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Score (92)
Family Trades Classroom for the World: A Year of Learning Across 7 Continents
Imagine swapping homework and hall passes for passport stamps. That’s exactly what Colorado parents Andi and Randy Almond did with their kids, Finn and Aria, during the 2022-2023 school year—traveling to all seven continents and turning the world into their classroom. In her book "The Everywhere Classroom," Andi Almond shares their experiences of turning wanderlust into worldschooling. The family's adventure spanned over 102,000 miles and 400 days, filled with unique learning opportunities in places like Cambodia, Nepal, Namibia, and Antarctica. The idea took root in 2017 when Andi discovered David Elliott Cohen's "One Year Off" at her local library. Inspired by their own travels in their twenties, the couple began planning a similar journey with their kids. They met with financial planners to prepare for a year away from corporate jobs—Andi took a sabbatical while Randy resigned—and rented out their home to fund the trip. Despite pandemic delays, they set off in June 2022 when Finn was in eighth grade and Aria in sixth. The Almonds collaborated with teachers to create a curriculum that blended traditional subjects with real-world experiences. They opted against structured world-schooling programs to maintain flexibility. Their travels included scuba diving lessons in Zanzibar and language classes in Brazil. In Argentina, they joined locals to celebrate Lionel Messi's World Cup victory. A highlight was an unexpected cruise to Antarctica, where they learned about climate change firsthand. Challenges arose, too; Randy endured a scorpion bite requiring hospitalization in Jordan. Yet these moments were overshadowed by triumphs like Aria’s trek to Annapurna Base Camp and Finn’s solo Mandarin immersion course in Taiwan. Reflecting on their journey’s end, which cost less than a typical year at home, Andi emphasizes travel's transformative power: “I just think that it helps us all approach the world in a little bit more of an inclusive, empathetic way. And it’s really rewarding to see the kids gain confidence and learn tons of practical skills, like flexibility and resilience,” she says. “The ability to just get by in the world on their own is pretty amazing.”
Score (62)
This Forgotten Anime Gem is Soaring to U.S. Theaters in Stunning 4K Revival
Anime fans in North America have something to look forward to this November. For the first time, Mamoru Oshii's "Angel's Egg" will hit theaters across the continent. This comes as part of a celebration marking 40 years since its original release. Starting on November 19, audiences can experience a 4K restoration of this visually striking film. Mamoru Oshii, who later directed the acclaimed "Ghost in the Shell," created "Angel's Egg" alongside character designer Yoshitaka Amano. The film tells a haunting story set in a post-apocalyptic setting, focusing on a young girl who guards an egg and a boy with mysterious dreams about a bird. With minimal dialogue and rich biblical allegories, it didn't initially resonate with all viewers but has gained appreciation over time. Earlier this year, it was featured at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Following its theatrical run, "Angel's Egg" will make its way to HBO Max. GKids recently announced a deal with the streaming service that will bring twenty animated and live-action films to their platform. The lineup begins with popular titles like "Your Name," "Shin Godzilla," and "Perfect Blue," which became available starting September 1. HBO Max is already home to Studio Ghibli movies within the United States. In light of this new collaboration, Royce Battleman from Warner Bros Discovery stated that this agreement would help them continue offering high-quality films to subscribers while enhancing HBO Max’s standing as a leader in streaming animated content.
Score (97)
How Hockey Diversity Alliance is Breaking Barriers and Changing Lives—One Game at a Time
Five years ago, the Hockey Diversity Alliance (HDA) was nothing more than a group chat among NHL players of color, sharing stories about racism in hockey and wondering how to change the game. Today, it has grown into a grassroots movement serving thousands of young athletes — and this weekend, it’s celebrating with its biggest event yet. On Saturday, the HDA will host Summer Fest at Canoe Landing Park in Toronto, bringing together more than 2,200 people for ball hockey, food, and family activities. Kids will get the chance to meet NHL players and celebrities like Marshawn Lynch and Colin Kaepernick, while also being introduced to the sport at the heart of the HDA’s mission. “We just want to continue to show off the amazing work that we’re doing,” said Akim Aliu, a former Calgary Flames player and HDA co-founder. “None of us gain anything from this personally, financially, or in any type of way. It’s just the families and communities that continue to blossom and grow through our program.” Wayne Simmonds, who played 15 NHL seasons and helped launch the group, said the event marks “a wonderful culmination of the last five years of all the work that we’ve been putting in.” A movement born in 2020 The HDA was founded during the civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd. Its first public statement called for the eradication of racism in hockey. Players like Aliu, Simmonds, Nazem Kadri, Anthony Duclair, Matt Dumba, Chris Stewart, Joel Ward, and Trevor Daley pushed for reforms ranging from hiring targets to grassroots funding. Early on, the HDA tried to partner with the NHL, but negotiations broke down. The league instead created its own Player Inclusion Coalition. “The first route for us was trying to partner with the league, but we didn’t really see eye to eye on some of the subjects,” Simmonds said. Despite skepticism, the group pressed on, focusing its energy on kids. “We realized that everything starts at the beginning. If you can affect change right from the start, then you save yourself more trouble going down the line,” Simmonds said. Impact on the ice The HDA’s first youth hockey program launched in Toronto in 2022. Since then, it has grown to include about 1,500 kids across Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, and soon Vancouver. All play for free, thanks to HDA funding. Aliu said 40 percent of participants are girls and about 30 percent are white kids from low-income families. “White kids can be poor, Black kids can be poor, brown kids can be poor, Asian kids can be poor and not be able to access the game of hockey because of how financially demanding it is,” he said. The results are showing: nearly 50 kids from HDA programs have moved on to play competitive hockey. “These are kids growing more of a passion for the sport. The initial obstacle was just the introduction to hockey, and that’s what we’ve provided,” Kadri said. Families have told players the program has helped their children make friends, gain confidence, and feel like they belong. “Just seeing the excitement on the parents’ faces … you kind of have a realization of, ‘OK, this is why we’re doing this,’” Kadri said. Challenges and hopes While the HDA has found its footing, funding remains a struggle. Aliu said corporate support that was strong in 2020 has dropped off, forcing them to turn kids away from programs with waiting lists. Still, the group says its impact is undeniable. “We’re flourishing, and I think that’s because we’ve shown who we are and what we are,” Aliu said. “Folks that were haters against us now largely see that we’re in it for the right reasons.” As for the future, the HDA wants to keep expanding while continuing to push for hockey to be more affordable and inclusive. “We’re just trying to bring hockey to the world,” Simmonds said. “The more we can expand the game, the better we can make the game.” A partnership with the NHL remains unlikely, but not impossible. Kadri said both organizations ultimately want the same thing: a better, more welcoming sport. “Even though we might do it in different ways, I think the end goal is very similar,” he said. “One of these days, it might come to fruition. But as of right now, we are completely independent. And what a long way we’ve come.”
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Score (98)
Lights, Camera, Friendship: Teens Forge Bonds and Films at This Unique Summer Camp
In Salt Lake City, a new generation of filmmakers is learning to tell stories with cameras in hand — and it isn’t costing them a cent. This summer, dozens of young people are taking part in free programs at Spy Hop, a nonprofit media arts center that has been nurturing youth creativity since 1999. From hip-hop beats to horror films, the aim is to give students both the tools and the confidence to share their voices. “Having free programming really allows young people that find this space to go, ‘Oh, my God, I didn’t realize anything like this existed, and this is my place, and this is where I’m going to stay for as long as I possibly can,’” said Adam Sherlock, program coordinator at Spy Hop. Spy Hop provides year-round classes in film, music, and digital media, with access to state-of-the-art equipment, software, and mentoring. Students are encouraged to pursue projects that matter to them, whether that means an environmental documentary, a horror short, or a documentary on LGBTQ+ rights. “At 18, 19, they’re making this hard-hitting documentary... about changing the world, right?” Sherlock said. “That energy and that excitement will carry through to the rest of their lives.” The center’s reach is wide. Last year, Spy Hop worked with more than 18,000 youth across Utah, ages 8 to 19, partnering with over 120 schools. Its mix of free and tuition-based programs ensures that access isn’t limited by income. For Sherlock and his colleagues, the mission is simple: put the power of storytelling directly into young people’s hands — and see where they take it.
Score (96)
Iconic Grand Canyon Burro Statue Begins Path to Restoration After Wildfire
Brighty the Burro has been through the fire — literally. The 600-pound bronze statue, which once greeted visitors at the Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim, was left scorched and battered after the historic lodge and nearby cabins were destroyed in July by the Dragon Bravo Fire. The flames consumed nearly everything in their path, but Brighty was found amid the rubble, his head and body largely intact, though missing an ear and both front legs. On Friday, park crews carefully loaded the charred figure into the back of a pickup truck for the five-hour journey across the canyon to the South Rim. There, Brighty will be placed in the Grand Canyon National Park’s museum collection, where conservation experts will decide whether he can be restored or if a new statue will need to be cast. “It’s a very special symbolic piece of history for a lot of people,” park spokesperson Joëlle Baird told The Associated Press. The statue honors a real burro that roamed the canyon more than a century ago. Known for migrating with the seasons, Brighty hauled water to a summer camp in exchange for pancakes, carried children on rides, and became a local legend. His story was later immortalized in a beloved children’s book. For many visitors, the statue was part of the ritual of arriving at the lodge — snapping family photos with the bronze burro before heading inside. Fans are already flooding social media with calls to return Brighty to his former glory. One of the first steps will be testing the sculpture for toxic materials, Baird said. If restoration is possible, the park could work with a foundry to replace the damaged pieces. The fate of Brighty is just one small piece of a much larger recovery effort. The Dragon Bravo Fire, sparked by lightning in early July, smoldered for days before exploding into a fast-moving blaze that leveled the 1930s-era lodge and forced mass evacuations. National Park Service officials have said an extreme wind shift made the fire uncontrollable. In the coming weeks, teams will begin stabilizing burned soil, controlling erosion, and reseeding vegetation across the North Rim. The work will take years, officials say, but for now, attention has turned to both the landscape and to Brighty — a symbol of resilience along one of the world’s most iconic natural wonders. As Baird put it, the bronze burro is “small but important” in the long road of restoration ahead.
Score (96)
Helicopter Heroics: Man Survives Two Days Trapped Behind California Waterfall
In a dramatic rescue operation, California police used a helicopter to save Ryan Wardwell, who found himself trapped for two days behind a waterfall. The 46-year-old from Long Beach had set out to rappel down the Seven Teacups waterfalls in a remote area south of Sequoia National Park. When he didn't return to his car by nightfall on Sunday, concern grew and authorities launched a search. The Tulare County Sheriff's Office led the efforts to locate Wardwell. Despite using infrared technology and aircraft, the challenging terrain and late hour forced them to pause the search until daylight. On Tuesday morning, they deployed a drone that successfully located Wardwell alive and responsive behind one of the waterfalls. Wardwell’s predicament began when "the extreme hydraulics of the river" pushed him off his rappelling lines, trapping him behind the cascade, according to police reports. It took coordination between law enforcement agencies to safely extract him from his precarious position. A video posted by the Tulare County Sheriff's Office on Facebook shows Wardwell's rescue. Once they pinpointed his location, the California Highway Patrol dispatched a helicopter to hoist him to safety. After being rescued, Wardwell received treatment for minor injuries and dehydration before reconnecting with his family.
Score (97)
How Canadian Libraries are Unlocking a World of Free Tools and Fun for Families
When Janelle Powell and her husband needed an electric saw for a small home renovation, they didn’t head to the hardware store. They went to their local library in Markham, Ontario. They checked out the saw — and on a whim, Powell also borrowed a pasta maker she spotted on the shelf. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m borrowing this,’” she said. After two weeks of homemade ravioli and tagliatelle, she decided she didn’t need one of her own. “It was fun, but I concluded ‘probably not.’” That’s the point, she says: libraries have become a place to try out tools, toys, even hobbies without the cost. “It just kind of dawned on me that most people don’t realize the library allows you to borrow things beyond books,” Powell said. “It’s evolved so much past that.” Across Canada, public libraries have quietly expanded their collections and services far beyond reading material. Parents rely on them for toy lending and play spaces. Job seekers use them for free Wi-Fi, computers, and meeting rooms. Creators can access recording studios, sewing machines, 3D printers, and musical instruments. Some even lend out passes to museums and galleries. In Calgary, the public library’s early learning centres include a decommissioned fire engine and even a real helicopter to climb into. “We see some of the same families and children repeatedly every single day,” said Barb Gillard, the library’s executive director of visitor experience. In Toronto, the Digital Innovation Hubs are equipped with design software, 3D printers, and green-screen studios. “Instead of having to go out and buy something or pay for a service or a course, you now have the resources to potentially do it yourself,” said Natalie Colaiacovo, the library’s manager of innovation services. She recalled a woman experiencing homelessness who used a graphic design tablet there to work on self-publishing a children’s book. The Vancouver Public Library is also adapting to new needs. More people are using branches as remote offices since the pandemic, director Kay Cahill said. “There’s no price of admission. You don’t have to go and keep buying cups of coffee to feel like you can stay,” she noted. The library is even exploring adding soundproof pods for video calls. And when Vancouver launched its instrument-lending program, Cahill said, “literally everything went out except for one left-handed guitar.” For Powell, borrowing has become a way to save money and keep life interesting. She rents video games from the library for her nine-year-old, avoiding $80 price tags. The toy library, she says, has been a lifesaver for her two-year-old. “You spend so much on toys and trying to entertain your kids and they get bored of them so quickly,” she said. By her estimate, her library card has saved her thousands of dollars. After she posted about her pasta-making experiment online, the reaction was overwhelming. “I was deluged with comments… incredulous that the machine could be borrowed from the library,” she said. For her, the message is clear: “Libraries have far more to offer than books and hushed spaces.”
Score (98)
Meet Frank: The Siamese Cat Helping Train Hearing Dogs in an Unlikely Way
Frank the Siamese cat has landed a rather unusual role: helping to train hearing dogs. Living in High Wycombe with his owner, Julie Shute, Frank spends time with trainee dogs to see how they react to him. The idea is simple but important: some deaf people who receive hearing dogs also have cats, so the dogs need to prove they can live calmly alongside them. “Frank is proving to be a great addition to our training team,” said Rachel Broadley, a dog training instructor at Hearing Dogs for Deaf People’s Buckinghamshire hub. “It’s not a job that would suit every cat, but as a confident boy who loves dogs, he is already best friends with trainee puppy Kasper.” The charity trains dogs to recognise sounds such as smoke alarms, doorbells, and baby monitors. Testing their reactions to cats has become part of the process, and Frank is the one in charge. At first, he is introduced from behind a glass door so the puppies can observe without overwhelming him. Later, he sits on Shute’s lap within reach of the dogs. “When a dog comes up to Frank, I can tell by his body language if he’s comfortable around them,” Shute explained. “Throughout the whole interaction, he’s always free to jump out of the way or leave the room. But if he’s comfortable, his muscles will relax, and the dog can then come closer to sniff him.” If a puppy barks, gets too excited, or shows fear, trainers know it may not be suited to live with a cat owner. Frank, meanwhile, is rewarded for his work with roast chicken, his favourite snack. His unusual career began by accident. Shute had volunteered as a puppy trainer and was given a Cockapoo named Gizmo. “They ate, slept and played together,” she said. “My trainer at the time observed this and asked if it would be possible for other hearing dog puppies to visit Frank to see if they could be matched with a deaf partner who already had a pet cat. Frank started taking his role with Hearing Dogs very seriously and soon earned his title of ‘chief cat tester’.” Now, the confident Siamese is playing a quiet but vital part in helping dogs succeed in their training — and in making future partnerships between people and pets that little bit smoother.
Score (96)
Iowans Scratch Their Way to a World Record at State Fair Celebration
Iowa just scratched its way into the record books. On August 14, more than 1,300 people gathered at the Iowa State Fair to take part in an unusual Guinness World Record attempt: the most people scratching lottery tickets at the same time. Armed with free Scratch, Match & Win! tickets handed out by the Iowa Lottery, the crowd of roughly 1,380 fairgoers set to work. When the dust settled, the record was theirs. The previous mark belonged to Poland’s Totalizator Sportowy Lotto, which set the standard in 2023 with 550 participants. Iowa beat it by 830 people. “This is a celebration 40 years in the making,” said Matt Strawn, CEO of the Iowa Lottery. “The first Iowa Lottery ticket was sold at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate how the lottery has given back.” The event, held at the fair’s Elwell Family Park, wasn’t just for bragging rights. All participants were entered into a drawing for cash prizes. According to the Des Moines Register, Katherine Blank Pierce of Des Moines won the $40,000 grand prize, while two others took home $4,000 each. Still, most people left with nothing but the thrill of being part of something quirky and historic. “That’s the way it is, if you play a game, you lose some, you win some,” joked participant Anne Vuong in an interview with NBC affiliate WHO-DT. Others leaned into the humor of the moment. “I got to thinking, ‘How many years do I have left to live and have a world record?’” said Judy Hemingson, who took part alongside her daughter. “So it’s like, ‘Hey, you want to do this with me? Because I could be dead tomorrow, but I’d have a world record before I go.’” Guinness adjudicator Michael Empric was on site to make the announcement official, handing over the plaque as participants cheered. Footage from local station KCCI showed rows of people seated on bleachers, scratching furiously after the cue from master of ceremonies Jeff Angelo. The record attempt doubled as a birthday party for the Iowa Lottery, which launched in 1985 and has since generated billions in revenue for state programs. For those at the fair, though, the appeal was simpler: a free ticket, a shot at some cash, and the chance to say they were part of a world record. As one participant said, “I could be dead tomorrow, but I’d have a world record before I go.”
Score (96)
From Grief to Greatness: How One Father's Running Journey Transformed Heartache Into Hope
Nick Hodges never imagined running would change his life. He once hated it, but after losing his 10-month-old son Bodie in a choking accident in 2012, lacing up his shoes became his way of coping. “I started to realise that actually as well as the physical benefits, it was giving me time to think things through and get my head straight,” he said. “It had benefits for my wellbeing as I was trying to navigate grief early on. I hated running before, but it became my escape – a space to reflect, to heal.” Bodie was rushed to Leicester Royal Infirmary after the accident and placed on life support for several days. Doctors eventually told Nick and his family that he would not survive. Bodie remained in hospital for nearly a week before becoming an organ donor. “It was an absolutely devastating time,” Nick said. “Inside the hospital we had incredible support, the nurses, pastoral support and consultants were amazing. But when we walked out, we realised that particularly when it’s been an unexpected death, the support was pretty much non-existent. We were pretty much left with a couple of national helplines and ‘off you go’.” That absence of care after leaving the hospital drove Nick to act. In 2013 he set up the Bodie Hodges Foundation in his son’s memory. The charity offers one-to-one counselling for bereaved parents for up to two years. It also runs a dads’ group called “chips and a chat,” where fathers meet monthly for social activities. Nick said Bodie’s “strength and courage” in hospital, and his own experience of grief, inspired the foundation’s mission to support families who have lost a child. Running, too, became part of that journey. Casual conversations in the dads’ group led others to try it, and over time, it grew into a collective effort. This September, about 40 runners will take on the Great North Run in Newcastle to raise money for the foundation. Six of them are parents who have also lost a child. “Some are a little like how I am – shouting from the rooftops because they want to keep their child’s name alive,” Nick said. For him, this year’s race holds deep meaning. It will be his tenth time running the half marathon, mirroring the 10 months Bodie was alive. “He may have only been around for 10 months but he’s had a significant impact on the world even though he wasn’t around for long,” Nick said. “Across the 10 years it’s really good knowing through the charity, through events like running, how it is helping other people now.” Nick admitted that words still fall short when it comes to describing the loss of a child. “There’s still not a word that can describe what it is like when your child dies. You just can’t explain it,” he said. “Trying to learn to grow your lives again around the grief that you hold is difficult.” Now 49, Nick said he never set out to become a runner, but running and the charity have helped him live with his loss while keeping Bodie’s name alive. Apart from the Covid-19 cancellation in 2020, he has run the Great North Run every year since his son’s death. “It’s taken a long time to accept, but I’m actually a runner,” he said.
Score (95)
The Hidden Quantum Secret Inside Van Gogh’s ‘starry Night’ Revealed
Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night has long mesmerized art lovers with its swirling, dreamlike sky. Now, physicists say the masterpiece mirrors a phenomenon usually seen not in art, but in quantum physics. A new study published in Nature Physics finds that the turbulent, spiraling patterns in The Starry Night resemble structures formed by a rare scientific effect called quantum Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI). The phenomenon occurs when two fluids of different densities move at different speeds, creating waves that evolve into vortices. Physicists at Osaka Metropolitan University and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology recently simulated KHI in quantum fluids, where the instability produces unusual “exotic vortex patterns.” They identified a new type of swirling structure, known as eccentric fractional skyrmions (EFS), which display crescent-like shapes and embedded singularities where the usual spin structure breaks down. “To me, the large crescent moon in the upper right corner of The Starry Night looks exactly like an EFS,” said Hiromitsu Takeuchi, associate professor at Osaka Metropolitan University. The comparison between Van Gogh’s brushstrokes and natural phenomena is not new. In 2023, researchers showed that his whirling clouds closely match the physics of real atmospheric turbulence, despite the artist painting indoors at an asylum without a view of the night sky. In 2019, Australian researchers compared the painting’s turbulent features to molecular clouds where stars form, while a 2008 study by José Luis Aragón in Mexico also identified signs of turbulence in Van Gogh’s work. Lead researcher Yongxiang Huang suggested Van Gogh either had an “innate sense of how to capture the dynamism of the sky” or had spent countless hours observing cloud movement. Whatever the case, the Dutch Post-Impressionist seems to have tapped into patterns that science is only now describing at the quantum level. More than 130 years after it was painted, The Starry Night continues to inspire — not just in museums, but in physics labs as well.