Record Viking silver hoard found
A metal detectorist in Finland has discovered a Viking Age silver hoard containing more than 4,000 coins, making it the country’s largest find of its kind.
Kalle Lappinen found the hoard near Sysmä and reported it to authorities. Archaeologists recovered thousands of silver coins, pieces of silver, a bracelet, a mount and a bead. The coins, weighing about 10 pounds, came from areas including present-day Sweden, Britain, Germany, Turkey and Iran.
The hoard is believed to date from around 1000 to 1050 AD and contains more than twice as many coins as Finland’s previous record hoard, discovered in 1895.
Researchers say the discovery suggests Sysmä may have been an important trading hub about 1,000 years ago. The owner remains unknown.
Five generations share a birthday
An Iowa family has set a Guinness World Records record for the most generations born on the same day.
Fred Harlow, born September 14, shares his birthday with his grandfather Wilbur, mother Addie, daughter Emma Bell and grandson Arthur.
The family knew they could tie the record with four generations, but Arthur’s birth on September 14, 2025, put them ahead. The five generations also form a unique pattern: boy, girl, boy, girl, boy.
‘Inconvenience Store’ sells tangled USB cords
A former 7-Eleven store in Seattle has been turned into an “Inconvenience Store”, an art exhibition featuring unusual items such as pre-tangled USB cords.
Created by artists Lilia Deering and Mary Anne Carter, the store displays works by about 70 mostly local artists across 14 departments. Other items include shoulder bags made from Cheetos and Lay’s packages, beeswax egg candles and a “landline iPhone” that plays U2’s “Vertigo” when answered.
The artworks range from $1 to $10,000. Organisers said the exhibition aims to make buying art less intimidating and more accessible.
Salt-and-pepper packet record
A Wisconsin woman has reclaimed a Guinness World Records title with a collection of 754 matching pairs of salt-and-pepper packets.
Brookfield resident Linda Schulz, 67, first set the record in 2024 with 494 pairs, but lost it the following year to Salacnib “Sonny” Molina, whose collection had 594 pairs.
Schulz began collecting with a pair of packets from Arby’s. Her favourites are Hawaiian shirt-themed packets from Hawaiian Airlines. She said having a Guinness World Records goal makes the hobby even more fun.
Published in Dawn, Young World, October 10th, 2026
