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Fungal Bricks: Scientists Create Eco-Friendly, Self-Repairing Building Blocks
Scientists at Montana State University Bozeman are exploring a groundbreaking approach to building materials by harnessing the power of biology. Cement, a staple in construction, is known for its significant carbon footprint, contributing 9% of global man-made CO2 emissions annually. Seeking sustainable alternatives, researchers have turned to fungi and bacteria. "We asked ‘what if we could do it a different way using biology?’ That’s the vision," said Chelsea Heveran, assistant professor of mechanical and industrial engineering. Heveran led a study published in Cell Reports Physical Science on April 16 that investigates using dense fungi and bacteria to create recyclable building materials. The team’s innovation lies in combining calcium carbonate with mycelium—the vegetative part of a fungus—through biomineralization. This process hardens the mycelium into bone-like structures called scaffolds. "We’re not the first ones to biomineralize something and call it a building material," Heveran noted. While these biomineralized materials are only "living" for days, lab trials have extended microbial life to four weeks. The goal is to prolong this viability further. "We’re really excited in our next work to ask the questions ‘could we seal a crack in the material?’ Or ‘could we sense something using these bacteria?’" Heveran said. Avinash Manjula-Basavanna from Northeastern University acknowledged that living building materials are still years away from replacing cement but sees potential for smaller structures within five to ten years. Despite being early in development, Heveran remains optimistic about their potential impact on infrastructure needs on Earth and beyond. "The possibilities are really exciting to me," she said.
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Laila Edwards, First Black Woman on U.S. Olympic Hockey Team, Reflects on Making History and More
Laila Edwards has always had Olympic dreams. Now, she's making history living them. The 21-year-old forward from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, will take the ice in Milan this February as part of the U.S. women’s hockey team, becoming the first Black woman to represent Team USA in Olympic hockey. The milestone comes just one year after she became the first Black woman to make the U.S. women’s senior national team. “It means everything,” Edwards told PEOPLE. “I think representation is so important, and role models are important too. So to be that potential role model for someone, it means the world to me. It's one of the biggest things that motivates me.” Edwards has been skating since she was three. But it was watching the U.S. women’s team take on Canada for gold at the 2014 Sochi Olympics that lit the spark. From then on, the goal was clear. At the time, she never imagined that one day she’d be skating alongside her childhood idols — Hilary Knight, Brianna Decker, Kendall Coyne Schofield. “It’s so crazy. It’s unbelievable,” she said. “I mean, I was a little kid asking for all their autographs and pictures and fangirling and being so nervous. My mom had to do it for me, and now I'm sitting next to them in the locker room and going to the Olympics with them.” That full-circle moment isn’t lost on Edwards, now a senior at the University of Wisconsin. A standout for the school’s Division I hockey program and a Red Bull athlete, she’s already won two NCAA championships and a spot in U.S. hockey history. After a strong performance with the senior national team last year, she knew her Olympic shot was within reach. Once it became official, the next question was how to approach it. “I was like, ‘Wow, I could take this one of two ways: shy away from it, or try to make a difference,’” she said. Her story started on the ice in Cleveland Heights, where her dad, Robert Edwards, introduced her to figure skating at age three. “It was a part of my dad's plan all along. I had no idea, but he knew,” she said. “He was like, 'You're not going into figure skating. It's just to help with hockey.’” At five, she switched to hockey full-time and never looked back. Edwards says her skills with the puck came naturally, though she had to work hard on her skating. “I’ve always been told I was a natural with the stick handling and handling the puck… I don’t know if I was so much a natural skater, but I did put a lot of work into skating. So yes, I do get that a lot, that I was a natural.” Her rise hasn’t come without sacrifice — and she credits her family for making it all possible. Her parents, Robert and Charone Gray-Edwards, along with siblings Bobby, Colson, Chayla, and Britney, have been with her every step of the way. “The sacrifices they've made are the reason I'm here… and it sounds cliché, but it’s very true,” she said. “I can’t even put into words how much money they’ve put into this and left work early to take me to a game, take me to practice. They’ve also mentally supported me and loved me and took care of me throughout this crazy journey and I can’t thank them enough.” Life as a student-athlete isn’t exactly relaxing. Her days start with 8 a.m. ice time and are filled with classes, recovery, meals, and homework. But she says the support at Wisconsin has made a difference. “We have such good resources like our advisors, our tutors… we’re set up to succeed, which I think is really important.” Back on campus, the buzz around her Olympic debut is growing. Edwards says the recognition has been heartening. “I think the more things come up, the more people recognize me, but everyone's just so nice and share a quick 'congratulations' or 'good luck,’” she said. “It's really special. I think everyone here is respectful and they care… it's just the little things that mean a lot.” With her signature slap shot and smooth puck control, Edwards is bringing plenty of skill to Milan. But she's also bringing something else: visibility. She knows there aren’t many faces like hers in elite hockey, and she hopes that changes. “Hopefully they see, especially young players of color, can watch me and say, ‘Okay, she made it there, and I can make it there,’” she said. “Even though there’s not many people in this sport that look like me.” As for what she’s aiming for in Milan? “Of course,” she said. “It’s the only thing that’s on the mind… and pasta and pizza.”
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Decades-Old Family Treasures Returned After 31 Years Thanks to One Woman’s Kindness
A family in Oklahoma has been reunited with long-lost photos and keepsakes after a woman who found them in a desk drawer held onto them for more than three decades—just in case someone came looking. Tammy Ritter discovered the collection in 1995, her first day on the job at the Tulsa County Assessor’s Office. Inside a yellow folder tucked into her new desk was a set of black-and-white photographs, postcards, golf scorecards from the 1940s, and even an old plane ticket from Oklahoma City to Tulsa. “These were clearly personal items,” Ritter told News Channel 8. “And I felt they belonged to someone.” Unable to find the owner at the time, Ritter made a decision that would quietly span the next 31 years of her life. She kept the folder. Every time she changed jobs or moved offices, she brought it with her. Her supervisor, Chief Deputy Assessor Mark Liotta, described her loyalty to the forgotten file. “She’s hung on to the file of family mementos for 30 years,” he said. “And every time she’s moved jobs and moved offices, she’s taken that file with her.” Now, with Ritter set to retire in 2026, Liotta—a self-described amateur genealogist—decided to try solving the mystery once and for all. “I did some research, pieced together some old contact information, and I started making calls,” he said. After working through about 50 leads, Liotta traced the items to the Evers/Cleveland family. He believed they once belonged to Mary Louise Evers, the adopted daughter of Marlin Lindsay Evers and Cuma Cleveland. Although that immediate family line had passed away, the trail led to Libby Doughty, a great-niece of Cuma Cleveland, who lives in Tulsa. When Liotta called her, it didn’t take long for the pieces to click into place. “Within moments of describing the items, Libby said, ‘That’s my Aunt Cuma!’” he recalled. On January 13, Doughty and her sister visited the Tulsa County Assessor’s Office to retrieve the folder in person. “It’s just a blessing that this folder was kept all these years,” Doughty told News on 6. “The fact that [Ritter] kept that is amazing. Who does that? Who cares enough to think that this belongs to someone and that there’s a family out there somewhere that these items mean something to?” For Ritter, it was never about recognition. “I’m just excited to hand it over,” she said. After 31 years, a yellow folder once buried in a desk drawer is finally home—and with it, a small but meaningful piece of family history.
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Light as Fabric, Strong as Muscle: Korea’s Wearable Robot Gives Hope to Teens With Rare Disorders
A new kind of robotic suit is giving teenagers with rare muscle disorders the strength to lift their arms — and, for the first time, a glimpse of independence. At first glance, it looks like fabric. But this lightweight material can lift up to 15 kilograms, thanks to high-tech threads thinner than a human hair. Worn like clothing, the technology is part of a next-generation wearable robot being developed in South Korea to support people with progressive muscle weakness. For 15-year-old Myung Ha-yul, the impact is personal. Diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in elementary school, Myung now uses a powered wheelchair and relies on a personal assistant for daily tasks. But earlier this year, he joined a clinical trial for the robotic suit, which supports shoulder movements. “It felt amazing because it was light and easy to wear, just like clothing,” he said. “I could lift my arms with much less effort.” Backed by the Lee Kun-hee Child Cancer and Rare Disease Project — a $204 million initiative launched in 2021 by the family of the late Samsung chairman — the wearable robot is built on what researchers call “muscle fabric.” The breakthrough comes from a team led by Park Cheol-hoon at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials. They developed a way to automatically weave shape-memory alloy threads into a soft, flexible textile that mimics muscle movement. Despite weighing just 10 grams, the fabric can lift more than 15 kilograms — enough to power robotic exoskeletons that move with the body, rather than against it. Unlike traditional exoskeletons, which rely on heavy motors or loud pneumatic systems and usually only assist a single joint, this new design supports the elbow, shoulder, and waist at once. Early testing shows it reduces muscle use by more than 40 percent. Clinical trials led by Professor Lee Woo-hyung at Seoul National University Hospital showed promising results for patients with muscular dystrophy and other conditions. Patients who used the 840-gram shoulder-assist robot — one of the lightest in the world — saw their shoulder range of motion improve by over 57 percent. Everyday tasks like eating, brushing teeth, or combing hair became easier. “Existing braces and robots are heavy and expensive, which makes them difficult to use in everyday life,” Lee said. “The biggest achievement is that patients can put it on and take it off like clothing, while receiving active muscle support that leads to real functional improvement.” Researchers believe the technology could also benefit older adults with age-related muscle loss. And thanks to automated weaving, the team is aiming for commercial versions that could cost as little as a few hundred thousand won — a fraction of current medical devices that can run into the tens of millions. For now, the research continues with support from South Korea’s ACE program and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. Future versions will aim to support other parts of the body, including the legs and back. For Myung, the dream is more than physical. He hopes to become a pastor one day, someone who brings comfort and hope to others facing tough circumstances. “I want to give hope to people who are sick or struggling,” he said. With this new technology, he might just do both.
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This Man Was Just Awarded the World Humanitarian Prize For Daily Acts Of Kindness
Sebbie Hall, a 22-year-old from Lichfield, Staffordshire, has been honoured with a World Humanitarian Award for his remarkable dedication to daily acts of kindness and community fundraising—despite living with a rare chromosome anomaly that affects his mobility, communication, and learning. Selected to represent the UK at the One World One Culture Festival in southern India, Hall was celebrated for his impact on others through compassion and generosity. "I told you my ripple of kindness can travel across the world," he told his mother after receiving the award. Hall believes that kindness is his superpower. Over the past five years, he’s turned that belief into action—donating more than 5,000 meals to food banks, delivering laptops to children who lack online access, and providing communication devices for disabled young people. Through his charity, the Sebbie Hall Kindness Foundation, he has raised more than £100,000 for grassroots and national causes. Now, he’s aiming even higher: a £1 million goal to build an assisted living village for young adults with disabilities. “Every day he is living with a rare condition and can't read or write but look how far his message of kindness has travelled,” said his mother, Ashley Hall. “He believes that everyone has the ability to make a difference, they just have to take the first step.” Sebbie’s award is a recognition not only of his work, but of the way he’s inspired others. As his mother put it, “Organisers were looking for someone who transforms lives through compassion, and that’s what they saw in Sebbie.”
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California Awards $202 Million to Cut Pollution and Expand Clean Transit
California is pumping $202 million into clean transportation projects across the state, aiming to cut pollution and make it easier for people to get around without relying on cars. The new funding, announced this week by Caltrans, will support 143 local projects that prioritize public transit, electric vehicles, and lower emissions—especially in communities hit hardest by air pollution. “Partnering with local transportation agencies, we’re building a thriving, more connected California,” said Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy. “These clean transportation projects will better serve communities most affected by air pollution, expand bus and rail service and support free or reduced fare programs.” The funding comes through the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP), part of the state’s California Climate Investments (CCI) initiative. CCI directs money from California’s Cap-and-Invest program into efforts that cut greenhouse gas emissions while boosting local economies and public health. To date, LCTOP has invested more than $1.4 billion in over 1,500 projects. Here are some of the newly funded projects: Los Angeles County: Metro’s A Line light rail service will receive $48.7 million to support operations. The expanded service covers 44 stations and runs daily. San Francisco: The city will get $18 million to continue its Free Muni program, which eliminates transit fares for seniors, youth, and people with disabilities. San Diego: The Metropolitan Transit System will use $8.5 million to buy up to 23 battery electric buses, replacing aging compressed natural gas vehicles. Bakersfield: Golden Empire Transit District will receive $1.5 million to build a solar-powered “Smart Grid” system that stores energy during the day and charges electric buses overnight. Lake County: The Lake Transit Authority will use $173,000 to upgrade nine bus stops in Clearlake, Lakeport, and surrounding areas with shelters, benches, and bike racks. Nevada County: A new $86,000 fare subsidy will help low-income residents afford bus rides on the Nevada County Connects service. The projects reflect a shift in transportation priorities—less about expanding highways, more about improving public transit and clean energy systems. For more details and the full list of funded projects, visit the FY 24-25 LCTOP Award List (PDF) or explore updates at build.ca.gov.
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This French Sailor Beat Cancer and Broke a Record to Win a Grueling Globe Race
After surviving cancer, three-story waves didn’t seem so intimidating. Charlie Dalin, a 39-year-old French sailor, was preparing for the Vendée Globe—one of the most dangerous solo sailing races in the world—when he was hit with a life-changing diagnosis in 2023: a six-inch cancerous tumor on his small intestine. The Vendée Globe, often called the “Everest of the Seas,” is a brutal 24,000-mile, solo, non-stop, unassisted race around the world. Competitors sail alone through the frigid waters off southern Africa, Australia, and Antarctica. Boats break. Sailors quit. One participant famously disappeared without a trace. And Dalin had cancer. But he didn’t back down. “I decided to handle it the way I would when I have a problem on board,” he told The Washington Post. “I don’t talk about it when the problem arises. I talk about it when it’s repaired.” Doctors told him he might still be able to compete—if he stayed disciplined with his immunotherapy pills. So Dalin got back to work. He trained. He raced across the Atlantic in tune-up events, managing his pain and fatigue along the way. By late 2024, he was ready. He set off in November, joining roughly 40 sailors willing to take on the challenge. From the start, Dalin held his own. He rounded the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, one of the race’s most perilous points, all while sticking to his medical routine. Then came the defining moment near the southern coast of Australia: a huge storm. Dalin could choose a safer, longer northern route—or take the shorter, more dangerous path south. He chose south. His boat took a beating. Days of pounding waves and howling wind followed. But when the seas settled, he emerged in the lead—and on track to set a record. Near Antarctica, he briefly lost that lead. Near Brazil, he won it back. On January 25, 2025, after more than two months alone at sea, Dalin crossed the finish line. He had completed the race in 64 days, 19 hours—a new Vendée Globe record. The tumor had grown during the race, but surgery soon followed. In the months that followed, so did global recognition. In November, Dalin was named the 2025 Rolex World Sailor of the Year. In December, he received the Magnus Olsson Prize, an honor given to sailors who show excellence, innovation, and sportsmanship. “I am the happiest man in the world today, that’s for sure,” Dalin said after the race. “These are crazy emotions I’ve never felt before. Crossing the line with the dawn light shining on perfectly smooth water, the boat gliding along. It was simply fabulous. An explosion of emotions in my head and immense joy. It is, by far, the most beautiful finish of my entire career.” His health is still a work in progress. But Dalin is sailing forward, navigating the unknown with the same focus and courage that carried him across the world.
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Spaniel Rescued from Cliff After Garden Adventure Goes Wrong
A spaniel had to be rescued from a cliff after wandering too far in his garden and getting stuck, according to emergency crews. Bracken, the curious dog in question, was exploring the lower part of his family’s garden in Sedbury, Forest of Dean, when things took a turn. He ended up stranded on a cliff ledge, unable to move and unreachable by his owners. The Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) said Bracken had "got carried away" during his adventure. Around 15:00 GMT on Saturday, the SARA Beachley Rope Rescue and Lifeboat Teams were called in to assist Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service. Together, they launched a coordinated rescue effort to bring the dog to safety. A firefighter was lowered down the cliff by rope and managed to secure Bracken before the pair were pulled back up. As a precaution, SARA’s Lifeboat 3 was launched and positioned in the river below the cliff in case Bracken slipped or the rope rescue was unsuccessful. The boat team was later stood down once the spaniel was recovered without incident. Despite his ordeal, Bracken was unharmed and is now back with his family.
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Missing Hiker Found Alive in New Zealand After More Than Two Weeks Alone in the Wilderness
A 66-year-old man missing in the remote backcountry of New Zealand for more than two weeks has been found alive — just days after authorities had called off the search. Graham Garnett was discovered sheltering in a hut in Kahurangi National Park by a team of contractors working in the area. He had been missing since December 30 after heading out for a hike in the Baton/Ellis River area and failing to return as expected. The search for Garnett was extensive. Land Search and Rescue New Zealand, the Defence Force, the Rescue Coordination Centre, and dozens of volunteers scoured the rugged 5,193-square-kilometre national park for signs of him. But after two weeks without progress, the official search was suspended on January 15. Just three days later, Garnett was found. “This is an amazing result,” police from the Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast District said in a statement. “We are so pleased for Graham and his loved ones.” Garnett was taken to Nelson Hospital, where he reunited with his family. Officials said he had clearly been through an ordeal, but his survival was being described as remarkable given the terrain and the length of time he was missing. Kahurangi National Park, located on the South Island, is known for its steep mountains, deep gorges, and fast-moving rivers — a stunning but unforgiving environment for anyone stranded alone. “Obviously he has been through quite an ordeal and everyone involved in the search is delighted to hear that Graham has been found alive,” the police added. His rescue adds to a growing list of wilderness survival stories making headlines in recent years, including a toddler who walked 11 kilometers through the woods guided by a rancher’s dog, and a woman in Australia who was lost for eight days but made it back to her four children. For Garnett’s family and the community that rallied behind the search, this one ends in the best way possible.
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Tennis Pro Pauses Aussie Open to Help Collapsing Ball Girl: "Being a Good Human Comes First"
Turkish tennis player Zeynep Sonmez made headlines at the Australian Open not just for her on-court performance — but for a moment of compassion that briefly paused play. Sonmez, 23, was mid-match against Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova on Jan. 18 when a ball girl collapsed on the sidelines in Melbourne’s heat. Footage from the match shows the girl falling backward, briefly getting up, and then stumbling again. That’s when Sonmez stopped the game and rushed to help. “She was really struggling,” Sonmez later told the BBC. “She said she was fine, but it was really obvious she was not fine. So I went to grab her and said, ‘Sit down and drink something, you're not fine.’ As we were walking, she fainted, so luckily I grabbed her. She was really shaking.” In the video, Sonmez can be seen helping the girl stay upright, draping her arm over her shoulder and walking her toward medical staff. At one point, she caught the girl as she appeared to lose consciousness again. The match resumed after a six-minute delay. Temperatures during the day had soared — with forecasts predicting even higher heat in the coming days. “I always say it is more important to be a good human being than a good tennis player,” Sonmez said. “It was just my instinct to help her and I think everyone would do the same. I'm happy I got to help.” After the interruption, Sonmez went on to win the match, defeating world No. 11 Alexandrova. The victory made her the first Turkish woman in history to reach the second round of the Australian Open. Sonmez, currently ranked No. 112, has earned growing attention for her performance — but it’s her quick thinking and empathy during a tense moment that has won her admiration far beyond the tennis world.
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Burn Survivor Becomes Firefighter, Now Inspires Kids At Camp
Terry McCarty knows what it’s like to face fire—both literally and metaphorically. At just six years old, he suffered third-degree burns over 70 percent of his body in a catastrophic accident. The aftermath was brutal: a coma for two months, a year-long hospital stay, and 58 surgeries. As if that wasn’t enough, McCarty endured relentless bullying during his teenage years. "After the accident I lived in a constant state of fear and uncertainty," McCarty shared with the Daily Mail. Life as an adult wasn't much easier; employers often saw him as a liability. "I struggled to find work as an adult as people always told me I was a liability, and I had started to believe it." In what might seem an unexpected twist, McCarty decided to become a firefighter in Bellingham, Washington. It was an impulsive decision made in search of proving his capabilities to himself and others. He completed 12 weeks of tough training, which included facing fire again for the first time since his childhood trauma. "In the end, I started to realize the fire didn't control me," he said. "Why should I let fear take over my life?" His experience on the firefighting force lasted two years before he shifted focus toward helping other burn survivors. McCarty now works with the Burned Children Recovery Foundation at Camp Phoenix. This program offers young burn survivors not only counseling and peer support but also family support and financial assistance during their recovery period. "Fire robbed me of my childhood," McCarty explained. "I wanted to give these children a chance to experience being a kid." Although McCarty has left firefighting behind, he continues to engage with the community by organizing motivational speaking programs for firefighting groups and connecting firefighters with burn survivors like himself. He believes this external perspective can be useful for those who regularly encounter difficult situations. "As a firefighter, you see the worst of your community," McCarty told People Magazine. "That could really do a lot of damage to your emotional and mental health." By maintaining ties with the firefighting community while operating from outside its core structure, McCarty finds he can still participate meaningfully. His journey is both inspiring and practical; rather than letting early adversity define his entire life, Terry McCarty has turned personal tragedy into an avenue for supporting others facing similar challenges.