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After 16 Years of Renovations, the Palace of Alexander the Great Has Reopened
After 16 years of meticulous renovations, the grand palace of Phillip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, has reopened in Macedonia as an archaeological museum, revealing a historic marvel almost comparable in size to the US Capitol building. The restoration showcases breathtaking column-rimmed courtyards, mosaic floors, and significant chambers. Now part of a UNESCO Heritage Site, the museum houses invaluable relics from Phillip's tomb and offers visitors a captivating journey into a pivotal era of ancient history.
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How A Miami Startup Is Giving Old Shoes A Second Life
At the Brickell Run Club in Miami, Florida, runners are doing more than just hitting the pavement; they're giving their old sneakers a new lease on life. A donation box at the club invites members to recycle used shoes that might otherwise end up in landfills. "Typically, on a weekly basis, we'll probably get, I don't know, maybe 20 pairs of running shoes that people have decided to part ways with," said Frankie Ruiz, the club's founder. "We collect them every week. We fill up one of these boxes, typically, once or twice a month." These shoes are collected by Sneaker Impact, a for-profit recycling company based near Miami's Little Haiti neighborhood. The company sorts the footwear to be either reused or recycled based on its condition. "It's all about accountability, sending the right product to the right market," said Moe Hachem, Sneaker Impact founder and CEO. "Sneakers are a necessity in the developing world. They are a form of transportation." Reusable shoes are shipped outside of the U.S., where they find new homes through small shops in countries like Haiti and Bolivia. "You're not only reducing waste here at home; you are creating microbusiness opportunities in a developing country," Hachem added. Shoes unsuitable for resale are repurposed into materials like foam and rubber for products such as flooring and tiles. "We've also made a sandal from 85% sneaker foam," Hachem noted. Hachem emphasized his mission is environmentally driven: "This is important; there is no planet B." He hopes other companies will follow suit because "the only competition we have is landfills."
Score (96)
Can 'Smelling Gel' Be The Key To Reviving Our Dying Coral Reefs?
As ocean temperatures rise, coral reefs face an uncertain future. However, a team of researchers at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography is offering hope with an innovative solution to help repopulate these vital ecosystems. Marine biologist Daniel Wangpraseurt and his team have developed SNAP-X, a gel designed to encourage coral larvae to settle on degraded reefs. "I’m over hearing that corals are dying — I’m more interested in what we can do about it," Wangpraseurt said. Coral larvae are selective about where they attach, often guided by chemical cues from healthy reefs. The SNAP-X gel contains nanoparticles that release these chemical signals slowly, mimicking the scent of a thriving reef. "With SNAP-X, we created a material that releases chemical cues that tell coral larvae this is a good place to live," Wangpraseurt explained. The research team collaborated with the university’s Jacobs School of Engineering to create this breakthrough. They incubated algae samples from Hawaii's Kaneohe Bay and extracted molecules to be placed inside silica-based nanoparticles. These were then suspended in a liquid gel that solidifies under UV light. In lab experiments, the application of SNAP-X increased coral larvae settlement by up to 20 times compared to untreated surfaces. The gel's effects last for up to a month, allowing restoration experts to time its use with coral spawning events. Wangpraseurt sees potential for broader applications: "Imagine you are able to bottle healthy reef scent and then you could spray it onto any kind of substrate." The research was published in Trends in Biotechnology and offers promising avenues for future studies and commercial development through Hybrid Reef Solutions. “We want these materials to be used and have a big impact,” Wangpraseurt said.
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Score (95)
Fisherman Finds a Century-Old Shipwreck in Lake Michigan's Mysterious Fog
A foggy fishing trip on Lake Michigan turned into a historical discovery for Wisconsin angler Christopher Thuss, who stumbled upon the wreck of a tugboat submerged for over a century. The Wisconsin Historical Society confirmed that Thuss found the J.C. Ames, an abandoned tugboat built in 1881 by Rand and Burger shipbuilding company in Manitowoc. Maritime Archaeologist Tamara Thomsen explained that the J.C. Ames was once one of the largest and most powerful tugs on the Great Lakes, boasting a 670-horsepower engine. Originally designed to move lumber, it also transported railway cars before being scuttled in 1923 after falling into disrepair. The wreckage lay hidden beneath sand until recent storms revealed its presence near Manitowoc's shoreline. "These kinds of discoveries are always so exciting because it allows a piece of lost history to resurface," Thomsen said. "We are grateful that Chris Thuss noticed the wreck and reported it so we can share this story with the Wisconsin communities that this history belongs to." This find adds to recent maritime discoveries in Lake Michigan, including the John Evenson towing tug and schooner Margaret A. Muir found by historians Brendon Baillod and Bob Jaeck, as well as other significant shipwrecks uncovered over the past year. Experts estimate more than 6,000 ships have sunk in the Great Lakes since the late 1600s, with many still waiting to be discovered before invasive quagga mussels destroy them. Thomsen emphasized how these finds connect communities with their maritime heritage: "It sat there for over a hundred years and then came back on our radar completely by chance."
Score (97)
School Newspapers Around the World Are Teaming Up To Recover From Wildfires
A wildfire that swept through California left a high school newsroom in ruins, but help arrived from an unexpected source—across the country. Claire Smith, founding executive director of Temple University's sports media center, reached out to her longtime friend Lisa Nehus Saxon, the journalism adviser at Palisades Charter High School. The two women have supported each other since their early days as pioneering female journalists in Major League Baseball. Smith traveled from Philadelphia to deliver a special edition of The Temple News featuring articles by the high school students. The insert included stories on post-wildfire price gouging and the return to in-person classes, along with personal accounts and creative works by students affected by the fire. The January wildfires devastated Los Angeles, destroying nearly 17,000 structures, including homes and schools. At Palisades Charter High School, about 40 percent of the campus was damaged. Many students lost their homes and had to relocate. This collaborative project aimed to provide a platform for students to share their experiences while offering them a tangible keepsake. "I thought it would be healing for them," Smith said. In Santa Monica on Wednesday, Smith and Samuel O’Neal, editor-in-chief of The Temple News, distributed copies of the paper to the high school staff. For many students like Kate Swain and Gigi Appelbaum, seeing their work in print was surreal and meaningful. Appelbaum noted how special it felt that people across the country cared about their situation. She plans to preserve her copy as she rebuilds her life after losing everything in the fire.
Score (97)
How A New Breakthrough Could Solve A Billion-Dollar Problem
Researchers have made strides in improving crop yields by tackling the challenges of photorespiration, a process that can reduce productivity by up to 36 percent. A team from the University of Groningen and Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf is working on innovative technologies as part of the GAIN4CROPS project to address this issue. According to INSociety, inefficiencies in photorespiration cost billions annually in agricultural productivity. "Our work shows that overcoming photorespiration through engineered pathways can provide a dual benefit: increasing carbon fixation while reducing energy losses," said Matthias Heinemann, a professor at the University of Groningen. This advancement could lead to crops that are more productive and better suited for changing climates and global food demands. Published in Science Advances, the study used mathematical models to explore 12 pathways for improving photorespiration. Researchers focused on pathways that enhance carbon fixation, converting inorganic carbon dioxide into organic compounds like sugar. The findings indicated that alternative carbon-fixing pathways could boost carbon export by about 20 percent, with one pathway, called TaCo, showing promise for yield improvement. Environmental factors such as light intensity and carbon dioxide availability influenced these pathways' effectiveness. The research aims to genetically engineer crops with reduced photorespiration losses, optimizing them for higher yields and contributing significantly to food security amid climate change. "With the ability to more rationally engineer alternative photorespiratory pathways into suitable crops and identify their optimal growing conditions, our work will hopefully contribute to realizing the maximum impact of alternative photorespiratory pathways for improving crop yields," said Andreas Weber, coordinator of GAIN4CROPS.
Score (98)
A Heroic Firefighter Just Rescued 3 Sleeping Brothers from a Blaze
Three brothers narrowly escaped a house fire on the Okanese First Nation in Saskatchewan, thanks to the quick actions of their friend and firefighter, James Dieter. On the morning of May 10, after staying up all night monitoring a nearby blaze, Trey, Trevor, and Tristan Walker fell asleep believing the danger had passed. However, the fire unexpectedly jumped a back burn set by firefighters. Dieter, who is also a band councillor for the First Nation, arrived at the scene to find flames engulfing the west side of their home. Despite firefighters being present outside, no one had checked inside. "I know the people who live there. The boys are my good friends," Dieter said. He kicked open the locked door and found his friends still asleep inside. Within minutes of waking them and getting them out safely, their home was completely consumed by fire. The brothers' mother, Loretta Walker, was not home at the time. Although overwhelmed by events and unavailable for an interview, cousin Connie Walker expressed gratitude on behalf of her family: "We want to thank all of the volunteer firefighters who worked so hard and we are especially grateful to James for his bravery." The brush fire began five days earlier and saw efforts from multiple communities, including Peepeekisis Cree Nation and Star Blanket Cree Natio,n among others. The Walkers' home was unfortunately the only one lost in this incident. "All the communities came together and fought the fire," Dieter noted. "It was just awesome to have all that help and support." Okanese First Nation is located about 100 kilometers northeast of Regina.
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Rescuers are Wearing Bear Suits To Help Orphaned Cubs Get Ready For the Wild
California wildlife experts have taken an unusual approach to raising a tiny orphaned bear cub by donning bear suits. The two-month-old male cub was found by campers in Los Padres National Forest on April 12. Wildlife officials initially tried to reunite him with his mother, leaving him overnight in the area, but she never returned. With no sign of the mother nearby, the cub was brought to the Ramona Wildlife Center two days later in a fragile state. After 30 days of care, he is now eating well, gaining weight, and showing playful behavior. "He was extremely fragile when he arrived," said Autumn Welch, Wildlife Operations Manager at San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center. "But now, he’s active, eating well and gaining weight steadily.” This cub is the youngest black bear ever cared for by the organization and one of only four this young to enter rehabilitation in California over the past five years. Due to his age, he will likely remain under care for up to a year. If another orphaned cub is rescued in the state, they may be paired together—a technique used to prevent imprinting on humans and prepare them for life back in the wild. "This is a very unusual case," Welch noted. "We don’t often see bears this young without their mother. It’s an honor to care for him, but it’s also a significant commitment."
Score (95)
Eurovision Unveiled: What Makes This Pop Extravaganza A Must-Watch?
As the 69th Eurovision Song Contest gears up for its grand finale in Basel, Switzerland, excitement is in the air. This Saturday, musical acts from 26 countries will light up the stage at St. Jakobshalle arena, vying for the coveted title of continental champion. Eurovision has been a beloved spectacle since 1956, often described as Europe's biggest cultural event. "It’s not just about the show and glitter," said Dean Vuletic, a Eurovision historian. "People see it as a reflection of Europe’s zeitgeist." This year, 37 countries entered the contest, but only 26 remain after public voting in the semifinals earlier this week. The host nation, Switzerland and the “Big Five” — France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K. — automatically secured spots in the final. Among this year's favorites are Sweden's KAJ with "Bara Bada Bastu," Dutch singer Claude with "C’est La Vie," Austria's JJ with "Wasted Love," and Israel's Yuval Raphael with "New Day Will Rise." The lineup also includes diverse acts like Lithuanian emo rockers Katarsis and Ukrainian prog rockers Ziferblat. While Eurovision is known for its campy Europop hits like “La, La, La,” it has also launched stars such as ABBA and Celine Dion. This year features songs in a record 20 languages. The winner will be determined by a mix of global phone votes and music-industry juries from each participating country. As results roll in on Saturday at 1900 GMT (3 p.m. EDT), tensions will rise until one act claims victory.
Score (93)
Sunny And Gizmo, Big Bear's Internet Stars, Are Ready To Take Flight!
Sunny and Gizmo, the eaglets captivating audiences worldwide, are on the brink of their first flight. At around 10 weeks old, these young bald eagles from Big Bear Valley in Southern California are preparing to fledge, according to Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), a nonprofit that streams live footage of the birds. In recent weeks, Sunny and Gizmo have been strengthening their bond with each other and their parents, Jackie and Shadow. They've been busy building their nest and sharing meals. "Sunny and Gizmo practiced stealing fish from each other but also continued to remain civil and share their meals," FOBBV shared on Facebook. The eaglets are honing essential skills like self-feeding by "unzipping fish." The nonprofit told "Good Morning America" that Sunny and Gizmo have grown almost as large as Shadow. "We are watching how the parents and the chicks prepare for flight and life outside of the nest," said an FOBBV representative. The eaglets' curiosity is growing daily, along with their physical prowess. Their 'wingersizes'—exercises to build flying muscles—are paying off; Sunny has already hovered for about half a minute. This fledgling process will continue over the next month. Sunny and Gizmo were named following a contest that drew over 54,000 submissions after they hatched in early March. Their journey has captured hearts since Jackie and Shadow's previous eggs failed to hatch in 2023.
Score (95)
'You Are My Heroes': Soccer Star Reunites With The People Who Saved His Life
Michail Antonio, the 35-year-old West Ham striker, is on a journey of recovery and reflection after a life-altering car crash nearly six months ago. The accident left him with a broken leg and a challenging path back to fitness. Now, he's up and walking, continuing his rehabilitation after his Ferrari skidded off the road in Epping Forest. Antonio recently revisited the events of that fateful day with BBC One's Morning Live. He met with Essex and Herts Air Ambulance paramedics Rob Moon and Dr. James Moloney, who were among the first responders. "I want to say thank you," Antonio expressed to them. "You saved my life, so you guys are basically my heroes." The Jamaican international was trapped in his car until the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service freed him for ambulance care. Despite having no memory of the crash, he learned from Moloney that he was speaking post-incident: "Yes, you were incredibly repetitive... but that happens when people bump their head." Antonio also connected with Trish Burton from the air ambulance's patient and family team, acknowledging how his loved ones endured more than he did during his hospital stay. Reflecting on mental health challenges exacerbated by his injury lay-off, Antonio has become an advocate for therapy. He shared insights from past counseling sessions on the High Performance Podcast in May last year. In conversation with former footballer Clarke Carlisle, who has faced similar struggles, Antonio resonated with Carlisle’s experiences of mental health stigma: "I definitely could feel what he was saying because that's what I had to experience when I was younger."