Stunning Space Photo Captures Bright Blue Shock Wave Around Double Star System

Miguel Claro, a renowned astrophotographer from Lisbon, captures the stunning beauty of the night sky with his breathtaking "Skyscapes." His latest image showcases the Cassiopeia constellation glowing with ionized hydrogen gas and features two planetary nebulas: Abell 6 and HFG1. HFG1 dazzles with a bluish bow shock as its binary star system races through our galaxy. Captured at Dark Sky Alqueva Observatory in Portugal, this image is available as fine art prints for those who wish to bring celestial wonders into their homes.

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The Surprising Trick Emotional Intelligence Experts Use to Stay Calm After Criticism

It’s your annual performance review. You walk in confident, knowing you’ve worked hard and hit your goals. Your boss starts off with a compliment—but then follows it with a sharp piece of criticism. Even though she ends with something nice, it’s that one piece of negative feedback that stays with you, echoing in your head long after the meeting ends. You feel a rush of heat. Your pulse quickens. Maybe your stomach drops. And now you have to respond. But what do you say? According to emotional intelligence expert Justin Bariso, the answer is: don’t say much. Not right away. “Thanks for expressing your thoughts. Please give me a day or so to process this, and I’ll respond,” Bariso writes. It’s a simple line, but it buys you something essential—time. Bariso, author of EQ Applied: The Real-World Guide to Emotional Intelligence, says it’s a mistake to respond immediately when you’re emotionally flooded. The discomfort and defensiveness you feel aren’t just in your head. They’re happening in your brain. “When you receive negative feedback and you’re tempted to say something you’ll regret, it’s because your first emotion is your emotional reaction,” Bariso explains. That reaction is controlled by the amygdala, the part of your brain that processes fear and stress. “It jumps into action when you feel attacked.” But with a bit of time, the amygdala settles down. Your logical brain catches up. And what felt like a personal attack may start to look more like something useful. “Just giving yourself a day to process the feedback helps you to see it much differently. Instead of seeing it as hurtful, you can now see it as helpful,” Bariso says. This isn’t about avoiding hard truths or pretending criticism doesn’t sting. It’s about responding rather than reacting—a distinction that matters when emotions are high. And it applies far beyond the workplace. Bariso says his “wait-a-day” approach works in all kinds of situations: relationships, hobbies, even casual conversations. “You’ll transform that feedback into something valuable,” he says, “and that’ll make you better at just about everything.” Psychologist Lisa Marie Bobby agrees. Writing at Growing Self, she points out that our brains are wired to react quickly to perceived threats—not just physical ones like a charging bear, but emotional ones too. “Thinking takes time,” Bobby writes. “And when a bear is charging at you, you don’t have time to ponder how the bear might be feeling. You just leap to your feet and run to safety.” The same wiring kicks in when we feel threatened by criticism. That defensive feeling isn’t a flaw—it’s a survival reflex. But while it’s helpful in the wild, it can backfire in the boardroom or a personal conversation. That’s why giving yourself time matters so much. Once your body no longer feels like it’s being chased, you’re better able to make thoughtful, strategic decisions. That includes how you respond to someone who just gave you difficult feedback. It also gives you the opportunity to reflect: Is there truth in what they said? Is there something you can learn or do differently? Even if the delivery wasn’t perfect, is the message worth considering? Ultimately, a well-timed pause shows maturity and emotional intelligence—traits that are highly valued in any professional or personal relationship. So next time you get hit with negative feedback and feel the urge to fire back or shut down, try saying this instead: Thanks for your thoughts. I’d like a day or so to think it over before I respond. You’ll come back calmer, more prepared—and more in control.

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“I Choose Joy”: 22-Year-Old Rings Hospital Bell After Losing Her Legs in a Boating Accident

Just a few months ago, Hannah Smith was lying in a hospital bed, wondering if she’d survive. This week, she rang the ceremonial bell at a South Florida rehab hospital, surrounded by tears, cheers, and pride. “It’s just a big win,” said the 22-year-old from Tennessee. “A couple of months ago, I couldn’t even imagine this moment after my accident. It’s a huge motivation to keep going.” Smith, a recent graduate of Miles College in Alabama, was vacationing in the Bahamas on May 12 to celebrate her graduation when a boating excursion turned tragic. During a stop at port, she was struck by the boat’s propellers. “When we stopped at a port in the Bahamas, I went on an excursion and, unfortunately, the boat propellers kind of dismembered my legs,” she said. One leg was amputated on the island. She was then airlifted to Miami, where she underwent multiple surgeries and months of intense rehab at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital in Cutler Bay. “I traded my legs for my life,” she said. Despite the trauma, Smith chose not to dwell on loss. Instead, she pushed through three hours of physical therapy each day, relearning basic tasks and celebrating every gain—no matter how small. “I’m very proud of myself—being able to do my own hygiene, get around, and transfer,” she said. “The next step is continuing outpatient therapy and preparing for my prosthetics.” Her recovery hasn’t just been physical. It’s been deeply emotional and, at times, spiritual. “It’s up to you if you’re going to be happy or sad or mad every day,” Smith said. “I choose joy.” That mindset has carried her through some of the hardest days of her life. But she’s quick to say she didn’t do it alone. “Besides God, definitely my parents,” she said. “They’ve pulled me out of some really dark moments. I wouldn’t be this positive without them.” Now, as she begins outpatient therapy and gets fitted for prosthetics, her family has launched a GoFundMe page to help cover the ongoing costs of her recovery. With her family cheering her on, Smith climbed into the front seat of the car after her bell-ringing ceremony—an everyday act that, not long ago, felt impossibly far away. “It’s a big deal,” she said. Smith’s journey is far from over. But for now, she’s focusing on the progress she’s made, not the pain she’s endured. And as for how she’s choosing to live each day going forward? With joy.

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How Unwanted Plushies Are Finding New Homes and Spreading Joy

In Stevenage, England, Jo Sorrell is on a mission to change the way people see stuffed animals. The 58-year-old owner of Cardies, a local card shop, has launched the Preloved Plushy Project in an effort to breathe new life into discarded plush toys. The idea struck her after noticing how many cuddly toys were being abandoned or sent to charity shops, where they often ended up in the bin if they were too worn out. "I was seeing some going to charity shops, and because they were marked or grubby, the charity shops couldn't do anything with them and had to throw them away," Sorrell told the BBC. As someone who values recycling and upcycling, she saw an opportunity. "One man's rubbish is another man's treasure," she added. Sorrell has developed her own method for restoring these stuffed creatures to nearly-new conditions. Many people make the mistake of simply washing a teddy bear, which leaves it matted and worn-looking. Instead, Sorrell washes each toy carefully and lets it dry completely before using a special brush designed for dogs to restore its fluffiness. "I've got labradors, and there's a specific dog brush with very fine pins that teases the undercoat," she explained. "It's a slicker brush and it does a similar thing with the cuddly toys." Her efforts have already found success among locals looking for specific characters or just something special for their children. "We had a couple of lads come in and their mum said they were looking for Super Mario characters," Sorrell recounted. After digging through a large sack of freshly washed toys, they found two Super Marios waiting to be claimed. The project also connects with people through social media. One woman reached out about finding an Eeyore toy for the young people she works with. By chance, an Eeyore appeared in one of their donation bags shortly thereafter. Sorrell’s goal is not only to brighten up her community but also to inspire others beyond Stevenage to adopt similar initiatives. She believes there is potential in presenting these toys differently, making them appealing rather than sad figures tucked away in corners. "I'm keen that other people should take this idea up and see cuddly toys in a different light," Sorrell said. Her passion for giving these plushies another chance at love reflects her broader commitment to sustainability and creative reuse. With more people like Jo Sorrell leading such projects, perhaps fewer soft toys will end up discarded before their time is truly up.

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New Service Offers Lifeline to Parents Facing ICU Trauma: A Groundbreaking Approach to Healing

Charlotte Creevy knows firsthand the emotional whirlwind of seeing a child in intensive care. Her son Seth was only two weeks old when he stopped breathing and had to be rushed to intensive care at a London hospital. "What kept going through my mind was, 'Is he going to live or die?'" she recalls. Seth had contracted three viruses and needed respiratory support, but after three weeks in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington last October, he recovered and went home. For parents like Charlotte, the trauma doesn’t end when their child leaves the hospital. Now, thanks to a new service from the charity Cosmic, there's dedicated help available. This innovative support is being rolled out at St Mary's Hospital to assist parents grappling with the aftermath of such intense experiences. "It was awful," Charlotte remembers about her time in the ICU. "I would cry because it was hard not knowing what would happen to Seth." She also dealt with physical recovery from an emergency C-section and guilt over being away from her other children. "Adding to it all, I was feeling guilty that my other two children were away from their mum," she explains. Susannah Forland, chief executive of Cosmic, highlights how trauma can sneak up on parents even after leaving the hospital. "Things like the beeping of a fridge can trigger trauma or flashbacks," she says. The impact can linger long after families return home. According to Forland, their service aims to bridge that gap between hospital and home during one of life's most emotionally vulnerable times. Research conducted at St Mary's found that early intervention can significantly reduce symptoms of PTSD and other long-term mental health issues among parents post-discharge from intensive care. Dr Simon Nadel, a consultant in pediatric intensive care involved in this research, notes that surviving intensive care is just part of what parents face; they often embark on an emotional marathon afterward. He points out that 75-80 percent of parents develop PTSD after their children are discharged from intensive care units. Charlotte's experience echoes these findings; even after leaving the hospital, anxiety loomed large whenever any of her kids fell ill. She credits Cosmic for connecting her with a psychologist who helped her process her emotions: "Cosmic put me in touch with a psychologist so I could start to process some of the emotional stuff going on." Following a successful pilot program, Cosmic is now permanently funding and delivering this post-PICU service. It includes providing parents with informational booklets filled with coping strategies, follow-up phone calls by trained staff, and ongoing counseling referrals as needed.

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The New Way to Say Goodbye: How Grief Raves Are Transforming Mourning

The Southbank Centre in London recently hosted a unique event known as a "grief rave." This gathering, held on Sunday, brought together individuals who have experienced the loss of a loved one. The event combined music, movement, and memory to help participants process their bereavement. Millicent Blackwood attended the grief rave in honor of her mother, who passed away nearly four years ago. Reflecting on her mother's love for dancing while cooking Sunday roasts, Blackwood saw the event as a fitting tribute. "When I heard on the radio there was this grief rave," she explained, "what better way to represent my mum and celebrate her life." The grief rave concept was developed over three years ago by Annie Frost Nicholson and Carlie Attridge. Attridge, who also established The Loss Project to support people through grief, shared her personal motivation: "I lost a friend few years ago. She was an old-school nineties raver, and I remember her every year by dancing to her favorite rave tune." The goal was simple—to create a space where people could express their individual grief while collectively dancing together. According to Attridge, this creates a sense of joy and hope. A key feature of the event is the Fandango Discoteca. This small soundproof pod allows visitors to be alone with their thoughts and emotions while listening to music that reminds them of their departed loved ones. Here, they can grieve privately yet meaningfully. Emma Spearing attended in memory of her twin sister Charli, who died over ten years ago. She finds spaces like these crucial for remembering Charli's influence in her life. "It took me 10 years to find out who I am without being part of a pair," she told BBC London. Comparing their relationship to Batman and Robin—with Charli as Batman—Spearing emphasized how these memories continue shaping those left behind. "The person that dies doesn't leave us," she said. "Their story doesn't end when they die. We keep writing their stories." Spearing believes events like this allow participants to renew connections with those they've lost through music and shared experiences. By bringing cherished memories into focus through dance and song, attendees celebrate not just the lives lived but also the impact those lives continue having on theirs today.

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Pitching Through Adversity: How Cancer Survivor Nic Enright Saved a Game and Inspired Millions

Nic Enright got the final outs in a tight extra-inning win Monday night, but the moment meant more than just a statistic. The Cleveland Guardians reliever notched his first career MLB save in a 7–6 victory over the New York Mets — a personal milestone that comes nearly two years after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. “He was almost crying on the field just now,” said Guardians manager Stephen Vogt. “If you read his story, it’s pretty inspirational.” Enright gave up an unearned run in the 10th inning but held on to seal the win, retiring Luis Torrens on a deep fly to right to end the game. The ball from that final out is already set aside, along with his uniform, hat, and a copy of the lineup card. “Really, really cool,” Enright said at his locker afterward. “These last couple of years, especially, I’ve gone through a lot of adversity and just everything that’s gone on. And so for me, it’s being able to reflect on those in these moments. I think that helps being able to slow the game down. Because it hasn’t exactly been a red-carpet rollout for my career trajectory.” Cleveland drafted Enright in the 20th round back in 2019 out of Virginia Tech. Then, in December 2022 — just 15 days after the Miami Marlins selected him in the Rule 5 draft — he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. “I made the decision when I was diagnosed in 2022 with Hodgkin lymphoma that I wasn’t going to let that define my life and dictate how I was going to go about my life,” he said. “It’s something where, for anyone else who is going through anything similar, [it shows] I haven’t just holed up in my house and felt sorry for myself this whole time.” After four rounds of immunotherapy, Enright began a rehab stint in 2023 and made nine minor league appearances for the Marlins. Eventually designated for assignment, he returned to Cleveland in May of that year. A shoulder injury limited him the rest of the season, but in 16 appearances for Triple-A Columbus, he posted a 1.06 ERA. He finally made his big league debut this May. Since then, he’s been a reliable arm in a Guardians bullpen that’s seen some upheaval. All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase is currently on paid leave due to a sports gambling investigation, leaving the Guardians to patch together the late innings with different arms. On Monday, Hunter Gaddis pitched the eighth, Cade Smith handled the ninth, and Enright got the call for the 10th with a two-run lead. He allowed a two-out RBI single to Brett Baty before inducing a long fly ball from Torrens that right fielder Nolan Jones chased down near the wall. “I definitely held my breath as I saw Nolan kind of keep running,” Enright said. “But I had faith. As he kind of got closer to the wall, I realized it was losing steam.” Back in the clubhouse, teammates celebrated the moment. “I was so happy, oh, I was going nuts in here,” said starting pitcher Slade Cecconi. “I was going absolutely berserk. He came in running up the stairs, smile on his face.” Enright has one final round of treatment scheduled for November. In the meantime, he’s become a dependable piece of Cleveland’s relief corps, posting a 2.01 ERA through 19 appearances. He thanked his wife, parents, and extended family for supporting him through his recovery and return to the mound. And in a quiet moment amid the beer-soaked celebration, he acknowledged just how far he’s come. “It's being able to reflect on those [moments],” he said. “That’s what helps slow the game down.”

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This Teen Just Made History As Scotland's First Wheelchair Racing Driver

Three years ago, Ally Chalmers was a rising ski star standing proudly on the podium at a national competition. Two weeks later, he was in a hospital bed, paralysed from the waist down after a devastating skiing accident in Glencoe. Now 17, the Glasgow teenager has swapped ski poles for a steering wheel, becoming Scotland’s first wheelchair-using racing driver. His story isn’t just about recovery. It’s about rewriting the rules — literally. In June, Ally competed in his first official race, the Scottish Mini Cooper Cup at Knockhill in Fife. Driving a specially adapted Mini Cooper S, he earned runner-up Driver of the Day. “The adrenaline’s quite fun,” he said simply. Ally’s car has no foot pedals. Instead, acceleration is controlled by a ring he pulls with his hands. Gear shifts happen with two buttons — one to go up, one to go down — and braking is managed with a lever next to the steering column. When you're doing 160 km/h around a tight circuit, that’s a lot to handle. But Ally has always loved competition. Before his accident in March 2022, he was a national-level ski racer. The crash left him with multiple injuries: a broken back, neck, collarbone, and ribs. Months of rehabilitation followed. Then his mum, Carole, suggested motor racing — something he’d enjoyed before through go-karting. Together, they took on a new challenge. They bought a Mini and worked with teams across the UK to convert it into a hand-controlled race car. One of those teams was Minimax in Scotland, where the team principal, Scott MacKenzie, recalled, “Ally’s been really good. As soon as he got in the car nothing really phased him.” But the road back to competitive sport wasn’t easy. Before he was even allowed to race, Ally had to prove he could exit the car on his own in under 10 seconds in case of a crash. He and Carole also had to campaign for rule changes so that hand-controlled vehicles could compete in official races. Earlier this year, Ally became the first wheelchair user in Scotland to pass the Association of Racing Drivers test, which allows him to enter licensed competitions. “It’s taken a lot of hard work and I’ve had the support of so many people,” he said. “I’m younger than a lot of the other drivers, so I’m proud of how the race went.” For Carole, watching her son on the track was emotional. “I knew, knowing Ally, that he would not be happy in life not having a sport that was as high adrenaline as ski racing was,” she said. “It was important to me that he could continue to not just participate, but compete.” What makes motorsport unique is that disabled drivers like Ally race alongside able-bodied competitors, not in a separate category. “With other sports there are specialist groups for a reason,” Ally said. “But with racing there’s no need if you have a hand-controlled car.” Looking ahead, Ally already has his sights set on Team Brit — the world’s only competitive racing team made up entirely of disabled drivers. The UK-based squad is working to break barriers in motorsport, with plans to one day compete in the Le Mans 24-hour race. They’re also building a support system to help disabled drivers rise through the ranks — something Ally is eager to be a part of. He’s already planning more races, hoping this is just the start. “Getting back into sport after my accident has been huge for me,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to racing again and hopefully one day I can go professional.” And while Ally may be the first, Carole hopes he won’t be the last. “He might be the first disabled race car driver in Scotland, but hopefully there’ll be many more who follow him into the sport.”

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Pitbull Hailed As Hero for Helping Bring life-saving Help to Unconscious Owners

A pit bull in Pittsburgh recently captured attention for its life-saving actions. The dog navigated through heavy traffic to get help for its owners, who were unresponsive in a tent encampment. Local resident Gary Thynes was at a park with his dog on July 29 when the pit bull approached him, barking and trying to grab someone’s attention. Thynes, intrigued by the dog's behavior, decided to follow it. Leaving his pet with a friend, he embarked on a journey across a busy street led by the determined pit bull. They eventually arrived at a secluded tent encampment behind some train tracks. There, Thynes found a man lying on a red couch and unsuccessfully tried to wake him up. He also noticed an unconscious woman with her legs sticking out of a nearby tent. Realizing the severity of the situation, Thynes called 911. Emergency responders quickly arrived and transported the pair to the hospital. Pittsburgh's public safety department confirmed that both individuals were unresponsive when they were taken for medical treatment. In his social media post, Thynes shared that he later met a social worker familiar with the people involved. The social worker identified them as unhoused individuals and confirmed that the heroic pit bull belonged to them. Rather than leaving the dog at a local pound, Thynes chose to care for it while its owners recovered in the hospital. "It is an honor for me to take care of this guy until his humans are well enough to reunite with a dog that loves them very much," Thynes expressed in his post and during an interview with WTAE. The story has spread widely online, prompting numerous comments on Thynes's Facebook page. One commenter claimed to be one of the rescued individuals and thanked both Thynes and their dog for saving their lives: "This is the woman [whose] life you and my dog saved – my boyfriend and I would love to meet you." Thynes replied reassuringly about their dog's well-being: "He will be here when you are ready." He also offered encouragement: "I know it's hard... it can get better." Heroic dogs have made headlines before for alerting others to emergencies involving their humans. In Washington state last year, another dog saved her owner by leading help straight to him after he couldn’t get up due to injury.

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Somalia’s Camel Milk Revolution Is Improving Nutrition and Creating Jobs

In the dry outskirts of Mogadishu, camels are doing more than just roaming — they’re helping drive Somalia’s newest agricultural shift. Beder Camel Farm, one of several new camel dairies popping up near the capital, is changing the way Somalis produce and consume camel milk. The idea isn’t just catching on, it’s gaining momentum, driven by a mix of entrepreneurial energy and nutritional need. Somalia has more camels than any other country in the world — over 7 million by most estimates — but until recently, only a small share of their milk made it to city markets. That’s beginning to change. At Beder, camels wander through sand-covered paddocks while workers in nearby sheds collect their milk in sanitized containers. Each camel now yields up to 10 liters a day, nearly double the output from traditional herding, thanks to better veterinary care, nutrient-rich feed, and consistent milking routines. “For a long time, camel milk stayed in rural areas,” said Dr. Abdirisak Mire Hashi, the farm’s manager and a veterinarian. “Now, we’re not just milking camels. We’re preserving a piece of our culture — and we’re doing it in a modern way.” Beder was among the first commercial camel milk farms in Somalia, opening in 2006. Today, it holds roughly 40 percent of the local market and employs nearly 200 people full-time, with more brought in during peak farming seasons. But the real innovation, Hashi says, is happening in a yogurt factory tucked behind the paddocks. It’s the country’s first facility dedicated to turning camel milk into yogurt — and it’s helping the dairy find a foothold in urban supermarkets under the Beder brand. Nelson Njoki Githu, a Kenyan food engineer who manages production, says camel milk yogurt offers key health benefits that set it apart from the more familiar cow variety. “It’s got less lactose, so people with lactose intolerance can drink it easily,” said Githu. “And the levels of vitamin C, iron, and zinc are higher too.” Nutritionist Dr. Yahye Sholle agrees. He says the yogurt could play a meaningful role in improving public health. “It’s rich in magnesium, calcium, B12, and D — all important for bone health and development,” Sholle said. “Plus, it contains probiotics, which support gut health.” Demand is growing. Beder is now eyeing expansion beyond Mogadishu by training rural pastoralists in hygiene and milk handling so more product can enter the supply chain safely. “If we can modernize how we raise camels and handle the milk, we can create jobs, improve nutrition, and build pride in our own local products,” said Hashi. The Somali government is paying attention too. Dr. Kasim Abdi Moalim, Director of Animal Health at Somalia’s Ministry of Livestock, said support is growing. A new Dairy Act has been established and a national livestock investment strategy is in the works. “The benefits of camel milk are countless,” he said. “In countries like the UAE, camel milk is also used for cosmetics. Somalia must catch up and develop the full value chain.” From the dusty tracks of nomadic herders to supermarket coolers stocked with locally made yogurt, Somalia’s camels are making their mark in a new way — quietly revolutionizing a centuries-old practice, one bottle at a time.

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Vatican Strikes Solar Farm Deal to Become the World’s First carbon-neutral State

The Vatican is one step closer to becoming the world’s first carbon-neutral country, thanks to a new deal with Italy that will transform a sprawling field north of Rome into a massive solar power farm. On Thursday, Italy formally agreed to a Vatican proposal to develop a 430-hectare site in Santa Maria Galeria into a clean energy hub. The land, about 35 kilometers from the capital, is technically part of the Vatican but holds extraterritorial status under Italian law. Once complete, the solar farm is expected to produce enough electricity to fully meet the energy needs of Vatican City. Any surplus power will be shared with the local community. The Vatican said the development will preserve existing agricultural use of the land and minimize environmental impact. While the Holy See will be exempt from Italian import taxes on solar panels, it won’t qualify for the financial incentives that typically come with solar investments in Italy. In return, the Italian government can count the solar farm toward its EU-mandated clean energy targets. Vatican officials estimate the project will cost under €100 million ($114 million). Once Italy’s parliament approves the arrangement, construction contracts will be put out to bid. The deal also puts to rest decades of tension over the Santa Maria Galeria site, which has hosted Vatican Radio towers since the 1950s. Those towers have long been a source of local controversy. As surrounding areas became more populated, residents raised alarms about the possible health risks of electromagnetic waves emitted by the transmitters. Some linked the radiation to childhood leukemia and other health problems, though no definitive causal link was ever established. At the height of the dispute in the 1990s, residents even sued Vatican Radio officials, claiming the emissions exceeded Italian legal limits. The court ultimately cleared the transmitter, but in 2012, the Vatican reduced transmission hours, citing technological advances and cost savings, not health concerns. Pope Francis had asked the Vatican last year to explore turning the site into a solar farm as part of his broader push to move the Church away from fossil fuels. His successor, Pope Leo XIV, visited the area in June and reaffirmed his commitment to the project. Leo has made it clear he intends to carry forward Francis’ environmental agenda, most recently unveiling new prayers and liturgical readings focused on climate stewardship. Thursday’s agreement was signed by Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s foreign minister, and Francesco Di Nitto, Italy’s ambassador to the Holy See. Because of the legal and financial implications, the deal still requires approval from the Italian parliament. But if all goes according to plan, the site that once symbolized a clash between technology and public health could soon become a model for sustainable energy — and a major milestone in the Vatican’s push for ecological reform.

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