Charles Barkley Just Rejected $100M to Save Jobs at TNT Sports

Turner Sports lost out on an 11-year NBA broadcasting deal, but Charles Barkley chose to stay with the network despite lucrative offers from other networks. Barkley says his decision ensures his team at TNT will keep their jobs for another year. The NBA signed a $1.8 billion per year deal with ESPN, Walt Disney, NBC and Amazon while TNT explores legal options. Despite tempting offers, Barkley says he prioritizes his TNT family and looks forward to future collaborations with them.

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Clever Hawks are Outsmarting Prey by Using Traffic Lights as a Hunting Tool

Hawks have taken urban adaptation to a new level, using traffic signals as hunting aids, according to a study published in the journal Frontiers in Ethology. Vladimir Dinets, a zoologist at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, observed this behavior near his home in West Orange, New Jersey. Dinets had long been fascinated by how animals navigate city life and was particularly interested in birds' interactions with cars. While ravens are known to patrol highways for roadkill and songbirds use vehicles as cover from predators, Dinets discovered something remarkable about a young Cooper’s hawk in his neighborhood. The hawk had learned to associate the pedestrian "walk" signal with an opportunity for an easy meal. When pedestrians crossed the street, cars would line up along the block, providing cover for the hawk. The bird would then swoop down from its perch in a small tree to catch sparrows and doves feasting on crumbs left by a family dining outdoors. Dinets noted that the hawk seemed to understand that the sound of the pedestrian signal meant cars would soon queue up. "That meant that the hawk understood the connection between the sound and the eventual car queue length," he explained. The same hawk returned the following year using this clever strategy until changes in local conditions ended its hunting routine. This study highlights how some birds are not just surviving but thriving amid urban challenges. “I think my observations show that Cooper’s hawks manage to survive and thrive there, at least in part, by being very smart,” Dinets wrote.

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The Heartwarming Reason This Dad Is Recording Bedtime Stories For His Kids

Lee Rawlinson, a 51-year-old father from Leigh-on-Sea in Essex, is creating lasting memories for his children in the face of terminal illness. Diagnosed with untreatable pancreatic cancer last October, Rawlinson has been given just months to live. Despite this devastating news, he and his family are focusing on cherishing their remaining time together. Rawlinson is recording bedtime stories for his daughter Darcey, 10, and son Marley, 7, to listen to after he's gone. "I always read to [the children] before bed," he said. "One of the things I’ve always said to them is: ‘You're a dream come true, and I love you to bits’. Now, they’ll always be able to hear that in my voice." His storytelling project involves charities Stories for Life and Havens Hospices. These organizations help families preserve voices through recorded messages and stories. Rawlinson's animated rendition of The Wonky Donkey is a family favorite designed to bring smiles and laughter. Initially apprehensive about hospice care at Fair Havens—part of Havens Hospices—Rawlinson found comfort there. "I didn’t want to come... I had fears," he admitted. "But it isn’t what you think. My first visit erased those fears." Christine Harris from Havens Hospices emphasized the impact of projects like Stories for Life: “It’s a simple but powerful way to help people capture their voice... something their families can hold on to.” Rawlinson expressed gratitude for donations supporting his family's care: “Your donations are having a massive impact, not just on my life but on my children’s lives.”

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Teen Hero: How a 16-Year-Old Saved a Life on a School Trip

A High School student is being celebrated for her quick actions that saved a woman's life during a school outing. Violet Ammon, 16, was honored by the American Red Cross for her bravery after she intervened when a woman began choking during a field trip lunch. The sophomore received a certificate and other tokens of appreciation at an award ceremony held at her school in Silverton, Oregon. While on the outing with her leadership class, Violet noticed the woman in distress and immediately took action. She checked on the woman, called for help, and performed the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge the object causing the obstruction. “I took a CPR and first aid class through Silverton CPR,” Violet told KATU. “I mean, I saw she needed help, and I helped her, and I didn't really think about what I did until way after.” The incident occurred while Violet's class was shopping for families in need as part of their holiday season activities. Her teacher, Alyssa Ogle, praised Violet's decisive response. “We were on a trip for our leadership class. We were doing some shopping for the holiday season for families in need. And a bunch of people in a room, no one helping, just Violet. So I thought she deserves to be recognized for helping this lady essentially saving her life,” Ogle said.

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Thailand is Preparing to Welcome Home Ancient Statues from a U.S. Museum

The long-lost treasures of Thailand are finally making their way back home. Decades after being looted from an ancient temple in northeast Thailand during the 1960s, several centuries-old statues are set to return to their rightful place. The Prakhon Chai hoard, as these artifacts are known, has been scattered across museums and private collections in the United States, Europe, and Australia. However, a significant step towards repatriation was taken when San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum decided to release four bronze statues from its collection. These pieces had been held since the late 1960s but will soon embark on a journey back to Thailand. Disapong Netlomwong of Thailand’s Fine Arts Department expressed his excitement: “We are the righteous owners. It is something that our ancestors have made.” This move marks another victory for countries striving to reclaim cultural heritage lost to looting and smuggling. The museum's decision follows similar actions by other institutions like New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, which agreed to return items linked to notorious antiquities dealer Douglas Latchford. Latchford was charged with various crimes related to antiquities smuggling before his death in 2020. His daughter later returned over 100 artifacts valued at more than $50 million. Efforts like these highlight a growing trend among museums worldwide toward acknowledging past wrongs and returning stolen artifacts. Tess Davis of the Antiquities Coalition noted that this shift is partly due to increased media coverage and public awareness. As more institutions follow suit, there is hope that many more treasures will find their way back home where they belong.

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Could Unlocking Dolphin Language Be the Key to Talking with Aliens?

Dolphins may hold the key to unlocking communication with extraterrestrial intelligence, according to recent research. The Coller Dolittle Challenge awarded its inaugural $100,000 prize to a team of researchers exploring interspecies communication. This annual prize will continue until a team deciphers the secret. Led by Laela Sayigh from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, this year's winning team studied bottlenose dolphins off Sarasota, Florida. They focused on "non-signature" whistles, which make up about half of the dolphins' vocalizations and differ from "signature" whistles that function like names. "Bottlenose dolphins have long fascinated animal communication researchers," Sayigh said. "Our work shows that these whistles could potentially function like words, shared by multiple dolphins." The team used non-invasive suction-cup hydrophones and digital acoustic tags during health assessments to capture these sounds. With deep learning techniques, they aim to decode these dolphin communications further. While Sayigh's focus remains on Earthly creatures, her work has implications for understanding extraterrestrial signals. Arik Kershenbaum of Cambridge University noted that studying animal communication is our closest approach to analyzing potential alien messages. Kershenbaum contributed a white paper for the SETI Institute in California, suggesting that challenges in SETI research mirror those in animal behavior studies. He proposed creating a cross-species database of communicative signals accessible to researchers across disciplines. Bill Diamond, president of the SETI Institute, highlighted interest in non-human communications among astrobiologists and SETI researchers. He emphasized exploring whether universal mathematical rules govern information transmission. "If there's an underlying rule structure... we might even ultimately be able to translate it," Diamond said.

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These Abandoned Chicks Rescued From a Postal Truck Just Found New Homes

A postal service mishap turned into a community effort as thousands of abandoned chicks found new homes after being left in a truck for three days. The First State Animal Center and SPCA announced that the last group of surviving birds was adopted on Thursday morning. The chicks were part of a 12,000-bird shipment left unattended at a Delaware mail distribution center, resulting in the death of many due to high temperatures and lack of food and water. The U.S. Postal Service is investigating the incident. John Parana, executive director of the shelter, said more than 5,000 surviving chicks were cared for over two weeks before being adopted by local families, rescues, and farms. "We wouldn't accept adopters planning to use them for meat," Parana stated. In a Facebook post celebrating the adoptions, the shelter expressed gratitude: "ALL of these thousands of babies will live out their natural lives. WE THANK EVERYONE for your kindness." They also requested donations to cover costs incurred during this period. Stephanie Bruzdzinski was among those who adopted some chicks after her daughter learned about their plight. "She was very upset and wanted to help out," Bruzdzinski said. The birds originated from Pennsylvania-based Freedom Ranger Hatchery's weekly shipment but could not be returned due to biosecurity concerns. The community's response ensured these animals would have a chance at life beyond their unexpected ordeal.

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The Simple Exercise This 70-Year-Old Cardiologist Swears By For Ultimate Fitness

Exercise is crucial for maintaining health, but how should our routines evolve as we age? Dr. Eric Topol, a renowned cardiologist and longevity researcher, offers insights from his book “Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity.” Topol emphasizes that regular exercise is vital for healthy aging and preventing diseases like heart disease and cancer. He highlights strength training as particularly beneficial in slowing the aging process and enhancing fitness. “Strength train at least three times a week,” advises Topol. Initially focused on aerobic exercises like running and cycling, he realized the importance of resistance training later in life. “That was a mistake,” he admitted. Now 70, Topol incorporates an hour of strength training three times weekly or 30 minutes four to five times weekly. “I’m more fit and stronger than I can ever remember,” he said. As people age, muscle mass and strength decline significantly after 50, according to Topol. Strength training helps maintain muscle mass, improve bone density, enhance mobility, and reduce fall risks—the leading cause of injury among adults over 65. A 2022 review linked resistance training with lower mortality risk from all causes. Despite this evidence, only one in four U.S. adults meets the Physical Activity Guidelines recommending muscle-strengthening activities twice weekly. For those new to strength training, Topol reassures it’s never too late to start. Beginners can use bodyweight exercises like squats and push-ups before progressing to light weights such as 5-pound dumbbells.

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Students Solve 200-Year-Old Shipwreck Mystery Using DNA Breakthrough

Undergraduate students at Ramapo College in New Jersey have successfully identified the skeletal remains of a sea captain who perished nearly 200 years ago. Captain Henry Goodsell, just 29 years old, was at the helm of the schooner Oriental when it sank in 1844 while transporting marble to Philadelphia. This achievement marks one of the oldest cold case identifications using such methods. The ship met its tragic end after setting sail from Connecticut, succumbing to a leak that claimed the lives of Goodsell and his crew just a mile from shore. Over the years, fragments of human remains washed ashore on South Jersey beaches, including Longport and Ocean City. Dubbed "Scattered Man John Doe," these remains puzzled authorities for decades. In fall 2023, the New Jersey State Police collaborated with Ramapo College's Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center (IGG) to solve this enduring mystery. The students employed investigative genetic genealogy—a technique combining consumer DNA testing with genealogical research—to crack the case. A bone sample was sent to Intermountain Forensics and uploaded to DNA matching sites GEDmatch and FamilyTreeDNA in February 2024. By researching local shipwrecks and analyzing genealogical data, the team identified Goodsell as the long-lost captain. "Using modern genealogy testing to identify bone fragments from the 19th century is a powerful reminder of our unwavering commitment to resolving cases no matter how old," said Patrick Callahan, superintendent of New Jersey State Police. Since its inception in late 2022, Ramapo's IGG has consulted on 92 cold cases nationwide, successfully identifying more than a dozen human remains.

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How This Loyal Pet Saved a Family From an Invisible Threat

A vigilant cat named Albert recently became a household hero by alerting his owners to a dangerous gas leak. The story, shared on Reddit, details how Albert's persistent meowing and pacing initially puzzled his owners. "He was shouting so loud, stomping up and down the house," the owner recounted. The situation took a serious turn when a family member working from home began feeling unwell. Upon returning to their office, they were met with an overwhelming smell of gas. "Poor Albert had been trying to tell us there was something wrong and we just couldn't smell it!" the owner said. According to the National Fire Protection Association, approximately 125,000 residential gas leaks in the U.S. require fire department intervention each year. These leaks can lead to catastrophic explosions, causing property damage and posing risks of injury or death. Gas leaks often originate from appliances like stoves, furnaces, fireplaces, and water heaters that burn oil or natural gas. Transitioning from these gas-powered devices to electric alternatives not only mitigates this hazard but also reduces energy consumption and utility costs while enhancing safety. Electric appliances are also environmentally friendly as they do not emit harmful gases like their gas-powered counterparts do. This switch can lower your home's environmental footprint—a change that would likely earn Albert's approval. Albert's bravery earned him accolades online. One commenter wrote: "Oh what a hero! Give him extra treats, pets and praise from the Reddit people."

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This Blind Tennis Champion is Pushing for Paralympic Glory

Naqi Rizvi, a 34-year-old blind tennis champion from London, is not just chasing titles; he's on a mission to elevate blind tennis to the Paralympics. "That would be the dream, and I’d love to be the first Paralympic champion if I can,” Rizvi said. Blind since age seven due to congenital glaucoma, Rizvi discovered tennis only ten years ago. Today, he ranks as the No. 1 men's player in his category worldwide. An avid runner who has completed two marathons with a guide, Rizvi finds unparalleled freedom on the tennis court. “On a tennis court, I have absolute freedom because I know where the boundaries are," he explained during practice at London's National Tennis Center. The sport's rules mirror mainstream tennis but with adaptations like tactile lines and a foam ball containing a bell for auditory tracking. Players can have up to three bounces depending on their level of visual impairment. “What I find interesting about blind tennis is it’s incredibly technical,” said Rizvi. Rizvi stumbled upon blind tennis through Metro Blind Sport in London and was immediately captivated. He believes many visually impaired individuals remain unaware of its existence due to lack of media coverage. Despite winning multiple national and international titles, including gold at the ISBA World Games in 2023, financial support remains scarce. “Unless you obviously have the visibility and the money behind it, it’s really hard,” he noted. Rizvi hopes for greater recognition and inclusion of blind tennis in major events like Grand Slams and ATP Tours alongside wheelchair tennis. "It’s got the countries, the continents, the people, the passion behind it," he emphasized.

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