For more than a million years, a small ancient human relative survived quietly on the volcanic island of Flores in Indonesia. Then, around 50,000 years ago, this tiny hominin known as Homo floresiensis, nicknamed the hobbit because of its small stature, disappeared entirely, leaving behind one of the most puzzling mysteries in human evolution. Scientists…

For 16-year-old Orion Greene of San Rafael, Calif., his father’s death became the impetus for a remarkable mission Some legacies are counted in wealth or in achievement. Others are motivated by compassion, resilience and a determination to ensure no other family ever experiences the same heartbreak. For 16-year-old Orion Greene of San Rafael, Calif., his…

Ryder Williams saving a boy from drowing (screenshot from the video) A 16-year-old California State Parks lifeguard is being praised nationwide after a dramatic ocean rescue in Santa Cruz. Ryder Williams, who was on his first season on the job, pulled a 10-year-old boy from powerful surf at Seabright Beach and later helped save two…