Swiss Scientists Teach Fungi to Generate Electricity: Mushroom Batteries Unveiled

Swiss researchers have developed a groundbreaking fungal battery that is 3D-printed and biodegradable. The battery, created at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, uses two types of fungi to generate electricity in a microbial fuel cell. While not yet powerful enough for large electronics, these batteries could be used to power sensors in remote areas. Researchers are exploring ways to enhance the battery's capabilities and discover new fungi for electricity production.

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Utah Family Showcases Design Skills In Fierce Gingerbread House Contest

A family's annual gingerbread-house competition has captured the internet’s imagination — and raised the bar for holiday crafting. Mallory Millett shared video of the December 17 showdown, which featured a series of over-the-top, jaw-dropping designs that had commenters wondering if the entire family moonlights as architects. It turns out, at least one of them is heading in that direction. The winning house, revealed in the final clip, was designed by one of Millett’s sisters, who is currently studying interior design. The intricate build earned praise both online and within the family, who, according to Millett, take the contest “very seriously” each year. This was the fifth year the family staged the gingerbread competition, and based on the reactions, the creativity only gets bigger with time. “I can’t even put the walls together,” one user joked, sharing their own gingerbread fail. Another simply asked, “Are y’all a family of architects???” Millett says the holiday tradition started as a fun family activity but has since evolved into a full-on display of craftsmanship and competitive spirit. With the designs now going viral, fans are already asking what next year’s builds will look like. No pressure.

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How This Pennsylvania Teacher is Inspiring Kindness With Annual $20 Challenge

Every year, ninth-grade English teacher Kristina Ulmer hands each of her students a $20 bill. There's only one condition: they must use it to do something kind. The tradition began nearly a decade ago after Ulmer’s younger sister Katie died in a car crash at the age of 29. In her wallet, Katie had left behind a $100 tip she’d earned while waitressing. Ulmer saw an opportunity to turn her grief into something meaningful. “I wanted them to notice that, you know, people around them could possibly be struggling,” Ulmer told CBC News. “I want them to make connections to the people around them.” So she matched the tip with her own money and handed out $20 bills to her students, asking them to spend it on an act of kindness. What began as a personal project has now become an annual tradition — and is funded by Horsham High School, where Ulmer teaches. Over the years, her students have used the money in creative and generous ways: baking cookies for first responders, donating to food banks, buying toys for children, or crocheting tiny hats for premature babies in the hospital. Ulmer says the project has repeatedly challenged stereotypes about teens. “A lot of people stereotype that age, and they say they're self-centered… and I just don't see that,” she said. Former students agree. Sydney Cassel, who was once in Ulmer’s class, told the Washington Post she still takes part in the “$20 Kindness Challenge” every year, long after graduating. “You don’t have to have millions,” Cassel said. “Anyone can make a difference.” And that’s exactly the point. What started with a single act of generosity from Katie Ulmer has rippled outward — from a waitress’s wallet to hundreds of students and the communities they touch. “I think my sister would be proud,” Ulmer said.

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Christmas Meal Serves 300 Homeless at a New Street Station in England

In the heart of the city’s busiest train station, a platform was transformed into a place of warmth, music, and compassion as 300 of Birmingham’s most vulnerable residents were treated to a Christmas celebration they won’t forget. On Wednesday, the Midland Langar Seva Society (MLSS), in partnership with Network Rail, hosted its eighth annual Christmas meal at Birmingham New Street station, welcoming hundreds of homeless and vulnerable people for a hot, three-course vegetarian dinner. “This event exists to remind people that they matter,” said MLSS chief executive Randhir Singh. “For one afternoon, they are not forgotten — they are our honoured guests.” The festive afternoon included more than just food. Non-alcoholic drinks were served alongside carol singing, a live DJ, and holiday gifts. The celebration ran from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the station’s concourse, where volunteers from MLSS and Network Rail came together to make it happen. “A welcoming meal in the heart of the city can make a real difference for those who need extra support at Christmas,” said New Street station manager Elizabeth Graham. “It’s a chance for people to relax, enjoy themselves, and feel part of a caring community.” The event began in 2018 and has grown each year. It’s grounded in the Sikh principle of dasvand — giving 10% of one’s time and income to serve others. For Singh and the MLSS team, the event is about more than meals. “We know that suicide rates rise at this time of year, and for those with no family, no home, and no-one checking in on them, Christmas can feel unbearable,” Singh said. “We are there to serve them, to listen, to show care and compassion, and to make them feel truly special.” The annual gathering is now a staple of Birmingham’s holiday season — a reminder that dignity, empathy, and kindness can shine brightest in the darkest moments. “In our eighth year working with Network Rail,” Singh said, “this meal represents everything we stand for at MLSS: Dignity, equality, and the belief that no-one should feel alone.”

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This Ohio Server Just Received a $27,000 Surprise from Customers After Husband’s Passing

For 30 years, Tammy Hammonds has served up plates of chili and kindness at Skyline Chili in Clifton. But on Dec. 21, the kindness came back to her — in a way she never saw coming. A group of regular customers surprised Tammy with $27,000 after learning her husband, Randy Hammonds, had died from kidney cancer. “This has been the darkest time of my life,” she said. “They’ve brought the light with them today.” The effort was organized by Kyle Zimmerman and Sam Bruchell, who started eating at the Clifton Skyline back in their college days — sometimes visiting four times a week. Now living in New York and Chicago, the two never forgot Tammy’s warmth and hospitality. After hearing about her loss, Zimmerman started a fundraiser on Dec. 15. Within hours, thousands of dollars poured in. Zimmerman explained that Tammy’s late husband was a wounded war veteran who had also worked handling hazardous waste for the U.S. government. He wanted to ease the financial burden so Tammy could focus on healing. “Anyone who knows Tammy knows her kindness, warmth, and the way she takes care of everyone who walks through the door,” Zimmerman wrote on the GoFundMe page, which has raised more than $14,000 to date. Tammy said she had no idea the customers she watched grow up cared for her so deeply. “I knew the impact it was having on me by being a part of their lives and watching them grow,” she said. “I would’ve never thought they would love me this much.” The moment left her overwhelmed — not just by the donation, but by the gesture itself. “Just to show the love they have for me is enough. But to do what they’ve done with me is incredible.” She added, “I always thought Kyle was my little angel. This time, he brought a whole army of angels with him.” Tammy hopes the outpouring of support inspires others to show appreciation in small ways — every day. “Show love each and every day, be happy with what you’re doing,” she said. “Sometimes it may not seem important. I can see how important it was.”

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Meet the 8-Year-Old in Ontario Whose 173 Christmas Inflatables Are Going Viral

When most kids pass by a Christmas inflatable, they smile and keep walking. Foster Haines stops — and studies. At just 8 years old, he’s built a collection of 173 inflatables, turning his family's yard into one of the most eye-catching holiday displays in Ontario. And thanks to TikTok, thousands are watching it grow. What began with a single snowman in 2019 has exploded into a full-blown seasonal tradition in the Haines household — complete with cross-border shopping trips, sponsor support, and viral videos that have drawn nearly a million views. “Foster became obsessed with a snowman inflatable at our local grocery store when he was two,” says his mom, Sara Haines. “The next Christmas, we bought him his first snowman, and it started to grow from there.” Now, five years later, Foster’s passion has taken over their property — and the internet. His TikTok account, @fostersinflatables, has earned thousands of followers, and big brands like Canadian Tire and Gemmy (the leading inflatable manufacturer) are sending him new pieces to add to the collection. But behind the viral fame is a kid who’s genuinely obsessed — and very hands-on. “He previews all the new designs online every year and decides his top want lists,” says Sara. “He’s quite involved in the general planning of the display. He has ideas of what should go together, or where certain ones should be, or if he wants things like ‘character rows.’” While Sara and others handle the setup while Foster is at school — it takes more than a week to get all 173 inflatables standing — Foster takes over once they’re up. He’s outside every morning checking that everything’s upright and cleared. “He is the main caretaker once the inflatables are set up,” Sara says. “He goes out every morning and ensures everything is cleared and upright.” His favorite? A shaking inflatable named “Chilly Snowman.” And of course, the very first snowman, which has never even been placed outside. “He really loves snowmen,” Sara says. Each year, the family makes a trip to the U.S. around Foster’s November 1 birthday to find inflatables not sold in Canada. One of those trips led to a particularly meaningful moment — a search for a Little Debbie Christmas Cake inflatable in memory of Foster’s late grandfather, who helped introduce the cakes to Canada in the ’90s. When they couldn’t find it, Gemmy stepped in and sent it as a gift. The unboxing video went viral. Support has only grown from there. Canadian Tire now sends Foster inflatables and gift cards. Other fans drop them off, or ship them in. It’s reached the point where, as Sara puts it, “the new inflatables just seem to find their way to Foster.” Managing the collection takes serious organization. Each inflatable is dried, sorted, and stored in numbered totes with a detailed log of where everything goes. This year, the family is planning to build a shed just to house the growing stash. Weather is the biggest obstacle. Snow during setup slows everything down, and drying each inflatable afterward takes weeks. “You cannot pack them away when their weight bags are wet,” Sara says. But it’s all worth it. The display has become a local favourite, especially among kids. And sharing that joy online wasn’t even Sara’s idea — it was Foster’s. “He persistently asked us to for 3 years,” she says. “Eventually, I agreed and shared a video of Foster stating he would rather go to Canadian Tire than Disney World, and it all started there.” Now, his videos regularly earn thousands of views, and the feedback has been overwhelming. “Hearing from people whose kids love Foster just makes us all so happy,” Sara says. “For Foster to be that for others is really a cool and beautiful thing.” At the heart of it all is a simple message: let kids lead with what they love. “We think that it’s important to just meet your kids where they are,” Sara says. “And let them decide what they want to love.”

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Therapy Dogs Spread Holiday Cheer to Patients at Houston Hospital

Adorable footage shows a pair of four-legged hospital workers delivering ornaments and stickers to children and adults battling complex diseases at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston, Texas. Annie and Pilot, facility dogs at the Houston-area medical center, brought “hope and cheer” to staffers and patients under the hospital’s care, some of whom “have endured traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other life-altering conditions,” TIRR Memorial Hermann told Storyful on December 17. The two dogs “assist in therapy sessions, providing remarkable physical, emotional, and psychological benefits for these patients,” a hospital representative said. Footage shows Annie, a golden retriever, and Pilot, a black Lab/golden retriever mix, on their “festive stroll” through the hospital.

NFL Stars Reflect on Their Favorite Christmas Memories While Giving Bikes to Kids in Need

Even with the NFL season in full swing, some players are making time this holiday season to give back — and remember the moments that once made them feel like the luckiest kids in the world. As part of Raising Cane’s sixth annual holiday bike giveaway, NFL stars teamed up to donate over 4,000 bikes and helmets to children across the U.S. through charitable youth organizations. The event sparked memories of Christmas mornings past, especially for players who remembered the joy of receiving their first set of wheels — or something even better. For Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown, it was the year he unwrapped a PlayStation 2. “Getting my PlayStation 2 from my parents was everything for me at the time,” Brown said. “I got NCAA, one of those games with the Texas Longhorns on the cover. It was very impactful to me, and it stuck to me. It was one of those peak moments as a kid that stuck out to me.” In Cincinnati, Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins smiled as he handed out bikes at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Cincinnati — the very place that once gave him his own first ride. “When I was their age, I remember my first bike at the Boys and Girls Club,” he said. “That made me smile, so it made me the happiest boy alive.” But his all-time favorite Christmas gift? A dirt bike from his dad. “I rode that dirt bike for like 10 days straight,” Higgins said. Minnesota Vikings linebacker Josh Metellus remembered a gift that meant even more than fun — it meant opportunity. Growing up in North Miami, Metellus had one simple request: a basketball. He hoped it would help him make the middle school team. “The fact that my mom was willing — I kept telling her, ‘I want a new basketball,’” Metellus said. “For her to go out of her way to use that as my gift, knowing that would make me happy instead of just giving me a toy or something any middle school kid wanted... That was a really cool moment.” Years later, that gift still stands out. “I’ve gotten a phone for Christmas one time and that was really cool,” he said. “But the basketball stuck with me because I was going outside and I got to play immediately.” For many players, the act of giving back during the holidays carries as much weight as any gift they ever received. “I think life’s a lot bigger than football and us as football players,” said Dolphins linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel. “Any way that we can get back in the community and just be there for kids that have been through a lot and need that extra piece of hope that can help them get through these difficult times.” Van Ginkel added that Christmas is about more than just celebration. “To me, Christmas is all about giving thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ and it means a lot to give back and do good works in the community. It’s a small piece about who I am and want to do as a person and the impact I want to make.” For the children receiving new bikes, the gifts are more than just something to ride — they’re a sign that someone is thinking of them, cheering for them, and investing in their happiness. And for the players, those smiles echo their own childhood joy — a reminder of what the holidays are really about.

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Giant Leg Lamp Lights Up Oklahoma Town, Turning A Christmas Classic Into Year-Round Attraction

In a town already known for its over-the-top holiday lights, a towering 50-foot leg lamp is proving hard to miss — and even harder to forget. Inspired by the 1983 holiday classic A Christmas Story, the enormous sculpture now stands proudly on Main Street in Chickasha, Oklahoma, glowing brightly and drawing thousands of curious visitors each year. The idea started as a joke. Tim Elliot, CEO of Chickasha-based Standley Systems, couldn’t stop thinking about the film’s infamous scene where Ralphie’s father unboxes the now-iconic leg lamp, calling it a “major award.” The image stuck with him. “When he pulled the leg lamp out of the box, I could not get that out of my mind,” Elliot told CBS Mornings. “I mean, that was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen.” So, at a local economic development meeting, Elliot pulled out a replica lamp and pitched the idea: “How about a 100-foot leg lamp at the end of Main Street?” Everyone laughed. No one thought it would happen. But Elliot was serious. He raised over $1 million and got to work. In 2021, the leg lamp was constructed. A year later, it reopened as a permanent fixture. And now, it’s become a major draw — not just during the holidays, but year-round. Chickasha is already home to one of the top-rated light shows in the U.S. The Chickasha Festival of Light features 3.5 million lights and a 170-foot-tall Christmas tree. But the leg lamp, despite being less than a third of the tree’s height, is stealing the show. “There’s nothing else like it,” said Jim Cowan, Chickasha’s economic development director. “Tourism is at an all-time high, and a lot of that can be traced one way or another to a leg lamp.” Not everyone welcomed the lamp at first. Warner Brothers, which owns the rights to A Christmas Story, sent a cease-and-desist letter shortly after the lamp was installed. They wanted the sculpture taken down. “We were very determined,” Cowan said. “We weren’t going to let that happen. If we had to go and battle in the courts, we would, because we felt like we did things the right way.” Chickasha officials responded by explaining that they weren’t charging people to see the lamp, and a nearby gift shop was selling officially licensed merchandise. That seemed to be enough to quiet any legal threats. “We haven’t heard from [Warner Brothers] in about a year and a half,” Elliot said. The lamp is now part of the town’s identity — and its economy. Tourists like John Prock, who drove nearly three hours while visiting family in Oklahoma, say it’s worth the trip. “My parents mentioned it,” he said. “So we literally hopped in the car, drove almost three hours to get here, and here we are.” The ripple effect is real. Business investor Chet Hitt, who grew up just 20 miles away, recently returned to Chickasha with plans to invest millions. He’s working on a new business park and downtown revitalization effort. “You drive down this little town and you see kids playing and the community behind things and the support,” Hitt said. “They buy into what’s here.” As for Elliot, the leg lamp was never about the laughs — or the legal battles. It was about giving the town something to rally around. Something fun. Something big. And it worked. “The lamp has become a beacon,” Cowan said. “Literally.”

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Dogs Star in Nativity Scene in Creative Christmas Daycare Activity

A dog daycare in Cheshire, England, got into the festive spirit by creating a nativity scene with its pooches, adorable footage shows. Cheshire Dog Lady posted this video to Instagram with the caption, “Not exactly a silent night… but definitely a cute one.” The post also included a credits list, with English Cocker Spaniel Rosie and Boston Terrier Woody nailing their roles as the angel and baby Jesus respectively.

Scientists May Have Found a Way to Reverse Alzheimer’s in Mice by Restoring Brain Energy

A new study is challenging one of the most deeply held beliefs in medicine — that Alzheimer’s disease, once it starts, is irreversible. Researchers from University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University, and the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center say they’ve uncovered a way to not just slow the disease, but actually reverse it — at least in mice. The key lies in restoring the brain’s energy balance by targeting a molecule called NAD+. “We were very excited and encouraged by our results,” said Dr. Andrew Pieper, senior author of the study and Director of the Brain Health Medicines Center at the Harrington Discovery Institute. “Restoring the brain's energy balance achieved pathological and functional recovery in both lines of mice with advanced Alzheimer's.” The research, published December 22 in Cell Reports Medicine, found that severe drops in NAD+ — a molecule critical for cellular energy — play a central role in Alzheimer’s. In human brain samples and multiple mouse models of the disease, researchers found NAD+ levels were dramatically depleted. When scientists restored NAD+ in the mice — even after the animals had developed full-blown Alzheimer’s symptoms — the brain damage not only stopped progressing, it began to reverse. Mice regained memory and cognitive function completely. “We showed that the damaged brain can, under some conditions, repair itself and regain function,” said Pieper. A Shift From Prevention to Recovery For more than a century, Alzheimer’s has been seen as a one-way street. While billions of dollars have been poured into preventing or slowing the disease, no approved treatment has ever claimed to reverse it. Most research has focused on clearing amyloid plaques or tau tangles — hallmark features of the disease — but with limited success in reversing cognitive decline. This new approach turns the spotlight away from those targets and toward the brain’s ability to generate and use energy. Specifically, the study focused on NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), a molecule that powers crucial cellular functions. As people age, NAD+ levels drop. That drop is even more dramatic in Alzheimer’s patients. The team used a pharmacological compound called P7C3-A20, developed in-house, which helps cells maintain a healthy NAD+ balance under stress. The treatment had already shown promise in traumatic brain injury. This time, it was applied to Alzheimer’s mouse models carrying the same gene mutations that cause amyloid and tau dysfunction in humans. The results: reduced inflammation, improved brain cell communication, restored blood-brain barrier function, and even regrowth of neurons in the hippocampus, the brain’s memory center. Both groups of mice — one with amyloid mutations and the other with tau — experienced full cognitive recovery. Blood tests confirmed the changes too. Levels of a biomarker called phosphorylated tau 217, commonly used in human Alzheimer’s diagnosis, returned to normal. That finding could be key in tracking results during future human trials. Not Your Average Supplement The researchers emphasized that this isn’t about taking over-the-counter NAD+ boosters, which are often marketed as anti-aging supplements. In fact, Pieper warned that animal studies have shown those supplements can raise NAD+ to unsafe levels and potentially fuel cancer growth. By contrast, P7C3-A20 doesn’t flood the body with NAD+. Instead, it stabilizes NAD+ at healthy levels under stressful conditions — a much safer and more targeted approach. “This is important when considering patient care,” Pieper said. “Clinicians should consider the possibility that therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring brain energy balance might offer a path to disease recovery.” From Lab to Clinic Dr. Kalyani Chaubey, lead author of the study, said the results point toward new directions in Alzheimer’s care. “Through our study, we demonstrated one drug-based way to accomplish this in animal models, and also identified candidate proteins in the human AD brain that may relate to the ability to reverse AD,” she said. The researchers are now pushing for human clinical trials. Their lab work is being commercialized through Glengary Brain Health, a biotech firm co-founded by Pieper. But first, more work is needed to identify the most effective elements of the treatment and test complementary approaches. The team also hopes to explore whether this NAD+ restoration method might work for other age-related brain diseases. If those efforts succeed, the implications could be enormous. The current Alzheimer’s drugs on the market can only slow the disease — and even then, only modestly, and in early stages. A treatment that can actually restore function would be a seismic shift. “The key takeaway is a message of hope,” said Pieper. “The effects of Alzheimer’s disease may not be inevitably permanent.”

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