It’s been 24 years since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks — making today an opportunity to honor those lost in and affected by the tragedy. That includes Kristin Schnacky, who was just 3 when her firefighter dad, Ken Marino, died while responding to the World Trade Center that day. After getting engaged, Schnacky and her now-husband decided to have their wedding in New York, and though Marino wasn’t there for the special day, his memory certainly was: Current and former members of his FDNY rescue company showed up outside Schnacky’s hotel to support her nuptials. “I know my dad was smiling down, knowing I was taken care of,” she wrote on social media. See photos and video from the special moment.
The deep sea is largely unexplored by humans, but the creatures we do know about that live there tend to be unique in appearance, to put it kindly. Still, not all deep-dwelling marine life is monstrous — this fish recently described by scientists is actually quite cute. The so-called bumpy snailfish (scientific name: Careproctus colliculi) was among three new species found during an expeditionled by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute off the coast of central California in 2019. A study published by researchers last month confirmed all three are new-to-science.
Mackenzie Gerringer, the lead study author, told The New York Times she thinks the bumpy snailfish is “pretty adorable.” Beyond that, she noted the contrast between how delicate the creatures seem and the harsh, high-pressure environment they live in. “These snailfishes are living in a habitat that’s colder than our refrigerators,” she said. See one swim.
Together With Gundry MD
The Secret to Healthy Digestion
We’ve been told our whole lives to eat certain fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to stay in good health. However, according to Dr. Steven Gundry — a world-renowned heart surgeon — many so-called “health foods” in the American diet contain a dangerous ingredient that could be messing with your digestion. The good news is, this problem can be easily fixed from your own home. Dr. Gundry has decided to release an informative video to the public — free and uninterrupted — showcasing exactly which foods to avoid.
Boy Meets Girl at a Drive-In — Then, They Save a Historic Theater
Shankweiler’s Drive-In Theatre/ Facebook
Who doesn’t love a good meet-cute? And this one is straight out of a movie … theater. In 2018, Lauren McChesney met Matt McClanahan when she handed him her ticket at a drive-in theater he managed. The couple are now engaged, which would be a sweet story in itself, but their journey has an even more cinematic turn — in 2022, they purchased the world’s oldest operating drive-in theater. Opened in Orefield, Pennsylvania, in 1934, Shankweiler’s Drive-In Theatre was at risk of being sold to developers before the lovebirds saved the day. They invested their savings and took out a $1 million loan to preserve the historic space. “This was an undertaking that was leaps and bounds bigger than anything I’d ever done in my life, in terms of investment, monthly expenses, and debt,” McClanahan told the Associated Press. “It still feels surreal when I think about it.” Although he and McChesney acknowledged that the undertaking has been no easy endeavor, they also said it’s been worth it: In 2024, the theater reached profitability with roughly $550,000 in revenue, per CNBC. Beyond its regular lineup of double features, Shankweiler’s hosts special events like Valentine’s Day screenings of The Notebook and a Halloween Trunk-or-Treat gathering — all the while keeping alive the simple magic of watching a movie under the stars. See more pics of the drive-in (and the happy couple).
Environment
Flood Mapping Tool Doubles Breadth to Cover 60% of Americans
NOAA
When it comes to extreme weather events, getting an alert at the right time can be the difference between preparedness and panic. Luckily, twice as many Americans now have access to near-real-time flood warnings, thanks to a newly upgraded tool from the National Weather Service. Called Flood Inundation Mapping, or FIM, the interactive online system offers Google Earth-style flood visualizations to help 60% of the U.S. population (up from 30%) see both current and projected flood conditions in their area. The goal is to support emergency teams in planning evacuations, deploying resources before flooding wreaks havoc, and ultimately minimizing the loss of life and property. “Flooding is the most frequent severe weather-related threat, and our costliest natural disaster,” David Vallee of the NOAA’s National Water Center said in a statement. “Expanding our FIM availability has been a game-changer in providing actionable, real-time information to emergency and water resource managers, and will expand the delivery of impact-based decision support services to our core partners who work to keep Americans safe and informed.” The recent upgrade now includes regions such as the Great Plains, interior Southeast, Southwest, Hawaii, and parts of Alaska, in addition to its prior coverage. Looking ahead, the tool is expected to cover communities nationwide in 2026.
In Other News
Scientists are exploring an Earth-like planet that may contain water, using the James Webb Space Telescope (read more)
A new drug delivery system was approved by the FDA for treating an invasive form of bladder cancer (read more)
“Once-in-a-lifetime”: An iguana at an English zoo birthed hatchlings, seemingly without ever being with a male (read more)
This former Denny’s was transformed into acommunity center for families experiencing homelessness in LA (read more)
Ralph Lauren launched “Ask Ralph,” an AI-powered tool that offers styling tips to shoppers (read more)
Inspiring Story
Shielding her elders
Time magazine’s 2025 Kid of the Year is an Eagle Scout, a tutor for Bhutanese refugees, a food bank volunteer, and the founder of Shield Seniors — a website educating older adults about the prevalence of online scams aimed at their demographic. Meet 17-year-old Tejasvi Manoj, who was inspired to build and launch the site after her grandfather was the target of an attempted cybercrime. “This is supposed to bring people a sense of ‘you’re not alone,’” she said.
Photo of the Day
Gary Hershorn/Corbis News via Getty Images
Tribute in Light returned to New York City this week, with landmarks across the area illuminated in blue to honor the victims of 9/11. On clear nights like Tuesday, the blue lights beaming in the shape of the Twin Towers are visible from 60 miles away.
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