Cow seen using tools for first time

Researchers in Austria have recorded what is believed to be the first known case of a cow using tools. The study focuses on Veronika, a Swiss brown cow in Carinthia, who was seen using sticks and brushes to scratch herself.

Scientists from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna say Veronika has been picking up pieces of wood for years and later began using a long brush, choosing different parts depending on where she wanted to scratch.

The findings, published in Current Biology, suggest cows may be more cognitively capable than often assumed. Researchers note that Veronika’s actions were clearly intentional and she uses the same tool in flexible ways rather than randomly.

Moon hotel opens early bookings

A California start up has begun accepting deposits of up to $1 million for rooms at what it claims will be the world’s first hotel on the Moon, planned to open by 2032. Final room prices are expected to exceed $10 million.

Founded by 21-year-old Skylar Chan, GRU Space plans to build the hotel using robots that turn lunar soil into building blocks. Construction is expected to begin in 2029, pending approvals. Chan says the project reflects a future where humans may live beyond Earth.

Flat freezes into ice castle

An apartment in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, turned into a real-life ice castle after a tenant switched off the heating while away on holiday to save money. When owner Jacques Nault entered the flat earlier this month, he found the walls, ceiling, furniture and appliances coated in thick ice, with nearly 30 centimetres covering the floor.

The extreme cold caused water pipes to burst, leading to tens of thousands of dollars in damage. Nault said rising living costs may have influenced the decision, but warned it was a costly mistake. The tenant was evicted and the apartment now needs major repairs, with insurance expected to cover part of the cost.

Ancient olive tree still bears fruit

In Ano Vouves, Crete, one of the world’s oldest living olive trees continues to produce olives after around 3,000 years. The protected tsounati olive tree has a massive trunk measuring about 12.5 metres in circumference and grows from wild olive stock.

Its exact age cannot be confirmed, as olive trees rot from the inside as part of natural renewal, but ring studies show it is at least 2,000 years old. Scientists believe it could be closer to 4,000. The tree attracts thousands of visitors each year and has survived droughts, fires and centuries of human activity.

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 14th, 2026