Goodable

This restaurant in New York City has no chefs. To cook in this kitchen, there's only one requirement: you must be a grandmother. When Joe opened up this restaurant almost 20 years ago, his mother and sister had just passed away. He was full of grief. But then. he started inviting grandmothers into his kitchen. And it changed everything. Thank you Enoteca Maria Restaurant! Made possible with the support of Ontario Creates.

<p>This restaurant in New York City has no chefs. To cook in this kitchen, there's only one requirement: you must be a grandmother. When Joe opened up this restaurant almost 20 years ago, his mother and sister had just passed away. He was full of grief. But then. he started inviting grandmothers into his kitchen. And it changed everything. Thank you Enoteca Maria Restaurant! Made possible with the support of Ontario Creates.<br></p>

This New York Kitchen is Run By Grandmothers!

GoodGoodGood

One brother tackles quarterbacks. The other danced for packed stadiums on the biggest tour in the world.

Now they’re teaming up for something completely different.

Khalen Saunders, a defensive tackle who has played in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints and the New York Jets, and his brother Kameron Saunders, who spent more than 630 days performing on stage during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, have launched a football camp designed specifically for LGBTQ+ youth.

The camp, announced in June, aims to give young people a place to learn football and build confidence in an environment built around acceptance.

Despite their very different careers, the brothers say their bond has always been strong.

Kameron came out to his family when he was 11 years old. Khalen was just 7 at the time, but he remembers feeling protective of his older brother even then.

Today, that same instinct is shaping the purpose behind the camp.

“I hope this camp can accomplish teaching the younger generation how to be accepting and loving and empathetic of others,” Khalen said during an appearance on the Today Show.

“Because at the end of the day, loving one another is the most important thing. I feel like my No. 1 rule that I’ve always went by is, treat others as you want to be treated.”

The camp focuses on football fundamentals but places just as much emphasis on creating a supportive environment for participants.

For Kameron, that sense of safety is the most important part.

He said the goal is to give young people a place to play and learn “without judgment, without ridicule.”

“This camp will be the catalyst for how future generations navigate spaces — particularly male-dominated spaces — in a more loving, nurturing, caring way.”

Sports spaces, especially football, have long been seen as environments where LGBTQ+ youth can feel excluded or unwelcome. The Saunders brothers say their camp is meant to change that dynamic by showing young athletes that sports and inclusivity can exist side by side.

Beyond the field, advocates say small everyday actions can make a big difference in helping LGBTQ+ youth feel supported.

One step is respecting a young person’s identity by using their chosen name and pronouns. Many advocates also encourage adults to normalize sharing their own pronouns when meeting new people, helping create an environment where everyone feels seen and respected.

Visible signals of support can also help. Wearing inclusive symbols like pride flag pins or supportive clothing can signal to young people that they are in a safe and welcoming space.

Organizations like The Trevor Project work to support LGBTQ+ youth through crisis intervention and suicide prevention programs, with proceeds from merchandise helping fund that work.

Another group, Free Mom Hugs, organizes volunteers who offer encouragement and support to LGBTQ+ individuals during events such as pride parades, marathons and weddings.

For the Saunders brothers, however, their focus right now is on the football field.

Two siblings with very different paths are using their platforms to create a space where young athletes can run drills, learn the game and simply be themselves.

And if the camp succeeds, they hope it will help shape a future where acceptance is just as much a part of sports as competition.

A Taylor Swift Dancer and his NFL Brother Launched the  First LGBTQ+ Youth Football Camp

Science Daily

Discovering a new species might sound like something out of an adventure novel. A scientist trekking through a remote jungle, stumbling across an animal no one has ever seen before.

According to Michigan State University herpetologist Chan Kin Onn, that image is mostly a myth.

"Most people have this image of an intrepid explorer braving an isolated mountain or some other remote place, and stumbling across a creature that no one has ever seen before," Chan said.

In reality, many new species are identified not in the wild, but in laboratories and museums by reexamining animals that scientists already know.

Sometimes, better tools reveal that what looked like a single species is actually several.

That is exactly what researchers found while studying a group of amphibians known as Bornean fanged frogs.

These small brown frogs live in the rainforests of Southeast Asia. They get their name from toothlike projections along their jaws.

One of the frogs in this group, Limnonectes kuhlii, has been known to science since 1838. For years it was treated as a single species spread across the region.

But modern genetic research raised doubts.

Scientists began to suspect that the frog might actually represent a cluster of hidden species.

Chan explained that animals that look nearly identical but are genetically different are known as cryptic species.

"Animals that look similar but are genetically distinct are called cryptic species," said Chan, who also serves as Curator of Vertebrate Collections and a core faculty member in Michigan State University's Ecology, Evolution and Behavior program.

Amphibians are especially rich in diversity. More than 9,000 species have already been identified worldwide, and scientists add roughly 100 to 200 new ones each year.

With advances in genetic sequencing, researchers have been uncovering hidden lineages at a rapid pace.

As Chan put it, "a ton of cryptic species are being discovered left and right."

To investigate the fanged frogs more closely, Chan and his colleagues collected DNA samples from specimens gathered across the mountainous rainforests of Malaysian Borneo.

The team analyzed more than 13,000 genes from the frogs’ genomes.

Their findings, published in the journal Systematic Biology, revealed that the frogs fall into several distinct genetic groups.

But the results did not support the most dramatic predictions.

Earlier studies suggested that the frogs might actually represent as many as 18 separate species.

Instead, the new research points to a smaller number.

"It's not just one species. But it's not 18 species, either," Chan said.

The evidence suggests there are likely six or seven distinct species within what was once thought to be a single frog.

Figuring out the exact number matters more than it might seem.

Amphibians are among the most threatened animals on the planet. A global analysis published in 2023 examined about 8,000 amphibian species and found that two out of five are threatened with extinction.

That makes amphibians the most endangered group of vertebrates.

Chan, who contributed to that study, said accurately identifying species is essential for protecting them.

"There are so many species in the world that we still haven't discovered, and that could go extinct before we can give them a name," he said.

But identifying too many species too quickly can also create problems.

If scientists divide one species into many smaller ones without strong evidence, each new species may appear to have a tiny geographic range. That can make it seem more endangered than it truly is.

"We cannot possibly conserve everything, so we have to triage and decide how to allocate limited resources towards what we think are the highest priorities," Chan said. "We could be putting names on things that shouldn't be prioritized."

The study also uncovered another complication.

The frogs appear to interbreed frequently, sharing genes between populations.

"We found a ton of gene flow going on," Chan said.

That gene flow blurs the boundaries scientists use to define species, making classification more complicated than it might seem.

Rather than forming suddenly, new species often emerge gradually over time.

"It's not like all of a sudden, boom. It's more of a continuum," Chan said.

The fanged frogs of Borneo are just one example of a much larger mystery.

As genetic research expands across insects, fish, birds and mammals, scientists are realizing that many species may be hiding in plain sight.

Earlier estimates suggested Earth might host about 8.7 million species.

Newer models that account for cryptic species hint the true number could be far higher, potentially ranging from seven to 250 times that estimate.

Where the real number lies remains uncertain.

But studies like this one are revealing just how complex the natural world can be, even for animals scientists thought they understood for nearly two centuries.

Scientists Just Revisited a Frog From 1838 And Found a Hidden Species Puzzle

Good News Network

Plastic waste might one day help make vinegar.

Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a new way to transform discarded plastics into acetic acid, the main ingredient found in vinegar, using nothing more than sunlight and a specially designed material.

The discovery offers a new approach to tackling plastic pollution while creating a useful chemical product at the same time.

“Our goal was to solve the plastic pollution challenge by converting microplastic waste into high-value products using sunlight,” said Dr. Yimin Wu, a professor of mechanical and mechatronics engineering at the University of Waterloo.

Plastic pollution has become a growing global concern. Tiny fragments known as microplastics have been found in oceans, soil and even the air. Scientists worry about the potential effects on wildlife and human health, while recycling rates remain low worldwide.

Instead of simply trying to collect and dispose of plastic, the Waterloo team looked for a way to transform it.

Their method relies on a process called photocatalysis, which uses light to trigger chemical reactions. The researchers designed a catalyst made from iron atoms embedded inside carbon nitride. The system was inspired by the way certain fungi use enzymes to break down organic material in nature.

When sunlight hits the material, it triggers a series of reactions that break apart plastic polymers and convert them into acetic acid.

The reaction takes place in water, which means it could potentially be used in environments where plastic pollution is already present, such as lakes, rivers or oceans.

Acetic acid has many uses beyond vinegar. It is widely used in food production, chemical manufacturing and some energy applications.

The study found the process works with several common plastics, including PVC, polypropylene, polyethylene and PET, the type often used in drink bottles.

Even mixtures of different plastics worked effectively, something researchers say is important because real-world waste streams often contain many types of plastic combined together.

That flexibility could make the technique more practical than some recycling systems that require careful sorting.

“Both from a business and societal perspective, the financial and economic benefits associated with this innovation seem promising,” said Roy Brouwer, executive director of the Water Institute and a coauthor involved in the study’s economic analysis.

Because the process uses sunlight as its energy source, it also avoids generating additional carbon dioxide.

“This method allows abundant and free solar energy to break down plastic pollution without adding extra carbon dioxide to the atmosphere,” Wu said.

Researchers say the technology could also help address the growing problem of microplastics.

Since the process breaks plastics down at the chemical level, it may prevent tiny plastic fragments from continuing to accumulate in waterways and ecosystems.

For now, the work remains in the laboratory stage. But the team believes the system could eventually be scaled up into solar-powered recycling or environmental cleanup systems.

Future research will focus on improving the materials and engineering needed to make the process more efficient and suitable for larger-scale use.

If successful, the approach could turn one of the planet’s biggest pollution challenges into something unexpectedly useful.

In other words, tomorrow’s vinegar might begin with yesterday’s plastic bottle.

Researchers Transform Plastic Waste Into Vinegar Ingredient Using Sunlight

The Guardian

What began as a routine day of ice fishing on Georgian Bay ended with helicopters lifting stranded anglers off a drifting sheet of ice and emotional calls to loved ones that many feared might be their last.

Kevin Fox headed out to Lake Huron expecting a typical winter outing. The brief stretch of spring-like temperatures across south-eastern Ontario made it seem like a good day to fish.

After first setting up close to shore, Fox and a friend decided to move farther out.

“The wind and ice didn’t feel right,” he later wrote, and the fish were not biting near land.

Soon they joined nearly two dozen others on a large sheet of ice floating off the coast of Georgian Bay. Like most anglers spending a day on frozen water, they drilled holes in the ice, dropped their lines and waited.

Less than four hours later, something strange began to happen.

The group noticed the ice was moving. The shift was slow, almost imperceptible at first, but noticeable enough that it showed up on their electronic devices.

Warm temperatures and strong winds had caused a large section of ice to break away from shore, leaving 23 people stranded on a drifting slab in the bay.

Families were among those stuck on the ice.

As the realization spread across the group, panic began to build.

Fox wrote on Facebook that several anglers tried to run toward shore in hopes of escaping. But when they reached one edge of the ice, they discovered the frozen sheet had already separated from land.

They ran toward another section of shoreline.

The result was the same.

The ice had broken free.

As the gaps widened, the situation grew more frightening.

“I just started screaming: the ice is opening. The ice is opening,” Alfie How, one of the fishers, told the Sun Times, a local newspaper.

Three members of the group attempted to make a final dash back to shore, but the ice around them cracked apart into smaller pieces, leaving them stranded on open water.

“That’s when the reality of the situation really set in,” Fox wrote.

Strong winds were battering the bay, raising fears that rescuers might not be able to reach them.

“We heard with the [strong] winds at one point they could not send a boat or helicopter. We honestly thought we were doomed,” he wrote.

The uncertainty led to emotional moments among the group.

“Some of the guys started making final phone calls to their families. It’s something I will never forget – seeing grown men crying while saying goodbye to the people they love.”

Some of the anglers were wearing flotation suits designed for ice fishing, but they knew the frigid water surrounding them could become deadly within minutes if they fell in.

Eventually, rescue crews arrived.

Ontario police launched a response involving two helicopters and an air ambulance. The dramatic operation unfolded on Sunday and lasted about two hours.

Rescuers first lifted the three anglers stranded on a smaller piece of ice. They then ferried the remaining people back to shore in a series of flights.

Everyone was safely removed from the drifting ice sheet.

Fox said the group had tried to follow safety precautions before heading out. They monitored ice conditions, winds and temperatures before venturing onto the frozen water.

But authorities say conditions on large lakes can change quickly, especially when warmer weather moves in.

Constable Craig Soldan of the Huron County Ontario Provincial Police said fluctuating temperatures can weaken ice in ways that are difficult to detect.

“We’re really encouraging people here in our area to stay off the ice altogether. Stay away from the edges of waterways,” Soldan told the Canadian Press.

He said the warning applies to more than just large lakes.

“That includes rivers, ponds – any kind of bodies of water where you’ve got ice shelves, they’re breaking away.”

Soldan summed up the danger with a simple message often repeated by winter safety officials.

“No ice is safe ice.”

For the anglers rescued from Georgian Bay, the message now carries a personal weight. What started as a quiet day of fishing turned into a dramatic rescue and a reminder of just how quickly conditions on the ice can change.

Ontario Police Just Rescued 23 Anglers Stranded on Detached Ice in Georgian Bay

Talker News

Most couples spend their spare time walking the dog or catching up on a TV show. Matt and Sarah Jones spend theirs standing beside a country road with a speed gun.

The husband-and-wife team have helped catch more than 100 speeding motorists in their village by volunteering for a community speedwatch program in Cross-in-Hand, East Sussex. The work has made the road safer. It has also made them a target for the occasional rude gesture from passing drivers.

Still, they keep showing up.

Matt and Sarah run the local speed camera sessions alongside Councillor Naz Mian. Since launching the Cross-in-Hand Community Speedwatch program in September 2025, the trio have monitored more than 3,000 vehicles traveling along the A267.

So far, more than 100 drivers have been caught exceeding the limit.

Instead of fines or penalty points, those drivers receive warning letters advising them to slow down.

The fastest vehicle clocked by the volunteers was traveling 50 mph in a 30 mph zone.

Sarah Jones, a 47-year-old PR consultant, says the effort is personal.

"It's in my heart to make this road safer."

She and her husband often volunteer together for weekly speedwatch sessions that last about half an hour.

"We both are lucky enough to pop out and do this session between us weekly and sometimes together," she said. "The fact we have the time to do this as a couple it’s the least we can do and it feels great that we can work with the parish council."

Not every driver appreciates the effort.

Sarah says some motorists respond with frustration when they spot the volunteers by the roadside.

"Often we have drivers making unpleasant, rude hand gestures through the window because we are there," she said. "A lot of them don't know they have been caught. But it hasn’t stopped us. We keep doing it."

Matt Jones, 51, a company director, says he joined the effort simply to support his wife and the community.

"It is something that we are doing together for the community to raise awareness," he said.

"I am just doing my little bit to support her. I enjoy doing it - it's not too much of an hassle. You do it for half an hour and it doesn't take much of your day."

The experience has even changed his own driving habits.

"Since we started doing it I became way more aware of my driving."

The speedwatch program grew out of a tragedy.

Sarah is also co-founder of the A267 Road Safety Campaign, which she started after a fatal crash outside her home in October 2024.

A truck traveling northbound on the A267 collided with a black Ford Focus heading south. The driver of the car, a 32-year-old man, died at the scene.

The accident prompted Sarah to push for stronger road safety awareness along the stretch of highway between Mayfield Roundabout and Horam.

"The road is notorious for accidents and speed is a massive problem," she said.

She says the community speedwatch program became one way residents could take action.

"One of the things we can do to reduce speed cases was a community speed watching."

Matt says the problem is well known to locals.

"Where we live is an hotspot for accidents. Speed is your enemy and most of the accidents around here are because of excess speed."

Since the program began, volunteers have also spotted drivers operating vehicles without insurance or tax while monitoring traffic.

But the biggest impact appears to come from simply reminding people to slow down.

Sarah says the warning letters sent to speeding motorists are often enough to change behavior.

"95 per cent of drivers that receive a community speed watch letter don’t reoffend for the next 12 months," she said.

"You are given a warning, not a fine. People see us and they slow down."

The group now hopes to recruit more volunteers so they can run more monitoring sessions in the area.

"The more people we have in the team the more we can do," Sarah said.

"We are determined to continue the session and it’s great to support what the community is doing."

She says community-led initiatives like this can fill a gap in areas without permanent speed cameras or strong police presence.

"There might not be a stronger police numbers where we are in the country and no speed cameras around here so to be able to do it this way is really important."

Inspector Vicki Rees of Sussex Police says the issue is a serious one across the county.

“Every year in Sussex, we know that more than forty people lose their lives on our roads and more than a thousand people are seriously injured.”

For the Joneses, that statistic is reason enough to keep standing on the roadside with a speed gun, even if it means catching the occasional glare from a passing car.

Husband And Wife Team Catch Over 100 Speeding Drivers In Village Effort

One of Oregon’s most beloved waterfalls may soon belong to everyone.

Abiqua Falls, a striking 28-metre cascade tucked into forest near Scotts Mills, is set to be purchased by the state after its longtime owners placed the property on the market.

For more than a century, the waterfall and surrounding land have been owned by Mount Angel Abbey and Seminary. The abbey’s foundation has held the property since 1908 and has allowed visitors to experience the site for decades.

Now the organization says it is ready to pass the responsibility on.

Rather than selling to a private buyer, the abbey worked with state officials on a plan that would keep the falls accessible to the public.

State Senator Fred Girod moved quickly to negotiate a deal and include funding for the purchase in Senate Bill 5701, a $500 million statewide funding bill for construction and maintenance projects.

The proposal sets aside $2 million to acquire the waterfall, about 17 hectares of surrounding land, and roughly 65 hectares of additional property upstream owned by a timber company.

Girod said the abbey made the process possible by agreeing to a lower price so the land could remain open to visitors.

“If the abbey insisted on getting top dollar then this wouldn’t have happened,” Girod told the Statesman Journal. “They’ve been good stewards and bent over backward to make sure public access was guaranteed.”

Abiqua Falls has become a favourite destination for hikers and photographers in the Pacific Northwest.

The plunge waterfall drops over dark columnar basalt cliffs coated in moss before crashing into a deep pool below. Surrounded by forest and reached by rough back roads and minimal trails, the site offers a rugged and relatively quiet experience compared with more developed parks.

Even after the purchase, officials say the goal is not to transform the area into a large new state park.

Instead, leaders are considering ways to protect the fragile environment while keeping access similar to what visitors experience today. Expanding parking lots or building large trail systems could overwhelm the delicate landscape.

Possible options include transferring the property to the county or placing it under the care of Oregon’s forestry department.

For Mount Angel Abbey, the agreement represents the next chapter in a long history of caring for the land.

“It is with deep gratitude and hope for the future that the Abbey Foundation of Oregon entrusts the stewardship and legacy of Abiqua Falls to the state of Oregon,” said Amanda Staggenborg, director of communications for Mount Angel Abbey and Seminary.

“The beauty of Abiqua Falls will be enjoyed by generations of Oregonians and all those who love Oregon’s natural wonders.”

If the funding bill moves forward as planned, the iconic waterfall will soon shift from private ownership to public protection.

And the same view that has drawn visitors for decades could remain just as wild and quiet for many years to come.

Oregons Beloved Waterfall To Become Public Land After Decades Of Private Stewardship

ABC News

Marriage vows usually promise to carry each other through life. In one corner of England, some couples take that idea very literally.

About two dozen pairs gathered on a grassy hillside in Dorking, Surrey, on Sunday for the annual U.K. Wife Carrying Race, a quirky competition where partners sprint uphill and down while carrying their significant other on their backs.

Clinging tightly, the “wives” bounced along as their partners tackled the 380-metre course, navigating hay bale obstacles and even the occasional splash of water thrown in their direction.

The fastest pair of the day came from Finland.

Teemu Touvinen and Jatta Leinonen completed the course in one minute and 45 seconds, winning the race and the traditional prize: a barrel of local ale.

The unusual event is loosely inspired by a 19th-century Finnish legend about a gang that raided villages and carried women away. Today, the competition has evolved into something far less sinister and far more playful.

Participants often show up in costumes, and the rules allow flexibility in who carries whom.

“You do not have to carry your own wife. It could be someone else’s. Or a mate, girlfriend, boyfriend, sister or brother,” organizers said. “They should ideally weigh less than you do.”

The only strict requirement is weight. The person being carried must weigh at least 50 kilograms. If they weigh less, they must wear a backpack filled with flour or water to meet the minimum.

Competitors can choose their own carrying style, but most racers opt for the traditional “Estonian Hold.”

In that technique, the partner hangs upside down on the carrier’s back with their legs wrapped around the runner’s shoulders and crossed in front of their face.

It looks awkward. And it is.

But it also allows the runner to keep their arms free and maintain better balance as they race across the hillside.

The course itself is not especially long by normal running standards, but with someone hanging upside down from your back, it becomes a much bigger challenge.

Organizers describe the distance as “a long way under the circumstances.”

While still considered a niche sport, wife carrying competitions have spread well beyond Scandinavia. Events now take place in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Poland and several other countries.

The race in Dorking first began in 2008 and has grown into a popular annual spectacle.

The fastest British couple this year, Edward Nash and Kathryn Knight, finished just four seconds behind the Finnish winners.

Their second-place finish still comes with an important reward.

Nash and Knight will represent the United Kingdom at the World Wife Carrying Championships in Finland this July.

There, they will join competitors from around the world who are ready to run, stumble and laugh their way across another course.

All while holding on tight.

Finnish Pair Wins Barrel Of Ale In Annual 'Wife-Carrying' Contest In England

BBC News

A dramatic rescue unfolded at one of England’s most famous landmarks after a boy tumbled down a steep hillside and had to be pulled to safety.

The incident happened Sunday evening near the Westbury White Horse in Wiltshire, a historic chalk hillside figure that attracts visitors from across the country.

Wiltshire Search and Rescue said the boy fell about 60 metres down the slope around 18:00 GMT.

In total, 45 people joined the rescue effort as teams worked against fading light, dropping temperatures and thick fog.

Rescuers used ropes to winch the boy up the steep hillside, while placing glow sticks along the slope to mark a safe route.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the volunteer rescue organization said the boy had “tumbled” down the hill but his injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

The challenging terrain made the operation difficult from the start.

“Light was fading, the temperature dropping and fog setting in by the time the rescue operation began,” the group said.

The location was also difficult to reach.

“The location was just under half a kilometre from the nearest track; we were able to drive off-road some of the way, but the terrain and obstacles meant the final leg had to be on foot.”

Rescuers brought additional equipment to the scene using a 4x4 vehicle, including lighting, a stretcher and a hypothermia blanket to help keep the boy warm.

Because of the fog and conditions on the hillside, crews decided that using a rope system to lower and raise the stretcher would be safer than attempting an airlift by helicopter.

Throughout the ordeal, the boy remained calm.

Wiltshire Search and Rescue praised his behavior during the rescue.

“It was noted by all involved that despite his young age, he showed remarkable maturity and calmness in a situation that some adults would struggle with,” the organization said.

Firefighters from Westlea Fire Station and paramedics from South Western Ambulance Service also assisted in the rescue operation.

The boy was eventually brought safely up the slope and into the care of medical teams.

A Boy Was Just Rescued After a 200ft Fall at a Historic Tourist Site

YR - York Region.ca Newsroom

Plans for a new housing development in Georgina took a step forward after York Region hosted a community open house that drew nearly 100 residents, business owners and community partners.

The event, held Feb. 24, gave attendees a chance to learn more about the proposed Queensway South development and share feedback that will help shape the project as it moves into the design phase.

The development will bring 86 new housing units to the area, including 32 community housing units, 18 transitional housing units and 36 emergency housing units.

Plans also include about 743 square metres of dedicated community space intended to support local services, community organizations and programs for residents.

Regional officials say the project is aimed at addressing growing housing needs while also strengthening local support services.

The Queensway South development has received unanimous support from Georgina’s town council and backing from York Region’s Housing and Homelessness Committee and Regional Council.

The Town of Georgina has committed $3 million toward the project. Additional funding is coming from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Housing Accelerator Fund and the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s Building Faster Fund.

Officials say the project reflects collaboration between municipal, regional and federal partners working to expand housing options and improve community services.

The open house also marked the start of community engagement that will continue as the project develops.

A Community Liaison Committee will gather input from residents and stakeholders to help guide the design process.

Construction is expected to begin in 2026.

Once completed, the Queensway South development will provide new housing and community space for residents in Georgina and the wider York Region area.

More information about the project, including how to apply to join the Community Liaison Committee, is available at york.ca/TheQueenswaySouth.

New Housing Project In Georgina Moves Forward After Community Open House

Smithsonian Magazine

For thousands of years, scientists believed these animals existed only in fossils.

Now two small marsupials thought to have disappeared more than 6,000 years ago have been rediscovered deep in the rainforests of New Guinea.

Researchers confirmed the existence of the pygmy long-fingered possum and the ring-tailed glider on the island’s Bird’s Head Peninsula in Indonesia’s Papua region. The findings were described in two studies published March 6 in the journal Records of the Australian Museum.

The rediscovery makes the animals rare examples of what scientists call “Lazarus species,” creatures believed extinct that unexpectedly reappear.

Finding even one such species is extremely unusual.

“The chances of finding one Lazarus mammal species is ‘almost zero,’” said Tim Flannery, a zoologist at the Australian Museum who helped lead the research. Discovering two, he said, is “unprecedented and groundbreaking.”

Other scientists reacted with similar excitement.

“In a world awash with bad news, and no more so than for the environment, it is always joyous when species once thought extinct turn out not to be,” said Euan Ritchie, a wildlife ecologist at Deakin University in Australia who was not involved in the research.

Until now, the pygmy long-fingered possum and the ring-tailed glider were known only from fossil remains discovered in the region.

Scientists suspected they might still survive because the remote forests where the fossils were found had never been thoroughly surveyed for marsupials.

Working with members of the Tambrauw and Maybrat Indigenous communities, researchers were finally able to confirm the animals’ presence and photograph them in the wild.

The pygmy long-fingered possum is a small striped marsupial about 36 centimetres long from nose to tail tip. Roughly half of that length is its tail.

Its most unusual feature is a dramatically elongated finger on each hand.

Researchers believe the possum uses that finger to hunt insects hidden inside rotting wood.

According to Flannery, the animals listen for low-frequency sounds made by beetle larvae and then tear open the wood to retrieve them.

The ring-tailed glider is equally mysterious.

The nocturnal animal nests in holes in trees and uses its long tail to grip branches as it moves through the rainforest canopy. It feeds mainly on tree sap and leaves, and possibly fruit and insects.

Tribal elders describe the animal’s body as roughly “the length of two open palms,” according to the study.

The research also revealed that the ring-tailed glider represents an entirely new genus of marsupial. Scientists named it Tous, inspired by the name Indigenous communities use for the animal: “Tous wansai” or “Tous wan.”

Researchers believe the species represents an ancient branch of the possum family tree that dates back millions of years.

For local Indigenous groups, the animals have long held cultural meaning. Some communities believe the ring-tailed glider represents the spirits of their ancestors and treat the surrounding forest with deep respect.

The old-growth rainforest where the animals live is considered sacred.

Scientists are now working to learn more about the creatures’ populations and habitats.

Early indications suggest both species may be vulnerable to habitat loss caused by logging and land clearing across parts of New Guinea.

For now, researchers are keeping the animals’ exact locations secret to prevent wildlife traffickers from attempting to capture them.

Flannery said the animals would likely struggle to survive outside their natural habitat anyway.

“They would be incredibly difficult to keep in captivity because their diet is so highly specialized,” he said. “Advanced warning for anyone who’s thinking of keeping one as a pet: It won’t live long.”

For scientists and conservationists, the rediscovery offers a rare moment of optimism.

Two species once believed lost to time are alive again in one of the world’s most remote forests.

Download the world's only news app designed to spread joy and happiness.

What's Good Now!