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This Eco-Friendly Coffin Offers New Life After Death
A Dutch startup has created a fully biodegradable casket. Each coffin takes just a week to grow and then approximately two to three years to decompose along with the person’s body. In comparison, conventional coffins take 10 years to break down and return to the earth. The company says orders for "The Living Cocoon" are flooding in.
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UK Dad Challenges 12-Year-Old Son to Rebuild a Classic Mini — And They're Sharing Every Step Online
When 10-year-old Ben first heard his dad’s plan to rebuild a car together, he thought it was a joke. It wasn’t. Two years later, Ben, now 12, is spending every Tuesday night in a garage in Biddulph, Staffordshire, learning how to weld, grind, and strip engines — all part of a six-year challenge from his dad, Gary, to completely rebuild a classic Mini before Ben turns 16. The goal? To have the car ready in time to drive him to his school prom. “I started the car, rolled it out the garage — it was cool, it's the first time I had the engine revving,” Ben said. For Gary, an electrician who’s worked on cars as a hobby since he was 17, the idea was born out of a desire to get his son away from screens and into something hands-on. “All the kids these days are computer-based,” he said. “There's very few kids with practical skill these days.” But the project has taken on a digital life of its own. The father-son duo now share their progress on TikTok and YouTube, where they’ve built a growing community of subscribers eager to follow along. Ben says he’s learned a lot already — including welding and how to replace car panels — and that working on the car has helped him build confidence and practical skills. “If I broke down in this car then I know every nook and cranny,” he said. Gary admits he’s learning too, especially about patience. “It’s hard to teach a 10-year-old to try and use power tools,” he said, “but he's done an amazing job and it really brought us together.” They still have a few years to go before the Mini is ready to hit the road. But every Tuesday, one turn of the wrench at a time, they’re getting closer — not just to a finished car, but to each other.
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Scientists Say They've Found Hundreds of Hidden Underwater Canyons Beneath Antarctica
Scientists have discovered more than 300 underwater canyon systems buried beneath the Antarctic ice sheet, revealing a seafloor far more complex than previously understood — and forcing a rethink on how the continent is melting. A team from the University of Barcelona and University College Cork mapped 332 canyon networks below the ocean surface, five times more than were previously known. The findings were published in the journal Marine Geology. “This is the first time we’ve had a unified picture of these systems across the entire Antarctic margin,” said Dr. David Amblà, co-author and researcher at the University of Barcelona. “They’re not just widespread — they’re intimately tied to both ancient and modern ice movement.” For years, many climate models treated Antarctica’s submerged landscape as relatively flat. This new research challenges that assumption and suggests that ocean-ice interactions are being shaped by rugged, canyon-rich terrain. The canyons play a key role in regulating global ocean circulation. They help move dense, salty water down into the deep sea and bring warmer currents up from the depths — a dynamic that can accelerate ice melt along the continent’s fringes. As Antarctic ice melts, it adds around 135 billion tons of water to the oceans each year, contributing to sea level rise around the world. That puts coastal cities and low-lying regions at increasing risk of flooding and erosion. The new map of Antarctic submarine canyons may help scientists build better models to track ocean circulation and ice loss — and, in turn, provide more accurate forecasts for sea level rise. While researchers focus on improving predictive models, the broader challenge remains unchanged: curbing the pace of climate change by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and transitioning to cleaner energy systems.
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Firefighters Just Rescued a Horse From a Frozen Pool in Ohio Using Ice Suits and Tow Straps
An 8-year-old horse named Dixie is safe and warm again after falling into a frozen swimming pool in Monroe Township, Ohio, on Monday, February 9. The black mare had wandered out of her pasture and ended up plunging into the deep end of an in-ground pool, where she became trapped in 8 feet of icy water. Her owner discovered her with only her head above the surface. Monroe Township Fire & EMS responded to the call with help from Central Joint Fire - EMS District, using specialized ice rescue gear to pull Dixie out. “Through coordinated teamwork and careful operations, the horse was safely removed and returned to its owner,” the fire department said in a social media post. “Incidents like this highlight the diverse nature of the service we provide to our community.” Chief Greg Lang of Monroe Township Fire told WCPO that crews initially attempted to use two tow straps to lift Dixie, but quickly realized they’d need extra help. “We ended up calling in a mutual aid engine company for the wet suits, for ice rescue suits,” Lang said. “Once the crews arrived, we put two personnel in the water. Took a second tow strap, they went in behind it, tied it to the first tow strap, to actually create a harness for the horse.” Photos from the rescue show firefighters in yellow ice suits surrounding the horse, working to free her from the freezing water. Once out, she was immediately wrapped in blankets to warm up. A veterinarian on site checked her over, and the mare was later seen resting comfortably in her barn wearing a winter coat. Lang said he’s responded to animals falling through ice before, but this was his first time rescuing a horse. Dixie is now back home and in good health.
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This Doctor Adopted a Boy She Cared for After Heart Surgery Alone in Hospital
True was just four years old when he faced major heart surgery with no family by his side. Born with hypoplastic right heart syndrome, the Omaha, Nebraska boy was alone in his hospital bed at Children’s Nebraska when Dr. Amy Beethe, a pediatric anesthesiologist, first saw him. That image stuck with her. “I just couldn’t stop thinking about him,” Dr. Beethe said. She went home and told her husband, Ryan. Soon after, the couple visited True in the hospital. The bond was instant. By February 2021, just a month after his surgery, True moved in with the Beethes. Not long after, they adopted him. “It didn’t take long to fall in love with him,” Ryan told WLBT. “We knew we needed him in our family.” Now 9 years old, True is thriving in the Beethe household. He calls Amy and Ryan “mom” and “dad,” and has siblings who support and love him. The Beethes also adopted his sister. Other siblings were adopted by family friends, allowing the children to stay close and connected. True was born with a serious congenital defect that left the right side of his heart underdeveloped. He’s already been through multiple surgeries and will eventually need a heart transplant. “We don’t love True’s heart disease. We know it had a bigger purpose, so it was meant to be,” Amy said. “He’s truly become my son. I would battle for him like anybody else when it comes to his health. Yeah, you’re a mama bear, and you fight hard.” True seems to have inherited that same spirit. Asked what keeps him going, he simply said, “Keep going and don’t stop.” For now, that’s exactly what the Beethes are doing — surrounding him with care, protecting his health, and giving him what he didn’t have in that hospital bed four years ago: a family.
Score (96)
A Simple Brain Training Game May Help Delay Dementia for Decades, Study Finds
A new study has found that a short brain training program aimed at improving how quickly older adults process visual information may reduce the risk of dementia—even 20 years later. The training, called speed of processing training, teaches participants to spot visual details on a screen faster and manage increasingly complex tasks. Those who completed five to six weeks of sessions, followed by booster sessions one to three years later, were significantly less likely to develop dementia than those who received no training. “This suggests that a fairly modest nonpharmacological intervention can have long-term effects,” said Dr. Marilyn Albert, the study’s lead author and director of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine. The findings, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research and Clinical Interventions, come from the ACTIVE study (Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly), the first randomized clinical trial to measure dementia outcomes over two decades. Beginning in 1998–99, researchers enrolled 2,802 adults and randomly assigned them to one of three cognitive training programs—focusing on memory, reasoning, or speed of processing—or to a control group that received no training. Participants were in their early 70s on average at the start. Over five to six weeks, those in the training groups completed up to 10 sessions lasting 60 to 75 minutes. Half of the participants were randomly selected to receive up to four booster sessions in the years following their initial training. The long-term results were telling: among the 264 participants who completed speed training and boosters, 40 percent (105 people) developed dementia over the next 20 years. In the control group, the rate was higher: 49 percent (239 of 491 participants). That’s a 25 percent lower incidence in the speed training group. Notably, only the speed training group showed a statistically significant difference from the control group. Memory and reasoning training did not produce long-term dementia protection. Researchers assessed dementia diagnoses by analyzing Medicare records from 2,021 participants—roughly 72 percent of the original group—spanning from 1999 to 2019. The sample closely mirrored the original study in gender, race, and health profile. Most participants were women (about 75 percent), 70 percent were white, and the average age at enrollment was 74. Over the two decades, about three quarters of participants passed away, typically around age 84. The research carries weight at a time when dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, affects an estimated 42 percent of adults over 55 and costs the U.S. more than $600 billion annually. Alzheimer’s accounts for up to 80 percent of cases. Speed training appears to stand out because of how it targets the brain. Unlike memory or reasoning exercises, which teach everyone the same strategies, speed training adapts to each user’s performance in real time. It focuses on building skills rather than memorizing facts, engaging a brain system known for “implicit learning.” “Speed training may have been especially effective because it was adaptive,” the researchers wrote. “Participants who performed well progressed to more challenging tasks, while those who needed more time worked at a slower pace.” Previous results from the ACTIVE study showed that this training improved thinking skills for up to five years. After 10 years, participants in the speed training group had a 29 percent lower risk of dementia than the control group. Dr. George Rebok, a co-author and expert in healthy aging at Johns Hopkins, said the findings highlight the value of developing cognitive training programs focused on visual processing and divided attention. “It is possible that adding this cognitive training to lifestyle change interventions may delay dementia onset, but that remains to be studied,” he said. Researchers believe that combining such programs with other proven strategies—like heart-healthy habits, regular exercise, and managing blood pressure, blood sugar, and weight—could further support brain health. The study was funded by the National Institute on Aging, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Co-authors include researchers from Johns Hopkins, the University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, the University of Florida, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and others.
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A Rescue Team, a Vet and a Farmer Just Saved a Mud-Trapped Cow in England
A cow that found itself stuck in deep mud near Threlkeld, England, was safely rescued thanks to the combined efforts of three fire crews, a vet, a farmer, and a specialized large-animal rescue team. The muddy ordeal unfolded on the afternoon of Friday, February 6, when Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service received a call about the stranded animal. Crews from Keswick, Penrith, and Workington stations were dispatched to the scene, located in the rural Lake District region of northwest England. “Being a firefighter isn't always glamorous!” the department posted on Instagram, sharing photos of the cow submerged up to its torso in thick mud. It's unclear how long the animal had been stuck before help arrived. Firefighters, alongside the veterinarian and the local farmer, spent several hours working to free the medium-sized cow. They used a hoisting mechanism and heavy-duty straps to lift and guide the animal out of the bog. The photos show the careful extraction process and the cow eventually standing safely on firm ground. The department credited “coordinated teamwork and patience” for getting the cow “moo-ving” again. Large-animal rescues like this are often physically demanding and require specialized training. In this case, that training paid off, with no injuries reported for either the cow or the crew. The rescue came just days after a similar operation in Thaxted, where an 18-year-old pony named Geisha was pulled from a septic tank hole by Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. In a statement to the BBC, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Darren Cook said the team was “highly trained” and ready to respond to a range of animal emergencies. While these stories may not involve smoke or flames, they underscore the wide scope of work fire crews are prepared for—and their commitment to protecting lives, whether human or hoofed.
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Meet Splash, the Otter Trained to Find Human Remains Underwater
Police dogs have long been the gold standard for sniffing out missing people, illegal substances, and even bodies. But when the trail leads underwater, canines are at a clear disadvantage. Enter Splash—a highly trained Asian small-clawed otter who may be the first animal of his kind helping law enforcement recover human remains submerged in lakes, rivers, and oceans. Splash isn’t just a novelty. Since making his search and rescue debut in Alabama—where he helped recover a weapon tied to a 25-year-old murder case—he’s been on 27 missions across the United States. So far, he’s notched six confirmed finds, including four human bodies. “He’s had more success than many would’ve expected,” said Michael Hadsel, Splash’s owner and trainer, in an interview with Outside magazine. Hadsel has spent nearly five decades working with law enforcement through his company, Peace River K9 Search and Rescue. Until recently, that work focused on dogs. Then, around 2018, Hadsel started to wonder: Could other animals do the job? It was an article about otters in Bangladesh and India that got him thinking. Local fishermen had trained river otters to herd fish into nets. That, plus the biological quirk that otters can actually smell underwater, sparked a bold experiment. Unlike dogs, which lose scent in water, otters can exhale small air bubbles and then sniff them back in. It’s a kind of underwater olfaction that no other mammal appears to possess. By 2024, Hadsel had adopted Splash and started training him. He used human scent markers in a pool and paired them with a tennis ball on the end of a stick. When Hadsel gave the verbal cue “Hoffa” (a wink at missing Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa), Splash would sniff the scent, dive in, and begin his search. If he found a match underwater, he’d return to the surface and signal Hadsel—in exchange for a bite of farm-raised salmon. Splash refuses to eat wild. One of the biggest challenges wasn’t training Splash to smell, but getting him to communicate while submerged. Otters have membranes that cover their ears underwater, so Hadsel developed a tactile system using a tether: one tug means turn right, two tugs means turn left, three means return to the boat. The results have surprised even seasoned recovery teams. Splash’s nose has helped solve cold cases, locate drowning victims, and retrieve critical evidence that might have otherwise stayed hidden. He’s also become something of an internet star. The Peace River K9 Search and Rescue Facebook page saw a surge in followers after Splash’s story started spreading. He’s been featured by multiple media outlets and invited to law enforcement conferences, where his work has sparked serious conversation about expanding the use of animals in forensic recovery. Still, there are limits. Otters are small, and deploying them in open waters comes with risks. Predators like alligators or large fish could pose a threat. It’s also unclear whether Splash’s success can be easily replicated. Training an otter takes patience, deep expertise in animal behavior, and a fair bit of creativity. But Hadsel sees potential. “We’re just scratching the surface,” he told Outside. Splash might be the only one of his kind for now, but he’s proven that innovation in search and rescue doesn’t always come from newer tech. Sometimes, it comes in the form of a sleek, whiskered swimmer with a nose for the job.
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AI-Powered Innovations Unveiled at Dubai's World Health Expo Revolutionize Healthcare
Imagine a two-minute wellness session that clears your mind, or a camera that predicts heart disease just by scanning your eyes. These aren’t future tech dreams—they’re real, operational, and on display at Dubai’s World Health Expo. The newly rebranded WHX, formerly known as Arab Health, kicked off this week at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City. The three-day event has drawn 4,300 exhibitors from over 180 countries, all focused on one thing: redefining the future of healthcare. And at the center of that vision is AI. Here are five standout innovations from the show. 1. Organ-on-a-Chip Chinese company Xellar is shrinking organ testing into something that fits in the palm of your hand. Its “organ-on-a-chip” tech uses human tissue samples inside micro-devices to mimic how real organs behave. AI boosts the accuracy of results to over 95 percent. The chips vary in size depending on the organ—simpler ones like the heart require smaller chips, while more complex organs like the liver need larger ones. Developers can recreate disease conditions inside the chips, making it possible to run personalized drug tests in advance. Xellar says building a new disease model can take anywhere from a few weeks to nine months. This is the first time the technology is being shown in the UAE. 2. AI Retina Scan What if a quick eye scan could predict your risk of cardiovascular disease years before symptoms show up? Emirates Health Services is showcasing an AI-powered retina scanner that looks like a set of binoculars. Users stare into the machine for about 30 seconds as it checks for eye conditions such as glaucoma and cataracts—and flags potential heart and liver issues too. A detailed health report is sent directly to the user's phone. The goal is to catch silent threats long before they surface. 3. Remote Robotic Intervention In the northern UAE town of Al Jeer, doctors can now treat patients without physically being there. A remote-controlled robotic arm, already installed and in use, allows physicians to perform life-saving interventions from afar. It’s part of Emirates Health Services’ effort to bridge the care gap in remote communities. The arm is operated by specialists at a hospital hub, making it possible to treat patients in isolated areas faster and more effectively. 4. Wellness Pods for Public Use The Dubai Health Authority wants to bring mental resets to everyday spaces. It’s testing a compact “wellness pod” that offers guided relaxation sessions. Each pod fits one person and offers three mood modes—calm, grounding, or boosting. Users sit inside for just two minutes, during which soft lights and calming music guide them through a breathing exercise designed to reduce stress. If trials go well, DHA plans to place the pods in malls, airports, and government buildings. 5. AI Hiring Assistant for Nurses Emirates Health Services has also started using an AI assistant named Maitha to streamline hiring. The system screens applications, conducts interviews, and generates a shortlist of candidates, dramatically cutting down the time it takes to fill nursing roles. As demand for healthcare workers grows, tools like Maitha could help facilities respond faster and more efficiently.
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Trapped in a Storm Drain, This Rescued Manatee is Now on the Road to Recovery
A 410-pound manatee pulled from a Florida storm drain is now recovering at SeaWorld Orlando after a complex rescue effort involving multiple agencies. The male manatee was discovered Tuesday in Melbourne Beach, about 110 kilometers southeast of Orlando, by a city worker surveying infrastructure. “We’re in the process of improving the storm drain across Melbourne Beach,” said Vice Mayor Terry Cronin. “One of the surveyors noticed a manatee in what is called a bethel box." The sighting triggered a swift response. Fire rescue teams, biologists from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), representatives from the University of Florida, and even Jack’s Wrecker Service were called in to help extract the sea cow from the tight concrete enclosure. Once freed, the manatee was taken to SeaWorld Orlando, where he is now receiving treatment in one of the facility’s specialized medical pools. According to SeaWorld spokesperson Stephanie Bechara, the animal is stable and showing encouraging signs. “He’s breathing on his own, moving independently and showing interest in food,” she said. “Our teams are adjusting water levels to support buoyancy and comfort as part of his care.” Bechara noted that the park's long-term goal is to return rescued manatees like this one to the wild, once they are healthy enough to survive on their own. Florida’s manatee population has faced steep challenges in recent years. A mass starvation event in 2021 caused by widespread seagrass loss led to more than 1,100 manatee deaths. The die-off prompted a large-scale emergency response, including supplemental feeding programs in the Indian River Lagoon. While the situation has improved slightly, the numbers remain worrying. The FWC reported 555 manatee deaths in 2023 and 565 in 2024. Although lower than in 2021, those figures are still above pre-crisis levels. SeaWorld Orlando plays a key role in the state’s manatee rescue and rehabilitation program. The park rescued 56 manatees last year and has already taken in seven since January. Florida manatees, also known as sea cows, are a protected species. They are especially vulnerable to cold temperatures and often seek refuge in warm-water areas like power plant outflows and shallow coastal springs during the winter. That instinct may have led this individual into the storm drain in Melbourne Beach, where water temperatures were relatively higher. Officials say it’s not entirely unusual for manatees to get trapped in drainage systems, but the narrow, confined spaces and poor access points can make rescues complicated. This latest case, however, ended with the manatee in safe hands—and officials are hopeful he’ll eventually return to the wild, stronger and healthier.
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Heroic Neighbor Uses Sledgehammer To Rescue Wheelchair-Bound Woman From Burning Home
In a moment of crisis, one Arlington Heights resident didn’t wait for help to arrive—he became it. On the morning of Tuesday, February 3rd, a house fire broke out in the Illinois suburb with two elderly residents trapped inside. The 90-year-old husband was able to escape the flames, but his wife, 85, was still stuck inside, unable to move from her wheelchair. Desperate to save her, the man reportedly tried to reenter the burning home but had to be physically restrained by neighbors. The fire department had already been called—but time was running out. That’s when another neighbor, still unidentified, stepped up with a sledgehammer. Smashing through the door, the neighbor made it inside and emerged moments later carrying the woman in his arms. All three—the couple and their heroic neighbor—were taken to the hospital as a precaution and later discharged. “We want to recognize and commend the quick thinking and decisive action taken by one of our Arlington Heights residents that helped save a life,” said officials from the Arlington Heights Fire Department in a statement. “This situation serves as an important reminder that every second matters. The willingness of a community member to step in and help before first responders arrive can make all the difference.” The fire department praised the resident’s bravery and composure, calling him an example of the kind of neighborly care that defines their community. “We are proud to serve a community that looks out for one another,” the department added, “and we thank this resident for their actions when it mattered most.”