Man praised for aging backwards

A Japanese man, has gone viral for his dramatic transformation after a decade of strict self-care and cosmetic enhancements. Featured on ABEMA TV, Aki, 33, shared how a former boss mocked his appearance and other crisis pushed him to overhaul his life.

Over 10 years, he adopted daily sunscreen use, regular exercise, spa treatments and medical check-ups. He also quit smoking, avoided late nights and turned to cosmetic procedures like Botox and hair transplants. Aki claims his skin looks the same as it did a decade ago and says looking younger has improved his life. His before-and-after photos have made him a social media anti-aging figure in Japan.

The world’s smallest violin is microscopic!

Physicists at Loughborough University in the UK have created the world’s smallest violin using nanotechnology. Made of platinum, the violin measures just 35 microns long and 13 microns wide — smaller than a human hair.

Invisible without a microscope, the instrument was built to showcase the team’s new nanolithography system, which enables nanoscale construction and research. The violin is a nod to the phrase “Can you hear the world’s smallest violin playing just for you?” used to mock exaggerated complaints.

Despite its playful concept, researchers say the project laid the groundwork for more serious scientific advancements.

Sydney cockatoos learn to use drinking fountains

Australian researchers have discovered that sulphur-crested cockatoos in Sydney have learnt to operate human-designed drinking fountains. Over 44 days, cameras recorded more than 500 attempts, with birds successfully drinking about 46% of the time. The behaviour involves using their feet, beak and body weight to activate the water flow.

The study, published in Biology Letters, began when researchers observed a cockatoo using a fountain at a sports field. Ecologist John Martin said the birds likely learned by mimicking humans and seem to enjoy the activity as enrichment. Martin previously studied how the same cockatoos learned to open outdoor trash bins for food.

A bear’s neck stuck in a lid for two years

Wildlife experts in Michigan, the US, were finally able to trap a black bear and remove a large lid that was stuck around his neck — for two years.

“It’s pretty incredible that the bear survived and was able to feed itself,” state bear specialist Cody Norton said. “The neck was scarred and missing hair, but the bear was in much better condition than we expected it to be.”

The bear first turned up on a trail camera as a cub in 2023. The bear appeared again on a camera in late May, still wearing the barrel lid, and a trap was set for him. Once safely inside, the bear was immobilised with an injection and the lid was cut off in minutes. The bear eventually woke up and rambled away. The bear weighed 110 pounds (49.9 kilograms), which is fairly typical for a two-year-old.

Published in Dawn, Young World, June 28th, 2025