserving the underlying muscle — a significant advantage over traditional methods. The harvested tissue was then used to reconstruct the breast, resulting in a more natural look and feel. “The robotic system allows us to work with enhanced accuracy and minimises many of the side effects,” said Dr Gurunian, who heads the plastic surgery section at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. “It was a complex, high-precision surgery that was completed with no complications. We believe this represents the future of reconstructive surgery.” The robotic-assisted approach gave surgeons a 3D view of the operative field and access to instruments capable of delicate movement, allowing them to carefully handle blood vessels and limit trauma. For the patient, this meant less postoperative pain and a shorter recovery period compared to standard surgery. The patient had previously undergone a mastectomy as part of her breast cancer treatment. Once confirmed as a suitable candidate, doctors opted for the robotic-assisted method instead of the conventional Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP) flap procedure, which, while considered the gold standard in breast reconstruction, typically involves longer incisions, more post-surgical pain, and a higher risk of complications like hernia or abdominal weakness. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women globally and remains the leading cancer affecting women in the UAE. While many survivors choose reconstruction following mastectomy, the Cleveland Clinic team believes this advancement could change how that path looks for future patients. “It is incredibly rewarding to be a part of something this big and make it happen here for the first time ever in the UAE,” said Dr Gurunian. The procedure not only opens the door for similar surgeries in the region but also positions the UAE at the forefront of innovation in women’s health and surgical care.

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