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Nasa’s Hubble Space Telescope Takes a Sun-Day Stroll
In a surprising turn of events, astronomers used the Hubble Space Telescope to observe the sun, despite the risks involved. Engineers cleverly avoided pointing directly at the sun by using a pickoff reflector to catch sunlight and cleanse the camera's detectors of an issue called QEH. This innovative approach resulted in unique images of our star in far-UV light, providing valuable insights for future scientific observations. The story serves as a reminder of the importance of caution when observing the sun, even for advanced telescopes like Hubble.
Score (96)
Scientists Reveal How 5 Extra Minutes of Daily Activity Could Extend Your Life
It turns out that a little really can go a long way—at least when it comes to exercise. New research based on data from more than 130,000 people shows that just five extra minutes of physical activity per day, or sitting for 30 minutes less, may significantly improve your chances of living longer. The study, published in The Lancet, was led by researchers from the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. It used wearable activity trackers to analyze data across several countries, modeling how small lifestyle tweaks might affect mortality risk. Rather than following participants over time, the team used statistical models to estimate each person’s risk of death and how that risk changed depending on how active they were. The results? Even modest changes made a big difference—especially for people who were the least active to begin with. For the bottom 20 percent of participants in terms of activity levels, researchers found that just five more minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise a day could reduce deaths by as much as 6 percent. Looking at the broader population—excluding only the most active 20 percent—those same small changes could reduce deaths by up to 10 percent. "Small and realistic increases in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity of 5 min/day might prevent up to 6 percent of all deaths in a high-risk approach and 10 percent of all deaths in a population-based approach," the authors wrote. The benefits of moving more were most pronounced among people who sat the most or exercised the least. In other words, if you’re barely active right now, you’re the most likely to benefit from even a small change. Researchers also looked at sedentary time and found that reducing sitting by 30 minutes a day was linked to fewer deaths as well—though the gains weren’t as large as with active movement. While the study doesn’t prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship—because it’s based on statistical modeling rather than long-term observation—the size of the dataset and consistency of the findings make a strong case for paying attention. It also opens the door for further research, particularly in countries where physical activity levels and health risks might differ. "We only investigated all-cause mortality; thus, future research should examine other health outcomes," the researchers noted. They also emphasized the need for similar studies in low- and middle-income countries, where lifestyle and disease patterns vary. Health experts welcomed the findings as a reminder that physical activity doesn’t have to be intense or time-consuming to make a difference. “A clear message we want to get across is that every movement counts and getting inactive people to do some activity is where we see the biggest gains in health,” said Daniel Bailey, a sedentary behavior scientist at Brunel University London who was not involved in the study. “So, GPs, policymakers, or campaigners can certainly be looking to support patients and the public with making these relatively small changes to start with, which would give people a starting point to then kick on and increase their activity even more.” The World Health Organization recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise per week, but for many, that target can feel overwhelming. This study suggests that smaller steps—literally—may still offer meaningful benefits. A brisk five-minute walk, a short bike ride, or simply getting up from your desk more often could help. The people who have the most to gain are those moving the least right now.
Score (98)
This Six-Year-Old is Being Called a Hero After Saving His Dad’s Life
When six-year-old Finlay’s dad collapsed at home struggling to breathe, the Nottinghamshire schoolboy didn’t panic — he picked up the phone and saved his father's life. The quick-thinking pupil from Robert Miles Infant School in Bingham is being hailed as a hero after calmly calling for help during a medical emergency that left his father, Phil, unconscious on the floor. His mother Elaine, who was out at the time, said the family had only recently decided to keep their home landline so Finlay could learn how to use it in case of an emergency. Just days later, that lesson became a reality. “I was looking into getting the home phone disconnected due to no longer needing it,” she said. “Instead, I decided to teach Finlay how to use it in case of an emergency. A few days later, I had popped out when I got a call from Finlay telling me 'daddy wasn't well'. I could hear that Phil could not breathe and Finlay told me he was on the floor.” Elaine dialed 999 and gave dispatchers the home number, allowing them to speak directly with Finlay. He followed their instructions, opened the door for a friend who came to assist, and greeted paramedics when they arrived. Back at home, Elaine found out just how serious things had been. “Phil was that poorly he had needed compressions,” she said. “Finlay kept calm and brave throughout. He is a superstar.” The incident happened in October, and since then, Finlay’s bravery has inspired others at school. He shared the story with his classmates, and staff at Robert Miles presented him with a special certificate to honour his courage. Assistant head teacher Rosie Pilborough said the school has since held lessons and assemblies to teach pupils how to respond in emergencies. “Finlay was able to keep so calm in such a tense and difficult situation and that's remarkable for someone so young,” she said. “Everyone at the school is so proud of Finlay. He is such a hero.”
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Score (96)
Scientists Reveal Detailed Map of Antarctica’s Hidden Terrain — and What It Means for Sea Level Rise
Scientists have unveiled the most detailed map ever created of the landscape buried beneath Antarctica’s thick sheets of ice, revealing tens of thousands of features previously unknown to researchers — and offering a sharper tool for understanding how quickly sea levels could rise in the future. The new map, published in the journal Science, combines satellite data with sophisticated physics models to expose Antarctica’s subglacial topography with unprecedented clarity. Researchers say it significantly improves on earlier versions, which were based on radar surveys that left large gaps between data points. "It's like before you had a grainy pixel film camera, and now you've got a properly zoomed-in digital image of what's really going on," said lead author Helen Ockenden from Grenoble Alpes University in France. Among the findings was a massive hidden channel in the Maud Subglacial Basin. The feature is about 50 meters deep, spans 6 kilometers across, and stretches almost 400 kilometers in length — the size and scale of which had never been seen in previous maps. The research also uncovered thousands of hills, ridges, mountain ranges, and canyons that had been invisible to scientists until now. These features lie beneath several kilometers of ice, but they play a crucial role in controlling how glaciers move and melt. Peter Fretwell of the British Antarctic Survey, who was not part of the study, called the new map “a really useful product” that fills in the blanks between older radar surveys. "This study gives us a better picture of what's going to happen in the future and how quickly ice in Antarctica will contribute to global sea-level rise," he told the BBC. That matters because melting Antarctic ice is one of the biggest wild cards in predicting future sea level rise. How quickly that ice retreats depends heavily on what’s beneath it — the slopes, ridges, and pathways that influence how glaciers flow. Until now, scientists could only guess at large portions of that terrain. Melting from the Antarctic Ice Sheet currently contributes to global sea level rise, and researchers expect that rate to increase as the planet continues to warm. Rising seas threaten to inundate coastal cities, contaminate drinking water supplies, and worsen damage from storms and flooding. Professor Robert Bingham of the University of Edinburgh, a co-author of the study, said the opportunity to view the entire subglacial bed of Antarctica in such detail is “amazing.” He added that the new map will help researchers make better-informed predictions about how the continent’s ice might respond to future warming. For climate scientists and policymakers alike, that clarity couldn’t come at a better time.
Score (97)
'All The Blues In The Sky' Wins Newbery Medal For Best Children's Book
Renée Watson has been awarded the 2026 John Newbery Medal, the top honor in U.S. children’s literature, for All the Blues in the Sky, a novel that blends poetry and prose to explore a teenager’s grief after losing her best friend. The book was one of several celebrated Monday by the American Library Association, which announced its full slate of annual awards for children’s and young adult literature. The Randolph Caldecott Medal for illustration went to Cátia Chien for Fireworks, a vivid, summertime picture book written by Matthew Burgess. Jewell Parker Rhodes received the Coretta Scott King Award for best book by a Black author for Will’s Race for Home, an adventure story praised for its emotional depth and strong storytelling. Illustrator R. Gregory Christie earned the Coretta Scott King illustration prize for The Library in the Woods, a collaboration with author Calvin Alexander Ramsey. Kadir Nelson, known for his work on The Undefeated and other acclaimed titles, was recognized with the King-Virginia Hamilton Award for lifetime achievement. Lupe Ruiz-Flores won the Pura Belpré author award for The Pecan Sheller, while Abraham Matias received the Belpré illustration honor for Popo the Xolo. The awards highlight excellence in Latino literature for young readers. The Alex Awards, given to 10 books written for adults that have special appeal to teens, included Janelle Brown’s What Kind of Paradise, Daniel H. Wilson’s Hole in the Sky, and Leila Mottley’s The Girls Who Grew Big. Jose Pimienta took home the Stonewall Book Award for Halfway to Somewhere, recognized for its exceptional portrayal of LGBTQ+ experiences for children and teens. All told, the awards showcased a broad range of voices and storytelling styles—recognizing everything from graphic novels to lyrical verse—at a time when books for young readers continue to face challenges and bans in school districts across the country.
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“It’s a Little Thing I Can Do”: Why She Spent 10 Years Swapping Clothes Instead of Buying New
For Celestina Mahovic, fashion isn’t about following trends — it’s about changing habits. The 37-year-old quantity surveyor from Carlisle has been organising clothing swaps across Cumbria for the past decade, creating what she calls “a sense of community” while fighting back against the environmental cost of fast fashion. “It’s a little thing I can do to help the environment,” she said. Mahovic started Clothes Swap Cumbria after attending swap events in Manchester, where she first learned about the darker side of the fashion industry. “I started learning about how fast fashion was ruining the environment,” she said. “I started delving into more and realised that there are a lot of things we can do and looked into recycling clothes and shopping second-hand.” Her events are simple, but effective. People gather in community centres, homes, or other public spaces to trade clothes they no longer wear — no money changes hands, and everyone leaves with something new to them. It’s a sustainable, budget-friendly way to update a wardrobe, especially during financially tight months like January. The idea has caught on. Clothes swaps have grown in popularity as more people look for ways to cut costs and reduce waste. According to a 2024 study by The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed, side hustles in the UK jumped to 460,000 last year, up from 383,000 the year before. While Mahovic doesn’t run the swaps as a business, her passion project fits into a broader shift toward creative, community-driven solutions to big problems. She also wants people to think more critically about where their donated clothes actually end up. “Many people think giving away clothes to the charity shop is helping — but it only works if people are actually buying the clothes,” she said. Swapping, she argues, keeps items in use and out of landfills without relying on resale. Ten years on, Mahovic has no plans to stop. The swaps have become more than just a way to reduce fashion waste — they’re a place for people to connect, share, and rethink their relationship with clothing.
Score (95)
Scientists Recover The Oldest Wooden Tools From A Site In Greece
Two simple wooden objects unearthed in southern Greece are now considered the oldest wooden tools ever found, dating back an estimated 430,000 years. Scientists say the artifacts offer a rare glimpse into the daily lives and survival strategies of early human ancestors, whose technology extended far beyond stone tools. The two items — one a slender digging stick, the other a smaller handheld piece — were found in the Megalopolis basin, an area rich in prehistoric remains. According to research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the longer tool, made from either willow or poplar wood, is about 80 centimeters long and may have been used to dig into the muddy lake shore. The other object’s function remains a mystery, but researchers believe it might have been used to shape or craft stone tools. What makes this discovery remarkable isn’t just the age of the tools, but the fact that they survived at all. Wood usually decays quickly unless it’s protected in rare conditions — frozen in ice, sealed in caves, or submerged in waterlogged ground. In this case, researchers believe the Greek site’s wet, muddy environment helped preserve the artifacts. They weren’t directly dated, but sediment layers and surrounding finds suggest they’re around 430,000 years old. “I’ve always just been thrilled to be able to touch these objects,” said Annemieke Milks, one of the study’s authors and a researcher at the University of Reading. The team didn’t find any human remains at the site, so it’s still unclear who exactly used the tools. They could have belonged to early Neanderthals, Homo heidelbergensis, or another unknown hominin group. Still, their survival hints at a much broader range of tool use than the stone tools usually associated with early humans. Other ancient wooden tools have been found elsewhere, such as spears from Germany and 300,000-year-old digging sticks in China, but the Greek finds are now the earliest on record. “These types of discoveries are extremely rare,” said Katerina Harvati of the University of Tübingen, another co-author of the study. The tools help fill a “little known aspect of the technology of early humans,” she said. Despite their historic significance, the tools themselves aren’t especially eye-catching. That makes them easy to overlook or dismiss, even by archaeologists. “It’s difficult to get excited about these because they don’t strike you immediately as wooden tools. And we don’t know what they were used for,” said Jarod Hutson, an archaeologist at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History who was not involved in the research. But scientists say the Megalopolis site, which has also yielded stone tools and cut-marked elephant bones, still holds plenty of potential. Its thick layers of ancient sediment may contain more surprises — and possibly even the remains of the tool users themselves. For now, these two modest wooden fragments offer a rare and valuable connection to the ingenuity of early humans, preserved not in stone, but in ancient wood.
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This Hiker Survived a Ravine Fall With Help From His Wife's Voice in the Dark
A California man who vanished during a solo hike on Halloween says he was never scared—even after falling into a ravine and spending nearly 12 hours lost in the dark. “I was never afraid,” Grant Gunderson, 67, told PEOPLE. “I knew that God was going to help me get rescued from the ravine. Sooner or later, there would be a search party looking for me.” That confidence proved right. After his wife, Tammy, reported him missing, a 40-person search and rescue team launched a night operation in Marin County’s Mount Tamalpais State Park. Just after 2 a.m. on November 1, rescuers found Gunderson alive and in surprisingly good condition. “I’m just happy to be back home with my wife and family and friends,” he said. “I feel like God has blessed me with a second chance to make a difference for Him in this life.” The ordeal began after Gunderson wrapped up business meetings around 2 p.m. on October 31 and decided to take a short hike along Cataract Trail, a route he’d done more than 20 times before. Hoping to catch a better view of the Bay Area—and a cell signal—he took a steeper, less familiar trail uphill. He managed to text his wife at 5:40 p.m. to say his phone was dying and he was heading back down. But as daylight faded, Gunderson grew disoriented. He came across a lake he didn’t recognize, and then, while walking along a wet path, he slipped. “I lost traction and suddenly found myself careening quickly down a steep ravine feet first in a sitting position,” he said. “I shouted a quick prayer—‘Jesus help and save me!’—as I plummeted down the ravine in the dark.” The fall ended abruptly, sparing him from a potentially fatal head injury. “I came to a dead stop with my head facing downhill,” he said. “I saw two huge granite boulders just below in the creek bed. I knew that if my fall had not stopped, my head would have hit it.” Though bruised and exhausted, he wasn’t seriously hurt. With no cell service and no idea where he was, Gunderson relied on faith and instinct. “At this point, it was just me and God, nature, and the animals in the park,” he said. “I didn’t fear the darkness.” He wandered for hours, eventually reaching a shoreline and spotting what he thought was a drone light overhead. But fatigue set in. After falling multiple times, he rested on a log for nearly 40 minutes—until he saw three beams of light moving along a trail nearby. “Help, I’m Grant and I’ve fallen. I’m over here!” he yelled. Rescuers heard him and brought him safely back to the trailhead. From there, he was driven to his vehicle and reunited with his wife. “I was so glad to drive home and hug and see my wife,” he said. The experience left him grateful—and eager to share some advice. His top tips for fellow hikers: keep your phone fully charged, use a tracking app, and if you ever get lost, “Never give up and never panic.”
Score (95)
Quantum Technology Reaches Its Transistor Moment, Say Scientists
Quantum technology is entering a new chapter—one that looks a lot like the earliest days of classical computing. A new paper published in Science says the field has officially moved beyond lab experiments and is now facing the challenge of making quantum systems usable, scalable, and practical. "This transformative moment in quantum technology is reminiscent of the transistor's earliest days," said lead author David Awschalom, a physicist at the University of Chicago and director of both the Chicago Quantum Exchange and the Chicago Quantum Institute. Awschalom and colleagues from MIT, Stanford, the University of Innsbruck, and Delft University of Technology say quantum devices are starting to resemble complete systems, capable of supporting early applications in communication, sensing, and computation. But as with early silicon chips, functionality is still limited and large-scale impact is a long way off. The paper reviews six major hardware platforms—superconducting qubits, trapped ions, spin defects, semiconductor quantum dots, neutral atoms, and optical photonic qubits—and uses AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini to estimate their technology readiness levels (TRL). These levels, ranging from 1 to 9, are commonly used to gauge how close a technology is to practical deployment. In the analysis, superconducting qubits came out on top for computing, neutral atoms led in simulation, photonic qubits ranked highest for networking, and spin defects were best for sensing. But a high TRL doesn’t mean the tech is ready to change the world. "While semiconductor chips in the 1970s were TLR-9 for that time, they could do very little compared with today's advanced integrated circuits," said coauthor William D. Oliver, director of the Center for Quantum Engineering at MIT. “A high TRL for quantum technologies today does not indicate that the end goal has been achieved.” Many of the most anticipated uses—like accurate quantum chemistry simulations that could change medicine or materials science—will require millions of qubits, ultra-low error rates, and far more coordination between system components than what’s possible today. Some platforms already support limited public access via cloud-based tools, but the systems are still fragile and error-prone. Building a version that runs reliably and scales to meet real-world demands is the next frontier—and it's a tough one. Among the challenges: today’s quantum systems still rely on dedicated control wiring for each qubit. That approach quickly breaks down as systems grow, echoing a problem that stumped classical engineers in the 1960s, known as the “tyranny of numbers.” Power consumption, cooling, automated calibration, and efficient signal routing are all pressure points as systems scale up. Improvements in materials and chip design are critical, but so are bigger-picture design changes and smarter collaboration across the field. The authors say the quantum field now faces a choice—whether to prioritize open science and interoperability, or splinter too early into incompatible commercial approaches. They argue for lessons from classical computing, where public-private partnerships and patient, long-term investments drove progress. “We must nurture the partnerships and coordinated efforts necessary to achieve the technology’s full, utility-scale potential,” Awschalom said. And expectations should be managed, the paper warns. Breakthroughs in computing often took decades to mature into real-world products. Quantum is likely no different. “Patience has been a key element in many landmark developments,” the authors write. “And points to the importance of tempering timeline expectations in quantum technologies.”
Score (94)
Farmers are Embracing These Tiny, Adorable Hawks for Natural Pest Control in Cherry Orchards
A small falcon with striking plumage may be offering a big solution to cherry farmers. The American kestrel—rusty-backed, slate-winged, and fierce-eyed—is turning heads not just for its beauty, but for its ability to keep fruit crops safer and cleaner. New research out of Michigan State University has found that encouraging these birds to nest in cherry orchards can significantly reduce crop damage and even lower the risk of foodborne illness. “Kestrels are not very expensive to bring into orchards, but they work pretty well,” said Olivia Smith, lead author of the study and assistant professor of horticulture at Michigan State. “And people just like kestrels a lot, so I think it’s an attractive strategy.” The study, conducted in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, showed that orchards with kestrel nest boxes experienced 81 percent less visible crop damage—such as missing cherries or bite marks—and 66 percent less bird feces on trees. The presence of kestrels also correlated with lower levels of Campylobacter, a common pathogen spread by birds, on the orchard branches. That connection between kestrels and cleaner fruit wasn’t accidental. Smith and her team hypothesized that if kestrels kept smaller fruit-eating birds away, fewer droppings—and thus fewer pathogens—would end up on the fruit. The data backed that up. Just under 1 percent of branches in kestrel-guarded orchards tested positive for Campylobacter, compared to around 10 percent in orchards without kestrels. For Brad Thatcher, a farmer in Washington state, the difference is noticeable. He’s hosted kestrels on his April Joy Farm for over 13 years. “I’ve noticed a difference having the kestrels around, hovering over the spring crops,” Thatcher told Inside Climate News. “There’s very little fecal damage from small songbirds at that time of year versus the fall.” The research comes at a time when fruit farmers are battling everything from unpredictable weather to labor shortages. Perching birds alone are responsible for an estimated $85 million in annual losses across top cherry-producing states like Michigan and California. Traditional methods of deterring birds are costly and often controversial: shooting, trapping, netting, chemical repellents, and even cutting down nearby forest to eliminate roosting options. Compared to that, a nesting box for a raptor seems simple—and much more sustainable. It’s not the only example of birds of prey being used as natural pest control. Vineyards in California and South Africa have turned to nesting owls to protect grapes from rodents, and a famed flock of ducks has been defending South African vineyards for over 50 years. But kestrels may offer an especially elegant solution for orchard growers. They’re native, they’re efficient hunters of small birds and rodents, and they’re beloved by birdwatchers.
Score (96)
12-Year-Old's Heartfelt Shout-Out to Mom at School Assembly Goes Viral
A proud mom’s simple shout-out at a school assembly has turned into a viral moment—and a lesson in expressing love out loud. Erica Carillo was filming her 12-year-old son Kyle receiving an Honor Roll certificate when she called out from the crowd, “Love you, son!” Without hesitation, Kyle shouted back, “Love you too, Mom!”—drawing a loud and collective “aww” from the gymnasium. Carillo, 39, captured the moment on video and posted it online with the caption, “When your son is not afraid to love you out loud.” The video quickly gained millions of views and likes, as viewers were struck by the boy’s openhearted response. “I was only expecting a smile or a wave,” Carillo told PEOPLE. “It was a genuine moment that caught me off guard in the best way.” While Carillo says “I love you” is common in their household, hearing Kyle say it so proudly in front of his peers wasn’t something she saw coming. “[Kyle] shouting it across a crowded room in front of his peers was not typical, which is what made it so special,” she said. “It reflected his genuine, openhearted nature.” The moment struck a chord online, where comments poured in celebrating both Kyle’s response and the parenting behind it. “He said: ‘Love you too mom,’ and set the bar for the other boys 😂,” one commenter wrote. Another added, “Both y’all are goals. I love it.” “Aww she raised him well 🥹 A true man indeed,” read another. Carillo said she originally shared the video just because it meant something to her as a mom. “I never expected it to resonate with so many people,” she said. Now, she hopes the clip encourages others to be more open with their emotions. “I hope it reminds people that expressing love openly is something to be celebrated,” she said. “You can’t get back lost time, so it’s important to say how you feel while you can.”