Author: TECH

Welcome to the Good News Roundup for February 09, 2026 13yo Boy Swims for Hours to Save Mum & Siblings Swept Out to Sea It’s the story that has made global headlines, 13-year-old West Australian boy Austin Appelbee swam 4km in choppy ocean waters to save his Mum, younger brother and younger sister, after the family was swept out to sea on inflatable paddleboards and kayaks. The extraordinary feat of bravery and determination saw Austin swimming in tough conditions for four hours before reaching the shore, where he was then forced to run another 2km before being able to raise…

Many older Americans today rely on Social Security to cover their retirement expenses. And chances are, those benefits will be an important source of income for you once your career ends. That’s why it’s important to claim Social Security strategically. And you may be planning to delay your claim as long as possible to boost your monthly benefits. Will AI create the world’s first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an “Indispensable Monopoly” providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » Image source: Getty Images. You’re eligible for your Social Security benefits…

While heightened emotional intelligence isn’t a requirement to thrive in life, it certainly helps with a lot of important areas. And, I would argue, that emotional intelligence is becoming increasingly valuable as our world turns more and more towards systems, automation, and robotics, and human beings are starting to crave authentic emotional connection now more than ever.Regardless of whether you were born with a naturally lower EQ set point, or you were more emotionally attuned earlier on in your life and it was conditioned/discouraged out of you, everyone can improve their emotional intelligence if they’re willing to put in a…

How you treat yourself is how you feel about yourself. A study of mental health professionals found that engaging in self-care practices predicted significant increases in post-traumatic growth over time. The research also showed that self-care led to less anxiety and depression. Neglecting yourself and your self-esteem will imply that you aren’t worthy of being taken care of. For those who can recall, there was a time when nobody paused a movie or classroom discussion to warn you that your feelings might get stirred up — you just felt them and figured out what to do next. People who grew up…

Throughout the United States, millions of benefits recipients are to be sent their February money in the middle of next week, as the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) three-Wednesdays payment cycle kicks in.On Wednesday, Feb. 11, the SSA is scheduled to issue payments to certain recipients of retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and survivor pay.A staggered, birthday-based payment systemOf the 70.6 million people in the U.S. who get one of the above benefits, most are paid on the second, third or fourth Wednesday in each month. A recipient’s designated Wednesday depends on the date of birth of the worker…

Artist Gary Harper uses cremation ashes to make personalized paintings for grieving families – SWNS An artist is using cremation ashes in his paintings to create unique memorial landscapes that grieving families can personalize as a way to remember loved ones. Gary Harper began painting professionally just two years ago and was inspired by the loss of his cousin to respectfully experiment with blending a small amount of ashes into his artwork. He holds consultations with families to learn about the deceased and any their favorite memories, focusing on landscapes with a personal connection. The 33-year-old from Liverpool began painting…

Most people don’t wake up one day and choose perfectionism, emotional distance, or people-pleasing. These patterns form much earlier, long before we have language for them, as quiet solutions to emotional environments that didn’t fully meet us. That’s why so much personal growth advice can feel frustrating. You may understand your patterns intellectually and still find yourself repeating them. Not because you lack willpower, but because these behaviors once kept you safe. In earlier Shadow Work articles, we’ve talked about how unconscious patterns shape adult behavior and relationships. This piece takes that work a step further by helping you identify…

Chester Zoo saves Bermuda snail (Poecilozonites bermudensis) from extinction A button-sized snail once thought extinct has been officially saved after conservationists bred and released more than 100,000 into the wild. The greater Bermuda snail (Poecilozonites bermudensis) was believed to be lost forever until a small surviving population was rediscovered in an alleyway in Bermuda’s capital, Hamilton, a decade ago. Now, following an international effort, the species has been confirmed as safe and secure—a moment conservation experts describe as “once in a career.” The landmark success announced yesterday has been achieved through a partnership between the government of Bermuda, a conservation…

You and your overflowing inbox are not alone; 70,000 trees in Melbourne, Australia also have their own email accounts.The city’s Urban Forest and Ecology team created these emails to connect to an interactive digital map called the Urban Forest Visual, allowing passersby to click on any tree in Melbourne to find information about its genus and age.Park-goers in Melbourne. Photo by Jane Slack-Smith on UnsplashEach tree’s accompanying email address encourages members of the public to easily inform the city’s experts of any trees that need attention or are visibly declining in health. A great way to get the community involved, many…

43-year-old bonobo named Kanzi – Courtesy of Ape Initiative / Johns Hopkins / SWNS Apes share the human ability to imagine and pretend, suggests new research that included a series of tea party experiments. Scientists at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, called it the first study to show the capacity for pretending is not unique to mankind. They learned that apes can use their imagination and play pretend. One bonobo engaged with cups of imaginary juice and bowls of pretend grapes “consistently and robustly” across three experiments, challenging long-held assumptions about the abilities of animals. The findings, published this…