a man sits in a booth while playing video games, looking at a screen, and hands on a joystick controller

Goodable

A shopping center in Shanghai, China has opened "husband storage" facilities and couples are calling it the ultimate shopping secret. The Global Harbour mall unveiled a cluster of extraordinary glass pods designed to house husbands while their wives embark on shopping sprees.

<img src="https://content.fortune.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/shanghai-husband-pod.jpg" style="width: 100%;">

Step inside one of these futuristic cocoons, and you'll find yourself immersed in a world of gaming nostalgia. Equipped with a comfy chair, a snazzy monitor, a state-of-the-art computer and a trusty gamepad, these pods offer men a chance to revisit the golden era of gaming from the 1990s. It's an escape from retail boredom and for now, it comes at absolutely no cost. But soon, users will have to scan a QR code and pay a small fee using their mobile phones, guaranteeing a continued gaming extravaganza during those unavoidable shopping sprees.

Opinions on these glassy gaming havens are as diverse as the games themselves. One satisfied pod dweller, Mr. Yang, couldn't contain his excitement, exclaiming, "It's really great. I've just played Tekken 3 and felt like I was back at school!" The sentiment was echoed by Mr. Wu, who shared his delight while pointing out a minor drawback, "There's no ventilation or air conditioning, I sat playing for five minutes and was drenched in sweat."
<img src="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F551e363c-67e7-11e7-9b7b-d051f7c13c06.jpg?crop=3000%2C1688%2C0%2C156" style="width: 100%;">
Naturally, the advent of husband storage pods has triggered a flurry of laughter and lively discussions on Chinese social media platforms. Supporters applaud the initiative, believing that these futuristic sanctuaries will incentivize men to accompany their partners on shopping sprees and even foot the bill.

Whether you see them as a stroke of genius or a questionable ploy, there's no denying that these husband storage pods have stirred up a frenzy of excitement and ignited the imagination of shoppers everywhere. Who knows, perhaps this playful concept will spark a trend that spreads beyond the mall's walls and inject a dose of gaming thrill into shopping trips worldwide.

This Mall in China Offers "Husbands Storage" While Their Wives Shop

People

In a quiet Pittsburgh suburb, what began as a weekend lesson for two young boys has grown into a food pantry movement watched by millions.

AJ Owen, a father of two in Whitehall, started a front-yard food pantry with his sons after hearing about delays to SNAP benefits caused by the government shutdown. The idea was simple: fill a few coolers with food and let anyone in the neighborhood take what they needed.

“We literally started with one tote that we had and two hand coolers out of the garage,” Owen told People. “You don’t need a permanent building to get something to go, just a tote and two coolers, and look where it can get you.”

That was on October 26. Just over a week later, the project has exploded into something far bigger — fueled by a viral TikTok video, a mysterious envelope full of cash, and a steady stream of support from across the country.

Owen had explained the SNAP situation to his sons, aged 7 and 9, wanting them to understand why some neighbors might soon be struggling even more to buy groceries. Their response: “How can we help people?”

That question launched what has now become a daily effort. Owen and his boys stock bins with nonperishables, diapers, formula, and whatever else is donated. Neighbors drop off home-cooked meals. Strangers swing by with grocery hauls. Even the Pittsburgh Steelers joined in — defensive lineman Yahya Black personally delivered food and supplies on behalf of the team.

But the moment that changed everything came quietly.

Owen found an envelope in his mailbox. It was thick, unmarked, and contained thousands of dollars in cash, along with a handwritten note: “May God prosper and bless your food pantry.”

“I opened it up and just — hundred-dollar bills, a stack of hundred-dollar bills,” he said. “I truly didn’t know how to react. I froze. I started shaking and I started crying.”

Owen posted a video of the discovery to TikTok, and it blew up — nearly 18 million views and counting. In it, he’s visibly stunned, holding back tears as he reads the note aloud. The emotional clip not only catapulted his food pantry into national attention, it inspired others to follow suit.

Across the U.S., people have started tagging Owen in their own versions of neighborhood food stands and community pantries, citing his video as the spark.

“Every day continues to evolve in a great way,” Owen said. “Every challenge that comes up, we just tackle head-on and keep feeding people.”

The shelves he and his sons set up are restocked constantly. He says some visitors take what they need, others return later with extra to share. It’s become more than just a source of groceries. For many, it’s a symbol of hope and community.

The proud dad said he doesn’t know how long the pantry will last, but he’s committed for as long as people need it.

“People deserve food, people deserve to be fed,” he said. “As long as there’s a need in our community, we will keep this out.”

He’s quick to point out the heart of the effort: hospitality. “Making a food pantry is no different than me inviting you over to my house for dinner,” he said. “Come grab a meal. Come grab a drink. Come grab what you need. I’m happy to have you.”

It’s that kind of openness that’s kept people coming back — and brought in support from places Owen never expected.

“My youngest son said, ‘Dad, what if nobody comes?’” he recalled. “And I said, ‘Buddy, if we help one person, then this was all worth it.’ And here we are helping a heck of a lot more than one person.”

Pittsburgh Dad And Sons Create Viral Front-Yard Food Pantry, Receive Anonymous Note and Cash For Help

Talker News

A skin patch that trains toddlers’ immune systems to tolerate peanuts may offer new hope to families dealing with severe food allergies.

In a long-term study presented at the annual American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) meeting in Orlando, researchers reported that over 70 percent of young children treated with the “peanut patch” could safely tolerate the equivalent of three to four peanut kernels after three years.

The patch, known as the Viaskin Peanut Patch, uses a method called epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT). It works by delivering tiny amounts of peanut protein through the skin with the goal of building up the body’s tolerance and reducing the risk of a severe reaction in case of accidental exposure.

The findings are especially encouraging for the growing number of parents whose children live with peanut allergies. Roughly one in 50 toddlers has the condition, which can cause potentially life-threatening reactions from even trace amounts of peanuts.

“These results show that ongoing treatment with the peanut patch continues to improve tolerance and remains safe over time,” said study lead Dr. Matthew Greenhawt, director of the Food Challenge and Research Unit at Children's Hospital Colorado.

The latest analysis followed children who originally received a placebo during an earlier one-year study. Those toddlers then went on to receive the peanut patch for up to three years.

By the end of that period, nearly half of them could tolerate more than just a few peanut kernels. Even more notable: none experienced treatment-related anaphylaxis — the most dangerous kind of allergic reaction — during the third year.

“The treatment continued to show a strong safety record,” said Greenhawt. “Skin irritation at the patch site – the most common side effect – became less frequent over time.”

The study also found that, after three years, children's reactions during food challenges were generally milder, with fewer severe symptoms compared to earlier in the treatment.

Researchers say the results support growing evidence that early intervention could change the long-term trajectory of peanut allergies.

“For parents of toddlers with peanut allergies, this kind of approach may one day offer peace of mind,” said Greenhawt. “It could reduce the risk of having an allergic reaction, including severe reactions, from accidental exposure.”

Still, experts caution that any peanut desensitization should only be done under medical supervision. Parents should consult an allergist before considering emerging treatment options.

The Viaskin Peanut Patch is still under investigation and not yet widely available. But with each round of data showing improved tolerance and sustained safety, researchers are optimistic it may eventually become a routine tool in the fight against food allergies.

New Peanut Patch Helps Toddlers Build Tolerance To Deadly Allergy

CTV News

For Michael McGee, tattoos are more than art; they're a testament to his life journey. Every piece of ink on his body tells a story—family losses, fatherhood, and even time spent in prison. But when he lost his 7-year-old daughter, McGee experienced a profound awakening.

“I literally kind of had a dream of like, what am I here for? It just can’t be for drugs, violence, gangs, the street life. It has to be something bigger,” he said.

This introspection led McGee to start Hustlin Ink, a mobile tattoo shop that offers more than fresh ink. It provides a space where clients can share their stories while getting tattooed.

“You can come in here, sit down, get a tattoo, unwind, talk,” McGee explained.

One client who recently visited Hustlin Ink is Isaac Lara. At 18 years old, Lara has already survived four gunshot wounds and joined a gang at just 12. Growing up in Lompoc left him feeling trapped between gang life and mundane job prospects.

“It’s not really too many options out there for you,” Lara admitted. “You got to pick a side or work a 9-to-5 job.”

Lara came to McGee's shop not just for ink but also to honor his close friend Monty. Monty's death in Santa Maria was a wake-up call for Lara.

“My friend Monty…he was shot in Santa Maria at a truck meet…it sucked losing him,” Lara said. “That was really like (the) point in my life where I was just like (I) knew I need to stop.”

Hustlin Ink provides Lara with an outlet he struggles to find elsewhere—a listening ear.

“I don’t really have no one to talk to,” he shared. “It’s good to talk to someone sometimes.”

McGee understands the challenges of shaking off past identities.

“Everyone wants to look at you as the old chapter…the old who you was…and they don’t want to allow you to be a new person,” McGee noted.

By offering conversation along with tattoos, McGee aims to break cycles of crime and incarceration.

Suzanne Grimmesey from Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness appreciates this unique approach toward change.

“Any way that you have the conversation…that’s what moves us forward…and that’s what takes away the stigma…from getting the help they may need and deserve,” Grimmesey commented.

Through empathy and artistry, McGee helps clients like Lara turn over new leaves by giving them opportunities they might not find elsewhere.

“Change is possible…it is…it’s not always easy…but it is possible," affirmed McGee.

Tattoo Therapy is Helping Formerly Incarcerated Individuals Heal Through Art And Conversation

Scientific American

For the first time in decades, researchers are reporting a modest but hopeful rise in the number of vaquita porpoises—offering a rare glimmer of good news for a species once thought to be on the brink of extinction.

Vaquitas, the world’s smallest and most endangered marine mammal, live only in a narrow patch of ocean in Mexico’s upper Gulf of California. Since scientists began monitoring them, their numbers have steadily declined—from an estimated 567 in 1997 to near single digits in recent years. Computer models had projected the species would be extinct by 2021.

But the vaquita, it turns out, isn’t gone yet. In a recent survey, researchers counted more individuals than expected, marking the first time their estimated population has increased since monitoring began.

“It underscores the urgency of creating the conditions necessary to improve [the vaquita’s] chances of survival,” said Catalina López-Sagástegui, a marine biologist and director of the Gulf of California Marine Program at the Institute of the Americas. While she was not part of the survey team, she called the findings “a reason for cautious optimism.”

The species’ sharp decline over the past 25 years has largely been driven by gillnets—long nets used by fishers that hang vertically in the water. Vaquitas often became tangled and drowned, especially in nets used to illegally catch totoaba fish, whose swim bladders can fetch thousands of dollars on Chinese black markets.

In 2017, Mexico banned the use of gillnets in the vaquita’s habitat. But enforcement has been inconsistent, and illegal fishing has persisted. In 2019, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) stepped in with an agreement aimed at reducing demand for totoaba and removing gillnets from the region entirely. A “zero-tolerance” zone was created within the vaquita’s known habitat, where all fishing was banned.

That move was met with fierce resistance from local fishers, many of whom rely on those waters for their livelihoods. Critics say enforcement efforts have unfairly penalized struggling communities, while failing to stop the flow of totoaba on the black market.

Despite those tensions, something may be working. The uptick in vaquita numbers suggests that the population is stabilizing, or at least not declining as rapidly as before. Biologists warn that the total number remains critically low and the species is still in danger, but any increase—no matter how small—is notable.

Vaquitas are notoriously difficult to study. They are shy, elusive, and only visible for a few seconds at a time when they surface. That makes every sighting valuable, especially when survival seemed so unlikely just a few years ago.

With fewer than a dozen believed to be alive as recently as 2021, some experts feared the species was already functionally extinct. The recent findings, though limited in scope, offer a rare moment of hope in what has long been a tragic tale of decline.

The next step, scientists say, is to double down on removing gillnets and supporting sustainable livelihoods for local communities—before the fragile progress slips away.

Scientists Discovered a New Breeding Ground for This Endangered Porpoise

Artnet

A black glass necklace from the wreck of the Titanic has gone on display in Orlando, offering a rare and emotional glimpse into the lives of those aboard the ill-fated ship.

The necklace, newly unveiled at Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition in Orlando, had remained hidden for 113 years—first under the Atlantic Ocean, then inside a hardened mass of sediment known as a concretion. Salvaged in 2000 by RMS Titanic, Inc., the only company authorized to recover items from the Titanic’s debris field, the concretion sat untouched for more than two decades until a recent re-examination revealed a surprise.

“We believed all associated artifacts had been removed,” said Tomasina Ray, president and director of collections at RMS Titanic, Inc., in an email. “However, during a recent review of material samples in storage, our team identified indications that something might still be embedded within the concretion.”

What conservator Alex Klingelhofer eventually uncovered was a necklace made of French jet—black glass shaped into hearts and octagons. It’s a material that was widely used in mourning jewelry during the Victorian and Edwardian periods, hinting that the necklace’s owner may have been grieving someone at the time of the voyage.

No one knows who that person was. With 1,496 lives lost in the 1912 disaster, and only limited insurance records to go by, identifying the necklace’s original owner is virtually impossible. Still, experts believe the piece was likely worn by a passenger in mourning, given its style and materials.

“There was a certain drama and beauty in how sorrow was made visible,” Ray and her colleague Ross Mumford, research and content specialist at RMS Titanic, Inc., wrote. “This necklace offers a rare, tangible link to that world: it gives us a once-in-a-lifetime glimpse not only into the style and craftsmanship of the time, but also into the emotional landscape of the people aboard Titanic.”

The necklace is now on view in the exhibition’s “Life Onboard” gallery at 7324 International Drive. While Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition has been open in Orlando for 26 years, it’s rare for new items to be added—especially one as intimate and evocative as this.

The fact that it was hidden in plain sight, locked inside a clump of compressed ocean sediment for 25 years, only adds to the intrigue.

“This black glass necklace embodies a striking duality: beauty and trauma, new beginnings and loss, 1912 and today,” Ray and Mumford said. “Its heart-shaped beads seem to mirror the style of modern jewelry, grounding viewers in the understanding that Titanic’s passengers were not so different from us.”

Even now, more than a century later, the Titanic continues to offer fragments of human history—small, personal details that resist the grandeur of the ship’s legend. In a story so often retold through spectacle, this necklace offers something quieter: a worn memento of love, grief, or perhaps both.

This Titanic Necklace Was Just Unveiled for the First Time in 100 Years

Warning ⚠️ This story discusses eating disorders, depression, and self-harm. While it ends on a message of healing and self-compassion, it may be difficult for some readers — please take care and reach out for support if you need it.

Brittany Snow is reflecting on how she learned to love herself again after years of battling body image issues, eating disorders, and depression.

In a new cover story for Self, the 39-year-old actress shared that her struggles began early. As a young girl, she would collect and pore over women’s fitness magazines, hoping to find the secret to being “perfect.”

“All I wanted was someone to tell me what they were doing so that I could do it too,” she said.

By her teenage years, the Pitch Perfect star said her self-image had deteriorated to the point that she couldn’t even look at herself unclothed. “I had so much disdain for my body and I couldn’t see myself as a functional, beautiful being,” she recalled. “I only saw the things that were wrong with me.”

Snow’s insecurities eventually spiraled into anorexia, exercise bulimia, depression, and self-harm. She entered treatment several times, including inpatient programs, but says it was a year-long outpatient program that truly changed her life.

“I think rewiring my brain where I could count on myself and I could trust myself, I could be in a space and feel like I wasn’t going to do something harmful to myself, was the best thing that ever could have happened to my recovery,” she explained.

Snow says learning to trust her body again was key. These days, even with roles that require vulnerability — like her recent part in The Hunting Wives, which included intimate scenes — she says relapse was never a concern.

But that self-trust was tested during her 2022 divorce from real estate broker Tyler Stanaland. Snow admitted she stopped eating during that painful period — until she found comfort by showing herself the same gentleness she would show a child.

“I’d be like, ‘Okay, baby girl, do you want a bagel? Let’s get you a bagel. We’re going to toast it. We’re going to put some cream cheese on it. Is that all you can eat? Okay, that’s okay,’” she said. “I started realizing that I was eating whatever I wanted. It completely changed my way of thinking about my body. I was talking to myself like someone I loved. And then I just never stopped doing that.”

Snow says that shift — treating herself with kindness instead of criticism — became the foundation of her recovery.

“I had to rewire my brain,” she said. “I had to learn to trust myself again.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, The Alliance for Eating Disorders offers free, therapist-led support groups and a helpline at 1-866-662-1235. For mental health support, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to connect with a certified counselor.

Brittany Snow Opens Up About Rewiring Her Brain After Struggling With Body Image

Upworthy

Dr. James C. Wittig had always imagined becoming a father. A successful orthopedic oncologist in New Jersey, he used to joke that if he ever had kids, he’d skip the diaper stage and start with a 13-year-old.

In 2015, that wish turned into something very real. A Facebook post caught his attention — a teenage boy named Ronnie had lost both parents, and someone was looking for a home for him. Wittig, a single and never-married doctor, didn’t hesitate. He reached out and volunteered.

At the time, Wittig had no idea just how deep his connection to Ronnie would go. Months later, he would uncover a link that seemed almost too perfect to be coincidence.

Wittig, who now chairs the Department of Orthopedics at Morristown Medical Center, has spent decades treating patients with bone cancer, including osteosarcoma. For years, he’s used a photograph in his lectures — a side-by-side image of two women he treated during his fellowship in the 1980s. One had a leg amputated. The other underwent limb-sparing surgery. The image was a teaching tool for generations of medical students.

He kept in touch with the woman whose leg he saved. In 2015, he noticed she was helping find a guardian for Ronnie, the son of her late friend who had died from complications following her own leg amputation. Ronnie’s father had also recently passed away. Wittig reached out, and she arranged for him to meet the boy.

He drove to northern Virginia and met Ronnie in person. They clicked. A second visit followed, and just hours after that, Ronnie made his choice. He wanted to live with Wittig.

Two weeks later, guardianship was transferred.

It wasn’t until months later — after they’d already been living together — that Wittig made the connection. The boy’s mother was the same woman whose image had appeared in his lecture slides for years. He’d never met her, but he’d been using her story to teach future doctors about cancer care. Now he was raising her son.

“I see this whole thing as a synchronicity,” Wittig said. “One of those things in life that feels like it was meant to happen.”

Ronnie, now an adult, attended Seton Hall Prep and completed welding school. Though he hasn’t been legally adopted yet, Wittig says that’s just paperwork. Their bond, he says, goes far deeper than that.

“Being his dad has been one of the biggest miracles of my life,” he wrote in a post on Instagram. “I am so proud to call you my son… You are amazing to me and my hero.”

Wittig says parenting has brought him more joy and meaning than he ever imagined. It’s also taught him a few things. “Kindness, compassion, empathy, love, joy, and happiness,” he said. “That’s what I’ve learned from Ronnie.”

He hopes their story will show other older, single adults that it’s never too late to become a parent.

“It doesn’t have to look traditional,” Wittig said. “Love is what makes a family.”

Feel Good Friday: Doctor Fulfills Dream Of Fatherhood By Adopting Teen With a Heartwarming Twist

Science Alert

Octopuses are known for their mind-bending camouflage, but now scientists are one step closer to replicating the chemical trick that powers their disappearing act.

Researchers at the University of California San Diego have successfully bioengineered bacteria to produce xanthommatin — a rare, color-shifting pigment found in the skin of cephalopods like octopuses, squids, and cuttlefish. It’s a breakthrough that could help unlock the secrets of natural camouflage and push the boundaries of sustainable manufacturing.

“This natural pigment is what gives an octopus or a squid its ability to camouflage – a fantastic superpower – and our achievement to advance production of this material is just the tip of the iceberg,” said senior author Bradley Moore, a marine chemist at Scripps Oceanography.

Until now, xanthommatin has been notoriously difficult to obtain. It’s nearly impossible to harvest in useful quantities from animals, and efforts to synthesize it in the lab have hit a wall. The UC San Diego team tackled that by using a novel technique called growth-coupled biosynthesis — essentially tricking bacteria into making xanthommatin by tying its production directly to their survival.

“Essentially, we came up with a way to trick the bacteria into making more of the material that we needed,” said lead author Leah Bushin.

Here’s how it worked: the scientists engineered “sick” bacteria that could only grow if they made two things — xanthommatin and formic acid. For every molecule of pigment produced, one molecule of formic acid was released, giving the bacteria the fuel they needed to survive. If they didn’t make pigment, they didn’t grow. The result was a self-sustaining cycle that dramatically increased pigment output.

The team’s system was able to produce up to 3 grams of pigment per liter — roughly 1,000 times more than earlier attempts.

“It was one of my best days in the lab,” said Bushin. “When I came in the next morning and realized it worked and it was producing a lot of pigment, I was thrilled. Moments like that are why I do science.”

The implications go beyond camouflage. The approach could pave the way for more efficient, sustainable production of other rare and valuable compounds using microbes, rather than relying on animal harvesting or chemical synthesis. That’s good news for everything from medicine to materials science.

“This project gives a glimpse into a future where biology enables the sustainable production of valuable compounds and materials,” said co-author Adam Feist, a bioengineer at UC San Diego. “We show how we can accelerate innovation in biomanufacturing by bringing together engineers, biologists, and chemists.”

By combining the power of genetic engineering, bioinformatics, and adaptive lab evolution, the team also trained bacteria to make pigment from simple nutrient sources like glucose — an added efficiency boost.

For now, octopuses still hold the crown for world-class camouflage. But thanks to bacteria and some creative science, humans are catching up.

Scientists Bioengineer Bacteria to Mass-Produce Octopus Camouflage Pigment

BBC News

At just 12 years old, Tom from Louth, Lincolnshire, is balancing life on the farm with a fast track to Formula One.

Known in the racing world as “The Farmer,” Tom is set to represent Team UK at the Grand Finals in Bahrain next month — a global karting competition that has launched many F1 careers. When he’s not shearing sheep or driving tractors on his family’s farm, Tom is winning races. And he’s won a lot of them: 70 trophies since he first stepped into a kart at age eight.

“I normally help with the sheep and driving the tractors around the farm,” Tom said. “It builds up my muscles, which helps me in my sport.”

His parents, Sally and James, are traveling with him to Bahrain and say they’re overwhelmed with pride.

“To get to Bahrain, it's a dream. We're so proud of him,” said Sally. “He loves his animals, tractors, anything with an engine.”

And his fuel of choice? “Steak and chips and a pint of milk,” said Sally. “We're often asked if we have a cow tethered up outside, the amount of milk he drinks. It keeps his bones strong and has kept him racing.”

Tom’s racing journey began on an old Lancaster base at Woodthorpe. Since then, his rise has been rapid. In 2023, he caught the attention of Strawberry Racing — one of the UK’s top karting teams — while competing at PF International Circuit near Grantham.

“He just rocketed from there,” said his dad, James. “Every waking hour he’s thinking about karting and racing.”

Tom looks up to F1 star Lando Norris, who also started in karting and competed at the Grand Finals before making it to the big leagues. Tom says he plans to follow the same path.

“Most of the Formula One grid started in karting and won world finals,” he said. “I just need to do the same.”

The Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals run from 29 November to 6 December in Bahrain — and Tom will be there, hoping to trade the sheep pens for the winner’s podium.

Farm Boy Prepares to Swap Sheep Shearing for F1 Glory in Bahrain

After suffering a stroke in 2021, Liz Elmont thought her days of taking photographs were behind her. Housebound and struggling with her recovery, the Somerset-based photographer found herself in what she describes as “a really dark place.”

“I was really miserable,” she said. “I sold off some of my lenses because I thought I’d never use them again.”

But everything changed the day she remembered the BBC’s Weather Watchers program — a photo-sharing platform where people upload weather images from across the UK.

“One day, I thought, ‘I should take a picture for Weather Watchers, I haven’t done that in ages,’” said Elmont. “It suddenly became the thing that got me out of the house.”

Armed with just her phone, Elmont began taking short walks outside her home in Watchet, capturing snapshots of local skies and weather changes. The photos not only gave her a reason to get moving again, but reignited a passion she feared she had lost for good. Some of her photos have since appeared on BBC Points West, something she says brings a huge lift.

“When you put a photograph on Weather Watchers and you see it was picked, it’s a real boost. Especially when it’s used on TV in the evening, it’s fabulous,” she said.

Elmont, who previously worked as a professional photographer for magazines and estate agents, now uses photography to track her recovery — and her connection with the outdoors.

She’s not the only one who’s found purpose in snapping the sky. In Gloucestershire, Ant Walker also joined the BBC Weather Watchers community somewhat by accident.

“I just happened to be randomly checking the forecast for Gloucestershire on the BBC website,” he said. “I saw this thing about favourite Weather Watcher pictures and I thought, ‘I’ll have a go at that!’”

Walker took a shot of a tree and a gate while out walking his husky, Anika. That same evening, the image appeared on Points West. “To my surprise and delight,” he added.

Walker now posts weather photos daily under the username “Space Walker.”

Weather Watchers is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, with more than 362,000 registered users sending in photos from every part of the UK. While it helps forecasters illustrate local conditions, it’s also become something more personal for many participants — a source of joy, motivation, and even healing.

“It gave me a boost and helped me do things again,” said Elmont. “It helped bring me back.”

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