Woman brings her ponies to care homes to boost mental health

In the U.K., Sarah Woodland leads a team of therapy ponies, spreading joy and humor to seniors in need. The adorable animals provide much-needed mental health support and companionship for those who may be feeling lonely. Through their visits, these therapy ponies bring smiles and laughter to brighten the days of many individuals. Thanks to Sarah and her team, hearts are warmed and spirits lifted across the community.

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A Heroic Mom Just Rescued 22 Kids From a Burning School Bus

What began as a quiet afternoon in East Bethel, Minnesota, turned into a terrifying and ultimately heroic moment when a school bus burst into flames just after dropping off students. Kari Thorp had stepped outside her home to greet her daughter when she spotted smoke and fire coming from beneath the approaching bus. “Kids were crying. Kids were scared and freaking out,” Thorp said. “It was quite emotional and kind of frantic.” Without hesitation, she ran toward the bus to alert the driver, Rick Gratton. The two immediately began ushering the 22 children from East Bethel Elementary School to safety. Within minutes, the bus was fully engulfed. Thorp’s Ring doorbell camera later captured the dramatic scene — children standing together in front of her home as thick smoke filled the air and flames consumed the vehicle. “It moved pretty fast,” Thorp recalled. “It was probably within 15 minutes that thing was engulfed. It was crazy to see the tires and hear the tires explode.” Despite the destruction of the bus — and the loss of some backpacks and lunchboxes — every child made it out safely, thanks to Thorp’s quick action and Gratton’s composure. Parents and school officials have praised the pair as heroes. “Their calm and courage made all the difference,” one parent said. “It could have been so much worse.” For Thorp, the whole ordeal still feels surreal. “I just did what any mom would do,” she said. “I saw kids in danger — and I ran.”

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First Stegosaur Fossil Unveiled at New Jurassic Exhibition

The backbone of the world’s first scientifically discovered stegosaur is returning home — more than 150 years after it was first unearthed in Swindon. The fossilized vertebra, found in the town’s clay pits in the 1870s, has been acquired by the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery and will take pride of place in a new exhibition exploring the region’s Jurassic past. “This is the first stegosaur to be found anywhere in the world,” said Elaine Arthurs from the museum. “It was found in the 1870s, in one of the clay pits in Swindon, and it was quickly taken to the Natural History Museum in London where the majority of the remains are still on display now.” A fossil with a mysterious journey The bone’s history after its discovery is murky. Experts don’t know exactly how it left London’s collection, but when it came up for sale earlier this year, the Swindon museum moved quickly to buy it. Now, it’s being shown to the public for the first time in its hometown as part of the exhibit “Fossil Hunters: Unlocking Swindon’s Jurassic Past.” The exhibition, which runs until April 11, 2026, looks back roughly 150 million years, when the area around Swindon was submerged under a warm, subtropical sea teeming with life. “Beneath our feet we can find hundreds of fossils — ammonites, large marine reptiles — it’s so rich, it’s an amazing place,” Arthurs said. A window into Jurassic Swindon Alongside the stegosaur vertebra, the display features marine fossils from the same era, including parts of a massive pliosaur — a giant marine predator sometimes described as a “sea monster.” The exhibit also includes ammonites and a rare tiny bone from a pterosaur, the flying reptile, on loan from the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. But how did a land-dwelling dinosaur like a stegosaur end up buried in what was once an ancient seabed? Arthurs said fluctuating sea levels likely played a role. “Sea levels around Swindon would have risen and fallen over the years, and there would have been land relatively nearby,” she explained. “What we think is that there would have been land dinosaurs roaming on these small islands, and it’s probably died, washed out to sea, and then settled to the bottom.” Bringing history home In the 19th century, Swindon was a hotspot for fossil hunters drawn to its clay pits, which produced countless discoveries during the Victorian fossil boom. Now, the town’s newest exhibit aims to reconnect residents with that history — and showcase the prehistoric treasures found beneath their own streets. “It’s remarkable to think that the first stegosaur ever discovered came from here,” Arthurs said. “And even more exciting that it’s finally back where it all began.”

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Adventurers Aim To Break World Record Driving Three-Wheeled Car and Raise Money for Charity

Two adventurers are about to embark on an extraordinary road trip — driving a three-wheeled Reliant Robin from Devon to Cape Town in the UK in a bid to set a Guinness World Record and raise money for charity. Oliver Jenks, 34, from Newton Abbot, and Seth Scott, 31, from Canada, will cover roughly 10,000 miles (16,000 km) across two continents in their beloved three-wheeler, affectionately named Sheila. The pair aim to become the first to complete the journey in such a vehicle while raising funds for School in a Bag, a Yeovil-based charity that provides educational supplies to children in need around the world. “It will be interesting — and that’s what this trip is all about,” Jenks said. “Educating ourselves.” Three wheels, one big challenge The Reliant Robin isn’t exactly built for off-roading, so the pair have spent weeks preparing Sheila for the harsh terrain ahead. “First of all, the roof rack — that’s got all our spare gear, our tyres, our spare parts and everything else in between,” Jenks explained. “On the front of that we’ve got our light bar as well. We’ve got a spare spring. The thing is with three wheels, you’re likely to hit every pothole there has ever been.” They’ve also added USB ports and Starlink satellite internet, allowing them to stay connected as they cross remote regions. Despite these upgrades, comfort isn’t exactly guaranteed. “It’s still cramped and uncomfortable,” Scott admitted, “even with the new seats.” A journey with purpose Their chosen charity, School in a Bag, sends backpacks filled with educational resources to disadvantaged and disaster-affected children. Each bag typically includes notebooks, pens, pencils, eating utensils, and a water bottle — simple tools that can make a huge difference in a child’s education. “We hope to visit as many of those schools as possible and show our support in person,” Jenks said. The road ahead The pair plan to set off within days, charting a course through Europe and down the African continent — an unpredictable route that will test both their endurance and Sheila’s limits. Scott admitted there are still some mechanical quirks to contend with. “The car doesn’t like to idle sometimes and stalls in traffic,” he said. “Hopefully when we’re on the highway, it’ll run great.” If all goes to plan, the three-wheeled adventure will not only set a new record but also help equip thousands of children with the tools they need to learn. And for Jenks and Scott, the journey is as much about discovery as it is about the destination.

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This Foxhound Donated Blood To Save the Life Of a Sick Cocker Spaniel

A four-month-old puppy is alive today thanks to an unlikely hero: a blood donor dog named Cannock. The Old English Foxhound saved the life of Rosco, a Cocker Spaniel who was rushed to Henwick Vets in Worcester after suffering internal bleeding caused by a rare genetic condition. Veterinary nurse Kirsty Thompson, who was treating Rosco, said the situation was dire. “This was an absolute emergency,” she said. “Rosco’s life was hanging in the balance.” Knowing the puppy needed an urgent transfusion to survive, Thompson reached out to the Croome & West Warwickshire Hunt to see if one of their trail hounds could donate blood. Joint master Pippa Wilkinson quickly stepped in, volunteering Cannock for the life-saving role. Earlier this month, Cannock donated 200 millilitres of blood, which was immediately taken to Worcester for Rosco’s transfusion. Within hours, the puppy began to stabilize. “Adorable Cocker Spaniel puppy Rosco was desperately ill,” Thompson said. “I’m pleased to say he is now well on the road to recovery.” Working hounds like Cannock are particularly good donors, she explained, because they are athletic and have a higher red blood cell count than most other breeds — a crucial advantage in emergencies. “It’s a huge benefit to have the Hunt’s support when time is critical,” she said. For Cannock’s owner, the experience was emotional. “The vets at Henwick are amazing and look after our hounds so well all year round,” Wilkinson said. “We will always do what we can to help if another hound or a family pet is in need. Cannock did brilliantly, and I’m so proud of him for helping to save the life of another animal. He’s always been a hero in my eyes, but even more so now.” Thanks to Cannock’s calm temperament and his generous donation, Rosco is expected to make a full recovery.

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Scottish Highlands Welcome Nearly 20 Wildcats to Prevent Extinction

Scotland’s wildcat comeback is gaining momentum. Eighteen more wildcats have been released into Cairngorms National Park, bringing the total number living there to 46, as part of a landmark conservation effort to save the species from extinction. The project, led by Saving Wildcats in partnership with the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), has been years in the making. The group works alongside several organizations, including the Cairngorms National Park Authority, Nordens Ark, NatureScot, Forestry and Land Scotland, and Junta de Andalucía, to rebuild a viable wild population of the elusive felines once widespread across the Scottish Highlands. “Just a few years ago, the species was teetering on the edge of extinction in Scotland,” said Dr. Helen Senn, project lead at RZSS. “Now we’re watching them not only survive but start to raise their own kittens in the wild. That gives us real hope for the future.” The new arrivals were bred at the Saving Wildcats Conservation Breeding for Release Centre, a specialized facility equipped for veterinary care, breeding, and remote monitoring. The goal is to prepare wildcats to thrive independently before being reintroduced into the wild. A slow but hopeful recovery The release follows the birth of several litters in spring and summer 2024 — the first wildcat kittens born in the wild in years. For conservationists, that’s a key sign that the population is stabilizing. “It takes huge amounts of time, expertise and resources to bring a species back from the brink, and we can’t do it alone,” Dr. Senn said. “We are committed to looking after this newly established population and maintaining the connections with the local community that we have built up during the project.” Often called the “Highland tiger,” the Scottish wildcat is Britain’s only remaining native feline. Centuries of habitat loss, persecution, and hybridization with domestic cats have pushed the species to the edge. By 2019, scientists warned that true wildcats could vanish from the country within a decade without intervention. Now, with successful breeding underway and more reintroductions planned, the outlook is beginning to shift. Conservation momentum The progress in the Highlands comes amid broader global efforts to prevent extinctions. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recently updated its Red List of Threatened Species, tracking 172,620 species, nearly 48,646 of which remain at risk. But the organization also highlighted recent successes, including the recovery of the green sea turtle, once critically endangered. “While species like Arctic seals and many birds face growing threats, the recovery of the green turtle reminds us that conservation works when we act with determination and unity,” said Dr. Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General. For Scotland’s wildcats, that unity — between scientists, land managers, and local communities — is already paying off. After decades of decline, the Highlands’ most elusive predator is finally clawing its way back.

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Rare Sea Turtle Rescued on UK Shores After Storm Amy Blows It 3,000 Miles Off Course

kilometres from its home waters. The Kemp’s Ridley turtle, a critically endangered species usually found in the Gulf of Mexico and along the U.S. east coast, was discovered on the Isle of Tiree on 19 October, suffering from cold-water shock after being blown off course by Storm Amy. Isle of Tiree Ranger Hayley Douglas, who led the rescue, said she found the turtle barely responsive. “Turtles aren’t native to our shores — but there have been a few turning up in the last few weeks, mainly due to the weather,” she said. “The big problem we have when they do come to shore is that our waters are a lot colder.” Realizing the turtle was hypothermic, Douglas carefully began to warm it — but slowly. “It’s incredibly important they aren’t warmed too quickly,” she explained. “She was placed in a box with a towel and kept in my porch as my house was too warm for her. It’s around a two-degree temperature increase at a time that they can handle.” After stabilizing overnight, the turtle was transported to the SeaLife Centre in Loch Lomond, where marine specialists will continue its care until it is strong enough to be returned to warmer waters. Kemp’s Ridley turtles are the smallest and most endangered of all sea turtle species, with only 7,000 to 9,000 nesting females left worldwide. They’ve been listed as endangered since the 1970s, and sightings in the UK are extremely rare. Douglas said storms like Amy can blow juvenile turtles far from their usual migration routes. “They will either have passed away from cold water shock, or will be suffering from cold water shock, which is what’s happened with this particular turtle,” she said. She urged anyone who spots a turtle on a British beach to avoid putting it back in the sea. “The most important thing to do if someone finds a turtle like this is not to put it back in the water, because it will die,” she said. “Do not heat it up too quickly. Phone the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, who will be able to arrange care and give advice.” With climate change driving more extreme weather and shifting ocean currents, experts say such strandings could become more common. “Keep an eye on the beach,” Douglas added. “You never know what could turn up after a storm. This could happen anywhere along the coast, so people should stay aware.”

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Chef Who Sold Cakes As A Kid Earns Michelin Star And Takes Culinary Passion Online

When Paul Foster was 10 years old, he was baking cupcakes for pub doormen in Coventry. Now, the chef who earned a Michelin star for his restaurant SALT has taken his culinary passion online. Foster’s journey began in the kitchens of pubs run by his mother, where he spent his childhood surrounded by the heat, noise, and chaos of service. “One of [the pubs] was a live music venue,” he recalled. “It was great, although I couldn’t sleep much because of the noise coming through, but I was just obsessed with the environment of the kitchen — the atmosphere, heat and swear words.” By age 13, he was trying out recipes from Rhodes Around Britain by celebrity chef Gary Rhodes. “I saw the pleasure on people’s faces,” Foster said. “I thought, ‘That was worth two hours in the kitchen, just to see how much that pleased someone.’ I knew there was something in it, and I took it from there.” After years working in Michelin-starred restaurants around the world, Foster opened SALT in Stratford-upon-Avon, fulfilling his dream of running his own fine-dining venue close to his hometown. His hard work paid off — SALT earned a coveted Michelin star and national acclaim. But after eight years, Foster decided to close the restaurant, citing the toll of rising costs and fewer people dining out. “It was really sad,” he said. “Anyone in the industry knows people aren’t eating out as much anymore. There’s a squeeze of cost of living, and fine dining restaurants are a luxury.” Despite the heartbreak, Foster said he felt proud of what he achieved. “I’ve had an incredible eight years. I’ve achieved everything I wanted out of my career, and it was a pinnacle,” he said. Now, he’s turning that experience into something new. Foster recently launched Food Unfiltered, a YouTube channel that takes viewers behind the scenes of some of the world’s best restaurants. The project, he says, lets him share the unvarnished reality of kitchen life while celebrating the craft of cooking. “My dream was always to have my own small restaurant,” Foster said. “Having worked in Michelin-star restaurants all over the world, that was what I wanted to do; I wanted to bring something like that as close as possible to Coventry.” While he admits it’s bittersweet to step away from running a restaurant, he’s quick to add that he never started cooking for awards. “I always remembered that I didn’t get into cooking for Michelin,” he said. “I got into it for the love of food and the love of pleasing people.”

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Teen Invents A.I. Tool To Cool World's Hottest Cities

Sixteen-year-old Isaque Carvalho Borges grew up in Palmas, Brazil’s youngest planned city — and one of its hottest. Built in 1989 in the country’s central state of Tocantins, Palmas was designed for comfort and opportunity. But one thing the planners didn’t fully anticipate was heat. “There are some points of the city that are much hotter than their surrounding areas,” Borges says. “They turn into micro urban heat islands.” Those heat islands, caused by a mix of lost tree cover, concrete surfaces, and trapped waste heat, can make parts of a city up to 11°C hotter than nearby neighborhoods. As global temperatures continue to rise, that difference can mean real health risks — especially for older adults, children, and low-income residents. So Borges decided to tackle it himself. A teen builds an AI to fight urban heat Between May 2024 and January 2025, Borges developed an artificial intelligence model he calls EcoAção Brasil — a tool designed to identify the hottest spots in cities and guide local governments on how best to cool them down. The model analyzes open-source satellite data to assess land surface temperature, vegetation density, urban growth, and other factors that influence heat. It then predicts how these variables interact over time and pinpoints the areas most in need of interventions such as reforestation, green roofs, reflective materials, better ventilation corridors, or even redesigned street layouts. “When we combine all of that,” Borges says, “we have strategic spots for intervention.” From school project to global recognition His idea earned him $12,500 as the Central and South America regional winner in the 2025 Earth Prize, the world’s largest environmental sustainability competition for students aged 13 to 19. “It is an interesting idea to use artificial intelligence and machine learning to identify hotspots of local urban heat islands and climate mitigation strategies,” said Zhihua Wang, an environmental engineer at Arizona State University. He said the model could yield promising results if it uses robust algorithms and high-quality data. Still, Wang cautioned that the challenge is complex. Urban heat mitigation requires expertise in meteorology, remote sensing, landscape design, and public policy — and open-source satellite images may not always capture hyperlocal variations. “There is no ‘optimal’ solution that fits all circumstances,” Wang said. “The most fitting strategy must be tailored to local needs, balancing heat reduction with air quality, water use, and cultural preferences.” Science for humans and the planet Borges and his 10-person volunteer team are already refining their model and preparing their first scientific paper. It introduces a new metric called the Tocantins Index, which measures how much a neighborhood’s temperature deviates from what would be expected, offering a standardized way to compare heat patterns across different parts of a city. By spring 2026, Borges hopes to launch an interactive platform powered by EcoAção Brasil. The goal is to make heat data accessible through maps and visual tools for local institutions. He’s already offering the prototype free of charge to governments and organizations in his home state. “For Palmas, Tocantins specifically, it’ll be completely free,” he says. “That was our original objective.” Despite the technical challenges, Borges remains motivated by the human side of his work. “EcoAção Brasil is something I did to combine my love not only for the environment and technology, but also for people,” he says. “We believe that we are creating science for humans and for the planet, for the next generations.”

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New Method Enhances Accuracy of Ankle Blood Pressure Measurements, Improving Care for Millions

A new method to measure blood pressure from the ankle could change care for thousands of people who can’t have it taken from their arm. Researchers at the University of Exeter Medical School have developed a more accurate way to estimate arm blood pressure from ankle readings, using data from more than 33,000 people. The model, published in BMJ Open and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), could reduce misdiagnoses and improve monitoring for people with disabilities, limb loss, or paralysis. The team also launched an online calculator that helps both patients and clinicians interpret ankle-based readings. A solution for people excluded from standard checks High blood pressure affects more than a billion people worldwide and is a leading cause of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. Reliable readings are essential for diagnosis and treatment. But for people who can’t use a traditional arm cuff — such as stroke survivors or amputees — doctors rely on ankle readings, which are typically higher and less precise. Professor Chris Clark, who led the study, said the new model could improve accuracy “for around two percent more people.” That may sound small, but Clark said the impact is significant. “The NHS Health Check Programme diagnoses 38,000 new cases annually in England alone, so two percent equates to 750 fewer potential misdiagnoses per year in England, and tens of thousands globally,” he said. The study analyzed arm and ankle readings from 33,710 participants in multiple countries to develop a personalized equation that predicts arm pressure based on ankle measurements. It also explored how ankle readings relate to heart attack risk and other health outcomes. Closing a long-standing health gap This innovation could make a big difference for people who’ve been excluded from routine monitoring. An estimated 10,000 adults in the UK live with upper limb loss, and about 75 percent of the country’s 1.3 million stroke survivors have arm mobility issues that make standard blood pressure checks difficult or impossible. Juliet Bouverie OBE, CEO of the Stroke Association, said the development could bring relief to people anxious about their health. “Someone in the UK has a stroke every five minutes, with high blood pressure accounting for around half of those,” she said. “Many stroke survivors feel anxious about having another stroke, so receiving an accurate blood pressure reading in the ankle will not only help prevent future strokes but also ease their minds.” Professor Kevin Munro, Director of NIHR’s Research for Patient Benefit Programme, called the method “an ingenious solution to an important problem.” “Keeping track of blood pressure is a vital tool to help keep people healthy, and this NIHR-funded research will help to spot high blood pressure and treat it even more widely,” he said. A personal story behind the data For Sue Kent, a 62-year-old TV presenter from Swansea, the new model could be life-changing. Born with shortened arms due to the drug Thalidomide, she’s never been able to have her blood pressure taken the usual way. “When I did have it done, they would put a really big cuff around my thigh,” Kent said. “Whether it was accurate or not, nobody worried.” But after a cataract operation where her ankle pressure tested unusually high, she began to worry about her health. “As you get older, blood pressure is an important indicator of so many things,” she said. “Prodding about in the dark and guessing isn’t really a safe thing to do. You need the right information.” Kent believes this research could give people like her something most take for granted — a reliable blood pressure reading. “When you’re disabled, you’re more likely to die younger for a variety of reasons,” she said. “This could put us on a level playing field with everybody else. It means reassurance and maybe an early diagnosis if something is wrong.” The study, titled Arm Based on LEg blood pressures (ABLE-BP), marks a practical step toward making healthcare more inclusive — and ensuring that everyone, regardless of their physical condition, can get the accurate medical information they need.

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Reducing Daily Sitting Time by 30 Minutes Boosts Energy and Metabolism, Study Finds

Just sitting a little less each day can make a noticeable difference to your body’s energy levels, according to new research from Finland. A study by the University of Turku found that cutting just 30 minutes of sitting time a day helps the body burn fat and carbohydrates more efficiently — effectively giving people a small metabolic boost. “Our results suggest encouragingly that reducing sedentary behavior and increasing even light daily physical activity – for example, standing up for a phone call or taking short walks – can support metabolic health and potentially help prevent lifestyle diseases in risk groups,” said study author Dr. Taru Garthwaite. The findings, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, suggest that even modest changes in daily habits can improve the body’s ability to generate energy, particularly among people at higher risk of heart disease or diabetes. A small change with a big impact Researchers followed 64 sedentary adults with multiple risk factors for heart disease and diabetes over six months. Participants were divided into two groups: one was asked to reduce sitting by about an hour a day by standing more or moving lightly, while the other continued their usual routines. The intervention group managed to reduce sitting by an average of 40 minutes per day. Although overall differences between the two groups were small, people who actually reduced their sedentary time by at least half an hour showed clear improvements in metabolic flexibility — the body’s ability to switch between burning fats and carbohydrates for energy. “A healthy body burns more fat at rest, but after meals and during high-intensity exercise, the main source of energy shifts to carbohydrates,” Garthwaite explained. “If metabolic flexibility is impaired, blood sugar and lipid levels can rise and, instead of being used for energy production, excess fat and sugars may be directed to storage.” Why standing helps Earlier research has shown that sitting for long periods can slow metabolism and reduce the body’s responsiveness to insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar. Over time, this can raise the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. By spending less time seated — even without formal exercise — the body’s energy systems appear to adapt and become more efficient. Participants who stood or moved around more frequently also showed better fat-burning capacity during light activity compared to those who stayed mostly sedentary. “The positive metabolic effects of reducing sedentary behavior are likely to apply mainly to those who are physically inactive and already have excess weight and an elevated risk of disease,” said Garthwaite. Every bit counts While health agencies recommend at least 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity activity each week, the study shows that people don’t need to overhaul their entire lifestyle to see benefits. Simply standing up more often or adding short breaks from sitting throughout the day can already make a difference. As Garthwaite put it, “Even a small increase in physical activity is beneficial, especially for those who are physically inactive.” In other words, swapping half an hour of couch time for a few light chores, a walk around the block, or just standing while checking your phone might be one of the simplest ways to give your metabolism a lift.

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