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NASA’s Chandra Telescope Finds Galaxy Cluster That Crosses the Streams
A galaxy cluster called Zwicky 8338 is creating a cosmic spectacle with two pairs of superheated gas tails crossing each other. The longer tail, over 1.6 million light-years long, was discovered trailing behind a speeding galaxy in the cluster. This discovery sheds light on how these galactic streams interact and create new structures within the chaotic landscape of Z8338 located about 670 million light-years from Earth. Researchers believe this phenomenon could lead to the formation of stars and planets.
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India’s Largest Elephant Rescue Center Is Using Acupuncture to Treat Pain and Paralysis
At a rehabilitation center in northern India, veterinarians are turning to an ancient technique to help elephants recover from injuries and long-term pain. Acupuncture, first developed in China more than 2,000 years ago, is now being used at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Centre in Mathura to treat everything from nerve damage to arthritis. The technique may be old, but the results are very current. The center’s team says acupuncture has helped ease chronic pain, improve mobility, and even restore digestive function in elephants rescued from begging, circuses, and grueling labor. “Many elephants rescued by Wildlife SOS have pain pathways overstimulated by years of abuse, poor nutrition, and untreated injuries, making chronic pain a major challenge to treat,” said Natasha Ashok of Wildlife SOS. “Once our team gained expertise in acupuncture principles, we began applying it at our Elephant Hospital Campus, yielding remarkable improvements in several elephants.” Wildlife SOS, which runs 12 rescue centers across India, first explored acupuncture while trying to help Bani, a baby elephant who was left partially paralyzed after an accident. Determined to help her walk again, the team began experimenting with ayurvedic massage, hydrotherapy, and eventually, acupuncture. They reached out to experts in Thailand and the United States, including Dr. Porrakote Rungsri at Chiang Mai University and Dr. Huisheng Xie, founder of the Chi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. With their guidance, the team in Mathura learned how to adapt acupuncture to elephants. In animals as in humans, acupuncture works by inserting small needles at specific points along the body’s meridians—energy pathways that, when stimulated, can improve blood flow, reduce inflammation, and ease pain. Some treatments also involve moxibustion, in which mugwort is burned near the skin to warm certain points and promote circulation. Since adopting the technique, Wildlife SOS has used it to treat a growing number of patients: Holly and Zara, two elephants rescued from the begging trade, suffer from chronic arthritis and severe joint pain. Holly injured her knee in a fall. Vets used a technique called “circle the dragon,” placing needles around the joint to reduce inflammation and encourage healing. For both animals, they also used dry needling and electro-acupuncture to ease hindlimb pain. Raju and Taj came to the center with long-standing digestive problems—recurrent colic and constipation. Poor diets and limited movement had damaged their gut health. With acupuncture targeting digestion-related points, and moxibustion to warm the meridians, both elephants improved. Another elephant, Vayu, arrived with painful swelling in his lower belly and chest. Acupuncture helped drain the fluid and improve circulation, reducing the edema. Bani, the calf who started it all, has also shown progress. Her ability to move and stand improved once acupuncture was added to her treatment plan. Wildlife SOS now calls the therapy a “valuable tool” that works well alongside conventional medicine. “Its integration has brought significant improvements,” the group said. The organization held its first elephant acupuncture workshop last year at the Mathura facility, hoping to bring more attention to the technique’s potential. The team is careful to note that acupuncture isn’t a miracle cure—but for elephants like Bani, Holly, and Raju, it offers a new path to healing when traditional treatments fall short. Donations for their ongoing care can be made through the Wildlife SOS website.
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Earth-Like Planet Candidate Found Just 146 Light-Years Away — But It's an Icy One
A possible new Earth-like planet is making waves in the astronomy world — not because it’s teeming with life, but because it comes eerily close to mimicking our own planet’s size and orbit. HD 137010 b, a planet candidate located about 146 light-years from Earth, has caught scientists’ attention thanks to a faint signal buried in old Kepler space telescope data. It’s just 6 percent larger than Earth and circles its star in 355 days — nearly a perfect match for our calendar year. Its star? Nearly a twin of our sun, though dimmer and cooler by about 1,000 degrees. That lower output of energy means HD 137010 b receives less than one-third of the sunlight Earth does. Surface temperatures are estimated between minus 68 and minus 70 degrees Celsius, placing it far closer to Mars in terms of climate than Earth. That frosty forecast doesn’t completely rule out the possibility of life. Climate models suggest that if HD 137010 b has a dense atmosphere rich in carbon dioxide, a strong greenhouse effect could warm the surface enough to allow liquid water to form — at least for part of the year. “It’s not necessarily a dead ice world,” the authors of a new paper in The Astrophysical Journal Letters noted. They say it’s theoretically possible that a thick, CO₂-heavy atmosphere could push the planet into the outer edge of the habitable zone — the not-too-hot, not-too-cold region around a star where water could exist in liquid form. But here’s the catch: no one’s entirely sure if HD 137010 b even exists. So far, scientists have only detected one possible “transit,” the brief dimming of a star’s light when a planet crosses in front of it. That one 10-hour signal was captured in 2017 by the Kepler telescope, and it stood out thanks to the work of amateur volunteers from the “Planet Hunters” citizen science project. The data had been sitting in the archives for years before the team flagged it. That single transit limits what astronomers can confirm. Normally, two or more transits are needed to make a confident planet detection. Still, the team led by Alexander Venner — now at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg — analyzed the signal and concluded that only one planetary configuration could explain it. It’s why HD 137010 b is still officially labeled a “candidate” and not a confirmed planet. But its potential has astronomers paying attention. Earth-like exoplanets are rare enough. Ones that orbit stars similar to our sun, with year-long orbits and Earth-like sizes, are even rarer. Most of the 6,000-plus exoplanets discovered so far are gas giants or searing-hot worlds that orbit extremely close to their stars. HD 137010 b stands out because it ticks so many of the right boxes — and it’s relatively close by cosmic standards. Its location and the brightness of its star make it a strong candidate for future atmospheric analysis. Scientists hope that with powerful new telescopes, they might be able to detect gases such as oxygen or methane, which could signal biological activity. But that’s still a long way off. With an orbit almost as long as Earth’s, any repeat transit won’t come around often. Future telescopes would need to be looking at exactly the right time to catch it again. Even if it turns out to be the real deal — and even if its atmosphere proves life-friendly — HD 137010 b is well beyond human reach. Scientists estimate it would take tens or hundreds of thousands of years to get there with today’s technology. Still, it’s the kind of find that fires the imagination: a cold, distant planet that mirrors our own in size and orbit, quietly circling a sun-like star on the outer edge of possibility.
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Score (96)
From Stamps to Smartphones: How This UK Postmaster Has Become a Lifeline for Seniors
A postmaster in Trafford is getting high praise for helping older residents navigate something many people take for granted: their mobile phones. Sid Patel, 43, has been quietly running free weekly smartphone advice sessions for customers who feel overwhelmed or left behind by technology. He hosts them after closing time every Tuesday at his post office in Stanley Square, Sale. “I just want to make them feel comfortable and confident,” said Patel. “No-one is going to judge them. We're just here to help.” He started offering the help after noticing how many customers, especially older ones, were getting frustrated when trying to use their smartphones. Some couldn’t answer calls. Others couldn’t find basic files or figure out texting. Patel decided to act. The result? Thirty-minute, one-on-one sessions where he answers questions, offers tips, and helps them get more out of their devices. “Some customers aren't used to smart devices,” said Patel, who has run the Sale post office since 2014. “With technology, it can take time to understand and get a grasp on things.” For Rob Koch, 67, it’s been a lifeline. “I don’t even know how to answer a call or open a text message,” he said. “It’s so frustrating. I just want to learn the basics. This help has been great — time well spent.” Stephen and Joan McDermott, both in their seventies, came in hoping to figure out how to locate and print PDFs from their phones. Joan called the devices a “nightmare” for her generation. “We don’t realise what you can get out of them. We need prompting quite a lot.” Stephen added, “We’re probably only using 10 to 20 percent of what the phone can do. I think what Sid is doing is brilliant. It’s a fantastic idea and I think when more people know about it, he’ll be inundated.” At 88, Sylvia Wright is another regular. “We’ve scrapped a lot of apps I would never have used,” she said. She called Patel a “remarkable man” who’s “watching out for the community.” “I think it’s amazing,” she said. “He’s an example of what we can do in society.” For now, Patel says the sessions are part of a four-week trial. After that, he’ll assess whether there’s enough demand to keep going. Given the response, he may want to keep his Tuesdays free.
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This Tattooed Grandson and His Nan is Now An Award-Winning Portrait Celebrating British Identity
When photographer Tom Barrett spotted a heavily tattooed man walking arm-in-arm with his elderly grandmother through Norwich market, something made him stop. “He was quite modern looking, while she was your classic lovely nan wearing a smart coat, buttoned up,” Barrett said. “I was struck by how different they looked.” That encounter led to a portrait that now features among the winners of the Portrait of Britain competition — a project by the British Journal of Photography celebrating the faces and relationships that shape modern UK life. The pair in the photo are Adam Perry, a 33-year-old tattoo artist, and his 88-year-old grandmother Janet. After taking a quick street photo, Barrett arranged a more formal shoot. It ended up taking place in Janet’s home, with tea, stories, and a deeper look at their bond. “Adam’s nan was so proud of his work,” Barrett said. “She talked about how she would have liked to have tattoos, but felt she was too old.” When the photographer asked to see more of Adam’s ink, he took his shirt off — revealing the contrast Barrett had first noticed was more than skin-deep. “You have a photographer’s instinct – you’re looking for layers of depth to an image,” he said. “This was a genuine example of a family bond.” That connection goes well beyond the photo. Adam lives just a few doors down from Janet, and makes sure to take her out for tea every week. “He is her rock,” Barrett said. “It’s what we should all be doing.” For Janet, being featured in a national portrait competition at 88 has been a surprise — and a joy. “I never thought at my time of life that I would be involved in something so lovely with my grandson, who has always looked after me and made sure I’m all right,” she said. Adam agrees. “It’s been really nice to put out that sort of message,” he said. “There’s sometimes a misconception of people with tattoos that we’re not very nice. Even if it encourages one other person to take time out and spend time with their grandmother, it’s a job well done.”
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'Pint-Sized Hero' Wins Free Ice Cream for a Year and Sweet Feast for Friends
A young patient at a New Orleans hospital being treated for a rare disease jumped for joy as she was declared the winner of a year of free ice cream and a party for staff and patients. Nine-year-old Abigal “Abby” Fisher has Treacher Collins syndrome, “a rare inherited condition that affects the growth of the skull and facial bones,” said Manning Family Children’s pediatric hospital in New Orleans, where Abby is receiving treatment. The Baskin-Robbins Joy Foundation honored Abby with the title of Pint-Sized Hero and awarded the hospital a $31,000 grant in her honor. Footage shows the moment Abby found out she had won not only free ice cream for a year, but also a sweet party for all the hospital’s patients and staff. “Despite the challenges that come with her diagnosis, Abby approaches life with remarkable strength, resilience, and an infectious spirit that brightens every room she enters,” Baskin-Robbins said in a press release. “Her positive attitude and joyful energy inspire those around her, serving as a powerful reminder that determination and kindness can shine through even the most difficult circumstances.” The hospital said it was hoping to put the grant toward Walker’s Imaginarium, “an interactive space” coming to the hospital in the fall of 2026.
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Children are Finding Healing Through Horse Therapy At This Taiwan Riding Center
Every week, rain or shine, 18-year-old Chen You-ching climbs onto the back of a horse and laughs as it begins to move. “She was happy the first time she got on a horse,” said her father, Hector Chen, who has brought her to sessions at the Therapeutic Riding Center of Taiwan for years. Chen You-ching was diagnosed with cerebral palsy more than 16 years ago. Horseback riding has become more than just therapy — it’s a highlight of her week. At this center in Taoyuan, in northern Taiwan, children with cerebral palsy, autism, ADHD, Angelman Syndrome and other conditions connect with specially trained horses in a form of animal-assisted therapy that’s growing in popularity around the world. Abigail Liu says her 5-year-old daughter, Ayah, who has Angelman Syndrome, has gained confidence and curiosity since beginning the program. “She started to be less scared about things she doesn’t know and is willing to try [new things],” Liu said. “All this started after she rode horses here.” The program relies on horses trained to remain calm in unusual situations — whether it’s a child suddenly moving in the saddle or a group of caregivers nearby offering support. Some children simply want to stand close, hug the animal, or rest their ear on its chest to hear the heartbeat. “They feel very at ease, because the horse doesn’t show annoyance even if they keep talking to it,” said Alain Chang, a riding coach with the Fang Hsing-Chung Social Welfare Foundation for Horses in Education and Health. “To touch them, to observe them or even to hug them — this is a very special experience.” Horse therapist Chan Shu-ya explained that the animals are carefully trained to work with children who may move unpredictably or express emotions in nontraditional ways. But once that bond is built, the effects are clear. “Many of these students that I meet, they look forward to coming to this every week,” said Chang. “Rain or shine.”
Score (97)
A Wyoming Rancher Helped Relocate 24 Lions to Africa — Now There Are 100
When Wyoming rancher Doug Samuelson went camping in the African bush, he expected to hear lions. Instead, he was struck by their silence. “I asked my friend, ‘Why don’t I hear lions?’” Samuelson recalled. His friend, South African conservationist Ivan Carter, had a sobering answer: they were gone — wiped out by poaching. That moment kicked off what would become the largest international lion relocation effort ever attempted, according to Cowboy State Daily. With help from Carter and the Cabela Family Foundation, Samuelson set out to reintroduce lions to an area in Mozambique where they’d been extinct for years. The ecological need was urgent. Lions play a critical role in regulating herbivore populations, which helps maintain vegetation and reduces carbon in the atmosphere — a chain reaction that affects the climate. Samuelson, who studied wildlife management in college and has a long track record of conservation on his 30,000-acre property in Wyoming’s Laramie Range, knew the stakes. But moving lions across countries isn’t as simple as loading them into a truck. It requires permits, aircraft, vet work, and, perhaps most importantly, a long-term commitment to anti-poaching protections. “It’s more than just releasing the lions,” Samuelson told Cowboy State Daily. “It takes huge anti-poaching and community buy-in and government buy-in.” After discussing the idea with Carter, the two sought out support from the Cabela Family Foundation — the philanthropic arm of the family behind the outdoor outfitter brand. The foundation agreed to fund initial costs and long-term anti-poaching efforts. Over the next 18 months, the team worked with veterinarians to identify 24 healthy young lions from reserves across South Africa. Finally, on August 5, 2018, three years after that quiet night in the bush, the lions were flown to their new home in Mozambique. Today, that relocated population has quadrupled. As of 2025, there are 100 lions roaming the region once again. Samuelson’s involvement didn’t end with the drop-off. He’s returned many times to assist with tracking and collaring efforts, and to support the broader community projects that are essential to the lions’ survival. That includes funding schools, health clinics, rice farming, and beekeeping — initiatives that provide alternatives to poaching and help build local support. “Conservation can’t happen without communities,” Samuelson said. “If people aren’t bought in, it doesn’t matter how many lions you move.” But for him, the success is measured not just in numbers — it’s in sound. After years of silence, lions once again roar at night.
Score (97)
After Losing an Arm, This Golfer Just Scored a Hole-in-One — and Says the Game Saved His Life
Patrick Duke wasn’t supposed to become a golfer. At 6-foot-2 and 127 kilograms, his sports were always rugby, Gaelic football, soccer and cricket. Golf wasn’t even on the radar. Then, in 2012, a workplace accident took his arm — and nearly took his life with it. Now, 12 years later, the 67-year-old is celebrating his first hole-in-one. Duke was playing a round with friends at Overstone Park in Northamptonshire, England, when he stepped up to the fourth hole, a 120-yard par-3. With a seven iron in hand, he took aim — and for once, not at the green. “This time I’m going to aim straight for the flag,” he recalled thinking. The shot landed a foot past the hole, then rolled back with unexpected backspin. “I’ve no idea how,” he said. But it dropped. Applause broke out from nearby players. “I was gobsmacked.” The feat would be impressive for any golfer — but it’s even more remarkable for someone who learned the game after losing a limb. Duke picked up golf in 2018, six years after his accident. He had spent decades working in the road surfacing industry before his jacket was caught in a machine, leading to the amputation. He later developed PTSD and depression. “I was in a really bad place,” he said. “I had suicidal thoughts and lost confidence, self-worth, and relationships.” A friend encouraged him to try golf. He contacted Brian Mudge, a PGA professional at Overstone Park, and asked for lessons. “Treat me as a blank canvas and I’ll do what you tell me,” he said. Mudge helped him adapt to a one-armed swing, and Duke slowly developed a technique that worked for him. He credits the sport not only with helping him recover, but with keeping him alive. “I’m not very good at golf, but it’s saved my life,” he said. “It gave me confidence, friendship, and the will to live.” The hole where he made the ace had always been his nemesis. “Eight times out of ten I knock it in the water — it gets into your head. My clubs have very nearly gone in the lake on a number of occasions.” This time, things were different. As the ball dropped, Duke turned to his playing partner with a grin: “Fancy getting beaten by a one-armed man?” Duke said he was told the odds of someone with a disability making a hole-in-one were one in 100,000. For him, the game became about more than scorecards or technique. It became a path forward. “If just one person could see this — even if it’s not golf — I want people to know that there can be a life after something like this. If I can do it, anybody can.”
Score (97)
New Research Shows Helping With Grandkids May Protect Against Cognitive Decline
Being a hands-on grandparent may do more than just support busy parents — it could also help protect the brain. A new study has found that older adults who regularly care for their grandchildren show slower cognitive decline and perform better on memory and verbal tests, compared to those who don’t. “Many grandparents provide regular care for their grandchildren — care that supports families, and society more broadly — but an open question is whether caregiving for grandchildren may also benefit grandparents themselves,” said lead researcher Flavia Chereches, a doctoral candidate at Tilburg University in the Netherlands. Chereches and her team looked at data from nearly 2,900 grandparents in England, all over the age of 50, with an average age of 67. The participants took part in three rounds of cognitive testing between 2016 and 2022, and answered questions about their caregiving habits over the past year. Researchers asked whether they’d helped with tasks like babysitting, driving kids to school, helping with homework, preparing meals or looking after a sick grandchild. But it wasn’t the type of care or how often they did it that seemed to matter most. “What stood out most to us was that being a caregiving grandparent seemed to matter more for cognitive functioning than how often grandparents provided care or what exactly they did with their grandchildren,” Chereches said. In other words, it’s the involvement that counts. The findings, published in the journal Psychology and Aging, suggest that caregiving could act as a buffer against age-related cognitive decline, particularly for grandmothers. Those who were actively involved in caregiving showed less decline on tests over the six-year period than those who weren’t. The results support earlier claims by groups like Age UK, which has long said “gran-nannying” can be good for older adults, especially when the care isn’t overly stressful. The charity estimates that around five million grandparents in the UK take on regular childcare duties. About 90% babysit at least once a week, while one in 10 do so daily — often to help their children save money on child care. According to Age UK, caregiving can keep older adults physically active, mentally engaged, and less isolated. Those benefits may help explain why regular involvement with grandchildren appears to protect brain health. Even those living this reality weren’t surprised by the study’s findings. On CBS, a news host interviewed his own mom about it, and she shared what caring for her grandkids means to her. “They energize me, more than drive me down,” she said.
Score (98)
Tow Truck Driver Saves Man From Freezing Culvert During Texas Ice Storm
Most drivers would’ve passed right by a muddy drainage culvert off a Texas highway — especially during a winter storm. But Douglas Lane isn’t most drivers. While navigating icy roads in Seagoville, Texas, Lane, a local tow truck driver, noticed a car stalled in the middle of the road and pulled over to help. That’s when he heard desperate cries coming from the freezing water below. A man had fallen into the culvert and was trapped in the icy current. Lane didn’t hesitate. He rushed to the edge, reached down, and grabbed hold of the man’s sweatshirt hood, clinging tight to keep his head above water. “He gave up fighting to stay above the water,” Lane later told police. “I said ‘no, you’re not going to do that.’” Bodycam footage from responding officers captured the tense moments as Lane held on, refusing to let go, even as the water and the man’s weight pulled harder. Lane managed to call 911 while keeping his grip steady. Moments later, Seagoville police officers arrived and formed a human chain to pull the man out. The man, whose name hasn’t been released, was rushed to the hospital and is still recovering, according to police. Officers credited Lane’s quick thinking and determination with saving the man’s life. As for Lane, he’s not interested in accolades. “I wasn’t trying to get any kind of extra credit,” he said. “I’m just doing what I know best — and that’s helping others.” The culvert now serves as a quiet reminder each time he drives past. Not of heroism, he says, but of what it means to do the right thing when it counts.