Goliath’s Father’s Day Miracle at 135
Zoo Miami’s Galápagos giant, Goliath, is marking Father’s Day with a remarkable first: the 517-pound tortoise has become a dad at age 135. His first hatchling emerged on June 4 after 128 days of incubation, making it not only Goliath’s debut in fatherhood but also the very first Galápagos tortoise to hatch at the zoo. […]
Subway Discovery Sparks a Family of Three
In August 2000, Danny Stewart’s evening walk home turned extraordinary when he spotted a tiny newborn left swaddled on a subway platform. Police arrived within moments, and Danny’s heart raced as he scooped up the baby, calling his boyfriend Pete in a panic that would echo through their lives. Media attention faded soon enough, but […]
Philly’s Smiley-Faced Fashion Revolution
Eighteen-year-old Sammy Grossman of Philadelphia found his lifeline in a simple smiley face. After years of battling depression and anxiety, he discovered that therapy was a vital first step—but creating a clothing brand called Project Spread Smiles was his true breakthrough. Each item features a green smiley face with a semicolon for an eye, symbolizing […]
80 Miles, 119 Stops, One Mission
Adam Bigelow will bike to all 119 Dunkin’ shops in Boston on National Donut Day to raise funds for MS research after his girlfriend’s diagnosis. He signed up for the National MS Society’s Cape Cod ride but wanted a fun, local twist—so he mapped an 80-mile loop through every Dunkin’ in town. At each stop […]
NZ’s Mushroom Miracle is in One Doctor’s Hands
New Zealand has approved restricted medical use of psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression under a tightly controlled new policy. Only psychiatrists with special authority may obtain and administer the hallucinogen, and so far just one clinician has secured the right to prescribe it. The move places New Zealand among a handful of nations exploring psychedelic treatments […]
This Harpist Is Shattering Classical Music’s Color Barrier
Candace Lark has spent more than three decades rewriting the rules of classical music in suburban Philadelphia. She first plucked her harp strings at age 13 and went on to win major awards and perform on famed stages. Yet the 46-year-old says her proudest moments come from mentoring new talent rather than solo spotlights. For […]
Farm Animals Chill Out with Frozen Fruit Lollies
At Manor Farm Park and Woodland in East Leake, staff are turning fruit and vegetables into frozen lollies to help their 200-plus residents beat the rising temperatures. Animals lean against bottles of frozen water for relief when the sun dips, and keepers monitor everyone closely for signs of distress such as panting or lethargy. Thick-coated […]
Vienna Turns Social Housing into a Climate Powerhouse
At Vienna’s edge, a sleek wood-clad apartment block sits beside a wide park, its rooftop solar panels and rosemary garden cooling the building naturally. Inside, residents like Sebastian Schublach enjoy light-filled flats that never need air conditioning in summer or extra heat in winter. Nearly half of Vienna’s two million people rent similar “social housing” […]
Dog Detective’s Nose Stops Illicit Vape Ring
An eight-year-old cocker spaniel named Mostyn proved that crime doesn’t pay when he sniffed out hundreds of illegal vapes, cigarettes, and tobacco pouches at a Leighton Buzzard market. Called in by Central Bedfordshire Council after reports of illicit sales to minors, Mostyn and his handler uncovered 451 vapes, 758 cigarette packs, and 175 tobacco pouches […]
How a Support Dog Gave Her Independence Back
Elie-Mai Riddick, a 24-year-old forensic psychology student from Bristol, faced a crisis in confidence when her spinal condition left her dependent on walking aids and forced her to pause her degree. Diagnosed with Scheuermann’s Kyphosis at 16 and later with functional neurological disorder, she struggled with balance despite surgery and found it hard to navigate […]