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Brainy Breakthrough: Tiny Implants Could Tackle Parkinson's Puzzle
A promising experiment could bring hope to over 10 million people with Parkinson’s disease. Researchers from the University of Cambridge are developing brain implants using midbrain organoids to repair damaged neural pathways. This innovative approach aims to restore normal brain function and will first be tested on animals. Unlike previous methods, this technique uses advanced materials and electrical stimulation for better integration with the nervous system. Funded by ARIA, this project could revolutionize treatments for complex brain disorders.
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Afghan Women’s Soccer Team Returns After Four Years in Exile: “Hope Is the Strongest Weapon We Have”
For Mursal Sadat, co-captain of the newly rebranded Afghan Women United football team, stepping back onto the field wasn’t just a return to sport—it was a defiant act of hope. Sadat and her teammates played their first official matches in four years last month at the FIFA Unites Women’s Series in Morocco. The tournament marked the team’s international comeback since the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan in 2021, imposing sweeping restrictions that banned women from playing sports, attending school, and accessing basic freedoms. “It feels amazing to be that person, to make history,” Sadat told ABC Sport before the team’s game against Missouri in Norman. The team is made up entirely of Afghan refugees living around the world, with many of the players, like Sadat, now based in Australia. Their participation was symbolic—but it also served as a rallying point for women back home in Afghanistan, many of whom are now banned from watching or participating in sport. “We’ve received a lot of good feedback from women back home,” Sadat said. “Whenever there is someone saying that these girls belong to the kitchen… all those women are coming and defending us. They’re writing, ‘We know it is just the beginning. We believe in you. We know you guys are our hope.’” Afghan Women United played three matches in the round-robin series, losing to Chad (6–1) and Tunisia (4–0), before closing the tournament with a commanding 7–0 win over Libya. For Sadat, the results weren’t the point. “Because when all is lost, hope is still there,” she said. “And hope is the strongest weapon that we’re carrying with us.” From Kabul to Melbourne Sadat was one of many Afghan women footballers who fled Kabul during the Taliban’s return in August 2021. She was granted an emergency humanitarian visa by the Australian government and resettled in Melbourne, where she now lives. But the trauma of exile runs deep. “Whenever I would go to buy some groceries, I’d be like, ‘Why am I buying this juice? I don’t need it to survive, but people in my country, they’re in poverty. They need this,’” she said. She described dealing with severe depression and survivor’s guilt during her first years in Australia, saying it was football that helped her find a way forward. “At that point, to be honest, football was the only thing that was keeping me alive and safe,” she said. “The only time that I would feel happy was when we would go out to the parks to play soccer… it would just give me a feeling like I’m home.” Through a partnership with Melbourne Victory, Afghan refugee players have been participating in local leagues since 2022. But building a fully functional team ready for international competition has been far from simple. Obstacles Off the Pitch Even the team’s appearance in Morocco nearly didn’t happen. Originally scheduled to play in Dubai, the tournament had to be moved just days before kick-off when players couldn’t secure visas for the UAE. Moroccan authorities stepped in to host the matches on short notice. “It was something unexpected… but everyone tried their best to stay positive and move the tournament to a new location,” Sadat said. “Because the important thing was that this tournament needed to take place. That was the actual championship for us.” While FIFA framed the tournament as a step forward under its “Strategy for Action for Afghan Women’s Football,” the players still face major hurdles. Afghan Women United is not officially recognized by FIFA and cannot participate in sanctioned tournaments, including qualifiers for the Women’s Asian Cup and the 2027 World Cup. That authority remains with the Taliban-controlled Afghan Football Federation, which has barred Afghan women from representing the country in international football. FIFA declined to answer questions from ABC Sport about any alternative pathways for Afghan women’s participation or whether outreach inside Afghanistan is ongoing, citing the “sensitive nature” of the situation. Still Building Despite the lack of official recognition, the team is determined to push forward. “Unfortunately, we are not a national team yet,” Sadat told fans during an Instagram Q&A after returning to Melbourne. “But we are building towards that goal, and once it’s recognised… there will be a chance for every Afghan around the world.” The road ahead remains uncertain. The team is still navigating bureaucracy, funding issues, and the emotional weight of displacement. But for Sadat and her teammates, simply being seen is a victory. “We know you guys are our hope,” one supporter back home told her. That message, Sadat said, is what keeps them going. “Because when everything else is taken from you, hope is the one thing they can’t erase.”
Score (97)
Scientists Discover Fern That Grows Rare Earth Crystals, Opening Door to Greener Mining
In a breakthrough that could reshape how we source key materials for clean energy and electronics, researchers have discovered that a common fern can not only absorb rare earth elements (REEs) from the soil—but actually grow them into crystals inside its own tissues. The plant in question is Blechnum orientale, a type of fern already known for its ability to pull metals from the ground. But a team led by Liuqing He at the Chinese Academy of Sciences found something far more unusual: the fern is growing monazite crystals—a mineral rich in neodymium, lanthanum, and cerium—within its cells under normal environmental conditions. It’s the first time scientists have ever seen a plant do this. “Phytomining, a green strategy using hyperaccumulator plants to extract metals from soil, offers potential for sustainable REE supply but remains underexplored,” the researchers wrote in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. There are 17 rare earth elements in total, and while they’re not technically scarce, they are difficult and expensive to extract in usable form. These metals are essential to everything from smartphones and computers to wind turbines, broadband cables, and medical imaging equipment. As the world ramps up green tech production, demand for REEs is soaring—and so is the environmental toll of traditional mining. That’s where phytomining, or plant-based mineral extraction, comes in. Certain plants known as hyperaccumulators are capable of growing in metal-rich soils and binding with metals through natural biological processes. Until now, phytomining’s biggest promise was in pulling metals into plant tissue. This new finding takes things a step further: Blechnum orientale isn’t just storing trace metals—it’s actively crystallizing them into mineral form, mimicking the geological conditions normally required deep underground under high heat and pressure. Using microscopic imaging and chemical analysis, researchers identified monazite forming inside the fern. The crystals grew spontaneously, organizing themselves into what the scientists described as a “chemical garden.” “This discovery reveals an alternative pathway for monazite mineralization under remarkably mild conditions and highlights the unique role of plants in initiating such processes,” the team wrote. The researchers are now exploring whether this phenomenon is unique to B. orientale, or if other plants—like Dicranopteris linearis, another metal-absorbing fern—might do the same. So far, there are hints but no proof. The next challenge is figuring out how to extract the monazite from the plant and separate it into usable rare earth materials efficiently. The process must minimize resource loss and avoid damage to the environment—goals that have made traditional REE mining so controversial. “This work substantiates the feasibility of phytomining and introduces an innovative, plant-based approach for sustainable REE resource development,” the authors concluded. While still early-stage, the discovery could signal a shift toward greener methods for sourcing the raw materials that underpin much of the modern world.
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Score (97)
Native American Woman Makes History Driving Sooner Schooner at the University of Oklahoma
For the first time since its debut in 1964, the University of Oklahoma’s iconic covered wagon mascot, the Sooner Schooner, is being driven by a Native American woman. Brianna Howard, a junior at OU and citizen of the Choctaw Nation, first took the reins during the Sooners’ season opener against Illinois State. She returned to the field again on Saturday before the team’s matchup with Missouri, reflecting on the moment. “I only had a minute to get on the Schooner, get the reins and go,” Howard said. “I didn’t have enough time to get too nervous. When I went out there, it was amazing. I could not even hear the audience I was so zoned into driving.” The Sooner Schooner is pulled by two white ponies named Boomer and Sooner and thunders across the field before kickoff and after every Oklahoma touchdown. It’s maintained by OU spirit groups, including the all-male RUF/NEKS and the all-female Lil’ Sis, whose members take turns driving it throughout the game. Howard’s turn behind the reins carries special significance. The mascot’s wagon, modeled after a pioneer-era Conestoga, is seen by some as a painful symbol of westward expansion and forced Native removal. Howard said she understands that view but sees her role differently. “I know that for me, it’s a representation of taking back something that was used to oppress my people and my culture, and now that I’m in charge, it’s giving us the power,” she said. “Not everyone’s going to see it that way, and that’s OK.” The Sooner Schooner tradition has been a fixture at OU games for more than six decades. Jack Roehm, president of the RUF/NEKS and a senior at OU, also drove the Schooner on Saturday and called the spectacle one of the sport’s most unique. “It’s a historic tradition after every score having the ponies run across the field,” Roehm said. “There’s nothing like it in college football.” Howard’s debut comes during Native American Heritage Month and marks a new chapter in one of college football’s most recognizable traditions — one now driven, quite literally, by change.
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Pacific Palisades Celebrates Rebuilt Home After Devastating LA Fires
Less than a year after the Palisades fire scorched thousands of homes across Los Angeles, the first fully rebuilt house is ready for new life. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced Friday that the Department of Building and Safety had officially certified the home for occupancy, calling the milestone “an important moment of hope.” “The Palisades community has been through an unimaginable year, and my heart breaks for every family that won’t be able to be home this holiday season,” Bass said. “But today is an important moment of hope. The City of Los Angeles remains committed to expediting every aspect of the rebuilding process, until every family is back home.” The new home, located in Pacific Palisades, spans nearly 4,000 square feet with four bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. It replaces a 1,600-square-foot ranch-style house that was destroyed during the January fire. Fire-resistant upgrades are part of the design, including closed eaves to block ember intrusion and pre-installed plumbing for a fire-defense system capable of coating the home with water or retardant if flames approach. A public tour of the home is scheduled for December 6, giving community members a first-hand look at the rebuild. According to the Los Angeles Times, about 2,000 rebuilding permits have been issued so far across the Palisades and Eaton fire zones. While only one full home has been completed in Pacific Palisades, hundreds of projects are underway—roughly 340 are currently under construction in that neighborhood alone. In nearby Altadena, another structure has also been certified: a 630-square-foot accessory dwelling unit (ADU), which replaced a garage lost in the Eaton fire. The main house on the property survived. City officials say recovery is happening at different speeds depending on location, damage severity, and complexity of permits. But with over 2,500 property owners in Los Angeles city and county submitting full rebuilding applications—and more than 1,100 of those already approved—there are signs of momentum. In total, the Palisades and Eaton fires destroyed more than 13,000 homes. For many, rebuilding is just beginning. For one family in Pacific Palisades, however, this week marked the end of a long road—and the start of a new chapter.
Score (98)
Tennessee Zoo Welcomes First Baby Gorilla Born in Nearly a Decade
For the first time since 2016, Zoo Knoxville is celebrating the birth of a Western lowland gorilla — a hopeful moment for one of the most critically endangered primate species on Earth. The newborn arrived just after 8 a.m. on November 19 to 27-year-old Kumi, who joined the Tennessee zoo in 2024. It’s her first baby with silverback Bantu and her first birth since arriving at the zoo. Zoo staff shared the news on social media with a short video of Kumi cradling her newborn, writing, “KUMI’S BABY IS HERE!” The post quickly racked up thousands of views and comments from followers thrilled by the arrival. “Kumi has been calm, attentive and doing everything exactly as a new mom should,” a zoo spokesperson told News 6. In a follow-up post, the zoo said Kumi’s baby has already begun gentle introductions to the rest of the troop and that staff are taking a hands-off approach, allowing mom and baby to bond naturally. “We can’t stop staring at this little face,” the zoo captioned the post. Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered, with populations dropping more than 60 percent in the last 20 to 25 years, according to the World Wildlife Fund. The animals live in dense tropical forests in parts of Central Africa, making accurate population estimates difficult. The biggest threats to their survival are poaching and disease. Even under ideal conditions, conservation scientists estimate it would take about 75 years for the species to recover. In a statement, Zoo Knoxville President and CEO Bill Street called the birth “a new hope for the future of this critically endangered species.” He added, “This new arrival is an important step forward for Western lowland gorillas.” Zoo Knoxville is part of a network of accredited zoos working to maintain healthy, genetically diverse gorilla populations in human care. Breeding programs like this one are designed to support conservation efforts and help ensure the species’ long-term survival. The baby’s name and sex have not yet been revealed, but early signs point to a healthy, thriving start. For now, Kumi and her newborn are keeping close. As one zoo update put it: “Both Kumi and her newborn are doing well.”
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French Shoppers Say They're Embracing Reusable Packaging in Major Supermarkets
Shoppers in France can now stock their carts and cut down on future trash, thanks to a new large-scale rollout of reusable grocery packaging. A system called The Loop, created by U.S.-based waste management company TerraCycle, has officially launched across 345 Carrefour supermarkets in France. Instead of relying on traditional single-use plastic or cardboard packaging, the initiative offers everyday products in durable, reusable containers made of aluminum or plastic. Customers buy products as usual, but instead of tossing the packaging when they’re done, they simply return the containers—clean or dirty—on their next shopping trip. From there, the containers are cleaned and refilled for reuse. “The deployment of a reusable packaging system at this scale demonstrates the logistical feasibility of integrating reuse into mainstream retail operations,” said Zac Jenkins, Membership Manager at ThePackHub, which reported on the initiative. The launch marks The Loop’s first entrance into a major commercial grocery setting. It’s now handling packaging for a wide variety of food, beverage, and household goods, and additional retail partners beyond Carrefour are already participating—making it easier for customers to return empties at multiple locations. The concept is rooted in the old-school model of milk bottle deliveries, where the container went back and forth instead of straight into the garbage. TerraCycle describes the system as a return to “simpler, waste-free times,” where packaging wasn’t synonymous with waste. While returning empty containers might seem like an extra chore, it’s a straightforward swap for taking out the trash. The upside? Less landfill-bound plastic and more economic value retained through circular reuse. Analysts say wide-scale adoption of circular packaging could return millions of dollars back into national economies—along with the environmental benefit of slashing single-use plastics. With global pressure mounting on both governments and corporations to curb packaging waste, France’s Loop experiment could serve as a test case for how reuse might actually work on a grocery aisle level.
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Hero Teachers Fend Off Grizzly Attack, Protect Students on Canada Walking Trail
A group of teachers in British Columbia is being credited with preventing a deadly outcome after a grizzly bear charged a class of elementary school students during an outing near Bella Coola. Officials said their quick use of bear spray and bear bangers likely stopped the attack from becoming far more severe. BC Emergency Health Services said two people were critically injured, two were seriously injured and seven others were treated at the scene on Thursday afternoon. At a news conference Friday, Tamara Davidson, the province’s minister of environment and parks, said that three children and one adult remained hospitalized. Families declined to release updated conditions. “I want to recognize the teachers who took great risk to protect their students,” Davidson said. “Their actions deserve our greatest respect and gratitude. They were well prepared, and they are the true heroes.” The attack happened when a single grizzly emerged from the forest along a trail where the group had stopped. Kevin Van Damme of the BC Conservation Officer Service said the teachers’ actions made a critical difference. “Teachers put themselves in harm’s way to protect the children,” he said. “They definitely avoided worse injuries.” He explained that the group used bear spray and bear bangers to repel the animal. Authorities collected evidence from the site as they worked to identify and capture the bear. Residents and visitors were urged to remain indoors. “I really need to stress how dangerous this situation is with this bear at large,” Van Damme said. Later he added, “I have not seen an attack like this with a large group of people,” calling an incident involving more than a dozen people “extremely rare.” The Nuxalk Nation, whose territory includes Bella Coola and the surrounding valley, asked the community to “avoid all trails.” Acwsalcta School, run by the Nuxalk Nation, said it would remain closed Monday and that counseling support would be available. Parent Veronica Schooner told the Associated Press that one teacher “got the whole brunt of it” and was taken to hospital. Her 10 year old son Alvarez was close enough to the bear that “he even felt its fur.” She said, “He said that bear ran so close to him, but it was going after somebody else.” Some children, she added, were hit with the bear spray during the struggle. The British Columbia Assembly of First Nations said the attack should prompt a closer look at safety planning. “This event raises important questions about safety protocols, community preparedness and the respect for First Nations’ knowledge in managing wildlife,” the organization said, expressing support for the Nuxalk Nation. The B.C. Wildlife Federation linked the attack to a 2017 ban on grizzly hunting, arguing that it led to an increase in bear reports. “With no hunting pressure, grizzlies and humans will increasingly occupy the same spaces with inevitable consequences,” the group’s executive director, Jesse Zeman, said. Asked whether the province would revisit the ban, Davidson said that discussion was premature. “This is an ongoing live situation where the bear is still at large and the community doesn’t feel safe,” she said. “No considerations just yet.” She added that her ministry hopes families “experience healing and comfort in the coming days.”
Score (97)
Ancient Roman Razor Discovered, Set For Auction
A small iron razor that once helped Romans stay clean shaven is heading to auction in England, and the piece comes with a surprisingly rich story about grooming habits across the empire. The blade is about 9 cm long, built with a hole for a finger grip so the shaver could pull it across the face. It could also be hooked onto a belt for quick access when a customer sat down. “I’m not sure how close a shave you would get, but imagine if it could talk,” said Charles Hanson, the auctioneer handling the sale. “Think of all the ancient chins it was used on and the stories their owners could tell. It truly is a remarkable piece of ancient history.” The razor reflects what was once a clear marker of status. For wealthy Romans, being clean shaven signaled refinement and urbanitas, a trait linked to polite, city life. Busts and coins of the period show how widespread the look was. Most well known figures of the late Republic and early empire appear without facial hair, including Julius Caesar, Pompey, Sulla, Gaius Marius, Scipio Africanus, Cato the Elder, Cato the Younger, Crassus, Marcus Antonius, Cicero, Cassius and an entire line of emperors from Augustus to Domitian. Hadrian shifted the fashion when he grew a beard, and the emperors who followed often did the same. Even so, the razor remained essential for many men, though not everyone felt safe using one. Entrusting a stranger with a sharp blade was risky in a political culture where assassinations were common. “Dionysus was so afraid of trusting a barber he made his daughters learn how to shave him,” said Hansons Auctioneers historical consultant, Simon Bartley. He added that “Emperor Domitian banned razors from being drawn in the middle of a dense crowd, and barbers from practicing in public places.” Roman razors, known as novacilae, varied in shape and design. Bartley describes the one now up for auction as “a stunning example in beautiful condition which isn’t often seen outside a private collection.” The role of shaving stretched far beyond daily routine. The first shave, usually around age 21, marked an important rite of passage known as depositio barbae, a moment that symbolized the shift from adolescence to adulthood. Before that, young men let their facial hair grow freely, waiting until a visible beard appeared. In some families the trimming of that first beard was a small ceremony, and the hair was offered to the gods. Nero wrote about doing exactly that in his autobiography. Tools evolved as well. Early razors like the one in this sale were eventually followed by a more complex device called a forfex, made of two iron blades joined in a horseshoe shape. It was an early form of the modern tool used today. Two thousand years later, a simple iron blade offers a look at the routines, rituals and anxieties of everyday Roman life. It is a reminder that grooming was a serious business, and sometimes a risky one, for the people who shaped an empire.
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This Football Club Donated Its Match Sponsorship To a Stem Cell Donor Drive For a Local Teen
A non-league football club in Worcestershire is putting community before commerce, giving up its match sponsorship to support a stem cell donor drive for a local teenager battling leukaemia. Bromsgrove Sporting FC, based in the town of Bromsgrove, has chosen to forgo commercial sponsorship for their upcoming match against Kettering Town this Saturday. Instead, they’ll use the platform to promote a donor registration event in support of 16-year-old Leo, who is in urgent need of a stem cell transplant. “For patients with blood cancer like Leo, a stem cell transplant from a matching donor can be the only opportunity for recovery,” the club said in a statement. Leo has been in hospital for the past eight weeks. His dad, Warren, says the family is doing everything they can while working with the blood cancer charity DKMS to find a match. "He's doing okay, he has his good days and his bad days," Warren said. "Generally, on the whole, he's quite chipper about things and he's quite talkative." The donor drive, organized by DKMS, will take place on Saturday, 23 November, at St Godwald’s Church Hall in Bromsgrove from 13:00 to 18:00 GMT. Attendees will be asked to provide a simple cheek swab to see if they’re a match for Leo or someone else in need. Warren, who has already registered himself, said the process was quick and easy. “It takes literally six minutes. It's three swabs — one around your left cheek, one around your right cheek, and one around the inside of your lips,” he explained. Max Banner, media officer at Bromsgrove Sporting, said the decision to promote the donor drive was a no-brainer. “As a club, we need to be seen to be doing everything we can for the community,” he said. “You see something like this and you think it’s the least we could do with the exposure and reach we have as a club. Who knows, we could make all the difference.” Instead of commercial ads, Saturday’s match will be used to spread awareness about stem cell donation and encourage fans to attend the drive. For Leo and his family, that difference could mean everything.
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Phillies Host First-Ever "Sleep Out" Event, Raise Over $1M
In Philadelphia, over 300 people gathered at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday night for a cause that hits home for many in the city. They weren't there to catch a game, but to participate in a "sleep out" event supporting youth facing homelessness. Former Phillies players and locals alike gave up their usual comforts for a night of solidarity and awareness. Larry Bowa, former Phillies manager, joined the event with empathy. "We only do it for a night," he said, reflecting on the challenges faced by homeless youth year-round. "I can't imagine some of these young adults doing this 365 days, and I feel sorry for them." Megan McGowan, one of the participants who raised over $21,000, emphasized the impact of understanding these struggles firsthand. "It's so nice to be able to give back and help and really learn and understand what they've gone through," she shared. The Phillies teamed up with Covenant House Pennsylvania, an organization dedicated to providing shelter and services for homeless and trafficked youth. This collaboration aimed not just to raise funds but also to increase awareness about the issue. By hosting the event at a major league baseball field—the first team ever to do so—the initiative garnered significant attention, making it the largest event of its kind in Pennsylvania since 2011. Phillies CEO John Middleton highlighted the role athletes can play in spotlighting pressing social issues. "The athletes have special platforms and help raise awareness of important issues," he noted. This year's "Sleep Out" successfully raised over one million dollars for more than 10,000 young people experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia. Covenant House President Bill Bedrossian explained how these funds will be utilized: "It's going to be able to help house thousands of young people in this coming year, but also give them the opportunity to thrive through educational and employment programs." Whitney Moore knows firsthand how crucial support from organizations like Covenant House can be. She lived there as a teenage mother and credits them with helping her focus on education while being a mom. "If it hadn't been for them, I don't know where myself and my family would be," Moore reflected. Cole Hamels, another former player who participated in the sleep out, spoke about instilling hope in those struggling with homelessness. "Give them a little bit of hope to fight another day," he urged. The community's commitment was clear throughout the evening as they braved chilly temperatures together until sunrise on Friday morning when the sleep out officially ended.