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Score (97)
Racing Into Their 60s: Couple Embraces Sidecar Adventure Together
Dave and Alison Birch, a spirited couple who have embraced the thrill of sidecar racing in their 60s, prove that age is just a number when it comes to pursuing new adventures. Since taking up the sport in 2024, they’ve been tearing up racetracks with their team, Terrier Racing, named after their cherished dog Pip. Every weekend, Dave and Alison zoom around tracks at speeds exceeding 100 mph. Their secret to success? Being married. "It does help," they admit about their teamwork on the track. Dave, a retired builder with years of solo racing experience, inspired Alison to join him after she spent countless hours watching races. Alison qualified just before the pandemic hit and finally joined Dave on the track in 2024. "I am probably the oldest passenger," she said with pride. "But who cares? I'm doing it." In sidecar racing, passengers play a crucial role by using their bodyweight to balance the bike during sharp turns. Competing in the Darley Moor Club Championship has been an exhilarating journey for them. Despite being newcomers, they've found camaraderie among fellow racers. "They're like a second family," Alison shared. "If you need any help with the outfit, they'll come and help you." With five more races left this season at Darley Moor and beyond, Dave and Alison are just getting started on this high-speed adventure. As they continue to improve and gain speed each race day, they're determined to keep going until they "can't get the leathers on." As Dave puts it: "You only get one lap in life, so make it a good one.
Score (95)
New Evidence Suggests Saturn's Moon Enceladus Could Support Life
Scientists say Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus is looking more promising than ever as a place that could host life. A fresh analysis of data from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft has revealed new classes of organic molecules in the water vapor erupting from Enceladus’ south polar geysers. The findings, published this week in Nature Astronomy, suggest the moon’s hidden ocean has the right mix of ingredients for life to form — though no direct evidence of life has yet been found. “We have found several categories of organic – meaning primarily carbon-containing – molecules that span a range of structures and chemical properties,” said Nozair Khawaja, a planetary scientist at Freie Universität Berlin and lead author of the study. Cassini flew directly through the moon’s plumes during its closest pass in 2008, sampling tiny ice grains and gases ejected from Enceladus’ subsurface ocean. Scientists reexamined the data in detail, confirming earlier detections of amino acid precursors — the building blocks of proteins — and spotting new organic molecules never before identified. “Such compounds are believed to be intermediates in the synthesis of more complex molecules, which could be potentially biologically relevant,” Khawaja said. “It is important to note, however, that these molecules can be formed abiotically as well without any interaction with life on Earth.” Enceladus, a frozen moon only 504 kilometers across, is considered one of the best places in the solar system to search for alien life. Its buried ocean, sealed under 20 to 30 kilometers of ice, is thought to host hydrothermal vents that release hot, mineral-rich water — environments similar to those where life on Earth may have first emerged. “First of all, we did not find life on Enceladus and we did not find any biosignatures,” Khawaja stressed. “However, we have compelling evidence that all three keystones of habitability – liquid water, an energy source and essential elements and organics – exist on Enceladus.” The analysis relied on Cassini’s direct sampling of fresh ice grains, which had been ejected from the ocean only minutes earlier. Unlike particles in Saturn’s E ring, which are altered by long exposure to radiation, these grains preserved the chemistry of the moon’s hidden sea. The discovery adds momentum to future missions. The European Space Agency is planning to return to Enceladus to investigate its plumes with more advanced instruments than Cassini carried. “Enceladus is, and should be ranked, as the prime target to explore habitability and search whether there is life or not,” Khawaja said.
Score (98)
This 18-Year-Old Dog is Celebrating 16 Years of Service at Swindon Skate Shop
An 18-year-old dog named Abbie has carved out quite the career at ATB skate shop in Swindon, England. For the past 16 years, this labradoodle lurcher cross has been a consistent presence at the store, picking up parcels and greeting customers with enthusiasm. Diana Kirk, Abbie's owner, believes her furry companion might be "the oldest working dog in the UK." She explains that Abbie joined the family when she was just two years old and has been a fixture at the shop ever since. "She absolutely loves to work," says Kirk. Abbie's daily routine includes meeting customers at the door, receiving mail from the postman, and even signing for packages. Kirk humorously notes, "No one signs for a package like Abbie." When checking parcel tracking online, she's often amused to see Abbie’s image as if saying, "I've signed for it." But Abbie's contributions don't stop there. She also helps with recycling by tearing up boxes that need flattening. Her influence extends beyond physical tasks; she provides emotional support to young visitors. Kirk shares that Abbie is always ready with a hug or cuddle for children who require extra attention. Tommy Brewster is one of those who have witnessed Abbie's impact firsthand. A frequent visitor to the shop since childhood, Brewster now works there alongside his canine colleague. He describes it as "weird being her colleague now because she's kind of a hero of mine." Looking ahead, Abbie’s younger brother Patch is training to continue her legacy. The three-year-old Labrador has some big shoes—or rather paws—to fill but seems poised to follow in his sister’s footsteps. For now, though, Abbie remains a beloved figure in Swindon’s skate community—still showing up every day with wagging tail and welcoming spirit.
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Score (97)
Community-Led Conservation Revives Near-Extinct Bali Starling on Nusa Penida
On a humid morning on Nusa Penida, just off the southern coast of Bali, two conservation workers lean into the shade of a coconut grove, scanning the trees for movement. For nearly half an hour, nothing stirs. Then, a flicker of white feathers: a Bali starling, one of the rarest songbirds on Earth, slips from the hollow of a palm trunk and lands nearby. Its mate follows close behind. Once reduced to just six individuals in the wild, the critically endangered bird is making a cautious comeback — not through fences or patrols, but through community-led conservation rooted in tradition and pride. The Bali starling, also called the Bali myna, is endemic to the island and was driven to near extinction by the booming songbird trade and the loss of its forest habitat. Poachers prized the bird’s bright plumage and clear call, selling pairs for thousands of dollars. Strict laws, captive breeding and patrols failed to stop the decline. Even protected release sites became targets, and the species continued to vanish. “The crucial point was that this Western approach had a need to protect, ramp up enforcement, monitor it, and it wasn’t really getting anywhere,” said Paul Jepson, who led the BirdLife Indonesia program in the 1990s. By 2001, the situation was desperate: the last Bali tigers had already disappeared decades earlier, and the Bali starling seemed destined to follow. That trajectory changed when conservationist Bayu Wirayudha and his team at Friends of the National Parks Foundation began working directly with communities. Rather than more bans, they proposed turning Nusa Penida into a sanctuary. One by one, villages agreed to adopt awig-awig — traditional Hindu-based laws that carry cultural weight and social consequences. The regulations imposed steep fines, ceremonies of atonement, or even the obligation to feed the entire village for poaching a bird. The result was far more effective than state enforcement. “All the people in our village are working together to secure this species,” said Made Sukadana, a community leader in Tengkudak village. “We plant fruit trees for the Bali starling and support a dedicated, passionate bird person who monitors daily.” Locals became guardians instead of trappers. Former poachers now guide birdwatchers. Villages plant trees, monitor nests, and rescue injured birds. Visitors — from ecotourism groups to National Geographic expeditions — now bring new sources of income. A 2015 study found awig-awig improved anti-poaching compliance by nearly 1,200% compared to formal law. And the numbers reflect that success: 64 birds released on Nusa Penida grew to about 100 within a few years, breeding more successfully than in Bali’s national park, where pressure from poaching remained high. The movement spread. Mainland villages like Melinggih Kelod adopted their own bird-protection laws, imposing fines of 10 million rupiah (about $600) and temple ceremonies for violators. Others developed breeding centers, agroforestry projects, and cultural tourism, branding themselves as “Bali starling villages.” According to the most recent counts, about 420 Bali starlings live in Bali Barat National Park, with another 100 on Nusa Penida. Their population remains fragile but is no longer at the edge of collapse. “You get everyone in your community in a wild bird preserving culture, and it becomes self-regulating,” said Jessica Lee of Mandai Nature. “They become the eyes and ears on the ground as a community.” For the first time in decades, the Bali starling’s future seems tied not to the whims of collectors, but to the strength of community resolve — a rare case where local culture, conservation, and livelihoods have aligned to give one of the world’s most endangered songbirds a chance to sing again.
Score (96)
Her Self-Written Obituary Just Went Viral, and it's Inspiring Kindness and Humor
Linda Murphy, a Massachusetts woman who faced down cancer and ALS with humor and grit, has gone viral for writing her own obituary — a sharp, funny farewell that captured her personality even in death. Murphy, who grew up in Framingham and lived in Boylston, passed away from Bulbar ALS, a form of the disease that robbed her of speech in her final year. Before she died, she made sure she would go out on her own terms: she picked her casket, chose the funeral music, and even planned a dance party in her honor. “She was the life of the party. She was the party,” her daughter, Justine Hastings, said. “One of my favorite comments was, ‘I just read this, and I just wish I could have had a glass of wine with her.’” Murphy’s obituary, written about six months ago when she could still type, begins: “Well, if you are reading this, then it looks like I am dead. Wow. It actually happened. I died of FOMO due to complications of ALS.” In it, she described herself as having “two superpowers,” including one that “everyone was jealous of” — being able to drink as much as she wanted without ever getting a hangover. She also wrote candidly about the losses ALS brought her. “My stupid Bulbar ALS got me to the sad point of not being able to talk. Never speaking means never being able to say, ‘I love you!’… and it means not being able to order at the Dunkin’ drive through,” she wrote. She poked fun at being stuck eating “puréed baby mush” while others enjoyed burgers and Chinese food. Humor and defiance had long been Murphy’s trademarks. She survived breast cancer in 2012, wrote a book about it titled F-Off Cancer, and inspired her daughter to become a nurse. Her obituary also carried a final wish: kindness. “Please be kind to everyone: the telemarketer, the grocery clerk, the Dunkin’s staff, the tailgater, your family, your friends. Speak nicely and positively… Is there really ever a reason to be negative? I don’t think so.” And instead of flowers, Murphy had a different request: “Buy a bunch of scratch tickets and give them out to strangers along your way. Make people happy, that is the best way that you can honor my memory.” Her family says that was something she used to do in life, and they’ll keep the tradition alive. Murphy also donated her brain and spinal cord for ALS research, leaving behind one final contribution. For Hastings, the viral response to her mother’s obituary has been bittersweet. Behind the jokes, she said, was someone who struggled privately: “People would say she looks so amazing… but behind closed doors, the struggle was so real.” Murphy, who once told doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital, “I have ALS. Prove me wrong,” diagnosed herself before tests confirmed it. For her daughter, that was her mom to the very end: strong-willed, witty, and determined to live life her way.
Score (97)
Paraguayan Youth Orchestra Turns Trash Into Musical Treasure
In a small Paraguayan village built on a landfill, a group of children have turned trash into music — and their story has inspired audiences around the world. The Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, featured in the documentary Landfill Harmonic, plays instruments crafted entirely from garbage: violins pieced together from paint cans and baking trays, flutes from pipes and coins, even guitars from old tins. What looks like a Stradivarius violin or a polished cello is, up close, a masterwork of ingenuity pulled from the trash heaps that surround their homes. Cateura, on the outskirts of Asunción, is home to about 2,500 families, many of whom make their living by sorting and selling garbage. For years, children there had few opportunities to escape poverty. That began to change when Favio Chávez, a former environmental technician, launched a free music school using instruments built from scrap. “Culture is very important, it’s as important as eating,” Chávez said. “Culture is as important as having a home.” Local carpenter Don Cola Gómez searches the landfill for materials, transforming discarded metal and wood into violins, flutes, and cellos. The orchestra now has about 70 students. Sisters Ada and Noelia Rios were among the first. Though mocked at first for playing on instruments made of trash, they now travel the world performing. The sisters’ grandmother, Miran, who once dreamed of becoming a singer, has watched them fulfill her hopes. They’ve even played John Lennon’s Imagine at the United Nations in New York. “The truth is that at first, people would make fun of us because we didn’t have instruments,” Noelia said. “And now they’ve realized that thanks to the orchestra, us or any other child can change his or her life through music.” The children’s story spread widely in 2012 after a teaser video for Landfill Harmonic went viral. Directed by Juliana Peñaranda-Loftus and produced by Alejandra Amarilla, the film gave the group a global platform. Since then, the orchestra has been invited to perform in prestigious venues and even shared a stage with their rock heroes, Megadeth. For Chávez, the most remarkable transformation hasn’t been in the music itself, but in the children. “The most surprising thing I’ve seen in these children is the change in their eyes — from living in hopelessness to living in hope of a better future,” he said. What began as a creative way to keep children occupied in one of Paraguay’s poorest communities has become a worldwide movement, proof that even in a place built on refuse, resilience and hope can create something extraordinary.
Score (98)
A Stray Dog Saved From Death is Now a Pet Detective Sniffing Out Lost Animals
A dog once just days away from being put down in a Portuguese pound has gone on to become an unlikely hero — using his nose to track down missing pets across the UK. Rico, a ten-year-old Kokoni cross, was rescued in December 2015 when Rachel Rodgers, a dog trainer from Whitchurch, Shropshire, spotted his photo online and paid £150 to save him from “death row.” “When I got him, he was petrified of men; he would hide behind me and wee,” Rachel recalled. Traditional training didn’t work, so she tried man trailing — a game of hide-and-seek where dogs follow a scent. Rico excelled, and before long, his talent was being used to help desperate families find lost pets. His first rescue came in Wales, when a family’s dog went missing near a car park. After sniffing the scent from their car boot, Rico repeatedly pointed to the same spot behind a seven-foot fence. Hours later, the missing dog emerged from that exact area. Since then, Rico has been involved in more than 20 rescues, including some unusual cases — like tracking Cinnamon, a capybara that escaped from a zoo last year. “They didn’t have a scent article,” Rachel explained. “So he just got given capybara poo. I was worried he would go back to the zoo enclosure, but he followed a trail across a field and down to a ditch. The keepers later put a trap there, and she was caught.” Rico’s job often involves sniffing blankets, toys, or even droppings from the animal he’s searching for. Over the years, he’s become a vital lifeline for owners in distress. “It’s just for fun and enrichment for the dog, it’s natural. But Rico has ended up doing it as a job,” Rachel said. Now approaching retirement age, Rico’s work may soon be carried on by Pebbles, Rachel’s seven-month-old border terrier puppy. “Hopefully, we’ll have her trained in six months and she’ll be ready to go out into the field and carry on Rico’s amazing work,” she said. For Rachel, Rico’s journey from abandoned stray to expert pet detective is a reminder of second chances. “You might save somebody’s pet,” she said. “And for Rico, it’s given him a purpose — and a whole new life.”
Score (95)
Horses are Helping Men Recover From Addiction At This Kentucky Farm Program
At a sprawling Kentucky horse farm, recovery and second chances come hand in hand with the thundering hooves of thoroughbreds. Stable Recovery, a drug and alcohol rehab program based at Taylor Made Farm — the world’s largest seller of thoroughbred horses — is giving men battling addiction a path forward through work, fellowship, and the healing presence of horses. About 50 men live and work on the farm alongside 750 horses. Their days start before sunrise, and sobriety is the expectation. “A big part of addiction and recovery is being honest with yourself,” said Christian Countzler, CEO and co-founder of the program. “It’s real easy to be honest with a horse.” Countzler and Frank Taylor, of the Taylor family that owns the farm, are both in recovery themselves. They created Stable Recovery as both an addiction program and workforce training, addressing labor shortages in the horse industry while offering men a chance to rebuild their lives. The yearlong, 12-step program is free to participants, supported by grants and private donations. Residents spend the first 90 days in the School of Horsemanship, learning the fundamentals of horse care. Graduates can then take paid work on the farm, and those who complete the full program earn “legacy graduate” status. “The purpose of the job, which the horse provides, has been a difference maker,” Countzler said. “With the horses, it provides a purpose and that’s something that many people suffering from addiction lack.” Josh Franks, once a homeless ex-felon, credits the program with saving his life. “I literally was on the street, crying my eyes out every single day, begging God to take me off this earth,” he recalled. “Four hours into this farm, I’m smiling again. I got a horse in my hand. These horses loved me back to life.” Today, he supervises care for 178 horses. The horses are central to the program’s success. “There’s a bond between a broken person and a horse that is special and healing,” said Taylor. “They come in here, they’re depressed, they’re anxious, they’re nervous. And you just put ’em with a horse, the light comes back in their eye.” But it isn’t just the animals. Dorm-style living, shared meals, daily meetings, and a strong fellowship among participants provide structure and support. “When you’re talking about the Stable Recovery program, it’s the fellowship — bar none,” Franks said. So far, 25 men have completed the program. Of those, 22 remain sober and employed in the horse industry. Local farms are beginning to actively seek out graduates. The success has spurred expansion. Earlier this month, Stable Recovery opened its first women’s house at a women-run horse farm. Taylor and Countzler hope to grow the model even further. “I want to see it expanded across the nation,” Taylor said. “And I want to see more horses being used to heal more people in all areas of life.”
Score (97)
Colombian Soldiers are Finding Solace In 'Furry Force' Emotional Support Dogs
At the Central Military Hospital in Bogota, a group of emotional support dogs is on a mission to lift the spirits of soldiers injured in Colombia's ongoing conflict. Known as the "furry force," Kratos, Rafa, and Lupa are bringing comfort to service members recovering from wounds inflicted in battles with illegal armed groups. One soldier feeling their impact is 2nd Sgt. Jeisson Sánchez Duque. Shot during clashes in Antioquia province, he finds solace in these visits. "It’s something different," Sánchez said. "You forget the pain and focus on the dogs." Despite a peace agreement signed in 2016 with the FARC, various armed factions remain active across Colombia. These groups vie for control over territories and engage in illicit activities like drug trafficking. The decades-long conflict has left deep scars: 450,000 people have been killed and 7 million displaced. Launched in April 2024 after an animal care organization visit, this program aims to aid recovery for soldiers dealing with injuries from landmines and explosive devices dropped by drones. According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, incidents involving explosives rose by 94 percent between January and July compared to last year. The hospital extended its initiative beyond Kratos, who was donated by the Air Force. Rafa came from the Army, and two more dogs were given by doctors at the hospital. Soldiers can now bring their own pets too, offering a broader therapeutic experience. Eliana Patricia Ramírez, the hospital’s deputy medical director, explained that interactions with dogs benefit patient recovery through physiological changes they trigger. What may seem recreational actually serves as therapy. For soldier Luis Miguel López, who lost part of his leg to a mine explosion in Puerto Valdivia, Antioquia province, these canine visits helped him overcome depression during his stay at the hospital. They reminded him of Goma—a dog trained to detect explosives—who saved his unit multiple times before dying from an explosion. Reflecting on his experience with the furry visitors while hospitalized, López said: “I was so depressed in my room because I was holed up in there." He added that although his wife supported him emotionally, it wasn't quite enough until he met these dogs: “When those dogs come in, they change you because they bring happiness.”
Score (97)
This Canadian Teen Invented a Sea Turtle Robot To Monitor Coral Reefs
A Canadian teenager has earned international acclaim for designing a bionic sea turtle robot that could transform how scientists monitor fragile underwater ecosystems. Evan Budz, a 15-year-old from Ontario, won first prize at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) with his invention — an autonomous, AI-powered robot that mimics the graceful movements of a sea turtle. “I became inspired for this project after I observed the fluent motion of a snapping turtle while camping,” Budz said in a video presentation. Unlike conventional propeller-driven robots, his design uses a propulsion system modeled on green sea turtles, allowing it to glide with less disruption to marine life. “Aquatic habitats are vital to humanity, and the routine surveying of these environments has become critical,” he explained. “Utilizing an innovative biomatic robot for such analysis ensures low ecological disruption.” The robot carries a computer vision system that uses artificial intelligence to analyze coral health. Budz says it can detect coral bleaching with 96 percent accuracy, offering a powerful tool for conservation groups working to identify and respond to environmental threats. “For ecological monitoring, I want to be as low as possible in terms of disruption to the environment,” he told CBC News. “So, by mimicking the turtle, I can ensure that I don’t disrupt or distract any other organisms while I’m conducting the monitor.” Budz first tested his prototype in his grandparents’ backyard pool, where he confirmed its accuracy and reliability. The work earned him the top prize at EUCYS 2025 — €7,000 (about $8,000 USD) — and recognition from Youth Science Canada. “Evan’s success at EUCYS 2025 shows that his project is truly world-class,” said Reni Barlow, the group’s executive director. “A remarkable innovation that showcases the ability of Canadian youth to tackle complex technical and environmental challenges.” Budz, who has long been passionate about the environment, says the invention is just one step in a lifelong commitment to protecting the planet. “I’ve been conducting a lot of different research, literature, and articles and find that the environment is becoming increasingly more impacted by global warming and other human-caused impacts,” he told Burlington Today. His robot, inspired by the ancient grace of sea turtles, may now play a part in helping preserve the future of oceans worldwide.
Score (94)
A New Drug Combination is Extending Survival For Prostate Cancer Patients
Researchers at UCLA say a new treatment strategy could give men with recurring prostate cancer more time before their disease worsens — and spare them from the side effects of hormone therapy for longer. The approach, unveiled this week at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) annual meeting, combines standard stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) with a radioactive drug designed to target prostate cancer cells. In a clinical trial of 92 men whose cancer had returned in just a few isolated spots, half received radiation alone while the other half got radiation plus the experimental drug, known as 177Lu-PNT2002. The results were striking: patients given the combined treatment stayed free of disease progression for a median of nearly 18 months, compared with about seven months for radiation alone. “This is the first randomized trial to show that PSMA-targeting radioligand can significantly delay progression when added to metastasis-directed radiation,” said Dr. Amar Kishan, executive vice chair of radiation oncology at UCLA and lead author of the study. He described the work as “a great example of true collaboration between radiation oncology and nuclear medicine.” One of the biggest potential benefits, Kishan noted, is the ability to delay starting hormone therapy, which is often the next step for men with recurring prostate cancer but is linked to fatigue, bone loss, and mood changes. “It gives patients more time before needing hormonal therapy,” he said. “Avoiding or delaying hormonal therapy consistently benefits quality of life.” Still, the treatment isn’t a cure. Many patients eventually saw their cancer return. “There is always room for improvement,” Kishan said. “There were still progression events … so there may be ways to optimize the treatment further.” The drug is not yet FDA-approved for this stage of disease, and more studies will be needed before it can become widely available. For now, Kishan advises men whose prostate cancer has spread beyond the prostate to consult a radiation oncologist to review their options. The trial’s results, researchers say, offer a promising step toward giving patients more time with fewer side effects — and a better quality of life while navigating one of the most common cancers affecting men.