The antidote to doom-scrolling. Science breakthroughs, communities helping each other, animals rescued, records broken, and the small moments of humanity that make the news worth reading.
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.