Goodable

In a picturesque town on the western coast of Ireland, Maureen Flavin Sweeney's dreams took an unexpected turn towards history-making events. Set against the stunning backdrop of Belmullet in County Mayo, she found love with a lighthouse keeper and started a family that would play a crucial role in shaping world events.

The humble Blacksod Lighthouse may not offer sweeping ocean views, but its strategic location at Europe's edge made it pivotal for D-Day planners. When June 4th, 1944 rolled around, Maureen delivered a weather report that altered the course of history with joyous implications. As preparations for Operation Overlord were underway across southern England, her reports became essential in confirming favorable conditions.

Despite challenging weather patterns leading up to June 6th - when D-Day was set to unfold - hope remained high thanks to Maureen's accurate updates from afar. The monumental invasion involved troops from various nations banding together against Nazi forces and marked a turning point in World War Two's timeline. With careful consideration for ideal tides and moon phases needed for success, every detail mattered as they awaited their moment.

As Group Captain Stagg received confirmation from Belmullet about improving weather conditions just before Eisenhower gave the green light on June 5th - everything fell into place perfectly due to Maureen’s vital contributions! Her simple yet critical observations allowed thousands of aircrafts and vessels along with brave soldiers to embark on this historic mission successfully despite earlier setbacks caused by inclement weather.

Ultimately revealing her role years later after being recognized by US officials posthumously highlights how one small Irish town played such an outsized part during WWII! In essence: It goes without saying that had it not been for Ted &amp; Maureen Sweeney keeping watch over those skies so many miles away – who knows what might have happened?

Meet the Irish Lighthouse Keeper Who Gave D-Day the Go-Ahead

People

Annabelle Stafford-Johnson, an Ireland native, took a life-changing leap when she left for Greece in June 2021. Initially planning just a month of island hopping after finishing chemotherapy for lymphoma, her travel plans evolved into something much bigger. By January 2024, she found herself co-founding a hostel in Cambodia with three Australians she met while working seasonally in Greece.

At just 19, Stafford-Johnson had already faced significant challenges. Her battle with cancer during the pandemic paused her education and shifted her perspective on life. "When you experience what it's like to have your freedom taken away... it's a very unique and revelatory experience," she explained to PEOPLE.

Her travels eventually led her to Koh Rong Island in Cambodia, where the idea of opening The Wavy Sailor began to take shape. The decision was impulsive but felt right; Annabelle used every cent she had—$2,000—to secure the deposit on a bungalow that would become the hostel's home.

The early days were chaotic. After securing the lease, Annabelle returned briefly to Ireland to work at a bar and gather funds before heading back to Greece for more seasonal work. By April 2024, she and her partners took over the hostel. They rebranded it as The Wavy Sailor later that year.

The Wavy Sailor caters primarily to young backpackers who want both relaxation and adventure. "We love to throw a party... but it's also the place where you can just come with your book and have a smoothie bowl and tan all day," Annabelle said.

The location is vibrant but not without its quirks, like local monkeys that sometimes invade balconies or geckos that help keep the mosquito population down. Despite these challenges, Annabelle embraces them as part of living on this tropical island.

Social media has played a key role in their success; Instagram Reels often go viral, helping spread word of mouth about the hostel. A little over a year since opening its doors, The Wavy Sailor has welcomed many guests who share their stories with each other.

Ownership recently changed from four partners to two, including Stafford-Johnson and one Australian friend who owned an adjacent bar back in Greece. Yet despite these changes or perhaps because of them, the spirit remains strong among those involved from day one.

Reflecting on how far she's come since leaving Ireland behind for this unexpected path filled with highs and lows alike, Annabelle says: "Life just felt much lighter after feeling so heavy for such a long time."

From Chemo to Cambodia: How One Woman Beat Cancer and Built a New Life Abroad

In a dramatic rescue amid devastating floods in Central Texas, Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan helped save 165 people at Camp Mystic. On Friday, July 4, the 26-year-old found himself on his first mission when he responded to deadly flooding sweeping across the region.

Ruskan was on duty at the U.S. Coast Guard's Air Station Corpus Christi when his team received the call. The flight to Hunt, Texas, typically an hour-long journey, turned into a grueling seven to eight hours due to severe weather conditions. Once they arrived at Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River, it became clear that immediate action was necessary.

"We decided to leave me on scene at Camp Mystic," Ruskan explained. "That was kind of our main triage site we were trying to help out with." With approximately 200 people—mostly children—stranded and terrified, Ruskan took charge of coordinating their evacuation.

Working alongside the United States Army National Guard, Ruskan established two landing zones, one on an archery field and another on a soccer field, to facilitate helicopter rescues. Guiding groups of 10 to 15 children and adults at a time, he focused on getting them to safer areas with more first responders.

Reflecting on his training just six months prior, Ruskan said he relied heavily on those skills during this chaotic rescue operation. "Coast Guard rescue swimmers get some of the highest level training in the world," he noted. Despite being hailed as a hero for his actions, Ruskan shifted praise onto others: "The real heroes were the kids on the ground."

Efforts continue to support victims and recovery operations following this natural disaster that has left a profound impact on Central Texas communities.

This Rookie Coast Guard Hero Just Saved 165 People During the Texas Flooding

BBC News

Visitors to Paignton Zoo in Devon have an exciting opportunity to see two new residents, Diego and Baroo, a pair of rare grey-handed night monkeys. These nocturnal creatures recently arrived from a zoo in Wales and are settling into their new habitat, which they will share with Myrtle the armadillo.

Diego, 11, and Baroo, 8, are expected to gradually adjust to a nocturnal schedule at the zoo. According to Nadia Gould, mammals team leader at Paignton Zoo, early mornings and late afternoons could be the best times for visitors to catch them in action. "We're absolutely delighted to welcome Diego and Baroo to our zoo family," Gould said. "Grey-handed night monkeys are fascinating creatures that most people never get the chance to see."

The introduction of Diego and Baroo is part of a broader conservation effort. The grey-handed night monkey is classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Native to the forests of Colombia and Venezuela, their populations have been declining due to habitat loss.

Gould emphasized the importance of conservation efforts for these animals. "Their nocturnal nature and vulnerable conservation status make them particularly special," she noted. "We're proud to play a role in their conservation through the European Endangered Species Programme."

Meet Diego and Baroo: Rare Nocturnal Monkeys Debut at Devon Zoo

Dozens of endangered rat-kanagroos were released into the wild in a conservation milestone, according to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC).

AWC transferred 140 of the marsupials, known as woylies, outside of “a feral-predator-free fenced area,” where they were initially reintroduced in 2015 after an absence from Western Australia’s Wheatbelt of more than 100 years.

In 2015, 162 woylies were introduced to a fenced-in area “cleared of all foxes and cats.” Over the next decade, the population flourished, surpassing 1,000, the group said.

Foxes and cats are “the primary driver of native mammal extinctions and ongoing declines in Australia,” AWC said.

“While it is risky to release a predator-prone species such as the woylie into an area where cats are present, we sometimes have to take well-considered risks to advance conservation,” AWC chief executive Tim Allard said.

“We have evidence from previous releases of other species, and from monitoring the outcomes of predator control on the release site, to suggest that woylies have a good chance of establishing outside the fence.”

Footage released by AWC shows woylies being released outside the fenced area.

Dozens of endangered rat-kanagroos were released into the wild in a conservation milestone, Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) said on July 7.AWC transferred 140 of the marsupials, known as woylies, outside of “a feral-predator-free fenced area,” where they were initially reintroduced in 2015 after an absence from Western Australia’s Wheatbelt of more than 100 years.In 2015, 162 woylies were introduced to a fenced-in area “cleared of all foxes and cats.” Over the next decade, the population flourished, surpassing 1,000, the group said.Foxes and cats are “the primary driver of native mammal extinctions and ongoing declines in Australia,” AWC said.“While it is risky to release a predator-prone species such as the woylie into an area where cats are present, we sometimes have to take well-considered risks to advance conservation,” AWC chief executive Tim Allard said.“We have evidence from previous releases of other species, and from monitoring the outcomes of predator control on the release site, to suggest that woylies have a good chance of establishing outside the fence.”Footage released by AWC shows woylies being released outside the fenced area.

This Bouncing Rat-Kangaroos Was Just Released Into the Wild in a Conservation Milestone

ABC News

In Johannesburg, Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela is making her mark on the beer industry. As South Africa's first Black female craft brewery owner, she's teaching others the art of brewing at her microbrewery in Wynberg. Her mission? To open up the country's lucrative beer sector to more Black people and women.

Nxusani-Mawela operates Brewsters Academy, where she guides students through the nuances of beer crafting. Thirteen young graduates, mostly women with backgrounds in chemical engineering, biotechnology, or analytical chemistry, are learning from her. For six months, they explore various beer styles before moving into work placements for hands-on experience.

Lerato Banda, a 30-year-old chemical engineering student at the University of South Africa, finds excitement in the mashing process. "It’s where the beer and everything starts," she says. Mashing involves mixing crushed grains with hot water to release sugars that will later ferment into alcohol.

Nxusani-Mawela's interest in brewing began when she attended a university open day in Johannesburg. Armed with a microbiology degree, she started brewing as an amateur in 2007. "I sort of fell in love with the combination of the business side with the science," she explains.

Located between Alexandra township and Sandton’s financial district, her Tolokazi brewery symbolizes bridging gaps—cultural and economic—in South Africa's male-dominated brewing industry. The industry supports over 200,000 jobs and contributes €4.9 billion to South Africa’s GDP.

Nxusani-Mawela aims to ensure that she's not just a trailblazer but also a catalyst for change. "Brewsters Academy for me is about transforming the industry," she says. Her goal is for both Black people and women to become common figures within it.

Some students view their education as reclaiming tradition; Lehlohonolo Makhethe notes that women historically brewed beer in African cultures: "How it got male dominated, I don’t know."

While teaching contemporary techniques at Brewsters Academy, Nxusani-Mawela also preserves traditional African beers like Umqombothi—a creamy brew made from maize and sorghum malt—by blending them with international styles like Belgian Saison.

Her product line includes inventive flavors like marula fruit and rooibos bush-infused beers which have garnered fans even among non-beer drinkers like Lethabo Seipei Kekae: “Who could have thought of rooibos beer? It’s so smooth.”

With these efforts, Nxusani-Mawela ensures that future generations will remember African heritage while embracing new opportunities in brewing.

Meet South Africa's First Black Female Brewery Owner Inspiring the Next Generation

Science Daily

Our brains are pretty clever when it comes to making decisions, often basing them on direct associations with the world around us. But have you ever wondered how we navigate situations that seem totally unrelated at first? A new study from researchers at Hospital del Mar Research Institute sheds some light on this fascinating process.

The team, led by PhD student José Antonio González Parra and supervised by Dr. Arnau Busquets, explored how our brains create indirect associations between different stimuli. They focused on mice to uncover the mechanics of these decision-making processes.

In a series of experiments, mice learned to associate certain smells with specific tastes. For instance, they linked the smell of banana with a sweet taste and almond with a salty one. Later, researchers introduced a negative stimulus associated with the banana scent. The result? The mice started steering clear of the sweet taste altogether because it was indirectly tied to something unpleasant through its connection to the banana smell.

Dr. Busquets explained, "They formed an indirect association between the sweet taste and the aversive stimulus through its link to a specific smell." This suggests that our brains can make decisions based on indirect relationships in our environment.

So where does all this happen in the brain? According to their findings, it's largely about the amygdala—a region already known for handling emotions like fear and anxiety and playing roles in mental disorders such as PTSD and psychosis. By using genetic techniques delivered via viral vectors, researchers watched which parts of the brain lit up during these associations.

The study also highlighted other brain areas working alongside the amygdala. Imaging techniques showed these regions interacting with parts of the cerebral cortex. "We have identified a brain circuit that controls associations between stimuli," said Dr. Busquets. They further discovered that if they inhibited activity in the amygdala while exposing mice to stimuli, those indirect associations couldn't form.

Dr. Busquets believes these findings could have implications for humans too. Since humans share similar brain circuits with mice for decision-making processes, this research might help in developing treatments for mental disorders linked to amygdala activity.

"Alterations in these indirect associations form the basis of various mental disorders," he pointed out. Understanding these complex cognitive processes could lead to therapeutic strategies like brain stimulation or modulation for people dealing with PTSD or psychotic symptoms.

With this groundbreaking research shedding light on how we link seemingly unrelated experiences, scientists move closer to crafting effective interventions for mental health challenges rooted in our neural circuitry.

The Surprising Power of Scent: How a Simple Aroma Can Transform Your Mind

Virtual forest bathing might sound like an odd concept, but researchers are finding it could help improve emotional well-being. In Japan, the practice of Shinrin Yoku, or forest bathing, has long been used to lower stress and blood pressure. Researchers wanted to see if these benefits could be replicated in a virtual setting.

The study took place in a stunning 360-degree VR video shot in Europe's largest Douglas fir forest at the Sonnenberg nature reserve near Parchim. The experience was enriched with original sounds and scents from Douglas fir essential oils. Participants were immersed in this virtual environment to test if engaging multiple senses would enhance the effects.

More than 130 participants first went through a stress-inducing task before donning VR glasses for one of four different virtual forest experiences. These variations included full sensory immersion with images, sounds, and scents, or single-sense stimuli—visual, auditory, or olfactory—while minimizing other sensory inputs. Results showed that combining all three senses led to better mood improvements and increased feelings of connection with nature compared to just one sense alone.

In addition to enhancing mood, there were also some gains in working memory capabilities. However, the researchers caution that these effects might not be universally applicable across different settings. They emphasize the need for further studies involving larger groups to understand how virtual nature experiences can aid emotional recovery.

Leonie Ascone from the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf notes that digital nature experiences have real emotional impacts but don't fully replace real-world nature interactions. Simone Kühn from the Max Planck Institute for Human Development suggests multisensory VR applications hold promise for places where access to nature is limited—like clinics or urban areas—as they can boost mental well-being through natural imagery and sounds.

Kühn's recent work with colleagues demonstrates how watching nature videos can even reduce perceived physical pain levels. As technology advances, it's fascinating to see how virtual environments might play a role in supporting mental health inside hospitals and bustling city centers alike.

Can a Multisensory VR Forest Reboot Your Brain and Boost Your Mood?

Space

Mars isn't just the Red Planet. A new photo from the European Space Agency (ESA) reveals a swirl of yellows, oranges, and browns that paint Mars with an Earth-like palette. Captured by ESA’s Mars Express orbiter, this image highlights Arcadia Planitia, an area of great scientific interest due to its potential for past water and future human habitation.

Arcadia Planitia is located northwest of some of the tallest volcanoes in our solar system. This region features solidified lava flows that are up to 3 billion years old. Scientists believe it could contain water ice close to the surface, making it a key focus for planning future missions to Mars.

The image also captures four dust devils—small columns of swirling wind—moving across the terrain. These phenomena occur when the Martian surface heats the air above it, causing it to rise and carry dust along its path. In the photo, these dust devils appear as whitish puffs near the center.

A significant impact crater can be seen in the lower right corner of the image. It measures about 15 kilometers across and shows evidence of layered material around it. This suggests that water ice was present during its formation, which likely occurred relatively recently in geological terms.

If you notice a blur in the image, you're seeing the effect of Martian winds at work. These winds pick up tiny particles from the surface, creating a slight visual haze. The wind not only causes this haze but also contributes to shaping the terrain itself. At the top of the photo, you'll find ridges known as "yardangs," formed through wind erosion that leaves more resistant rock standing while eroding weaker material around it.

Below these red-toned yardangs lies purplish-brown terrain rich in silicates and low in iron content. Differences in color are due to variations in sand properties like density and grain size, affecting how they settle and move across Mars.

This intriguing look at Mars provides more than just aesthetic appeal; it's a glimpse into processes that shape planetary surfaces and clues about resources available for future exploration efforts on Mars.

Mars Like You've Never Seen: Esa's New Satellite Image Reveals a Vibrant Palette

Africa News

In a dance studio in Rio de Janeiro’s Lapa neighborhood, patients with Parkinson’s disease are throwing kicks, clapping to music, and reclaiming something they thought they had lost: balance.

It’s all thanks to Rosi Peixoto, a physiotherapist and longtime capoeira practitioner who saw an opportunity to help. Since 2017, she’s been teaching capoeira—a traditional Brazilian martial art that blends dance, music, and acrobatics—to people with Parkinson’s. And the results have been life-changing.

"Since I began training capoeira, I feel like a different person,” says 80-year-old Nilma Teles Freitas, who used to fall frequently and suffered serious injuries. “I feel safe while walking... and making my life worthwhile."

Parkinson’s affects around 200,000 people in Brazil, causing tremors, muscle stiffness, and slowed movement. But Peixoto’s unique approach, called “Parkinson’s in Ginga” (named after a key capoeira move), is helping patients move more freely—and confidently—again.

“I couldn’t get out of bed alone,” says Antonio Azevedo, another participant. “One month after starting, I improved my walk. Now I can go 7 or 8 kilometers without trouble.”

Capoeira’s rhythmic music, use of upper and lower body, and emphasis on coordination are believed to activate alternative neural pathways, offering physical and neurological benefits. Even neurologists are impressed.

"The rhythm, especially with instruments like drums, helps the brain anticipate movement,” explains Dr. Eduardo Nascimento, who co-manages care for the group. “That may activate motor pathways not affected by the disease.”

Now, Peixoto dreams of expanding the program nationally—and globally—so more people with Parkinson’s can discover the healing power of capoeira. As new student Willy Haas puts it, “This is a very non-traditional way to treat this disease—but it works.”

Unexpected Benefits: How Capoeira Is Helping Parkinson's Patients Regain Balance

Gizmodo

Scientists have taken olive oil beyond the kitchen and into the realm of optics. Researchers have created the first-ever microlaser entirely from edible materials, with olive oil as the star performer. This innovation was reported in Advanced Optical Materials earlier this month.

The idea is based on an intriguing trait of common cooking oils: they emit light when energized. By arranging these droplets amidst mirrors, they produce a concentrated light beam. The team tested over a dozen materials like sunflower oil and cooked butter, but olive oil emerged as the top choice due to its chlorophyll content.

Chlorophyll is known for making plants green, but here it plays a different role. In olive oil, chlorophyll molecules generate photons that transform an oil droplet into a laser. This sensitivity to environmental factors allows researchers to measure things like sugar levels or acidity when added to food dishes.

There's more to this tech than meets the eye. The researchers even encoded data within droplets similar to barcodes in peach compote. Impressively, this data remained intact for over a year. It showcases potential uses like carrying information about manufacturers or expiration dates safely.

Study authors noted, "Since this is the first such study, there are many possibilities for developing various edible lasers and their applications." With such promising findings, we might see these tiny lasers become part of daily life soon enough.

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