craft
community
tradition
92/100
'By the end of the year, they're making their own clothes'
Heather Black teaches South Aucklanders to sew in an accessible, hands-on program that welcomes those uncomfortable in traditional classroom settings. Starting at age 12 making clothes from whatever fabric she could find, Black now runs classes across multiple communities, using recycled machines and donated materials. She employs what she calls Māori methods—teaching through visual learning and hand measurements rather than written instructions. Students pay only a gold coin donation and progress from beginners to creating garments for their families within a year. Beyond practical skills, the classes foster connection and community, though rising costs threaten some of the venues where these valuable sessions take place.
innovation
environment
community
88/100
The British company taking many steps to produce power
Laurence Kemball-Cook's company Pavegen transforms footsteps into electricity using kinetic energy technology. After realizing that solar and wind power struggle in dense urban settings, he developed flooring tiles with flywheel systems that spin for up to 10 seconds per step. Now installed in 250 locations across five countries, the technology powers phone charging stations at train stations, lights parks near the White House, and illuminates buildings in Hong Kong. While costs remain high, the company aims to make the tiles price-competitive with standard flooring, with particular opportunities in new urban developments where large-scale implementation is easier.
food
culture
tradition
95/100
Memory of Island: Kadeau
At Kadeau restaurant, chef Nicolai Nørregaard transforms Bornholm Island's preservation traditions into refined modern cuisine. The Danish Baltic island's harsh winters and brief summers historically demanded salting, drying, and fermenting—not as culinary trends, but survival necessities. Nørregaard's techniques reflect childhood memories of his grandfather preparing food stores, resulting in dishes where ingredients are safeguarded rather than simply consumed. Summer tomatoes appear in February through careful preservation; raw scallops rest on rye with kelp salt; shrimp accompany dried summer tomatoes. The restaurant's partnership structure mirrors island solidarity, suggesting terroir extends beyond ingredients to relationships. This is cuisine rooted in place and memory, where geography determines method and restraint honors natural flavors.
wildlife
nature
exploration
95/100
Young country diary: A new find for my collection – a fox skull
Nine-year-old Jasmine discovered an animal skull during a winter walk in the woods behind her home. Initially mistaking it for broken stones among the leaf litter, she brought her find home for closer examination. Through careful observation—measuring its 14cm length, counting 42 teeth, and noting the long slender snout and meat-eating incisors—she identified it as an adult fox skull. Her research revealed that Bristol, her home city, has the third-largest urban fox population in the UK, with about 16 foxes per square kilometre compared to just two in rural areas. The skull now rests in her family's cabinet of curiosities alongside other treasures she and her sister have collected.
nature
community
exploration
95/100
I went to rural Wales to bathe in starlight and the Milky Way blew me away
A visitor to rural Wales discovers the profound experience of star bathing, lying under the pristine night sky of Ceredigion's dark sky countryside. Guided by Dafydd Wyn Morgan of astrotourism company Serydda, participants gaze at Jupiter, Orion's Belt, and the Milky Way while learning myths and legends. Similar to forest bathing, the practice emphasizes emotional connection over scientific knowledge. With 98% of UK residents living under light pollution, Wales's two International Dark Sky Reserves draw travelers seeking rare glimpses of true darkness. Demand is surging—one dark skies officer reports overwhelming waiting lists, with visitors sometimes moved to tears by their first sight of shooting stars.
wildlife
innovation
community
95/100
Turtle 'panel beater' saving lives with 3D printer and dental glue
In Victoria's Gippsland region, electrician-turned-wildlife carer Josh Neille has developed an innovative approach to helping injured turtles. Using dental resin—the same material found in tooth fillings—he repairs cracked shells on animals hit by vehicles. The process involves careful cleaning, layering primer and resin, then curing with UV light. For severe damage, Neille employs 3D scanning and printing to create custom shell replacements. Local dentist Yana Stevens supplies the materials, noting they can last five years or more. Neille has treated nearly 15 turtles in the past year at his Tinamba farm, which also shelters around 200 native animals including wombats, possums, and emus. His social media presence helps connect road users with injured wildlife, turning potential roadside tragedies into recovery stories.