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National Coming Out Day is being observed, an annual event encouraging LGBTQ+ people to share their identities openly with family, friends and communities. Held every year on October 11 since 1988, the day draws messages of support and personal stories from individuals, advocacy groups and public figures across social media and beyond.

Jonathan, a giant tortoise living on the South Atlantic island of Saint Helena, is recognised as the oldest known land animal on Earth. Estimated to be around 190 years old, he was already fully grown when photographs of him were first taken in the late 19th century. The story is drawing attention online as readers share fascination with his remarkable lifespan and long, well-documented life.

Queen guitarist Brian May has converted 157 acres of his private land into a nature reserve and animal rescue centre, planting 100,000 trees to create habitat for wildlife. The project reflects May's long-standing commitment to animal welfare and conservation. The story is being warmly received online, with many praising the rock star for using his wealth and land for environmental protection.

Caribbean nations have installed roughly twice as much solar power capacity as official statistics record, according to new reporting highlighted by Yale Environment 360. The gap suggests rooftop and small-scale solar adoption is outpacing governments' ability to track it, with significant implications for how the region's energy transition is measured and planned.

A widely shared IEEE Spectrum article explores alternatives to animal testing, with readers pointing to artificial intelligence as a way to model biological systems and replace live-animal experiments. Commenters argue AI could make safety testing faster, cheaper and more ethical, sparking discussion about whether the technology is mature enough for real-world pharmaceutical and chemical research.

Researchers have demonstrated that blocking a specific innate immune system gene responsible for producing the inflammasome adaptor protein ASC can significantly reduce the formation of pancreatic cancer tumors. The findings point to a potential new immunology-based approach against one of the deadliest cancers. The result is drawing attention from oncology and molecular biology watchers, who see inflammasome targeting as a promising but still early-stage direction for pancreatic cancer treatment.

The United Nations Postal Administration, based in New York, is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The UNPA, established in 1951, issues stamps for the United Nations and is the only postal authority permitted to print stamps in multiple currencies. The milestone highlights its long history of producing collectible stamps that promote UN causes such as peace, human rights and the environment.

A Maldivian expert says traditional medicine in the Maldives is rooted in the country's natural environment, drawing on local plants and marine resources long used in healing practices. The remarks highlight growing interest in preserving indigenous knowledge and connecting it with environmental conservation and modern healthcare discussions.

A Jerusalem Post opinion piece argues that the Women's International Zionist Organization has long practised a quiet, unofficial form of diplomacy, building support for the Jewish people and Israel through welfare work, education and women's advancement rather than formal state channels. The writer contends the organization's historical contribution deserves far more recognition than it receives, positioning WIZO's grassroots network as a model of citizen-level diplomacy.

CopilotKit has introduced Open Intelligent UI, an open-source alternative to ChatGPT's intelligent user interface. The announcement positions the product as a way for developers to add ChatGPT-style conversational and adaptive UI experiences to their own applications without vendor lock-in. The launch has drawn significant attention online, with tens of thousands of users reacting to the release and debating how it compares with OpenAI's offering.

England beat Croatia 7-0 in a UEFA Nations League match, with Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka each scoring twice in a dominant attacking display. The emphatic scoreline has drawn widespread reaction from fans, with the highlights rapidly spreading as one of the most-watched football clips, and England trending among global audiences.

ICCES has called for a nationwide tree care campaign in Bangladesh, urging citizens and institutions to plant and maintain trees as part of efforts to build a greener country. The appeal frames tree care as a practical, community-level response to environmental degradation and climate pressures. The organisation says collective participation is key to expanding green cover nationwide.

Biologists at the University of California, San Diego have identified the genetic switch that gave butterflies an extra light-detecting cell in their eyes, allowing them to see colours far beyond the range of human vision. The finding sheds light on how complex colour vision evolved in insects and could inform future research into eyesight, genetics and evolution.

Pakistan has launched a national mental health policy at the Global Mental Health Summit, with the World Health Organization's Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office announcing the initiative. The policy aims to reach the estimated 32.4 million people in Pakistan who need mental health care, marking a significant step in addressing the country's mental health treatment gap.

A photographer has shared iPhone images of the interior design and architecture of the Naturalis museum, highlighting its building and exhibition spaces. The photo set is drawing modest attention among photography and design enthusiasts online, with viewers discussing how well a smartphone captures the museum's interior aesthetic.

A photographer has shared an iPhone shot of a dinosaur skeleton taken at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden, the Netherlands. The image is being shared with tags for iPhone photography and the museum, drawing small but positive engagement as people appreciate museum photography shot entirely on a phone.

José Antonio Sobrino, professor of Earth Physics at the Universitat de València, has been awarded a National Research Award, one of Spain's most prestigious scientific honours. The university announced the recognition, celebrating the work of a researcher known for his contributions to Earth physics and remote sensing, with the news drawing attention in Spanish academic circles.

Photography of the interior of the Naturalis museum in Leiden is being shared online, shot on an iPhone. The images highlight the building's striking architecture and interior design, fitting into a broader trend of smartphone photography showcased in museums and public buildings.