She Turned Her Garage Into a Grocery Store, No Checkout Line Required
What began as a small gesture during the pandemic has become a lifeline for dozens of families in San Francisco’s Outer Richmond. In 2021, Priscilla “Cilla” Lee opened a free food pantry in her garage to help neighbors facing food insecurity. Four years later, she and more than 40 volunteers now serve over 50 families […]
The Grocery Stores Where Everything Is Free and Everyone Is Welcome
In cities like Baltimore and Nashville, free grocery stores are reimagining how communities tackle hunger—offering not just food, but dignity. At the Pratt Free Market in Baltimore, anyone can walk in and shop without showing ID or proving need. Shelves are lined with fresh produce, dry goods, and household essentials, all sourced from food banks, […]
This Sacred Plant is Now Growing in Oregon
In the heart of Portland, Oregon, a vibrant taro garden is helping displaced Native Hawaiians reconnect with their culture—one leaf at a time. Known as kalo in Hawaiian, taro is more than just a crop; it’s a spiritual ancestor in Hawaiian mythology and a cornerstone of traditional diets. The project began with a humble community […]
Lost in the Wild—What She Found Saved Her Life
What began as a solo camping trip turned into a survival story with an unbelievable ending. Tiffany Slaton, 28, is safe and recovering after surviving for weeks alone in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains—thanks to her resilience, resourcefulness, and a bit of well-timed luck. Injured in an avalanche and left without gear, she melted snow for […]
A Natural Brain Boost Might Be Closer Than We Thought
Scientists may have found a new way to fight memory loss—and it doesn’t involve removing anything from the brain. In a new study, researchers discovered that raising levels of a natural brain protein called Hevin helped aging mice remember more and learn faster. Even mice with signs of Alzheimer’s improved, despite still having harmful plaque […]
At 16, She’s Chasing Her Dream and Running Her Own Studio
When Maria Radu moved from Romania to Plymouth at age six, she didn’t speak the language and barely knew anyone but dance became her anchor. It gave her a place to go, a way to express herself, and most importantly, a sense of belonging. “It was a home for me,” she says. Now, at just […]
From Deadly to Lifesaving, The Aussie Creatures Behind Modern Medicine
In a quiet room at the Australian Reptile Park, Emma Teni spends her days milking the world’s most dangerous spiders—not for thrills, but to save lives. Armed with bright pink tweezers and a steady hand, she extracts venom from Sydney funnel-web spiders, one of Australia’s deadliest arachnids, as part of a government-run antivenom program that […]
A Christmas Gift Sparks Once-in-a-Millennium Find
When Cameron Anderson unwrapped a new metal detector on Christmas morning, he never imagined it would lead to the discovery of a Bronze Age treasure buried in his family’s Aberdeenshire farm. Guided by the metal detecting mantra “If in doubt, dig it out,” Anderson unearthed three ancient fragments over several days—each piece belonging to a […]
This Pile of Leaves Just Disrupted the Paper Industry
At just 16 years old, Valentyn Frechka was hiking in the Carpathian Mountains when he had an idea that would reshape the paper industry. Now 24, the Ukrainian scientist has turned that idea into an award-winning innovation—creating biodegradable, recyclable paper from fallen leaves. His method can turn 2.3 tonnes of leaves into a tonne of […]
A Predator Was Removed and Nature Stepped Back In
For years, the booming call of invasive bullfrogs drowned out the natural sounds of Yosemite’s ponds and devastated the native wildlife that once thrived there. But now, thanks to a years-long effort led by researchers from UC Davis, the native northwestern pond turtle is making a quiet but powerful comeback. The team found that where […]