Retired FBI agent Dave Benscoter turned his retirement into a mission to find ‘lost’ apples. (Photo: Dave Benscoter) Retirement from the FBI gave Washington native Dave Benscoter plenty of time on his hands in 2012. Little did he know that a routine day of yard work would eventually lead him on a more than decade-long…
What usually ends up as agricultural waste could have another use beneath our wheels. Engineers have investigated coconut shell biochar as a material for modifying asphalt, finding that a specific proportion could make the road-building material stiffer, stronger and more stable at high temperatures.The study, published in Next Materials in 2026, examined coconut shell biochar…
A Texas city will pay at least $175,000 after the SpaceX site it owns pumped 128 million gallons of groundwater above permitted limits over three years; the settlement includes monitoring payments for 25 years/Image: Facebook City of McGregor A groundwater dispute involving SpaceX’s sprawling Texas operations has left the city of McGregor facing at least…
Wool production reaches around 2 billion kilograms worldwide each year, yet a significant amount is left without a useful application. A large amount of this wool is unsuitable for making clothing because of its fibre quality. Researchers have now found a way to turn this unwanted material into building panels. The new panel combines wool…
A fabric originally developed through military clothing research has shown an unexpected use in agriculture. Researchers created the fabric while exploring ways to make body armour more comfortable and protect soldiers from mosquito bites. Years later, the same textile idea has been tested over strawberry plants, with striking results. In tunnel field trials, plants covered…
A threatened native species is returning to Ngambaa Nature Reserve on the NSW mid-north coast, with 17 adult rufous bettongs released into a feral predator-free area. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Aussie Ark and the University of Newcastle carried out the first state-wide wild release of the species. The group includes 10 males…
In 2012, the Leo Messi Foundation contributed funding to the Sports for Peace programme in Colombia, which used sport to support young people living in communities affected by violence. For all the stadiums, trophies and record books associated with Lionel Messi, some of the most lasting chapters of his Barcelona story were written far from…
US President Donald Trump. US President Donald Trump on Saturday defended the rapid expansion of massive data centres in the US, warning that blocking the projects would give China an advantage as he campaigned in Ohio ahead of next month’s midterm elections.According to the New York Post, Trump promoted his administration’s efforts on data centres…
Indian-origin US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi. Indian-origin US lawmaker Raja Krishnamoorthi, along with Congressman Adam Smith, has introduced two bills aimed at helping immigrant and internationally trained healthcare professionals overcome licensing and training barriers and join the US healthcare workforce amid rising shortages of medical workers.The Immigrants in Nursing and Allied Health Act and the Internationally…
A painting bought for just $100 in 1939 turned into one of the more remarkable discoveries featured on PBS’ Antiques Roadshow. The work, by Hungarian-born California Impressionist Joseph Kleitsch, was brought to the programme decades later by the daughter of the couple who originally purchased it. In 2014, New York-based art expert Debra Force gave…
