Paper roots: A Japanese publisher found a new way to recycle the news. They print it on sheets that grow into greenery. Instead of tossing old pages in the bin, readers can bury them in soil, and water the spot like a garden. Packed with seeds and built from reused pulp, the material gradually breaks down and supports new life in any planting container. The idea has been used in schools, shared through online videos, and picked up by people looking for simple, eco-friendly solutions that don't require much effort. What started as a creative print edition now serves as both a teaching tool and a small-scale environmental fix. It's a practical shift that shows how even print media can adapt to new priorities.

Icy colours: Not all icebergs in Antarctica are blue or white. Some carry streaks of green, black, brown, or even bands of mixed tones. These colours come from different materials and freezing conditions deep within glaciers or beneath floating ice shelves. Minerals, sediments, and pure ice without bubbles all can affect how light moves through the ice, changing what we see. In some cases, clear marine ice can look nearly black, while iron or layered debris can make it look green or dark brown. Some icebergs have striped or marbled patterns where layers of ice formed at different times and under different pressures. While the origins of these colours took time to understand, they now hint at hidden stories beneath the surface.

Drone lifeline: A relaxing afternoon turned perilous when a swimmer got caught in a powerful offshore current at a beach in Florida USA. With emergency services still en route and no one nearby able to swim, a beachgoer quickly turned to the drone he'd brought for recreational use. Fastening a flotation ring to the device, he launched it toward the struggling teenager. The wind threw off the first drop, but a second attempt landed close enough for her to grab hold. The teen managed to hang on until help arrived and was later cleared by medics without injury. Though not built for rescue, online videos have shown drones repurposed in surprising ways. This time, that creativity may have saved a life.

Hidden village: Beneath a still reservoir in northern Portugal lie the remains of a once-bustling village, now revealed only when drought lowers the water. The community was uprooted to make way for a water dam project, leaving behind stone homes and narrow paths now submerged. When the ruins reappear, they attract visitors eager to trace the outlines of a forgotten settlement. Former residents honour their roots through annual gatherings and preserved family stories. A museum nearby holds fragments of the village's past, from tools to old photographs. Local tales speak of voices in the wind, hinting at the lives once lived there. The village may have vanished from the map, but not from memory.

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. ~ Helen Keller

We aim above the mark to hit the mark. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

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1. This author wrote The Little Mermaid fairy tale.

2. What is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea?

3. What colour are robin's eggs?

4. This Egyptian hieroglyph is called the key of life.

5. What is the capital of Croatia?

Ancient cement: The Romans mixed volcanic ash into their concrete, creating building material that resisted cracking and crumbling. Their aqueducts and harbours remain today, a lasting example of how effective this ancient construction method truly was.

Fish memory: Goldfish are often thought to be forgetful, yet they can actually hold onto information longer than expected. They're able to learn routines and respond to familiar situations, showing that their memory stretches well beyond just a few moments.

Crystal giants: Deep beneath a mountain in Mexico, miners uncovered a cave filled with gypsum crystal beams over 10 metres long. Formed slowly in mineral-rich water, these crystals remain one of the world's most extraordinary underground wonders.

Mail tubes: Long before email, New York City sped letters through pressurised tubes hidden beneath its streets. These canisters carried hundreds of messages at high speed, a futuristic system later replaced by faster vehicles on the roads above.

Frozen frogs: Some frogs in North America can freeze solid through the winter, with their hearts completely stopped. When spring warmth returns, they thaw back to life in perfect order, leaving scientists amazed at this natural survival trick.

How did you pass the exam for candy making school? Easy, I fudged it!

Barbed wire was first used for de fence.

I bought a cat, despite my allergies. It was a rash decision.

Patient: Doctor, I seem to be getting smaller and smaller. Doctor: Well, you have to be a little patient.

1. Hans Christian Andersen 2. Sicily 3. Blue 4. Ankh 5. Zagreb