Buzz
As the weekend unfolds, we reflect on some of the most uplifting and motivating stories from the past week. Plus, if you're in the mood for something unusual, don't miss the offbeat list.
This week features some remarkable acts of bravery. A teenager bravely confronts a vicious pit bull to rescue a young child, a group of strangers unites just in time to catch a falling toddler, and a community steps in to prevent a farmer from going bankrupt.
10. Stand Up for Someone Your Own Size
A teenager bravely placed himself in the path of a ferocious pit bull to rescue a child from a potentially deadly attack.
In Conroe, Texas, six-year-old Mason Lindeman was enjoying some playtime with his friends outside. Unfortunately, his neighbor’s dog broke free and wasn’t looking for fun or affection. The dog pounced on Mason, biting down on his head.
Luckily for Mason, 19-year-old Grant Brown was nearby and didn’t hesitate to jump into action. He charged at the pit bull, distracting it long enough to allow Mason to escape. Grant sustained cuts on his hands, but his quick thinking allowed the boy to get to safety.
Mason was taken to the hospital, where he was treated and released in stable condition. He needed a few staples in his scalp, but aside from some bruises and a minor scratch, he was unharmed. Mason’s mother, Jillian Lindeman, is calling Grant a hero, though he humbly views it as simply doing the right thing.
The pit bull was taken by Montgomery County Animal Control and was reportedly put down. The dog’s owner was issued a citation.
9. Blanket Defies Gravity
A tense situation unfolded in China when bystanders managed to rescue a toddler who fell from a height of six stories.
CCTV footage revealed a three-year-old boy hanging precariously on the outside of a balcony. Struggling to climb back, he seemed to be losing his grip. A group of neighbors, security personnel, and sanitation workers quickly assembled below, brainstorming ways to save him.
When a blanket was brought into the scene, several individuals held it out, positioning it beneath the child. Moments later, the boy lost his hold and fell to the ground.
Thankfully, the child landed safely right in the center of the blanket. Despite falling from the sixth floor, he appeared unharmed. A neighbor took him to the hospital, where he was later released in good health.
8. The Wise Old Crew
If you’ve got a problem . . . if no one else can help . . . and if you can track them down . . . perhaps you should consult the “Wise Old Crew.”
A group of retirees from Salt Lake City set up an advice booth to stave off their boredom. Now, they've become a weekend favorite at the local farmer’s market. Known as the “Wise Old Crew,” this group of senior friends has assisted 30–40 people so far.
The group consists of six members, all in their late sixties or early seventies. Carol Sisco, a retired journalist, is the only woman in the group, while 58-year-old Chris Vanocur is regarded as a “coot in training.”
Every Saturday, they would meet at a deli owned by one of the members and enjoy their conversations. But soon, they grew tired of it and decided to set up a booth across from the farmer’s market to offer their advice.
They displayed a sign that read, “Old Coots Giving Advice—It’s Likely Bad Advice, But It’s Free.” Initially, this was a way to pass the time, but surprisingly, their service became quite popular.
A lot of people approached them seeking guidance. The “coots” realized that most just needed an unbiased perspective from someone who had no personal stake in their issues, or perhaps a chance to vocalize their thoughts and work through their concerns out loud.
The most frequent questions came from young people hoping to find that special someone. However, there were also some unusual requests, like a man who needed help with getting rid of the ghosts haunting his house.
7. Dolphin Mother Adopts Whale Orphan
New research reveals the first documented case of a bottlenose dolphin adopting the calf of a different species and raising it as its own.
In 2014, scientists observed a mother dolphin with her calf off the coast of French Polynesia. At first, everything seemed normal, except the baby appeared a bit unusual. A male, about one month old, it had a short, blunt beak instead of the slender beak typical of its species. It wasn’t long before researchers realized that the calf actually belonged to a melon-headed whale.
The dolphin had adopted this orphan whale calf. What was even more surprising was that she already had a calf of her own, and was simultaneously raising both youngsters, even though dolphins usually care for only one baby at a time. The melon-headed whale seemed to have integrated not just into its new family, but also into the larger dolphin pod.
Adoption, once considered a uniquely human trait, is now shown to occur in the animal kingdom as well. There’s also a well-documented case of capuchins taking in a baby marmoset.
Researchers speculate that this adoption occurred simply by chance. The orphan whale encountered the mother dolphin shortly after she had given birth, and her maternal instincts were still very much active.
6. I'll Take Them
One mother's act of kindness sparked a wave of generosity, leading to a larger charitable movement throughout her entire community.
Carrie Jernigan took her fourth-grade daughter, Harper, to a going-out-of-business sale at the Payless store in Alma, Arkansas. Carrie only planned to buy one pair of shoes for Harper.
But Harper then asked if she could buy a pair of Avengers shoes for her friend. Carrie was ready to oblige, but they quickly realized they didn’t know the friend's shoe size.
As a joke, Carrie asked the store clerk what it would cost to buy every pair of shoes in the store. The more she thought about it, the more the idea seemed reasonable. In the end, she walked out with 1,500 pairs of shoes, planning to donate them to those in need.
As Carrie figured out how to distribute the shoes, more and more organizations volunteered to assist. Eventually, the community will host a large back-to-school event where the shoes will be distributed, along with health checkups, haircuts, eye exams, and other services donated by local businesses and churches.
5. Neighbors Helping Larry
When a farmer's crops were at risk due to his injuries, dozens of his neighbors arrived with their equipment, ready to work his fields.
In February, 64-year-old Larry Yockey was diagnosed with melanoma, which led to a broken hip and several broken ribs, drastically limiting his ability to move around.
Yockey, a fourth-generation farmer, has tended the same land in Ritzville, Washington, for decades. However, for the first time in 50 years, it seemed he might be unable to harvest his wheat crop, which was critical as it provided nearly all of his income.
When his neighbors learned of his situation, a few dozen combine harvesters, trucks, and semis arrived on his land over the weekend. It wasn’t just other farmers—mechanics and fire department members also pitched in. They managed to complete what would have been three weeks' worth of harvesting in just eight hours.
4. Jackpot In The Attic
While rummaging through the attic of his childhood home, a man discovered a cult-classic video game that ended up earning him a substantial amount at auction.
Scott Amos, from Reno, Nevada, discovered an unopened copy of the 1987 Nintendo game Kid Icarus. It was still in its original bag, complete with the receipt from a J.C. Penney store where it had been bought over three decades ago.
After discussing with his family, he learned that no one remembered purchasing the game. It was likely bought as a Christmas present, forgotten, and eventually left in the attic.
Knowing that vintage cartridges from that period are highly valued by collectors, Amos brought it to an appraiser. He was hoping it might be worth a few hundred dollars, but it was actually estimated to bring in up to $10,000 at auction.
As it turns out, Kid Icarus is one of the rarest Nintendo games in sealed condition, with fewer than 10 copies remaining in collectors' hands. The game sold for $9,000 on Thursday. Amos plans to split the proceeds 50-50 with his sister and take their families on a trip to Disney World.
3. A Greener Ethiopia
This week, Ethiopia made history by planting a record-breaking 350 million trees in just one day.
Environmental experts highlight tree planting as one of the most effective, cost-efficient ways to reduce carbon emissions. Initially, the Green Legacy Initiative, spearheaded by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, aimed to plant 200 million trees across 1,000 locations in Ethiopia.
However, the response was overwhelming. Within only six hours, millions of people had already planted 150 million trees.
By the end of the day, more than 353 million trees were planted, surpassing the previous world record set by India in 2016 with 50 million trees. This effort is part of Ethiopia's larger goal to restore its forests, which had dwindled to just 4 percent in the early 2000s, compared to 35 percent a century ago.
2. 'Don’t Tread On Me'
A Canadian hiker used Metallica music as a tool to protect herself and her dog from an attacking cougar.
On Tuesday, Dee Gallant was enjoying a hike with her husky, Murphy, through the rugged wilderness of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Out of nowhere, they realized they were being stalked by a cougar, located just 15 meters (50 feet) up the trail. The wind was blowing in the opposite direction, keeping her dog unaware of the predator's presence until it was dangerously close.
Gallant, who was familiar with cougar behavior, quickly assessed the situation and realized that the animal's position and body language indicated an imminent attack. She immediately began waving her arms and yelling at the cougar in an attempt to scare it off.
While her attempts to scare the cougar had stopped it for a moment, it still wouldn't retreat. In a sudden burst of inspiration, the hiker decided to pull out her phone and search through her playlist for the loudest and most aggressive song she could find.
She chose Metallica's 'Don’t Tread on Me.' As soon as the intense opening chords blasted from her phone, the cougar, visibly startled, bolted into the underbrush. Gallant and Murphy were able to safely make their way home.
1. A New Weapon To Combat Microplastics
An Irish teenager claimed the top prize at the 2019 Google Science Fair with his innovative technique for removing microplastics from water using ferrofluid.
Currently, microplastics are considered one of the most concerning pollutants globally. Defined as particles smaller than 5 millimeters (0.2 in) in diameter, these pollutants are too small to be removed by traditional water treatment methods. The majority of microplastics end up in the ocean, and recent studies have revealed contamination levels far higher than originally anticipated.
Eighteen-year-old Fionn Ferreira came up with an innovative solution to isolate these microplastics using a ferrofluid made of oil and magnetite powder. The ferrofluid bonds with the microplastics and reacts strongly when exposed to a magnetic field, allowing the microplastics to be easily extracted from the water using a magnet.
In a series of 1,000 experiments, Ferreira's technique proved to be 87 percent effective in removing various types of microplastics from water. Some plastics, like polypropylene, proved harder to remove than others.
As a result of his groundbreaking work, Ferreira was awarded a $50,000 academic scholarship. He believes his method could be expanded for use in water treatment plants, helping prevent large quantities of microplastics from reaching the ocean.
