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This California National Park is Bouncing Back After the State's Biggest Single Fire
Despite the devastating impact of the Dixie Fire on Lassen Volcano National Park, the resilience of nature is evident as the park begins to recover from the destruction caused by the firestorm. Thanks to the efforts of rangers, Forest Service employees, and firefighters, key areas were successfully protected from the fire's wrath. As new growth emerges and the landscape transforms with fields of wildflowers and sprouting pines, the park stands as a testament to nature's enduring ability to rebound from adversity.
Score (98)
'It’s Not About Trophies': How Trail Running Helped This Mom Reclaim Her Identity
Jude Harrison knows what it feels like to lose yourself in parenthood. At 52, the North Yorkshire mum spends most of her time caring for her two daughters — 11-year-old Tilly, and 17-year-old Emily, who was born with a rare chromosome translocation that affects her mobility and speech. It’s full-time, all-consuming care. Emily is non-verbal, non-mobile, and developmentally delayed. She attends a specialist school and gets monthly respite care, but for the most part, Jude and her husband Steve are the ones managing her round-the-clock needs. “It often feels like Steve and I are two single parents living together,” Jude said. “We’re always dividing our time because the girls have such different needs.” For years, that meant putting her own needs aside. “When you become a parent you can easily lose your identity,” she said. “And with a child with complex needs that feeling can be even stronger.” But lately, something has shifted. Trail running, of all things, has given Jude a way back to herself. “It’s my thing, it’s who I am,” she said. “Out on the trails, I’m not just Emily’s mum or Tilly’s mum – I’m Jude.” She doesn’t run on roads — she runs where the ground is uneven and the scenery changes with every kilometre. She’s drawn to the hills, the mud, and the people. “People think trail running is harder, but I’d disagree,” she said. “There’s an unspoken rule that you walk the hills, run the flats, and enjoy the downhills. It’s as much about fun and community as it is about fitness.” That community carried her through a recent race in the Lake District, where Jude took part in the 2 Valleys 22km trail challenge. While Steve stayed home to care for Emily, Jude joined a group of 25 runners sponsored by Coventry Building Society, part of a campaign to support people over 50 in achieving their goals. “Crossing the line in Keswick felt amazing, especially with everyone shouting my name,” she said. “For once, it was just about me. It reminded me that I’m still capable of chasing my own goals.” She’s already signed up for the next one — the ‘5 Valleys’ challenge, which doubles the distance she ran this year. “I sometimes have to remind myself that I’m 52 and I’m still out here doing this,” she said. “It’s not about trophies, it’s about being present, keeping fit, and showing my daughters that age and circumstance don’t define you. I’ve still got plenty of running left in me.”
Score (97)
Former Prolific Shoplifter Rebuilds Life After Two Decades of Crime and Addiction
For more than two decades, Danny Woodburn’s life revolved around stealing. From crisps and clothes to cars and alcohol, theft became his way of surviving — and, eventually, his way of life. “I’d steal cars and then set fire to them,” said the 40-year-old from Barrow. “I’d go in a shop and just pick up half a rail and walk out through the alarm, then run off.” Woodburn started stealing when he was 11. By 15, he was in and out of prison. What began as a way to “fit in” quickly spiraled into an addiction-fueled cycle that lasted most of his adult life. “There’s a difference between stealing to make money and stealing in addiction,” he said. “If I didn’t drink a certain level, I’d have a seizure. There’s times I’ve gone in the shops, opened a beer, drunk it and walked out. I didn’t cover my identity or cover my face — I wasn’t bothered about getting arrested.” Police data show shoplifting remains one of the most common crimes across Cumbria. There were 2,422 reported cases in 2024 — the highest since before the pandemic. This year, up to the end of September, 1,734 cases had already been logged, with more than 450 resulting in charges or summonses. Inspector Andy Leather from Cumbria Police’s Neighbourhood Policing Team said the problem goes deeper than petty theft. “It’s not necessarily just the actual investigation time of the offences, it’s looking at the driving forces behind the offending as well,” he said. “We do see that a lot of our frequent offenders have a link to addiction.” High-value goods that can be easily resold — such as meat, detergent, alcohol, and razor blades — are the most common items stolen. Police have invested in better CCTV and facial recognition systems to identify offenders. “Unfortunately, retail crime has been on the rise for a while,” said Chief Inspector Lee Skelton. “However, Cumbria has one of the highest levels of positive outcomes — second only to Norfolk — in terms of the volume of individuals who are brought to justice for this type of offending.” For Woodburn, his turning point came in 2022, when he sought help from The Well Communities, a charity supporting people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction in Barrow, Kendal, and Carlisle. The organization, which has helped more than 1,100 people since opening in 2012, offers detox programs, housing support, and employment opportunities — many led by staff who have lived through addiction themselves. Woodburn credits the program with saving his life. “The Well was like the ambulance and the key workers were like the paramedics,” he said. “They brought me through a programme.” Today, he works for the same organization that helped him get sober. Reflecting on his past, he’s candid about the damage he caused. “I’ve done things I’m ashamed of, but by reflecting on your behaviour you get a better understanding,” he said. “I was a leech on society and a financial burden on resources. I was draining my own society and costing people money. I was an emotional burden on my own family as well.” Now, he’s focused on helping others break the same cycle he once couldn’t escape. “People can change their life — I’m living proof of that.”
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Score (95)
Wisconsin Mom Gives Birth at Home With Her 2-Year-Old by Her Side: “We Got This”
When Wisconsin math teacher Shannen Krahn started feeling mild contractions after work one Friday, she figured she had plenty of time before heading to the hospital. She didn’t expect to give birth less than two hours later — in her own bathroom, with her toddler holding her hand. Krahn, 31, was just a week from her due date with her second child, a baby girl named Brooklynn Suzanne, when she went into labor on Sept. 15. At first, the discomfort felt different from her first pregnancy. “I didn’t realize how fast it was going to progress,” she said. Her husband, Mitch, a night-shift supervisor at a chemical company, had already left for work. Krahn told him to come home but didn’t panic. She gave her 2-year-old son Max a bath while timing contractions, planning to meet her husband at the hospital when he arrived in about 45 minutes. Then, as she walked into the bathroom, a “huge contraction” hit — and her water broke. “It was like a water balloon dropping on the floor,” she said. “It was crazy.” With Max watching from the bed, she reassured him. “He kept patting my arm and saying, ‘Mama,’” she recalled. “I told him, ‘Yep, we’re good. Mama’s good. We got this.’” Realizing she wouldn’t make it out of the bathroom, Krahn got down on her hands and knees. Her phone — and any chance of calling for help — was in the kitchen. “I remember thinking, I’m not getting out of this bathroom without having this baby,” she said. As her phone rang somewhere in the background, she pushed three times and delivered her daughter. Max stood nearby, watching quietly before saying, “Oh, baby,” when he saw his new sister. “I kind of got her up on my chest and she let out a good cry,” Krahn said. “That was just a huge weight off the shoulders.” Moments later, Mitch walked in the front door. “We made eye contact,” she said. “I just said, ‘Hi, we have a baby.’” An ambulance soon arrived to take Krahn and baby Brooklynn to the hospital, where both were declared healthy. Brooklynn weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces, and the pair were home within 24 hours. Weeks later, Max still can’t get enough of his baby sister. “He calls her ‘my baby,’” Krahn said. “He wants to know where she is all the time.” Her favorite moments now are the quiet ones — sitting in a recliner with both children cuddled close. “We’re just sitting there, snuggling, the three of us,” she said. “Like they say, your love doesn’t divide when you have more kids. It just multiplies.”
Score (98)
Five-Year-Old Poppy Seller Inspires Community With Dedication to Veterans' Appeal
While most five-year-olds spend their holidays playing or watching cartoons, little Ivy Knighton-Leake has been busy selling poppies to support veterans. The Bradford, England, youngster is believed to be the youngest volunteer helping her local branch of the Royal British Legion ahead of Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day. Her dad, Steve Knighton, a former Royal Signaller and liaison officer for the Dog & Gun Wibsey Veterans Group, said Ivy’s involvement was entirely her idea. “Ivy actually asks to volunteer,” he said proudly. “It was all her idea. She wanted to come and sell poppies and have a little shop. Last year she started doing that and we’ve continued this year.” Now in her second year helping with the Poppy Appeal, Ivy spends up to an hour and a half at a time manning a table with her dad at their local Tesco in Buttershaw. “We normally do about an hour, an hour and a half, depending on how Ivy’s feeling, or a bit longer if she’s feeling okay,” her dad said. Asked why she wanted to volunteer, Ivy’s answer was simple: “It makes me happy. I wanted to remember the soldiers.” For those running the appeal, Ivy’s enthusiasm has made a big impression. “Ivy is quite an inspiration,” said Gillian Carr, Poppy Appeal Manager for Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees. “At four years old last year she was our youngest in the area to volunteer at our stalls. Generally, we start at around 18, but we do have our cadets and they start at around 16. Ivy’s such an inspiration — it’s not all about the grown-ups. She’s looking to the future.” Her dad agrees. “It’s important that we hand this over to our next generation as we all get older,” he said. “I’m quite a young veteran myself, but I think it’s important that we inspire young people to get involved and to help and to support and to continue the good movement on.” For Ivy, the motivation is simple — to help others and to honor those who served. And for the veterans who see her in action, it’s a reminder that remembrance isn’t just about looking back, but about passing that spirit forward.
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Scientists Just Cracked The Code For Perfect Spaghetti
Ever wonder why spaghetti holds together so well during cooking? Scientists say the answer lies in gluten — and surprisingly, salt plays a key role too. Researchers at Lund University studied both regular and gluten-free pasta down to the microscopic level using neutron scattering and X-ray techniques. They discovered that gluten acts like a safety net, holding the starch in place and helping pasta keep its shape, even under tough cooking conditions. Gluten-free pasta, on the other hand, lacks this natural support system. It uses artificial structures that can easily break down if not cooked just right. But here's the twist: the amount of salt in the water changes everything. According to senior lecturer Andrea Scotti, pasta boiled in water with the right amount of salt becomes more structurally resilient — and not just tastier. The study could help improve future gluten-free options by making them tougher, more nutritious, and easier to cook. In other words, pasta science is boiling over — and it might change your next dinner. 🍝
Score (97)
At 65, This Minnesota Woman Discovered her Hidden Strength — and Became a World-Class Powerlifter
When 65-year-old Kathy Casper first walked into a Minneapolis gym, she wasn’t looking to break records. She just wanted to lose a little weight. “I grew up in Highland Park,” she said. “There's seven kids in our family.” She laughs remembering that, as a kid, there was nothing about her that hinted she’d one day become one of the strongest women her age. “Nothing,” she said. “Nothing.” After raising three children and spending decades working as a mental health nurse, Kathy’s life took an unexpected turn. Her marriage ended. Her kids had grown up and moved out. “I didn’t know what I was going to do with myself,” she said. That’s when she walked into Los Campeones Gym in south Minneapolis. Trainer Tyler Caldwell remembers her first day vividly. “When she started, she couldn’t even pick this weight up,” he said, pointing to a 45-pound plate. Kathy nods. “Nope. I couldn’t even squat the bar.” Six years later, things look very different. On a recent afternoon, 120-pound Kathy squatted 135 pounds like it was nothing. “She’s 100 times stronger than she was 10 years ago,” Tyler said. “And not a lot of 65-year-olds can say that.” Her dedication has paid off in medals and records. Kathy now holds several Minnesota powerlifting records and recently represented the United States at the International Powerlifting Federation’s world championships in South Africa, where she won four silver medals in her age and weight classes. Her lifts included a 170-pound squat and a 237-pound deadlift. “I think I unlocked something,” Kathy said. “Never in a million years did I think I would do this.” Her trainer agrees she’s only getting started. “I think she’s got more in the tank,” Tyler said. “She’s just getting warmed up. I honestly think she’s going to be stronger at 70 than 65.” For Kathy, powerlifting isn’t just about strength. It’s about self-discovery — and proving that it’s never too late to surprise yourself. “It's never too late,” she said. From a woman who once couldn’t lift an empty bar to one of the strongest lifters in her class, Kathy’s story is a reminder that sometimes, the best version of yourself is still waiting to be found — no matter your age.
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American Climber Shares Experience After Historic Ski Descent of Mount Everest
For most climbers, summiting Mount Everest is the ultimate achievement — the pinnacle of mountaineering. But for American skier and alpinist Jim Morrison, the summit was just the start. On October 15, Morrison made history by becoming the first person to descend Everest’s infamous Hornbein Couloir on skis — a 9,000-foot, high-risk route so steep and dangerous that only five people have ever successfully climbed it. “It’s very steep, unrelenting, and technically just really challenging the whole way,” Morrison said in an interview with Good Morning America. The daring descent is now the subject of an upcoming National Geographic documentary, produced in collaboration with Morrison’s longtime climbing partner and filmmaker Jimmy Chin — best known for his Oscar-winning film Free Solo. The pair had been working toward the Everest project for five years, and it took three separate attempts to complete. They trained extensively, but Chin emphasized that no amount of preparation can substitute for decades of mountain experience. “You need to really bring all of your experience with risk assessment and understanding the risks and stakes,” he said. Morrison and Chin climbed the north face of Everest and began the descent from just over 1,100 feet below the summit, starting in the Hornbein Couloir and continuing through the Japanese Couloir. The full descent — from 29,032 feet to the base of the mountain — took about four hours. “There’s only about a one-day window each year when conditions are right,” said Chin. “And it happened on the very last day of our permit.” Morrison, now 50, completed the descent at 7:45 p.m. local time, after spending more than six weeks on the mountain. He said reaching the summit was emotionally complex, especially after the loss of his partner, Hilaree Nelson, who died in 2022 during a ski descent on Mount Manaslu in Nepal. “As my friends were taking selfies and celebrating being on the summit of the world's highest mountain, I started getting prepared to ski down,” Morrison said. “I was in a really calculated, focused place where the consequences were extraordinary. I had to be very precise.” The stakes were enormous. “You can't make a single mistake — like a blown edge, or if you slip,” Chin said. “It's pretty high stakes, high consequence.” At the end of the descent, Morrison said the emotions finally caught up with him. “I was just really elated,” he recalled. “Had a huge emotional release. Screamed a lot and cried a lot, and it was really an amazing moment.” Both Morrison and Chin said that fear played a key role in their approach. Not as something to suppress, but as something to work with. “You have to try to decide what part of that fear is irrational,” Morrison said. “What part of it can I channel to focus on what the real risks are?” Chin agreed. “Fear can either serve you or it can debilitate you. You learn how to discern between fear that’s useful and fear that’s not.” For Morrison, this was more than a record-setting feat. It was the culmination of years of work, risk, loss, and persistence — and a new high in the world of high-altitude skiing.
Score (97)
Chunkosaurus Rex Triumphs In First-Ever Fat Squirrel Week At Dinosaur Valley State Park
In a nut-to-nut battle of fluff and fame, Chunkosaurus Rex of Dinosaur Valley State Park has officially been named Texas royalty — at least when it comes to squirrels. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wrapped up its first-ever Fat Squirrel Week, a bracket-style showdown between the state’s roundest, most charming squirrel residents. Modeled after Alaska’s beloved Fat Bear Week, this Lone Star spin crowned Chunkosaurus Rex as champion after a week of fierce online voting. The title didn’t come easy. Chunkosaurus Rex had to claw past 15 other worthy contenders, including fan-favorite finalist Chunk Norris from Fort Richardson State Park. When the final acorns were counted — in the form of Facebook likes and comments — the behemoth from Dinosaur Valley came out on top. “Dinosaur Valley is proud to be the home of this behemoth!” the park wrote online. “We appreciate all the support for Chunkosaurus Rex during this hard-fought battle.” The contest, which kicked off October 19, was dreamed up as a playful way to get more Texans engaging with their local wildlife. Sixteen squirrels from 16 different state parks were selected, with each park posting photos and bios of their fluffiest residents. But this wasn’t about weight. As Meridian State Park superintendent Carolanne Brannon explained, “Rather than measuring pounds, this Texas twist focused on heftiness, silliness, and charm.” And the competitors delivered. There was Twiggy Swift from Goose Island State Park. Stanley “The Texas Tank” from Cleburne State Park, known for his “pecan barrel” belly. And Nutella from Lake Mineral Wells, whose “training regimen” included popcorn heists and campsite snack raids “in the name of science.” Chunk Norris gave a strong final push, but in the end, it was Chunkosaurus Rex who won hearts — and the title. “I think this could be a fun way to raise awareness for our state parks,” Brannon said. “No matter the distance or size of our parks, if we're national or state, we all just love the same things.” Fans flooded social media with cheers for the chonky champion. “Was there ever a doubt that Chunkosaurus Rex would be the champion?” one commenter wrote. Others called for an expanded competition next year, more squirrels, and more time to root for their regional rodents. Organizers say they’re already planning a bigger and even more acorn-stuffed event for 2026. Until then, Texas squirrels have their marching orders: it's never too early to start working on that winter physique.
Score (97)
Forget Dopamine Hacks, Purpose Might Be the Real Path to Happiness For Gen Z
Gen Z is in the middle of an unprecedented mental health crisis. Rates of anxiety, depression, and loneliness are sky-high. Nearly half of Gen Zers — people aged 13 to 28 — have already been diagnosed with a mental health condition. And over 70% say they feel stressed about money, work, or the future. They’re also the most digitally connected generation in history, and ironically, one of the loneliest. Many say social media makes things worse, whether through algorithm-driven emotional manipulation or the constant comparison game with influencers who seem to have it all together. In response, a whole ecosystem of self-help trends has sprung up — dopamine detoxes, therapy-speak, happiness influencers. But new research suggests that a far simpler solution might work better: helping young people find a sense of purpose. A $400 experiment with big results Psychologist Anthony Burrow at Cornell University wanted to know what would happen if you simply gave students the chance to do something meaningful — no strings attached. So in 2019, he launched The Contribution Project. Students were handed $400 and told to use it to “pursue what matters most,” whether that meant helping themselves, their communities, or their families. The impact was immediate and measurable. Compared to peers who didn’t receive the contribution, students who got the $400 scored significantly higher on well-being, belonging, usefulness, and sense of purpose. The effects lasted for up to eight weeks after receiving the money. The idea wasn’t about buying happiness. It was about unlocking it through contribution. “Invite people to think about a contribution they want to make and help them make that contribution,” Burrow told The Washington Post, “and that person may walk around with greater purpose than if they hadn’t done that.” Even more striking: 95% of students used the funds to benefit others. Why Gen Z needs purpose now more than ever It’s not just that purpose feels good — it seems to directly protect against poor mental health. A recent study found that 58% of young adults said they felt little to no meaning in their lives in the past month. Half of them said their mental health was negatively affected by not knowing what to do with their life. That lack of direction is tied to the erosion of traditional sources of meaning. Faith, community, and even long-term career paths — the places people once looked to for purpose — are less stable or accessible than they used to be. Unsurprisingly, those who reported lacking a sense of purpose were twice as likely to struggle with anxiety and depression. The Contribution Project may seem small, but it points to something powerful: when people are given the opportunity — and the permission — to contribute in ways that matter to them, their mental health improves. Not because they’re chasing happiness, but because they’re creating meaning. It turns out, purpose might not just be the key to feeling better. It might be the thing we’re missing most.
Score (97)
Astronomers Discover Trio Of Earth-Size Planets In Binary Star System, Just Like Tattooine in Star Wars
Astronomers have discovered a record-breaking trio of Earth-sized planets orbiting not one, but two stars — a find that challenges long-held assumptions about planet formation in binary systems. Using NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), a team of researchers has identified three rocky worlds in the TOI-2267 system, located about 190 light-years from Earth. What makes this discovery especially significant is that each of the system’s two stars hosts its own transiting planets — the first time this has ever been observed. "This makes TOI-2267 the first binary system known to host transiting planets around both of its stars," said Sebastián Zúñiga-Fernández, a researcher at the University of Liège and a member of the discovery team. Binary systems — where two stars orbit each other — were long thought to be too chaotic for stable planetary systems to form, especially when the stars orbit in close proximity. The gravitational forces in such “compact binaries” were expected to disrupt planet formation or destabilize any planets that did manage to form. But TOI-2267 defies that expectation. Not only have three planets formed, but two orbit one of the stars, while the third orbits the companion star. It’s a rare and unexpected arrangement that suggests planetary formation in binary systems may be more robust than once believed. “Our discovery breaks several records,” said Francisco J. Pozuelos, study co-leader and researcher at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía. “It is the most compact and coldest pair of stars with planets known, and it is also the first in which planets have been recorded transiting around both components.” The three Earth-sized planets were first hinted at through data collected by TESS and flagged using a custom detection tool called SHERLOCK. That prompted the team to conduct follow-up observations using several ground-based observatories specially equipped for hunting small exoplanets around faint stars. These included the SPECULOOS network in Chile and Tenerife and the twin TRAPPIST telescopes in Belgium. With their help, the researchers confirmed the existence of the planets and uncovered the unexpected structure of the system. "This system is a true natural laboratory for understanding how rocky planets can emerge and survive under extreme dynamical conditions," Pozuelos said. Beyond breaking records, the TOI-2267 system opens the door to deeper exploration. Because of their size and location, these planets are prime candidates for future study with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and upcoming ground-based telescopes. Scientists hope to gather precise data on the planets' masses, densities, and potentially even their atmospheric chemistry. “Discovering three Earth-sized planets in such a compact binary system is a unique opportunity,” said Zúñiga-Fernández. “It allows us to test the limits of planet formation models in complex environments and to better understand the diversity of possible planetary architectures in our galaxy.” The system also offers a visually compelling possibility: dual sunsets. Much like the fictional planet Tatooine in Star Wars, the worlds in TOI-2267 could experience starsets from both their suns — an evocative image that underscores how strange and varied planetary systems can be. The team’s findings were published on October 24 in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.