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Score (96)
Notre Dame Cathedral receives its iconic bells 5 years after fire
Get ready to hear the bells of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris ring once again! After a massive fire in 2019, eight new bells have arrived at the restoration site to bring back the cathedral's original glory. One bell weighs over 4 tons and will be tested during a special blessing ceremony. The cathedral is set to reopen on Dec. 8, marking a beautiful symbol of rebirth for this historic landmark. Cheers to Notre Dame coming back stronger than ever!
Score (97)
Keith Urban Brought Music and Joy to Young Patients at Nashville Children’s Hospital
Keith Urban brought more than just holiday cheer to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt this week — he brought his guitar, his voice, and a heartfelt gift that will keep giving long after the visit ended. The country music star stopped by the Nashville hospital to spend time with young patients and their families, leading an acoustic sing-along and answering fan questions at the hospital’s Seacrest Studios. He also donated guitars to the hospital’s music therapy program, a gesture that hospital leaders say will have a lasting impact. “Keith is a wonderful friend to our hospital with several visits over the years,” said Meg Rush, MD, MMHC, president of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. “His thoughtful and generous gift of guitars to our Music Therapy Program will help us continue using music as added therapy to bring comfort and healing to children during their hospital stay.” Urban, 58, spent time taking photos and chatting with patients, bringing smiles and songs into rooms that often need a little extra light — especially during the holidays. The hospital’s music therapy program uses music as a tool to support emotional well-being, manage pain and anxiety, and help children cope with the challenges of being in the hospital. It’s run by board-certified therapists who tailor each session to the child’s needs, often using instruments, songwriting, or simply listening together. “Music has always been a part of healing,” Rush said. “We’re truly grateful for Keith’s continued support.” Monroe Carell is one of the top-ranked pediatric hospitals in the country, offering high-level neonatal and emergency care and leading the region in pediatric research and innovation. The hospital is affiliated with Vanderbilt University Medical Center and serves patients across 22 regional clinics. Urban’s visit follows a busy stretch for the singer, who performed at the 2025 CMA Awards last month — his first televised performance since his split from actress Nicole Kidman was confirmed in late September. The couple had been married for 19 years. With his High and Alive World Tour wrapped, Urban is set to hit the road again in 2026 with stops planned across the Caribbean, England, the U.S., and Canada. But before that, he’s making time to give back — with music, generosity, and a few well-strummed chords that meant the world to some young fans in Nashville.
Score (96)
Colorado Just Built the Largest Wildlife Overpass in North America — and It’s Already Making a Difference
Every day, more than 100,000 vehicles barrel down Interstate 25 — the major artery connecting Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico. For years, it’s also been a dangerous barrier for the wildlife that call the region home: elk, mule deer, mountain lions, black bears, and pronghorn that rely on the open plains and water sources on either side of the freeway. Now, thanks to a years-long effort by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and its partners, those animals finally have a safer way to cross. On December 16, Colorado Governor Jared Polis announced the official completion of the I-25 Greenland Wildlife Overpass — a massive bridge structure that now stands as the largest of its kind in North America. “Colorado is leading the way in reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions, and improving safety for both our motorists and wildlife,” Polis said. “This is a momentous feat in our continued work to expand safe transportation options for both humans and wildlife, protecting critical habitat, and our amazing outdoor spaces for generations to come.” At 200 feet wide and 209 feet long, the overpass stretches across six lanes of busy highway and connects 39,000 acres of critical habitat. In total, it covers about one acre — and it’s already being hailed as one of the largest wildlife bridge structures in the world. CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew said the project is expected to reduce wildlife-vehicle crashes in the area by as much as 90 percent. “The overpass is an essential component of the wildlife crossing system in this area,” she said. And it’s not just about safety. The overpass restores a key migration route and helps reconnect habitat that had been fragmented by decades of road development. The location was carefully chosen due to its high frequency of large mammal movement and access to vital water sources nearby. “After more than nine years of planning and work, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is excited for Colorado’s wildlife to utilize this overpass,” said Matt Martinez, area wildlife manager for CPW. “We look forward to deer, elk, bears, mountain lions and many other species safely crossing I-25, once a major barrier to migration and wildlife movements.” The effort is part of a larger, decades-long initiative. Since 1996, the CDOT, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the Federal Highway Administration have worked together to protect and reconnect wildlife habitat along the I-25 corridor. “In Douglas County, we take great pride in being responsible stewards of our resources — including our natural spaces and wildlife,” said Colorado Commissioner George Teal. “The completion of this wildlife crossing is a tremendous milestone.” The bridge’s construction wasn’t just a win for conservation — it also represents a major step forward for public safety. Wildlife collisions cost the state millions of dollars each year in damages, injuries, and lost animal life. Now, with the bridge in place, both motorists and animals can move through Colorado more safely. From the ground, it looks like a sloping, tree-lined path — not a bridge at all. That’s by design. The overpass has been covered in native vegetation and landscaping to help guide animals across and make the transition between habitats feel seamless. As Colorado continues to grow, officials hope this overpass can serve as a model for future infrastructure projects that protect both people and nature. And the animals? They’re already showing up. Trail cameras will soon track usage, but conservationists are confident that the overpass will quickly become a critical lifeline for the region’s wildlife — and a symbol of what’s possible when infrastructure and ecology work together.
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Score (98)
Adorable White Rhino Calf Born at UK Wildlife Park — and Her Birth Was Caught on Camera
Cotswold Wildlife Park has welcomed a rare and heartwarming addition: a baby white rhino named Mo, born unexpectedly to mum Ruby in one of the only white rhino births in the UK this year. The calf, a female, arrived earlier than expected — catching keepers by surprise — but was healthy and on her feet within 30 minutes of being born. Even more remarkably, her birth was caught on camera, a rare feat since rhinos usually give birth at night. The video, captured by Conservation Officer Bethan Peacock, shows Ruby gently encouraging her newborn to stand, even offering a nudge with her horn to help her get up. “It’s a moment we don’t often get to witness, let alone film,” said a spokesperson for the Park. Mo is Ruby’s sixth calf with breeding male Monty and the thirteenth rhino born at the park in the last twelve years. She’s also the second white rhino calf born in the UK in 2025 — both delivered at Cotswold Wildlife Park. The first, a male named Markus, was born earlier this year to another rhino, Nancy. These two births make Cotswold the only wildlife collection in the UK to successfully breed white rhinos in 2025. Across all of Europe, only six white rhino calves have been born in zoos this year. “To have such a successful record breeding this incredible species is down to our team of dedicated keepers,” said Park Curator and Managing Director Jamie Craig. “A paddock full of rhino is a great sight, and the new arrivals are certainly keeping the team on their toes.” Mo is named in honour of Maureen “Mo” Clifford, a beloved member of the Cotswold Wildlife Park staff who worked in the main office from 1978 until her retirement in 2017. Her nearly four-decade tenure made her a cornerstone of the Park community, and she still visits regularly with her family. The proud new mum, Ruby, was named after writer and comedian Ruby Wax when she arrived at the Park from South Africa in 2009. She’s proven to be a key part of the Park’s breeding success. Visitors to Cotswold Wildlife Park can now see Mo and Markus in the solar-powered Rhino House or, weather permitting, out in the large rhino paddock. The park is home to nine rhinos in total — the highest number in its 55-year history and one of the largest family groups on public display in the UK. Cotswold Wildlife Park is also a conservation partner of UK-based charity Tusk, which supports protection efforts for Africa’s threatened species, including rhinos. For now, Mo will stay by her mother’s side for at least two years, learning the ropes and staying under her fierce protection. Female rhinos are known for guarding their young aggressively — and Ruby is no exception. With cameras rolling, rhino numbers rising, and Mo taking her first steps into the world, this surprise birth marks a rare and joyful moment for both conservationists and visitors alike.
Score (98)
Las Vegas Mom Travels 1,500 Miles to Attend Graduation — With Baby in Tow
After a year of late nights, a full-time job, and raising a newborn, Katelyn Wittman wasn’t going to miss the chance to walk across a stage and grab the diploma she’d worked so hard for — even if it meant traveling more than 1,500 miles to do it. The Las Vegas-based mom completed her master’s degree in mass media management entirely online through Arkansas State University. But when graduation rolled around in December, she packed up her baby son, brought along her parents, and made the long trip to Jonesboro, Arkansas. “I haven’t had my in-person community, but my online community has been awesome,” she told KCRG News. “Seeing the campus and seeing everything makes me proud that I chose this school in the first place.” Wittman enrolled in the program while juggling a newborn and a demanding job teaching high school broadcasting and video production. When she first spoke to a recruiter, she wasn’t sure it was even possible. “He told me about the benefits and how the program works, and I was like, ‘I can do this,’” she said. “And I did it in a year.” Now a graduate, Wittman said attending the ceremony wasn’t just a personal milestone — it was a way to recognize everything that had gone into earning the degree. “This degree represents such a significant chapter of my life,” she told Arkansas State. “I worked through late nights, busy school days, and the transition into becoming a new mom, and walking in person feels like the perfect way to celebrate all that dedication.” Standing on stage with her family in the audience, Wittman said the moment marked a turning point — and a new direction for her future. “This degree marks a major moment of growth, dedication, and fulfillment,” she said. “It means even more knowing that my lifelong love of media has now evolved into something bigger: a career path with purpose, clarity, and momentum.” She’s currently teaching high school, but she hopes the next stop on that path will be in higher education. For now, she’s enjoying the payoff — and a well-earned celebration with her son in her arms.
Score (97)
12,000 Years of History Could Soon Be a “National Park” — But What Would That Actually Mean?
Ocmulgee Mounds, a sprawling site of Indigenous history in central Georgia, is on the verge of a symbolic upgrade. If a bill before Congress passes, the 3,000-acre park could become the next U.S. national park — one of just 63 with that title out of more than 430 properties managed by the National Park Service. But while the name change might make headlines and boost tourism, it won’t do much to change how the land is protected. For the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Ocmulgee is more than a collection of ancient earthen mounds — it’s sacred ground. Archaeological evidence traces human presence at the site back 12,000 years. The park protects remnants of the Mississippian culture, whose people began building the mounds roughly 3,000 years ago. Today, seven ceremonial and burial mounds rise from the land, including one that stretches 15 meters high and spans 2 acres. There’s also a museum on-site that houses millions of artifacts, from pottery and jewelry to stone tools and bells. The National Park Service has managed the site since the 1930s, most recently as a national historical park since 2019. So what would change if it becomes a “national park”? Not much, at least legally. The protection level, funding, and management responsibilities would remain the same. The designation shift is largely about marketing and perception. But that can still carry weight. “It does not typically change the funding available to run the site,” wrote geographer Seth T. Kannarr of the University of Tennessee, who studies place names and parks. “That’s especially true at a time when National Park Service funding and personnel are being cut.” Still, the new title matters to locals and lawmakers. It can boost tourism, draw attention to regional history, and serve as a point of pride. More visitors mean more money for local businesses — and a bigger spotlight on a culturally rich, often overlooked site. The proposal to redesignate Ocmulgee Mounds also includes expanding the protected area. While national parks ban hunting, national preserves — which would apply to the newly added areas — allow public hunting, including traditional Indigenous practices. That flexibility could allow for co-management with local Indigenous communities, something that’s gaining momentum across public lands. Unlike some past redesignations, this one doesn’t appear to be facing backlash. In other regions, proposed national park status has raised concerns about increased tourism or land-use restrictions. But in central Georgia, the plan has bipartisan support and no organized opposition. That’s not always the case. When the Gateway Arch in St. Louis was redesignated in 2018, critics questioned whether it fit the mold of a national park. At just under 200 acres and focused on a single steel monument and museum, the site lacked the sweeping natural features that most people associate with the title. The Park Service itself had recommended against the change, noting that the area was “too small and limited in the range of resources” to qualify. But Congress approved it anyway, and local officials saw a bump in tourism. Similarly, Indiana Dunes and White Sands were redesignated as national parks in 2019, followed by New River Gorge in 2020. In each case, the upgrades were less about conservation and more about public image. For Ocmulgee Mounds, the core mission of preservation will continue — regardless of the name on the signs. But the move could help more people understand and appreciate its deep cultural roots, particularly its connection to the Muscogee (Creek) people, who were forcibly removed from the region in the 1830s. If approved, Ocmulgee would become the first U.S. national park with deep ties to a removed Indigenous nation. It would also signal growing recognition of the country’s Indigenous history as worthy of its highest public landmarks. Other places are seeking the same spotlight. Active redesignation efforts are underway for the Delaware Water Gap in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Chiricahua in Arizona, Buffalo River in Arkansas, and Apostle Islands in Wisconsin. In each case, the biggest change won’t be how the land is managed. It’ll be how it’s seen. A new name, a new park, and a new reason for people to visit.
Score (52)
An Irish Paramedic Just Built an AI App to Help Carers and First Responders Decode Medications Instantly
At 3am, when someone’s life is on the line, time matters. Paramedic Declan Watters knows that all too well — especially when a patient points to a plastic bag stuffed with tablets, with no idea what they all do. “I’m just a boy from Letterkenny,” Watters says, but he might be on to something big. He’s built MediSnap, a simple app that uses AI to identify medication packets and provide instant information about what they are, what they do, and whether they could dangerously interact with other drugs. It’s designed for paramedics, yes — but also for carers, occupational therapists, and everyday people looking after loved ones. The app went live in beta at the end of October. Since then, it’s quietly racked up users around the world, with hits from the US, Europe, and South Africa — all on just €15 worth of Facebook ads. “It’s been crazy,” Watters said in an interview with Silicon Republic. “It really shows that this tool is needed.” The idea is deceptively simple: scan a packet, and the app gives you critical drug details, including warnings and interactions. But under the hood, it’s powered by optical character recognition software and a custom-built AI tool trained on a medication database that Watters created and updates himself. It’s the kind of tool that feels obvious — but it didn’t exist. So Watters, who has a background in computer science and two decades of experience in pharmaceutical logistics, decided to build it. He worked in pharmacy warehouses before retraining as a paramedic, and also served as a vaccinator during the pandemic. With that mix of tech know-how and frontline experience, he was well-positioned to spot a gap in the system. He’s also still working full-time as a paramedic and is a father of two young children. So how does he find the time? “Late nights,” he said — including one the night before the interview, spent adding a new dosage selector to the app after a paramedic suggested it. “The feedback has been brilliant,” he added. “Paramedics have been particularly positive.” Watters says MediSnap was built with privacy in mind. Patient data is stored locally on a user’s phone and never accessible to him or anyone else. The app can save images and automatically generate an up-to-date list of medications as a PDF — a feature he believes could be especially helpful for family members or healthcare assistants managing long medication lists. For now, the app includes a disclaimer stating it’s for educational use only. It’s not approved yet by Ireland’s Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), and users remain responsible for any clinical decisions. But regulatory approval is next on his list. He’s actively seeking funding to build out the app further, hire developers, and navigate the regulatory process. He’s already been in touch with Donegal’s local enterprise office and plans to approach Enterprise Ireland. Eventually, he hopes to bring MediSnap to the HSE, the NHS, and beyond. His ultimate vision? A home version, MediSnap Home, alongside the professional app. And someday, global reach. “The potential of [the app] to be exported all over the world — it’s crazy,” he said. “And we’re not competing with anyone else.”
Score (96)
Scientists Say They Solved a Quantum Mystery That Stumped Researchers For Decades
A long-standing mystery in physics may finally be solved — and it starts with a strange crystal that refuses to behave like any normal magnet. An international team led by Rice University physicist Pengcheng Dai has confirmed the existence of emergent photons and fractionalized spin excitations inside a rare compound called cerium zirconium oxide (Ce₂Zr₂O₇). The findings, published in Nature Physics, mark the first time these hallmarks of a 3D quantum spin liquid — a bizarre and highly entangled state of matter — have been directly observed in a material this clean and well-characterized. “This confirms that Ce₂Zr₂O₇ behaves as a true quantum spin ice,” said Dai, a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice. “We’ve answered a major open question by directly detecting these excitations.” Unlike ordinary magnets, which tend to settle into a tidy arrangement of north and south poles, quantum spin liquids stay in a state of flux even near absolute zero. Their magnetic moments never freeze or align. Instead, they remain in a constantly shifting, entangled dance that produces unusual behaviors — including the emergence of phenomena that mimic particles found in quantum electrodynamics. One such phenomenon is the "emergent photon," a signature that has eluded direct detection until now. Another is the presence of "spinons" — quantum particles that carry spin but no charge, a clear departure from conventional physics. To find them, the Rice-led team used a specialized tool called polarized neutron scattering. The technique helped the researchers zero in on the magnetic signals they were chasing, filtering out the noise that plagued previous efforts. By cooling their samples close to absolute zero, they were able to observe energy signatures that looked like emergent photons — a key prediction for a quantum spin ice. The team also took careful measurements of the material’s specific heat, which backed up their neutron scattering data. The results suggest that these emergent photons behave in a way that mirrors how sound waves travel through a solid. The implications go beyond just proving a theory. Quantum spin liquids like Ce₂Zr₂O₇ could one day be used as building blocks for quantum computers, or even as part of future technologies that transmit energy without loss. “This surprising result encourages scientists to look deeper into such unique materials,” said Bin Gao, the study’s lead author and a research scientist at Rice. “It could change how we understand magnets and the behavior of materials in the extreme quantum regime.” Part of what makes this study stand out is how clean the data is. Earlier attempts to confirm these phenomena were often muddied by imperfect crystals, imprecise tools, or background interference. The Rice team worked with collaborators across North America and Europe to refine their sample preparation and use high-precision equipment. That international partnership paid off. The work involved researchers from the University of Toronto, the Paul Scherrer Institut in Switzerland, the Vienna University of Technology, the Institut Laue-Langevin in France, the Jülich Centre in Germany, and Rutgers University in the U.S. Funding for the study came from the U.S. Department of Energy, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the Robert A. Welch Foundation. With solid proof in hand, the field of condensed matter physics may now pivot from asking if these quantum spin liquids exist, to figuring out what else they can do — and how far scientists can push them.
Score (97)
Specialized Care Gives Chloe A New Smile And The Courage To Pursue Her Dreams
At just four years old, Chloe’s journey was already remarkable. Born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate, she faced complex challenges that affected her ability to eat and speak. But after being adopted and brought to the United States, her new family immediately began building a care plan — one that would eventually lead them to Shriners Children’s. Now, thanks to years of specialized treatment, Chloe can do the things she loves — playing piano, making art, and dreaming big about becoming an art teacher someday. For Chloe, medical care wasn’t just about closing a cleft. It was about opening doors. Cleft lip and palate affects roughly 1 in 1,700 babies in the U.S. every year. While some might think it’s a single surgery and done, it’s often a lifelong condition that impacts multiple aspects of a child’s development — including speech, dental health, and self-confidence. Shriners Children’s offers comprehensive care that includes surgeries, therapy, orthodontics, and speech support. Importantly, they provide this care regardless of a family’s ability to pay. In Chloe’s case, that care meant multiple surgeries and years of therapy. It also meant a team that understood not just the medical side of her condition, but the emotional and developmental side, too. “I want Chloe to be confident with herself and her speech,” her mom, Casey, said. “Shriners Children’s has gone a long way in helping us get there.” Each year, Shriners Children’s welcomes tens of thousands of new patients and performs hundreds of thousands of procedures, funded in large part by donors. That generosity fuels everything from surgeries and prosthetics to outreach clinics and telehealth programs that reach kids in underserved areas around the world. For families like Chloe’s, it’s not just about access to care — it’s about the freedom to dream without limitations. Now, Chloe smiles and speaks with confidence. She loves Sour Patch Kids, art class, and is already thinking about traveling back to China, where she was born. For her, Shriners isn’t just a hospital. It’s the reason she can chase every dream with her head held high.
Score (96)
Rome Opens Two New Metro 'Archeostations' Showcasing Ancient Treasures
Rome just opened two long-awaited metro stations — and they come with ancient ruins built in. After years of delays, the city has unveiled new terminals beneath the Colosseum and Porta Metronia, part of its ongoing efforts to expand the C line of the metro system. But these aren’t ordinary train stops. Thanks to the trove of archaeological treasures uncovered during construction, officials have dubbed them archeostations. “Thanks to major projects like this, we are also rediscovering layers of the past that we would never have known about,” said Rome’s mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, who called the new stations “full-blown tourist and cultural attractions.” The station beneath the Colosseum — one of the world’s most visited landmarks — now gives tourists a much easier alternative to navigating Rome’s hectic streets. Even before reaching the famous amphitheatre, visitors are treated to a mini museum: display cases line the terminal with ceramic vases and plates, stone wells, and ruins of an ancient cold plunge pool and thermal bath from a first-century AD home. At Porta Metronia, an entirely new museum is set to open in February, showcasing the remains of a Roman barracks dating back to the second century, as well as frescoes and mosaics uncovered during the dig. Screens at the Colosseum station also play footage of the excavations — both to satisfy curious visitors and to explain why the project took so long. The C line has been under construction for more than a decade, its progress slowed by a combination of bureaucracy, budget hurdles, and, more understandably, the frequent discovery of ruins dating back to imperial Rome and the medieval era. “The challenge was to combine extraordinary archaeological heritage with engineering works,” Gualtieri said. With the opening of these two new stops, the C line now connects more of the city and offers an easy transfer to the B line. The next major addition, Piazza Venezia station, is scheduled to open in 2033. Located near the Capitoline Hill and the imperial forums, it promises another cultural landmark — and likely more underground surprises. The full C line is expected to be complete by 2035, with 31 stations in total. For now, though, passengers can already experience a rare kind of commute: one that starts with ancient history, and ends with a train ride.
Score (97)
Astronomers Think They’ve Just Witnessed Something the Universe Has Never Shown Us Before
Astronomers think they’ve just witnessed something the universe has never shown us before: a cosmic explosion that may combine the forces of a supernova and a kilonova in one unprecedented blast. The event, dubbed a potential superkilonova, was detailed this week in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. If confirmed, it would mark the first time scientists have observed such a hybrid explosion — and could open a new chapter in how we understand the most extreme deaths of stars. “We could rule out all other candidates except this one,” said Mansi Kasliwal, an astronomer at Caltech and co-author of the new study. To understand what makes this explosion so unusual, you have to look at what typically happens when stars die. A supernova occurs when a massive star runs out of fuel. Without the outward pressure from fusion, the star collapses, triggering a powerful explosion that lights up the galaxy. What’s left behind is usually a neutron star — an incredibly dense, city-sized core made almost entirely of neutrons. A kilonova, on the other hand, happens when two of these neutron stars collide. The resulting blast is much rarer, extremely bright, and produces heavy elements like gold and platinum. So far, astronomers have confirmed only one kilonova: the 2017 detection linked to a gravitational wave event. What Kasliwal and her team observed doesn’t fit neatly into either category. The new explosion, detected with help from global telescopes and gravitational-wave observatories, appears to be a mix of both. According to the researchers, this explosion likely began with a massive, rapidly spinning star going supernova. But instead of forming a single neutron star, its collapsing core may have split in two — a process called fission that has been theorized but never confirmed. The result? Two newly formed neutron stars that then immediately spiraled into each other, collided, and created a kilonova. The overlapping timing of the supernova and kilonova could explain the enormous energy signature and unusual light curve astronomers recorded — more powerful than either event alone. Put together, this double-barreled sequence may be what the team is calling a superkilonova. “Nature is very creative,” said Kasliwal. “And when we attempt to unlock its mysteries, we should do so with eyes wide open!” The discovery, if verified through future detections, would mark a major advance in our understanding of stellar death and the formation of heavy elements. It also highlights how much we still have to learn about the extreme physics playing out in deep space. And, as always, it shows that when it comes to the cosmos, the universe is still full of surprises.