Weekly News Recap: July 31, 2026

Weekly News Recap: July 31, 2026

Two University of Waterloo researchers created an AI companion named Nate on Replika, in order to study the relationship between humans and AI companions. This is a picture of Nate customized by the researchers using the Replika app. (Submitted by Denise Marigold)

An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last. - Winston Churchill

SOME GOOD NEWS

  • ‘It makes your heart sing’: can a pioneering project show that rewilding really works? (The Guardian) And there is! (money in protecting nature). Thanks to Recap contributor, Mick Mulloy for sharing this story. "Intensive farming has all but destroyed England’s ancient woodlands and freshwater wetlands. On a farm in Lincolnshire a radical aristocrat hopes to show there’s money in protecting nature."

  • Step inside an 1,800-year-old tree to experience the magic of B.C.’s ancient forests (CBC) BRITISH COLUMBIA STORY This is terrific! "In May, an ambitious new exhibition opened at the Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG) that reimagines the role of art and artists in a time of climate change. Organized by the museum’s curator at large, Eva Respini, Future Geographies: Art in the Century of Climate Change brings international artists alongside works rooted in the context of British Columbia. The art is grounded with climate science through a series of videos collaboratively produced with the University of British Columbia’s Climate Action Labs."

  • New Bedford Whaling Museum goes viral for ‘worst aquarium ever’ merch (wbur) Ha, embrace the misconception. #Novel "New Bedford is considered the home of whaling’s history in America — and now, home to the worst aquarium ever. In 2020, a Google user left a one-star review of the New Bedford Whaling Museum coining that phrase. Last fall, the museum began selling shirts and hoodies with the review on the back and a whale skeleton on the front. Now, the design is capturing national attention."

  • Marmots on OnlyFans: Researchers turn to the internet for funding (CBC) I don't really know why I love this but...I do love it. "Funding has always been a challenge for Daniel Blumstein's long-term study of yellow-bellied marmots, more so, he tells CBC News, since the Trump administration started defunding some environmental research. So when he watched the Apple TV comedy Margo's Got Money Troubles, Blumstein could relate and was inspired by the protagonist's decision to turn to digital sex work to avoid financial ruin. 'What about OnlyFans?' he recalled asking, thinking of all the 'hysterical' videos his lab has of the loaf-like rodents. 'Why don't we share them ... and maybe people will give us tips?' "

  • VIDEO: A phone was found in perfect shape after falling from an airplane | The Moment (CBC) SASKATCHEWAN STORY #GorillaGlass woot! "Heather Cline and David Stanchuk tell The National about the moment they found their phone in perfect condition in a Saskatchewan canola field after it had fallen 1.1 kilometres from a plane."

  • Tactile bus stop signs help Calgarians navigate transit with more confidence (City of Calgary) CALGARY STORY Nice move Calgary! "Calgary Transit is improving service for customers who are blind, Deafblind or have low vision. As part of a pilot effort, 89 tactile and high contrast signs are now in place on Route 90 (Bridgeland/University of Calgary). The signs provide key information, such as stop ID, route details, and Calgary Transit’s TeleRide phone number (403-974-4000), using raised text and braille."

  • VIDEO: Small dog missing for weeks rescued while swimming in San Francisco Bay (The Guardian) #SwimPuppySwim "Firefighters rescued a small dog that had been missing for weeks after finding it swimming into the San Francisco Bay. The dog had gone missing over the Fourth of July weekend, according to the Menlo Park fire protection district. But someone called 911 on 16 July to say they had seen a dog enter the bay near the Dumbarton Bridge in East Palo Alto."

  • VIDEO: Meet Alberta's own friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man (CBC) EDMONTON STORY #SpidermanSpiderman (you know the rest). "As superhero origin stories go, Josh Carter has a pretty good one. It started during the COVID-19 pandemic, with an idea to bring some joy to the community. 'I really wanted to do something nice for the community,' the 23-year-old from Beaumont, Alta., told CBC. 'I put on the suit, walked around, did flips and people loved it.' Soon, the athletic Carter was a Spidey staple on the streets of the Edmonton-area, showing off in public parks, taking bookings to entertain at birthday parties and earning community service awards."

  • His doctor’s prescription for his unbearable pain seemed absurd. It worked. (Yahoo Life) Cycling will save your life. "One doctor [...] thought the pain was due to mental illness. He got sicker and sicker over a few months. He feared he was going to die. More than a year after his symptoms began, Maassen was losing hope of ever identifying his medical condition when he found Ahmet Hoke, a neurologist in Baltimore. After a quick look at Maassen's symptoms, Hoke correctly diagnosed him. The recovery plan Hoke gave Maassen in the following months changed Maassen's life and unexpectedly led him to a therapy that became his passion: cycling."

  • 64-Year-Old Father of 5 Graduates as a Nurse After Studying Alongside His Son (People) #CoolDad "A dad of five has just graduated from college at the age of 64. After completing a nurse degree apprenticeship at the University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol, England, John Adesoye celebrated his hard work at his graduation ceremony, according to a university press release."

TOP TEN STORIES OF THE WEEK

  1. Federal, Alberta governments invest $52 million in Calgary Olympic Oval upgrade (CBC) CALGARY STORY We need more investment in sport in Canada -- this is moving in the right direction. Congrats to all. "Calgary's Olympic Oval is getting an upgrade. The federal and provincial governments are equally splitting a $52-million contribution to the renewal of the speedskating facility built for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. The federal government also announced [...] an additional investment of $7.67 million into ski racing and snowboard facilities in Quebec, Yukon, Alberta and B.C., as well as a $3-million top-up to the Athletic Assistance Program, which provides Canada's high-performance athletes monthly cheques to help pay their bills."

  2. VIDEO: Philanthropist behind Canadian human rights museum says family pausing funding over Palestinian exhibit (CBC) WINNIPEG STORY "A Winnipeg philanthropist who played a critical role in bringing the Canadian Museum for Human Rights to the city says her family is pausing any financial support for the institution over concerns around an exhibit on the displacement of Palestinians. Gail Asper said she found elements of the exhibit — titled Palestine Uprooted: Nakba Past and Present — compelling, from interviews with displaced Palestinians to artifacts including people's property deeds and keys for their former homes. But she feels the way the museum describes the related history on panels in the exhibit is missing context."

  3. Province backs $1.2B Saskatoon arena district, pledges to match federal funding (CBC) SASKATOON STORY Congrats to Saskatoon! "Saskatoon Mayor Cynthia Block says it's time to start dreaming about the downtown arena district — but only if the federal government helps pay for it. Block spoke at a news conference where the province announced it supports the massive $1.2-billion project in the province's largest city and will match federal funding."

  4. Critics slam Tim Hortons Harry Potter promotion as un-Canadian, anti-trans (CBC) CANADIAN STORY "The reaction online is, perhaps, not as magical as Tim Hortons had hoped. But when the coffee chain announced its new Harry Potter menu and merchandise on Monday — a celebration of the 'beloved' movie franchise's 25th anniversary, according to the company's press release — the backlash from the 2SLGBTQ+ community and allies was swift. 'As a brand that is synonymous with Canada, Tim Hortons and their partnerships should reflect Canada — a country that is inclusive and proud of its diversity,' advocacy group Egale Canada said in an online statement."

  5. Shopify CEO endorses idea to give more votes to wealthy Canadians (CBC) CANADIAN STORY #Umm "The billionaire CEO of one of Canada's largest companies has come under fire for endorsing the idea of stripping voting rights from some people and giving more votes to the ultra-wealthy [...] Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke replied to a post on X from former TD Bank executive Eric Thor, who suggested an electoral system of 'weighted voting proportional to the amount of income tax you pay,' from zero votes for people who don't pay income tax to five votes for anyone paying $500,000 or more. Lütke replied, 'Good system.' "

  6. FIFA plan for Kushner-backed $20 billion US operation to run World Cup meets fury from Europe's UEFA (CBC) "FIFA president Gianni Infantino's plan to create a $20 billion (all figures US) company running the World Cup with private investors including the Kushner family was announced — and immediately attacked by European soccer body UEFA. 'It is not FIFA's to sell,' UEFA said in a statement. 'None of us are the owners of football.' "

  7. Relentless Tadej Pogacar wins fifth Tour de France to equal record (The Guardian) Well done and congrats. "Tadej Pogacar took a record-equalling fifth win in the Tour de France on Sunday, joining Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Induráin in the canon of the Tour’s most successful cyclists. In a thrilling finale to the Tour, Mathieu van der Poel took his second stage win of the race on the Champs-Élysées, fending off the pursuing pack of sprinters by a tyre’s width, after breaking clear with Pogacar on the final climb of the Butte de Montmartre."

  8. VIDEO: Heated Rivalry thirst traps: The Canadian export that won't quit (CBC) CANADIAN STORY If you have not watched Heated Rivalry, it's a must watch. If you have, well, you know. "First it was Hudson Williams for Peloton. Now it's François Arnaud for Under Armour. It seems U.S. fitness brands can't get enough of the Canadian actors who portray the beloved fictional hockey players in Heated Rivalry ... and the internet is eating it up. Both campaigns bear certain hallmarks that push them from equipment and sportswear advertisement into clear thirst-trap territory: close-ups on chiselled abs, artistic beads of sweat and coquettish looks into the camera. Everyone involved understands two things: Sex sells, and these particular stars are used to being objectified by men and women of all ages, in countries around the world."

  9. VIDEO: Parks Canada charges hikers after grizzly bear run-in with off-leash dog in Banff National Park (CBC) ALBERTA STORY #LeashYourDog "A pair of hikers with an off-leash dog were charged after coming close to a well-known grizzly bear on a popular hiking trail in Banff National Park. Parks Canada charged them after a social media video on TikTok generated several million views since being posted July 21. The video, recorded by a woman, shows a man with bear spray and a small off-leash dog running between the two of them as grizzly bear No. 142 walks toward them on the trail. James Eastham, a spokesperson for Parks Canada’s Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay field unit, said an investigation by park wardens led to charges since the dog was off-leash."

  10. VIDEO: What’s it like having an AI boyfriend? 2 Waterloo researchers decided to find out (CBC) WATERLOO STORY "Can you imagine dating someone who agrees with everything you say without you ever having to contribute to the relationship? According to two University of Waterloo researchers, that’s what it’s like dating an AI companion. Denise Marigold and Christine Logel teach social development studies at the University of Waterloo. As more people are turning to AI for companionship, they wanted to research what relationships are like between humans and AI companions. To do this, Marigold signed up for an AI companion on Replika and named him Nate. Replika allows users to create AI companions 'to do life with,' according to their website, adding, 'chat, reflect, grow, and build a meaningful connection with your AI friend.' "

SEVEN LIFE AND CAREER HACKS

  1. The Thinking Flywheel: How AI Made Me a Sharper Thinker (Artificial Intelligence) A really brilliant analysis and method to use AI as a thinking partner not to think for you. I spend an inordinate amount of time on my prompts and I do feel my thinking gets sharper. #VagueInputUselessOutput

  2. VIDEO: The Tiny White Grain That Runs The World (And No — It’s Not Cocaine) (The Quantastic Journal) As the article states, "the mammal wants voltage." #Salt

  3. Dehydration Makes Carbs Less Effective (Runner's Life) And a great set of tips on heat, pacing, sleep, and weight training -- all focused on making your run training and racing better and more productive.

  4. How to Remember More From Everything You Read (The Useful Life) Maybe the best, concise system I have seen. And I love this quote: "Writing is not the outcome of thinking; it is the medium in which thinking takes place."

  5. Isometric Training: Benefits, Exercises, & More (Kevin Alghul) Often overlooked or ignored ('too easy') but I have found isometrics to be easy to do and, better yet, I can do them anywhere.

  6. The One-Pager That Closes the Meeting: How to Replace a 30-Minute Presentation With a Single Page (Winning Presentations) This is the reason PowerPoint can get a bad reputation -- it is not always the right medium. This is a meaty, easily digestible article how how to get to a decision with a busy executive and board. #Brilliant.

  7. 10 of the Funniest Winston Churchill Quotes (Illumination) I have always admired this great but imperfect leader. And one of the reasons is his pithy yet incisive wit.

TOP THREE GIFTS OF THE WEEK

  1. Alumni couple invest in precision cancer care, trainees (Western University News) LONDON STORY "A generous gift from Western law alumni Marlene McGrath [...] and Graham Porter [...] is advancing cancer care research in London, Ont., and helping recruit the next generation of talent."

  2. Cooper University Health Care gets $100M from NJ power broker George Norcross (NBC) "Cooper University Health Care and the MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper received the largest single philanthropic gift in the institution's history, officials announced, after Democratic power broker George E. Norcross III promised $100 million to the New Jersey health system."

  3. Lompoc Theatre Project Receives $6 Million Donation; Facility to Reopen in 2028 (Noozhawk) "The Lompoc Theatre Project received a $6 million donation from Santa Barbara philanthropist Cheryl Goldberg that will advance the restoration of the historic theater."

LAST WEEK'S MOST POPULAR STORIES

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