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Score (95)
New York’s Hispanic Society Is Now Home to a New Goya Research Center
In a bid to reignite interest in the Spanish Old Master, the Hispanic Society Museum and Library is set to open a new Goya Research Center by July 17, 2024. Led by expert Guillaume Kientz, the center aims to delve into Francisco Goya's work ahead of his bicentennial death anniversary. With a focus on collaboration and reevaluation of disputed works, scholars hope to inspire a new generation of art historians through exhibitions and publications.
Score (98)
Blankets Instead of Barriers: How This Artist Aims to Wrap the World in a Warm Welcome
What if, instead of building a wall to keep people out, we knit a blanket to welcome them in? That’s the question Los Angeles artist Jayna Zweiman posed back in 2017, when she launched the Welcome Blanket project in response to the Trump administration’s plans for a U.S.–Mexico border wall. Her idea was simple but bold: collect 2,000 miles worth of handmade blankets — the same length as the proposed wall — and give them to immigrants and refugees as a gesture of warmth, humanity, and belonging. She hit her initial goal fast. Thousands of crafters sent in packages, helping her surpass 6,000 blankets in record time. So she made the goal even bigger. Now, Zweiman wants to gather enough blankets to encircle the globe — 24,901 miles in total. That would take an estimated 36,521 lap-sized blankets, each measuring 40 inches by 40 inches. So far, she’s received around 8,000. “Taking part in Welcome Blanket is a tangible way to recognize and celebrate our global humanity,” Zweiman writes on the project’s website. “My hope is for Welcome Blanket to become a new American tradition and for every refugee family to receive this symbolic and practical gesture.” Crafters can knit, crochet, sew, or quilt their blankets. Some are displayed in galleries before being sent to resettlement organizations, while others go directly to families. Each comes with a letter or message from the maker. Some are stitched into the fabric, like a square that reads, “you belong here,” or a hand-sewn tag that simply says, “welcome home.” Zweiman is no stranger to crafting as activism. She also co-founded the Pussyhat Project, the sea of pink hats that became a symbol of protest during the Women’s Marches in early 2017. It’s one of the largest crowd-sourced art projects in history. “[My] innovations in craftivism have been rooted in design strategies to make spaces and systems for people to connect through craft,” Zweiman explained. Welcome Blanket takes that vision and expands it. In a time of polarized immigration debates and hard borders, this project asks something gentler: What would it look like to respond with care? To send a message — stitched, square by square — that says, you matter? The blankets aren’t just practical. They’re powerful. And as long as there are people willing to pick up yarn and needles, this global gesture of welcome keeps growing.
Score (97)
Heroic Bystander Saves 8-Month Pregnant Woman from Sinking Vehicle – She Gave Birth Hours Later
On her 29th birthday, Shedly Appolon nearly lost everything — her life, and that of her unborn child. Instead, thanks to a quick-thinking stranger, she’s now holding her newborn daughter and calling her a miracle. Appolon was driving along I-95 in Martin County, Florida, when she started feeling dizzy behind the wheel. Moments later, her car veered off the highway and plunged into a nearby pond. Confused and scared, she called her fiancé and told him she was “in the water” before the phone went dead. Meanwhile, her car was tilting forward, water rising through the footwells and the doors sealed shut. “I tried to open my driver’s side door and my passenger door, but they were both submerged in water, so I couldn’t get out,” Appolon told WPBF. “I started feeling water on my feet. So, I started to panic a little.” As the car filled with water, Logan Hayes — a complete stranger — didn’t hesitate. Witnessing the scene unfold, he shed extra layers of clothing, sprinted to the edge, and dove in. He reached the car just in time. “When he swung that door open, I was like, you are an angel,” Appolon said. Experts say opening a car door once it’s submerged is nearly impossible. The water pressure makes it far too difficult unless you act quickly before the car goes under, or you break the glass. Even that requires tools and composure most people don’t have in a moment of panic. Hayes managed to beat the water, unlocking the back door just before it was too late. Emergency responders rushed Appolon to the hospital, where doctors decided to perform an emergency C-section due to the trauma and stress. Her baby, Ivory, was born seven weeks early, weighing just under 1.8 kilograms. Her fiancé, who had rushed to the hospital after that panicked phone call, arrived shortly after the delivery. Ivory, now safe in her parents’ arms, is being called a “miracle baby” by Appolon — a fitting title after the events of that day. Hayes said he doesn’t feel like a hero. “I was just happy to be at the right place at the right time,” he told local media. Right place, right time — and just in time.
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Score (98)
This Politics Graduate Got Her Degree 33 Years Later, With Her Daughter by Her Side
It took more than three decades, but Bee Costello-Bates finally walked across the stage to receive her university degree. Costello-Bates, who lives in Hereford and now works as a journalist, completed her Bachelor of Arts in Politics at the University of Bristol back in 1993. But at the time, she skipped graduation—her father had just received a devastating diagnosis, and the moment never felt right. "Not attending my graduation ceremony was always at the back of my mind, and it was something I regretted not doing, especially after seeing my nieces and nephews graduate and enjoy the experience so much," she told BBC News. On Wednesday, that regret was put to rest. With her 11-year-old daughter and husband cheering her on, Costello-Bates finally donned a cap and gown at the Wills Memorial Building, officially collecting her degree. The moment came full circle in more ways than one. After years in journalism and public relations, Costello-Bates reconnected with her alma mater through the Bristol Mentors scheme, a programme that pairs current students with alumni mentors. Her involvement led to mentoring students like Holly Smithurst, a history and Spanish graduate who was interested in journalism. Smithurst described Costello-Bates as “a real inspiration.” "Bee went above and beyond to support me. Her advice and knowledge were absolutely amazing, and she went through all the options available to me," she said. "It's great that she's graduating, and I hope she has a wonderful day." Costello-Bates said mentoring has become "one of the most fulfilling experiences" of her career. Imogene Halsey-Dudley, the university’s head of alumni engagement, said the school is grateful for her ongoing support. “These students are from underrepresented groups and often face wider challenges than their peers, and the help given by mentors like Bee is invaluable,” she said. From missing her own milestone to helping others reach theirs, Costello-Bates’ return to Bristol wasn’t just about a diploma—it was a moment of joy, reflection, and giving back.
Score (97)
Richmond Hill Launches ‘Passport to Culture’ With Prizes for Exploring Local Attractions
Richmond Hill is inviting residents and visitors to explore its cultural hotspots — and rewarding them for doing it. The city’s new Passport to Culture program lets participants collect digital stamps as they visit museums, art galleries, public art sites, and live events across the community. Those who collect six stamps by December 1, 2026, can enter to win a cultural prize pack that includes an overnight stay at the Sheraton Hotel and tickets to a show at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. From outdoor concerts and guided tours to tucked-away galleries and festivals, Richmond Hill’s cultural offerings are available year-round — and the program is designed to be flexible and family friendly. Here’s how it works: visitors can use their phones to scan QR codes posted at participating locations such as the Heritage Centre, the David Dunlap Observatory, downtown art spaces, and special events. Each scan instantly adds a stamp to your digital passport. Most locations are free to access, though some programs may require admission or advance registration. The initiative is timed to encourage discovery during Family Day, March break, and weekend getaways — but since it runs all year, locals can take their time and revisit sites as seasons change. To get started, visit RichmondHill.ca/RHCulture or simply scan the QR code at any participating location.
Score (97)
Carvana Replaces Teacher's Car After Police Advice Leads To It Freezing Solid
What started as a frozen disaster for one Philadelphia teacher quickly turned into an internet sensation—and a heartwarming twist. After a winter storm and a stretch of subzero temperatures, 24-year-old Tianna Graham found her 2016 Honda Civic completely encased in a thick sheet of ice. Graham, a fifth-grade math teacher at Community Academy of Philadelphia, shared a video of the frozen vehicle on TikTok. It exploded overnight, racking up tens of millions of views. In the background of her video? A towering Carvana car vending machine. The coincidence didn’t go unnoticed. Carvana saw the viral moment and reached out with an unexpected invitation. When Graham arrived at the vending machine with her mother and sister, she was hoping for a small discount on a replacement. Instead, she watched as a shiny 2022 Honda Civic descended from the machine, decked out with a giant red bow. The car came packed with school supplies—and even an ice pick, just in case. “I was shocked, in disbelief,” Graham said. “It’s a beautiful car.” According to Carvana, the car—with about 28,000 miles on it—will be completely free once the paperwork is finalized. Graham is already planning her first drive: a trip to Ocean City, Maryland, to attend a National Federation of the Blind convention with her sister, who is blind. Graham is also working on a graduate degree to become an orientation and mobility specialist, helping blind individuals navigate the world independently. Reflecting on the viral turn of events, Graham said simply, “All things do happen for a reason. Anything bad that is happening, something good can always come out of it.”
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Women Break Rhythmic Barriers at Rio Carnival, With First-Ever Female Leader of Major Drum Section
At this year’s Rio Carnival, the thunderous beat of progress will be led by a woman. For the first time in the history of Brazil’s most iconic celebration, a samba school’s main drum section — long considered the male stronghold of Carnival — will be led by a woman. Laísa Lima, a lifelong samba devotee, will take centre stage as the head of percussion for the Arranco do Engenho de Dentro samba school during Saturday’s parade at the famed Sambadrome. "I don't know who started this business of saying that percussion instruments were not for women," Laísa said. "Many drum sections banned women from participating. Fortunately, that taboo was broken." Laísa's roots in samba run deep. Her father was a renowned carnival designer and director, and by age 16, she was already leading the tambourine section of the celebrated Beija-Flor samba school. She later honed her percussion skills at Arranco — the very school she now leads. The Rio Carnival runs from February 13 to 21, with 15 samba schools competing for a coveted spot in the “Special Group,” the top-tier league of the annual competition. Each school fields up to 4,000 performers, and each must move in harmony — in choreography and rhythm — with the heart of the parade: the drum section. "There are 250 in the drum section this year," said Laísa. "Two hundred and fifty hearts beating in the same cadence, with the same purpose and conquering the same aim." That rhythm is no longer reserved for men. At Arranco, around 30 percent of the drummers are women — a figure still rare among samba schools, but growing steadily. "Many people have that old belief that women are the weaker sex,” Laísa said. “However, the drum section is not about masculinity or strength. It's about feelings and about people management.” The rise of women in samba percussion has been decades in the making. Thalita Santos, a drummer and conductor, has spent years working to promote women in the craft — through community projects, local performances, and small neighbourhood groups known as blocos, where many female percussionists first hone their skills. “Many women who dance learn to play. Many women who play learn to dance,” said Thalita. “Nowadays in carnival, women can occupy any space, be it dancing or playing.” She added, “It's no longer a division where women dance and men play. That’s fortunately over. Now we are in the process of increasing the number of women playing." Saturday’s parade will be another step forward — a reminder that Carnival is evolving, and that tradition and transformation can share the same beat.
Score (97)
Teen Origami Prodigy Designs Ultra-Strong Fold for Emergency Shelters
Sitting in his family’s New York City living room, 14-year-old Miles Wu wasn’t expecting a piece of paper to change how he viewed the world. But after folding and testing variations of a centuries-old origami technique known as the Miura-ori, Wu found that a simple sheet—when folded correctly—could support more than 10,000 times its own weight. That surprising discovery launched Wu from a curious teen with a passion for paper folding into the national spotlight, earning him the $25,000 top prize at the 2025 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, the most prestigious STEM competition for U.S. middle school students. “I was really shocked by how much [weight] these simple pieces of paper could hold,” Wu said. Wu, a ninth grader at Hunter College High School, had already spent six years folding origami for fun. But in 2024, he started exploring how it might intersect with science and engineering. What began as a hobby turned into a full-on research project after he learned how origami structures were being used in stents, catheters, and even spacecraft. One pattern in particular caught his attention: the Miura-ori, a fold famous for its ability to collapse and expand in one motion. Invented by Japanese astrophysicist Koryo Miura, the fold has been used in space missions to deploy solar panels. Its strength and compactness made Wu wonder—could it also be used here on Earth, especially in disaster zones? Inspired by wildfires and hurricanes in the U.S., Wu began asking how to create emergency shelters that were strong, fast to deploy, and affordable—something existing designs rarely achieve all at once. He wondered if origami could fill the gap. To test the strength of various Miura-ori designs, Wu created 54 pattern variants and ran 108 trials using different types of paper. He used a scoring machine to ensure precision and converted his family’s apartment into a lab, eventually buying 50-pound exercise weights after household items like books and pans weren’t heavy enough. “I assumed the strongest design would hold around 50 pounds,” Wu said. “But they held up to 200. I needed heavier weights just to make them break.” The most impressive design held more than 10,000 times its own weight. To visualize that, Wu said, “it’s like a New York City taxicab supporting the weight of over 4,000 elephants.” Wu’s winning project stood out not just for its research depth, but for its relevance. “He transformed a lifelong passion for origami into a rigorous structural engineering project,” said Maya Ajmera, president of Society for Science, which runs the challenge. “He really distinguished himself through creativity, leadership, and scientific inquiry.” Engineers were impressed too. Glaucio Paulino of Princeton University, a leading expert in origami-inspired structures, called Wu’s project “an excellent parametric exploration” of how fold geometry affects strength. That said, Paulino noted that scaling up to full-size emergency shelters comes with challenges. “Strength doesn’t scale linearly,” he said. Larger structures would need to handle complex forces and include joints, arches, and design features to handle real-world loads and stresses. Wu knows the road ahead is long. He’s already thinking about new tests—measuring how his folds perform under multidirectional forces—and developing shelter prototypes using curved or modular Miura-ori sheets. His ultimate goal? To turn folded paper into life-saving architecture. “I definitely want to keep exploring how origami intersects with STEM,” he said. “This is just the beginning.”
Score (89)
Which Nuts Are Best for Your Health? Here’s What the Science Says
Which Nuts Are Best for Your Health? Here’s What the Science Says Nuts have long been praised for their heart-healthy fats and plant-based protein — but not all nuts deliver the same benefits, and some pack more of a nutritional punch than others. Packed with unsaturated fats, fibre, micronutrients, and antioxidants, regular nut consumption has been linked to a lower risk of heart disease, better cholesterol levels, and even longer life expectancy. And despite being energy-dense, nuts don’t cause weight gain when eaten in moderation — in fact, they help control appetite and support healthy weight management. Here’s a breakdown of some of the healthiest nuts and how they support different aspects of your health: Pecans Pecans may be best known for their role in desserts, but they’ve also been shown to improve blood lipid levels. Research from the Illinois Institute of Technology found that adding pecans to a balanced diet can help reduce lipid oxidation — a process linked to heart disease. They're especially rich in polyphenols, which act as antioxidants to protect cells and reduce inflammation. Walnuts Walnuts stand out as the only nut with a U.S. FDA-approved health claim for reducing heart disease risk. That’s thanks to their high content of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a plant-based omega-3 fatty acid linked to heart, brain, and metabolic health. Regular walnut consumption — more than 30 grams daily — has been shown to lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and even improve memory and cognitive speed. Almonds With high fibre content and a strong nutrient profile, almonds support heart health, digestion, and blood sugar control. They’re also rich in vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that helps protect cells from oxidative stress. A daily intake of 42–50 grams appears to offer the most consistent health benefits, particularly for maintaining a healthy weight and supporting the gut microbiome. Pistachios Pistachios are a great source of plant protein, antioxidants, and B vitamins, including folate. They contain high levels of valine, an essential amino acid important for muscle repair and recovery. Their balanced calorie-to-protein ratio makes them a good option for active individuals looking to support muscle growth and immune function. Brazil Nuts A single Brazil nut delivers more than the recommended daily intake of selenium — a trace mineral essential for immune health and antioxidant protection. But because selenium can be toxic at high levels, it’s best to limit Brazil nut intake to just one or two per day. Bottom Line: Incorporating a variety of nuts into your daily diet can support heart health, brain function, muscle recovery, and immune strength — as long as you keep portion sizes in check. Walnuts and almonds shine for heart benefits, pecans for antioxidants, pistachios for muscle recovery, and Brazil nuts for a selenium boost. As always, moderation is key.
Score (97)
UK Dad Challenges 12-Year-Old Son to Rebuild a Classic Mini — And They're Sharing Every Step Online
When 10-year-old Ben first heard his dad’s plan to rebuild a car together, he thought it was a joke. It wasn’t. Two years later, Ben, now 12, is spending every Tuesday night in a garage in Biddulph, Staffordshire, learning how to weld, grind, and strip engines — all part of a six-year challenge from his dad, Gary, to completely rebuild a classic Mini before Ben turns 16. The goal? To have the car ready in time to drive him to his school prom. “I started the car, rolled it out the garage — it was cool, it's the first time I had the engine revving,” Ben said. For Gary, an electrician who’s worked on cars as a hobby since he was 17, the idea was born out of a desire to get his son away from screens and into something hands-on. “All the kids these days are computer-based,” he said. “There's very few kids with practical skill these days.” But the project has taken on a digital life of its own. The father-son duo now share their progress on TikTok and YouTube, where they’ve built a growing community of subscribers eager to follow along. Ben says he’s learned a lot already — including welding and how to replace car panels — and that working on the car has helped him build confidence and practical skills. “If I broke down in this car then I know every nook and cranny,” he said. Gary admits he’s learning too, especially about patience. “It’s hard to teach a 10-year-old to try and use power tools,” he said, “but he's done an amazing job and it really brought us together.” They still have a few years to go before the Mini is ready to hit the road. But every Tuesday, one turn of the wrench at a time, they’re getting closer — not just to a finished car, but to each other.
Score (96)
Scientists Say They've Found Hundreds of Hidden Underwater Canyons Beneath Antarctica
Scientists have discovered more than 300 underwater canyon systems buried beneath the Antarctic ice sheet, revealing a seafloor far more complex than previously understood — and forcing a rethink on how the continent is melting. A team from the University of Barcelona and University College Cork mapped 332 canyon networks below the ocean surface, five times more than were previously known. The findings were published in the journal Marine Geology. “This is the first time we’ve had a unified picture of these systems across the entire Antarctic margin,” said Dr. David Amblà, co-author and researcher at the University of Barcelona. “They’re not just widespread — they’re intimately tied to both ancient and modern ice movement.” For years, many climate models treated Antarctica’s submerged landscape as relatively flat. This new research challenges that assumption and suggests that ocean-ice interactions are being shaped by rugged, canyon-rich terrain. The canyons play a key role in regulating global ocean circulation. They help move dense, salty water down into the deep sea and bring warmer currents up from the depths — a dynamic that can accelerate ice melt along the continent’s fringes. As Antarctic ice melts, it adds around 135 billion tons of water to the oceans each year, contributing to sea level rise around the world. That puts coastal cities and low-lying regions at increasing risk of flooding and erosion. The new map of Antarctic submarine canyons may help scientists build better models to track ocean circulation and ice loss — and, in turn, provide more accurate forecasts for sea level rise. While researchers focus on improving predictive models, the broader challenge remains unchanged: curbing the pace of climate change by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and transitioning to cleaner energy systems.