Scroll For More
Score (97)
Why This Artist Is Rethinking How We See Animals in Art
Johannesburg-based artist Hannelie Coetzee is captivating audiences with her unique blend of art and ecology, focusing on the intricate behaviors of animals. With over two decades in documentary photography and community development, Coetzee's work invites reflection on humanity's place within nature's delicate ecosystems. Currently featured at Morton Fine Art in Washington, D.C., Coetzee’s solo exhibition, “Eco Queer Creature Series,” coincides with the 50th anniversary of WorldPride 2025. The show highlights animal behavior studies that challenge traditional views, particularly through a series on foxes near Oxford University. "The observation of queer behavior in animals was as sidelined and silenced for hundreds of years as it was in humans," Coetzee noted. Returning to drawing after many years, Coetzee found inspiration during a 2020 trip where she observed animals from her van. "I could draw without trying to control it completely," she said about her spontaneous process influenced by nature itself. Coetzee aims to spark dialogue about the misrepresentation of animals and their natural behaviors. "I’m just always enthusiastic to create conversations around how normal it is to be queer," she explained, emphasizing the contrast between human prejudices and animal behaviors. Her creative process involves selecting specific animals and old books that resonate with her themes. For instance, she used an old travelogue for her fox series, challenging historical narratives by drawing directly onto its pages. Looking ahead, Coetzee recently completed an arts residency in the Himalayas focused on langur monkeys affected by environmental changes. Her upcoming exhibition at Nel Gallery in Cape Town will explore these themes further.
Score (98)
Hundreds Rally In Heartwarming Parade To Support This 9-Year-Old Battling Cancer
The streets of Alliance, Ohio, were lined with hundreds of people and more than 100 vehicles on Friday night, all there for one reason: to cheer on 9-year-old Terence Harris Jr. as he battles cancer for the fourth time. Terence has been fighting the disease since before his second birthday. Over the years, he has endured a chest tumor removal, two stem cell transplants, and several trial medications. His mother, Brandi Harris, said his most recent diagnosis revealed four tumors in his skull and another along his spine, requiring aggressive radiation treatments. Wanting to lift his spirits, Terence’s former kindergarten teacher and close family friend, Sandy Mascitti, initially asked people online to send cards. The idea snowballed after local resident Ed Wagner suggested a parade. “I figure if we can put a smile on his face and lift his spirits up, it’s all worth it,” Wagner said. What followed was a display of community love and strength. Police cruisers, fire trucks, Jeeps, muscle cars, motorcycles, and pickup trucks paraded down Pike Avenue in a procession that stretched for miles and lasted nearly an hour. Participants brought gifts, donations, hugs, and fist bumps as they passed. Terence stood and smiled throughout much of the event, flashing thumbs-up at each vehicle. “It seems like this is his medicine. He does so well when he is surrounded by people. I haven’t seen him stand that long in a while,” Brandi said. The parade’s theme — tough vehicles — reflected Terence’s own resilience. Asked about his favorite part of the night, he didn’t hesitate: “I think it was great, my favorite thing was everything.” For the Harris family, the outpouring of support was overwhelming. “It means the world to me,” said his father, Terence Sr. Brandi added: “In a world full of chaos, the fact that so many people can take time out of their day just to be kind to somebody else really means the world. From my heart to yours, your living rooms, I thank you, I love you, Terence loves you, and he thanks you.” For one night in Alliance, the community came together to show Terence he isn’t fighting alone.
Score (95)
How This Historic Holgate Windmill Continues to Spin After 250 Years
Holgate Windmill, Britain’s oldest surviving brick tower windmill, is still turning more than 250 years after it was built. The 90-foot mill in York, North Yorkshire, first began grinding corn in 1770 after being constructed by George Waud of Selby. Back then it stood in open countryside overlooking the hamlet of Holgate. Today it sits improbably on a roundabout, surrounded by homes built in the 1940s and 50s. The mill remained in use for generations, passing through multiple families and even being upgraded with a steam engine in the 19th century. Production finally stopped in 1933, and the building fell into neglect until local residents came to its rescue. In 2001, the Holgate Windmill Preservation Society formed to save the structure. After more than a decade of restoration, the sails once again turned in 2012, bringing the mill back to life as the only working windmill left in Yorkshire. Steve Potts, 69, trustee and lead miller of the society, said its survival carries real weight. “It is an important building. Of all of the hundreds of windmills which were once found around Yorkshire, this is the only working one left,” he said. Today, about 35 volunteers keep the mill running, grinding flour in the same way it was done for centuries. “It is a dying art in many ways and if we weren’t doing it, in a couple of years there may be no one left who knows how to,” Potts explained. “Our plan is to keep its legacy going forever.” The flour they produce is sold locally in shops around York, giving residents a taste of history — freshly ground at a mill that has outlasted centuries of change.
Get even more good news on the free app!
Score (96)
Hawaii Governor Unveils Largest Modular Housing Community For Maui Wildfire Survivors
Two years after deadly wildfires swept through Lahaina, Maui, hundreds of survivors are finally moving into a place they can call home. Last week, Hawai‘i Governor Josh Green unveiled Ka La‘i Ola, the state’s largest interim housing development for wildfire survivors. The community, whose name means “Place of Peaceful Recovery,” spans 57 acres and is made up of modular tiny homes. Already, 320 families — nearly 900 people — have settled in. “Ka La‘i Ola represents the very best of Hawai‘i,” Green said in a statement. “It symbolizes our resilience, compassion, and determination as a community.” The $187 million project was built in less than 18 months through a public–private partnership between the State of Hawai‘i, the Department of Human Services, nonprofit HomeAid Hawai‘i, and the Hawai‘i Community Foundation. By using modular construction and emergency permitting, officials were able to cut costs by 42 percent and move families in at record speed. The homes are designed for those not eligible for FEMA assistance — mostly renters, who made up the majority of residents in the 2,200 structures destroyed by the fires. Until now, many had relied on shelters or hotels. “This project proves that when government, nonprofits, and community work hand in hand, we can overcome extraordinary challenges and deliver hope and healing for our families,” Green said. The village will operate under a “no-rent policy” until 2027, with the governor pledging to extend support through a third year. Eventually, in 2029, the site will be transferred to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, fast-tracking Native Hawaiian homeownership opportunities by 17 years. For survivors like Juliet Mosqueda-Santos, the new homes are modest but life-changing. “We only have one bedroom and one bath, but it’s good enough for us,” she told Maui Now. “We are just grateful to have this opportunity to live here in this community.” Iuni and ‘One, a genealogist and artist who lost their business in the fire, said Ka La‘i Ola has given them more than shelter. “I see our neighbors just kind of come together and they give you whatever they have, they don't have much, but they're there to help,” Iuni shared in a testimonial. “And this is what it’s all about.” Maui Mayor Richard Bissen called the development a milestone in recovery, noting that 68 percent of the homes lost in Lahaina are now in some stage of rebuilding. “Really, the credit goes to the survivors who’ve had to endure this period,” he said. With over 500 families still on the waitlist, the need remains urgent. But for the nearly 1,000 people now settling into Ka La‘i Ola, the tiny homes are proof that healing and recovery are underway.
Score (96)
Explaining Problems Aloud: How Rubber Duck Debugging Helps Us Solve Everyday Issues
We’ve all been there: drowning in IKEA instructions, bolts and boards everywhere, when suddenly the solution appears the moment you start explaining the problem out loud. That phenomenon has a name in software engineering: rubber duck debugging. The idea comes from The Pragmatic Programmer, a classic book by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas. They suggested keeping a rubber duck on your desk and explaining your code to it line by line whenever you’re stuck. In the process of breaking things down aloud, you usually catch the mistake yourself. Why does this work? Talking forces clarity. Research shows that teaching material to others — or even preparing as if you’ll have to — creates deeper, longer-lasting understanding. Explaining aloud makes you restructure ideas, fit them into a logical flow, and notice inconsistencies you missed in silence. And the duck’s role matters. A human listener might skip over your error, assuming they know what you meant. The duck, with its blank little face, doesn’t assume anything. It just “listens,” obliging you to articulate every step clearly. Of course, it doesn’t have to be a duck. Any object (or disinterested partner) will do. Some people now use AI chatbots the same way, walking through their thought process with a virtual partner that can also offer suggestions. Researchers have even prototyped ducks that nod or give neutral replies, making the process feel more interactive. So the next time you’re stuck — on code, writing, or even a tricky email — try talking it through with a silent companion. You might find the answer staring back at you with a tiny orange beak.
Score (97)
Reading Rainbow Returns With a New Host And Celebrity Guest Stars
Reading Rainbow is returning to television after nearly two decades, bringing back one of PBS’s most beloved children’s shows with a brand new host and a star-filled lineup. The program, which first launched in 1983 and wrapped in 2006 after 26 years, was known for encouraging kids to read and tackling the so-called “summer loss phenomenon,” where children lose literacy skills over school breaks. The revival, announced on September 29, will be hosted by librarian and literacy advocate Mychel Threets, better known to millions of kids and parents as “Mychal the Librarian” on TikTok. Threets currently serves as PBS Kids’ resident librarian and has built a following for his joyful, affirming approach to books. “Reading Rainbow is returning, with all new episodes! Are you ready?” Threets asks in a colorful announcement video filled with books and children shouting back “Yes!” The new series promises “new friends, projects, and books,” according to PBS, with activities like postcard exchanges and sidewalk libraries. Famous narrators will lend their voices to featured stories, including Gabrielle Union, Jamie Chung, Chrissy Teigen, John Legend, and Adam DeVine. Guests will also include Dancing With the Stars’ Rylee Arnold and Ezra Sosa, teen author Bellen Woodard, and actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach. For longtime fans, the revival will inevitably call back to LeVar Burton, who hosted the original series from its start. The show became the most-watched PBS program in classrooms and turned Burton into a national champion of reading. Reflecting on that legacy, Burton told People magazine in a past interview: “As a Black man who comes from people for whom it would have been illegal to have the facility of literacy, to have grown up and become a symbol of literacy, an acknowledged advocate for literacy, especially childhood literacy in this country, that's no small thing in my view.” The show’s original run helped entire generations discover a love of books. With Threets at the helm and a new slate of stories, PBS is hoping today’s children will follow the rainbow too.
Score (96)
Archaeologists Just Uncovered a Hidden Neolithic Stone Circle In a Groundbreaking Dig
Archaeologists have begun digging into what they call Cornwall’s “ancient sacred heart” in an effort to reveal the hidden story of Castilly Henge. The prehistoric site near Bodmin is thought to date back to the late Neolithic period, around 3,000 to 2,500 BCE, and may once have hosted ritual gatherings in an amphitheatre-like setting. Excavations started this year after Cornwall Heritage Trust (CHT) secured more than £40,000 in National Lottery funding. “Neolithic henges are incredibly rare, so this is a really exciting moment,” said Carolyn Kennett, CHT’s site project manager. Castilly Henge is a large oval earthwork just off the A30, with links to centuries of activity. In the Early Bronze Age, high-status burial mounds were built nearby. Later, some researchers believe the site was used as a medieval plen-an-gwari, or open-air theatre, and even as a defensive site with cannons during the English Civil War. In 2022, archaeologists detected signs of a stone circle once standing at the henge’s centre. Only one other example is known to survive in Cornwall, making the find especially significant. The four-week excavation is being run by CHT in partnership with the Cornwall Archaeological Society and Historic England. Project leaders say the work will help protect the site, which faces threats from invasive vegetation and its proximity to a major road. “Our goal is to fundraise to purchase this site and to open it up to public,” Kennett said, adding that more than £10,000 of a £50,000 target has already been raised. Dr Olaf Bayer, senior archaeological investigator for Historic England, said the discoveries offer a powerful connection to the past. “To discover and hold in your own hands the very tools people of the past had used – it's the kind of stuff that makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck,” he said. For now, the dig may help secure Castilly Henge’s place not only in Cornwall’s history, but in its future too.
Score (98)
Iraqi Shoemakers are Reviving an Ancient Craft, Sparking Hope And Jobs After Conflict
In Mosul’s Old City, the sound of hammers and sewing machines is returning to life. Once a center of Iraq’s shoemaking trade, the district is slowly reviving an ancient craft nearly wiped out by war. Shoemaking in Iraq, known as al-qandarjiya, stretches back more than a millennium to the Abbasid Caliphate, when Baghdad was a hub of global commerce. Generations of artisans built a reputation for leather shoes prized for their durability and elegance. At its height, Baghdad had more than 250 factories, while Mosul boasted over 50. “Our work began more than 40 years ago,” said 58-year-old shoemaker Saad Abdul Aal, carefully trimming a piece of leather in his reopened workshop. “I learned the profession, fell in love with it, and never left it.” That tradition nearly collapsed in 2014 when ISIL seized Mosul. Factories and workshops were bombed, looted, or abandoned. Abdul Aal lost his shop, his equipment, and his staff. “Bombings, destruction,” he recalled. “There was no money even to consider starting again.” By the time the fighting ended, fewer than 10 factories remained in the city. Thousands of craftsmen were unemployed, their skills at risk of disappearing. A turning point came with the International Organization for Migration’s Enterprise Development Fund-Tameer, which offered grants and training to entrepreneurs trying to rebuild. For Abdul Aal, the support allowed him to buy new machinery and rehire workers. “It’s not easy, but little by little we are moving forward,” he said. Today, he produces about four pairs of shoes a day — fewer than before the war, but enough to keep his business alive. Cheap imports dominate Iraq’s markets, but Abdul Aal insists that quality will help local shoemakers endure. “Our shoes are genuine leather; they last,” he said. “Imported shoes may appear visually appealing, but they lack quality. In contrast, the shoes produced in my factory are visually similar to imported shoes but offer superior quality. That is what makes us proud.” For Mosul’s shoemakers, every stitch and seam is more than just a livelihood. It is part of a long tradition they refuse to let fade, and a small but steady sign of recovery after years of conflict.
Score (95)
Volunteers Revive World’s Smallest Theatre, Set To Reopen in October
A theatre once recognised as the smallest in the world is preparing to reopen its doors in Malvern, Worcestershire, after seven years of closure. The Theatre of Small Convenience, which can seat just 12 people, will reopen on 24 October following a summer-long refurbishment led by volunteers. The building, a former Victorian toilet block, was transformed into a performance space in the 1990s and earned a Guinness World Record in 2002 as the world’s smallest commercial theatre. It has been closed since 2017, when its founder retired. The venue later passed to a local art college but fell into disrepair during the Covid lockdowns. Volunteer Loz Samuels said a group of supporters rallied to restore it, raising £17,000 through donations. The original chairs have been reupholstered and painted, and a mural of the Orion constellation now adorns the ceiling and walls. “We’re working towards getting a really professional lighting system, so we’re really getting into the detail now,” Samuels said. She added that spaces like the theatre matter at a time when many people spend most of their free time on screens. “There’s actual scientific evidence that when you feel a sense of wonder your brain changes in a really positive way and I think we need a bit more of that in our lives,” she said. While funds are still being raised to stage performances, Samuels said some performers had already offered to appear for free. Plans for the reopening include a puppet show, a comedy performance, a ghost walk and even a séance. The quirky venue has also attracted unusual enquiries, including a wedding request from a couple in New Zealand. For now, organizers are focused on bringing audiences back into the 12-seat space and recapturing its original spirit. “We’re hoping that people will be generous when they come,” Samuels said.
Score (96)
This Mexican NBA Prospect is Aiming For a Historic First-Round Draft Selection
Karim López doesn’t quite feel like a star yet. But in his hometown of Hermosillo, Mexico, it’s getting harder for him to move around without drawing a crowd. On a recent afternoon, the 18-year-old forward returned to the concrete court near the city center where he first played as a child. Cameras rolled as he dribbled, until a woman passing by stopped, staring in disbelief. “You’re him, aren’t you?” she asked in Spanish. She couldn’t quite place the name but knew she was standing in front of a celebrity. López smiled, posed for selfies, and signed autographs. Soon, more people gathered. One man told his wife that the teenager was “a big NBA star.” Not yet. But soon, maybe. López is projected to become the first Mexican-born player ever drafted in the first round of the NBA draft, with most analysts ranking him among the top 10 prospects. At 2.06 meters tall, with a versatile game that allows him to handle the ball, shoot, and defend the rim, scouts say he has the makings of a modern NBA forward. “I was born playing basketball; I mean, I like to say I had a ball in my hand since the day I was born,” López told ESPN in Spanish as part of a Hispanic Heritage Month profile. For now, he’s starring for the New Zealand Breakers in Australia’s National Basketball League, one of the world’s most competitive pro leagues outside the NBA. He became the youngest player in NBL history to record a double-double last season, posting 13 points and 10 rebounds against the Sydney Kings. Draft analyst Jeremy Woo said, “His game is well suited to the modern NBA. Teams are constantly looking for tall perimeter players who can pass, handle and shoot.” That combination of size and skill has even led to comparisons with Julius Erving, better known as Dr. J. Illawarra Hawks coach Justin Tatum, father of Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, said López made an “instant impact” in the league despite his age. Basketball has been in López’s life since birth. His father, Jesús Hiram López, was finishing his own college playing career in Missouri when Karim was born in 2007. A month later, he met his son for the first time. Soon, Karim was joining his dad in gyms around Mexico, sneaking onto practice courts and shooting while players were in the locker room. In Hermosillo, a city steeped in American sports culture, he joined youth teams and quickly stood out. But his youth coach, Alejandro Leyva, recalled that for years López excelled only in practice, not games. That changed when he was 12, during a tournament in Las Vegas. Soon after, a video of him dunking went viral in Mexico, catching the attention of scouts. At 14, Spanish club Joventut Badalona signed him, the same program that developed Ricky Rubio and Rudy Fernández. He won two youth titles before making his pro debut. In 2023, the Breakers signed him as part of the NBL’s Next Stars program, which has helped launch the NBA careers of LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey, and Alex Sarr. For López, the path has meant long stretches away from his family. His mother, Claudia Mondaca, admitted that separation has been tough but familiar. “I think that’s the difficult part of his career, constantly being in motion. But I hope he enjoys it all and gets accustomed to it, because it’s become a ritual [for the family],” she said. The ritual may soon pay off. López averaged 9.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in 23 minutes per game last season, numbers that came with highlight blocks, dunks, and guard-like ballhandling. He openly admits his shooting is still developing, but scouts say the foundation is there. “What he’s doing is impressive, just because there are so few players who have been able to tread that path out of Mexico,” Woo said. “I think going somewhere in the top 10 [of the 2026 draft] is in play.” If that happens, López will become only the fifth player born in Mexico to make the NBA, and the first drafted in the opening round. Eduardo Nájera, who played more than 600 NBA games, was taken 38th overall in 2000. Mexican American players like Juan Toscano-Anderson and Jaime Jaquez Jr. have become fan favorites, but López’s arrival would mark a historic moment for Mexican basketball. The NBA has invested heavily in growing its presence in Mexico, playing regular-season games in Mexico City and supporting the G League’s Capitanes franchise there. López’s debut would add another layer of connection to the millions of fans across the country. Still, he insists he’s not thinking too far ahead. “There’s always that moment when you’re about to sleep and you start thinking about what could be,” he said. “But I also try to not think about it too much because it could be a distraction.” If and when the NBA calls, López says he has one wish: to play alongside or against his idol, LeBron James. “I hope LeBron is still there if I get to the NBA,” he said with a grin. Then he caught himself. “I mean, in the end, I’m not [in the NBA] yet, I have to keep working to get to that moment and make my dreams come true.”
Score (97)
The Surprising Key To Healthier Lungs: Fruit?
Eating more fruit may help protect your lungs from the harmful effects of air pollution, according to new research presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Amsterdam. The study, led by Pimpika Kaewsri, a PhD student at the University of Leicester’s Centre for Environmental Health and Sustainability, found that people who ate more fruit showed less decline in lung function when exposed to fine particulate air pollution, known as PM2.5. "Over 90% of the global population is exposed to air pollution levels that exceed WHO guidelines," Kaewsri said. "We wanted to explore whether a healthy diet or specific food groups could modify or partly mitigate the known adverse effects of air pollution on lung function." Using health and lifestyle data from around 200,000 participants in the UK Biobank study, Kaewsri and her team analyzed dietary patterns — focusing on fruit, vegetables, and whole grains — and compared them to lung function (measured by FEV1, the volume of air exhaled in one second) and exposure to PM2.5, a common pollutant released by vehicles and industrial sources. They found that for every 5 microgram increase in PM2.5 per cubic meter of air, women with low fruit intake experienced a 78.1ml drop in lung function, while women who ate at least four portions of fruit a day had a smaller reduction of 57.5ml. “This may be partly explained by the antioxidant and anti-inflammation compounds naturally present in fruit,” Kaewsri said. “These compounds could help mitigate oxidative stress and inflammation caused by fine particles.” While the link between fruit intake and lung protection was only statistically significant in women, Kaewsri pointed out that men in the study generally reported eating less fruit, which could account for the gender difference. The study also confirmed that a healthy diet overall is associated with better lung function — regardless of air quality. Professor Sara De Matteis, who chairs the European Respiratory Society’s group on environmental health but was not involved in the research, welcomed the findings. “This study confirms the potential respiratory health benefits of a healthy diet, especially rich in fresh fruit,” she said. However, De Matteis cautioned against over-relying on individual action when pollution exposure remains widespread and often unavoidable. “Access to a healthy diet is not equally distributed in the population,” she said. “This does not exempt governments from continuing with environmental policies to reduce air pollution to as low as possible.” Kaewsri said she plans to expand the research by tracking how diet might influence long-term changes in lung health, especially in areas with poor air quality. For now, her findings suggest that eating more fruit might be a simple, natural way to support lung health — particularly for people living in cities or areas with high levels of air pollution.