Food Lover, 80 Years Old, Still Runs Kitchen 'With Immense Pride' After 50 Years

At 80 years old, Guiliana Pierotti continues to work full-time in her Glasgow restaurant after 50 years of dedication. She and her husband opened Piccolo Mondo in 1974 and still run a second branch today. Pierotti has no formal training but learned from her mother, teaching many chefs along the way. Despite being "very fussy" about food quality, she finds joy in cooking for others and takes pride in making people happy with her dishes.

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Disabled Dogs Earn 'Drivers License' At World's First Wheelchair-Friendly Park

In a quiet corner of the UK, a seven-acre sanctuary is rewriting the story for dogs who’ve often been overlooked. It's not just a dog park — it's a celebration of resilience on four wheels, three legs, or no vision at all. The park is the latest creation from Broken Biscuits, a charity founded more than 15 years ago by Cassie Carney. The organization has long championed the needs of disabled dogs, many of whom are passed over in shelters or euthanized due to the extra care they require. Carney and a devoted team of volunteers have been changing that — one set of wheels at a time. At any given moment, Broken Biscuits fosters at least a dozen paraplegic dogs. They also loan wheelchairs to pet owners who can’t afford the specialty equipment needed to give their dogs mobility. Their work extends beyond just logistics. The team also offers advice and education to those caring for disabled dogs, helping people understand that “different” doesn't mean less. This year, Carney wanted to go further. Inspired by years of advocacy and with the support of donors and volunteers, she opened what’s believed to be the world’s first dedicated dog park for disabled pups. It’s not a typical park. It has a race track and a skate rink designed specifically for dogs in wheelchairs — complete with a cheeky “learner driver’s test” for first-time users. There’s a café, small houses, and stables where shy or overwhelmed dogs can find a bit of peace. Hand-painted wooden signs mark the intersections, and the entire place is wired with 24/7 live cameras so owners and volunteers can monitor the dogs while they play. Carney’s friends and family built much of it themselves — digging trenches, painting murals, and installing fencing. Upcycled materials were used throughout. The whole project, like the dogs it was built for, is a mix of heart, creativity, and grit. "Tri-paws, blind, deaf, paraplegics, IVDD warriors, congenital birth deformities, amputees, and more: different is great," Broken Biscuits posted on social media. "Let’s celebrate it loud and proud." It’s the kind of place where dogs who’ve known pain get to know joy instead — chasing each other down a track, exploring at their own pace, or just soaking in a bit of sun. For the people who love them, it’s a space where disability doesn’t mean exclusion — it means community. And for Carney, it’s a long-time dream made real. Almost two decades of quiet dedication to dogs no one else would take, now echoed in the laughter of volunteers and the sound of wheels on grass.

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Scientists Just Developed a Smart Window That Generates Solar Power And Boosts Energy Efficiency

A team of scientists in Hong Kong has developed a novel way to evaluate materials for transparent solar panels, bringing the technology a step closer to commercial use in buildings, vehicles, and even greenhouses. In a paper published in Nature Communications, the researchers introduced a new performance metric, FoMLUE, designed to assess photoactive materials used in semi-transparent organic photovoltaics (ST-OPVs). These are solar panels that allow light to pass through while also generating electricity, making them a promising option for integration into windows and other see-through surfaces. The research, led by Professor Li Gang of Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Research Fellow Dr. Yu Jiangsheng, focuses on the long-standing trade-off between transparency and efficiency in solar cells. ST-OPVs aim to solve that by offering a blend of power generation, natural appearance, and energy savings—without altering the look of a building. FoMLUE, short for "Figure of Merit for Light Utilization Efficiency," is a dimensionless parameter that combines three key factors: average visual transmittance, bandgap, and current density. By factoring in how much light a material absorbs and how effectively it converts that into electricity, the metric allows scientists to screen and rank different photoactive materials for use in transparent solar panels. The team used FoMLUE to evaluate a set of materials and found that ternary materials—those made from three components—with the highest FoMLUE scores not only looked better but also performed better. These solar panels showed improved thermal insulation and durability, and reached a record light utilization efficiency of 6.05 percent, the highest ever reported for a semi-transparent solar cell. But the research didn’t stop at the lab. The team wanted to know how well these solar windows would perform in the real world, so they built a simulation model to predict energy savings and power output in different environments. The model was applied to 371 cities across China and showed that more than 90 percent could benefit from using these solar windows, especially in regions with hot summers and warm winters. In some areas, annual energy savings reached as high as 1.43 gigajoules per square meter. That figure accounts for reduced energy consumption from air conditioning and heating due to the windows' insulating properties, combined with the electricity generated. “As an emerging solar photovoltaic technology, solar windows offer new possibilities for practical deployment in BIPV, renewable energy vehicles and agricultural greenhouses,” said Prof. Li. He added that the findings demonstrate how ST-OPVs can serve multiple purposes—power generation, insulation, and aesthetic integration—without disrupting architectural design. That versatility, combined with strong performance, makes them a compelling choice for future building projects. The next phase for the team involves improving the long-term stability of these solar panels and scaling up production to create larger modules, both of which are necessary for real-world deployment. If successful, this could bring solar windows from the prototype stage to widespread use, changing the way buildings generate and save energy.

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Chris Hemsworth Embarks On Road Trip With Dad To Relive Memories Amid Alzheimer's Battle

Chris Hemsworth is going public with one of his most personal stories yet: his father's battle with Alzheimer's disease and the unconventional therapy that’s helping slow its progression. In the new National Geographic documentary Chris Hemsworth: A Roadtrip to Remember, the actor shares a raw, emotional look at how reminiscence therapy is helping his father, Craig Hemsworth, stay mentally active and connected to his past. The documentary premieres November 23. The film follows the Hemsworth family as they recreate key places from Craig’s past, including the house they lived in during the 1990s, to stimulate old memories and emotional connections. The approach is part of a growing field of reminiscence therapy, which uses sensory triggers like photos, music, and familiar settings to help strengthen memory in people with Alzheimer’s or dementia. “Every time we re-access a memory, the connection between the neurons gets strengthened,” says Dr. Suraj Samtani, a clinical psychologist at the Center for Healthy Brain Aging at UNSW Sydney, who consulted on the project. “It's similar to adding more roads going into a suburb. You have more options to get to that suburb, and next time you want to go there, if one road is blocked, you can take another road.” In the documentary, that metaphor plays out literally. Chris and his dad hop on motorcycles for a 200-mile road trip through rural Australia, stopping in the outback town of Bulman to visit an old friend named Spencer. Decades ago, Craig and Spencer worked together wrangling wild bulls and feral cows — a dangerous job Craig recalls with a mix of pride and awe. According to Dr. Samtani, those kinds of high-adrenaline memories tend to stick. “Adrenaline memories or memories involving fight or flight, they get stored in the amygdala, the fear center of the brain, rather than the cortex,” he says. “A fear or thrill memory gets unlocked with the original emotion, and that can be powerful in bringing someone back into themselves.” The recreated family home outside Melbourne became another key moment in the film. Filmmakers used old photographs to rebuild the house in remarkable detail, right down to the pictures on the mantle. “Usually we use albums and songs, but to recreate an entire house like that is unbelievable,” says Samtani. “It’s like reminiscence therapy to the max.” At the start of the documentary, Craig shows early signs of memory loss. He repeatedly asks when his wife, Leonie, is arriving at the recreated home. Chris, visibly concerned, describes it as the first time he’s seen clear symptoms of Alzheimer’s in his dad. But as the road trip continues and the therapy deepens, Craig becomes more animated, more engaged — and starts to remember more. “I saw him initially being really reserved, really unsure where he was, what was going on,” Samtani says. “And by the end, as you can see in the documentary, he's laughing, he's smiling, he's remembering all these key memories from his past, and he's really confident.” Social connections, too, played a major role. “The interactions with other people are important,” says Samtani, who has studied how staying socially active can help delay dementia. In the film, Craig’s moments with his son, his old friend, and his familiar environments clearly lift his mood and recall. Still, reminiscence therapy isn’t a cure — and it isn’t permanent. “It's an ongoing process because the effects last for about three to six months,” says Samtani. He also points out a common misunderstanding: “The biggest misconception about Alzheimer’s disease is that it’s an end-of-life sentence, and it's really not,” he says. “It’s possible to live well with dementia and Alzheimer’s. It’s possible to do all the things you enjoy and be physically, mentally and socially active — and that will actually slow down the rate of cognitive decline.” The documentary offers a different kind of role for Hemsworth. Instead of wielding a hammer as Thor, he’s wielding memory, emotion, and love to fight something far more real. Chris Hemsworth: A Roadtrip to Remember premieres November 23 on Nat Geo.

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Firefighters Rescue Dogs From Burning House In California

Nine dogs, including six puppies, were rescued after a fire erupted in a house in San Bernardino, California, on November 16. When fire crews arrived, the occupants were outside and alerted them that several pets were trapped inside the smoke- and flame-filled home. “Firefighters simultaneously conducted a fire attack as well as a search operation,” the fire department said. “Unfortunately, one dog did not survive due to significant smoke conditions, despite the efforts of the paramedics who delivered treatment.”

Sydney Celebrates Christmas Spirit As Massive Tree Construction Kicks Off

The tallest Christmas tree in New South Wales is taking shape at Martin Place, promising a dazzling display. The City of Sydney shared footage of the build, gearing up for Santa to light it on November 27. This festive marvel will shine with over 110,000 LED lights and a 3.4-meter color-changing star, adorned with 330 glossy baubles and nine types of Australian flowers. Throughout December, enjoy nightly choir performances and vibrant light shows every 15 minutes from 8 pm to midnight.

Aerial Firefighters Just Released Incredible Footage as They Battle New South Wales Wildfires

Aerial firefighters shared an onboard view as they worked to contain a wildfire burning in rural New South Wales ahead of warm, windy weather. Video released by the rural fire service shows an up-close view of retardant being dropped over an area southeast of the town of Mudgee this week. "Work continues on the Middle Creek Fire NE of Windamere Dam, SE of Mudgee," said @NSWRFS on X, formerly Twitter. "It’s burnt 70+ ha but isn’t threatening homes. Crews strengthened containment lines ahead of warm, windy weather tomorrow. Here, Bomber 210 drops retardant to help prevent the fire from jumping. #nswrfs"

Man Fulfills Childhood Dream By Documenting Small Towns: "Every Town's Got A Story

A Nebraska man is on a mission to make sure every small town gets remembered — one visit, one book, and one story at a time. Seth Varner, a 25-year-old historian and self-publisher, has spent the last five years crisscrossing the Midwest to document the hidden gems and hometown pride of places most people drive right past. His goal: to visit every incorporated town in every state — and preserve their stories in print. “Doesn’t matter if it’s 10 people, a hundred people, a thousand people … every town’s got a story to share,” Varner told CBS Mornings. What started as a childhood dream has become a full-time mission. When he was just 10, Varner told his dad he wanted to visit every town in Nebraska. His dad laughed it off at the time. But during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, Varner, then home from college, found his old third-grade scrapbook. That memory stuck. “I was flipping through it,” he said. “I’m like, ‘I can fulfill that dream I had as a 10-year-old.’” So he called a close friend and pitched the plan: visit every town in the state. “Are you in?” he asked. Since then, Varner’s visited every incorporated town in Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, Kansas, North Dakota, and — as of last weekend — Minnesota. He’s chronicled his travels under the name Wandermore, a publishing company he founded to fund the project through sales of travel guides and Facebook content. Each Wandermore guide is a state-specific love letter to small-town life: where to eat, what to see, and the stories behind local landmarks. The books are filled with trivia, photos, and personality-packed interviews. Like the one about Elsie — the sole resident of a tiny Nebraska town who serves as the mayor, bartender, librarian, and honorary sheriff. Or the town of Frost, Minnesota, where two recent births pushed the population from 198 to a proud 200. “A lot of us don’t have a huge advertising budget to get the word out,” said Sarah Ferguson, Chamber of Commerce director for Blue Earth, Minnesota. “So when Seth offered to highlight what we have here, I was thrilled.” Blue Earth, of course, is home to the Jolly Green Giant — a 55-foot statue paying tribute to the state’s canned vegetable legacy. The books don’t just entertain. They leave a mark. “I can take a small town and then I immortalize it in a book,” Varner said. “Where people a hundred years from now can go back and be like, ‘This is what my grandparents’ town looked like.’” Each guide funds the next journey. Now, with Minnesota complete, the profits from book sales will go toward his next target: Colorado. These days, Varner’s travels include his wife, Eliese. At first, she wasn’t sure just how serious her husband was about visiting every town — until she saw him in action. “I was just kind of in awe, maybe, ’cause it is really truly like a lot of work,” she said. “I could not be more proud of him.” Whether it’s a giant vegetable statue, a single-resident town, or a population milestone of 200, Varner is reminding the world that every place matters — and every story is worth saving.

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Metal Detectorists Discover Ancient Roman Coin Hoard in Kent

After more than 20 years of sweeping fields with his metal detector, Steve Dean has struck gold—well, silver, technically. Dean, 68, along with friends Glenn Church, 69, and Ed Denovan, 70, unearthed a remarkable hoard of around 400 ancient Roman coins buried in a farmer’s field near Maidstone, Kent. The discovery, estimated to be roughly 1,800 years old, is now in the hands of experts at the British Museum, who will assess its historical significance and market value. “It was a very unexpected find,” said Dean, a grandfather of eight who works in security at the University of Kent. “Only a few hoards are found each year and most detectorists never find one. It’s a bucket list find for most of us.” The three friends had been searching a seemingly unremarkable field when they came across a handful of coins after just an hour. They kept digging—and kept finding more. Eventually, they uncovered the base of a broken ceramic pot about 14 inches underground, with a mass of coins still inside. The scattered state of the hoard suggested that ploughing over the years had broken the pot and spread its contents across the field. “At this point, realizing that what we had discovered was historically important, we stopped digging and called the professionals in,” Dean said. Archaeologists Dr. Andrew Richardson and Paul-Samuel Armour from Isle Heritage arrived within the hour to excavate the site properly and transport the hoard for further study. “The hoard shows the Romans were here 1,800 years ago,” Dean added. “There must have been something in the area, something must have drawn them there.” While the precise location is being kept under wraps to protect it from illegal treasure hunters known as “nighthawkers,” the trio hopes to return next year once the farmer, who has already sown the field, gives the green light. The British Museum will now study the coins—likely Roman denarii or antoniniani—and estimate their worth, a process that could take up to two years. The museum has the option to purchase the hoard once its value is determined. If it does, the proceeds will be split equally between the three detectorists and the landowner. For Church, who began metal detecting in the 1970s, and Denovan, the find was also a first. “This was a first guard for all of us,” Dean said. “There is nothing remarkable about the field we found them in. But you never know what’s under your feet.” Now, they wait. And like the Roman coins they discovered, the value of patience might just pay off.

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Why John Tesh Credits His Wife for Saving His Life Amid His Cancer Battle

John Tesh says he shouldn’t even be alive. But at 73, the composer and former TV host is not only surviving — he’s thriving, thanks in large part to his wife, Connie Sellecca. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Tesh opened up about his years-long battle with prostate cancer and the moment everything changed: when Connie stepped in. Diagnosed with stage III prostate cancer in 2015, Tesh was initially told his tumors might be inoperable. Doctors warned he could have just 18 months to live. “I was in the heat of it,” he said. “And Connie mentioned two friends who might be able to help.” Those friends, whom she’d met more than five decades earlier during her modeling days in New York, pointed them to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. “They said, ‘You gotta come here,’” Tesh recalled. And that advice may have saved his life. Unlike other hospitals that had treated fewer than 100 similar cases, MD Anderson had managed over 1,000. “They had more experience,” Tesh said. “They treat the whole body, not just the cancer.” That shift in care came after an MRI in 2017 revealed the cancer had spread to his pelvic lymph nodes, two years after what he thought had been a successful radical prostatectomy. Tesh now continues to monitor the disease with his team at MD Anderson, and recently spoke at a fundraiser for the hospital. “I feel I owe my life to them,” he said. His cancer journey isn’t the only thing making a comeback. Tesh is also enjoying renewed attention for Roundball Rock, the iconic NBA on NBC theme he composed in 1990. NBC recently revived the song for upcoming 2025 broadcasts. Tesh had recorded a new orchestral version — but fans overwhelmingly asked for the original. “They said, ‘No, no, no, we want the OG version,’” he said. “So the version you’re hearing now is the demo I did in 1999.” The resurgence mirrors his own. “There’s definitely an analogy there,” he said. “Both the song and I are rising from the ashes.” Tesh also released The Sports Album, a collection of high-energy sports themes, and says he’s feeling more grounded these days — thanks to music, family, and time with his three grandchildren. “I shouldn’t even be alive now,” he said. “I’m really grateful. This is a great place right now — this minute — to be grateful.”

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How This Teen Inspired Millions With Her Journey From Paralysis To TikTok Fame

At 16, Emma Traveller’s world changed in an instant. A spontaneous double date to the sand dunes turned into a life-altering accident when the UTV she was riding in rolled four times. She hit her head on the roll cage and woke up paralyzed, unable to feel or move anything. Doctors told her she’d broken her neck — C5 through C7 — and suffered spinal cord damage at C4. She couldn’t breathe on her own, eat, or even cough. “I thought my life was over,” she says. “One day I was a healthy teenager — the next, I couldn’t even breathe on my own.” That moment marked the beginning of a journey that would ultimately lead her to build a community of more than 600,000 people on TikTok. Traveller spent 10 days in intensive care before transferring to Craig Hospital in Colorado, a leading spinal cord rehab facility. There, she began the painstaking process of learning how to live again — breathing without machines, swallowing, sitting up, slowly regaining movement in one arm. Her first breakthrough came with something small but symbolic: drinking from a straw. It was slow. It was frustrating. And it was deeply emotional. “There were mornings I didn’t want to get out of bed,” she says. “But then I reminded myself: I have a wheelchair. I’m alive. I chose gratitude, and that choice kept me moving forward.” While recovering, she started looking online for others like her. That’s when she discovered Makayla Noble, a former cheerleader who became a quadriplegic after an accident. Noble’s story lit a spark — and gave her permission to tell her own. Traveller, now 20, began documenting her life on TikTok and Instagram. She shared everything: daily routines, workout attempts, frustrations, small wins. Her openness resonated. Messages began pouring in from people going through their own struggles. “My family was recently in a Razor accident… I am so encouraged by your story and your attitude!” one person wrote. Another, a paraplegic of three years, said, “I’m still trying to be grateful I’m alive, but sometimes it’s hard.” Others thanked her for simply being real. “I love it when people going through really hard things message me to say my page helped them get through it,” she says. “It makes me want to keep doing this forever.” Today, she’s turned that momentum into purpose. Traveller now travels to speak at schools and conferences, visits kids in hospitals, and is writing a book with her mom. She also interned with an adaptive fashion designer in New York — inspired by the challenges she faced getting dressed after her injury. When she’s not working on speeches or therapy, she fills her days with movement and connection. “Getting ready takes longer, so I have to wake up early — but it’s worth it,” she says. “Staying busy keeps me out of my head and connected to everyone else.” Through it all, her message is clear: being in a wheelchair doesn’t mean giving up on happiness. It just means learning a new way to live. “I didn’t get the outcome I wanted — I wanted to go back to cheer and be my old self — but I’ve learned how to live in this new way,” she says. “Your circumstances don’t determine your happiness.” Traveller is quick to point out that life before the accident wasn’t perfect, either. “I used to constantly compare myself to others and struggled with body dysmorphia,” she says. “Now, I feel more confident because I focus on gratitude.” To others going through hardship, she offers the same advice she gives her younger self: “Stop comparing. Be kind. Everyone faces challenges — illness, mental health, family stuff. Helping others helps you, too.” What began as tragedy has turned into impact. And for Emma Traveller, that impact has become a calling.

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