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A 'giant' rising in the desert: World's largest telescope comes together
Construction of the world's largest telescope, the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), is progressing well with the dome and housing for the primary mirror taking shape on Cerro Armazones mountain in Chile. The ELT, set to be operational by 2028, aims to observe exoplanets and measure universe expansion. Recent photos from the European Southern Observatory show significant progress in constructing the ELT's dome, central structure and M1 mirror base. Once completed, this flagship project will revolutionize astronomy for decades to come.
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After 50 Years, Scientists Finally Synthesize Potent Fungal Compound With Cancer-Fighting Potential
More than half a century after it was first discovered, a powerful cancer-fighting compound called verticillin A has finally been artificially synthesized in the lab — opening the door to new research and potential therapies. Verticillin A, found naturally in a rare fungus, has long intrigued scientists for its ability to kill cancer cells. But the compound has always been notoriously difficult to study. In nature, it only occurs in minuscule amounts, and its complex chemical structure made it nearly impossible to recreate synthetically — until now. Researchers from MIT and Harvard Medical School have developed a 16-step process to build verticillin A from scratch, marking a major scientific breakthrough. “Now we have the technology where we can not only access them for the first time, more than 50 years after they were isolated, but also we can make many designed variants,” said MIT chemist Mohammad Movassaghi, who led the synthetic work. “That can enable further detailed studies.” The compound’s structure is deceptively tricky. It's made of two identical halves, forming what's called a dimer molecule. But getting the 3D structure just right is essential — even small deviations can make the entire molecule unstable or ineffective. Movassaghi’s team adapted techniques he previously used to create similar compounds, but they had to significantly change the timing and order of certain steps. The synthetic process involved carefully protecting fragile bonds, rearranging the order in which molecular groups were added, and unmasking key functional groups only after the full structure had been assembled. “What we learned was the timing of the events is absolutely critical,” Movassaghi said. “We had to significantly change the order of the bond-forming events.” With a reliable synthetic version in hand, the team tested verticillin A — along with several related variants — on lab-grown cells of diffuse midline glioma (DMG), an aggressive pediatric brain cancer. The results were promising. Like earlier natural versions of the compound, the new synthetic version successfully killed DMG cancer cells. Importantly, researchers also confirmed that the compound was hitting its intended protein targets inside the cells, a key step in verifying its potential as a therapeutic drug. Jun Qi, a chemical biologist at Harvard Medical School and co-author of the study, said the breakthrough sets the stage for a new chapter in cancer research. “Natural compounds have been valuable resources for drug discovery,” said Qi. “We will fully evaluate the therapeutic potential of these molecules by integrating our expertise in chemistry, chemical biology, cancer biology, and patient care.” By finally synthesizing verticillin A, researchers now have the ability to not only study the compound in detail but also tweak its structure to potentially improve its effectiveness or reduce side effects. It’s a leap forward in a decades-long puzzle — and a step toward harnessing a powerful natural chemical in the fight against cancer. The study was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
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Smart Pads, Allergy Sensors, and LED Masks: The Health Tech That Turned Heads at CES 2026
The world’s biggest tech show wasn’t just about AI and foldable phones this year. At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, a wave of new health-focused gadgets showed that personal wellness — from hormones to heart age — is becoming more high-tech and more personalized than ever. Here are some of the standout innovations spotted by Euronews Next: 1. A pod for your brain and body Right in the middle of the buzz and chaos was something designed to do the opposite — calm you down. The French company Reconcept showcased a mental health pod that tilts users into a zero-gravity position, plays soothing bird sounds, and offers a massage. Climbing out of it and back onto the conference floor wasn’t easy. Reconcept says the pod helps reduce muscular tension, supports gut health, and aids emotional regulation. It’s already being used by athletes, armed forces, and some companies to combat stress and burnout. 2. A scale with 60 metrics French health tech company Withings returned to CES with a major upgrade: the Body Scan 2, a smart scale that tracks up to 60 health indicators. That includes everything from muscle-fat balance and heart age to metabolic and arterial health. During a demo, only four metrics were shown, but the feedback was detailed enough to include personalised advice — in one case, a suggestion to walk 3,000 more steps daily. Withings recommends using the scale at least 2-3 times a week for long-term progress reports. The scale is expected to retail for around €499 and launches later this year. 3. A menstrual pad that tracks hormones In a first for CES, menstrual health went high-tech with the debut of a smart menstrual pad from Vivoo. The device can measure follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) directly from the pad, providing insight into fertility, hormone levels, and potential infections. Each pad will cost between €3 and €4, and the company plans to offer it through a subscription model. 4. A pocket-sized allergy detector For people with food allergies, dining out can be stressful. A new device from Allergen Alert aims to ease that anxiety. Roughly the size of a lipstick tube, the portable tool analyzes food samples on the spot. It crushes and dilutes the sample, then tests it for allergens like lactose and gluten. It was inspired by CEO Antoine Burgaud’s own experience with her daughter’s dairy allergy. The FDA-approved device is already in use in high-end kitchens, including Michelin-starred Paul Bocuse. It’s expected to cost around €200, plus a subscription fee. 5. A more wearable LED face mask L’Oréal made waves with its sleek, ultra-thin LED mask — a major shift from the bulky, rigid masks currently on the market. Made of silicon, the new design includes targeted sections for the under-eye area, something existing masks typically ignore. It uses 630nm red light and 830nm near-infrared — the same levels dermatologists recommend — to target wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and sagging. “You need to reach those wavelengths if you want real results,” said Guive Balooch, L’Oréal’s global VP of augmented beauty. The LED mask isn’t expected to launch until 2027, and pricing is still undecided. But given the current market, which ranges from €100 to well over €2,000, it could land anywhere in the middle.
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Sleeping In on Weekends May Help Teens and Young Adults Feel Less Depressed, Study Finds
Sleeping late on weekends might be more than just a guilty pleasure for teens and young adults — it could actually support their mental health. New research from the University of Oregon and the State University of New York Upstate Medical University found that people aged 16 to 24 who catch up on sleep over the weekend are significantly less likely to experience symptoms of depression. Compared to their peers who didn’t recover sleep on weekends, the study group showed a 41 percent lower risk of depressive symptoms. The findings were published in the Journal of Affective Disorders and draw from data collected in the 2021–2023 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants shared their usual sleep and wake times during the week and on weekends, and also reported on their emotional well-being. Anyone who said they felt sad or depressed every day was classified as having symptoms of depression. "Sleep researchers and clinicians have long recommended that adolescents get eight to 10 hours of sleep at a regular time every day of the week, but that's just not practical for a lot of adolescents, or people generally," said Melynda Casement, a licensed psychologist and associate professor at the University of Oregon’s College of Arts and Sciences. Casement co-authored the study with Jason Carbone, an assistant professor at SUNY Upstate Medical University. The researchers emphasized that consistent sleep throughout the week is still the gold standard. But in reality, most young people face packed schedules: school, homework, extracurriculars, social lives, and often part-time jobs. Weekday sleep gets squeezed — and weekends become the only time to catch up. "It's normal for teens to be night owls, so let them catch up on sleep on weekends if they can't get enough sleep during the week because that's likely to be somewhat protective," Casement said. Most past research on weekend catch-up sleep has focused on school-age teens in Asia, particularly in China and Korea. This study is one of the first to examine typical adolescent sleep habits in the United States. The research also fits into a growing conversation around how sleep affects mental health, particularly for young people. Depression is one of the leading causes of disability among people aged 16 to 24, Casement said, where “disability” includes disruptions in daily life — missing class, struggling with work, or falling behind on responsibilities. That makes this age group particularly important to study when looking at risk factors for depression and how to intervene early. The researchers point to biology as part of the explanation. During adolescence, sleep patterns naturally shift. Circadian rhythms — the body’s internal clock — start to favor later bedtimes and wake times. That means teens tend to fall asleep later, even if they’re exhausted. “Instead of being a morning lark you're going to become more of a night owl,” Casement said. “And sleep onset keeps progressively delaying in adolescence until age 18 to 20. After that, you start becoming more morning larkish again.” For many teens, the most natural sleep schedule runs from around 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. But most schools start much earlier than that. As a result, students routinely start the day sleep-deprived — a problem that sleep researchers say could be solved in part by pushing back school start times. Until that happens, though, weekends may offer a much-needed buffer. While it’s not a perfect fix, the study suggests that letting teens sleep in on Saturday and Sunday might help protect their emotional health, especially if their weekdays are packed and their nights are short. “It’s not the ideal solution,” Casement said, “but it’s a practical one.”
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This Smuggled Puppy Has Finally Found a Loving Home After a 26-Hour Journey from Slovakia
At just seven weeks old, Elsa the Yorkshire terrier had already endured more than most dogs do in a lifetime. Packed into a box with little food or water, she was smuggled in the back seat of a car on a 26-hour journey from Slovakia to the Port of Dover. With no paperwork or microchip, Elsa was seized by authorities in September on suspicion she was too young to legally enter the UK. Now, months later, she’s found a fresh start with a new family in Yorkshire. "She's settled in nicely and doesn't seem to have any ill effects from that early trauma," said her new owner, Lynne Austin. “I burst into tears when I heard about her and saw her. It’s just been perfect timing for Elsa but for me as well.” Austin adopted Elsa after losing her previous dog, also a Yorkshire terrier, in mid-2025. Elsa was one of three puppies intercepted at the border during that incident. All were underage, undocumented, and potentially destined for illegal sale. The case is far from unique. Over the last decade, Dogs Trust has cared for more than 3,200 illegally imported puppies through its Puppy Pilot scheme. The charity estimates those dogs would have fetched over £5 million if sold to unsuspecting buyers. The majority of seized puppies are between eight and 11 weeks old, according to Dogs Trust, and many show signs of neglect or trauma. Elsa, still shy but playful, is considered one of the lucky ones. “Some of the red flags [to spot illegal puppy sales] would be if the seller has a lot of different breeds available but doesn't have information on some of the puppies,” said Josh Heath, who works at the Dogs Trust centre in the South East. “If they have no details of the mum or aren't able to provide pictures of it, that can also be a serious red flag.” Puppy smuggling has become a growing concern, especially with the rise of online pet sales and pandemic-driven demand. Some sellers exploit loopholes to import underage dogs with fake or incomplete paperwork, often keeping them in poor conditions along the way. Matt Henning, who leads the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s anti-smuggling efforts in Dover, said the issue is widespread. “Some of the dogs we intercept can be on death’s door,” he said. “The main cause of issues is from the importers exploiting some of the loopholes that this bill aims to address.” That bill — the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act — was signed into law in December, after two previous attempts failed. It raises the minimum legal age for bringing puppies into the UK from 15 weeks to six months. Henning says the change makes enforcement easier. “It can be quite tricky to age some of the breeds, but raising it to six months will leave little doubt. It makes things much clearer.” As for Elsa, her future now looks far brighter than her past. Her story is one of many, but it’s also a reminder of what’s at stake — and why stronger protections matter. “She’s just lovely,” Austin said. “And she’s home now.”
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Athletes Are Competing For Top Honors At the British Transplant Games
When Jenny Glithero woke up in a hospital bed, disoriented and weak, she didn’t know she had nearly died. She had turned off the TV at home and blacked out. The next thing she remembered, a doctor was telling her she’d received a new liver. A viral infection had led to acute liver failure, and emergency surgery saved her life. “I couldn’t move, I was so weak,” she said. “There was nothing left on me. There was no muscle … no fat.” Fast forward, and Glithero is windswept and beaming after a 25-kilometre bike ride, still in her cycling kit, training for the British Transplant Games. It’s a turnaround that’s hard to believe, but one that plays out across hundreds of stories at the annual event. Before her transplant, she cycled 20 kilometres to work and back every day, with hill repeats in her spare time “for fun”. When a doctor mentioned the games during her recovery, she immediately knew she wanted to take part. Six months after relearning how to breathe, Glithero was back on her bike. “I went down the road for the first time without falling off,” she said. “I was like: ‘I’m doing it! Oh my gosh, I’m doing it!’” Each year, the British Transplant Games bring together athletes who aren’t just racing for medals. They’re racing in honour of the donors who gave them another chance at life. And every scar, every finish line, is a gesture of gratitude. “I am so grateful for this liver,” Glithero said, resting a hand on her abdomen. “For this life that was gifted to me.” Across the UK, more than 8,000 people are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Even with the 2020 shift to an opt-out system in England, where all adults are considered potential donors unless they opt out, families can still override the decision. “At the end of the day it’s the family that can refuse to give consent at the bedside,” said Lynne Holt, Transplant Team GB manager and a long-time supporter of the games. That’s why conversations matter, Holt said. People often don’t talk to loved ones about their wishes. “It’s an awful time … it’s normally a sudden death. But if [your family] know your wishes and they don’t have to make decisions, it’s like: ‘Oh, that’s what she wanted.’” The games began in the UK in 1978, launched by the charity Transplant Sport. They’ve since expanded into a global event, with the World Transplant Games featuring athletes from 51 countries competing across 17 sports. Participation at the British level is used to help select Team GB for the worlds. “It’s competitive,” said Holt. “If they think they can just turn up without doing any training, they’re not going to win a medal.” But winning isn’t the only goal. At the opening ceremony in Oxford this year, a parade of transplant recipients made its way into the west courtyard of Blenheim Palace. The loudest cheers were for the final group: families of deceased donors. “We call them the VIPs,” Holt said. “Because without them we wouldn’t have any transplant recipients. They’ve all given the gift of life.” Sue Burton was one of those VIPs. Her 16-year-old son Martin died of a brain haemorrhage, and his organs were donated. “It seemed like the absolute, natural thing to do,” she said. “He was young, he was healthy … It would have been sacrilege to let his organs go with him.” Looking around at the competitors, Burton said she could see the impact. “It’s completely inspiring. That’s Martin’s legacy.” That legacy was dancing nearby in the form of five-year-old Leo, who received a liver transplant at six months old. He sprinted around the courtyard, giggling and lifting his shirt to show the scar across his belly. “It’s definitely not stopped him,” his mother Gemma said, laughing. Leo, she explained, was taking part in the 25-metre sprint, the obstacle course, and the ball throw. The games are as much about community as they are about competition. For many, it’s a rare opportunity to feel understood. “Transplant people – we have experiences that nobody else has,” said kidney recipient Declan Logue. “We have very strange conversations. ‘What medications are you on?’ ‘What ailments do you have?’ You feel you’re not alone.” Mental health plays a big part too. “People [here], they open up. They actually relax,” he said. Kirsty Saville, a transplant team manager at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said the event gives people “a sense of belonging”. It also promotes a healthier lifestyle. The medication transplant recipients take to prevent rejection can cause weight gain and other complications. Saville said regular training helps recipients maintain their health — and their new organs. “It gives them that exercise, and keeps their graft longer,” she said. “It gives them a goal to achieve.” For some, that goal becomes a lifelong one. Louise, who had a kidney transplant at 13, wasn’t athletic before her surgery. But she first joined the games at 14, and this year — at age 36 — she’s still competing. “Every year she starts training before the games,” said her mother, Catherine Cook. “It’s given her something to aim for.” Ask anyone at the games why they show up, and the answer is nearly always the same. “Why do I train? Why do I do this? Because I’ve been given the gift of life,” said Glithero. “It’s about going to show up for my donor. To give thanks,” she said. “Some people go to church. I get on the bike.”
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Why This UK Woman Says Retraining a Retired Racehorse Saved Her Life
Claire Howie wasn’t expecting to find a lifeline when she bought a retired racehorse in 2021. But that’s exactly what happened. The 39-year-old from Stoke-on-Trent had been struggling with her mental health when she brought home Skeaping, a then-12-year-old thoroughbred who had recently wrapped up his racing career after 53 races and five wins. She retrained him in dressage and other equestrian disciplines — but says the horse gave her far more in return. “Going up to him every day and being able to ride him just gave me my life back,” Howie told BBC Radio Stoke. “He really helped me to overcome the difficult times in my life. Without him, I wouldn't be the person I am today.” Now, the duo are finalists for Horse of the Year in the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) Awards — a UK-based charity honouring ex-racehorses who go on to successful second careers. The winner will be decided by public vote and announced at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 24. From racehorse to dressage champion Since retiring from the track, Skeaping has taken to his new life with enthusiasm. Under Howie’s care, he became the RoR Dressage Intro champion in 2022 and qualified for the prestigious Bramham British Eventing 80 Championship in 2024. Even during a quieter 2025, while Howie recovered from back surgery, the pair still made it to the British Riding Club Arena Eventing National Championships. She describes Skeaping as “nothing but versatile” and says he deserves every bit of the recognition. “Skeaping is my best friend and has helped me, as I have had a lot of battles to deal with this year,” she said. “Our partnership and bond is closer than ever.” A life-changing friendship Howie juggles night shifts as a lorry driver and spends her mornings training horses in Leek, Staffordshire. It’s a demanding routine, but her time with Skeaping has become a constant source of support — a quiet routine that brought stability during her lowest moments. “He saved my life,” she said. “We’ve done it all on our own, and if we won [the award], it would be the pinnacle for us. We could look back with great pride at what we have achieved.” Voting for the RoR Horse of the Year closes Friday at 17:00 GMT on the charity’s website. Howie and Skeaping are one of three finalist pairs. Win or not, she says their journey together has already been a victory.
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New Magnetic Nanomaterial Could Target Bone Cancer and Help Heal Bone at the Same Time
A research team from Brazil and Portugal has developed a new kind of nanomaterial that could one day change how bone cancer is treated — by attacking tumors and helping damaged bones repair themselves, all in a single step. The material, described in the journal Magnetic Medicine, combines two hard-to-balance properties: magnetic heat generation for killing cancer cells, and bone-friendly bioactivity to support regrowth. It’s made from iron oxide nanoparticles — responsible for the magnetic heating — coated in a thin layer of bioactive glass that helps it bond with bone tissue. “Magnetic bioactive nanocomposites are very promising for bone cancer therapy because they can simultaneously ablate tumors through magnetic hyperthermia and support new bone growth,” said Dr. Ângela Andrade, lead author of the study. Two-in-One Solution The problem scientists have faced in this field is simple but difficult: materials that are good at generating the heat needed to kill cancer cells often aren’t great at bonding with bone, and vice versa. This new nanocomposite aims to do both. By wrapping the magnetic core in a shell of bioactive glass, the team created a “core-shell” structure that retains strong magnetization while encouraging bone regeneration. That structure allows it to generate heat when exposed to an alternating magnetic field — a process that damages or destroys cancer cells in the area — while also sticking to bone and triggering the body’s natural repair mechanisms. Fast Mineralization in Tests To simulate what would happen inside the body, the researchers placed the material in a solution that mimics human blood plasma. The results were promising: the particles quickly formed apatite, the mineral that makes up most of natural bone. That rapid formation suggests the material would bond well with bone after implantation. Different versions of the material were tested, and one stood out. “Among the tested formulations, the one with a higher calcium content demonstrated the fastest mineralization rate and the strongest magnetic response,” Andrade said. Minimally Invasive Potential The iron oxide core is what enables the treatment side of the therapy. When activated by a magnetic field, it produces enough localized heat to kill nearby cancer cells — a process called magnetic hyperthermia. It’s targeted and focused, reducing the risk to healthy surrounding tissues. Meanwhile, the outer bioactive glass helps trigger bone repair. That means the material doesn’t just treat the cancer — it also lays the groundwork for structural recovery, something patients often struggle with after tumor removal surgeries. “This study provides new insights into how surface chemistry and structure influence the performance of magnetic biomaterials,” Andrade said. “The findings open new perspectives on the development of increasingly advanced multifunctional materials that are both safe and effective for clinical use.” A Step Toward Smarter Therapies Bone cancer often requires aggressive treatment, including surgery that removes part of the bone along with the tumor. Recovery can be long and painful, and rebuilding the lost bone remains a major clinical challenge. The ability to treat the tumor and support bone healing at the same time could simplify care and improve outcomes. The study is an early-stage breakthrough, but it adds momentum to a growing field focused on smart materials that serve multiple medical purposes. If future trials are successful, this kind of nanocomposite could pave the way for more targeted, less invasive treatments for bone cancer — offering patients both a stronger chance of survival and a faster path to recovery.
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Texas Family Discovers 2.09-Carat Diamond at State Park with Siri's Help
When 7-year-old Austin Ward asked his mom if there was anywhere nearby to mine for crystals, he probably didn’t expect to end up at a diamond mine — or for his dad to walk away with a 2.09-carat gem. But that’s exactly what happened when the Ward family from Texas followed a Siri suggestion all the way to Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas. What started as a spontaneous family adventure turned into a once-in-a-lifetime discovery. James Ward, a high school teacher, was digging through the dirt with his fingers on December 30 when he spotted something unusual. “I didn’t know what it was, but I knew it was different than everything else I had found,” he said. That something turned out to be a dark yellowish-brown diamond, about the size of a corn kernel, with a metallic sheen. Park officials later confirmed it was the fifth diamond found on the surface of the 37.5-acre search area that month. “Mr. Ward’s diamond has a beautiful, metallic luster characteristic of all Crater diamonds,” said Assistant Park Superintendent Waymon Cox in a statement. He noted that while most diamonds found at the site are chipped or flawed, the Ward diamond was a solid find — and may have been even larger before enduring immense geological pressure underground. The find was the highlight of a family road trip that began a day earlier. Austin’s request to go mining set the plan in motion. Elizabeth Ward, James’ wife, asked Siri where they could find a crystal mining site nearby. Siri suggested Crater of Diamonds State Park, one of the only places in the world where the public can search for diamonds and keep what they find. “I sent the link to James, and he’s like, ‘Oh wait, that’s only like six hours away. We can go!’” Elizabeth recalled. The family — James, Elizabeth, Austin, and their older son Adrian, 9 — drove to the park on December 29. But winter weather nearly cut their trip short. “We were so cold! We were here for, like, four hours. It was freezing, but Adrian was the one who wanted to come back,” Elizabeth said. So they returned the next day and kept digging. Two hours in, James made the unexpected discovery. Once confirmed by park staff, James named the diamond after his family: the “Ward Diamond.” He hasn’t decided whether to keep it or sell it. “No idea,” he said. “I’ll have to see how much it’s worth first.” Crater of Diamonds State Park is a known treasure-hunting destination. Since becoming a state park in 1972, over 35,000 diamonds have been found by visitors. By the end of 2025, the park had registered 540 diamonds for the year. James offered a tip for future visitors: “You can stumble upon a diamond in any place or time. Don’t give up on the first day!” Elizabeth added her own takeaway: “Listen to your kids about their dreams and what they want to do!” In this case, a 7-year-old’s curiosity, a voice assistant, and a little determination led to a diamond worth far more than just its weight.
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Florida Zoo Just Set a New Record With 26 Manatees Released Into the Wild in a Single Year
ZooTampa at Lowry Park has hit a major conservation milestone — and it comes with flippers and whiskers. In 2025, the Florida zoo released 26 rehabilitated manatees back into local waters, marking the highest number of manatee releases in a single year in the zoo’s history. The announcement was made in a press release on January 5. “This accomplishment underscores the Zoo's pivotal role in conserving this iconic species and its role within the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership,” the zoo said. The releases included manatees like Finn and Mudonna, both of whom were featured in recent photos and videos shared by the zoo alongside Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) teams. Mudonna's story is especially striking. She was rescued in November 2024 after Hurricanes Helene and Milton swept through Florida. Found in just five inches of cold water with little food and temperatures near freezing, she weighed only 345 pounds — dangerously low for an adult manatee, which typically weighs around 1,000 pounds. ZooTampa, along with the FWC and the University of Florida Marine Rescue, spent months nursing her back to health. By the time she returned to Crystal River last week, Mudonna had more than doubled her weight, tipping the scales at over 700 pounds. The zoo’s David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center is the largest nonprofit facility of its kind in the United States and has cared for more than 615 manatees since it opened in 1991. Most have been successfully returned to the wild. According to ZooTampa, its rescue program operates 24/7, staffed by veterinarians — including two certified manatee critical-care specialists — and trained animal care teams. The zoo also plans to expand its efforts this spring with the opening of the Straz Family Manatee Rescue, which will give visitors an up-close, underwater view of manatees in care. Manatees in Florida continue to face serious threats, including habitat loss and injuries from watercraft. In 2025 alone, an estimated 620 manatees died and 97 were hurt in boat strikes, according to the FWC. Manatees are protected under multiple laws, including the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and Florida’s own Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978, which makes it illegal to disturb or harm the animals. However, proposed federal changes have raised concerns among conservation groups about potential rollbacks in protections tied to habitat loss. For now, ZooTampa is focused on helping one manatee at a time. And in 2025, that added up to 26 of them — all back where they belong.
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Meet the 68-Year-Old Painting Gloucester Beautiful—One Bollard at a Time
Alan “Big Al” Platt isn’t getting paid to clean road signs or repaint public fixtures across Gloucester. But that hasn’t stopped him from putting in the work — and the results are starting to turn heads. The 68-year-old retiree has quietly taken it upon himself to beautify the city, from repainting bollards near landmarks to planting bulbs in flood-prone areas. What started as a simple litter pick-up during the COVID-19 lockdowns has now grown into something much bigger. “I can redo things that haven’t been done for decades and then walk down there and think, ‘I did that’,” Platt said. His handiwork is already visible in several parts of the city. He’s repainted the black bollards near the Hooper Monument by Gloucester Cathedral and the golden needles in front of Shire Hall. Along with other volunteers, he’s also been working since January at Alney Island, an area often hit by flooding. Together, they cleared deep layers of mud and planted more than 400 bulbs. “Hopefully it’s going to be a blooming spring down there,” he said. Platt’s motivation is simple: he wants to make Gloucester beautiful. He has no plans of slowing down and already has a full painting schedule mapped out for 2026. “I’ve probably done over 40 bollards with black paint. Next year I will do 50-60, the whole of Eastgate Street. I want to do, they’re a mess,” he said. “If we could do 100 in two years, what a remarkable thing that is.” And if you’ve got leftover black paint, he’ll gladly take it off your hands. “Anyone who’s got any black paint and they want to give it to me, that would be very nice.” He’s not working alone. Platt has teamed up with others, including Tony Aldridge from Gloucester BID. One of their recent projects involved restoring the gates to the 12th-century St Nicholas Church on Westgate Street. “They [The Church Conservation Trust] allowed us to strip all the old paint and varnish off which was a long job because the varnish was like tar,” Platt said. “Then they provided the paint, the original green. It was very detailed work to get the nice edging to make them look as they used to be.” Since the restoration, the church has seen more visitors and now opens regularly. Platt doesn’t do it for praise or recognition. For him, the work itself is enough. “I really enjoy it,” he said. “And now I concentrate on making Gloucester beautiful.”