Light signals: Researchers are testing a small wireless implant that sends information straight into the brain using light instead of the body's usual senses. Rather than relying on touch, sight, or sound, the device delivers simple light patterns that the brain can learn to recognise as meaning. In lab tests, animals were able to respond to these signals and make choices without any normal sensory input. The system builds on earlier work but allows more flexible communication across different brain areas. Scientists think this could one day help people regain lost sensations or improve how prosthetics respond. For now, it offers a clearer look at how the brain learns to interpret new kinds of signals.

Sea harvest: Along the coast in China, engineers are testing a system that pulls more than just drinking water from seawater. The facility cleans ocean water for everyday use while also producing hydrogen fuel as a side output. It relies on renewable energy and reuses industrial heat, keeping the process efficient without heavy fuel demands. Leftover brine isn't dumped back into the sea but collected for other industrial uses. This approach cuts costs and creates less waste than older desalination systems. If it scales well, it could change how coastal cities think about water and energy at the same time. For coastal regions, it offers one way to meet demand without leaning harder on freshwater supplies.

Stone return: In Luxor, Egypt, two huge statues made for an ancient ruler are standing upright again after many years of careful work. They once guarded a large temple but were broken into pieces by an earthquake long ago. Restoration teams studied the fragments one by one, recording where each belonged before raising the statues again. One figure keeps more of its upper body, while the other fills in missing lower sections, helping both feel complete. The statues were carved from local alabaster and still face the rising sun. Specialists followed strict conservation rules throughout the process. Today, the restored figures give a clearer picture of the temple's original scale and purpose for visitors.

Arctic adoption: Along Western Hudson Bay in Manitoba (Canada), researchers filmed a female polar bear moving with two cubs, including one that wasn't her own. Follow-up checks showed the extra cub had been taken in, something that doesn't happen often with polar bears. Scientists studying the area say cubs can sometimes end up with a different mother during crowded migration periods. In this case, the adult stayed with and protected both young bears through difficult conditions. That kind of care makes a real difference, since cubs on their own rarely survive in the Arctic. The short video offered a rare glimpse of a gentler side of polar bear behaviour, one not often seen in the wild.

Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely. ~ Auguste Rodin

The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are. ~ Joseph Campbell

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

1. Which actor played the title character in the Forrest Gump movie?

2. What is the name of the coffee shop frequently visited by the characters on Friends?

3. The 2024 Summer Olympics were held in this European city.

4. Which New Zealander appears on the $5 note?

5. A baby kangaroo is called a _____.

In a cone, please: The first ice cream cone was served at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. Its popularity spread quickly, making summer treats easier to enjoy on the go.

In a blink: The human eye moves on average 80 times per second. We are mostly unaware of how alert and quick our eyes are to respond to things around us.

Lend an arm: Starfish can regenerate lost arms. Some species can even grow an entirely new starfish from a single detached limb.

Whistle peak: Beyond the familiar speaking and singing ranges, the human voice has an upper limit known as the whistle register. It reaches pitches far above typical high notes, creating an airy tone that only a few performers can produce.

Costly orbit: The International Space Station is regarded as the most expensive object humans have constructed. Built through an international partnership, it supports research in orbit and stands as one of our most ambitious scientific projects.

What kind of nuts do your feet like? Ca-shoes.

There was an economics professor who rode to class on a business cycle.

A tree climbing competition was created for those who want to limber up.

Doctor: Did you take the temperature? Nurse: No, is it missing?

The conductor who didn't pay his orchestra had to face the music.

When the unemployed actor got a job with a demolition company, he finally brought down the house.

Marine biologists never make mistakes on porpoise.

1. Tom Hanks 2. Central Perk 3. Paris 4. Sir Edmund Hillary 5. Joey