Find uplifting stories about heroes, innovations, and solutions
626 results for "canine companions"
Scientists at UT Austin are getting ahead of potential AI companion risks by creating the first comprehensive guide to both benefits and harms. They're learning from social media's slow response to build safer digital friends from the start.
Only 1% of Americans with disabilities have service dogs, but new genetic research is changing that. Scientists partnered with Canine Companions to identify which puppies will succeed in training.
Only 1% of the 61 million Americans with disabilities have access to life-changing service dogs. Researchers are partnering with Canine Companions to solve the genetics puzzle and train more dogs for those waiting.
Sextech expert Bryony Cole says AI companions are designed for efficiency, but real relationships thrive on messiness. Her TED talk challenges us to think more carefully about how we connect with machines and each other.
Washington state just became the first to cover ElliQ, an AI companion that fights loneliness in older adults, through Medicaid. Thousands of seniors can now get the technology for free as part of their care plans.
South Korea is distributing AI-powered companion dolls to tens of thousands of elderly residents to combat loneliness in one of the world's fastest-aging nations. The robots remind seniors to take their medication, monitor their wellbeing, and can call for emergency help when needed. #
An 18-year-old alpaca in Cornwall found comfort in an unexpected companion after losing his pen mates. Giovanni's caregivers installed mirrors in his enclosure to help ease his loneliness, and two new alpaca friends are on the way.
Colin Angle, who put 50 million Roombas in homes worldwide, is building robots designed to form genuine emotional bonds with people. His new company Familiar Machines & Magic just emerged from stealth with a mission to create "artificial life" for a more caring world.
Mercy Care for the Adirondacks is training volunteers to help elderly residents navigate complex healthcare systems while offering free tech workshops to keep seniors digitally connected. The dual programs tackle isolation and healthcare access barriers facing the region's aging population.
The entrepreneur who brought robot vacuums to millions of homes just revealed his next invention: cute, furry robots designed purely for companionship. These AI-powered "Familiars" can remember your conversations, express emotions through movement, and respond to touch.
An eight-year-old black Labrador named Pickle is bringing joy to the Winter Paralympics as the beloved companion of British para-alpine skier Hester Poole. The "furry ball of love" has become an unofficial team member, complete with her own official headshot and custom kit.
Two-time Paralympic champion Jessica-Jane Applegate credits her canine companions as secret weapons in her swimming success. Now she's bringing that same bond to 18,000 dogs at Crufts 2026 as the show's newest ambassador.
New genetic evidence pushes back the proven existence of dogs by 4,000 years, confirming our best friends were around before humans even started farming. The discovery reveals that ice age hunter-gatherers in Europe already had canine companions by their side.
Archaeologists in Sweden discovered an exceptionally well-preserved Stone Age dog skeleton, carefully laid to rest with a polished bone dagger 5,000 years ago. The rare find offers a touching glimpse into the deep bond between ancient humans and their canine companions.
Urban dwellers across China are adopting chickens as beloved pets, dressing them in tiny outfits and pushing them in strollers. Social media posts about these feathered companions have soared past 3.1 billion views.
Archaeologists discovered evidence of a unique "feeding" ritual at a millennium-old dingo burial site in Australia, showing how deeply First Nations people cared for these companion animals. The injured dingo was nursed back to health, then honored with centuries of ceremony.
When a daughter's pleas couldn't motivate her mom with Parkinson's to exercise, a compassionate AI companion succeeded in just days. The robot named ElliQ became an unexpected friend that reignited joy and movement.
A Southern Oregon nonprofit trains service dogs specifically for children and young adults with disabilities, but they need more volunteers to raise puppies. Canine Angels has graduated 120 service dogs and relies on volunteer families to care for puppies during their critical first year.
Scientists studying over 600 ancient dog skulls discovered that dog breeds may have emerged thousands of years before Victorian times. The research reveals that early domestic dogs already showed surprising variety in shape and size, challenging what we thought we knew about canine history.
A mysterious cosmic flash just revealed it has a companion star. This discovery rewrites what we know about where the universe's most powerful radio signals come from.
Showing 20 of 626