Woodpecker damages 25 vehicles in Massachusetts town

A Massachusetts town is dealing with a territorial pileated woodpecker damaging over 25 vehicles. Rockport resident Janelle Favaloro captured the bird in the act, targeting side mirrors and windows. She shared a photo on social media, calling it a ‘vandal’ dressed in black, white and a red cap.

Favaloro believes the woodpecker is responsible for most of the damage, particularly on side-view mirrors. Some residents have started protecting their vehicles with plastic wrap or sweaters.

Experts suggest the woodpecker’s behaviour is linked to the season during which males become territorial. The bird likely sees its reflection in the vehicles as a rival.

Robot half-marathon highlights their limitations

The world’s first humanoid robot half-marathon in Beijing, held during the 2025 Beijing Yizhuang Half Marathon, revealed the significant gaps in robot technology. Despite high expectations, 21 robots from various Chinese cities struggled with basic tasks.

Many robots behaved erratically, spinning in place or falling after just 80 metres. A viral video showed robots tripping and losing their heads, with human handlers scrambling to assist. The few that finished the race moved at a painfully slow pace.

The event was meant to showcase Chinese robotics advancements.

A tree that thrives when struck by lightning

In a study published in New Phytologist, forest ecologist Evan Gora and her team discovered a species of trees in Panama that not only survives, but thrives after being struck by lightning. They tracked 93 trees struck by lightning. While most trees suffered severe damage, all nine Dipteryx oleifera tree, or almendro, survived. The trees’ tall height and broad crowns act as lightning rods, making them 68% more likely to be struck. Some almendros were struck multiple times and continued to thrive. With surrounding plants dying and parasitic vines being cleared, the almendro gets better access to sunlight and nutrients.

Scientists believe the tree’s high conductivity could be the key to its survival, and they are exploring other species with similar traits.

World’s largest Minions collection

An Australian woman, Liesl Benecke, set a Guinness World Record for the largest collection of Minions memorabilia with 1,035 items. Benecke, from Western Australia, started collecting the little yellow characters from the Despicable Me franchise about 15 years ago after falling in love with them during the first film.

Benecke said her collection fills every room of her home, and her daughter jokingly suggests she needs a second house for all the Minions. While she loves all of them, her favourite is Stuart, the sassy one-eyed Minion.

She plans to continue adding to her collection.

Published in Dawn, Young World, May 24th, 2025