Blake Shelton Has Big News For Country Music Fans

Get ready for a fantastic country music tour coming your way! Blake Shelton just announced his Friends & Heroes 2025 tour, featuring Craig Morgan, Deanna Carter, Trace Adkins, and Emily Ann Roberts. Fans are already buzzing with excitement as the tour will kick off in February 2025 with stops across several states. Tickets go on sale soon, so mark your calendars and get ready to sing along to all your favorite songs!

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Can Coral Reefs Emerge As a Key Solution To Global Food Insecurity?

Overfishing and climate change are squeezing food out of the oceans. But a new study suggests that coral reefs, if restored and managed properly, could help ease global hunger and provide millions of meals every year. Research from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), published in the journal PNAS, found that fish populations on reefs around the world could be dramatically increased—by nearly 50 percent—if overfished stocks were allowed to recover to sustainable levels. That recovery, researchers say, could provide enough seafood to meet the recommended intake for several million people each year. In hard numbers, that’s between 20,000 and 162 million additional meals annually. The researchers looked at data from coral reef areas in countries like the Dominican Republic, Panama, Jamaica, Kenya, Mauritius, Madagascar, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Their goal was to assess how much more food could be sustainably harvested from reefs if fish populations were brought back to healthy levels. They found that recovery time would depend on the severity of overfishing in each region. In some areas, fish stocks could bounce back in just six years; others could take up to five decades. But overall, the potential for long-term gains is significant. “Effective reef fisheries monitoring and management have substantial and measurable benefits beyond environmental conservation,” said lead author Jessica Zamborain-Mason. “It has food security and public health implications.” The findings are particularly relevant as the world continues to face growing hunger. According to UNICEF, 2.3 billion people experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2024—an increase of more than 330 million people compared to 2019. Meanwhile, many coral reef fish populations have been decimated. Overfishing has been a persistent problem, and global warming has led to widespread coral bleaching, leaving much of the ocean’s biodiversity at risk. Still, the researchers say there’s reason for optimism. By rebuilding fish populations and managing them at what scientists call “maximum sustainable yield,” reef ecosystems could once again become rich sources of protein, especially in regions suffering from hunger and micronutrient deficiencies—such as parts of Africa and Southeast Asia. But rebuilding reefs isn’t as simple as letting nature take its course. The researchers stress that achieving sustainable yields will require governments and communities to step in with clear and enforceable management strategies. That could include fishing restrictions, marine protected areas, and better monitoring of fish populations. It will also mean supporting fishing communities during the recovery process. “The next challenge is designing specific strategies that balance conservation with human livelihoods,” the study says, “ensuring that the ocean's potential is fully realised.” In some areas, that might require international aid or financial support to help people transition to alternative work while fish populations rebound. Even with those hurdles, the researchers argue the long-term payoff is worth it: healthier reefs, better nutrition, and a more sustainable future for millions of people.

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A Homeless Hero Just Rescued a Mother and Baby from a Bayou Crash in Texas

A young mother and her infant are alive today thanks to the quick action of a stranger who chose to remain anonymous. On New Year’s Day, a 22-year-old woman was driving along FM 517 near Dickinson, Texas, when her minivan struck a curb on a bridge, veered across several lanes, and plunged into Dickinson Bayou. It was just before 10 p.m., and the water was dark and cold. According to authorities, the woman told first responders she had lost control after hitting the curb. Her 8-month-old baby was in the back seat, properly secured in a car seat. The situation could have turned tragic—but help arrived from an unexpected place. A homeless man living in a wooded area near the bayou saw the crash happen. Without hesitating, he jumped into his canoe and paddled out to the partially submerged vehicle. He managed to get both the mother and her baby out safely and brought them back to shore. By the time they made it back to land, officers from the Dickinson Police Department had arrived. The local volunteer fire department also responded, using their boat to help a tow truck driver reach the van and secure it for removal. The mother and baby were taken to the University of Texas Medical Branch in League City as a precaution. Police later confirmed that both were released from the hospital and are expected to make a full recovery. There were no signs of alcohol or drug use, investigators said, and the baby’s car seat likely played a key role in minimizing injuries. In a public statement, Dickinson police praised the man for his “quick and selfless actions.” Though hailed as a hero, he asked to remain unnamed. His identity may be unknown, but his act of courage is being remembered.

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Traveling Phone Booth Lets Users Leave Messages Of Kindness Across The US

When Kayla Lamoreaux first Googled “how to start a nonprofit,” she didn’t imagine she’d soon be leading a global kindness movement with tens of thousands of supporters and nearly 5,000 good deeds on the record. But that’s exactly what happened. Lamoreaux launched Wildly Kind in 2022, just two years after beginning her own recovery from alcohol addiction. At the time, she was still working at a mental health facility for adolescents in Portland, Oregon, and trying to navigate life after getting sober. “I thought, after finding sobriety, that first year was going to be a very positive experience, and I was going to find a new identity,” she told local outlet KOIN 6. “I was looking for a coping skill to help with this newly-found sobriety.” Instead of falling back into old habits, Lamoreaux started redirecting the money she would’ve spent on alcohol toward doing small acts of kindness. Each week, she paid it forward in her community—buying groceries for strangers, creating care packages for unsheltered people, and finding small ways to brighten someone else’s day. Those small gestures became the foundation of Wildly Kind, which has since grown into a fast-moving positivity campaign with over 100 ambassadors across six countries and a dedicated following of nearly 70,000 people on Instagram. It’s an unconventional path for someone who once planned to pursue a traditional route into social work. Lamoreaux had been accepted to Portland State University’s master’s program in social work, but she deferred her admission to focus full-time on building the nonprofit. In her words, the experience of launching Wildly Kind has become “a very own graduate school experience.” One of the group’s most popular projects is a repurposed phone booth—an art installation called A Call for Kindness. It first appeared at the Portland Winter Light Festival, where passersby were invited to leave anonymous messages of encouragement for others who might be struggling. One message in particular struck a nerve. “I was 39 years old when I met the love of my life and 42 years old when I learned what I wanted to do with the rest of my life,” a caller named Carrie shared. She ended the message with a simple, hopeful reminder: “Don’t give up before the miracle happens.” That audio clip was posted to Instagram, where it quickly went viral—racking up more than 620,000 likes and thousands of comments from people who said it gave them hope. Now, Lamoreaux and her team are hoping to find Carrie and thank her. “We’ve reached out to miss connections. We’ve tried to find who this Carrie may be… We would love to at least show her the impact that she has made and the message that she put out into the world,” Lamoreaux said. In the meantime, A Call for Kindness is going on tour. The pop-up phone booth will travel to several cities across the U.S. later this year, with exact locations still under wraps. The goal, Lamoreaux says, is to spread the same kind of anonymous encouragement—and spark the same kind of emotional resonance—in other communities. It’s a long way from those first few grocery store pay-it-forwards. But for Lamoreaux, every act of kindness still counts just as much. And if Carrie’s message is any indication, they matter more than we know.

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Walnuts are Gaining Popularity As A Healthy Snack Choice — Here's Why

Once relegated to the back of the pantry or crushed into holiday stuffing, walnuts are suddenly everywhere. People are tossing them into salads, blending them into pasta sauces, adding them to oatmeal and yogurt, and snacking on them straight from the bag. And the numbers back up the hype. In 2020, the U.S. walnut ingredients market was valued at just over $17.5 million. This year, that figure hit $21.4 million. By 2030, it’s projected to climb past $28 million. They’re not just riding the coattails of almond and pistachio popularity either. Walnuts are being recognized for something more substantial: a growing body of research showing they’re a nutritional powerhouse. That’s part of why their popularity “has grown in recent years, especially among health-conscious consumers,” says LeeAnn Weintraub, a registered dietitian and nutrition consultant based in Los Angeles. Where walnuts come from Today’s global walnut industry traces its roots back thousands of years to Central Asia, near present-day Iran, Afghanistan, and the Himalayas. From there, the nuts spread along ancient trade routes to Europe and the Americas. These days, they grow in temperate climates across the globe, with top producers including the U.S., China, Iran, and Turkey. In the United States, “California is the home to most walnut trees,” says Jill Weisenberger, a Virginia-based registered dietitian and author of Prediabetes: A Complete Guide. Each spring, walnut trees begin a growing cycle that ends in early fall. The nuts start out in green hulls, which mature throughout summer. When the hulls split open, it’s harvest time. That’s when a large piece of equipment, aptly named a “shaker,” grabs each tree and shakes the walnuts loose. Then a sweeper pushes them into neat rows for pickup. After that, more machines hull, clean, sort, and dry the walnuts before they head to processing facilities. Are walnuts actually good for you? The short answer: yes. Among nuts, walnuts rank high in nutritional benefits, especially for the heart and brain. What sets them apart is their fat profile. Walnuts are rich in polyunsaturated fats, including alpha-linolenic acid, a type of plant-based omega-3. “These fats work alongside antioxidant and polyphenol compounds to support healthier blood vessels,” says Weisenberger. They help lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, reduce inflammation, and improve how blood vessels expand and contract—all of which are linked to a lower risk of heart disease. They also contain gamma-tocopherol, a form of vitamin E that acts as an antioxidant. And they offer more than 2 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein in just a single ounce. That’s a powerful combo. “Fiber aids digestion, supports gut health and helps regulate blood sugar,” says Weintraub. Protein, she adds, “supports muscle maintenance, satiety and overall metabolic health.” There’s also growing evidence that walnuts may play a role in brain health and aging. Some studies show they can improve markers of brain function and reduce oxidative stress, which may help delay age-related cognitive decline. Even beyond the heart and brain, walnuts seem to have benefits for metabolism and the gut microbiome. “Clinical research has found that eating walnuts may help diversify and increase populations of beneficial gut bacteria,” says Weintraub. That can lead to better digestion, lower inflammation, and improved metabolic health. They also pack a micronutrient punch. Magnesium, copper, and manganese are all found in walnuts, and they “play roles in bone health, energy metabolism and antioxidant enzyme function,” she adds. Can you eat them every day? Many nutritionists are on board with daily walnut consumption—but with a few caveats. First, they’re calorie-dense: about 190 calories per ounce. So even though they’re healthy, eating too many can add up fast. “Eating too many can contribute to excess calorie intake and potential weight gain if not balanced within the overall diet,” says Weintraub. There are other things to watch for. Some medications, including thyroid and blood pressure drugs, may interact with components in walnuts. And thanks to their high fiber content, overdoing it can lead to bloating or gas. People with nut allergies should obviously avoid them unless cleared by a medical professional. Still, for most people, “walnuts can be a nutritious, heart-healthy addition to a balanced diet when enjoyed in moderation,” Weintraub says. Just a small handful a day delivers a steady supply of healthy fats, protein, fiber and antioxidants. Enough to do your heart, brain, and gut some real good.

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Why This Private Spacecraft is Aiming For a Lunar Landing In This Year's Moon Rush

The moon is about to get busy. After years of slow momentum, 2026 is shaping up to be a breakout year for lunar exploration — not just for NASA and China, but for private companies with serious ambitions of joining the moon rush. Several commercial missions are lined up to attempt landings, showcasing a mix of science, technology demonstrations, and international payloads. If successful, they could help shift lunar landings from rare government-led events to something far more routine — and far more commercial. Blue Origin: Blue Moon Pathfinder Mission 1 Jeff Bezos’s space company is finally heading to the moon. Blue Origin plans to launch its first Blue Moon lander on a New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral in early 2026. The mission is a tech demo, but there’s a lot riding on it. It will test systems critical for future NASA missions, including precision landing and propulsion technologies. The robotic lander — known as the Blue Moon Mark 1 — is targeting the lunar south pole, a high-interest region believed to contain water ice. It will carry a NASA payload called SCALPSS to study how the lander’s exhaust affects the moon’s surface during descent. Blue Origin is also NASA’s contractor for the Human Landing System, so this is essentially a dress rehearsal for future astronaut landings. Firefly Aerospace: Blue Ghost Mission 2 Texas-based Firefly is heading back to the moon just one year after its first successful lunar mission. Blue Ghost M2 is scheduled to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 in the second quarter of 2026 and will try to land on the far side of the moon — something only China has accomplished so far. The mission is packed. It includes the Rashid Rover 2 for the United Arab Emirates, a wireless power receiver from Volta Space, and six other international and commercial payloads. It also features the European Space Agency’s Lunar Pathfinder orbiter, which will be deployed into orbit by Firefly’s Elytra spacecraft and will serve as a comms relay — a necessity for far-side missions, where Earth contact is impossible without support. Intuitive Machines: IM-3 After two hard landings in 2024 and 2025, Intuitive Machines is back for another shot. IM-3, the company’s third attempt, is scheduled for the second half of 2026, using the same NOVA-C lander as before. The mission will launch on a Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center and aim for the Reiner Gamma region — home to a mysterious swirl on the moon’s surface, linked to a local magnetic field. The lander will carry a suite of magnetometers and plasma instruments under NASA’s CLPS program. With the lessons learned from IM-1 and IM-2, the company is hoping for a cleaner touchdown this time. Astrobotic: Griffin Mission 1 Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic is also trying again after its Peregrine lander failed to reach the moon in 2024 due to a propulsion issue. The company’s Griffin lander is a much larger vehicle and is scheduled to launch on a Falcon Heavy no earlier than July 2026. Originally, Griffin was supposed to carry NASA’s VIPER rover, which was later delayed. Instead, it will now transport Astrolab’s 450-kilogram FLIP rover, along with Astrobotic’s own small CubeRover and a set of commercial and cultural payloads. The landing site? The south pole — another sign of the region’s growing strategic importance. A Pivotal Year for Private Moon Missions Taken together, these missions represent a key shift in how the moon is explored. They’re testing technologies and delivering scientific tools that will feed directly into the Artemis program and future international efforts. But just as importantly, they’re proving out business models. If companies like Blue Origin, Firefly, Intuitive Machines, and Astrobotic can pull off repeatable, reliable lunar deliveries, it could mark the beginning of a new phase — where private spaceflight plays an everyday role in humanity’s lunar presence. And if they can’t? Well, 2026 will still offer valuable data, hard lessons, and a few spectacular attempts. Either way, all eyes are on the moon.

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The NBA's Top Players are Rallying To Save the Life Of a Former Trainer — Here's Why

For three decades, Ed Lacerte worked behind the scenes, helping NBA stars stay healthy and ready to play. Now the longtime Boston Celtics and USA Basketball athletic trainer is in the fight of his life — and the basketball world is returning the favor. Lacerte, 62, was diagnosed in November with acute monocytic leukemia, a rare and aggressive blood cancer. His only chance at survival is a blood stem cell transplant. Since then, former players, league officials, and trainers from across the NBA have rallied around him in a league-wide campaign to find a donor. From Magic Johnson and Paul Pierce to Ray Allen and Kevin McHale, the tributes haven’t stopped. They’ve sent videos, messages, and made public appeals to help find a match for the man many credit with helping shape their careers. “Every video coming in is saying how much he’s helped them,” said Arianna Lacerte, Ed’s daughter. “This is their opportunity to give it back and show their love and support for him.” The campaign is being run in partnership with the NMDP (formerly Be The Match), the largest blood stem cell registry in the world. The NBA, USA Basketball, and the National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association (NBATA) are also on board, encouraging fans to register as potential donors. All it takes is a cheek swab — just 20 seconds, as the Celtics pointed out in shooting shirts worn before their Dec. 15 game against the Pistons. “20 seconds could save a life,” the shirts read, with Lacerte’s name across the back. Registration drives have been held at TD Garden in Boston, the Celtics’ practice facility, the NBA’s New York headquarters, and are planned for other NBA arenas this season. The Indiana Pacers will host a drive at their Jan. 31 home game. The registry is especially seeking young, diverse donors between 18 and 35. Because matches are based on genetics, the more ethnically diverse the registry becomes, the better the odds for Lacerte — and thousands of others like him. “Ed’s story is a really unique opportunity,” said Jamie Margolis, NMDP’s senior VP of donor operations. “That’s the NBA audience — young, diverse, and committed. The greater good here is massive.” Lacerte's diagnosis came as a shock. He had just traveled to New York City to watch his son Devin run the marathon and was making travel plans for upcoming USA Basketball assignments. But his health rapidly declined in the weeks that followed. On Nov. 21, doctors confirmed the leukemia diagnosis. Within days, his daughter Arianna moved up her wedding, and longtime friend Josh Corbeil — now head athletic trainer for the Pacers — flew in to be by his side. Corbeil met Lacerte while in grad school in the early 2000s. Lacerte hired him as an intern with the Celtics, then later connected him directly to Larry Bird. That referral launched Corbeil’s career with the Pacers, where he’s been for 22 years. “He just set the table for the rest of my life,” Corbeil said. That generosity is a recurring theme. Lacerte is known as a quiet giant in his field — someone who mentored hundreds, cared for athletes like family, and remained deeply involved in the NBATA even after leaving the Celtics in 2017. The NBATA’s top annual award for trainers is now named in his honor. Lacerte served as athletic trainer for the original 1992 “Dream Team” and worked with multiple Olympic, World Cup, and All-Star squads over his career. He joined USA Basketball full-time in 2018 and was most recently the head trainer for the 2020 USA AmeriCup team. “He’s someone who has built four families,” said Dave Weiss, the NBA’s EVP of operations. “His own, the NBA family, the Celtics family, and USA Basketball. He just commands respect, not by demanding it, but by being a really high-character person.” At home, his kids call him “Grandpa Beach” for his love of the coast. Even as he undergoes chemotherapy at Massachusetts General Hospital, Lacerte is still coaching and mentoring — this time urging people to swab their cheeks and join the registry. Doctors are standing by to perform the transplant as soon as a match is found. Because Lacerte’s HLA typing is rare, time is of the essence. Margolis said more than 360 people have already joined the registry since Lacerte’s story was shared in December. But more are needed. “Ed’s cells could come from anywhere in the world,” Margolis said. “And every new registration helps not just Ed, but thousands of others.” To learn more or sign up as a potential donor, visit nmdp.org/nba. “Ideally we find a match for my dad,” Arianna said. “But I think a legacy that he’d be so proud of, in addition to his incredible career, is the ability to help save so many others’ lives.”

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This Former Police K9 is Sniffing Out Solutions To Save Honeybees

In Michigan, a former police dog is now playing a vital role in protecting the bees. Maple, a nearly 10-year-old English Springer Spaniel, has been trained to detect American foulbrood (AFB), a devastating bacterial disease that affects honeybee colonies. The highly contagious spores attack bee larvae and can wipe out entire hives if not caught early. But while human inspectors can take days to manually inspect hundreds of colonies, Maple can do the job much faster — and possibly save thousands of bees in the process. She works with her trainer, Michigan State University (MSU) alum Sue Stejskal, at the university’s Pollinator Performance Center. Outfitted with her own beekeeping suit, Maple sniffs her way through apiaries, identifying hives that may be infected with AFB. “She’s really good at her job,” Stejskal told MSU Today, adding that using dogs like Maple allows for faster, less invasive inspections that minimize disturbance to the bees. Maple isn’t new to scent work. Before this role, she was a K-9 search and rescue dog trained to find missing persons. But after an injury forced her into early retirement, she was retrained to support bee conservation efforts — a critical task as global pollinator populations continue to decline. She’s not alone. In North Carolina, Darwin, a German shorthaired pointer, is also using his nose to help bees. He was trained by Jacqueline Staab, a bee researcher at Appalachian State University, to locate underground bee nests. Staab got the idea after reading a 2011 scientific paper about a military dog in the UK trained to sniff out bees. “Working with Darwin is really cool because he's always super motivated, super positive, ready to go,” Staab said in an interview with WCNC. The stakes are high. Bees pollinate about 35 percent of the world’s food supply, according to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. But climate change, pesticide use, habitat loss, and disease are all threatening their survival. The result isn’t just fewer bees — it’s a potential crisis for global food security. That’s where dogs like Maple and Darwin come in. By detecting problems early, they’re helping researchers and beekeepers stay ahead of threats that could devastate bee populations. And they're proving that when it comes to conservation, some of the best partners are four-legged.

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Finland Integrates AI Literacy Into Schools to Combat Fake News Starting at Age 3

While much of the world is still catching up to the threat of AI-generated fake news, Finland is already teaching its preschoolers how to spot it. The Nordic country has long been a global leader in media literacy. Since the 1990s, its national curriculum has included lessons in spotting disinformation, understanding media bias, and verifying online content. Now, with deepfakes and generative AI tools becoming more sophisticated—and more accessible—Finland is taking the next step: AI literacy for all students, starting as early as age 3. “We think that having good media literacy skills is a very big civic skill,” said Kiia Hakkala, a pedagogical specialist for the City of Helsinki. “It’s very important to the nation’s safety and to the safety of our democracy.” From Fake News to Fake Faces At Tapanila Primary School in northern Helsinki, fourth-grade students recently huddled in front of a classroom TV as their teacher, Ville Vanhanen, guided them through a “Fact or Fiction?” exercise. Ten-year-old Ilo Lindgren, asked to assess whether a news story was real or not, admitted it wasn’t always easy. “It is a little bit hard,” he said. Vanhanen, who is also the school’s vice principal, said these students have been building their media literacy for years, starting with basic headline analysis and learning to question online content. But now the focus is shifting to artificial intelligence. “We’ve been studying how to recognise if a picture or a video is made by AI,” he explained. These lessons are part of Finland’s broader response to a fast-changing information landscape, especially in the wake of Russia’s disinformation campaigns following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Finland shares a 1,340-kilometre border with Russia, and in 2023, its decision to join NATO only heightened tensions between the two countries. While Russia denies any interference, Finnish officials remain wary. Deepfakes and Democracy Finland’s commitment to media literacy goes well beyond the classroom. Every year, national media outlets participate in “Newspaper Week,” a program that distributes verified news to students across the country. In 2024, the major daily Helsingin Sanomat co-created a new “ABC Book of Media Literacy,” given to every 15-year-old as they began upper secondary school. “It’s really important for us to be seen as a place where you can get information that’s been verified, that you can trust, and that’s done by people you know in a transparent way,” said the paper’s managing editor, Jussi Pullinen. Education Minister Anders Adlercreutz says the rise of AI and deepfake technology poses a direct threat to democratic institutions. “I don’t think we envisioned that the world would look like this,” he said. “That we would be bombarded with disinformation, that our institutions are challenged—our democracy really challenged—through disinformation.” Preparing for a More Complex Future The concern isn’t just about today’s deepfakes, which are often still relatively easy to spot. The real challenge, experts say, is what’s coming next. “It already is much harder in the information space to spot what’s real and what’s not real,” said Martha Turnbull, director of hybrid influence at the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, based in Helsinki. “It just so happens that right now, it’s reasonably easy to spot the AI-generated fakes because the quality of them isn’t as good as it could be.” She warned that future AI models—especially those with more autonomy and advanced capabilities—will make detection far more difficult. As AI-generated content grows more convincing and widespread, Finland hopes early education can build lifelong habits of critical thinking. The goal isn’t just to spot a fake video or story, but to create a society that values truth, transparency, and trusted information. For Finnish students like Lindgren, it’s a lesson with real-world stakes. “We have to know what’s real and what’s fake,” he said. In Finland, that lesson starts early.

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Warm Hugs Boost Brain's Feel-Good Response

New scientific findings are challenging the long-held belief that body temperature is purely about physical regulation. Instead, researchers are highlighting a deeper, more personal role: shaping how we experience our own bodies and, by extension, who we are. A review published in Trends in Cognitive Sciences examines thermoception—our ability to sense temperature changes on the skin—and how it influences our sense of self. The research points to a surprising conclusion: warmth and cold aren’t just sensory experiences, but key components of how we perceive and connect with our own bodies. “Temperature is one of our most ancient senses,” said Dr. Laura Crucianelli, a psychologist at Queen Mary University of London and co-lead author of the study. “Warmth is one of the earliest signals of protection—we feel it in the womb, in early caregiving, and whenever someone holds us close. It keeps us alive, but it also helps us feel like ourselves.” Crucianelli, along with Professor Gerardo Salvato from the University of Pavia, pulled from decades of neuroscience, psychology, and clinical studies to argue that thermoception plays a central role in bodily self-awareness. From Survival to Self-Perception While it's easy to associate thermal sensation with basic comfort—like cold hands in winter or a hot shower after a long day—the review suggests it also plays a much more intimate role. Thermal signals influence emotional stability, personal identity, and even mental health. For example, people with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, trauma-related disorders, and eating disorders often report feeling disconnected from their bodies. This feeling of disembodiment is now being linked to how the brain processes thermal cues. “People with altered temperature regulation and temperature perception, due to a brain stroke, may develop pathological conditions according to which they do not recognize part of their bodies as belonging to themselves,” said Dr. Salvato. “This shows how fundamental thermal signals are to the brain’s sense of body ownership.” Practical Implications: From Prosthetics to Therapy The study’s insights open up wide-ranging real-world applications. In neurological rehabilitation, for instance, a better understanding of thermal feedback could improve therapies for stroke survivors or people living with body integrity disorders. For those with prosthetic limbs, replicating natural temperature cues might help make prosthetics feel more like real parts of the body. If a limb can respond not just to movement but to warmth or cold, it could strengthen the brain’s sense of body ownership. And in mental health, the findings may lead to new sensory-based therapies that use temperature—such as warm touch or cooling sensations—as a way to reconnect people with their physical selves. Crucianelli and Salvato also point to an emerging question: how might climate change and rising global temperatures affect how people feel in their own skin? If heat and cold are tied to emotional stability and bodily awareness, then extreme environments could carry unexpected psychological effects. Why a Warm Hug Feels So Good If this all sounds abstract, think about a hug. “When we hug, the combination of tactile and thermal signals increases our sense of body ownership, so we are more connected to our embodied sense of self,” said Dr. Crucianelli. “Feeling warm touch on the skin enhances our ability to sense ourselves from the inside and recognize our own existence. We feel, ‘this is my body, and I am grounded in it.’” That sensation comes from specialized nerve fibers—called C-tactile afferents—along with temperature-sensitive pathways that send signals to a region of the brain called the insular cortex. This area helps monitor internal bodily states and contributes to emotional regulation. Warm touch has also been linked to the release of oxytocin, a hormone tied to bonding and reduced stress levels. In effect, warmth brings us back to ourselves, physically and emotionally. “Warm touch reminds us that we are connected, valued, and part of a social world,” Crucianelli added. “Humans are wired for social closeness, and hugs briefly dissolve the boundary between ‘self’ and ‘other’.” A New Direction in Body-Brain Research This growing body of research suggests that the signals from our skin are not just physical—they’re personal. Whether through everyday temperature changes or warm contact from others, the body is constantly shaping how the brain understands who we are. By paying more attention to thermoception, scientists hope to unlock better tools for healing minds, designing smarter technologies, and understanding the many subtle ways the body and brain talk to each other every day.

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How This Young Artisan is Reviving the Blacksmithing Craft With Pride

At a time when most 21-year-olds are still figuring out what they want to do, Jay Cardall already knows. He wants to be a blacksmith. For life. “It’s an amazing job,” he said. “There’s never two days the same—never.” Jay joined Mather of Tibshelf, a traditional blacksmithing business in Derbyshire, in April 2024. The company operates out of a smithy that’s been in use since the 1600s. A year and a half in, he’s already forging his own path in one of the UK’s rarest and oldest trades. Before taking up the hammer and anvil, Jay was working through an apprenticeship in joinery. But as the end of his course neared, he realised the work felt too repetitive. “I became bored of the trade,” he said. That’s when he messaged Stephen Beckett, director of Mather of Tibshelf, asking if there might be a place for him at the forge. Beckett said yes—and Jay hasn’t looked back since. Blacksmithing might seem like an unusual career choice for someone so young, but that’s exactly what appealed to him. “A young person in blacksmithing is very rarely heard,” he said. “So it's weird calling myself a blacksmith, but it's also a very proud thing because it is a unique job.” And it is rare. According to national charity Heritage Craft, fewer than 500 people are currently training to become blacksmiths in the UK. At Mather of Tibshelf, the work is as varied as it is hands-on. The team takes on jobs ranging from repairs on mobility scooters to restoration work at stately homes like Kedleston Hall. For Jay, the variety is a big part of the draw. Some days he’s making bottle openers. Other days, he’s working on large-scale gates. His favourite project so far? A job at Repton Prep School. “Everything just seemed to work out perfectly,” he said. “The scale of the job and the detail that went into the design—that’s what made it impressive.” Jay lives in Morton, Derbyshire, and says most of his peers work in factories, pubs, or fast-food restaurants—jobs that never really appealed to him. “I need to get my hands dirty,” he said. “I’ve always been that type of person where if I’m not working and I’m not going home with my hands dirty and putting marks up my mum’s walls, then I think it wouldn’t be for me.” The job is physically demanding, but that’s part of what makes it satisfying. At the end of the day, there’s something to show for it: a piece of metal, reshaped by fire and force, turned into something useful or beautiful—or both. He may have stumbled into blacksmithing by chance, but he’s already thinking long term. “I’d be happy if I retired as a blacksmith,” he said. And if the past year and a half is any indication, he’s just getting warmed up.

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