Dogs Bring Joy and Cuddles to Hospital Patients
Dogs are superheroes! Well, kind of. They have a sort of superpower — an amazing ability to make people happy.
Now, they’re using that ability in hospitals to bring joy to patients, visitors, and employees who could use a smile. 11 therapy dogs make up a team that has completed over 800 hours of volunteer work at local hospitals, spreading joy to hospital staff and visitors and collecting belly scratches while they're at it. There have even been incredible reports of unconscious patients who stretch out for the dogs. Stock up on treats, because the network of hospitals hopes to add more dogs to the team soon. Thanks, Doctor! Or should we say, Dog-tor?
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In Belfast, Northern Ireland, researchers tried a simple but revealing experiment: they “lost” ten wallets around the city to see how people would respond. Each wallet had a little cash inside and a card showing how to return it to the owner.
Why does this matter? Scientists who study happiness say that how much people trust strangers — and how often strangers act kindly — is a big clue to how happy a place is overall. It turns out that things like strong communities, helping others, and even sharing meals can matter almost as much as money or jobs when it comes to well-being.
So the real question isn’t just how many wallets were returned — it’s what those choices say about how people treat each other, and how that shapes everyday happiness.
Phones away! In April of 2026, the UK government said it would introduce a ban on smartphones in schools, saying they should be phone free, all day. That may seem clear, but there have been more than enough interpretations of this law to cause problems.
Most schools do restrict phone use, but their methods of doing so and how seriously they take the rule, vary from place to place. Some use lockers, some use sealed magnetic pouches, and some haven’t really committed to the rule yet. So, officials are pushing for more clarity and more regulation.
For example, what defines a smartphone? A phone with internet access is much different from one that can only call and text. Should students be allowed to use a flip phone but not an iPhone? Are camera phones allowed? Does it count as a smartphone if it’s a rotary phone with a degree from Harvard?! The government has a lot of work to do before everybody’s on the same page.
Meet 46-year-old horse Roana, and her owner, Cerys. Cerys and her horse grew up together and Cerys considers Roana family. She credits Roana with helping her get well after she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. This video is excerpted from BBC News.
Fallowlees Farm offers a place for urban women and girls to grow crops and experience nature, while also donating all of the food produced to those in need. Birthed as a project to counter isolation during the pandemic, over 4,000 women and girls have now found support and community through their time on the farm. This video is excerpted from BBC News.
In Belfast, Northern Ireland, researchers tried a simple but revealing experiment: they “lost” ten wallets around the city to see how people would respond. Each wallet had a little cash inside and a card showing how to return it to the owner.
Why does this matter? Scientists who study happiness say that how much people trust strangers — and how often strangers act kindly — is a big clue to how happy a place is overall. It turns out that things like strong communities, helping others, and even sharing meals can matter almost as much as money or jobs when it comes to well-being.
So the real question isn’t just how many wallets were returned — it’s what those choices say about how people treat each other, and how that shapes everyday happiness.
Phones away! In April of 2026, the UK government said it would introduce a ban on smartphones in schools, saying they should be phone free, all day. That may seem clear, but there have been more than enough interpretations of this law to cause problems.
Most schools do restrict phone use, but their methods of doing so and how seriously they take the rule, vary from place to place. Some use lockers, some use sealed magnetic pouches, and some haven’t really committed to the rule yet. So, officials are pushing for more clarity and more regulation.
For example, what defines a smartphone? A phone with internet access is much different from one that can only call and text. Should students be allowed to use a flip phone but not an iPhone? Are camera phones allowed? Does it count as a smartphone if it’s a rotary phone with a degree from Harvard?! The government has a lot of work to do before everybody’s on the same page.
Meet 46-year-old horse Roana, and her owner, Cerys. Cerys and her horse grew up together and Cerys considers Roana family. She credits Roana with helping her get well after she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. This video is excerpted from BBC News.
Fallowlees Farm offers a place for urban women and girls to grow crops and experience nature, while also donating all of the food produced to those in need. Birthed as a project to counter isolation during the pandemic, over 4,000 women and girls have now found support and community through their time on the farm. This video is excerpted from BBC News.