Teen's Bright Idea: How Light-Up Dresses Are Shining a New Path in STEM

High school senior Sara DeVolld from Alaska is lighting up her community in a unique way. She's using her sewing skills to combat the prolonged darkness that many Alaskans face, a condition exacerbated by the state's long winters and known to contribute to seasonal affective disorder. "I am a fourth-generation Alaskan," DeVolld said. "This is my design company, Vintage Train Case, where I fuse modern science and technology with classic art and design." DeVolld creates custom gowns embedded with LED lights and mechanical components such as motorized wings. These elaborate designs can take over 300 hours to complete. She handles everything herself, from sewing each dress by hand to engineering the lighting systems, all skills she picked up through online tutorials and trial-and-error. Her efforts earned national recognition when she was selected as a National STEM Champion. This took her all the way to Washington, D.C., where she shared her message of creativity, light, and self-expression. "I was amazed; I was debating whether I should even enter," DeVolld recalled. "Because what I do doesn't really check a box; it's hard to kind of fit into a category. But I did it anyway and I want other kids to do the same." Growing up in Alaska has deeply influenced her work. The state experiences extreme darkness for much of the year and has one of the highest suicide rates in the U.S. DeVolld sees fashion as a form of healing and aims to bring joy through her illuminated designs. In addition to designing dresses, DeVolld gives back through mentorship programs. She teaches ballet to younger students and speaks at schools about girls in STEM fields. She also created Dance for Heart, a program promoting physical and emotional wellness through movement. "She's a kind, friendly, engaging person who loves people," said Shona DeVolld about her daughter’s compassion and creativity. This past summer, Sara attended a pre-college program at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. There she continued developing her technical skills while staying true to her mission of bringing light into people's lives. "Light for me means glowing joy," DeVolld explained. "I love that I'm able to find technology that lets me add that to my gowns so that I can show light to other people."

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These Black Swimmers are Breaking Barriers, Inspiring a New Wave of Aquatic Freedom

When 42-year-old Tameka Bostick signed up for beginner swimming lessons in Westbury, New York, she wasn’t just learning a new skill. She was taking on a challenge her daughter dared her to try first. “‘Ma, you do it first and see how it is, and then I’ll do it,’” Bostick recalled her teenager saying to CBS News. The lessons are run by Black People Will Swim, a nonprofit founded in 2020 by Paulana Lamonier to help more Black people learn to swim, and in the long run, increase the number of Black swim instructors and lifeguards. “There is a stigma Black people can’t swim,” Bostick said. “I did want to learn how to swim, so I was like, ‘You know what? I’ll do it.’” Bostick grew up in New York City housing projects without access to a pool. When she moved to Long Island with her two daughters, she decided she wanted her kids to have a different experience. Her oldest daughter became a strong swimmer, but when she saw an ad for Black People Will Swim on social media, she signed herself up. For Lamonier, the program is as much about equity as it is about water safety. “The numbers don't lie,” she said. “Black and Brown people are more likely to drown than their white counterparts.” Generations of segregation at public pools left lasting barriers. Even after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1973 that pools could not deny membership based on race, the gap in access remained. According to the CDC, Black children between the ages of 10 and 14 are more than seven times more likely to drown in pools than white children. Research from University of Minnesota professor Samuel Myers shows that drowning rates decrease in communities with more Black lifeguards. “There are policies that we can enact in order to reduce drowning,” Myers said. Programs like Black People Will Swim are part of that change. Scholarships from partners such as Outdoor Afro cover lessons that many families cannot afford. Outdoor Afro’s founder, Rue Mapp, says her group has provided more than 3,000 “swimmerships” to Black and Brown swimmers. “This is a public health crisis,” Mapp said. “No child, no one in America, should have any barrier to connecting to water.” Bostick drives 40 minutes to attend her lessons. She says learning breathing techniques and safety skills has been “very humbling,” but also empowering. This summer, she put those lessons into practice. “I went swimming on the Fourth of July, and was able to keep an eye out for those around me,” she said. “I was able to use the skills I learned in here out there. I felt like a superstar!” She says she wishes she had learned to swim earlier, but is proud she stepped out of her comfort zone. “There's nothing to be ashamed of, I'm 42 and just now learning,” Bostick said. “And I love it! I’m grateful to my daughter for making me go first.”

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How a Young Texan’s Melodies Are Bringing Joy to Shelter Animals

At just 10 years old, Houston’s Yuvi Agarwal has found a way to make shelter dogs a little happier — by playing piano for them. Yuvi, a fourth grader with a love for music, visits Houston Pets Alive every week to perform for the dogs. The idea came after he noticed how his own dog, Bozo, reacts when he plays at home. “When I play the piano or when I play music just on my speakers or something, my dog just always just relaxes, lies down and just listens to the music,” Yuvi said. His parents say his passion for music started early. “Maybe when I was around two or three, I started liking music and I started playing piano when I was four and I think drums when I was five,” Yuvi said. “I started out with a tiny set from Five Below.” The spark for playing at the shelter came when he joined a school program where kids read to animals. That’s when he came up with a project he calls “Wild Tunes.” “I decided to basically play music for the animals,” he said. “Definitely not drums, a melodious instrument such as piano, guitar, steel pan, and that will reduce their anxiety.” At first, several shelters turned down the idea. Then a family friend mentioned Yuvi’s plan to Houston Pets Alive. They invited him to try it, and now the dogs are regular audience members. Some even bark along as he plays. “As parents, we’re really proud of how he came up with this whole concept of Wild Tunes,” his mom Priyanka told WFMY. “He came up with the name, he came up with the design.” Yuvi hopes this is just the beginning. “I want to expand it and eventually make it into a nationwide initiative where people can just openly participate,” he said. “And they just need to love animals and be able to play a melodious instrument.” For now, his weekly concerts at Houston Pets Alive are giving shelter dogs a moment of calm — and a little music in their lives.

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Meet The Pawsome Surfers: Dogs Take On Waves At World Championships

In Pacifica, California, Charlie the 10-year-old yellow Labrador retriever has a passion for surfing that's hard to match. So much so that his owners sometimes have to hide his surfboard just to get a break on the beach. This weekend, he was among 15 to 20 other enthusiastic canine surfers at the World Dog Surfing Championships held at Pacifica State Beach. The event, located about 22 kilometers south of San Francisco, attracted thousands of spectators who watched as dogs of various breeds hit the waves. Labs, terriers, and spaniels suited up in monogrammed life vests paddled out into the Pacific Ocean. Their human companions helped them onto colorful surfboards where they balanced and occasionally performed tricks like turning mid-ride. Contest judges evaluated each dog based on how long they stayed on their boards and maintained balance during their ride. Tricks added extra points to their performance scores. Charlie entered the extra-large single surfer heat and also participated in a tandem ride with two other dogs in an ensemble dubbed “The Dream Team” by their humans. Maria Nieboer, Charlie’s owner, said, “He loves the crowd.” Her husband Jeff works with Charlie as they prepare for each wave. “Charlie does what Charlie wants to do once we’re in the water,” Jeff noted. In addition to having fun on the waves, contest winners earned medals along with bragging rights. Rosie, another yellow lab and part of Charlie’s "Dream Team," competed in four heats that day. Her owner Steve Drottar from Santa Cruz mentioned that she feels accomplished after surfing sessions. “It’s like we go home on the couch and it feels like she’s saying, ‘Thank you,’” Drottar shared. As these pooches rode waves under sunny skies this past Saturday, it was clear that this annual event is more than just a competition—it’s a celebration of teamwork between humans and their four-legged friends.

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Saved by Seven Transfusions: One Man's Heartfelt Thanks to Blood Donors

When his heart stopped for 10 minutes, 42-year-old Matthew Allick from Ealing, west London, thought his life was over. In 2023, a pulmonary embolism triggered a heart attack that left him with multiple blood clots in his heart and lungs. Doctors used seven blood transfusions to keep him alive. “Without blood transfusions I wouldn't be here today,” Allick said. “The left side of my body was filled with clots. Having the right blood ready and waiting gave me a second chance at life.” The father of two spent two years in rehabilitation, relearning everything from how to feed himself to how to walk. This week, he returned to the NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) donor centre in London’s West End to personally thank the staff. “We often don't realise how critical blood donation is until we're on the receiving end,” he said. “Someone's decision to give blood saved my life. And that's what I want more people to realise.” He now hopes his story will inspire more people, especially those from Black heritage communities, to become blood donors. While the blood that saved Allick came from donors of various backgrounds, the NHS says it urgently needs more Black donors. Ethnically matched blood is critical for treating conditions such as sickle cell disease, which disproportionately affects Black patients. NHSBT says it needs 16,000 more Black heritage blood donors this year alone. NHSBT West End centre manager Carolyn Roost called Allick’s visit “a wonderful reminder of the acute relevance of NHSBT's work,” adding that it “puts a face to many thousands of people a year whose lives have been saved and improved by the generosity of the capital's blood donors.” NHSBT chief nursing officer Dee Thiruchelvam echoed the call for more donations, particularly from underrepresented communities.

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This Week’s Good News: Coral Rebounds, Tampa Bay Cleans Up, and New York Goes Electric

Here’s this week’s roundup of uplifting stories from around the globe: • Volunteers cleared 4,000 pounds of trash from Tampa Bay Florida’s biennial 10-day pause on blue crab fishing led to a huge community cleanup. 109 volunteers in boats, kayaks, wave runners and onshore collected 4,000 pounds of debris, including 128 abandoned “ghost traps” that had been killing marine life. Freed animals were released back into the water. • A social media “SOS” paints an autism center When a professional painter posted an urgent call for help to paint an autism center, 50 painters showed up. The result: the entire building was painted for free. • Solar power is now cheaper than fossil fuels According to two new United Nations reports, renewable energy has hit a tipping point. Solar is now 41% cheaper than fossil fuels. In 2024, green energy investments exceeded fossil fuels by $800 billion. • Kew Gardens opens a Carbon Garden London’s Kew Gardens has launched a Carbon Garden featuring 6,500 plants and 35 trees, showing visitors how plants store carbon and can help fight climate change. • Conservation dogs help protect endangered platypuses Specially trained dogs in Australia are helping locate and protect endangered platypuses, a species facing significant habitat threats. • Cycling doubles in Paris in a year Massive investment in bike infrastructure has transformed Paris. Between October 2022 and October 2023, cycling doubled, making bikes an everyday part of city life. • Scientists rediscover a coral thought to be extinct In the Galápagos, more than 250 colonies of black stony coral, unseen since 2000, were found thriving and reproducing. • A homeless shelter uses beer and wine to treat alcoholism One shelter’s unconventional “managed alcohol program” is helping reduce harm, stabilize lives and even save lives. • Retired teacher hikes 567 miles for youth mental health Clint Hedges is walking the entire Colorado Trail to raise funds to open a student-focused coffee shop that supports youth mental health in his community. • Aspen trees are flourishing in Yellowstone For the first time in 80 years, mature aspen trees are thriving thanks to the reintroduction of gray wolves in 1995, which restored balance to the ecosystem. • Citizen science helps real research The platform iNaturalist has collected over 200 million observations from 3.3 million users, resulting in data that has been used in more than 5,000 peer-reviewed studies. • New York becomes the first state to mandate all-electric new buildings A major step for climate policy: the state has voted to ban gas and fossil fuels in most new construction. Other good news: • Denver is building the world’s largest wildlife overpass. • An Indigenous-designed solar mural now powers a building while cutting 150 tons of CO2 emissions each year. • An endangered antelope called an Eastern bongo was born at the Denver Zoo. • MIT developed 3D-printing methods to repair bridges. • More than 1 million people in France signed a petition to stop a bee-killing pesticide. • Argentina passed a law against AI-generated child abuse imagery. • A new underwater sound wave technology speeds up tsunami warnings. • Denmark recorded the highest number of white stork nestlings in decades. • Germany is funding $47 million in grants to small businesses in Ukraine. • Oyster shells are being dumped off Connecticut to rebuild vital oyster reefs. • Lead ammunition for hunting and shooting is being phased out across England, Scotland and Wales.

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A New Jersey Community Rallied to Reunite a Woman with Her Cherished Rings

In Wildwood Crest, New Jersey, a day at the beach turned into an unexpected rollercoaster of emotions for Laura Emanuel. What started as a relaxing outing quickly spiraled into panic when she realized her two cherished rings were missing. With the possibility of them being swallowed up by the sand, she feared they might be lost forever. After searching unsuccessfully and seeking help from friends, Laura reached out to Jeffrey Laag. Laag, a fire lieutenant in Cape May, also volunteers his time running a "Lost Ring & Jewelry Recovery Service." When Laura contacted him about her predicament, he went straight to work. "I was contacted by a woman named Laura and she had told me both of her rings may be on the beach in Wildwood Crest," Laag explained. He initially searched on a blustery evening but left empty-handed. However, luck was soon on their side. A family playing in the sand stumbled upon one of the rings. Thanks to some social media posts, this discovery led them to deliver it to The Grand at Diamond Beach. With renewed hope, Laag decided to give it another shot. This time, he searched specifically for Laura’s wedding band. It wasn’t found where the first ring appeared, but instead closer to the waterline. His persistence paid off when he successfully located it. Laag then retrieved the first ring from The Grand and personally delivered both pieces back to Laura's home in Mantua Township. Overwhelmed with gratitude and relief, Laura expressed her disbelief and joy over the recovery effort made by someone she had never met before. “I didn’t believe it,” she said of getting her rings back safely. “Just the emotion and the happy tears that it has been recovered by this stranger.”

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A New Solar Discovery Just Unlocked a Long-Standing Mystery of the Sun's Heat and Winds

Scientists have found new evidence explaining one of the Sun’s most puzzling mysteries: why the outer layer of its atmosphere, the corona, is far hotter than the surface and why the solar wind speeds up as it leaves the Sun. The findings come from NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, the spacecraft that has flown closer to the Sun than any other mission. By traveling directly through the solar atmosphere, it has gathered data from an environment that has never been studied so closely before. The study, led by Queen Mary University of London and published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, confirms the presence of something called a “helicity barrier.” This effect changes how turbulence — the chaotic flow of plasma and magnetic fields — breaks down and turns into heat. Jack McIntyre, a PhD student and the lead author, said: “This result is exciting because, by confirming the presence of the ‘helicity barrier’, we can account for properties of the solar wind that were previously unexplained, including that its protons are typically hotter than its electrons. By improving our understanding of turbulent dissipation, it could also have important implications for other systems in astrophysics.” In the Sun’s outer atmosphere, plasma is nearly collisionless, meaning particles rarely bump into each other. That has made it difficult to explain how energy gets converted to heat. The new data shows that when the magnetic field becomes strong compared to the plasma pressure, and when there is an imbalance between plasma waves moving in opposite directions, a barrier forms. This barrier slows down the usual cascade of turbulence to smaller scales, altering how the energy is absorbed and how the plasma heats up. These conditions are common close to the Sun — exactly where the Parker Solar Probe has been collecting data — so the effect is likely widespread in the solar wind. Dr Christopher Chen, a space plasma physicist at Queen Mary and McIntyre’s supervisor, said: “This paper is important as it provides clear evidence for the presence of the helicity barrier, which answers some long-standing questions about coronal heating and solar wind acceleration, such as the temperature signatures seen in the solar atmosphere, and the variability of different solar wind streams. This allows us to better understand the fundamental physics of turbulent dissipation, the connection between small-scale physics and the global properties of the heliosphere, and make better predictions for space weather.” Understanding these processes matters far beyond the Sun. Many hot, diffuse plasmas throughout the universe behave in a similar way, so this discovery offers a way to study how energy dissipates into heat in other stars and astrophysical systems.

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Finding Faith Through Silence: How a Nigerian Church Empowers the Deaf Community

On a Sunday morning in Lagos, a set of drums fills the air inside a church in Somolu. There is no choir singing and no sermon spoken aloud. Instead, every beat of the drum signals when to pray, kneel or lift hands in praise. This is one of Nigeria’s few churches built specifically for deaf people. Around 50 to 60 worshippers gather here each week. For them, the service is silent but fully alive. Imoh Udoka, a father of two, has been coming to this church for 36 years. He lost his hearing at the age of 9 after meningitis, which also cut him off from church life. “Here in this church, we have access to worship God in our sign language,” said Udoka, who now teaches sign language. Pastor Remi Akinrenmi leads the congregation with animated sign language sermons, his broad gestures and expressions filling the room. On recent Sundays he has preached about jealousy, and on another day about the power of faith. Worshippers wave their hands high in response to “Praise the Lord” instead of shouting. “There was no community for us before the deaf church started,” Akinrenmi said. “Now, we see each other and say, ‘Oh, you are deaf, too. I am also deaf.’ And we are now together and have formed a community.” For him, the message is simple: “With sign language, God also understands us.” Disability advocates say that for millions of Nigerians who are deaf or hard of hearing, inclusive spaces like this are rare. Traditional beliefs in parts of Africa can see disability as divine punishment, and few churches or public institutions make accommodations. “An exclusive space like this church offers them an opportunity for a safe space to be able to connect and relate,” said Treasures Uchegbu, founder of Speaking Fingers, a sign language advocacy group in Lagos. “They can say, ‘I am not a deaf person just standing alone, I have other deaf people around.’” The church organizes outreach programs to reach other deaf communities in Lagos and runs sign language classes. Hearing children of members attend these lessons so they can better communicate with their parents. Some hearing students also join the Sunday services to immerse themselves in sign language. The church began in 1956, during colonial times, as the Christian Mission for Deaf Africans. Today, in a country of 220 million people, about 10 million are deaf or live with significant hearing loss. Access to public services remains limited, and laws meant to protect people with disabilities are rarely enforced. For 49-year-old Lagos state worker Oluwakemi Oluwatoke-Ogunjirin, this church has been a lifeline. Born deaf, she spent years attending hearing churches where she couldn’t follow what was happening. Outside, she still relies on public infrastructure that often fails her. Inside this church, she says she has finally found a place where she belongs. “The church goes beyond faith; we have people like ourselves that we can talk to as friends,” she said. Learning sign language here has allowed her to communicate widely, breaking years of isolation. “The sign language makes life very easy for us,” she said. “It helps us communicate beyond the church.”

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Chinese Experts Lead Historic Global Plan To Combat 'Silent Killer' Liver Cancer

A new report led by Chinese experts lays out an international plan to tackle liver cancer, one of the deadliest and fastest-growing health threats worldwide. Released on July 28 to mark World Hepatitis Day, the study — titled The Lancet Commission on addressing the global hepatocellular carcinoma burden: comprehensive strategies from prevention to treatment — is the first global health report in more than two centuries that The Lancet has published under Chinese leadership. It brought together 51 specialists from countries including Japan, South Korea, the United States and Spain. At a press conference in Shanghai, co-chair Fan Jia of Fudan University’s Zhongshan Hospital said the focus was on “implementable public health strategies,” not just academic research. Liver cancer, often called a silent killer because it develops quietly for years, causes an estimated 870,000 new cases and 760,000 deaths worldwide every year. Without action, the commission warns, those figures could climb to 1.52 million new cases and 1.37 million deaths annually by 2050. The report points to a shift in what is driving the disease. Hepatitis B and C remain the leading causes, but liver cancer linked to alcohol use and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) — a condition related to obesity and poor diets — is rising sharply. Researchers say high-sugar diets and sedentary lifestyles are changing the pattern of liver cancer worldwide. Despite these trends, the authors estimate that 60 percent of liver cancer cases could be prevented. Zhou Jian, president of Zhongshan Hospital, said China’s experience shows that “from hepatitis B vaccination and early screening to improvements in clinical care, our efforts show that liver cancer can be managed like other chronic diseases such as hypertension or diabetes.” The commission outlines a three-step strategy: First, prevention: expand hepatitis B vaccination, promote antiviral treatment for hepatitis B and C, and raise awareness about diet, obesity and alcohol risks. Second, early detection: include liver fibrosis screening in routine health checks for people with diabetes, obesity and other risk factors, and use non-invasive tests to make screening more widely available. Third, treatment: strengthen health systems to improve access to medicine, reduce gaps between regions, and introduce palliative care from the start of treatment. To reverse the projected rise in cases, the report says the world must achieve at least a 2 percent annual drop in age-standardized incidence rates. That would prevent an estimated 8.8 million new cases and 7.7 million deaths over the next 25 years.

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Beijing Unveils Cutting-Edge Robots at World Conference

The 2025 World Robot Conference in Beijing is set to double the excitement of last year's event with over 100 new robotics products making their debut. This annual conference, taking place from August 8 to 12 in the bustling Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (also known as Beijing E-Town), has become a significant platform for showcasing innovation in robotics. This year’s theme, "Making Robots Smarter, Making Embodied Agents More Intelligent," underscores the focus on advancing robotic technology. Attendees can expect an impressive lineup of over 1,500 exhibits from more than 200 leading robotics companies worldwide. The array of cutting-edge products includes agile quadruped robots, rescue and inspection robots, innovative catheter-shaping robots, and even robotic lawn mowers. These innovations offer a glimpse into the future of smart machines. Humanoid robots are one of the main attractions this year. Fifty manufacturers will showcase their latest full-body humanoid robot designs. This spotlight on humanoid technology reflects a broader trend in the industry toward creating machines that more closely mimic human capabilities and form. In recent years, China has established itself as a front-runner in robotics innovation. In 2024 alone, China accounted for two-thirds of global robot patent applications and produced an impressive 556,000 industrial robots, solidifying its position as the world’s top manufacturer. Xu Xiaolan, president of the Chinese Institute of Electronics, noted that over the past decade, international supporting institutions at the conference have grown from 12 to 28. Meanwhile, overseas participants have increased from just over 10 to more than 80. The conference is co-hosted by the Chinese Institute of Electronics and the World Robot Cooperation Organization. Organizers expect this year’s event to draw a record number of international institutions. Alongside the main conference activities, there will be a robot consumer festival aimed at spurring industrial upgrades and boosting consumer demand for these advanced technologies. The World Robot Conference is not just about dazzling displays; it's also a hub for collaboration and exchange among global innovators in robotics. With such a diverse array of new technologies on display, attendees are sure to gain insights into how these advancements could shape industries across the globe.

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