Meet the Woman Who Recycles Everything

A woman from Shrewsbury, England has taken recycling to a whole new level by repurposing, recycling or selling almost all of her trash. Angela Vnoucek's dedication to green living means she hasn't needed a general waste bin for an entire year. She started on this eco-friendly journey due to logistical issues with putting out bins on her hillside home and now lives without the need for one at all. By finding creative ways to recycle various items, she has embraced a lifestyle that prioritizes sustainability and minimal waste.

Read More

Councillor with MND Uses AI to Speak Again in His Own Voice

A councillor in Sevenoaks who lost his ability to speak due to motor neurone disease is now using artificial intelligence to speak again — in his own voice. Nick Varley, who represents Kippington on both the district and town councils, was diagnosed with MND in November 2024. The disease, which affects how nerves in the brain and spinal cord control muscles, often starts with subtle symptoms. In Varley’s case, it began with his speech. “It was nine months after I first noticed at a council meeting that my voice was sounding ever so slightly odd, a tiny bit slurred,” he said. Since then, his condition has progressed. The type of MND he has starts in the mouth and throat before affecting other parts of the body. Now 58, Varley describes feeling a “terrible shock and fear” after receiving the diagnosis. But shortly after, he made a decision that would change his ability to communicate. Varley recorded samples of his voice, which were then used to train an AI model to reproduce it. The voice-cloning technology was developed through a collaboration between the MND Association and California-based tech firm 11Labs. The result is a remarkably accurate digital version of his voice that he can use to speak in real time. “It can be very emotional because your voice is such a big part of you, and no one wants it to sound like Stephen Hawking did,” Varley said. On 13 January, he used the AI voice publicly for the first time, asking a question at a Sevenoaks District Council cabinet meeting. “It’s amazing because when you get your diagnosis, part of you thinks, ‘my life is over’,” he said. “And being able to still work, still talk, and still participate is amazing.” Varley, a former journalist, hasn’t let his diagnosis stop him from being active. Since going public with his condition, he’s been raising money for MND-related charities. He participated in the 2025 Moonlight Walk organised by Hospice in the Weald, which has been supporting him since his diagnosis, and raised over £11,000. In December, he completed a charity run in Leeds, bringing in another £10,000. Through it all, the AI voice has given him not just the ability to speak, but a way to keep being himself.

Read More

Meet the NASA Engineer Helping Astronauts Walk on the Moon Again

For Jaclyn Kagey, helping astronauts prepare to walk on the Moon isn’t some far-off dream — it’s her daily job. As the extravehicular activity (EVA) lead for Artemis III in NASA’s Flight Operations Directorate, Kagey is responsible for shaping how astronauts will carry out spacewalks when they return to the lunar surface for the first time in more than 50 years. That includes building detailed timelines, planning scientific tasks, coordinating with commercial partners, and supporting real-time operations — all while keeping astronauts safe. It’s a high-stakes role, and one that will help define how humans explore the Moon’s south polar region, a place no person has ever set foot. “My mission is to shape this historic endeavor by working closely with scientists and industry partners to define lunar surface activities,” said Kagey. “We are setting the standard for humanity’s return to the Moon.” Kagey has spent over 25 years working across some of NASA’s most complex human spaceflight programs. Her path started at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where watching space shuttle launches inspired her to pursue a career in human spaceflight. That dream became reality through United Space Alliance, where she and her husband both got their start as contractors. Since then, she’s helped plan and execute seven spacewalks. One that stands out in her memory is U.S. EVA 21 — a high-pressure mission to fix a critical ammonia leak aboard the International Space Station. “We had just 36 hours to plan, prepare the spacesuits, and execute the repair,” Kagey recalled. “The agility, dedication, and teamwork shown during that operation were remarkable. It demonstrated what this team can accomplish under pressure.” That kind of problem-solving has become second nature. "You have to be flexible," she said. "Things rarely go exactly as planned, and your job is to respond in a way that keeps the crew safe and the mission moving forward." She’s also learned the importance of knowing when to push and when to pause. “There are times when the mission requires everything you have,” she said. “And there are times when you have to step back. Learning when to do each is critical.” Kagey’s influence isn’t limited to mission planning — she’s also helping shape the future of spacesuit design. As someone on the shorter side, Kagey once couldn’t complete a full test in NASA’s older Extravehicular Mobility Unit. Although she passed the initial fit check, the suit’s proportions were too large to allow her to move effectively during testing. That experience led her to push for more inclusive suit designs that accommodate a wider range of body types. That effort came full circle when she recently tested Axiom Space’s new lunar spacesuit — the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit, or AxEMU — on NASA’s gravity offload system in Houston. “It’s exciting to literally fit into the future of spacewalks!” she said. With Artemis III, NASA is aiming to land astronauts near the Moon’s south pole using a commercial lander and conduct groundbreaking science on the surface. The mission is not only a return to the Moon, but also a proving ground for future exploration — and Kagey’s work will help make it possible. From planning critical repairs on the ISS to preparing for the first Moonwalk in decades, Kagey’s career is a reminder of the human effort behind every mission. She may not be walking on the Moon herself, but she’s making sure others can — safely, efficiently, and with a suit that finally fits.

Read More

Bronze Statue To Honor Celebrity Cat Susie In Dorchester

She’s wandered through pubs, lounged in supermarkets, and charmed thousands along the way. Now Susie the cat, Dorchester’s most famous feline, is getting a statue in her honour. An anonymous donor has proposed a bronze sculpture of the adventurous cat, who has built a global fan base simply by strolling through the Dorset town like she owns it. If planning permission is approved, the statue will be installed in South Street and sculpted by Weymouth artist Ama Menec. Susie moved to Dorchester in 2023 with Linda and Michael Crow, who came to stay with their daughter Jenny Graves. Not long after, locals began spotting Susie all over town and calling in concerned that she was lost. That’s when Graves updated her collar to read: "Susie – Not lost, just adventurous." She hasn’t stopped exploring since. The Facebook group dedicated to Susie now has more than 11,000 members, who regularly post sightings of her tucked into shops, pubs, and even high-rise flats. Her owner, Jenny Graves, a hospital consultant, says Susie has unexpectedly brought people together. “We have people from all over the world following her so it's been a nice thing,” Graves said. “I get at least two patients in every clinic who mention her. I really like it – it's allowed me to meet all sorts of people who I would not have otherwise met.” The proposed statue will depict Susie wearing a Roman-style collar made of glass beads, with a Roman tile beneath her paws—an artistic nod to the town’s ancient roots. A similar tile with cat paw prints was found in nearby Gloucester, dating back to the Roman era. Fittingly, the statue will be set at a child’s eye level, resting on a plinth made of Portland stone embedded with Jurassic Coast fossils. Graves said the donor, who is also managing the project, wants to remain anonymous but is someone with a passion for Dorchester’s Roman history and a soft spot for Susie. “I don't want to offend anyone but it's completely crazy… in a good way,” she said. “If it increases footfall, it can only be a positive thing.” Susie’s fame has already sparked several community fundraising efforts. In 2024, a children’s book titled Not Lost was published to raise funds for People First Dorset, a charity supporting people with learning disabilities. The idea came after Susie paid a surprise visit to charity manager Laura Kerr’s fourth-floor flat. The book, created by Kerry Martin, William Parmiter and Emily Burr with illustrations by Catherine Owen, drew a crowd of around 100 people to its launch. Owen’s postcards of Susie have since raised additional funds for a cat rescue charity. Most recently, a 2026 calendar featuring photos of Susie, created by local resident Matthew Darvill, raised more than £2,600 for Samaritans. From Facebook fame to a children’s book, and soon a bronze statue, Susie’s laid-back wanderings have made her a beloved fixture in Dorchester—and soon, a permanent one.

Read More

Scientists Say They've Unlocked a Breakthrough in Immune Cells for Cancer and Autoimmune Therapy

Researchers at the University of British Columbia have made a major leap in the field of cell therapy, successfully developing a method to reliably grow a key type of human immune cell—helper T cells—from stem cells in the lab. Published January 7 in Cell Stem Cell, the study solves a bottleneck that has long limited the scale and affordability of engineered immune treatments. The ability to mass-produce these cells could pave the way for off-the-shelf therapies for cancer, infections, autoimmune disorders, and more. “Engineered cell therapies are transforming modern medicine,” said Dr. Peter Zandstra, co-senior author of the study and director of UBC’s School of Biomedical Engineering. “This study addresses one of the biggest challenges in making these lifesaving treatments accessible to more people, showing for the first time a reliable and scalable way to grow multiple immune cell types.” Cell-based therapies like CAR-T have shown dramatic results in treating aggressive cancers. These therapies work by reprogramming a patient’s own immune cells to attack disease, but the process is slow, expensive, and often inaccessible. One of the biggest hurdles is the reliance on each patient’s individual cells, which have to be harvested and modified separately—a time-consuming and costly process. “The long-term goal is to have off-the-shelf cell therapies that are manufactured ahead of time and on a larger scale from a renewable source like stem cells,” said co-senior author Dr. Megan Levings, a professor of surgery and biomedical engineering at UBC. “This would make treatments much more cost-effective and ready when patients need them.” While scientists have made headway in generating killer T cells—immune cells that attack cancer and infected cells—helper T cells have remained out of reach. These cells play a central role in coordinating immune responses, activating other immune cells and sustaining those responses over time. Without them, many therapies don’t work as well or last as long. “Helper T cells are essential for a strong and lasting immune response,” said Dr. Levings. “It’s critical that we have both to maximize the efficacy and flexibility of off-the-shelf therapies.” The UBC team cracked the code by fine-tuning a biological signal called Notch, which helps guide how stem cells mature into immune cells. Notch needs to be active early on to help start the process, but if it stays on for too long, it prevents the formation of helper T cells. “By precisely tuning when and how much this signal is reduced, we were able to direct stem cells to become either helper or killer T cells,” said Dr. Ross Jones, a co-first author and research associate in the Zandstra Lab. “We were able to do this in controlled laboratory conditions that are directly applicable in real-world biomanufacturing, which is an essential step toward turning this discovery into a viable therapy.” What’s more, the lab-grown helper T cells didn’t just look the part—they acted like fully mature immune cells. They carried diverse immune receptors, showed signs of full development, and could form specialized subtypes with distinct roles. “These cells look and act like genuine human helper T cells,” said co-first author Kevin Salim, a PhD student in the Levings Lab. “That’s critical for future therapeutic potential.” The ability to consistently generate both types of T cells—and control their proportions—could allow scientists to fine-tune therapies for different diseases and patients. “This is a major step forward in our ability to develop scalable and affordable immune cell therapies,” said Dr. Zandstra. “This technology now forms the foundation for testing the role of helper T cells in supporting the elimination of cancer cells and generating new types of helper T cell-derived cells, such as regulatory T cells, for clinical applications.” With this advance, the vision of accessible, off-the-shelf cell therapies for life-threatening conditions is no longer science fiction—it’s getting closer to clinical reality.

Read More

Mother And Daughter Graduate Together, Proving It's Never Too Late To Learn

When Mehnaaz Fayaz told her daughter she was thinking of going back to school, she didn’t expect to end up as her lab partner. But that’s exactly what happened. The 46-year-old mother from Leicester recently completed a postgraduate degree in Cancer Molecular Pathology and Therapeutics alongside her 22-year-old daughter, Kauser. Both women earned distinctions and say they hope their story encourages others to rethink what’s possible—no matter their age. “They say once you get married and have kids you cannot study—you can, and you can study with your kids together,” Mehnaaz said. After both graduated from the University of Leicester with previous degrees, they decided to enrol in the same postgraduate course to support each other. It turned out to be more than just a smart academic decision—it became a shared journey neither of them will forget. “It was my passion to go more into cancer research and learn more about the molecular part of it, so that's why I chose to go back,” Mehnaaz explained. Kauser, now working as a writer for a medical device company, said studying with her mum was more than just convenient—it was inspiring. “She's my mum, she's my role model,” she said. “I hope mum's achievements will inspire other women, who might think they are too old to go to university, to pursue education – she's shown it's never too late.” The two often turned heads on campus, with classmates frequently mistaking them for sisters. Kauser didn’t mind. “It happens often,” she said. “It's quite nice though because it's nice to see that she's growing old gracefully!” Despite their close bond, the mother-daughter duo admits their study habits don’t quite align. “She's more of a bookworm,” Kauser said. “She likes to study a lot more than me, but I must say I did get a higher grade in our dissertations!” Their results speak for themselves. Both received distinctions—the highest grade available. Mehnaaz will soon begin an internship as a medical article writer, while Kauser has already started her professional career. The University of Leicester celebrated the achievement. Linda Ralphs, Pro Vice-Chancellor Education, said, “We welcome everyone. It is exactly that sort of story that really makes our day.” For Mehnaaz, the takeaway is simple: “I want to break the stereotype. It’s for everybody, there is no age to learn.”

Read More

Retired Silversmith Turns Used Candles into Lifesaving Heat for War-Torn Ukraine

A retired silversmith from the UK has spent the last 18 months transforming discarded candle wax into a lifeline for people on the frontlines of the war in Ukraine. Mark Stevens, from Ludlow in Shropshire, has collected more than a thousand kilos of used candles from churches, cathedrals, and charity shops. He melts them down and recasts the wax into compact, portable stoves designed to provide both heat and light to Ukrainian civilians and military personnel living without electricity or heating. "It's the idea of being in a cold dark space with no light, no heat and it's something very simple," Stevens said. "People are throwing away candles every day so it's good recycling." The concept is simple but effective. A single wax stove can warm a room or a shelter, making a real difference for those facing harsh winters and frequent blackouts due to ongoing attacks on infrastructure. “This would heat a room,” Stevens explained, holding one of the candles. “It could be used in a shelter somewhere.” So far, Stevens has travelled to Ukraine four times to personally deliver the wax stoves and other supplies. He also ships them via a local charity. His efforts don’t stop at candles—he’s also helped supply generators and even vehicles to Ukrainians caught in the conflict. “It’s easy to ignore what’s going on on our doorstep and the destruction and the waste and the environmental hazard that is being created by a war,” he said. His work hasn’t gone unnoticed. Lesley Harling, a church warden at St Laurence’s in Ludlow, where Stevens collects many of his candles, called the project remarkable. “I think it's amazing. Apart from anything else, the sheer amount of work that goes into it.” The community of Ludlow has welcomed many Ukrainian refugees since the start of the war. Some now work at a café inside St Laurence’s Church. Yuliia Shapoval, one of the staff members, said Stevens’ actions have had a real emotional impact. “I really appreciate his work,” she said. “People need to feel like... somebody wants to help them.” Stevens continues to collect candle donations and encourages others to think about how simple, overlooked materials can be repurposed into something meaningful. In a war where supplies are often scarce and power outages common, a few ounces of wax and a wick can provide more than just heat—they offer hope, dignity, and a reminder that even small acts of kindness can reach across borders.

Read More

Climate Change Is Coming for Your Coffee — But There’s a Plan to Save It

Coffee is in trouble. As global temperatures rise and weather patterns shift, nearly half of the world’s arabica coffee-growing regions could become unsuitable for cultivation by 2050. That’s not just bad news for morning routines. It's a looming crisis for the 25 million farmers and 100 million workers who rely on coffee for their livelihood — many of them earning just a few dollars a day. In countries like Burundi, where coffee makes up nearly 70 percent of exports, the stakes are even higher. “If half of global coffee goes bust … and millions of people go broke, it could trigger humanitarian disasters and maybe even civil unrest,” said Etelle Higonnet, founder and director of Coffee Watch. But there’s hope in an age-old technique: agroforestry. Instead of planting coffee as a monocrop, agroforestry mimics natural ecosystems by growing it alongside shade trees, fruit trees, and other crops. The result is a cooler, more stable microclimate that protects fragile coffee plants from temperature extremes, erratic rainfall, and soil degradation. Coffee, as Higonnet puts it, is “a very sensitive little plant.” It thrives in mountainous tropical areas but doesn’t cope well with too much heat or cold, or too much moisture or dryness. “It doesn’t like cold, but it doesn’t like hot. It doesn’t like dry, but it doesn’t like wet.” Agroforestry helps hit that elusive “Goldilocks zone,” while offering other benefits too. Healthier soils, greater biodiversity, and stronger yields are all part of the package. Companion crops can also provide food and income for growers, making farms more resilient. The challenge? Making sure farmers and governments know how to do it — and do it well. To solve that, Coffee Watch has launched what it says is the most comprehensive online library of agroforestry research ever assembled. It includes everything ever published on the topic and is freely available in multiple languages. “Companies don’t have to do a million stupid pilot projects and reinvent the wheel for 20 years that we don’t have,” Higonnet said. “They can just hoover up all this knowledge quickly, easily.” Guillermo Vargas Leitón, coordinator of education for agricultural sustainability at Café Monteverde in Costa Rica, called the move “a crucial step in ensuring that coffee farmers can find valuable data for their daily production needs.” Brazil and Vietnam together produce nearly half the world’s coffee — about a third and 18 percent respectively — but according to Higonnet, they’re not currently taking agroforestry seriously. “When those governments decide that they want to do agroforestry to climate-proof their coffee, save their economy and all those jobs … this [e-library] is there for them.” The initiative is not just about protecting plants. It’s about protecting people, economies, and entire regions that depend on the success of one of the world’s most beloved crops. And with time running out, the hope is that the Coffee Watch e-library helps fast-track the transition. Coffee may be a drink, but for millions, it’s also a lifeline.

Read More

7-Year-Old Girl Hailed as Hero After Calling 911 When Dad Falls Unconscious

When Xavier Bates fell down the stairs and lost consciousness in his Lynwood, Illinois, home last week, help arrived faster than anyone could’ve expected — thanks to his 7-year-old daughter, Mia. The first grader didn’t panic. She grabbed the phone, called 911, and stayed on the line until paramedics arrived. “She’s a smart girl and brave,” said Bates, a 41-year-old railroad conductor. “She saved my life.” It happened on Wednesday, January 14. With Mia’s mom at work, Xavier was walking downstairs when he lost his footing. “I missed a foot or something and fell and hit my head,” he told WLS. He slammed his head on the stairs and collapsed, unconscious. Mia ran to his side. Seeing her father unresponsive, she acted immediately — dialing emergency services and giving clear instructions to the dispatcher. When paramedics arrived, she let them in and guided them to her dad. “It was, like, a little scary,” Mia said in a joint interview with her father. But she knew what mattered most. “He needed to go to a hospital where he could get better. I’m glad the ambulance helped him.” The Village of Lynwood praised her actions in a public statement, calling Mia’s “quick thinking” critical. “Her actions made all the difference,” they wrote. Mia plans to attend the next city council meeting to meet the paramedics who helped her dad. When asked how she feels about what she did, she put it simply: “I was brave.”

Read More

Abandoned Overseas, Peamer the Kitten Finds New Life with Grieving U.S. Veteran

Peamer the kitten wasn’t supposed to survive. But thanks to a group of U.S. soldiers and a Vietnam War veteran halfway around the world, her story has turned into one of healing — for more than just her. She was born near a U.S. Army base in the Middle East alongside five siblings. Not long after, a wild animal attacked the feline family. The mother fled with four kittens, leaving behind Peamer and one sibling. Soldiers stationed at the base had been keeping an eye on the cat and her litter, and when they noticed the two tiny kittens had been left behind, they stepped in. The animals were too young to eat on their own, so the soldiers bottle-fed them in shifts. Despite their efforts, one of the kittens didn’t make it. But Peamer hung on. As she grew stronger, Peamer also formed bonds with the soldiers caring for her. But her health remained fragile, and the remote conditions offered few medical options. That’s when the soldiers reached out to Paws of War, a nonprofit that helps military members and veterans care for animals. The organization arranged for Peamer to be transported 16 hours across the region to the nearest veterinary hospital. Once there, she received weeks of medical care — all funded by the nonprofit — until she reached a healthy weight and was strong enough to travel. After making the long journey to the United States, the next step was to find Peamer a home. The soldiers had one request: that she be adopted by someone who would love and protect her. That someone turned out to be Anthony Bracchi, a U.S. Army veteran who had recently lost both his wife and his beloved cat. The grief had left him feeling hollow. “After losing my wife and my cat, the house was unbearably quiet,” Bracchi said. “Peamer didn’t just come into my life — she brought it back. I truly believe we found each other exactly when we were supposed to.” Paws of War arranged the introduction. The bond was instant. “She curled up with me right away,” Bracchi said. “I could feel her trust.” Robert Misseri, co-founder of Paws of War, said this was exactly the kind of connection the organization works to create. “They both needed each other,” he said. “There couldn’t be a better match than this, and we love that we were able to help play a role in making it happen.” Peamer now lives in comfort, far from the dangers she was born into. She sleeps beside Bracchi, curls up on his lap during the day, and fills the silence that once haunted his home. “She’s not just a cat,” Bracchi said. “She’s family.”

Read More

This Teen Roadhouse Cook Just Rescued a Couple From a Car Wreck, and it Earned Him a Scholarship

Juan Mendoza didn’t plan on being a hero that day. But when he saw a car spinning out on a rain-slicked Texas highway, the 19-year-old cook didn’t hesitate. “I’m going to get them out,” Mendoza said, recalling the moment he saw the vehicle left stranded in the middle of the road. His first thought, he said, was about his younger siblings. “They could have kids. And that thought came into me, rushing.” Inside the damaged vehicle were 80-year-old Juan O’Matta and his wife, Adriana, who were driving home from a doctor’s appointment. Another car had slammed into them, spinning their vehicle across traffic. As smoke began to rise, dozens of drivers passed by — but only one person stopped. “Nobody stopped,” O’Matta said. “He was the only one who stopped.” Security footage from nearby shows Mendoza running toward the car, clearing debris, and helping the couple get out safely. At the time, the O’Mattas didn’t catch his name. They just knew a stranger had saved their lives. “He was there at the right moment that we needed him,” Adriana said. “That’s why I say he was my angel.” The couple’s story soon gained attention, and CBS News contributor David Begnaud helped track down Mendoza for a surprise reunion at the Texas Roadhouse restaurant where he works. The moment, filled with hugs and tears, brought closure for the O’Mattas — and something else for Mendoza. Justin Back, president of Acadian Ambulance Service, was there too. He had seen the video and recognized something special in the young man. “We’re always looking for people, good people, who want to help others,” Back said. “That takes a big heart. It also takes a lot of intelligence and a lot of courage.” Back offered Mendoza a full scholarship to attend EMT school and a job offer, conditional on his graduation. Then came one more surprise. Weslaco Mayor Adrian Gonzalez stepped forward and declared an official “Juan Mendoza Day,” thanking the young man publicly. “Thank you for being their guardian angel,” Gonzalez said. For Mendoza, who lives near the Mexico border and works long hours in the kitchen, the attention has been unexpected. But he credits his parents for teaching him what to do when others need help. “They teach me to be humble and to help anybody,” he said simply. That lesson, passed down quietly at home, may have made all the difference for a couple of strangers on a rainy highway.

Read More