started

Meet Caymus Maxson, the 16-year-old California teen who started Trash Turtles at 10, led 50+ beach cleanups, removed 6+ tons of debris, recycled 75,000+ cigarette butts and became a 2026 Barron Prize winner

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Meet Caymus Maxson, the 16-year-old California teen who started Trash Turtles at 10, led 50+ beach cleanups, removed 6+ tons of debris, recycled 75,000+ cigarette butts and became a 2026 Barron Prize winner

Maxson said the decision to start Trash Turtles came from seeing rubbish being pushed towards the sea (Photo: Surfrider) At 10, Caymus ‘CO’ Maxson noticed something wrong on a beach in Madeira Beach, Florida. In February 2020, she saw beach trash being raked towards the water’s edge. She realised that the incoming tide could carry … Read more

In 2017, June Thomas started rescuing ‘rez dogs’ from her home in Manitoba; after surveying 200 homes and helping sterilise 65+ animals, she has now opened an on-reserve shelter

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In 2017, June Thomas started rescuing ‘rez dogs’ from her home in Manitoba; after surveying 200 homes and helping sterilise 65+ animals, she has now opened an on-reserve shelter

In 2017, June Thomas began rescuing stray “rez dogs” from her own home on Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation in southern Manitoba, driven by concern for the many unvaccinated, unsterilised animals roaming the reserve. After surveying 200 homes, helping sterilise more than 65 dogs and cats and coordinating several on-reserve clinics, she has now opened … Read more

Four sisters started a Thai-inspired popcorn brand after a family trip; it now makes $7,000 a month

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Four sisters started a Thai-inspired popcorn brand after a family trip; it now makes $7,000 a month

Image: Courtesy of Party Of. The Lertlumprasert sisters The Lertlumprasert sisters, Lisa, Lita, Charlene and Charlie, had talked about starting a business together since childhood. That idea finally took shape in February 2023, after a family trip to Thailand left them with a suitcase full of snacks their American friends loved. Combined with their frustration … Read more

In 1959, Sebastian Scirpo started a Connecticut livestock auction in a rented chicken coop and made $7 on his first commission; 67 years later, his daughters run the state’s last remaining sale barn

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In 1959, Sebastian Scirpo started a Connecticut livestock auction in a rented chicken coop and made $7 on his first commission; 67 years later, his daughters run the state's last remaining sale barn

Since her father died in 2002, Lisa Scirpo has been working to persuade farmers and dealers that the Middlesex Livestock Auction will continue as the only sale barn in Connecticut. Without it, Scirpo said farmers who want to bring animals to auction would have to travel to Massachusetts or Pennsylvania. But now, farmers in those … Read more

US military AI blunder: False intelligence on Chinese ship ‘almost started a war,’ report claims

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A false AI-assisted intelligence report nearly triggered a US operation against a Chinese ship during the Iran war, report says. (AFP)

A false intelligence report created with help from artificial intelligence nearly led the US military to intercept a Chinese ship in the Middle Eastaccording to CNN. The report claimed the vessel was carrying parts linked to a nuclear weapons programme. A false AI-assisted intelligence report nearly triggered a US operation against a Chinese ship during … Read more

A Virginia teen started with a dessert fundraiser 2 years ago; his youth team has now rescued over 300,000 pounds of food and raised nearly $52,000

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A Virginia teen started with a dessert fundraiser 2 years ago; his youth team has now rescued over 300,000 pounds of food and raised nearly $52,000

What started as a simple dessert fundraiser organised by a teenager two years ago has grown into a student-led volunteer project that has rescued more than 300,000 pounds of food for families across Northern Virginia. Dhevesh Mahes started his sweet treats project to raise money for charity, but the effort soon grew after he connected … Read more

She started raising butterflies at 7; by 16, this Florida girl had tracked birds and found populations rose by up to 159% after habitat restoration, she’s now headed to a national magazine

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She started raising butterflies at 7; by 16, this Florida girl had tracked birds and found populations rose by up to 159% after habitat restoration, she's now headed to a national magazine

A 16-year-old student from Sarasota, Florida, Sophia Haakman began growing butterflies at just 7. Over the years, her love for nature and its beings has evolved into a serious conservation effort. Haakman sought to find out if the hundreds of hours she spent rehabilitating local ecosystems were truly beneficial to wildlife. So she created her … Read more

A teenager who survived childhood cancer started collecting LEGO for the hospital that treated him; his drive has now donated 573 mini-figures and raised $2,575

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A teenager who survived childhood cancer started collecting LEGO for the hospital that treated him; his drive has now donated 573 mini-figures and raised $2,575

Sometimes a small act of kindness goes so far that it touches your heart for an entire lifetime. Alexander Ackled-Dold still remembers the little things when he was receiving treatment for leukaemia as a child at Southlake’s pediatric oncology clinic. The teen recounted how the staff were always kind as he was in and out … Read more

Florida volunteer pilots started flying animals out of overcrowded shelters in 2010; more than 12,000 rescued dogs and cats have now made the journey

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Florida volunteer pilots started flying animals out of overcrowded shelters in 2010; more than 12,000 rescued dogs and cats have now made the journey

Winter Park nonprofit transports 12,000 animals to Florida rescues A nonprofit network of volunteer pilots based in Winter Park, Florida, has reached a major milestone after flying more than 12,000 rescued dogs and cats from overcrowded animal shelters to adoptive homes across the United States. Founded in 2010, the organization, called Animals Away, connects private … Read more

A UK farmer started with 20 sheep on 18 acres; free grazing beneath solar panels helped her expand to more than 200 sheep and 250 acres

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A UK farmer started with 20 sheep on 18 acres; free grazing beneath solar panels helped her expand to more than 200 sheep and 250 acres

For first-generation sheep farmer Hannah Thorogood, gaining access to land beneath solar panels has opened a new chapter in her farming journey. She began with just 20 sheep on 18 acres in Lincolnshire, a scale she says was all she could afford at the time. Today, her flock has grown to more than 200 sheep, … Read more