Scientists Unveil Eco-Friendly FOAM Fuel Made from Plants

Researchers at Washington State University have developed an environmentally-friendly way to use pine material as a substitute for petroleum-based chemicals in polyurethane foams. This innovation could lead to more eco-friendly foam products used in various everyday items. The bio-based foam was found to be just as strong and flexible as traditional polyurethane foam. Lignin, the renewable carbon source used in this process, offers a new class of building blocks for sustainable products.

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Emergency Crews Just Rescued a Deer From Frozen Lake in Kansas

Firefighters rescued an injured deer that had become stuck on a frozen lake in Fort Scott, Kansas, on Wednesday, January 28. Firefighters from the City of Olathe and Fort Scott Fire Departments joined forces to rescue the deer, which was stranded 100 yards from shore. Video released by the City of Olathe Fire Department (COFD) shows crews using ice rescue equipment and a pulley line to help bring the deer to shore. “The ice may look fun, but it may not be able to support your bodyweight. In just minutes, cold water submersion can be fatal,” COFD said on Facebook. “Yesterday, we helped our friends at the Fort Scott Fire Department rescue a distressed deer from icy Lake Fort Scott.” Drone footage released by the department shows the scene where the rescue took place.

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Nebraska Woman Rows Into History, Becomes the First Female to Solo Cross Atlantic in 3,000 Mile Race

Taryn Smith didn’t grow up on the coast or come from a family of ocean adventurers. Her love of open water began in Omaha, Nebraska—one of the most landlocked places in America. Now, at just 25, she’s made history by becoming the first woman to complete the World’s Toughest Row solo, a grueling 3,000-mile crossing of the Atlantic Ocean from the Canary Islands to Antigua. It started with a magazine article. Smith read about an all-female rowing team that set a world record in the Great Pacific Race in 2022. “I just remember thinking it sounded like the most amazing thing in the entire world,” she told PEOPLE. “I wanted to do something big in my 20s. I wanted to spend the rest of my life knowing that I was capable of something like this.” She quit her human resources job and committed to three years of preparation. Her grandparents had some sailing experience, but Smith had to start from scratch. She trained in the U.K., lived alone on her rowboat for weeks at a time, and learned to read the ocean like a second language. “She has always been a kid that thrives on adventure,” her mother, Shelly Smith, told Nebraska Public Media. “She just really likes that challenge.” On December 14, Smith joined 42 other teams from 20 countries at the race’s start. Unlike everyone else, she was alone in her boat. Each day, she rowed for 10 to 12 hours. Each night, she faced the vast Atlantic in total solitude. Day 27 nearly broke her. A storm was closing in. The sun had triggered hives across her skin. She hadn’t slept properly in days. “A wave would come just gushing over the deck and would literally knock me out of my shoes,” she said in an Instagram video. “It was really, really scary. I think this is the first day I felt properly terrified since being out here.” A marlin shadowed her boat for miles, circling her oars. Her body and mind were beyond exhaustion. And still, she rowed. “It’s been a really hard day, but I am really proud of the effort that I put in,” she said that evening. “I kept rowing and now it’s more comfortable to row than it is to try to sleep. I’m listening to Harry Potter. So all in all, life is good.” Smith partnered with Girls on the Run throughout the journey, raising funds for the nonprofit that helps girls in grades 3 through 8 build confidence through running and community programs. With each stroke, she embodied the message she hoped to send: big goals are worth chasing, even when they’re scary. Especially when they’re scary. On January 29, Smith rowed into Antigua’s harbor with an American flag flying behind her and a flare raised in victory. She finished in 46 days, 3 hours, and 37 minutes—days faster than even her best-case prediction. She was the first solo woman to finish. And she did it before turning 26. “Everything is more within reach than we think,” Smith said. “I hope people understand that you should take on your biggest challenges, even if it means being alone. Even if it’s scary. You can do it—and you probably won’t be alone for very long.” A few years ago, she was reading about ocean adventurers in a landlocked city. Today, she’s become one.

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These Teens Built an Igloo To Unite Their Community After an Ice Storm — Here's How It's Working

While most of the mid-Atlantic was stuck indoors after recent ice storms, two 13-year-olds in Maryland turned freezing weather into a reason to connect. Adeline Sutich and her friend Maeve Ritchotte spent hours building an igloo in front of a home that had been destroyed by fire months earlier. Their goal: to bring the community back together—one ice brick at a time. “We built an igloo to create unity in the community and bring people together,” Adeline said in a phone call with GNN. “It brought joy to all the neighbors when the snow was frustrating and very difficult to cope with.” Located on Helena Drive in the Sligo Woods neighborhood of Silver Spring, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C., the igloo became a snowy symbol of hope. “I feel like this igloo is a good representation of hope—and how things can be rebuilt,” Adeline said. The project started with a shovel and a sled. The girls carved dozens of rectangular bricks from the snow and hauled them over to the symbolic spot. As the sun dipped behind the trees, Adeline’s dad Stefan outfitted them with headlamps to finish the job in the dark. Her mom documented the build with videos and photos. Inside the igloo, they crafted seats and a table out of ice, turning it into a mini hangout for neighbors. They even left a guest book, which quickly filled with kind notes and warm memories. “I did this as a kid, too,” wrote one visitor named Melinda. “My three kids love it!” added another, Jen. “Many neighbors have come up and talked with us about the igloo and how much they’ve enjoyed it,” Adeline said. “We’ve had more visitors sign the book today!” One woman who had watched the build from her window finally stopped by the next day, under clear skies. “It brought back so many childhood memories,” she wrote. The igloo has stood not just as a snow fort, but as a gentle reminder that even after loss and hardship, rebuilding can begin in unexpected ways—sometimes with two friends, a flat shovel, and a whole lot of snow.

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Wilco Frontman's New Triple Album Is Big, Bold, and Full of Gratitude

Jeff Tweedy has released more than two dozen albums over his career, but his latest might be his most ambitious yet: a triple album called Twilight Override. “It’s a heaping helping!” he joked in a recent interview with CBS News. “We whittled it down from almost five records.” The new solo project arrives from the 58-year-old frontman of Wilco, the beloved indie rock band known for its loyal fanbase and quietly enduring presence. Sitting among a wall of guitars at The Loft, Wilco’s studio and rehearsal space in Chicago, Tweedy looked perfectly at home—though he admits his wife is less thrilled by his sprawling collection of instruments. “She gets so angry!” he laughed. “It’s not necessarily money. I think it’s just the gluttony.” But for Tweedy, instruments are fuel for creativity. “It’s almost like that scene in Willy Wonka when you open the [door] and see the chocolate river,” he said. “I open that door every day and go, ‘Oh, what’s gonna happen?’” That approach—equal parts work ethic and wonder—has helped make him a songwriting icon. He keeps a running list of odd phrases and lyrical fragments. One line that didn’t make the cut: “Grated parmesan in my eye.” One that did: “In the window I have a twin / I look out, he sees in.” Raised in Southern Illinois, Tweedy says his family background shaped his outlook. His father was a railroad worker in East St. Louis. “The idea was, if this didn’t work out, I guess I’ll work on the railroad,” he said. “Maybe after I won a Grammy, that’s when the penny dropped: I think that it might be something legitimate.” He doesn’t romanticize the rockstar life. Instead, he leans into routine, recovery, and reflection. That clarity came after a battle with opioid addiction, which landed him in a mental hospital 20 years ago. There, a simple piece of advice stuck with him: “Do not postpone happiness.” “It just made the most sense to me of anything anybody had said up to that point,” he said. “Anything that reminds you not to postpone joy is maybe helpful... in terms of inspiration, and just building a strategy for survival.” These days, Tweedy says music is where he feels most powerful. “It’s the only place I feel like I have... I’m powerful in any kind of way.” On Twilight Override, he’s joined by his sons Spencer and Sammy. They grew up around music, and now they’re part of it. “Some of these songs, we heard about many of them the day that they were written,” said Sammy. “He would just show us the voice memo or play it on guitar, like, right after writing it.” Spencer compared it to childhood play: “We didn’t do a lot of playing catch, but we did do a lot of playing music together.” Tweedy says singing harmony with family is “very grounding.” It’s part of why he keeps making music—not just with Wilco, which has now been together for more than 30 years, but through his own projects, like this one. Wilco’s never had a massive hit, but they’ve built something rare. “We’re the rare band in that strata that I think has never really had a massive hit, or what has sustained it hasn’t necessarily been radio play,” he said. “It’s really been kind of like this steady touring endeavor.” He calls Wilco a “middle-class band.” Maybe “upper middle class,” he added. But it’s not about labels—it’s about consistency, and about showing up for the fans who show up for them. “The camaraderie, the connection that they have, we can’t compete with that,” Tweedy said. “All we can do is not let that down.” Does that feel like a responsibility? “It feels, yeah, like having a congregation of some sort. Yeah, I wanna feel like I deserve it. And part of wanting to feel like I deserve it means maintaining some sense of gratitude.” Gratitude for the fans, for the music, and even for small pleasures—like enjoying an Italian ice on a park bench. Twilight Override is streaming now.

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India’s Largest Elephant Rescue Center Is Using Acupuncture to Treat Pain and Paralysis

At a rehabilitation center in northern India, veterinarians are turning to an ancient technique to help elephants recover from injuries and long-term pain. Acupuncture, first developed in China more than 2,000 years ago, is now being used at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Centre in Mathura to treat everything from nerve damage to arthritis. The technique may be old, but the results are very current. The center’s team says acupuncture has helped ease chronic pain, improve mobility, and even restore digestive function in elephants rescued from begging, circuses, and grueling labor. “Many elephants rescued by Wildlife SOS have pain pathways overstimulated by years of abuse, poor nutrition, and untreated injuries, making chronic pain a major challenge to treat,” said Natasha Ashok of Wildlife SOS. “Once our team gained expertise in acupuncture principles, we began applying it at our Elephant Hospital Campus, yielding remarkable improvements in several elephants.” Wildlife SOS, which runs 12 rescue centers across India, first explored acupuncture while trying to help Bani, a baby elephant who was left partially paralyzed after an accident. Determined to help her walk again, the team began experimenting with ayurvedic massage, hydrotherapy, and eventually, acupuncture. They reached out to experts in Thailand and the United States, including Dr. Porrakote Rungsri at Chiang Mai University and Dr. Huisheng Xie, founder of the Chi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. With their guidance, the team in Mathura learned how to adapt acupuncture to elephants. In animals as in humans, acupuncture works by inserting small needles at specific points along the body’s meridians—energy pathways that, when stimulated, can improve blood flow, reduce inflammation, and ease pain. Some treatments also involve moxibustion, in which mugwort is burned near the skin to warm certain points and promote circulation. Since adopting the technique, Wildlife SOS has used it to treat a growing number of patients: Holly and Zara, two elephants rescued from the begging trade, suffer from chronic arthritis and severe joint pain. Holly injured her knee in a fall. Vets used a technique called “circle the dragon,” placing needles around the joint to reduce inflammation and encourage healing. For both animals, they also used dry needling and electro-acupuncture to ease hindlimb pain. Raju and Taj came to the center with long-standing digestive problems—recurrent colic and constipation. Poor diets and limited movement had damaged their gut health. With acupuncture targeting digestion-related points, and moxibustion to warm the meridians, both elephants improved. Another elephant, Vayu, arrived with painful swelling in his lower belly and chest. Acupuncture helped drain the fluid and improve circulation, reducing the edema. Bani, the calf who started it all, has also shown progress. Her ability to move and stand improved once acupuncture was added to her treatment plan. Wildlife SOS now calls the therapy a “valuable tool” that works well alongside conventional medicine. “Its integration has brought significant improvements,” the group said. The organization held its first elephant acupuncture workshop last year at the Mathura facility, hoping to bring more attention to the technique’s potential. The team is careful to note that acupuncture isn’t a miracle cure—but for elephants like Bani, Holly, and Raju, it offers a new path to healing when traditional treatments fall short. Donations for their ongoing care can be made through the Wildlife SOS website.

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Earth-Like Planet Candidate Found Just 146 Light-Years Away — But It's an Icy One

A possible new Earth-like planet is making waves in the astronomy world — not because it’s teeming with life, but because it comes eerily close to mimicking our own planet’s size and orbit. HD 137010 b, a planet candidate located about 146 light-years from Earth, has caught scientists’ attention thanks to a faint signal buried in old Kepler space telescope data. It’s just 6 percent larger than Earth and circles its star in 355 days — nearly a perfect match for our calendar year. Its star? Nearly a twin of our sun, though dimmer and cooler by about 1,000 degrees. That lower output of energy means HD 137010 b receives less than one-third of the sunlight Earth does. Surface temperatures are estimated between minus 68 and minus 70 degrees Celsius, placing it far closer to Mars in terms of climate than Earth. That frosty forecast doesn’t completely rule out the possibility of life. Climate models suggest that if HD 137010 b has a dense atmosphere rich in carbon dioxide, a strong greenhouse effect could warm the surface enough to allow liquid water to form — at least for part of the year. “It’s not necessarily a dead ice world,” the authors of a new paper in The Astrophysical Journal Letters noted. They say it’s theoretically possible that a thick, CO₂-heavy atmosphere could push the planet into the outer edge of the habitable zone — the not-too-hot, not-too-cold region around a star where water could exist in liquid form. But here’s the catch: no one’s entirely sure if HD 137010 b even exists. So far, scientists have only detected one possible “transit,” the brief dimming of a star’s light when a planet crosses in front of it. That one 10-hour signal was captured in 2017 by the Kepler telescope, and it stood out thanks to the work of amateur volunteers from the “Planet Hunters” citizen science project. The data had been sitting in the archives for years before the team flagged it. That single transit limits what astronomers can confirm. Normally, two or more transits are needed to make a confident planet detection. Still, the team led by Alexander Venner — now at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg — analyzed the signal and concluded that only one planetary configuration could explain it. It’s why HD 137010 b is still officially labeled a “candidate” and not a confirmed planet. But its potential has astronomers paying attention. Earth-like exoplanets are rare enough. Ones that orbit stars similar to our sun, with year-long orbits and Earth-like sizes, are even rarer. Most of the 6,000-plus exoplanets discovered so far are gas giants or searing-hot worlds that orbit extremely close to their stars. HD 137010 b stands out because it ticks so many of the right boxes — and it’s relatively close by cosmic standards. Its location and the brightness of its star make it a strong candidate for future atmospheric analysis. Scientists hope that with powerful new telescopes, they might be able to detect gases such as oxygen or methane, which could signal biological activity. But that’s still a long way off. With an orbit almost as long as Earth’s, any repeat transit won’t come around often. Future telescopes would need to be looking at exactly the right time to catch it again. Even if it turns out to be the real deal — and even if its atmosphere proves life-friendly — HD 137010 b is well beyond human reach. Scientists estimate it would take tens or hundreds of thousands of years to get there with today’s technology. Still, it’s the kind of find that fires the imagination: a cold, distant planet that mirrors our own in size and orbit, quietly circling a sun-like star on the outer edge of possibility.

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From Stamps to Smartphones: How This UK Postmaster Has Become a Lifeline for Seniors

A postmaster in Trafford is getting high praise for helping older residents navigate something many people take for granted: their mobile phones. Sid Patel, 43, has been quietly running free weekly smartphone advice sessions for customers who feel overwhelmed or left behind by technology. He hosts them after closing time every Tuesday at his post office in Stanley Square, Sale. “I just want to make them feel comfortable and confident,” said Patel. “No-one is going to judge them. We're just here to help.” He started offering the help after noticing how many customers, especially older ones, were getting frustrated when trying to use their smartphones. Some couldn’t answer calls. Others couldn’t find basic files or figure out texting. Patel decided to act. The result? Thirty-minute, one-on-one sessions where he answers questions, offers tips, and helps them get more out of their devices. “Some customers aren't used to smart devices,” said Patel, who has run the Sale post office since 2014. “With technology, it can take time to understand and get a grasp on things.” For Rob Koch, 67, it’s been a lifeline. “I don’t even know how to answer a call or open a text message,” he said. “It’s so frustrating. I just want to learn the basics. This help has been great — time well spent.” Stephen and Joan McDermott, both in their seventies, came in hoping to figure out how to locate and print PDFs from their phones. Joan called the devices a “nightmare” for her generation. “We don’t realise what you can get out of them. We need prompting quite a lot.” Stephen added, “We’re probably only using 10 to 20 percent of what the phone can do. I think what Sid is doing is brilliant. It’s a fantastic idea and I think when more people know about it, he’ll be inundated.” At 88, Sylvia Wright is another regular. “We’ve scrapped a lot of apps I would never have used,” she said. She called Patel a “remarkable man” who’s “watching out for the community.” “I think it’s amazing,” she said. “He’s an example of what we can do in society.” For now, Patel says the sessions are part of a four-week trial. After that, he’ll assess whether there’s enough demand to keep going. Given the response, he may want to keep his Tuesdays free.

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This Tattooed Grandson and His Nan is Now An Award-Winning Portrait Celebrating British Identity

When photographer Tom Barrett spotted a heavily tattooed man walking arm-in-arm with his elderly grandmother through Norwich market, something made him stop. “He was quite modern looking, while she was your classic lovely nan wearing a smart coat, buttoned up,” Barrett said. “I was struck by how different they looked.” That encounter led to a portrait that now features among the winners of the Portrait of Britain competition — a project by the British Journal of Photography celebrating the faces and relationships that shape modern UK life. The pair in the photo are Adam Perry, a 33-year-old tattoo artist, and his 88-year-old grandmother Janet. After taking a quick street photo, Barrett arranged a more formal shoot. It ended up taking place in Janet’s home, with tea, stories, and a deeper look at their bond. “Adam’s nan was so proud of his work,” Barrett said. “She talked about how she would have liked to have tattoos, but felt she was too old.” When the photographer asked to see more of Adam’s ink, he took his shirt off — revealing the contrast Barrett had first noticed was more than skin-deep. “You have a photographer’s instinct – you’re looking for layers of depth to an image,” he said. “This was a genuine example of a family bond.” That connection goes well beyond the photo. Adam lives just a few doors down from Janet, and makes sure to take her out for tea every week. “He is her rock,” Barrett said. “It’s what we should all be doing.” For Janet, being featured in a national portrait competition at 88 has been a surprise — and a joy. “I never thought at my time of life that I would be involved in something so lovely with my grandson, who has always looked after me and made sure I’m all right,” she said. Adam agrees. “It’s been really nice to put out that sort of message,” he said. “There’s sometimes a misconception of people with tattoos that we’re not very nice. Even if it encourages one other person to take time out and spend time with their grandmother, it’s a job well done.”

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'Pint-Sized Hero' Wins Free Ice Cream for a Year and Sweet Feast for Friends

A young patient at a New Orleans hospital being treated for a rare disease jumped for joy as she was declared the winner of a year of free ice cream and a party for staff and patients. Nine-year-old Abigal “Abby” Fisher has Treacher Collins syndrome, “a rare inherited condition that affects the growth of the skull and facial bones,” said Manning Family Children’s pediatric hospital in New Orleans, where Abby is receiving treatment. The Baskin-Robbins Joy Foundation honored Abby with the title of Pint-Sized Hero and awarded the hospital a $31,000 grant in her honor. Footage shows the moment Abby found out she had won not only free ice cream for a year, but also a sweet party for all the hospital’s patients and staff. “Despite the challenges that come with her diagnosis, Abby approaches life with remarkable strength, resilience, and an infectious spirit that brightens every room she enters,” Baskin-Robbins said in a press release. “Her positive attitude and joyful energy inspire those around her, serving as a powerful reminder that determination and kindness can shine through even the most difficult circumstances.” The hospital said it was hoping to put the grant toward Walker’s Imaginarium, “an interactive space” coming to the hospital in the fall of 2026.

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Children are Finding Healing Through Horse Therapy At This Taiwan Riding Center

Every week, rain or shine, 18-year-old Chen You-ching climbs onto the back of a horse and laughs as it begins to move. “She was happy the first time she got on a horse,” said her father, Hector Chen, who has brought her to sessions at the Therapeutic Riding Center of Taiwan for years. Chen You-ching was diagnosed with cerebral palsy more than 16 years ago. Horseback riding has become more than just therapy — it’s a highlight of her week. At this center in Taoyuan, in northern Taiwan, children with cerebral palsy, autism, ADHD, Angelman Syndrome and other conditions connect with specially trained horses in a form of animal-assisted therapy that’s growing in popularity around the world. Abigail Liu says her 5-year-old daughter, Ayah, who has Angelman Syndrome, has gained confidence and curiosity since beginning the program. “She started to be less scared about things she doesn’t know and is willing to try [new things],” Liu said. “All this started after she rode horses here.” The program relies on horses trained to remain calm in unusual situations — whether it’s a child suddenly moving in the saddle or a group of caregivers nearby offering support. Some children simply want to stand close, hug the animal, or rest their ear on its chest to hear the heartbeat. “They feel very at ease, because the horse doesn’t show annoyance even if they keep talking to it,” said Alain Chang, a riding coach with the Fang Hsing-Chung Social Welfare Foundation for Horses in Education and Health. “To touch them, to observe them or even to hug them — this is a very special experience.” Horse therapist Chan Shu-ya explained that the animals are carefully trained to work with children who may move unpredictably or express emotions in nontraditional ways. But once that bond is built, the effects are clear. “Many of these students that I meet, they look forward to coming to this every week,” said Chang. “Rain or shine.”

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