16 jaw-dropping wildlife photos from the 2026 BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition
A photographer waited 17 hours in freezing conditions to capture a polar bear photograph. The image was among 16 wildlife photos selected for the 2026 BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition.
On 9/11, hundreds of ordinary boat captains carried out the largest maritime evacuation in history
Hundreds of ordinary boat captains evacuated 500,000 people from Manhattan to safety in just 9 hours on September 11. Fishing boats, tugboats, and personal sailboats participated in this largest maritime evacuation in history.
First Permit to Clean Up Old Mine Waste Issued for WA State Under 2024 ‘Good Samaritan Act’
The EPA approved the first permit under its 2024 Good Samaritan law to remediate abandoned mine waste. Trout Unlimited, a fishing and conservation nonprofit, received this permit to clean up old mine workings in Washington State.
Mozambique protects Mount Mabu ‘butterfly forest’
Mozambique established a 9,341-hectare protected area on Mount Mabu in the Lugela district, a forest hosting over 200 endemic butterfly species. The Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries created the Mount Mabu Community Conservation Area through a decree published August 24.
Hotel Staff Give Girl’s Lost Plushie the VIP Treatment Before Sending Her Home with a Note (LOOK)
A young girl left her stuffed animal named Rosie at the Four Seasons hotel in Taormina, Sicily during her family's stay. Hotel staff reunited Julia with the plushie and included a note with her return package.
Luxurious Bath Complex Used by Roman Emperor Found in Serbia
A Roman bath complex with three pools and a sauna built for Emperor Maximinus Daza has been discovered in Serbia. The complex, called a balneum in Latin, was designed for the emperor who ruled briefly before his death in civil war.
Anthropic Just Revealed That It’s Stopped Foreign Agents From Using Claude to Develop Possible Bioweapons
Anthropic blocked foreign agents from using Claude to develop potential bioweapons, according to the company's disclosure. A military institution conducting gain-of-function research was identified as a concern in this incident.
Kenyan Startup Makes Robotic Hands That Translate Teacher’s Voice into Signs for Deaf Students
A Kenyan entrepreneur developed robotic hands that convert teachers' spoken words into sign language for deaf students. Kenya has approximately 300,000 deaf or hearing-impaired children, with few enrolled in school and no standardized signed language system.
Nigeria’s Rachel Ikemeh wins Rolex Award for efforts to save rare red monkey
Rachel Ikemeh received the 2026 Rolex Award for conservation work protecting the Niger Delta's ecology and the critically endangered Niger Delta red colobus monkey. Her efforts involve working with communities in the Niger Delta region to preserve this primate species listed as critically endangered.
Two wild Przewalski’s horse foals born in Kazakhstan after 200 years
Two male Przewalski's horse foals were born in Kazakhstan in late August, marking the first wild births on Kazakh soil in over 200 years. The first foal was born August 22 to a 7-year-old mare named Tessa at a reintroduction center in central Kazakhstan grasslands.
How to enhance ocean health and resilience with marine rewilding
Marine rewilding offers active recovery of ocean ecosystems beyond traditional protected areas to address overfishing, acidification, and warming. Researchers advocate this approach as a necessary strategy shift from passive conservation toward ecological restoration efforts.
A ‘Living Roof’ is Growing Atop Ford’s Largest Factory–Saving Energy and Boosting Birds
A living roof has been installed atop Ford's Rogue Factory in Dearborn, Michigan, covering 2,000 acres and designed to save energy while supporting bird populations. The project revives Henry Ford's 1915 vision of transforming the manufacturing site into a bird sanctuary.
Caribbean scientists document uncharted deep-sea waters in Trinidad and Tobago
A monthlong expedition mapped previously uncharted deep-sea waters around Trinidad and Tobago, with nearly 93% of the nation's waters exceeding recreational scuba diving depth limits. Scientists conducted one of the most comprehensive surveys ever undertaken in these deep Caribbean waters.
Arthritis Drug Demonstrates Substantial Hair Regrowth in 1,400 Alopecia Patients
An arthritis drug restored up to 100% of hair in 1,400 patients with severe alopecia, an autoimmune disorder affecting approximately 2% of the global population. The condition occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles as harmful invaders.
Scientists Recreated Chirps of Jurassic Insects, Simulating a 165 Million-yo Soundscape (Listen)
Scientists recreated chirps of insects that lived 165 million years ago during the Jurassic period by analyzing fossils of crickets and grasshoppers. Thorin Jonsson from the University of Graz's Institute of Biology produced audio recordings simulating these ancient insect sounds.
Yard Work Reveals Largest Trove of Viking Silver Ever Discovered in Denmark
A Danish homeowner uncovered the largest Viking silver hoard ever found in Denmark while excavating his backyard for a terrace. The discovery emerged within the first thirty minutes of his digging work.
FDA Immediately Approves Drug That’s Doubling Lifespan for Late Pancreatic Cancer Patients
A twice-daily pill has doubled lifespan for late-stage pancreatic cancer patients when chemotherapy fails. The drug achieved FDA approval immediately, though the article does not specify the exact lifespan extension duration or the drug's name.
96-year-old insists that the ‘third part of life,’ from age 75 on, is actually awesome
A 96-year-old woman named Alice McGinty describes the period from age 75 onward as the most important part of her life. McGinty is gaining public attention for her positive perspective on aging.
Armless Racing Driver Hits 110 mph Steering with His Feet–Aims to Make History at Le Mans
A 23-year-old armless racing driver steered a vehicle at speeds exceeding 110 mph using only his feet. He recently signed a driver contract with Team BRIT, a racing team composed entirely of disabled drivers.
S. Carolina Aquarium Celebrates ‘Baby Boom’ of Critically-Endangered Penguin Chicks
Five baby African penguins have hatched at Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach, joining two others born in May for a record nesting season. The seven chicks represent a significant breeding success for the critically endangered species at the facility.
They’re resilient, low-effort and beautiful: how to plant a rubble garden
Gardeners are creating drought-tolerant gardens using leftover builders' waste materials. These rubble gardens support biodiversity while requiring minimal maintenance and water.
33-year-old former child prodigy is working on problems Hawking and Einstein never cracked
Theoretical physicist Sabrina Pasterski is attempting to build a hologram of the universe by working on problems that Hawking and Einstein never solved. At 33 years old, the former child prodigy focuses on theoretical physics questions at the frontier of the field.
Endangered Salmon Return to California Rivers in Incredible Numbers: ‘Everybody’s just ecstatic’
Coho salmon numbers in central California rivers reached 30,000 last season, a tenfold increase from the decade average of 3,000 fish. This represents double the previous season's total and marks a significant recovery for the endangered species returning to Mendocino coast waterways.
Neighbors Get Swept Up in Man’s Viral Journey to Clean a NYC Street Block Every Day for 100 Days
A man committed to cleaning a NYC street block every day for 100 days inspired neighbors to participate in the cleanup effort. The initiative took place in Washington Heights along a sidewalk where community members became involved in the viral project.
A Terrier Rescued After Spending 2 Days Underground Lost in a Badger Warren
A 6-year-old parson Russell terrier named Cello was rescued after becoming trapped underground in a badger warren for 2 days while walking with his owner in Nottinghamshire. The dog had wandered into the warren during the outing with Stephen Smith.
After 30 Years of Estranged Trains, Sweden and Finland Re-Connect Their Railway Lines
After 30 years without a connection, Sweden and Finland reopened their railway link in early August with a train crossing the Arctic landscape to a border crossing station. This was the first time the neighboring countries could directly transport passengers and cargo by rail between their nations.
Indian Home Stays Cool Without A/C Through Clever Clay Architecture
A home in India uses clay architecture designed according to thermodynamic principles to maintain cool temperatures without air conditioning. The building leverages traditional construction methods that ancestors used to naturally resist heat.
Cherokee youth win legal rights for waterway in first all-female U.S. effort
Cherokee youth secured legal personhood rights for a mountain waterway through a unanimous council resolution, marking the first all-female effort of its kind in the United States. The young women carried water from the headwaters in traditional pottery as the proceeding began, with the chamber filled to capacity and supporters extending into the lobby.
3 Million Oysters Eaten by New Yorkers Are Rebuilding the City’s Reefs
Three million oyster shells from New York City restaurants are being converted into new oyster reefs on Governors Island. The Billion Oyster Project aims to restore 100 acres of historic oyster reefs using these waste shells to filter harbor pollutants and absorb wave energy.
Common Supplement Rivals Antibiotics for Severe Gum Disease When Taken with Low-Dose Aspirin
Omega-3 supplements combined with low-dose aspirin performed comparably to antibiotics in treating severe gum disease over one year. The study was conducted in São Paulo and explored alternatives as antibiotic-resistant pathogens become increasingly common.