Mahjong Nights Are Becoming the Hottest Trend in San Francisco Bars

What started as a few friends gathering around a mahjong table in a San Francisco apartment has grown into one of the city’s most in-demand social scenes — thanks to 25-year-old Ryan Lee. Lee, a Chinese American management consultant and business school student, first learned to play mahjong just two years ago. He got hooked quickly. He dug up his parents’ old sets and began inviting friends over to play. Then he took things up a notch. Today, Lee runs the Youth Luck Leisure (YLL) Mahjong Club, a fast-growing community that hosts bimonthly pop-up events in bars, restaurants, and nightclubs across San Francisco. Some nights draw up to 200 people and 30 tables of players, with live DJs, themed cocktails, and a mix of seasoned players and total beginners. “A lot of people are just really intrigued even though they don’t really know how to play,” Lee said. “There’s a cultural component they’re trying to connect with. It’s kind of like a cultural nostalgia.” That nostalgia — mixed with a desire to unplug and socialize — is part of a larger trend. According to ticketing platform Eventbrite, mahjong events in the U.S. jumped 179% from 2023 to 2024. Gen Z, in particular, is embracing old-school activities like needlework, baking, and now mahjong, as part of the so-called “grannycore” movement. Mahjong, a game of strategy, tiles, and sharp memory, was invented in 19th century China and typically played with four players. The objective is to form a winning hand with four sets of three and one pair. But its appeal goes far beyond the rules. “It’s a really tactile game, and it’s really a social game. It really easily builds community among people,” said Nicole Wong, a writer and audio producer based in Oakland. Wong learned to play during childhood visits to her grandparents in New Zealand, and now shares her passion through The Mahjong Project, an oral history initiative and instructional guide. She also authored Mahjong: House Rules from Across the Asian Diaspora, which explores the game's global variations and cultural significance. “For the Asian American community, I think there’s interest in connecting to your heritage and your culture in a way that was not the case when I was growing up,” Wong said. That sense of reconnection is something Lee has tapped into, especially among young Asian Americans who may not have grown up playing mahjong but are curious to learn. Each YLL event includes teaching assistants to help newcomers get started. “We welcome people who have no experience at mahjong at all,” said Joyce Yam, YLL Mahjong Club’s sponsorship manager. “And they love it so much that they keep coming back.” The pop-ups have a festive, clubby atmosphere — a far cry from the quiet games some may associate with older generations. Lee sees that as the point. “It’s not just an interest to learn how to play mahjong,” he said. “It’s to find a third space or another community to do things with.” The club has now hosted nearly 20 events in San Francisco since launching last year, and Lee’s sister has started a similar series in Los Angeles. Expansion to other cities is in the works. Along the way, it’s helped connect people like Ethan Vuong, a Florida native who moved to San Francisco and wanted a way to meet new people while reconnecting with his Chinese heritage. “It’s not just a skill or mechanics-based game,” Vuong said. “It’s an expression of your personality. I just keep playing because I have this goal that I’m going to beat my grandma one day.” From late-night bars to Chinatown pop-ups, Lee’s mahjong nights are reviving an age-old game in a distinctly modern way — one that’s social, inclusive, and deeply rooted in culture. And if the long waiting lists are any sign, he’s just getting started.

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Bride Turns Canceled Wedding Into Charity Event For Community Members With Disabilities

When a San Jose bride-to-be called off her wedding just two weeks before the big day, she was left with more than heartbreak — she was also staring down $15,000 in nonrefundable deposits. But instead of letting the day go to waste, she made a decision that stunned her community: she and her family donated the entire venue and catering to a local nonprofit that supports families of people with disabilities. The nonprofit, Parents Helping Parents, quickly transformed what was meant to be a wedding celebration into something entirely different — a candlelit charity event called the Ball for All. “I was incredibly touched that a bride, facing an extremely stressful and difficult situation, was willing to look past her own pain and consider how to use the significant financial deposit for the wedding to bring joy to others,” said Maria Daane, executive director of the organization. The bride and her family chose to remain anonymous, quietly arranging the donation just days before the event. With little time to plan, the nonprofit scrambled to send out invitations — unsure how many guests would be able to attend on such short notice. But when the evening arrived, every seat in the 100-person ballroom was filled. Guests with disabilities and their families arrived dressed to the nines, enjoying music, dancing, and the warmth of community. What could have been a night of sorrow became something joyful, inclusive, and unforgettable. “I imagine weddings are canceled now and then,” said Daane. “But never have I heard of one turned into a community party for those with disabilities and their families… It reinforces that any of us, regardless of our circumstances, can do something beautiful for others.” The Ball for All proved that even in the middle of personal disappointment, generosity can still light up a room.

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“Mom, Pull Over!”: Grandma and Aunt Help Deliver Baby on California Freeway

A California family now has a birth story they’ll never forget — and it all happened on the side of a freeway. In the early hours of November 8, Susan Sisler was driving her pregnant daughter, Alyssa, to the hospital when things took a dramatic turn. Just 15 minutes from their destination, Alyssa’s labor suddenly progressed — fast. “Mom, pull over! His head’s coming out!” Alyssa shouted, according to Susan. With no time to spare, Susan pulled over on the 215 Freeway near Eastridge Avenue. Her other daughter, Jessica, was in the car too. Together, the grandmother and aunt jumped into action. “I see the head,” Susan recalled saying. “Get out of the way!” she shouted, before positioning her hands to help safely deliver her grandson. At 2:35 a.m., baby Jackson was born on the side of the freeway, according to the California Highway Patrol. The baby's father arrived at the scene shortly after and rode with the new family in the ambulance to the hospital. Video shared by KTLA showed the father in the back of the ambulance, looking relieved and emotional as he sat with Alyssa and Jackson. Both mother and baby are healthy and doing well, the family confirmed. “It’s so amazing,” Susan told reporters. “I’m shaking. I feel like I’m going to pass out — just excited and overjoyed.” A dramatic delivery, a healthy baby, and a freeway exit no one in the family will ever forget.

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New Romantic Comedy Aims For Historic Space Shoot With Astronaut Scott Kelly's Expertise

A new romantic comedy titled I See You is setting its sights on an ambitious goal: to become the first Western film to launch a filmmaker into low-Earth orbit to shoot key scenes in actual space. The project, spearheaded by Italian producer Andrea Iervolino (Ferrari, To the Bone) and his astro-focused production company Space11 Corp, will blend live-action scenes shot in orbit with stock space footage and Earth-based cinematography. While I See You won’t be filmed entirely in space, it’s aiming to break new ground by putting a director behind the camera in orbit — a first for a Western film. Details on the plot, cast, and lead filmmaker are still under wraps, and shooting is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2026. But given the tight global launch schedules, that timeline may shift. Crucially, the production is still in the process of securing a seat aboard a crewed spaceflight — the central element needed to pull it off. Adding significant credibility to the project is retired NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, who has officially joined the production as an advisor. Kelly, who spent nearly a full year aboard the International Space Station and flew on four space missions during his 17-year career, will bring his first-hand expertise to ensure the film’s portrayal of life in space is grounded in real science and human experience. According to Deadline, Kelly will help the team understand the psychological and physical toll of space travel — including isolation, confinement, and emotional connection in a zero-gravity environment — themes central to the film’s romantic narrative. “Having Scott Kelly on board is an extraordinary honor,” Iervolino told Deadline. “His experience brings emotional truth and scientific realism to our vision — reminding us that love and humanity transcend every boundary, even in the silence of space.” Screenwriters Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider, known for their work on Northern Exposure and The Sopranos, are penning the script. While the idea of filming in orbit might sound far-fetched, it’s not without precedent. In 2023, Russia released The Challenge, the first feature film to shoot actual scenes in space using professional actors. Meanwhile, a long-rumored collaboration between Tom Cruise, director Doug Liman, and SpaceX remains stuck in development limbo. If I See You does make it to orbit, it won’t just be a cinematic novelty — it will mark a new chapter in filmmaking, blending love, science, and the final frontier in ways no rom-com ever has.

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Veteran Creates Stunning Poppy Display Using 2,500 Recycled Bottles

A Royal Navy veteran in Leicestershire has turned thousands of recycled bottles into a powerful tribute to fallen soldiers. Chris Penrose, 63, from Shepshed, used over 2,400 plastic bottles to create a vibrant poppy cascade outside his terraced home, marking this year’s Armistice Day. The display flows from his first-floor window down to the front door, forming a striking sea of red in honour of those lost in war. Penrose, who served from 1979 to 2002 and reached the rank of chief steward, began working on the project in May, just after VE Day commemorations. “From May, this has been in the back of my mind,” he said. “It was done in three different camouflage nettings. Once it was completed, it was rolled up and stored in the attic.” Friends and family pitched in by collecting soft plastic bottles, which were cleaned and spray-painted red before being turned into handcrafted poppies. Penrose, who is also the deputy Poppy Appeal organiser for Shepshed, said the response from the community has been overwhelming. “I've had people walking past and speaking about it. It's been phenomenal on social media, and I've had people looking around for the display,” he said. “It makes me proud that people acknowledge what we have done.” While the project has caught plenty of attention, Penrose insists it was never about the spotlight. “I haven't done this for the recognition,” he said. “I would have done it for the pride of the Poppy Appeal and what it represents. If I have brought it to people's attention, then I have done my job.” For Penrose, remembrance isn't just about the past. “People think about veterans from the First and Second World Wars, but we're helping people who are in conflicts now and have suffered because of it,” he said. “We must keep the tradition alive, and I would still be beating the drum even if no-one else in the local community was not remembering the conflicts.”

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Want to Age Slower? Learn Another Language, Says Landmark European Study

Learning a second language might be more than just brainy — it could help you live longer. That’s the key takeaway from a sweeping new study that examined the health and ageing patterns of more than 80,000 adults aged 51 to 90 across 27 European countries. The results, published in Nature, found that people who spoke more than one language were significantly less likely to experience accelerated ageing — a condition where someone’s biological age is higher than their actual age, increasing the risk of age-related diseases. Multilingual people, the study found, were half as likely to experience this kind of premature biological ageing compared to monolinguals. “Each additional language provided measurable protection,” said Agustin Ibanez, a neuroscientist at Trinity College Dublin and co-author of the study. “It’s a strong signal that everyday mental activity, such as using multiple languages, can influence the biological pace of ageing.” The more languages spoken, the better the outcome — in what researchers call a “dose-dependent” relationship. Regardless of a person’s country, environment, or background, each added language was associated with slower ageing. This study differs from earlier ones in both scale and focus. While past research has linked bilingualism to slower cognitive decline, this new work used population-level data to explore overall biological ageing. It makes the case not just for brain benefits, but for whole-body health — and highlights language learning as a powerful and underused health tool. “Speaking several languages continuously exercises multiple systems,” said Ibanez. “It forces you to manage attention, inhibit interference, and switch between linguistic rules, all of which strengthen the networks that tend to weaken with age.” He added that the effects go beyond the neurological. Multilingualism may support heart, metabolic, and immune health by reducing stress and enhancing social connection — all of which are linked to better ageing outcomes. “Multilingualism also enhances social connectedness, cultural belonging, and perhaps emotional regulation,” he said. “These experiences reduce stress and support cardiovascular, metabolic, and immune health. Therefore, the mechanism is likely multi-layered.” Across Europe, around 75% of working-age adults speak more than one language, according to EU figures. The Nordic countries tend to rank highest in bilingualism rates, while Southern Europe lags behind. The United Kingdom fares particularly poorly: in 2024, just under 3% of all A-level exams were in modern foreign languages, according to the Higher Education Policy Institute. Ibanez hopes the findings will push policymakers to prioritise multilingual education — not only in schools, but across community and adult learning programs. “In schools, encouraging early and sustained language exposure may build long-term cognitive and emotional resilience,” he said. “In adult education and community programmes, supporting bilingualism can foster inclusion, creativity, and well-being.” He also sees a role for language learning in public health: as an inexpensive, widely accessible way to help prevent or delay ageing-related conditions. “Health systems increasingly recognise that social and cultural factors influence ageing,” he said. “Language should now be part of that conversation.” In other words, forget the anti-ageing serums and expensive supplements — your local language class might be one of the most effective long-term investments in your health.

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Couple Rescues Sea Turtle Stuck Between Rocks

A Texas couple made a splash by coming to the aid of a sea turtle in distress. While enjoying some time outdoors, Adan Barajas and his wife stumbled upon what they initially thought was a lifeless sea turtle wedged between rocks. The scene played out on video, with Adan capturing the moment when his wife realized that the turtle was still alive and in need of assistance. In the footage, you can hear Adan rooting for his wife's efforts as she carefully maneuvers to free the stranded creature. With determination, she manages to grab hold of the turtle, while Adan continues to film and offer encouragement. Together, they were able to return the sea turtle safely back into its watery home. This act of kindness highlights how individuals can make a difference even during casual outings. The Barajas' quick thinking and compassion ensured that this sea turtle got another chance to swim freely. The story serves as a reminder of the impact humans can have on wildlife, especially in environments where animals may encounter hazards like being trapped or disoriented. It's also an example of the unexpected adventures that can occur when spending time in nature.

She Claimed Bronze at the Obstacle World Championships — Now, She's Aiming for the Olympics

Trowbridge athlete Mila Stanazi just made history — and says she felt like she was “flying like a superhero” doing it. The 27-year-old took home a bronze medal at the inaugural UIPM Obstacle World Championships in Beijing last month, securing her first ever podium finish on the international stage. Held at China’s National Olympic Sports Centre, the event featured a high-speed 100m sprint across 11 obstacles, resembling the intense, grip-heavy challenges seen on shows like Ninja Warrior. Speaking on BBC Wiltshire’s Sport at Six, Stanazi called the experience “incredible and very surreal.” “It’s very thrilling,” she said. “It’s like a puzzle — you need to try and solve it, but be fast as well.” Obstacle course racing (OCR) is gaining serious momentum, with the sport set to replace equestrian as the fifth discipline in the modern pentathlon at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. But Stanazi is hoping for something more — that it will eventually be recognized as a stand-alone Olympic event. With her recent performance, she’s in strong contention to represent the UK if that day comes. She’s already the fastest female OCR athlete in the country. Stanazi first discovered the sport at 19, and has been climbing podiums and scaling walls ever since. She says it takes “incredible grip strength, precision, accuracy,” and “a bit of confidence” to succeed. As for what’s next, she’s keeping it simple: “I’ll keep eating my rice and peas and just hope for the best.”

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Taylor Drift and Gritzilla Hit the Roads: UK Town Unveils Hilarious New Snow Plow Names

Lancashire’s gritting fleet just got a winter upgrade — and a dose of personality. Ten new gritters will be rolling out across the county’s roads this season with names like Taylor Drift, SnOasis, and Ctrl-Salt-Delete, after a public naming competition drew a wave of pun-filled suggestions. Also joining the icy frontlines: Gritty Gritty Bang Bang, Gritzilla, I Skid You Not, Professor Dumblethaw, Ready Salted, The Greatest Snowman, and Walter the Salter. Warren Goldsworthy, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, said the public’s creativity shone through. “We had a great response to the competition,” he said. “People have shown their boundless creativity and come up with some brilliant names for our new gritters.” The winning entries were selected by Goldsworthy and Matt Townsend, director of highways and transport. The new vehicles replace 10 older gritters and are equipped with smart technology that automatically adjusts where and how much salt is spread, helping conserve resources while keeping roads safe. Together, the expanded 55-vehicle fleet can treat up to 1,700 miles (2,735 km) of priority routes whenever icy conditions are forecast. “These gritters are among our hardest-working vehicles,” said Goldsworthy. “Investing in their upkeep and replacing them when we need to is vital to make sure we can reliably deliver this vital service.” Lancashire has a history of standout gritter names. Previous entries have included Snow Be Gone Kenobi, Freezy Rider, and Snowella de Vil.

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Artists Craft Stunning Sand Sculpture To Honor Remembrance Day

A sprawling sand tribute has appeared on the shores of Tregirls beach near Padstow, Cornwall — this time featuring a life-size Vulcan aircraft etched into the sand to mark Remembrance. The artwork, created by artists Harry Maddox and Steve Rolfe, took around five hours to complete on Saturday and stretches an impressive 45 metres by 39 metres (147 by 127 feet). “It was big,” Maddox said. “The Falkland conflict was in my mind when I came up with this one.” The Avro Vulcan was a key part of Britain’s long-range bombing missions during the 1982 Falklands War. Its silhouette, now carved into the sand, served as a powerful visual tribute to those who served during the conflict. Maddox is no stranger to commemorative sand art. In past years, he has used the beach as a canvas for Remembrance tributes, including a design dedicated to the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry last year, and in 2023, a piece featuring three life-size World War Two planes. The temporary nature of the artwork adds to its emotional weight — a massive, detailed creation eventually reclaimed by the tide.

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Researchers Unveil New Principle Explaining Growth Slowdown in Nutrient-Rich Environments

Why do living organisms slow down their growth even when nutrients are abundant? A team of researchers from Japan may have found the answer. In a new study, scientists from the Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) at the Institute of Science Tokyo and Japan’s RIKEN institute have proposed a mathematical principle that helps explain why the growth of cells slows as conditions improve — a puzzle that has long stumped biologists. Their discovery provides a framework that could apply across the tree of life, from microbes to plants to animals. They call it the “global constraint principle.” The phenomenon it explains is familiar: add nutrients to a growing organism, and it grows faster — but only to a point. Eventually, each extra boost yields smaller gains. Scientists refer to this as the law of diminishing returns, and it’s seen in everything from crops to bacteria. “Growth depends on nutrients, energy, and the inner workings of cells,” said Tetsuhiro S. Hatakeyama, Specially Appointed Associate Professor at ELSI. “But we’ve lacked a universal explanation for how cells coordinate these factors.” Hatakeyama and his colleague, RIKEN researcher Jumpei F. Yamagishi, believe they’ve found one. Their work sheds new light on how living systems allocate limited internal resources — and why growth slows even when there’s plenty of food to go around. Moving Beyond Old Models Since the 1940s, microbiologists have used the Monod equation to predict microbial growth. It shows that organisms grow faster as more nutrients are added, but eventually level off. However, it assumes there’s only one limiting nutrient at a time. That’s not how real cells work. Inside every cell, thousands of chemical reactions are happening at once. Enzymes, proteins, and membranes all compete for space and energy. “It’s not just about one nutrient,” said Hatakeyama. “It’s about how the entire system manages all the constraints at once.” By using a method called constraint-based modeling, the researchers simulated how cells like E. coli bacteria distribute their internal resources. They found that while each added nutrient helped, it also triggered new bottlenecks — such as not having enough enzymes or membrane space to keep up. “The shape of growth curves emerges directly from the physics of resource allocation inside cells, rather than depending on any particular biochemical reaction,” said Hatakeyama. The “Terraced Barrel” of Life The team’s concept combines two classic laws of biology: the Monod equation and Liebig’s law of the minimum, which states that growth is limited by the scarcest resource, no matter how abundant the others are. Their version of Liebig’s famous barrel analogy — where each stave represents a different nutrient — is more complex. In their “terraced barrel” model, every time one bottleneck is removed, another one appears. Growth continues, but with diminishing returns. As Yamagishi put it, “Our model shows that cells hit new limits in stages, even as conditions improve.” To test their theory, the researchers ran large-scale computer simulations of E. coli cells, incorporating details like protein usage, cell crowding, and membrane limitations. The results matched real-life lab experiments, including how cells responded to extra nitrogen or oxygen. A New Framework for Life’s Limits The discovery opens the door to new ways of understanding biology. Rather than focusing on one molecule at a time, the global constraint principle allows scientists to look at the big picture: how life grows when everything is interconnected and limited. “This lays the groundwork for universal laws of growth,” said Yamagishi. “It helps us predict how cells, ecosystems, and even entire biospheres might respond to change.” That could have wide-reaching implications — from designing more efficient bio-manufacturing systems, to improving crop yields, to building better climate models. The research was supported by institutions at the forefront of interdisciplinary science. ELSI, one of Japan’s elite World Premier International research centers, is known for exploring fundamental questions about the origin of life. It recently joined the newly formed Institute of Science Tokyo, created by merging Tokyo Tech and TMDU in 2024. RIKEN, meanwhile, remains Japan’s largest research institute and one of its most globally respected. By bridging cellular biology with ecological theory, Hatakeyama and Yamagishi’s work offers something rare in science: a principle that might actually apply to all life.

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