Sally the Sea Lion Had an Exciting Adventure When Heavy Rains Gave Her a Free Swim

Sally, a sea lion at the Central Park Zoo, had a playful adventure after heavy rain caused her pool to flood, briefly allowing her to escape her enclosure. The mammal was seen swimming out of the flooded pool and exploring the surrounding area before eventually returning to her habitat. The zoo was closed due to severe weather, and zoo personnel ensured that no staff or visitors were in danger during Sally's escapade.

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Giant Bear Sculpture Made from Recycled Christmas Trees Unveiled at UK Zoo

A zoo in the UK has turned a mountain of old Christmas trees into something unexpectedly adorable — a towering sculpture of a giant bear and cub, built entirely from recycled evergreens. The eye-catching display was revealed this week at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm in Wraxall, Somerset, marking the return of the zoo’s annual festive tree recycling initiative, now in its sixth year. The sculpture also shines a spotlight on Andean bear conservation, a cause close to the zoo’s heart. Known as spectacled bears, the species is native to South America and considered vulnerable in the wild. The initiative, which runs until January 25, invites members of the public to drop off their real, undecorated Christmas trees at the zoo, where they’re given a second life — either as mulch, compost, or even play enrichment for animals like elephants, meerkats, and the bears themselves. So far, the zoo has teamed up with St Peter’s Hospice, Weston Hospice, and North Somerset Council to collect more than 4,000 trees. “Each January, this campaign remains one of our favorite ways to begin the year,” said Larry Bush, director of Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm. “It’s a great initiative that benefits our animals, our local community, and the environment.” The zoo says the 2026 edition is shaping up to be the biggest one yet. And thanks to the towering bear-and-cub sculpture, it’s certainly the most photogenic.

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This Double Amputee Just Became the First to Climb the Highest Peak on Every Continent

Hari Budha Magar has made history — again. The former Gurkha and British Army veteran has become the first double above-the-knee amputee to summit the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. He completed the extraordinary challenge on Tuesday after reaching the peak of Antarctica’s Mount Vinson, which stands 4,892 metres tall. It was the final and coldest climb of a journey that began in 2019 and spanned four continents, three prosthetic redesigns, and one unshakable belief: that disability should never define a person’s limits. “A disability shouldn't limit the size of your dream — anything is possible with enough determination,” Magar said after completing the gruelling three-day ascent. Magar, who lives in Canterbury, Kent, lost both legs in 2010 after stepping on an improvised explosive device (IED) while serving in Afghanistan. At the time, he said he went through a long and painful recovery, both mentally and physically, marked by depression and a deep sense of “loss of self-worth.” But a childhood dream — to one day become a mountaineer — kept flickering in the background. That dream became a goal, and eventually a mission. In August 2019, Magar climbed Mont Blanc, beginning what would become a seven-continent journey. In the years that followed, he reached the summits of Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), Everest (Nepal), Denali (Alaska), Aconcagua (Argentina), and Puncak Jaya (Papua, Indonesia). The climb of Everest in May 2023 drew global attention, not just because of the difficulty but because of what it represented: the first time a double above-the-knee amputee had stood on the world’s tallest mountain. Then, on January 9, 2026, Magar capped off the list by conquering Mount Vinson in Antarctica. “This IED in Afghanistan should have killed me,” he said. “But instead I was given a second chance to do something positive.” Over the course of the challenge, Magar worked with engineers and specialists to develop custom prosthetic legs that could handle ice, altitude, and brutal terrain. Some of the gear was designed specifically for him. He credits a network of people who believed in him — people who donated, supported, trained with him, and helped reshape his equipment to fit the scale of the dream. “If I had the opportunity today to bring back my legs, I would actually decline,” Magar said. “Because my mission now is to help, inspire, and empower others.” He’s already made good on that promise. Magar has been awarded an MBE, won a Pride of Britain award, and continues to raise awareness around disability and veteran support. He’s also turning his record-setting journey into something tangible: the more than £30,000 raised from his Seven Summits challenge will go to veteran charities including The Gurkha Welfare Trust, Blesma, Team Forces Course Foundation, and Pilgrim Bandits. “There is a lot of work that needs to be done around disability,” he said. “So I am dedicating the rest of my life to raising that awareness.” Hari Budha Magar didn’t just climb mountains. He moved them.

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10 Health Tech Products Steal The Spotlight At CES 2026

The Consumer Electronics Show is back in Las Vegas, and as usual, it's loud, crowded, and packed with gadgets. But in 2026, the most interesting innovations aren’t the flashiest — they’re the ones that could quietly change how we live, recover, and stay healthy. Health tech took center stage this year, with devices aimed at everything from pediatric rehab to early dementia detection. Here are 10 of the most talked-about wellness products turning heads at CES 2026. 1. A Mirror That Scans Your Health in 30 Seconds The Longevity Mirror from NuraLogix looks like a regular smart mirror — until you take a 30-second selfie video. Using AI trained on hundreds of thousands of patient records, it analyzes your facial blood flow to predict your heart health, metabolic age, and more, scoring everything from 0 to 100. The goal? Give you clear, personalized health feedback at a glance. It’s priced at $899 with a $99/year subscription after the first year. 2. Lightweight Exoskeletons That Actually Fit Into Daily Life Mobility tech is evolving fast. The Ascentiz H1 Pro is a walking exoskeleton built for real-world use — not just clinical rehab. It uses AI to adjust support based on terrain and movement, attaches via a waist belt, and resists water and dust. The company also offers more powerful versions for different mobility needs, suggesting exoskeletons are finally inching toward mainstream use. 3. Powered Walking Support for Kids with Neurological Conditions Cosmo Robotics’ Bambini Kids exoskeleton won a CES Innovation Award for good reason. It’s the first of its kind to offer powered ankle movement for children aged 2.5 to 7. Designed for kids with neurological disorders like cerebral palsy, it supports natural walking patterns with both active and passive training modes. 4. A Device That Replaces Sunlight While You Work If you’re stuck indoors all day, Sunbooster might be your new best friend. This small light clips onto your monitor and emits near-infrared light — a component of natural sunlight linked to better mood, energy, and skin health. You don’t feel it working, but studies from Dutch universities suggest the benefits are real. It tracks exposure time and may soon come built into phone cases and monitors. 5. A Pocket-Sized Food Allergy Detector Eating out with allergies is always risky. Allergen Alert is aiming to reduce that stress. The handheld device tests food samples in minutes for allergens or gluten, using lab-grade tech from diagnostics firm bioMérieux. It's fully automated, so no scientific skills needed, and it’s already generating interest from Michelin-starred restaurants. Pre-orders open later this year. 6. Samsung Watches Will Soon Flag Early Cognitive Decline Samsung’s Brain Health isn’t a diagnostic tool, but it might help spot red flags earlier. Using data from Galaxy Watches and Rings, it tracks subtle changes in walking, voice, and sleep that may indicate early dementia. Still in beta, it’s meant to start conversations, not replace doctors. 7. This Bathroom Scale Goes Way Beyond Weight Withings’ BodyScan 2 won a CES award for turning a scale into a personal health hub. In 90 seconds, it checks your ECG, arterial stiffness, metabolic function, and hypertension risk — all tracked via app. It’s a smart shift away from obsessing over weight alone. 8. Garmin’s New Smartwatch Tracks Trends, Not Just Numbers The Venu 4 smartwatch by Garmin focuses on your overall health status, highlighting when metrics like heart rate variability or breathing deviate from your baseline. It connects those shifts to lifestyle habits, like sleep or stress. With 12-day battery life, it’s designed for continuous use without nightly charging. 9. Ring Doorbells Can Now Detect Wildfires Ring’s new Fire Watch feature uses AI to detect smoke and flames via its outdoor cameras. If a fire is spotted, users can send images to Watch Duty — a nonprofit that distributes real-time wildfire alerts. It’s an opt-in feature, but one that turns a regular home camera into a potential life-saving tool. 10. An AI Massage Robot That Learns Your Body The RheoFit A1 might be the most relaxing thing at CES. It’s a robotic massage roller that slides under your body and adapts pressure based on an AI body scan. In 10 minutes, it delivers a full-body massage tailored to your soreness, posture, or stress level — all hands-free.

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One of the UK’s Loudest Organs Is Back — and Louder Than Ever

After eight years of silence, one of Britain’s biggest and boldest musical instruments is roaring back to life. Standing 14 metres tall and packed with more than 5,000 pipes, the Britton organ in Bristol has been painstakingly restored and will make its grand return this weekend at the newly reopened Bristol Beacon concert hall. “It’s an amazing instrument,” said organist Jed Hughes, who’s been rehearsing on the organ to make sure every key, stop, and pedal is performance-ready. “All organs have their own personalities. I’d describe this one as majestic and proud.” Built in 1955 by renowned organ makers Harrison & Harrison, the Britton organ was originally installed in what was then known as Colston Hall. It was designed not for churches, but for the public — a civic centrepiece played for over 60 years and deeply embedded in the city’s musical heritage. The instrument’s history goes back even further. Two of its predecessors were lost to fires in 1898 and 1945. When the hall closed for a major refurbishment in 2018, Harrison & Harrison was again brought in — this time to restore rather than rebuild. Every single pipe, bellow, valve, and pneumatic motor was dismantled, catalogued, and transported to the company’s workshop in Durham, nearly 500 kilometres away. It was a full-scale operation: the largest pipe measures 10 metres; the smallest is the size of a pinky finger. Over 1,000 pneumatic motors were refitted with fresh leather. The entire console, featuring four keyboards, was rebuilt and mounted on a frame, making it easier to move around — a nod to modern performers who might want to bring it centre stage. The aim, Hughes said, is to encourage not just classical organists but also rock and pop musicians to incorporate it into their performances. After the Beacon reopened in November 2023, the organ’s reinstallation took several more months, including “voicing” — the careful tuning process that ensures its sound fits the new acoustics of the venue’s 2,000-seat main hall. The result is a sonic powerhouse that fills the space effortlessly. “The volume is amazing without deafening you,” said Hughes. “They’ve brightened up the sound a bit and it fits the space perfectly.” That “colossal” sound will finally reach a full house on Sunday, when acclaimed organist and broadcaster Anna Lapwood plays the first public concert on the instrument since its restoration. But in the months leading up to the big night, it’s been Hughes’ job to keep it active. Organs don’t take well to sitting idle. “The killer with organs is that if they sit and don’t get played, everything stops,” he said. So Hughes has been showing up each week, slipping off his shoes — he prefers playing in socks — and running through three-hour solo sessions to keep things moving. “Problems may develop like a note sticking,” he said. “When that happens I notify Harrison & Harrison and it’s normally a matter of poking out a bit of dust or something and then it’s fine again.” Among the many stories uncovered during the restoration was one from 1909, when suffragettes hid inside one of the organ’s earlier incarnations overnight to disrupt a political speech, calling for women’s right to vote. Looking ahead, the organ’s revival isn’t just about concerts. Bristol Beacon is launching community events to bring more people into contact with the instrument. In February, members of the public — including those with no stage experience — will be invited to join a choir and perform live with the organ. A new scholarship programme is also in place to train young musicians in the art of organ playing. Three of them — Joshua, Christopher (both 15), and Jenna, 13 — visited the Beacon this week to hear the organ up close. “It sounds marvellous,” said Christopher. Jenna, who also plays piano, clarinet, and drums, was captivated. “It’s got lots of buttons, stops. It’s fun to play.” Simon Wales, the Bristol Beacon’s chief executive, called the organ a “restored jewel.” “Its history is woven deeply into the cultural life of Bristol,” he said. “The new sound is colossal.”

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Study Suggests Single 10-Minute Workout Could Lower Deadly Cancer Risk

A quick burst of exercise might do more than boost your mood — it could help your body fight off colon cancer. That’s the takeaway from new research out of Newcastle University, where scientists found that a single 10-minute workout can trigger changes in the bloodstream that slow the growth of colon cancer cells in lab tests. The study looked at 30 healthy adults, aged 50 to 78, who completed a short, high-intensity cycling session lasting just over 10 minutes. Blood samples taken immediately after the workout were then applied to colon cancer cells in the lab. What researchers found was striking. “Exercise altered the activity of more than 1,000 genes in colon cancer cells,” said Samuel T. Orange, an associate professor at Newcastle University and one of the study’s authors. Not only did the cancer cells show slowed growth, but their ability to repair DNA damage improved — a process often disrupted in cancer cells. “These findings show that exercise rapidly triggers molecular changes in the bloodstream that can act directly on colon cancer cells,” Orange told Fox News Digital. “It reshapes gene activity and supports DNA damage repair.” The effect appears to come from molecules known as “exerkines” — substances released into the blood during exercise that act as chemical messengers, sending signals throughout the body. These signals may help the body fight off a variety of diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. According to Orange, the results highlight the power of even small amounts of movement. “Exercise doesn't need to last hours or happen in a gym. Every movement matters,” he said. The study does come with caveats. The research was conducted using colon cancer cells grown in a lab, not in living patients. Scientists say more work is needed to understand how these findings translate to people diagnosed with cancer. “These findings now need to be replicated in people with cancer,” Orange noted. “We also need to better understand the longer-term effects of repeated exercise signals over time.” Still, the results add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that physical activity plays a meaningful role in cancer prevention. Even a single short workout, researchers say, may be enough to kickstart beneficial biological processes. “Each time you move your body and get a little breathless,” Orange said, “you’re contributing to better health and may help influence biological processes linked to bowel cancer.”

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Why 2026 Is Set to Be a Game-Changer for Train Travel Around the World

There’s a special kind of thrill that hits you in a train station, when you’re staring at the departure board and imagining all the places you could go. That quiet pull toward adventure is getting harder to resist — and in 2026, you’ll have more chances than ever to act on it. From luxury “land cruises” to budget overnight trains, a wave of new routes is reshaping how we travel by rail. With high-speed services expanding and scenic journeys being reimagined, this year promises to be a turning point — for both the practical commuter and the wide-eyed wanderer. Italy Eyes Germany’s Market In Europe, two of Italy’s rail giants are setting their sights beyond the Alps. Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa (Red Arrow) trains and its private rival, Italo, are pushing into Germany — a country whose rail system, once a symbol of punctuality, is now facing delays and reliability issues. Trenitalia already operates internationally, with success in France and Spain. Next, it's rolling out services to Austria and Germany, and could eventually compete with Deutsche Bahn’s domestic ICE routes. Meanwhile, Italo is seeking a German license and is reportedly ready to invest billions in up to 40 high-speed trains. But cracking the German market won’t be easy. Much of the country’s long-distance train chaos is rooted in aging infrastructure and overcrowded tracks. Throwing more trains into the mix could make things worse before they get better. Overnight Rail Revival — With Bumps Night trains are back in demand across Europe, but operating them isn’t always straightforward. Austria’s ÖBB was forced to pull its Paris–Berlin and Paris–Vienna Nightjet services after French government subsidies ended. But Belgian-Dutch operator European Sleeper is stepping in, launching its own Paris–Berlin route via Brussels in March 2026. The cooperative has faced scheduling headaches and sudden German track closures but is pressing ahead. Its carriages offer a range of comfort levels, including sleepers, couchettes, reclining seats, Wi-Fi and charging outlets. In June, the company is also launching a new overnight service from Amsterdam and Brussels to Milan — a 1,100-kilometre journey through Cologne, Bern and the Alps, with stops near popular destinations like Lake Maggiore, Zermatt and the Glacier Express. Luxury Rides, Desert Dreams and Alpine Views If you’re looking to splurge, 2026 won’t disappoint. In Saudi Arabia, a new luxury train called Dream of the Desert will launch a sweeping 1,300-kilometre journey between Riyadh and Al Qurayyat, near the Jordanian border. The $53 million project is being developed with Italy’s Arsenale Group and will include 41 cabins, fine dining that fuses Saudi and global cuisines, and excursions through desert reserves and mountain landscapes. In Canada, Rocky Mountaineer is debuting a new itinerary called Passage to the Peaks. Running in June and July 2026, the glass-roofed train will travel through Alberta and British Columbia, with stops in Jasper, Banff, Calgary and Lake Louise. The route passes through Kicking Horse Canyon and the historic Craigellachie site, where Canada’s transcontinental railway was completed in 1885. The U.S. will see the next evolution of the Rockies to the Red Rocks route, now extended from Denver to Salt Lake City under the new name Canyon Spirit. This leg takes passengers through Utah’s canyon country, with hosts narrating stories of the region’s geology, wildlife and Indigenous history. And in Japan, the Seven Stars in Kyushu continues to set the bar for high-end rail travel. With just 28 passengers per trip and lavish suites lined in local wood and art, it sells out years in advance. The multi-day itinerary showcases Kyushu’s culture and landscapes with handcrafted elegance and off-train experiences. Major Rail Gaps Finally Closing Some of Europe’s key city pairs are also getting long-overdue rail links. After years of construction delays and support from China, a rebuilt railway between Belgrade and Budapest is set to reopen in March. Trains will travel up to 200 km/h through northern Serbia, and daily services will include two fast EuroCity trains linking Belgrade with Vienna. Another long-missing link will return in May, when new “ComfortJet” trains start running between Prague and Copenhagen. A joint effort from Czech, German and Danish railways, the blue-and-white trains will offer two daily services in each direction — with a third overnight option in summer. The new trains feature bar-restaurant cars, Wi-Fi, play areas for kids and accessibility throughout. The full 850-kilometre trip will take 11 hours — three hours faster than previous options. And once the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel opens between Germany and Denmark in the early 2030s, that time will shrink even further. The UAE’s First Passenger Rail Service The United Arab Emirates is also preparing to debut its first-ever passenger rail service. The Etihad Rail network will eventually connect 11 cities across all seven emirates, from Fujairah in the east to Al Sila in the west. In its first phase, a 57-minute service between Abu Dhabi and Dubai will launch in 2026, with expansions to Sharjah and Fujairah expected soon after. The diesel trains are built to withstand desert heat and will offer about 400 seats across economy, family and first class. The Bigger Picture All these changes point to a broader shift: rail travel isn’t just bouncing back — it’s moving into a new era. Whether it’s eco-conscious travelers ditching flights for high-speed trains, or curious tourists signing up for curated luxury routes, railways are once again becoming central to how we explore the world. For 2026, the tracks are laid. All that’s left is to climb aboard.

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Pineapple Leaves Could Help Clean Water — and Catch Criminals

In South Africa, thousands of tons of pineapple leaves are tossed out each year as waste. But a team of scientists has discovered a surprising new use for them: cleaning polluted water and helping solve crimes. Researchers at Nelson Mandela University have developed a way to turn discarded pineapple leaves into nanoparticles — tiny materials that are smaller than the width of a human hair. These particles can soak up toxic copper from wastewater and then be reused to dust for fingerprints in forensic investigations. It’s the first time that agricultural waste has been turned into a two-in-one solution for both environmental cleanup and crime fighting. “We found that pineapple-leaf-based nanoparticles coated with zinc oxide form a material that sucks up copper in large quantities,” said Bienvenu Gael Fouda Mbanga, part of the nanochemistry team behind the study. Copper is a common pollutant in South Africa’s industrial wastewater, especially near mining and manufacturing sites. It can be dangerous to people’s health, affecting the liver, kidneys, and stomach, and is harmful to fish and other aquatic life. Most methods for cleaning copper out of water are expensive and produce toxic waste of their own. The new approach offers a cheaper, safer alternative — and uses a material that usually ends up in landfills or is burned on farms. The scientists first converted pineapple leaves into carbon nanoparticles, then coated them with zinc oxide. This combination gave the material a sponge-like texture with a huge surface area — ideal for absorbing heavy metals like copper. But instead of tossing the copper-filled nanoparticles after cleanup, the team found another use. When turned into a fine powder, they could reveal invisible fingerprints on surfaces — a process normally done with chemical-based powders that come with health risks for investigators. “Our research shows it’s possible to develop a low-cost material from waste that has real-world uses in two completely different fields,” Fouda Mbanga said. The team is now calling on universities, forensic labs, water treatment facilities, and policymakers to help scale up and test the technology in real-world settings. With support, this discovery could be used across the country — cutting pollution, reducing waste, and lowering costs for law enforcement. It’s a promising example of circular economy thinking: turning waste into something valuable, sustainable, and practical. And all thanks to the humble pineapple leaf.

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K-Pop Artists Make History With First Nominations in Grammy's Big Four Categories

For years, K-pop has been one of the most dominant forces in global music. But despite massive global fandoms, sold-out stadium tours, and chart-topping success, the genre has never taken home a Grammy. That could change next month. For the first time, songs by K-pop or K-pop-adjacent artists have landed nominations in the Grammys’ top categories. Rosé, of Blackpink fame, earned a Record of the Year nod for her hit “APT.” with Bruno Mars. It’s the first time a K-pop artist has been nominated in that field. “APT.” is also up for Song of the Year — alongside “Golden” by the fictional girl group HUNTR/X, featured on the Netflix animated film KPop Demon Hunters. Meanwhile, the internationally assembled girl group Katseye — created by HYBE, the powerhouse behind BTS — has scored a nomination for Best New Artist. It’s a major moment for K-pop at the Grammys. Or is it? Depends who you ask. “K-pop is not considered something niche anymore,” says Mathieu Berbiguier, a Korean Studies professor at Carnegie Mellon. “Now, when we think about pop music in general, we also think of K-pop as part of it.” But for others, the recognition doesn’t quite feel like K-pop getting its due. Areum Jeong, a professor at Arizona State University and author of K-pop Fandom: Performing Deokhu from the 1990s to Today, argues these nominations reflect a hybrid, globalized version of the genre that’s been shaped for Western audiences. “Rosé was recruited and trained under the K-pop system, and while ‘APT.’ contains some motifs from the Korean drinking game, the song doesn’t feel like a localized K-pop production,” Jeong says. The same goes for Katseye, whose music and marketing lean heavily toward Western fans. “It seems less K-pop than other K-pop songs that could have been nominated over the years.” Even “Golden,” performed by Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, is sung by a fictional group from a Netflix film — not a group formed within the traditional K-pop training and debut system. Bernie Cho, a music industry veteran and president of Seoul-based DFSB Kollective, sees it differently. “All the nominees represent a sort of post-idol K-pop… where the ‘K’ is very much there, but some people might argue it’s silent,” he says. “The songs are not necessarily for Korea, by Korea, from Korea — just kind of beyond Korea.” In other words, K-pop may be shifting into something less defined by geography and more by influence. That shift is part of a broader trend. These nominated tracks — from Netflix tie-ins to English-language collaborations — reflect how deeply K-pop has embedded itself in global pop culture. And with songs like “APT.” and “Gabriela” primarily in English, it’s easier for the Recording Academy to embrace them. “The Western world is still so resistant to non-English lyrics,” Jeong says. That’s one reason, she argues, why acts like BTS, Seventeen, and Stray Kids have been snubbed in the past, despite record-breaking success. Berbiguier agrees. “It’s a reflection of trends in K-pop nowadays — less Korean, more English.” But it’s not just about language. There’s also timing. Tamar Herman, a music journalist and author of the Notes on K-pop newsletter, notes that 2025 was seen as a weak year for mainstream U.S. pop. “These recognitions are more a sign of how poorly the music industry in the U.S. did this year — that we’re looking externally,” she says. “This is all recognition of global storytelling improvement, global taste-making improvement,” she adds. “It’s not that K-pop suddenly got good — K-pop has been really good for a really long time.” Still, she’s quick to note that the nominated songs are “universally friendly, accessible, good pop songs.” And that’s the point. “It’s very obvious they’re not just performers. They’re artists. They’re singers. They’re songwriters,” says Cho. So will this finally be the year K-pop wins a Grammy? “It’s not even a matter of if or when,” says Cho. “It’s going to be who and how many.” Berbiguier is less certain: “It’s hard to predict. For me, it’s more possible that ‘Golden’ gets one.” And what if it does? HUNTR/X is a fictional group, part of a Netflix film, performed by U.S.-based artists. Would that Grammy count as a win for K-pop? “That’s a matter of opinion,” says Herman. The 68th Grammy Awards will take place February 1 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Whether or not a K-pop artist takes home a trophy, the genre’s growing influence is already clear — even if the definition of what counts as K-pop is more fluid than ever.

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Some Dogs Can Learn Toy Names Just by Listening In, Study Finds

In a new study that sheds light on canine intelligence, researchers have found that some exceptionally clever dogs can learn the names of toys simply by overhearing their owners talk — no direct training required. Led by cognitive scientist Shany Dror at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary, the team studied a group of so-called “Gifted Word Learner” dogs. These rare pups can associate words with objects in much the same way young children do, picking up meaning through passive observation and context. To test this, the researchers asked owners of ten gifted dogs to casually talk about a new toy in front of their dog — but not to the dog — for two minutes each day over four days. When asked to fetch the toy later from a pile of nine familiar ones, seven of the dogs consistently picked the correct item, well above random chance. “This kind of learning mimics how toddlers as young as 18 months acquire language — not from direct instruction, but by overhearing and paying attention,” Dror explained. In a follow-up experiment, researchers made the task even harder. Dogs were shown a new toy, then had it placed in a bucket. Later, with the bucket out of view, the owner referred to the toy by a name and asked the dog if they wanted it. Five of the eight participating dogs correctly picked it out from a pile, showing they could link a spoken word with an object they couldn’t see — a form of abstract learning that’s considered quite advanced. The dogs also remembered the toy names two weeks later, suggesting the learning was more than just a fluke. These findings were published in Science, and while they highlight some remarkable canine capabilities, the researchers caution that not all dogs are wired this way. Even among border collies — the breed used in the study and known for their intelligence — most dogs did not show the same skills. “Our findings show that the socio-cognitive processes enabling word learning from overheard speech are not uniquely human,” said Dror. “Under the right conditions, some dogs present behaviors strikingly similar to those of young children.” Gifted dogs like Chaser, a border collie once famous for recognizing more than 1,000 toys by name, may be rare — but they continue to challenge what we thought we knew about animal learning and communication.

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Amanda Seyfried Describes Her Animal Rescue Farm As 'My Dream'

Amanda Seyfried might be a Hollywood star, but when she’s not filming, she’s knee-deep in barn chores at her farm in upstate New York. The Testament of Ann Lee actress recently opened up to Vogue about her life far from red carpets, where she, husband Thomas Sadoski, and their kids — Nina, 8, and Thomas, 5 — run a fully registered animal rescue on a sprawling rural property in the Catskills. “When I say it’s a rescue, it’s fully a rescue — it’s my dream,” Seyfried said of the nonprofit farm, home to horses, donkeys, goats, chickens, ducks, dogs, and cats. Many of the animals arrive with health issues or are nearing the end of their lives. “They usually come with problems, or they’re really old, or they’re lame, or whatever,” she explained. “I just hug them, on my own feet.” Even the cats they care for are often overlooked by others. “One is so old and decrepit that he just has diarrhea all the time, but he still purrs when he eats,” Seyfried said. She and Sadoski don’t run the place alone — a caretaker lives nearby — but Seyfried is hands-on and frank about the realities of rescue life. “One [duck] got eaten the other night — it was probably a fox,” she shared. The family’s longtime companion is Finn, their 16-year-old Australian shepherd–border collie. “He’s a big guy and brilliant, brilliant, and he still runs like an a------,” she joked. While they’ve received chickens from locals — “people just give us chickens,” she laughed — their rescue animals also include horses and ponies, many of them older or retired. Seyfried says she rarely rides. “I just hug them.” Though she moved upstate before having children, Seyfried told Forbes in 2024 that leaving New York City was the best thing for her. “Staying here was the best decision for privacy, peace and nature,” she said. “It offers a more balanced life than the city does. It was essential for my mental health.” Farm life isn’t without its challenges. In a 2022 interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Seyfried recalled a night when an ice storm knocked out power and left the family without heat. “We ended up having to walk outside in 5-degree weather to the barn and sleep there because the generator runs for that,” she said. “This is what you give up… you sacrifice these things when nature happens.” Still, the trade-offs are worth it. Between animal rescues, peaceful surroundings, and a little chaos, Seyfried has carved out a life she calls her dream — just not one that comes without mud, mess, or midnight trips to the barn.

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