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 😊

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New Alzheimer’s study shows brain cells can ‘vacuum’ toxic plaques—if given the right boost

In a promising new development for Alzheimer’s research, scientists at Baylor College of Medicine have found a way to supercharge the brain’s own clean-up crew—potentially reversing memory loss and slowing disease progression. The research, published in Nature Neuroscience, focuses on astrocytes, star-shaped brain cells that handle maintenance tasks like clearing out waste and supporting memory. In mice with symptoms similar to Alzheimer’s disease, researchers discovered that a protein called Sox9 can push these cells into overdrive, helping them remove the toxic clumps of amyloid-beta plaques more efficiently. “Most current treatments focus on neurons or try to prevent the formation of amyloid plaques,” said neuroscientist Benjamin Deneen, one of the study’s authors. “This study suggests that enhancing astrocytes’ natural ability to clean up could be just as important.” In Alzheimer’s, the buildup of amyloid-beta plaques is widely believed to damage neurons and lead to cognitive decline. While it’s still debated whether these clumps are a cause or a symptom of the disease, they remain a primary target for many drug therapies. This new study offers a different approach—rather than prevent plaques, it aims to empower the cells responsible for removing them. Lead researcher Dong-Joo Choi, now at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, explained that as the brain ages, astrocytes lose some of their efficiency, but boosting Sox9 levels appeared to reinvigorate them. “As the brain ages, astrocytes show profound functional alterations. However, the role these alterations play in aging and neurodegeneration is not yet understood,” Choi said. The researchers found that increasing Sox9 led to greater expression of a receptor called MEGF10, which astrocytes use to identify and absorb waste—including amyloid-beta. In mouse trials, the animals not only had fewer plaques in their brains, they also performed better in memory and behavioral tests after receiving the treatment. Critically, the study didn’t just look at prevention. The mice used in the trials already had cognitive impairment and plaque build-up, a scenario that mirrors the reality faced by many people already living with Alzheimer’s. “We believe these models are more relevant to what we see in many patients with Alzheimer’s disease symptoms than other models in which these types of experiments are conducted before the plaques form,” Choi said. To confirm the importance of Sox9, the team also genetically engineered mice to remove the protein. Those mice fared worse—showing poorer memory and more plaque accumulation—suggesting that Sox9 isn’t just helpful, it may be essential for astrocyte health in the face of Alzheimer’s. Interestingly, previous research has found elevated levels of Sox9 in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s. That might indicate the brain’s own attempt to fight back against plaque build-up—an effort this new study could help boost or replicate with targeted therapies. While these results are still in the early stages and were tested only in mice, the findings open the door to a new type of treatment—one that doesn’t rely solely on targeting neurons or halting plaque formation, but instead supports the body’s own waste-removal systems. With the field of Alzheimer’s research rapidly expanding, and multiple strategies being explored at once, it’s clear that no single answer will solve this complex disease. But studies like this one bring scientists a step closer to understanding the full picture—and finding new ways to intervene. For now, the next step is translating these findings into human trials, something the researchers hope can happen in the near future.

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8-Year-Old Boy Who Saved His Mum’s Life Turns on Town’s Christmas Lights

Eight-year-old Jacob didn’t just save his mum’s life—he also brought Christmas to his town. The schoolboy was given the honour of switching on the Christmas lights in Loughborough on Friday, weeks after calling an ambulance when his mum, Hollie, collapsed at home in October. Hollie had gone into septic shock, a life-threatening complication of infection that can cause blood pressure to drop to dangerously low levels. She’s now recovering and awaiting surgery, but says she owes everything to her son. “Jacob is a star and I couldn’t be happier for him,” she said. “He’ll never know how grateful I am that he called the ambulance for me, but he knows how proud I am of him for being such a brilliant boy.” Jacob’s quick thinking earned him the top spot in Charnwood Borough Council’s Light Up Loughborough competition, which recognizes local heroes. Council officials praised his bravery and calm response during an emergency. “I don’t think he realises what he did and how important it was,” Hollie told the BBC. That night in October, Jacob didn’t panic. He called emergency services, opened the door for paramedics, and held his mother’s hand until help arrived. “He told me he was scared but he held my hand and sat with me until the ambulance came,” Hollie recalled. “He was watching it the whole time, he didn’t take his eyes off me.” Jacob admitted he was frightened. “It was hard to see Mum that way, but I used courage,” he said. Now fully in the holiday spirit, Jacob stood proudly in the town centre on Friday to flip the switch and light up the town—a symbolic reward for the life-saving act that made him a local hero. It’s not the first time a member of Jacob’s family has taken part in the tradition. His dad, Chris, also helped turn on the lights back in 1998. Now, watching his son take the stage, he said he couldn’t be prouder. “He makes me proud every day, but that was an amazing thing that he did,” the 41-year-old said. As Hollie continues her recovery, Jacob’s actions remain a reminder of just how much can depend on one small person with the courage to act.

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Tattoo Artist Celebrates Young Prodigy by Inking 6-Year-Old's Design

Marlon Blake has spent over a decade inking skin at Iron Palm Tattoo Studio in Atlanta, but he says the work still feels more like play than a job. “I literally get the opportunity to wake up, come to work, draw on people,” he said. “That’s when the job becomes less of a job and more just fun.” But recently, Blake came across a drawing that stopped him in his tracks. “It absolutely blew me away,” he said. The artwork wasn’t from a seasoned tattoo apprentice or a fellow artist—it was from a 6-year-old named Sage Williams. Sage entered Blake’s annual tattoo drawing competition, which invites aspiring artists to submit original designs. The winner’s piece typically gets tattooed on a willing client. But this year, no one volunteered to get Sage’s design. So Blake stepped in himself. “What he submitted was like, okay, this can’t be real,” Blake said. Sage might be small, but his confidence is outsized. “I’m only like 6 years old. I’m only still a kid,” he said. “Yeah! He’s only 6 years old,” Blake echoed, laughing. Art comes naturally to Sage. His dad helps guide him, but Sage is clear about where the talent lies. “I’m just very intelligent,” he said. He’s not wrong. One of his paintings now hangs proudly inside Iron Palm Tattoo Studio, where customers can admire the young artist’s work while they wait for their own designs. “I worked very hard for this,” Sage said. “You just have to practice a lot.” Blake saw something familiar in the boy’s early talent. “Around that age is when I realized that I had the talent as an artist,” Blake said. “Seeing that in that kid, I would like to be a part of his life.” Or maybe, Blake said, it’s Sage who’s become part of his. Blake decided to tattoo Sage’s winning design onto himself, making it a permanent tribute—not just to the drawing, but to the young artist who made it. “This is me begging you, Sage, to take your art serious, follow through with it, don’t look nowhere else,” he told him. It’s a reminder that inspiration can come from anywhere, even from someone who’s still figuring out how to spell "tattoo."

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UK Becomes First Major Economy to Halt New Oil and Gas Licences in North Sea

The UK government has confirmed it will issue no new oil and gas exploration licences in the North Sea, a decision environmental groups are calling historic. In response to the government’s North Sea Future Plan, Greenpeace UK said the move signals a turning point for the country’s energy future and its climate commitments. “Britain has just made history,” said Areeba Hamid, co-executive director of Greenpeace UK. “Closing the door to new exploration marks the beginning of the end of oil and gas in this country. By standing firm on its manifesto promise, the government has shown genuine global climate leadership, making the UK the world’s largest economy to call time on new fossil fuel exploration.” The announcement puts the UK at the forefront of a growing international push to phase out fossil fuels. It comes amid mounting pressure to meet emissions targets and shift to renewable energy, especially as the impacts of the climate crisis become more visible and costly. But while the move to halt new exploration has been praised, Greenpeace also raised concerns about the government’s support for workers currently in the oil and gas industry. “The current plan – and the cash – to support North Sea workers doesn’t go far enough,” Hamid said. “It’s vital they are at the heart of Britain’s transition to a clean-energy superpower, not left behind by it – but a £20 million jobs package doesn’t cut the mustard.” According to Greenpeace, oil and gas production has contributed significantly to both climate breakdown and the UK’s ongoing energy price crisis. The group argues that continued reliance on fossil fuels leaves households vulnerable to volatile prices, while enriching oil giants. “The future of Britain’s energy is and needs to be clean, stable, home-grown renewables – not expensive, volatile, climate-wrecking fossil fuels,” Hamid said. She called on the government to back up its announcement with stronger investment in renewable infrastructure and job training for workers currently in fossil fuel industries. “A fair transition will create thousands of new jobs, strengthen communities, and prove that climate leadership and economic security can go hand in hand.”

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She Delivers Homemade Breakfasts to the Homeless, One Loving Plate at a Time

Every Monday at dawn, 76-year-old Janai Mestrovich is already in the kitchen. By 5 a.m., she’s finishing up scrambled egg and beef burritos, laying out fresh fruit, and adding pastries and sausage to 30 colorful plates — breakfasts made not just to nourish, but to feel like home. For nearly two years, Mestrovich has followed the same early-morning routine, bringing hot meals to people experiencing homelessness in Ashland, Oregon. What began with just a dozen plates has more than doubled as the need has grown. “Homeless people don’t have a lot of choices,” she said. “I do this like I do it for my family. What would I want my family to be receiving?” She makes every plate herself, often staying up the night before to prep ingredients. She shops, cooks, and delivers — all as a one-woman operation, though friends and strangers pitch in by donating food and money. Her goal isn’t just to fill stomachs, but to provide dignity through food that looks and tastes like care. “I want it to be appetizing,” she said. “It’s colorful. It’s something you’d want to eat.” Before she leaves, Mestrovich sings a blessing. “I love my heart and soul. I love all humanity. Join hearts and souls together. Love, peace, and harmony,” she sings, quietly but purposefully, over the trays. Then she heads out to the night lawn — a patch of public space where dozens of people now live in tents, despite the cold and rain. Some come to her car as soon as she pulls up. Others she visits directly, walking from tent to tent, handing out meals, coats, and even toys. She brings a gift for one resident’s child and checks if others have what they need to stay warm. Her colorful hats — a signature accessory — make her easy to spot. But it’s the love in the food and her presence that people remember. “She always brings breakfast made with love,” said one resident. The Monday breakfasts are just one piece of Mestrovich’s volunteer work. She also runs Superkid Power, Inc., a nonprofit that helps children learn compassion and emotional resilience. Each year, she also transforms into the “Christmas Fairy,” giving out toys and clothes during the holidays. Her drive to help others goes back to early childhood. “When I was between two and three years old, I remember hearing a voice — it wasn’t my parents or anything — that said, ‘You were born to help.’ I trust that,” she said. Despite ongoing efforts from volunteers like Mestrovich, homelessness in Ashland remains dire. Many residents, including former healthcare workers like Denise Gerkey, have been living without housing for months or longer. “It’s the most difficult experience of my life,” said Gerkey, who was a radiology technician before becoming homeless. She believes the crisis is being normalized — and ignored. “It’s really not a political issue. It’s not a financial issue. It’s a humanitarian issue,” she said. “And it’s getting out of control.” Ashland is preparing to open a new winter shelter on December 5, operated by Opportunities for Housing, Resources, and Assistance (OHRA). But even with that addition, the city’s year-round 72-bed facility remains full. For many, the night lawn remains their only option. Still, Mestrovich is there, rain or shine, every Monday — showing up, bringing breakfast, and reminding people they haven’t been forgotten. “I have unlimited compassion,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to help. And I always will.”

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Polly the Golden Retriever Honoured After Her Barking Saved Her Owner’s Life

When Hannah Cooke woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of her dog barking, she thought it was just a disturbance. But that bark may have saved her husband’s life. Hannah and her husband Adam, from Ballinamallard in County Fermanagh, are convinced their four-year-old golden retriever Polly sensed something was wrong before anyone else did. Moments after Polly’s bark, Hannah turned to find Adam breathing abnormally. Then he stopped breathing altogether. “I used to be a carer and I’ve been with people at the end of their life, so I know what that end-of-life breathing is like,” she said. “If anyone has heard it, you’ll never hear anything like it.” Despite believing she might be losing him, Hannah acted fast. She began performing CPR until the ambulance arrived. Paramedics shocked Adam with a defibrillator seven times en route to the hospital. He woke up six days later. Adam was just 37 years old and a keen runner. Doctors later diagnosed him with dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition that affects the heart’s ability to pump blood. He now has an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) fitted to help manage his heart rhythm. He credits Hannah’s quick action — and Polly’s warning bark — with saving his life. “Polly is a part of the family, so I just wasn’t shocked when I heard she had such a big role to play,” Adam said. “I cried, I was in tears. I think she was too.” The reunion between Adam and Polly after his time in hospital was, in his words, emotional. “She was whimpering because I think she was thinking, ‘Wow, you’re back home. I didn’t think you’d be back here.’” Hannah believes Polly sensed the cardiac arrest before it was even underway. “She is so in tune with Adam. After she barked, she was silent. I would say Polly knew before it was even happening,” she said. “I love her to bits. She is the best dog in the world.” This week, Polly was honoured with a “CPR Hero” medal as part of the British Heart Foundation’s annual Heart Hero Awards. While she didn’t travel to the ceremony in London, her medal was presented at her favourite walking spot near home. “Neither of us did anything special,” said Hannah, “but we did it together.” The British Heart Foundation hopes stories like Polly’s will encourage more people to learn CPR. “In the UK every year there are 40,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. Fewer than one in ten will survive,” said Fearghal McKinney from the charity. “For every minute that passes after a cardiac arrest, the chances of survival decrease by up to 10 per cent. That’s a vital window, so more people having confidence to intervene will save lives.” Adam nominated both Hannah and Polly for the award. “They are heroes,” he said. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them.” According to dog behaviourist Louise Glazebrook, the instincts Polly showed aren’t entirely surprising. “Dogs are constantly picking up signals from us that we as humans either don’t understand or we don’t see them do it,” she explained. “Dogs have something like 220 million scent receptors and we have around five million.” She added that dogs are already being trained in disease detection — but Polly’s natural reaction was extraordinary. “This is incredible. Polly managed to save a life and change the trajectory of that life forever.” So how is the canine hero handling the fame? “She loves attention, she always has since day one,” Adam said. “In her mind she’s number one — even though we have a son, and another child on the way.” And at home, there’s no doubt who’s in charge. As Hannah puts it, “Polly rules the house.”

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Ke Huy Quan Reflects on 40 Years of The Goonies—And Hints a Sequel Might Be Coming

It’s been 40 years since The Goonies first hit theaters, but Ke Huy Quan says the magic of the film hasn’t faded — and neither has the demand for more. Quan, who played the gadget-loving Data in the beloved 1985 adventure film, says the chemistry between the young cast and the freedom given to them by director Richard Donner were key to the movie’s staying power. “We were just a bunch of kids, and he allowed us to have that and carry [it] over onto the screen,” Quan told GamesRadar+ during a recent press stop in London for Zootropolis 2 (titled Zootopia 2 in the US). “It’s a great movie. When we were making it, we didn’t expect much. We didn’t know it was going to become this classic that it is today.” The Goonies, written by Chris Columbus and produced by Steven Spielberg, followed a ragtag group of kids who discover a treasure map and set off on a quest to save their neighborhood. The ensemble cast included Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman, Jeff Cohen, Martha Plimpton, and Kerri Green — all of whom, like Quan, were relatively unknown at the time. The film has gone on to become one of the most enduring cult classics of the 1980s, with its iconic lines, underground booby traps, and larger-than-life villains forever etched into pop culture. And while there have been whispers of a sequel for years, Quan now says there’s real movement behind the scenes. “Everywhere I go, that’s all people want to know,” he said. “One, ‘What was it like to make the movie?’ Second is, ‘Would there ever be a sequel?’ It’s one of the most asked questions. And, yeah, we’re working on it. So, hopefully we’ll get to make one soon.” A sequel was officially revealed to be in development earlier this year, with Spielberg and Columbus returning as producers. The script is being written by Potsy Ponciroli. No casting or release details have been announced yet. As for Quan, he’s been enjoying a major career resurgence since winning an Oscar for Everything Everywhere All at Once in 2023. His next project is voice acting in Zootropolis 2, where he plays a new character named Gary De’Snake. The animated sequel hits cinemas on November 28 (November 26 in the US). Asked why The Goonies still connects with audiences after four decades, Quan puts it simply: “It’s an incredible story, and it was just this perfect casting of this group of actors that came together. We got along so well.” And with a sequel finally in the works, it looks like the adventure might not be over just yet.

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4,000 Years of Rock Art Reveal Ancient Cultural Continuity in Texas and Mexico

In the rocky canyons of southwestern Texas and northern Mexico, ancient murals painted on cliff walls are telling a story that spans millennia. According to a new study published in Science, these murals — part of what’s known today as the Pecos River style — suggest that hunter-gatherers in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands shared a consistent worldview that endured for roughly 4,000 years. That kind of cultural continuity is almost unheard of. Researchers analyzed murals at 12 archaeological sites in the region and found that the artworks share distinct patterns, symbols, and compositional rules — despite being created across a span of 175 generations. The findings point to a deeply rooted “cosmovision,” or conception of the universe, that was passed down and preserved through this vivid rock art tradition. “We propose that Pecos River style paintings […] faithfully transmitted a sophisticated metaphysics that later informed the beliefs and symbolic expression of Mesoamerican agriculturalists,” the authors wrote. The Pecos River style, or PRS, is a well-known artistic tradition characterized by complex, colorful murals painted in natural rock shelters and overhangs. These pictographs often include stylized human and animal figures, geometric shapes, and abstract designs that may have held religious or ceremonial meaning. To determine just how long this tradition endured, the researchers used two dating techniques: radiocarbon dating and oxalate dating. Radiocarbon dating measured the breakdown of organic materials in the paint — such as deer bone marrow fat and plant-based binders — while oxalate dating measured mineral deposits that formed before and after the paintings were applied. Together, these methods provided a robust timeline. Across the 12 sites, the team gathered 57 radiocarbon dates and 25 oxalate dates, allowing them to construct a chronological model showing the murals were created over thousands of years — and remained stylistically and symbolically consistent throughout. In fact, 8 of the 12 murals analyzed followed the same compositional guidelines, including the sequential layering of colors and the use of a shared iconographic “vocabulary.” These similarities suggest more than just a shared artistic tradition — they hint at a system for transmitting knowledge across time. “Eight of the 12 murals, created at different times, all adhered to the same compositional guidelines,” the authors wrote. “These eight also all contained the same iconographic vocabulary, representing a continuity in cultural cosmovision.” Rock art is one of the oldest forms of human expression, but interpreting its meaning is notoriously tricky. Scholars have long speculated that petroglyphs and pictographs may depict celestial events, myths, or cosmological ideas. This new study adds weight to the theory that some of these murals were used not just for artistic or ritual purposes, but to encode and preserve culturally significant ideas — a kind of visual language spanning millennia. The study’s findings may also contribute to broader discussions about the existence of a shared pan-Mesoamerican — or even pan-New World — worldview among early Indigenous societies in the Americas. While the true meanings behind the images may never be fully understood, what’s clear is that the murals in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands weren’t random. They were deliberate, patterned, and remarkably enduring. Through droughts, migrations, and countless generational shifts, the artists of the Pecos River style kept painting — and in doing so, kept their universe alive on stone.

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San Diego Shelter Serves Thanksgiving Meals to 400 Rescue Pets in ‘Barks-Giving’ Celebration

While most people were sitting down to turkey and stuffing with family on Thanksgiving, a group of rescue animals in San Diego were treated to a feast of their own — complete with tail wags and second helpings. On November 27, the San Diego Humane Society marked the holiday by serving 400 homemade “Barks-giving” meals to dogs and cats in their care. With roughly 1,400 animals on site over the weekend, it was a massive undertaking, but staff and volunteers made it happen with help from Lionel’s Legacy and their partner program, Lionel’s Lunchbox. The menu? A surprisingly pet-friendly twist on the traditional Thanksgiving plate: turkey, green beans, sweet potatoes, rice, and even beets for the dogs. The shelter said each meal was carefully crafted to be safe and nutritious for the animals, using fresh greens and protein to give the dishes both flavor and health benefits. The team prepared 350 meals for dogs and 50 for cats, who were understandably cautious at first — but most warmed up to the idea pretty quickly. “The dogs devoured the food, and most ate it within seconds,” one shelter staffer said. “While some cats hesitated, most eventually agreed that Thanksgiving meals are tasty.” The gesture was more than just a fun holiday activity. For pets still waiting for permanent homes, it was a reminder that they’re not forgotten. “On a day when it would be so easy to step away, San Diego Humane Society’s team and Lionel’s Legacy chose to show up with compassion,” a spokesperson said. “These Thanksgiving meals remind every pet in our care that they are valued, and they remind all of us what true generosity looks like.” Lionel’s Legacy is a nonprofit that specializes in rescuing senior dogs across Southern California. Through Lionel’s Lunchbox, they help deliver nutritious meals to pets in need — and on Thanksgiving, that generosity went a long way. “We are grateful to Lionel’s Legacy for their generosity and continued dedication to helping senior dogs and shelter pets throughout our region,” the shelter said in a statement. With full bellies and plenty of love, the rescue animals got a holiday to remember — one that felt a little bit more like home.

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Volunteers are Creating Artificial Snow Drifts To Save Endangered Seals In Finland

Each winter for the past 12 years, teams of volunteers have bundled up and braved the freezing winds of Finland’s Lake Saimaa — not for sport or adventure, but to help one of the rarest seal species on Earth survive. The Saimaa ringed seal, found only in this icy lake system in southeastern Finland, is critically endangered. For thousands of years, the seals survived harsh winters by burrowing birth dens into the deep, powdery snowdrifts that formed naturally along the shoreline. But in recent decades, climate change has thrown that survival strategy into question. “The seal gives birth in a lair it digs into a snowbank,” said Joonas Fritze, a project officer with WWF Finland. “If there aren’t any snow banks, the pups are born on open ice and don’t have any protection against predators, cold, and human disturbance. Up to half of the pups could die.” To prevent that, volunteers and scientists are stepping in to do what nature no longer reliably can: build snowbanks by hand. Armed with shovels and small snowplows, the teams spend long hours sculpting artificial snowdrifts in secluded areas of the frozen lake. It’s labor-intensive work — but it’s working. Roughly half the Saimaa seal population born since 2014 has come from these man-made shelters, according to MIT Technology Review. That’s around 320 pups that might not have survived otherwise. The Saimaa ringed seal population has rebounded to an estimated 400 individuals, up from a low of just 100 in the 1980s. The recovery has been bolstered not just by snowbank construction, but by strict protections: bans on gill net fishing, an end to hunting, and efforts to reduce pollution in the lake. The artificial snow lairs are part of what researchers are calling “interspecies co-design” — a collaborative strategy between humans and wildlife to adapt to a changing climate. The project involves researchers at the University of Eastern Finland, Metsähallitus (the country’s national parks agency), and WWF, among others. It’s a win for now. But no one is pretending this is a permanent solution. “It’s great that we can help an endangered species like this,” Fritze said. “But at the same time, we need a long-term plan, which includes taking quick action on climate change.” As winters grow shorter and snow becomes less reliable, efforts like this one on Lake Saimaa may become increasingly common — urgent attempts to buy time for species at risk, until larger climate action can catch up. For the Saimaa seal, that time — and those snowbanks — might be the difference between survival and extinction.

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