90,000 rubber ducks race

Around 90,000 rubber ducks were released into the Chicago River during the annual Chicago Ducky Derby, a fundraiser for Special Olympics Illinois.

The ducks floated for about 15 minutes before the winning and second-place ducks were pulled from the river. The event drew thousands of people, with Special Olympics athlete Becky Cavanagh holding up the winning duck to cheering crowds.

People can sponsor a duck for $10, which helps provide lunch for an athlete, or a pack of six for $30, which helps provide gold medals for a team. The event has raised more than $480,000.

The winning duck’s sponsor receives an SUV, while the runner-up wins $2,500.

Gardener grows record chilli

Swiss gardener Jürg Wiesli has broken the Guinness World Record for the longest chilli pepper for the third time, growing one measuring 1 foot 8.6 inches.

Wiesli first set the record in 2017 with a 1-foot 5.7-inch chilli, then beat his own record in 2018 with a 1-foot 7.9-inch pepper. His latest chilli was measured on August 11.

Wiesli starts his seeds indoors in March under grow lights, then plants them outside in April. He says good soil, regular watering and balanced fertiliser are key to growing long chillies.

T-shirt stays fresh for a month

US clothing company HercLeon has launched the HercShirt V5.0, which it says can remain odour-free for more than 30 days without washing, even with heavy use.

The shirt’s fabric contains copper, silver, zinc, gold, volcanic ash and two secret ingredients. Copper helps fight odour-causing bacteria, zinc neutralises compounds from sweat, while volcanic ash absorbs moisture and odours.

The shirt costs $79 and is claimed to last longer than seven regular T-shirts because it needs less washing. A $39 version stays fresh for three days, while a standard version lasts up to 14 days without washing.

The V5.0 is expected to ship in early November.

Cat with 29 toes sets record

A Wisconsin cat with 29 toes has earned the Guinness World Record for the most toes on a cat.

Erebus Anomaly, a Maine Coon owned by Kendra Vandenbloomer and Hunter Nett, has 11 more toes than the usual 18 found on domestic cats.

Erebus has polydactyly, a genetic trait that causes extra toes and is common in Maine Coons.

The previous record of 28 toes belonged to Jake, a Canadian cat, in 2002.

Vandenbloomer and Nett, who run Blue Northern Maine Coons, said they suspected Erebus might break the record as soon as he was born.

Published in Dawn, Young World, September 5th, 2026