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50 Years of Data Show That Madagascar’s Mangroves Are Making a Comeback
Good news for Madagascar's mangroves! A new study shows that despite past deforestation, the island's mangrove cover has actually increased by 5% in the last decade. Conservation efforts are paying off, especially in protected areas where mangroves have rebounded even more strongly. While challenges remain, researchers believe continued engagement with coastal communities is key to ensuring a bright future for these vital ecosystems.
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Tiny Snail, Huge Comeback: Greater Bermuda Snail Saved from Extinction
A button-sized snail once presumed extinct is officially back — and thriving — after conservationists bred and released more than 100,000 into the wild. The greater Bermuda snail (Poecilozonites bermudensis), once believed to be lost forever, was rediscovered a decade ago in a Hamilton alleyway. That small group sparked an international rescue effort involving the government of Bermuda, Canada-based Biolinx Environmental Research, and England’s Chester Zoo. Now, experts say the species is safe from extinction — a “once in a career” moment for the scientists involved. “It’s every conservationist’s dream to help save a whole species – and that’s exactly what we’ve done,” said Tamas Papp, invertebrates manager at Chester Zoo. “The greater Bermuda snail is tiny, but this is one of the biggest success stories in conservation.” The snails were bred at Chester Zoo in specially designed pods, then gradually reintroduced to protected woodland habitats across Bermuda. Six of those new colonies are now confirmed to be thriving. “It is remarkable to think we only began with less than 200 snails and have now released over 100,000,” said Dr. Mark Outerbridge, wildlife ecologist with Bermuda’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Gerardo Garcia, Chester Zoo’s Animal & Plant Director, said establishing six growing colonies marks a turning point for the species. “That itself is really important information, because not much was known about P. bermudensis,” he noted. The team’s breeding methods were adapted and refined to create the world’s first conservation guide for the species. “They nearly vanished, so being able to say the snails are now safe from extinction is amazing,” Garcia said. “It’s an incredibly good feeling to make a huge difference for a species.” The snails, endemic to Bermuda, play a vital ecological role — breaking down live and decaying vegetation, and providing food for larger animals. But over time, their numbers plummeted due to habitat loss, climate change, and invasive predators like the carnivorous ‘wolf snail’ and flatworms. Dr. Kristiina Ovaska of Biolinx said the impact went beyond just one species. “They are vital for turning over nutrients within their habitat,” she explained. While climate change remains a future threat, scientists now have the tools and knowledge to rapidly reinforce the population if needed. And for conservationists, this is proof of what’s possible when experts work across borders to reverse biodiversity loss. As Garcia put it: “It’s something conservationists might get to say only once in their whole career.”
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Melbourne’s Trees Have Email Addresses — and They’re Getting Fan Mail
In Melbourne, Australia, trees don’t just stand around. They listen, respond, and — in a way — read their email. Thanks to the city’s Urban Forest and Ecology team, more than 70,000 trees across Melbourne have been assigned their own email addresses. What started as a way for residents to report damage or declining health has unexpectedly turned into something far more heartwarming: tree fan mail. “Hi Tree,” one sender wrote. “Keep growing and keep on treeing!” The city created the email system as part of its Urban Forest Strategy, which includes an interactive map called the Urban Forest Visual. Click on any tree in the city and you’ll see its species, approximate age, and a dedicated email address to reach out — whether with concerns or compliments. And people have been using it. More than 10,000 emails have been sent so far, ranging from playful notes to deeply personal tributes. One cyclist wrote to a large Rose Gum: “Over the past year I have cycled by you each day and want you to know how much joy you give me. No matter the weather or what is happening around you, you are strong, elegant and beautiful. I wanted you to know.” The initiative began as a practical tool: giving the public an easy way to notify the city of fallen branches, storm damage, or signs of disease. But it also served a larger mission — to involve residents in the future of Melbourne’s green spaces, especially as the city braces for the effects of climate change. Under the Urban Forest Strategy, Melbourne aims to nearly double its tree canopy from 22% to 40% by 2040. That means a lot more future trees — and inboxes — to manage. In the meantime, the current digital forest is thriving, and so is the community’s unexpected relationship with it. Some messages are poetic. Others are short and sweet. But nearly all reflect something rare: gratitude for something quiet, constant, and rooted in place. You can find the map — and maybe your own tree pen pal — on the City of Melbourne’s website.
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Scientists Uncover Reasons Behind Stunning Wave Patterns In Auroras
Auroras are one of nature’s most dazzling displays, with shimmering lights twisting across polar skies in greens, purples, and reds. But while we’ve long known they happen when particles from the sun collide with Earth’s atmosphere, the reason they often form into neat, curtain-like arcs has remained a mystery. Now, scientists say they’ve found the “space battery” behind those auroral arcs: a type of plasma wave known as an Alfvén wave. In a new study published in Nature Communications, researchers describe how these waves carry energy from space into Earth’s upper atmosphere. As Alfvén waves travel along magnetic field lines, they transfer energy to electrons, accelerating them toward the planet. When those high-speed electrons hit atoms in the atmosphere, they produce glowing streaks of light. “This discovery helps explain how auroral arcs form,” NASA said in a statement. “Fast-moving electrons, juiced by Alfvén waves, hit atoms in our atmosphere, releasing light in towering bands.” The breakthrough came thanks to a rare stroke of luck. In 2015, both NASA and military satellites happened to be monitoring the same auroral arc from different vantage points. That synchronized data helped scientists track the wave activity and the particles' motion over time. “These combined observations provided different viewpoints over a long enough time to reveal more about the conditions in space that helped create the arc,” NASA said. Auroras come in many shapes — rays, patches, spirals — but arcs are among the most common and visually striking. Understanding the mechanics behind them helps scientists build more accurate models of space weather, which can affect everything from GPS systems to power grids. Even though the sun’s current activity cycle may have already peaked, aurora enthusiasts can still expect a strong showing in 2026, especially in the northern hemisphere through March. Increased solar activity often fuels more vivid auroras, making these scientific insights especially timely. For researchers, it’s another piece of the puzzle in understanding the complex relationship between the sun, Earth’s magnetic field, and the stunning light shows that result.
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This Extinct Moss Is Making a Comeback — and It’s Helping Cool the Planet
Across the wind-whipped uplands of Yorkshire, a tiny plant is quietly making a major comeback — and it could play a big role in climate resilience. Sphagnum moss, once widespread but long-damaged by industry and drainage, is being reintroduced to peatlands in the Yorkshire Dales and on Marsden Moor. The moss not only helps create carbon-storing peat bogs, but also acts as a natural defence against flooding, wildfires, and biodiversity loss. At Kingsdale Head Farm near Ingleton, teams from the Yorkshire Peat Partnership are replanting sphagnum austinii, a rare variety that’s been extinct in the region for centuries. “Austinii is a real peat forming species,” said Beth Thomas, the group's data and evidence manager. “When you look through the peat cores that exist in this landscape for about the last 6,000 years... you can see that austinii is the real dominant sphagnum here.” The species, brought down from Scotland, is being grown in local nurseries and planted carefully into the bogs, tracked by GPS so scientists can monitor its progress. Blanket bogs like those at Kingsdale Head are one of the UK’s richest natural carbon sinks. The mosses that thrive there can absorb up to 20 times their weight in water. As they grow and die back, they help form peat — a thick, waterlogged layer that locks in carbon for thousands of years. “It is so important for carbon storage, for flood mitigation, for cleaning our water but also for our wildlife and the people who use these places and want to enjoy the wildness of them,” said Thomas. Two-thirds of the 610-hectare Kingsdale site is blanket bog, and farm manager Jamie McEwan says the results of the restoration efforts are beginning to show. “Huge parts of the landscape are made up of blanket bogs and peatlands but a lot of the interest happens at this tiny little scale,” he said. “Whether I'm there to see the full results of what we're doing today or not I don't know, but we'll certainly find out more about it.” Further south, Marsden Moor has been undergoing its own slow recovery. Though sphagnum moss never fully disappeared, it was badly weakened by generations of industrial pollution. Now under National Trust management, the moor is seeing a revival. Area ranger Ian Downson says sulphur and lead in the air once wiped out large parts of the moss population. “Historically we've lost a good portion, if not most of the species that were up there,” he said. Over the past decade, hundreds of thousands of moss plugs have been planted across the moor. The payoff has been dramatic: more than a million tonnes of carbon stored — the equivalent of 150,000 round-trip flights from London to Sydney, according to Downson. And the benefits go beyond climate. The restored peat bogs also support rare birds like the curlew and offer powerful protection against wildfires. “If you've got lots of sphagnum up there, if your bog's made up of 80-90% sphagnum, then when a fire gets there it's pretty much going to stop it,” Downson said. Healthy peat can store between 30 and 70 kilograms of carbon per cubic metre. But restoring it takes patience. Peat forms at a rate of roughly one millimetre per year. Thomas says the aim isn’t to recreate a version of the moors from a thousand years ago — it’s to build something stronger for the next thousand. “We’re looking forward to a future of climate change,” she said. “The more diversity we have, the more resilient they’re going to be... If we can bring back these species that have been lost we can see if we will get resilient habitats that will survive the next 100, 1,000 or millennia in these places.”
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Bad Bunny Surprises Young Fan By Handing Over Grammy During Super Bowl Halftime Show
Bad Bunny's halftime performance at Super Bowl LX on Sunday was a spectacular celebration of culture and hope. The Puerto Rican superstar made quite an impression at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California, using his platform to send a message about chasing dreams. A standout moment came when Bad Bunny walked into a living room set on stage and handed a Grammy trophy to a young boy. This scene quickly went viral as it symbolized the idea that anyone can achieve their dreams. A source told ABC News this was exactly the intended message. The young actor who received the Grammy from Bad Bunny is 5-year-old Lincoln Fox, represented by his talent agency. Lincoln shared this special moment on Instagram with the caption, "I’ll remember this day forever! @badbunnypr - it was my truest honor 🐰🏆🏈." According to his social media profile, Lincoln is half Argentinian. Just one week before this memorable Super Bowl moment, Bad Bunny had already made history by winning three Grammys—among them Album of the Year for "DeBÍ TiRAR MÁS FOToS." This marked the first time a Spanish-language album took home the ceremony's top prize. Bad Bunny's halftime show was rich in cultural diversity, featuring a lineup of Hispanic celebrities like Ricky Martin, Jessica Alba, Karol G, and Cardi B. As he performed hits including "Tití Me Preguntó," he proudly carried a Puerto Rican flag, highlighting his roots and sharing part of his heritage with millions tuning in. In focusing on representation and inclusivity during one of America's biggest events, Bad Bunny delivered more than just music; he offered hope and inspiration through powerful imagery and performance.
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Colm Feore Brings Stop-Motion Puppets to Life in Oscar-Nominated Short ‘The Girl Who Cried Pearls’
It was a cold winter’s day when Colm Feore walked into a small studio in Kitchener, Ontario, to record voices for what would become one of this year’s Oscar-nominated animated shorts. By the time he left a few hours later, he had given life to nearly every character in The Girl Who Cried Pearls — except for one. “There is one young girl whose voice obviously has to be a young girl,” Feore told CBC News. “But all the other voices, I do.” The 17-minute stop-motion film, created by Montreal animators Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, tells the story of a poor boy in early 20th-century Montreal who falls in love with a girl whose tears turn to pearls. It’s Feore’s voice, and physicality, that gives shape to the film’s cast of characters — from grumbling old men to animated supporting roles. And it all happened inside Fred Smith’s studio near downtown Kitchener. Smith, who’s run his audio studio for years, said Feore is one of the most prepared actors he’s ever worked with. “Colm always comes in super prepared. It’s almost like he’s already had the script memorized. That’s how good he is,” Smith said. The session, Smith added, lasted just a couple of hours. “And that includes social time and lots of laughs and lots of fun.” Feore, 65, is no stranger to big productions — with roles ranging from Shakespearean kings at the Stratford Festival to Laufey in Marvel’s Thor, not to mention Chicago, Bon Cop, Bad Cop, and most recently the TV series Landman. But for this intimate animated film, he was the creators’ first and only choice. “We went after him. He was the number one guy we wanted for the voice,” Lavis told Deadline. “He’s just one of those actors who can handle any type of material.” Feore said the recording process was a close collaboration with Lavis and Szczerbowski. “The text was so good, but there were a few nuances that I wanted to know whether to lean into or to back away from,” he said. Even though it was just voice work, Feore went all in — mimicking gestures and mannerisms while watching the footage in the studio. “There’s a moment where the character waves his arm around and talks about, ‘This whole room. How did you pick this one little thing?’” he said. “And you’ll see me in the studio waving my arms around, getting up, sitting down, grunting, you know, like an old person.” That attention to physical detail wasn’t just for effect. “If I perform those actions well, my breathing is likely to be correct for a senior citizen trying to sit down or wave his arms around,” he said. “What we’re really trying to convey here is a living, breathing creature who happens to be a stop-motion animated puppet.” It’s the second Oscar nomination for Lavis and Szczerbowski, whose 2007 short Madame Tutli-Putli was also a contender. Now, The Girl Who Cried Pearls is nominated for Best Animated Short Film at the 2026 Academy Awards, with winners to be announced March 15. Feore found out about the nomination the same way Smith did — via a text. “That’s pretty cool,” Smith said. “I’ve been doing this for a long time and I’m just always joyful that I still get to do what I love to do the most.” Feore said he’ll attend the Oscars if invited, and plans to be at the Screen Actors Guild awards on March 1, where Landman is nominated for best ensemble performance in a drama. Asked about the quiet buzz building around the short, Feore shrugged it off with characteristic understatement: “I said I’d do it if I could record it at Fred’s studio.” And then he did — all in a day’s work.
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Scientists Discover New Method To Slow Memory Loss In Alzheimer's Patients
A team of scientists in New York may have found a new way to slow the memory loss that defines Alzheimer’s disease — and it involves turning down the activity of a single enzyme. Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory say an enzyme known as PTP1B could be contributing to cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s, and limiting its activity may help preserve memory. The study, conducted in mice, found that reducing PTP1B improved how immune cells in the brain clear out harmful protein build-up linked to the disease. Nicholas Tonks, a professor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory who first discovered PTP1B in 1988, is leading the research. His lab’s latest findings point to the enzyme’s influence on microglia — the brain’s immune cells responsible for clearing debris, including amyloid-β plaques. These plaques, made up of sticky proteins, are one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. “Over the course of the disease, these cells become exhausted and less effective,” said Yuxin Cen, the study’s lead researcher. “Our results suggest that PTP1B inhibition can improve microglial function, clearing up Aβ plaques.” The study also found that PTP1B interacts with another protein called SYK (spleen tyrosine kinase), which helps regulate microglial response to damage. By altering that interaction, the researchers believe they can restore some of the immune system’s natural ability to keep the brain clean. Tonks hopes that one day, PTP1B inhibitors could be used alongside existing Alzheimer’s drugs to slow disease progression. Current treatment options include cholinesterase inhibitors like donepezil, and NMDA receptor antagonists such as memantine — but these medications only offer modest benefits and are typically used in different stages of the disease. “The goal is to slow Alzheimer’s progression and improve the quality of life of the patients,” Tonks said. More than 55 million people worldwide are living with dementia, and Alzheimer’s accounts for up to 70 percent of those cases, according to the World Health Organization. While age is the biggest risk factor, other conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes — both linked to PTP1B — are also known to raise the risk. Tonks, whose own mother had Alzheimer’s, described the disease’s toll as a “slow bereavement.” “You lose the person piece by piece,” he said. His lab is now working to develop PTP1B inhibitors that could be used in a range of diseases, from metabolic disorders to neurodegeneration. The findings offer no immediate cure. But they do suggest a new and potentially powerful way to support the brain’s natural defences — and to possibly slow down a disease that continues to affect tens of millions of families around the world.
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Daytime Discos are Helping Older Adults Discover Love
The music is loud, the lights are low, and the floor is full of dancers — except this isn’t your typical Saturday night disco. It’s Wednesday lunchtime, and most of the crowd is well past retirement age. At the Wakefield Exchange, a city arts venue, the familiar sounds of The Supremes and The Four Tops are drawing in dozens of older adults for a monthly event unlike any other. It’s all part of the “Still Got It” initiative from Age UK Wakefield District, aimed at encouraging connection, companionship, and even romance later in life. “We have people who live locally who have never met before, or people who went to school together and are reconnecting,” said Deborah Hunter from Age UK. “We have had some lovely romantic stories come out of it.” The formula is simple: classic music, plenty of seating, and no pressure to dance. DJ David Williams, a retiree himself, knows exactly what the crowd wants. “I play music from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s. I played some from the 90s last time but people said ‘woah, that’s a bit modern, you have to slow it down!’” he laughed. Guaranteed floorfillers, according to Williams, include “Get Ready” by The Temptations, “Sugar Pie Honey Bunch” by The Four Tops, and just about anything by The Supremes. “I do get dragged down to dance,” he said. “We do a bit of bopping, a bit of rock n’ roll — I love that!” For many in attendance, like 85-year-old Peter Heptinstall from Crofton, the event isn’t just about dancing. It’s about finding connection again after loss. “I lost my wife five years ago and so I went to the bereavement centre and they introduced me to Age UK. I have been there ever since,” he said. “I am looking for companionship — I had a relationship of 65 years and I thought, I’ve done my time as a husband,” Heptinstall joked. “If they want a date, they can have a date, as long as they pay!” The event is open to anyone over 50 and typically wraps up mid-afternoon, making it easier for attendees to get home. The Wakefield Exchange donates the space, and Age UK staff and volunteers help newcomers feel at ease. “There is no such thing as too old in our world,” said Hunter. “We like to explore, push boundaries and make sure that everybody is still having a good time.” That includes helping break down the social and emotional barriers that can come with ageing and dating. “They don’t have the digital connections that young people who are starting to date do,” she said. “They might not have the resources for going out to date, or they might have a lost love that they feel guilty about and that they don’t want to put in the past.” Hunter stressed that the events aren’t about matchmaking or awkward icebreakers. “There is no pressure,” she said. “Many people don’t want to dance and we are certainly not dragging people onto the dancefloor. If you want to come somewhere that is warm and friendly and chatty then come along for that.” The discos are a space where joy is simple, timeless and rooted in the music of youth. And for a generation that grew up with Motown, soul and early rock, stepping onto the dancefloor again is less about nostalgia and more about reclaiming joy, on their own terms. “There’s something about seeing people light up when their song comes on,” said DJ Williams. “It reminds you that no matter how old you are, some things never change.”
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"Please Don’t Die": British Powerlifter Ray Bowring Becomes Youngest Ever to Squat 500kg
At just 23 years old, Ray Bowring has entered one of the most exclusive clubs in powerlifting history — and he did it with a simple mantra running through his mind: “Please don’t die.” The powerlifter from Gosport, Hampshire, became the first Briton to squat 500 kilograms in an International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) competition, an eye-watering weight equivalent to a small car or fully grown horse. The feat helped secure his sixth British title at the British Equipped Championships last month. “I just didn’t think about anything,” Bowring said, recalling the moment. “I just thought about my steps for my setup, because I knew that I was strong enough. It’s all about the walkout for me. Then as soon as I’m in that position, my body takes over. It’s muscle memory at that point.” He added, with a laugh, “That’s about what I thought, really, just that and, God, please don’t die!” Standing 6ft tall and weighing 155kg, Bowring is now one of only two people in the world known to have completed a 500kg squat in IPF competition — and the youngest to do so. It’s the latest milestone in a remarkable rise for the former “fat kid” who once struggled to find his place in mainstream sports. “I was too heavy for football and my conditioning was never good enough for rugby,” he said. “If it wasn’t for powerlifting and the boys at the gym and my dad saying ‘you should definitely go for this,’ that’s that path I probably would have edged down — that darker path.” His full lift stats at the British Equipped Championships were as jaw-dropping as the squat itself: 500kg squat, 350kg bench press, and 372.5kg deadlift — for a combined total of 1222.5kg. Bowring credits much of his success to his father Dean, himself a powerlifting legend and 2009 world open champion, who now serves as his coach. “I think a lot of people were like, 'you know, big shoes to fill,’” Ray said. “I’m pretty sure he’s got to fill my shoes now, if I’m honest.” That father-son dynamic runs deep. Dean introduced Ray to powerlifting in his early teens, steering him away from what Ray described as “gelling” with kids heading down the wrong road. The gym became his anchor. “The boys that I train with — they make me do the extra reps, they push me, so it’s a really good dynamic,” he said. His breakthrough moment didn’t happen overnight. Bowring recently completed a sports scholarship at Midland University in Nebraska, where he says his bench technique “improved dramatically.” Now, he juggles training for international titles with his full-time day job at the NHS. “The secret to my success?” he said. “Never quitting.” He also sticks to a tight routine: good sleep, good food, and relentless training. “A routine is really helpful,” he said. “I’ve got to give credit to the boys that I train with.” As for what’s next, Bowring has his sights set on more titles abroad. But for now, he’s happy reflecting on what it took to reach the 500kg mark — and grateful he’s still standing. “It was just a good feeling,” he said. “It’s a pinnacle number.”
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Messi Sends Jersey to Afghan Boy, Chef Saves Veteran, and Foxes Freed: Here's Your Roundup of Good News
Messi's Gesture Lights Up a Village Five-year-old Murtaza Ahmadi captured the internet's heart when a photo of him wearing a homemade Lionel Messi jersey — fashioned from a striped plastic bag — went viral. Living in a rural Afghan village and unable to afford a real jersey, Murtaza’s story quickly spread across the globe. The story reached Messi himself, who responded by sending the boy a signed Argentina jersey and a soccer ball. The moment Murtaza received it? Pure joy. Daily Routine Saves a Life in Florida Charlie Hicks, a 78-year-old Air Force veteran, has ordered the same meal — gumbo with rice — every day for ten years at the Shrimp Basket in Pensacola. When he didn’t show up one day, staff grew concerned. One of the chefs, trusting his gut, checked in and discovered Hicks was in medical distress. The chef’s quick thinking may have saved his life. A Home, at Last Tony Mutabazi’s childhood had already been difficult — adopted from foster care at age 4, then abandoned again at 11 in a hospital. But his story took a hopeful turn when single dad Peter Mutabazi stepped in and adopted him, giving Tony not just a home, but a father who refuses to walk away. Back from the Brink The Galápagos rail, a flightless bird last seen on Floreana Island by Charles Darwin in 1835, has officially returned. Conservation efforts helped reintroduce the species to the island after nearly two centuries, offering a rare win for endangered wildlife. A Fur Farm Rescue in Ohio In one of the largest operations of its kind, more than 250 foxes were rescued from horrific conditions at the Grand River Fur Exchange. The animals were found in wire cages, covered in filth. They’re now safe and headed for sanctuaries.