Sparky loves training in the arena, but he hates water treadmill swim training at 2nd Wind Rehab. As a barrel racing horse, Sparky needs strong legs to run the course during rodeo events. We’re not sure if he is recovering from an injury or just getting extra muscle training. Either way, the horse rehab trainers have trouble motivating him to work out. They have found one thing that motivates the horse to do his rehab without too much fussing. The trainer holds a cheeseburger just out of reach so Sparky will “chase” it. Yes, a cheeseburger. @2ndwindrehab Sometimes you’re just a lazy, hungry, unmotivated dude who sets records in the arena whatever works, Sparky! #2ndWindRehab #equinetherapy #aquatreadmill @aylahwenig2 ♬ original sound – nelita_v The water treadmill forces the animal to walk through water at varying depths. This creates resistance, which increases muscle usage and helps strengthen and tone the muscles. The trainer walks the horse into the tank/treadmill area. They close the watertight doors and fill the tank. While the tank fills, the treadmill is set at a low speed to allow the horse to warm up. When the water reaches the appropriate depth, they increase the treadmill speed. If it were up to Sparky, he would barely have an inch of water, and the treadmill would be set as low as possible for his entire workout. @2ndwindrehab Replying to @Joyousunday7 ♬ Original Sound – Unknown It is hilarious that a horse known for his speed and agility in the arena is so lazy in horse rehab. Imagine how fast Sparky might go in the arena if his rider could dangle a cheeseburger in front of him for competitions. It would change barrel racing forever. To see more workout videos from the horse rehab facility, follow 2nd Wind Rehab on TikTok. You can find clips of Sparky’s barrel racing and other info from his rider by following aylahwenig2 on TikTok. Please share. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Horse Rehab Finds Incredibly Unusual Method To Motivate “Sparky” To Swim On The Treadmill appeared first on InspireMore.

Living in the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Jennie Ross is accustomed to the wildlife that surrounds her. Some of the most common include white-tailed deer, groundhogs, and black bears. But as much as Jennie may be used to these creatures roaming around her home, even she is in for a surprise every once in a while. Luckily, she caught one of these unexpected moments on camera. In Jennie’s video, we see a mama black bear and her baby bears following close behind. The first thing you may notice is just how close they’re getting to Jennie’s home. You may also notice how adorable they look taking the stone path that leads to her backyard. But what’s most stunning about this moment has to do with the number of cubs this mama bear has in tow… @jennieross31 Mama Bear and her 4 cubs #georgiamountains #bears #bearcubs ♬ Teddy Bears Picnic – Henry Hall “Quadruplets in THIS ECONOMY?!” someone humorously wrote in reply to Jennie’s video. Other commenters added, “You made such a nice bear path for them,” and “Rich because you’ve seen this with your own eyes! I’m also the first in my bloodline to see FOUR cubs.” Rare Footage Shows Four Baby Bears Following Mama Bear Through a Georgia Woman’s Backyard Taking care of four little ones is a lot for anyone to handle. But that’s not the only reason this large family is so noteworthy. In North America, the average black bear only has two cubs per litter. Sure, a mama bear will have only one sometimes. Even three cubs per litter has been known to happen. But four cubs!? That is especially uncommon. @jennieross31 Wait for me Mama! ?#northgeorgiamountains #bears #bearcub #mountain #bearneccesites ♬ The Jungle Book: The Bare Necessities – Geek Music Luckily for Jennie, this likely wasn’t the last time she spotted these adorable cubs. Soon after sharing that first video, she shared another featuring Mom and a single cub climbing a tall tree together. Well, the baby cub is following after her, anyway. It’s unclear if Mom actually wanted the baby to follow. See for yourself in the video above! Not all bear cubs are lucky enough to have this kind of care. Luckily, there are professionals who dedicate their time to rescuing orphaned bear cubs! You can find the source of this story’s featured image here! The post Wildlife Spotted: Mama Bear Leads Four Cubs Through Georgia Backyard appeared first on InspireMore.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a quiet lab in the Netherlands, Professor Han Wösten holds up what looks like a spongy brick. It may not seem like much at first glance, but this block, made from the rooting networks of fungi, could be a window into the future of sustainable construction. “Ten years from now, we should have the first fungal buildings,” says Wösten, a molecular biologist at Utrecht University. These aren’t the moldy walls you’re used to. They’re a new class of materials that are alive, made from mycelium, the underground root-like structure of fungi that acts as nature’s communications network. And if Wösten and his team have their way, these materials could eventually form the very walls around us. A new kind of living material Wösten is part of Fungateria, an EU-funded research initiative bringing together scientists from Belgium, Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, and the UK. Their ambitious goal is to create engineered living materials (ELMs) that don’t just exist in the built environment but actively participate in it. By combining fungal mycelia with bacteria, the researchers are developing materials that can grow, heal themselves, and even sense changes in their environment. Picture insulation that repairs its own cracks, or a wall that absorbs carbon dioxide and cleans the air around it. “Already we can make leather-like materials or insulation panels from these extended fungal networks,” Wösten explains. “Now we want to go to the next stage and grow buildings, but in a controlled way.” From waste to wonder: the science behind fungal buildings The process starts with agricultural waste, which feeds the fungal hyphae, which are thread-like filaments that form the basis of the material. The resulting composite is strong, lightweight, insulating, and, crucially, biodegradable. The construction sector is responsible for over one-third of the EU’s total waste. On top of that, material extraction and manufacturing contribute five to twelve percent of total national emissions across member states. Fungal buildings could dramatically cut those numbers by reducing carbon output and upcycling existing waste. Smarter architecture, inspired by nature Not everyone is comfortable with the idea of buildings made from living organisms. For Professor Phil Ayres, a biohybrid architecture expert at the Royal Danish Academy, this discomfort should flatline in a matter of time. “We’ve eaten foods with living organisms for hundreds of years,” Ayres notes. “We have only been looking at the potential applications of these organisms in the building sector for the last 20 years.” Ayres wants to shift architecture away from seeing materials as static and controllable. “All constructions change over time in quite dramatic ways,” he says. “If we began to think about buildings more like organisms in a continuous state, we might create architecture that is more ecologically connected.” Growth, control, and safety To prevent the materials from going rogue, controlling fungal growth is essential. The species most often used, Schizophyllum commune (the splitgill mushroom), thrives on dead wood. To keep it from eventually consuming its own supports, researchers have introduced two methods of control: manipulating growth through light and temperature, and using specially engineered bacteria from the University of Ghent. These bacteria feed the fungus essential nutrients, and when they are removed or destroyed, the growth stops. Some bacteria are even programmed to release antifungal compounds as an extra safeguard. Buildings that adapt to the future So far, these fungal materials have shown impressive resilience, withstanding drought and high temperatures. Considering the undeniable fact that the world is facing more extreme weather, this is a great sign. “In the future, I can imagine that we will grow complete buildings where the wood will be the supporting structure and the fungus grows along and between the wood frames,” says Wösten. As cities look for greener, smarter, and more adaptive ways to build, fungal architecture may offer something radical: materials that are not just inspired by nature, but of it. The future of construction could very well be alive.The post How fungi may transform the future of construction first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM If your morning routine includes taking a handful of supplements with coffee or breakfast, you may want to rethink your timing. While it might feel like an efficient start to the day, some nutrients actually work better, and importantly are less likely to cause unwanted side effects, when taken later. According to registered dietitians, here are three common vitamins and minerals that may be best avoided first thing in the morning. 1. Iron Iron is essential for preventing iron-deficiency anemia, a condition that can cause fatigue and weakness. But when taken on an empty stomach, iron supplements can lead to digestive issues like nausea and vomiting. Even with food, high doses can cause constipation in those not used to taking it. That’s not all. If you take your supplement with coffee, you might be canceling out its benefits. “There is a type of polyphenol compound found in coffee called chlorogenic acid that will tend to bind with iron during digestion, making it more difficult for the body to absorb this mineral,” explains Cheryl Mussatto, MS, RD, LD, an outpatient clinical dietitian at Cotton O’Neil Endocrinology and Diabetes Clinic in Topeka, Kansas. Her advice: wait one or two hours after drinking coffee before taking an iron supplement. And to avoid side effects, stick with the recommended daily dose of 18 milligrams and pair it with a meal. 2. Magnesium Magnesium supplements, especially magnesium glycinate, are commonly used to support sleep quality. A 2024 study published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine found that magnesium helps regulate gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that calms the nervous system and promotes relaxation. Because of this calming effect, magnesium is best taken in the evening. Adding it to your nighttime routine, ideally after dinner, can help support restful sleep and minimize any grogginess you might feel if taken in the morning. 3. Vitamin A Vitamin A is a fat-soluble nutrient that supports vision health and functions as an antioxidant. Like other fat-soluble vitamins (D, E, and K), it needs dietary fat to be properly absorbed. If you take your supplement first thing in the morning without a source of fat, your body may not be able to use it efficiently. To maximize absorption, take it with a meal that includes healthy fats like eggs, avocado, nuts, or full-fat yogurt. Taking the right supplements at the right time can help you get the most benefit with the fewest side effects. While iron, magnesium, and vitamin A are all important for overall health, you may want to hold off on taking them first thing in the morning. As always, talk to your healthcare provider about the best timing and dosage for your individual needs.The post 3 supplements you may want to skip in the morning, according to dietitians first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

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