Teachers share their sweetest gifts from students and it's a moving lesson in generosity

Some of the most precious gifts come straight from the heart. A former teacher shared an incredible story of a student's selflessness, generosity and thoughtfulness. Nine years ago, the student didn't have a Christmas gift for her, so he opened up a pack of crayons, gave her the purple one, and said "I hope you love it, I know it's your favorite color." Flex those love muscles; share stories that show you care and recognize heartfelt gestures with admiration 😊

Read More

Utah Couple Welcomes Baby Girl Born on Roadside During Thanksgiving Journey

A Utah couple has a Thanksgiving story they’ll never forget — their baby girl was born on the side of the road. Daxton and Vannessa Lowe were racing to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray on the morning of November 27 when their second child decided she couldn’t wait. As they exited Interstate 5 at 5300 South, Vannessa realized labor was progressing faster than expected. “Nope, I feel like she’s coming right now,” she recalled telling her husband. “And I reached down and I go, ‘Wow, that’s her head!’” Daxton quickly pulled their minivan over and called 911. But before help could arrive, the baby made her entrance — right there in the front seat. “She just shot out, and I somehow caught her!” Vannessa said. “As I was pulling off, I literally looked over and just watched the baby launch, right into mom’s hands — boom, right there!” Paramedics with the Utah Highway Patrol arrived soon after and helped transport the family to the hospital. Both mom and baby are doing well. They named their daughter Luna Grace, and although she arrived weighing just 5 pounds, 6 ounces, her parents say she’s healthy and strong. “She’s tiny but mighty, for sure,” said Vannessa. Luna is the couple’s second child, and her arrival has already earned legendary status in the family. “A Thanksgiving never to be forgotten,” Daxton said.

Read More

Study Finds Natural Molecule Clears Alzheimer's Protein Buildup

A molecule known for more than a century could hold the key to slowing Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease — and scientists say it works a bit like cheese on spaghetti. Researchers in Switzerland have discovered that spermine, a naturally occurring compound involved in metabolism, may help stop toxic proteins from building up in the brain. That buildup is a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. In lab experiments, worms given extra spermine showed better health in old age. Their cells stayed more energized and didn’t wear out as quickly — a sign that spermine was doing something protective at the cellular level. So what’s actually happening? According to the team from the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), spermine changes how two problematic proteins — tau and alpha-synuclein — behave. These proteins, when misfolded, tend to form hard, sticky clumps called amyloids that damage brain cells. Spermine doesn’t stop them from clumping altogether, but it does something different: it makes the clumps soft, liquid-like, and easier to remove. Think of it like cooking pasta. “The spermine is like cheese that connects the long, thin pasta without gluing them together, making them easier to digest,” explained biophysicist Jinghui Luo, one of the lead researchers. Instead of letting the proteins turn into rock-hard plaques — the kind that stick to your brain like burnt crust on a pan — spermine causes them to form droplets that are much easier for the body’s clean-up system to handle. That system, known as autophagy, is responsible for clearing out damaged cell parts and proteins. According to Luo, it works better when it can grab onto larger, more flexible clusters. “Autophagy is more effective at handling larger protein clumps,” he said. “And spermine is, so to speak, the binding agent that brings the strands together.” Importantly, spermine seems to only step in when tau and alpha-synuclein reach unhealthy levels. That’s useful, because it suggests spermine doesn’t interfere with the proteins’ normal roles — just the misbehaving ones. Tau and alpha-synuclein are well-known troublemakers in neurodegenerative diseases, though scientists still debate whether the protein clumps they form are a cause or a symptom. Either way, they’re clearly involved, and finding a way to manage them is a major goal of brain research. Spermine, it turns out, might be one of the tools. It’s been previously linked to brain protection, but this study shows how it might work in more detail. The findings were published in the journal Nature Communications. The team hopes spermine — or similar small molecules — could be used in the future to treat a range of diseases beyond Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, possibly even some forms of cancer. “If we better understand the underlying processes,” Luo said, “we can cook tastier and more digestible dishes, so to speak, because then we’ll know exactly which spices, in which amounts, make the sauce especially tasty.” It’s early days. The experiments so far were limited to worms and test tubes. But the research opens a new direction: using small molecules to gently reshape how toxic proteins behave, rather than trying to block or destroy them outright. That’s where spermine stands out — not as a hammer, but as a kind of biological sous-chef, helping the body’s natural defenses work smarter, not harder.

Read More

Sasha Digiulian Becomes First Woman To Free-Climb El Capitan's Longest Route Amid Stormy Weather

Sasha DiGiulian has made history on one of the most iconic rock faces in the world — becoming the first woman to free-climb El Capitan’s longest route, a punishing 39-pitch ascent that tested every ounce of her strength, patience, and grit. After 23 days on the granite wall in California’s Yosemite National Park — including nine spent hunkered down during a storm — DiGiulian reached the top of the 900-metre rock formation via the rarely climbed Platinum route. “When we got to the top... I just started laughing 'cause I was like, I haven't walked in so long,” she told CBS News. Now 33, DiGiulian called the climb the “most formative and challenging” of her career. It’s no small claim. She’s a world champion in sport climbing, the face behind the climbing emoji, and someone who’s been pushing boundaries in the sport since childhood. The climb began October 8, when DiGiulian and her partner, Elliot Faber, arrived in Yosemite. Their goal: to complete the Direct Line (also called Platinum), a daunting route mapped by Faber years earlier but never climbed in full. The two expected to finish in two weeks. Instead, the expedition stretched well past three. Faber had previously charted the climb, identifying the tiny holds — “credit card-sized protrusions” — that would eventually carry them up the face. Together, they hauled more than 110 litres of water to the summit for later use and began laying ropes and gear. They started the actual ascent on November 3. Everything was going according to plan — until it wasn’t. On day nine, a powerful and unexpected storm pinned them down at the 32nd pitch, a section ominously named the Golden Edge. For nine straight days, they waited out wind, rain, and snow in a portaledge — a small tent-like platform anchored to the wall. They had freeze-dried meals, a Jetboil stove, and DiGiulian’s own line of green protein bars, Send Bars. They rationed Kindle battery and toggled airplane mode to check in with friends. “The storm was kind of this mental but also physical challenge,” she said. “You’re just stripped of any sense of normal.” When the skies finally cleared, the rock was wet and slippery — a nightmare for free-climbers, who rely only on their hands and feet for upward progress, using ropes solely for protection in case of a fall. Ice chunks rained down from 120 metres above. DiGiulian put on a helmet and pushed through. But just shy of the summit, another complication: Faber had to leave due to a family emergency. DiGiulian waited two days on the wall, hoping he could return. When it became clear he couldn’t, he encouraged her to finish without him. With a few friends and a camera crew joining for the final push, DiGiulian reached the summit on November 26 — 23 days after the start of the climb, and nine years after she first started thinking about El Cap. “For the last few years I've been so committed to this specific line... This climb kind of consumed me,” she told CBS. Climbing El Capitan is an achievement in itself. Towering above the Yosemite Valley, it’s more than twice the height of the Empire State Building and attracts tens of thousands of climbers each year. Most take the easier routes, which still require five to seven days. Roughly 60 percent make it to the top. Only a few free-climbing routes on El Cap see regular traffic. The Platinum route isn’t one of them. It’s long, difficult, and has some of the smallest holds anywhere on the wall. Add unpredictable fall weather, wet rock, and days of waiting in freezing conditions, and it becomes even more forbidding. DiGiulian’s achievement puts her in elite company. In 2021, Emily Harrington became the first woman to free-climb El Cap in under 24 hours, on the Golden Gate route. In 2017, Alex Honnold famously climbed it without any ropes at all — a feat chronicled in the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo. But DiGiulian’s climb stands out not for speed or risk, but for endurance and commitment. She lived on the wall for more than three weeks. She waited out storms, adapted to change, and finished alone. "I don't know what it is that enabled me to like to climb this route and get through it beyond just sheer drive to push myself,” she said. A professional climber based in Boulder, Colorado, DiGiulian has built a career on mental resilience and the thrill of pushing limits. “Climbing is this space for me where I get to be really locked in and focused on what my physical and mental self is capable of,” she said. “I love puzzle solving.” Now, she’s solved one of the hardest puzzles on the world’s most famous cliff — and left her mark on El Capitan’s toughest line.

Read More

The Last Note: How One Man is Saving America’s Forgotten Player Pianos

In a two-car garage in Minnesota, you’ll find the remnants of a forgotten golden age—not vintage cars or antique tools, but century-old player pianos. Lots of them. Some still sing. Others rot peacefully in a sculpture garden out back, given new life as waterfalls or whimsical ruins. Nate Otto is the man behind it all. Where Microsoft once launched in a garage, Nate’s version of tech is a little older—by about a hundred years. “Especially if you're in 1916, it’s the top tech of the day,” he says, pumping the pedals on one of five restored player pianos inside his workspace. He’s not being ironic. Nate, a millennial and former lawnmower repairman, is now one of the few full-time player piano restorers in the U.S.—and the only one in his state. A Mechanical Past, a Personal Mission Player pianos—those self-playing marvels of levers, hammers, and foot pedals—were once at the cutting edge of home entertainment. Powered by paper rolls punched with holes that trigger the keys, they were the soundtrack of American parlors before radios and phonographs pushed them aside. There were more than 2.6 million player pianos made in the 1910s and ’20s. Today, they’re practically being given away—free for the taking on Facebook Marketplace, or dropped off in Nate’s driveway by families desperate to offload them. But while most of the world has moved on, Nate hasn’t. “I just love the sound of a player piano,” he says. It started 10 years ago, when he decided to restore his grandparents’ old piano. He got a hand from a veteran craftsman nearing retirement. Then he just… kept going. Now, with a two-year waitlist and a restoration cost of $18,000 to $20,000 per piano, Nate handles three or four projects a year. These pianos aren’t just furniture. They’re memory machines. “All my customers want to keep their pianos in the family,” Nate says. “Its value is in the sentimentality of it.” ‘Steinhenge’ and the Garden of Ghosts For every piano Nate can save, there are dozens he can’t. But he refuses to let them go unnoticed. Behind the garage, a quirky sculpture garden houses a handful of player pianos too far gone to repair. One has a waterfall built into its frame. Another mimics England’s Stonehenge—Nate calls it Steinhenge. A third looks like it dropped from the sky. “They were all loved at one time,” he says. “If they were not in the garden, they would all be in a landfill." It’s a graveyard, but also a celebration. Hidden Treasures and Dusty Time Capsules Back inside, Nate’s latest project is stripped open. He pulls out the felt-covered action mechanism. “That’s the first time this has been out, maybe since it was put in, in the factory,” he says. Every restoration is like opening a century-old time capsule. Inside these pianos, he’s found stamps, coins, mummified mice, and once, a box of Milk Duds that expired in 1943. He uses an air compressor to clear the dust. “More than 12,000 parts,” he says of each piano. It’s slow work, which makes the payoff even sweeter. For Kathy Mildenberger, who drove in from Colorado with her husband Jim to see their newly restored player piano, it’s not just an heirloom—it’s a bridge across generations. “This is the moment we’ve all waited for,” Nate tells them. Kathy sits down and begins pumping the pedals of her grandmother’s long-silent piano. The music starts. She smiles. “Can’t wait to show it to [our grandchildren],” she says. Rewinding the Reel Thursday nights in Nate’s garage are reserved for something special. The pianos are pushed to the side. Folding chairs appear. A small audience files in—neighbors, friends, fellow enthusiasts. They’ve skipped the Vikings game for something rarer. Nate dims the lights and sits at the crown jewel of his collection: a fully restored Fotoplayer, once used to accompany silent films in theaters. A Buster Keaton film flickers on the screen. As the piano rolls on its own, Nate adds bells, whistles, and sound effects using a series of hand-operated switches. The audience watches him work with rapt attention. It's a performance—and a preservation. “Player pianos weren’t just in homes and restaurants; they were also in movie theaters,” Nate says. Playing the Final Notes—Beautifully High-tech beginnings are exciting. But Nate Otto is making magic out of endings—out of rusted pedals and torn paper rolls, out of pianos people forgot they loved. He can’t save them all. But he’s saving what he can. “Thanks for coming,” Nate tells his guests as they leave, walking past the flickering stove powered by what used to be someone’s family piano. In Nate’s hands, even the end of the story still plays like a song.

Read More

A Drone Just Captured This Family's Magical Christmas Light Display In Brisbane, Australia

In a quiet suburb north of Brisbane, one family’s Christmas lights are lighting up more than just the street — they’re lighting up the internet. Every year, the Stricklands transform their Burpengary East home into a full-blown holiday spectacle, complete with more than 60,000 lights, an 11-metre inflatable Santa, a 3D holographic fan, and moving beam lights that wouldn’t be out of place at a concert. The result? Their house, nicknamed “Merry Strickland,” has become a viral sensation. One TikTok video showcasing the display has racked up nearly 190 million views, drawing fans from around the world and turning the family into unlikely Christmas celebrities. David Strickland, the man behind the magic, told The Courier Mail the display has evolved dramatically over the past four years — and hit “next level” this season. “Aside from all the sacrifice, time and money, it really is the joy it brings,” he said. “I mean, what else can you create that is so magical and brings in so many people?” The house now has nearly 10,000 followers on Facebook, and videos of the display regularly go viral. “We’re building a bit of a profile now,” Strickland said. But behind the sparkle is a serious amount of work. Strickland admits pulling it all together isn’t easy — or cheap. Still, for the joy it brings to others, he says it’s more than worth it. And judging by the crowds who come from miles around to see it, plenty of Aussies agree.

International Jaguar Day Celebrates Year Of Wins For The Big Cat

Every year on November 29, International Jaguar Day shines a spotlight on the world’s third-largest big cat — and the urgent efforts to protect it. Once roaming from the southern U.S. to Argentina, jaguars (Panthera onca) have lost more than half of their historic range due to habitat loss, poaching, and human conflict. But in places where the species was nearly wiped out, signs of hope are emerging. From the forests of Argentina to the pastures of Panama, jaguar numbers are slowly climbing — thanks to a mix of community engagement, conservation science, and a surprising crochet campaign. In 2009, just 11 jaguars were left in Brazil’s Iguaçu National Park, which borders Argentina’s Iguazú National Park. Now, that number has jumped to more than 100 — a massive recovery in just over a decade. The turnaround is the result of long-term conservation work, and one unexpected factor: crochet. The Jaguar Crocheteers project, based near the Brazil-Argentina border, employs more than a dozen local women to crochet jaguar-themed items like dolls, bags, and crafts. Proceeds help fund conservation outreach, but the project also builds local pride and awareness. “It’s not often we’re able to connect people from different towns around a shared cause. But all of them are united by the jaguars,” said Claudiane Tavares, a coordinator for the project. The crafts have become not only a source of income but a symbol of the jaguar’s return. In northern Argentina’s Gran Chaco region, jaguars had vanished from the wild — until now. In August, a local guide spotted a 5-month-old cub near the Bermejo River, the first wild-born jaguar seen in the area in three decades. The cub’s mother, Nalá, was released into the wild a year earlier by Rewilding Argentina as part of a reintroduction program. “It was a wonderful day for me,” said guide Darío Soraire. “I had the incredible luck of seeing Nalá with her cub on the banks of the Bermejo River as I was navigating upstream. I saw them and was struck by their beauty.” For conservationists, the sighting is more than a milestone — it’s proof that efforts to restore jaguars to their former habitats are starting to work. In Panama’s Darién province — a key corridor connecting jaguar populations across the Americas — the stakes are especially high. Jaguars here are critically endangered, with at least 395 killed by ranchers between 1989 and 2023, mostly in retaliation for attacks on livestock. To stop the cycle, a local conservation initiative installed solar-powered electric fences around pastures, protecting cattle and reducing jaguar encounters. The result? Fewer killings — and a shift in perspective. “We need to learn to coexist with nature, not to try to go against it,” said Luis Gutiérrez, a rancher who joined the program. “If we destroy nature, it will charge us with the consequences.” Jaguars are apex predators, playing a vital role in regulating the ecosystems they inhabit. Their recovery is seen as a signal that broader environmental health is improving — but it’s still fragile. Across their remaining range — including strongholds in the Amazon and Brazil’s Pantanal — jaguars continue to face threats from deforestation, road-building, mining, and illegal hunting. But the stories coming out of Argentina, Brazil, and Panama show what’s possible when communities are part of the solution. From crocheted crafts to electric fences to quiet riverside sightings, the jaguar’s comeback is being shaped by people who believe that wild cats and human lives can thrive side by side. And on International Jaguar Day, that belief feels more possible than ever.

Read More

‘Birdgirl’ Marks 10 Years of Breaking Barriers in Nature Access for Minority Youth

When Dr Mya-Rose Craig started speaking out about the lack of diversity in nature spaces, the conversations were often met with discomfort or denial. “I remember when I first started having these conversations, people didn’t want to have them with me,” she said. “It made them very uncomfortable. I think they didn’t want to acknowledge that there was exclusion and racism.” That was a decade ago. Craig was just 13 when she founded Black2Nature, a charity aimed at helping children from Visible Minority Ethnic (VME) communities connect with nature. Now 23, the environmental campaigner and ornithologist — widely known as "Birdgirl" — is reflecting on how far the movement has come. “So much has shifted in the past decade,” she said. “For me, that is really exciting, because I think that is how you build a more sustainable environment, by getting everyone on board.” Making Space in the Outdoors Founded out of Craig’s “very deep love of nature and the environment,” Black2Nature runs outdoor camps, day trips and nature activities for children, young people and families from minority backgrounds. The goal is to break down barriers to accessing the countryside and foster a lifelong connection with the natural world. “A lot of these kids have never been to the countryside, so it’s about breaking down those assumptions,” Craig said. “For a lot of kids that we work with, they feel like the countryside is not a space for them.” The need is real. Research from the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) found that people from ethnic minority communities have, on average, 11 times less access to green space than others in the UK. For families like Kumar Sultana’s, the charity has opened up experiences that would have otherwise been out of reach. “I’m a low-income parent and I can’t afford things like camping,” said the 42-year-old from Bristol. “Some of the places we’ve been, I couldn’t afford to take my kids.” Sultana, who is of Pakistani background, said growing up, camping and outdoor adventures weren’t part of her cultural experience. Now, her children are learning about nature and sustainability in ways she never had. “We don’t have camping in our culture and money is also a barrier to accessing it,” she said. “But through Black2Nature, my kids are getting that connection.” A Decade of Change Craig says the charity has worked with hundreds of young people over the last ten years, creating moments that stick — not just for the children, but for the communities they’re part of. “It’s amazing to look back over the past decade at all the different activities, the lives we’ve changed,” she said. In addition to organising outdoor experiences, Black2Nature campaigns for racial equity in the environmental sector. The organisation wants to see greater representation in green careers, better access to quality nature spaces in cities, and more inclusive environmental education. “There’s very often a class divide in terms of green spaces,” Craig said. “Nicer neighbourhoods have nicer parks. I’d love to see better quality of green spaces in cities.” Looking Ahead To mark its 10-year milestone, Black2Nature will host a conference at the University of the West of England (UWE), focusing on race equity, education, and environmental career pathways. It’s part of a growing effort to push environmental organisations to work more meaningfully with underrepresented communities. Craig hopes the momentum continues — not just in expanding access to nature, but in inspiring the next generation of changemakers. “There’s still a lot of progress to be made,” she said. “But the environment we’re working in now feels very different from where we started. And that gives me hope.”

Read More

This New Decorating Hub Helps Formerly Homeless People Make Their Houses Feel Like Home

A homelessness charity in Colchester, England, has launched a new decorating hub to make home renovations more affordable and accessible—especially for people transitioning out of homelessness. Emmaus, which supports people experiencing housing insecurity, opened the centre in response to what it described as a “particular need” in the local community. The hub offers discounted, eco-friendly paints, rentable decorating equipment, and a dedicated training room where people can learn practical skills. “New homes are often an empty shell and that can be quite overwhelming, especially after a period of homelessness,” said Brian Cook, chief executive of Emmaus Colchester. “Our idea was to see if we could take away some of the pain of that process and make it as cheap as possible.” The paint, priced at just £10 to £15 per tin, is either recycled through Dulux’s “ReColour” programme or donated directly from companies—usually full, unopened tins. The hub is not currently accepting paint donations from the general public. Colchester City Council backed the project, which is aimed not only at people who’ve experienced homelessness but also at low-income renters and tenants moving from temporary accommodation. For many, furnishing and decorating a new place is simply out of reach. That’s something Chris Mengell understands firsthand. A former printer ink salesman, Mengell became homeless in the summer of 2024 and was supported by Emmaus and another local charity, Beacon House. Now 42, he’s running the new decorating hub full-time. “I have now secured a full-time role here, which is me back on my feet thanks to them. Full turnaround — I can't thank them enough,” he said. Mengell says the goal is to help people feel proud of their homes, no matter their background. “If you've been rehoused after being street homeless, why can't you have a nice place and be proud of it?” he said. “It's expensive, it's almost impossible, but you can get grants from the council once you've been rehoused to get paint. And we will be hiring out equipment for people to get started too.” Beyond helping formerly homeless individuals, the hub is open to anyone looking for an affordable, low-waste way to decorate. Mengell said the initiative could appeal to anyone who wants to cut costs or reduce their carbon footprint. “We can't see it being a bad idea. People want to paint their homes — it's very expensive to do that and we're going to be the solution, I hope.” The decorating hub will also serve as a base for local community painting efforts. “If there's a scout hut that needs painting, they can come to us and we'll provide the paint and a group of volunteers to get it done,” Cook said. He added, “What we’ve got on offer is incredible. I’m really proud of what the team has done in getting here.” For people like Mengell, the hub represents more than just paint and rollers — it's a second chance. “They gave me the support I needed when I had nothing,” he said. “Now I get to pass that on.”

Read More

This 9-Year-Old Is Filling a Hospital With Bears — and Joy

In central Ohio, a 9-year-old named Jack is filling his home with teddy bears — and he’s doing it for a reason. What started as a simple idea has grown into a full-scale holiday mission. Jack is collecting stuffed bears to give to kids at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, hoping each one brings a little comfort to young patients spending the holidays away from home. He’s calling it Jack’s Bravery Bears, and his family’s house is now unofficially known as “Teddy Bear HQ.” “It all started when our family volunteered last year making blankets for kids at Nationwide,” Jack said. While helping out, he had a thought — what if the kids had a teddy bear to go with their blanket? That one idea led to his first teddy bear drive, which brought in 445 bears. This year, he’s aiming even higher: 500 bears. And the support has been overwhelming. Friends, classmates, neighbors, church members, and even strangers have chipped in. Bags and boxes of bears now fill the house. Some are store-bought, others donated through his GoFundMe campaign, which helps purchase custom “Jack’s Bravery Bears.” But for Jack, the growing mountain of plush toys is only part of the reward. “They’re going to be so happy,” he said, imagining the smiles on the faces of kids who will receive the bears. Later this month, Jack and his family will deliver them to Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Each bear will be given to a child who could use a lift during a difficult time. His family says every donation helps place “a bear — and a bit of joy — into the arms of a child who needs it most.” Jack is only nine, but he already understands something powerful: a little kindness can go a long way. Especially when it’s soft, cuddly, and wearing a bow.

Read More

New Marsupial Discovered In Peru's Río Abiseo Park, Suggesting More Hidden Species

Brazilian researcher Silvia Pavan set out to find a squirrel that hadn't been seen in 30 years. Instead, she found something else entirely—a new species of marsupial hiding high in the cloud forests of the Peruvian Andes. In 2018, Pavan organized an expedition to Río Abiseo National Park in Peru’s San Martín region. Her goal was to track down a mysterious squirrel first collected in the 1990s but never formally described. That search came up nearly empty—her team only caught a brief glimpse of the animal. But what they did find ended up being just as rare. “Marmosa chachapoya is the first species that we discovered and were able to catalog on this expedition,” Pavan told Mongabay Latam. It's a type of mouse opossum with reddish-brown fur, a long, narrow snout, and a tail longer than its body. It was found at 2,664 metres above sea level in an area known for high endemism but little scientific study. Pavan's team only collected one specimen, due in part to the strict research permit issued by Peru’s protected area authority, SERNANP. The expedition lasted just 15 days, limiting the chances of encountering more individuals. Still, it was enough. Back in Brazil, Pavan and her co-author, Peruvian biologist Pamela Sanchez-Vendizú, conducted genetic testing. They compared their findings with other specimens from museums in Peru and the U.S. to confirm what they suspected. “The DNA of our new species is highly divergent from that of other known species,” Sanchez-Vendizú said. It didn’t just look different—it was genetically unique. The discovery of Marmosa chachapoya was published in the journal American Museum Novitates earlier this year. The researchers describe it as having a “long and narrow rostrum, reddish brown dorsal fur, tail much longer than combined length of head and body, midrostral fur lighter colored than fur of crown, and dark facial mask.” The animal was spotted in a cloud forest region that has barely been surveyed by scientists, despite its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pavan believes there are likely more new species waiting to be described. Her earlier 2024 study in Systematics and Biodiversity noted that 11 out of 16 small mammal species recorded during her expedition had never been seen anywhere else. César Medina, a mammalogist at the Natural History Museum in Arequipa, says that’s not surprising. “Expeditions to these areas almost always turn up something new,” he said. In many cases, it’s insects or plants. But sometimes, like now, it’s a new mammal. Medina explained that the eastern Andes are particularly rich in species because the ecosystem changes rapidly with altitude. “As you ascend the mountain range, the composition of species changes,” he said. “Some are observable at around 2,000 metres, while others are at 800 metres.” But it’s not easy work. “Climbing the Ceja de Selva—the section of the Andes that slopes down toward the Amazon—is like climbing a volcano covered with trees and moss,” Medina said. “There’s no clear path; you have to forge your way with a machete.” One wrong step can be dangerous. “You’re walking along a ridge, and when you look to the right, there’s a canyon about 100 metres deep,” he said. “It’s very challenging terrain, which is why there aren’t many expeditions.” Pavan’s team found at least two more mammals they suspect are also new to science. Those samples are still being analyzed. For now, Marmosa chachapoya is a reminder of what’s still out there—species tucked into hard-to-reach pockets of forest, completely unknown to science. “It’s an area with exceptionally high endemism among small mammals, which has been little studied scientifically,” Pavan said. “There are undoubtedly other species that still need to be described.”

Read More