ATM alchemy: What if the local ATM bought gold instead of dispensing cash? Such a device is turning heads in Shanghai, China. Customers drop in old jewellery or coins, and the machine uses heat and sensors to analyse, melt, and evaluate each item. After it confirms the gold's quality, a direct deposit goes to the user's account, based on up-to-the-minute market rates. The process requires no forms and only accepts items above a certain weight and purity. The idea quickly gained attention, with crowds lining up and appointment slots filling fast. Some online viewers have raised questions about safety and accuracy, but others see it as a modern answer to old-fashioned pawning. For now, it's drawing plenty of interest, and plenty of gold.

Stride ride: Walking got a rethink when a Dutch designer wondered what would happen if treadmills hit the street. Built like a bicycle but powered differently, this ride replaces the usual pedals with a moving treadmill belt, letting people walk in place while cruising ahead with help from an electric motor. The contraption, called a Lopifit, can roll faster than a casual stroll but doesn't leave riders out of breath or drenched in sweat. It handles like an e-bike but feels more like a sidewalk on wheels. The idea became a real transport option that's now popping up in cities across the world. Riders don't need cycling experience, just a desire to walk farther than usual. It might look strange, but it definitely turns heads.

Cancer scanner: A team of American high school students have created an app that could change lives. Using AI, their oral scan app spots potential mouth cancers from a simple smartphone photo, offering an accessible tool in rural areas when dental care can be scarce. The app, originating in the state of Arkansas USA, was designed to be quick, intuitive, and usable worldwide. Its ease of use could make early detection available to more people. The students entered the app in a national competition, and secured a US$50,000 grant for their school. Awards are exciting, but the team's real win is already clear their work is raising awareness and drawing attention at medical conferences. A small app is creating a big ripple.

Hive revolution: In fields where blossoms no longer meet demand, a new feeding solution has given honey bee colonies a fresh chance. Developed to mimic the full spectrum of nutrients bees find in pollen, a bar-like supplement has shown promise in helping hives stay active through tough seasons. Trials revealed stronger colony growth and survival where natural sources fall short, especially during pollination of crops like blueberries. The formula includes a rare plant molecule thought to support larval health and adult vitality. Fed directly inside the hive, it reaches bees in all stages of life. Instead of relying on what's blooming, beekeepers might soon rely on this as a steady resource.

Worrying is like paying a debt you don't owe. ~ Mark Twain

Friendships that have stood the test - Time and change - are surely best. ~ Joseph Parry

Free notices for not for profits rudy@coffeenews.co.nz

1. A peanut is a legume - T/F?

2. What was the first Mickey Mouse film to include sound?

3. The only butterfly known to migrate in two directions is _____.

4. Which planet in our solar system has the most moons?

5. In what year did East Germany and West Germany reunify?

Ear grabber: Tested against hundreds of popular tracks, the Spice Girls' Wannabe stood out as one of the most instantly recognised tunes. In an experiment, people picked it out faster than most other songs, proof that its catchy melody was hard to miss.

Land fish: Mudskippers aren't just fish with lungs. They spend much of their lives on land, so these amphibious creatures breathe through their skin and their mouths' lining. By carrying water in their mouths, they keep their gills moist and supplied with oxygen.

Blazing bolts: A lightning strike can reach temperatures several times hotter than the surface of the sun. This extreme heat makes each bolt a powerful force, creating not just brilliant flashes but also the risk of severe burns.

Lens legend: In 1674, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek looked through a self-made microscope and discovered tiny, wriggling creatures in a drop of lake water. This cloth merchant secured his place in science history by being the first person to describe bacteria.

Pineapple patience: Growing a pineapple takes serious time, often stretching from a year and a half to several years. Even if the plant never bears fruit, growing it is still a fun and eye-catching way to bring a tropical vibe indoors.

Anne: Why are all the cars honking their horns? Charlie: It's 'beep' year.

Why did the doctor keep checking his TV? To see if it was operational.

Venetian blinds are made by shady characters.

Santa's best toymaking elf struck out on her own. Now she's extremely welfy.

1. True 2. Steamboat Willie 3. Monarch 4. Saturn 5. 1990