Lake rumble: In upstate New York USA, Seneca Lake has long startled people with sudden booms that roll across the water like distant thunder, inspiring old tales about spirits and old battles. Researchers studying the lake's deep floor gathered samples and mapped the terrain to figure out what was happening under-ground. They learned that pockets of methane slowly build beneath the sediment until pressure forces the gas upward in a sharp release. When the bubble reaches open air, it bursts with enough force to echo like a cannon blast. The lake's size helps carry the sound across nearby hills. The explanation shows how geology can create mysteries that last for generations.

Heavy habit: A neuroscience group in the U.S. designed a phone case meant to curb constant scrolling by making the device far too heavy to use comfortably during normal daily routines. Weighing about 2.7kg, a metal shell locks around a phone with screws, turning it into a solid block that's awkward to lift and impossible to slip into a pocket. Testers said the extra weight pushed them to put their phones down more often, which encouraged the team to refine the idea and keep improving it. The case still lets people call and text, but only if they're willing to hold the added load. Makers say the physical strain helps break familiar routines. Some people now view it as a straightforward way to reclaim their attention.

Cactus craft: In Mexico, two designers have turned the prickly pear cactus into a flexible material meant to replace animal leather. The process uses the plant's large segments, which grow easily in dry regions without added water, making the source simple to maintain. After processing, the material feels smooth and sturdy enough for bags, shoes, and similar goods without relying on plastics. Its texture stays close to traditional leather, offering creators a surface that works much like the original. Because it avoids harsh chemicals, the cactus-based option has attracted brands searching for greener materials. The creators also hope it will be used for furniture and car interiors, expanding its possibilities.

Bubble canvas: Artist Bradley Hart creates detailed images using sheets of bubble wrap instead of a flat canvas, treating each air pocket like a tiny pixel. He injects acrylic paint into the bubbles, working carefully so colors blend and shift when viewed from a distance. Up close, the surface looks repetitive and mechanical, but stepping back reveals portraits and scenes that feel almost familiar. The process takes patience and focus, with thousands of small choices shaping each finished work. Hart is drawn to how colour resolves in the eye rather than on the surface itself. His subjects range from figures like Albert Einstein and Michael Jackson to reworked versions of classic paintings.

"You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress at the same time." ~ Sophia Bush

"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." ~ Oscar Wilde

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1. Which singer released the album 1989?

2. The Great Barrier Reef is located off the coast of which country?

3. Octopuses have three hearts - T/F?

4. The first iPhone was introduced in what year?

5. In the game Minecraft, players primarily build structures using these.

Painted skies: High above Iceland, nacreous clouds can glow with soft, shimmering colours that change as the light moves. Made of tiny ice crystals in the cold stratosphere, they often form smooth, rolling patterns that give the sky an unusual and striking look.

Tyre titan: Lego, the well-known toy company, produces more tyres than any major tyre maker, turning out hundreds of millions each year for its toy vehicles. These small rubber wheels earn Lego the title of the world's biggest tyre manufacturer.

Forest smile: In Oregon USA, a reforestation project once arranged two types of trees into the shape of a giant smiley face. Each autumn their changing colours reveal the cheerful design to anyone travelling through the area.

Colour squirrel: India's Malabar giant squirrel is known for its striking mix of colours and unusually long body. Living high in the forest canopy, it stores a wide range of foods and uses its bold coat to blend into shifting light among the branches.

Ancient tunes: Early humans carved basic flutes from bird and mammoth bones more than 35,000 years ago. These simple instruments show that people were making organised sound long ago with whatever materials they had.

What's the most popular game show in the ocean? Whale of Fortune!

The magician was driving down the street, and then poof, he turned into a driveway.

Did you hear about the kid who ran from New York to California? He needed to west.

Teacher: Where are elephants found? Student: They are so big, I didn't think they could get lost!

1. Taylor Swift 2. Australia 3. True 4. 2007 5. Blocks.