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Did you know that from 1912 to 1948, competitive art was part of the summer Olympics? The art had to be inspired by sport, and was divided into five categories: architecture, literature, music, painting, and sculpture.

World News

Hero Passenger Lands Plane

Imagine you're on a plane, and the pilot suddenly collapses.

For one Californian, this nightmare turned real. During a twin-engine flight from Las Vegas to Monterey, the aircraft had to divert to Bakersfield when the pilot suffered cardiac arrest. A quick-thinking female passenger took over, guided by Kern County air traffic control at Meadows Field. Ron Brewster, the county airport director, told NBC, "We had fire, ambulance, and emergency personnel ready. Medical help reached them within seconds after the plane stopped."

In audio from the Kern County Airport Authority, you can hear the instructions given to the passenger, including how to keep the plane steady at 132 mph. While her identity hasn’t been revealed, Brewster mentioned she was handling the traumatic experience as best as possible. Sadly, the pilot passed away at the hospital.

Environment

Virginia’s Two-legged Bear

A black bear born without front legs has been spotted surviving in the mountains of West Virginia.

While rare, it’s striking to observe how the bear has adapted, moving from a typical four-legged stance to walking upright on two legs like a human. “The area he’s in has some of the steepest terrain in the Appalachian mountains,” hunter and outdoor writer Kirk Price shared on Instagram. “But he has no problem getting around.” Price posted a video in 2022 detailing his face-to-face encounter with the bear, which he described as “the toughest, baddest son-of-a-gun.” Price noted that the bear didn’t show signs of malnourishment, and it ended the encounter by running up a steep hill on two legs without difficulty. Based on recent sightings, Price estimates the bear is about 8 years old.

In an interview with USA Today, Price addressed speculation about the bear’s missing limbs, saying the “clean nubs” where its forearms should be don’t look like injuries caused by traps. There’s no evidence the bear ever had front legs, ruling out the possibility that it lost them in traps, which are illegal and frowned upon by most hunters. “I truly believe he was born this way and has beaten the odds. That’s the real story—this bear is incredible,” Price said.

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World News

Bolivia’s ‘cholitas escaladoras’

At 5,200 meters above sea level, two women sit at a stone table surrounded by mountains. Huayna Potosí, a 6,088-meter peak in Bolivia’s Cordillera Real, is visible ahead, with its glacier reflecting the afternoon sun. A narrow path crosses its icy surface, a common route for climbers.

Cecilia Llusco, an Indigenous Aymara woman, snacks on crackers with caramel spread and drinks coca tea while looking at the peak. "It’s not always about reaching the summit," she says. "Sometimes it’s about enjoying the mountains and going as far as you can without suffering." She adds, "It’s not about getting to the top but enjoying the journey. The most important thing is to be happy." Llusco, aged 39, is one of 10 Indigenous female mountain guides in Bolivia. She wears her long black hair in two braids adorned with wool in the colors of the Bolivian flag. Her traditional Aymara skirt, called a pollera, along with a pink top and fleece, are part of her climbing attire. "I’ve never worn trousers to climb a mountain, and I never will. Our polleras don’t hold us back," she says.

Llusco has spent much of her life climbing Huayna Potosí. In December 2015, she and 10 other women reached the summit of the mountain, calling themselves the cholitas escaladoras—the climbing cholitas. The term "cholita," once derogatory, has been reclaimed by the group as a symbol of empowerment and cultural pride. Llusco feels a personal connection to Huayna Potosí, stating, "I feel free, like I’m escaping, and the mountain is calling me." The mountain’s name means "young mountain" in Aymara, Llusco's native language, and is considered sacred. Climbers often leave offerings of coca leaves and alcohol to ensure a safe journey.

Tourists frequently attempt the three-day climb to the summit of Huayna Potosí, known for being one of the more accessible climbs above 6,000 meters. However, altitude sickness often prevents many from reaching the top. Llusco has led expeditions on this and other Bolivian mountains for six years, but her involvement in tourism began earlier. At the age of eight, she started working with her father, a trekking guide. "I saw how much my father carried and wanted to help," she recalls. "I loved meeting foreigners and learning about them." Her desire to climb Huayna Potosí was sparked during these early visits to the base camp.

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Mind Stretchers

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I'm so weak that a little wind can move me. I'm so strong that when you cut me with a knife, it leaves no track. What is it?

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
I go up, I go down, but I never move. What am I? -Stairs

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