Meet Darrel the Sports Dog, Living Up to His Name by Inventing Creative New Games

Meet Darrel the Sports Dog, an adorable pup with a passion for inventing new sports. His owner, Hailey, shares videos of Darrel engaging in creative and fun sports like Basketball Surfing, Body Sledding, Spoon Ball, and Dog Hockey. While the rules might not be conventional, the joy and happiness Darrel exudes while playing are what truly matter, making their playful activities an uplifting and heartwarming sight to behold.

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Church Returns Sacred Rock Covered With Petroglyphs After 14-Year Effort

A sacred rock carved with petroglyphs by ancestors of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation more than 1,000 years ago has finally been returned to its rightful home in the mountains of northern Utah. The 1,134-kilogram boulder, which had been embedded in concrete outside a church in Tremonton for around 80 years, was airlifted back to its original hillside location earlier this month—marking the end of a repatriation effort that began in 2011. Brad Parry, vice chair of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation, called the return deeply meaningful. “Our history is so fractured with a lot of things that happened to us,” he said. “To have these positive things now that are coming out — it’s rebuilding our history. And I can’t overstate that.” The rock had been removed from its natural setting sometime in the early to mid-20th century. Its relocation to the front of a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse in Tremonton was never properly documented, though accounts suggest it was hauled into town by a group of locals. Over the decades, it sat on display near a flagpole and later on the church’s north side. “It’s a mystery why it was brought to the church,” said Ryan Saltzgiver, history sites curator with the Church History Department. “The intention wasn’t malicious—just a lack of understanding of what the rock represented.” The process of returning it began after amateur archaeologists matched it to a 1937 rock art survey, pinpointing its origin. From there, the tribe, church officials, and the Utah State Historic Preservation Office began working together on a plan for preservation and repatriation. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which oversaw the removal, said it had a moral and ethical responsibility to return the rock. Once extracted from its concrete base, the rock was taken to Provo for conservation. Specialists from the Midwest Art Conservation Center used bamboo and plastic tools, along with soap and water, to gently remove lichen buildup while preserving the stone’s natural patina. It was then transported north to a remote area near the Utah-Idaho border. The final leg of the journey was by helicopter, lifting the rock back into the rugged terrain where it originally sat—alongside other petroglyph-covered stones in what Parry described as a spiritual place used by Shoshone ancestors for camping and hunting. To mark the moment, tribal spiritual leader Rios Pacheco offered a blessing in Shoshoni. The tribe has not disclosed the rock’s exact location to protect it from potential harm. “This rock was meant to be here,” said Parry. “It’s like this rock knows it’s home.”

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‘Just Eat and Swallow’: Blackpool Man Wins World Pie-Eating Championship in 62 Seconds

A man from Blackpool has been crowned this year’s World Pie-Eating Champion after downing a meat pie in one minute and two seconds. Tom O’Neil, 24, beat 18 other competitors at the long-running contest in Harry’s Bar, Wigan—the unofficial pie capital of the UK—where the annual event has been held since 1992. The pies are standardised to 12cm in diameter and 3.5cm deep. O’Neil, who was born in Wigan, called it a “proud day” and said he’s already planning to return next year to defend his title. “I won a local contest about two years ago and then I saw this pop up online, so I thought I'm gonna go for it,” he told BBC Radio Manchester. “And now I'm here.” Asked if he had any secret technique, O’Neil kept it simple: “Just eat and then swallow, that’s it really. There’s no magic to it, you’ve either got it or you’ve not I suppose.” Tony Callaghan, owner of Harry’s Bar and self-declared “piemaster,” wasn’t entirely impressed with the winning time. “A minute and two seconds was ridiculous,” he said. “We’ve had 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 20 seconds in previous years so I don’t know what’s going on today.” Despite the slower pace this year, Callaghan remains strict about the contest rules, especially the long-standing ban on any “lubricants.” “I will not allow gravy and I won’t allow any lubricants, don’t come to the competition if that’s what you want,” he said. “I think it’s wrong—you eat a pie as it is. You don’t stick it in a bowl of gravy, that’s for Southerners.” Even with the complaints about speed, the spirit of competition and tradition remains strong. And for O’Neil, it's now about holding onto his title—one dry pie at a time.

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NICU Babies Celebrate Holiday Season In ‘ugly’ Christmas Sweaters

Tiny patients in the neonatal intensive care unit at Cleveland Clinic Children’s got a festive surprise this week: handmade “ugly” holiday sweaters, designed just for them. The NICU staff dressed premature babies in miniature felt sweaters and crochet hats featuring playful designs like snowmen, gingerbread men, the Grinch, and even a festive flamingo. The outfits were made as keepsakes for families, offering a bit of holiday cheer during what is often a stressful time. “We loved seeing Ava in her holiday outfit,” said parents Casey and Tyler Graber. Their daughter has spent more than 100 days in the NICU. “It was the perfect mix of sweetness and fun. It’s a memory we’ll share with family and Ava for years to come.” Parents, nurses, and caregivers worked together to gently dress the babies, making sure each one was comfortable and safe. While the medical team continues to monitor every infant closely, especially those with complex health needs, staff say moments like these can make a huge emotional difference. “Sharing these special moments with families brings a sense of joy and normalcy during an otherwise challenging time,” said Therese Razzante, a NICU family support specialist. “These celebrations help parents embrace milestones, build meaningful connections, and reflect the unwavering compassion of our caregivers in the NICU.” The holiday sweaters are part of a broader effort by the Cleveland Clinic Children’s NICU to provide emotional support alongside medical care. For many families, the tiny garments are more than just cute — they’re tangible reminders of strength, hope, and love during the holidays.

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Her $20 Act of Kindness Sparked $78,000 in Donations After Her Video Went Viral

When 86-year-old Connie, a Navajo woman living in Phoenix, handed a stranger a $20 bill to help pay for pain medication, she had no idea what would happen next. She was in a store when Jimmy Darts, a content creator known for his viral videos spotlighting acts of kindness, approached her pretending to be in pain and unable to afford his medicine. “Excuse me, ma’am, I’m so sorry, I’m in a lot of pain right now,” he told her, holding a box of medication. “Do you have a dollar?” Without hesitation, Connie reached into her purse and handed him a $20 bill. That’s when Darts flipped the script. Instead of accepting the money, he gave Connie the medication box—only this time, it contained $500 in cash for her to keep. Connie’s face lit up. Her voice trembled. “I’m so happy — you made my day,” she said. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.” Darts shared the moment on his social media platforms, where he’s built a combined audience of more than 25 million people. And just like in many of his videos, the moment didn’t end there. He posted a GoFundMe link to help Connie further, and within days, strangers from around the world had donated more than $78,000. Connie had shared that she was struggling to afford food and rent, and had recently been hospitalized due to anxiety. The support pouring in would help cover her rent, fix her car, and give her some peace of mind during the holidays. “She was absolutely blown away,” Darts said. “She told me I could call her grandma now.” Darts has been making videos like this for five years, traveling across the country posing as someone in need. When a stranger offers to help, he surprises them with money—and often, much more. He says the idea came to him in 2020, during a tough period in his life. “The Lord said, ‘Ask people for help, and when they help you, change their life,’” he told PEOPLE. Since then, he’s filmed hundreds of encounters like Connie’s. What makes the impact even more meaningful, he says, is how many people chip in to help. “It’s not just some rich guy donating money,” he said. “Eighty thousand people have donated. It’s the microdonations of people coming together.” In an era where social media often amplifies anger and division, Darts says videos like these show something different. “A lot of people click on bad stuff because it gets a reaction,” he said. “But if we can put out stuff that brings families together, it’s so encouraging.” He believes people want their generosity to feel personal and direct. “They don’t want to just write a $50 check to an organization and have no clue where it goes,” he said. “They want to give to a GoFundMe where they know it goes right to the person.” Darts has since left Phoenix but says he plans to stay in touch with Connie. “She’s just a really awesome lady,” he said. “I’ll definitely be calling her grandma.”

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Siblings are Celebrating Their First Healthy Christmas Thanks To a Lifesaving Bone Marrow Donation

Ben Buttley didn’t think much of it at first. Just a strange feeling—“a little bit like a hangover,” he recalls. But when strangers started stopping him in the street, worried about the colour of his face, he realised something was seriously wrong. That was in 2018. He was 34, living in County Durham, and was eventually diagnosed with aplastic anaemia—a rare condition where the body stops producing white blood cells. With no immune system and no way to fight infection, the only hope for survival was a bone marrow transplant. Against the odds, his younger sister, Holly Murdey, turned out to be a match. “There was never any doubt in my mind that I would do it,” she said. Doctors told them it was unusual just how close their match was. Siblings only have a 25 percent chance of being compatible, and most patients rely on unrelated donors from the Anthony Nolan register. The transplant took place at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, one of the UK’s leading centres for bone marrow transplants. Murdey described the process as straightforward and non-invasive. Doctors collected stem cells from her blood through a vein, much like donating blood. “It’s quite straightforward,” said Dr Erin Hurst, consultant haematologist. “A blood test to begin with, a medical to check that you’re fit enough to donate, and then a process of having your blood taken on a machine for a couple of hours to get the stem cells that we need. Potentially a day or two off work in total, and then people return to their normal life having known they have helped us provide life-saving treatment.” After the first transplant, Buttley went back to work as a bank manager and lived a relatively normal life. But five years later, his condition worsened. He developed sepsis and landed in intensive care. The transplant was failing, and he urgently needed another. Once again, his sister stepped up. “She gave me that bag of magic that goes into your blood and makes you better,” he said. “Without that transplant, especially the second time, I just simply would not be sat here.” This year marks his first healthy Christmas since both transplants. After years of uncertainty, the chance to have a quiet, joyful holiday with family feels like a gift in itself. “I cannot wait for it,” he said. “I cannot tell you how much it means to have normality back and to really enjoy myself, and have everybody around me not worried or on edge about how I am.” For Murdey, the experience changed her outlook on life. “It teaches you that life is for living,” she said. “Grab everybody around you, have fun, and live it. There was a point last year where you did not know if there was going to be a future—and now we have got one.”

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Rescuers Save Dog Trapped In Model Village Walls

Benny the Jack Russell is safe and back with his owners after an unexpected adventure left him stuck between two walls at a popular tourist spot in Portsmouth. The two-year-old dog got himself trapped on Thursday afternoon after slipping into a narrow hole at Southsea Model Village. Unable to wriggle free, Benny ended up wedged tightly between two brick walls. Local firefighters and a specialist urban search and rescue team were called in. Using cameras to locate him, they carefully cut through the brickwork to reach the dog. According to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, Benny escaped with only minor scrapes and scratches. Southsea Model Village shared the story on Facebook, writing that “it could have ended very differently,” and thanked everyone involved for helping to free Benny. The tourist attraction’s owners praised the rescue team’s “calm, professional and methodical approach,” saying it ensured Benny was found and brought out safely. They also thanked the dog’s owners for their patience and trust during what they described as “an incredibly stressful situation.” “Benny is safe, and that’s what matters most,” they said.

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AI Photo Match Reunites Texas Woman With Lost Cat After 103 Days

Holiday gatherings, loud fireworks, and disrupted routines often lead to pets going missing. This time of year is one of the busiest for shelters, especially around New Year’s Eve when fireworks and parties can spook even the calmest animals. That’s exactly what happened in Plano, Texas, where a family was recently reunited with their lost cat thanks to a blend of persistence, community help, and AI-powered photo matching. Grayson, an 11-year-old indoor cat, had never been outside alone. One day, while Pam was unloading groceries, she believes he slipped out. The moment she realized he was missing, she began searching. “We went up and down the streets day and night,” Pam told CyberGuy. “We put up flyers all over the neighborhood. Friends and neighbors were looking for him. I went to the animal shelter, posted him there, and went every day for over a month, hoping to find him.” Pam also uploaded Grayson’s photo to Petco Love Lost, a platform that uses AI photo matching to connect missing pets with those found in the community. Despite checking her match alerts every day, no familiar face ever popped up. “His profile had been on their site for over 90 days,” she said. Then, something changed. Missy, who lives a mile away, spotted a thin, unfamiliar cat near her home. She brought him inside, took a photo, and uploaded it to Petco Love Lost. Within moments, the system found a match: it was Grayson. Missy saw that the cross street Pam had listed was just down the road. “I used Lost Love to reunite them,” Missy said. “I uploaded a photo of the cat that we found, and it was matched through AI with the photo that the owner uploaded.” She contacted Pam immediately. The message came as a shock—and a huge relief. “I am sure that if we had not posted his picture and enabled the ability to match the images, we would never have known what happened to Grayson,” Pam said. “And we would not have connected with Missy.” Grayson had been missing for 103 days. “I am still amazed at Grayson’s journey,” Pam said. “I look at him and cannot believe he made it through those 103 days. He is almost 12 years old, so he is not a young kitty.” Pam still wonders what happened during those three months—where he went, how he survived, and what led him to Missy. “He must have known she would take care of him,” she said. “It takes a special person to take the time to reunite a beloved pet with their family.”

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The Paignton Zoo in South Wales Just celebrated the Birth of 2 Rare Maned Wolf Pups

Two rare maned wolf pups have been born at Paignton Zoo in southwest England — a major win for conservation efforts and a bright spot for the zoo, which was recently saved from closure. The pups, yet to be named, were born in November to parents Tolock and Lua. Zookeepers say the births are especially significant given the species’ status in the wild. Fewer than 17,000 maned wolves are believed to survive across the grasslands of South America, where habitat loss continues to threaten their future. “This is a significant birth for conservation efforts,” said the zoo in a statement. The species is listed as “near threatened” by the Canid Specialist Group, with most remaining individuals found in Brazil. Maned wolves are the largest canids in South America — a group that includes dogs, foxes, and jackals. They stand nearly one metre tall and can weigh up to 25 kilograms. Their long legs and reddish fur give them a distinctive, fox-like appearance, though they are not closely related to true wolves. Senior mammal keeper Cindy Naylor said the zoo had been monitoring the pair’s behaviour closely for months before the pups arrived. “We can’t believe how well-timed everything was,” she said. “The pair had been together long before the breeding season and we were monitoring their behaviours closely.” She added that Lua conceived “almost immediately” after coming into heat. “It felt like perfect timing,” she said. Female maned wolves are only fertile for about five days each year and have a gestation period of 65 days, making breeding efforts particularly challenging. Unlike many social canines, maned wolves are largely solitary, except during mating season. Their diet is highly varied — they eat everything from rodents and insects to fruit and plants. The births are part of the European Endangered Species Programme, which manages captive populations to preserve genetic diversity. The goal is to keep options open for future reintroduction efforts, should habitat and conditions in the wild allow. For Paignton Zoo, the arrival of the pups is more than just good news — it’s a reminder of the vital role zoos can play in global conservation, especially for species at risk of disappearing.

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Paralysed Man Uses Brain Implant to Control a Wheelchair and Video Games — 5 Days After Surgery

A 28-year-old man in China has become the first person in the country to successfully use a fully implanted, wireless brain-computer interface to control smart devices — all with the power of thought. Just five days after undergoing surgery, the man, who has been paralysed from the neck down for eight years, was already able to operate a wheelchair, browse the internet, play video games, and control smart home appliances using only his mind. The breakthrough is part of China’s first clinical trial involving a fully implanted brain-computer interface (BCI), a device that allows signals from the brain to directly control external technologies. “He can control household appliances and even operate his wheelchair — all of this can be achieved,” said Professor Mao Ying, president of Huashan Hospital at Fudan University, where the surgery was carried out. Developed by Shanghai-based startup NeuroXess, the device is among the smallest and least invasive BCI implants in the world. It uses 64 ultra-thin electrodes — each just 1 percent the width of a human hair — implanted directly in the brain. The battery, processor, antenna, and controller are all placed under the skin in the chest area, making it a fully internal system with no wires sticking out of the body. To charge the device, the patient uses a wireless charging dock similar to those used for smartphones. “The built-in battery is a very important step,” said Zhang Xu, a neuroscientist and academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. “Achieving sustained power supply and long-term usability is a key consideration for applying this technology to the human body.” One and a half months after surgery, the patient was able to control a wide range of devices on his own — a dramatic improvement for someone who, until now, had no independent control over his environment. BCIs like this are being developed in countries around the world, with the goal of helping millions of people living with paralysis regain autonomy in daily life. Elon Musk’s company Neuralink is arguably the most high-profile player in the field. In a video posted to X, the platform Musk also owns, a Neuralink patient named Rocky Stoutenburgh demonstrated his ability to control a robotic arm using just his mind, even lifting the arm to his face and kissing it. “Participants in our clinical trials have extended digital computer control to physical devices such as assistive robotic arms,” Neuralink said in a statement. “Over time, we plan to expand the range of devices controllable via Neuralink.” The company said more than 10,000 people have signed up for its patient registry, hoping to take part in future trials. But China’s entry into the field may signal a wider international push toward commercial and medical applications of brain-computer interfaces. While still in its early stages, the technology holds enormous promise. For now, the Chinese team sees their patient’s rapid recovery and capabilities as a sign of what’s possible. And perhaps most remarkable of all: it only took five days.

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Matchmaking Project Revives Critically Endangered Iguanas on 'Love Island'

The forest on Prickly Pear East, a tiny cay off the coast of Anguilla, used to be silent. Not anymore. Now, it rustles with the sound of iguanas plopping off tree branches, scurrying through the brush, and digging burrows in the soil. And for a group of determined conservationists, that sound is a triumph. Nearly a decade ago, there wasn’t a single Lesser Antillean iguana on Prickly Pear East. Today, there are more than 300. “It’s something that’s ours,” said Devon Carter, a research officer with the Anguilla National Trust. “We don’t have lions, we don’t have elephants, but what we do have, we need to appreciate.” The Lesser Antillean iguana, or Iguana delicatissima, is critically endangered, with fewer than 20,000 estimated to remain in the wild. The species once thrived across at least 10 islands in the eastern Caribbean but has vanished entirely from Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis and St. Martin, and largely disappeared from others including Guadeloupe, Martinique and St. Barts. One of the biggest threats? Their close cousins, the green iguanas, originally from Central and South America. Introduced to the region in the 1800s, green iguanas spread further after Hurricane Luis struck in 1995. They outcompete native iguanas for food, produce more offspring, and — perhaps most damaging — interbreed with the Lesser Antillean species. “If your genetics are diluted, your species as a whole can’t continue,” said Isabel Curtis, a conservation officer with Anguilla National Trust. To protect the species from disappearing entirely, conservationists launched an effort in 2015 to relocate genetically pure Lesser Antillean iguanas from Anguilla to Prickly Pear East — a 40-hectare cay free from predators, invasive species, and human traffic. The collection effort took a full year and involved hand-catching iguanas using long poles with nooses. Residents chipped in, calling in sightings or sending photos to help the search. By the end, 23 purebred Lesser Antillean iguanas had been found — believed to be nearly the entire remaining population on Anguilla. After genetic testing, the first 10 were ferried to the cay in breathable cotton bags and tagged before release. Once scientists were confident the group had adapted, the remaining 13 followed. “We were seeing babies, we were seeing their burrows where they were nesting,” recalled Farah Mukhida, executive director of Anguilla National Trust. “It was really encouraging that they were breeding.” With success came new concerns. The founding population was small, and without enough genetic diversity, the colony would be vulnerable to disease and inbreeding. So the team reached out to Dominica — home to the largest known population of Lesser Antillean iguanas — to request more females. The timing was complicated. The request went out during the pandemic, and Carter and others had to quarantine before making the trip. Once in Dominica, the team built shelters for the animals, fed them by hand when needed, and ran genetic tests to make sure none were hybrids. Carter remembers one in particular — nicknamed “Green” — who had to be fed with a syringe. “Those are the ones you remember the most,” he said. The newly selected iguanas were flown to Anguilla in pillowcases tucked inside ventilated boxes and then brought by boat to their new home on Prickly Pear East. Today, they’re thriving and breeding, adding much-needed genetic strength to the population. The islet itself remains uninhabited but sees regular visitors thanks to its two small restaurants, which serve barbecued chicken, lobster and ribs — but not iguana. That’s strictly off the menu. “This has become a beacon of hope for these gorgeous lizards,” said Jenny Daltry, Caribbean alliance director for the conservation groups Fauna & Flora and Re:wild. “It proves that when we give native wildlife the chance, they know what to do.” The conservation team sees the effort not just as an animal rescue, but as a way to protect an irreplaceable part of the Caribbean ecosystem. “Each species has a specific function,” said Curtis. “If we lose them, we’re weakening the whole system.” For now, the Lesser Antillean iguanas are doing their part — scrambling, nesting, and bringing life back to a once-silent forest.

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