New York – October 11, 2026 -- LEGO fans can now build a Star Wars and Marvel crossover for a LEGO Ideas challenge, and the favorite submissions can become an official LEGO product.

The LEGO Group announced the challenge at New York Comic Con during a panel featuring Kevin Smith, an actor, director and Marvel Comics writer. It is the first time fans can build with both Marvel and Star Wars in a single LEGO Ideas challenge.

Fans pick vehicles, characters or scenes

The challenge is open now. Entrants choose one of three themes: Star Wars and Marvel vehicles, characters or scenes. They then review the rules and guidelines, build with LEGO elements and submit their design on the LEGO Ideas platform.

Voting starts December 15, 2026

Fans vote on the submissions from December 15, 2026. The favorites will then be turned into an official LEGO product, and the Grand Prize Selections will be announced next year.

Chengdu – October 10, 2026 -- Climbing brand KAILAS has launched "Stay Warm, Stay Together," a campaign built around its GT Glacier Traverse Series, a line of snow-mountain gear that uses goose down with a fill power of up to 1,000.

Selected GT Glacier Traverse styles pair 1,000-fill down with ultralight fabric

The series is designed for snow-mountain climbing and balances warmth, protection and lightweight performance. Selected styles combine goose down rated up to 1,000 fill power with ZERO-Gravity Ultralight Fabric. KAILAS says the pairing delivers an exceptional warmth-to-weight ratio, keeping climbers warm while cutting unnecessary weight.

KAILAS describes itself as one of the world's three full-category climbing brands. It makes high-altitude down jackets, technical shells and climbing hardware, all tested and refined in real mountain environments.

Vancouver – October 10, 2026 -- Four publicly listed retail investing platforms now report more than 41 million funded accounts combined, and two of them, Robinhood and Webull, posted record quarters this summer. The figure is the sum of the funded-account numbers reported by Robinhood, Webull, Futu and eToro for the quarter ended June 30, 2026.

Free tools now compete with brokerages on research and AI

Not every investor needs a brokerage to follow the market. Free tools let people watch prices, keep a watchlist and see why a stock moved without paying for a terminal. One example is Quote Daddy, a free stock-tracking app for web, iPhone and Android. It offers live watchlists for U.S. stocks and ETFs, interactive charts, alerts, and insider activity drawn from SEC Form 4 filings. It also tracks the latest SEC 13F holdings of well-known investors and congressional disclosed trades.

Canary Islands – October 10, 2026 -- A Spanish STEM educator and an 11-year-old British wildlife campaigner will receive STARMUS VIII's two junior medals at the festival in Tenerife and La Palma, running 17 to 22 October 2026.

Valeria Corrales built a 240,000-subscriber STEM channel

Valeria Corrales, from Spain, will receive the Junior Stephen Hawking Medal for her work bringing science, programming and technology to young audiences. She co-founded the educational platform ValPat in 2018, at age ten, with her mentor Patricia Heredia.

ValPat has grown into a major Spanish-language STEM education platform with more than 750 videos and 240,000 YouTube subscribers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Corrales and Heredia ran 100 consecutive days of free online STEM classes for thousands of children across Spain and Latin America.

San Francisco – October 10, 2026 -- Solvely.ai's AI math solver walks learners through text or image-based questions with step-by-step explanations, follow-up questions and visual whiteboard explanations. The company says the goal is helping people build understanding and skills rather than simply completing tasks.

Co-founder says AI should empower learners, not replace them

Co-founder Richard Weiqi Zhang shared the approach at Funding Conviction, a September 18, 2026, webinar hosted by Edtech Insiders. Reach Capital's Steve Kupfer and Minerva's Ben Nelson also joined the discussion. "The goal is still to empower the learner, not to replace them," Zhang said.

Kalamazoo – October 09, 2026 -- Anyone turning 65 has a seven-month window to sign up for Medicare, and missing it without qualifying coverage can mean delayed benefits or higher premiums, according to a HelloNation article featuring Joe Garcia of SMG - SafeHarbor Management Group in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Enrollment is not always automatic at 65, the article explains. Planning ahead helps Michigan retirees get benefits on time and avoid unnecessary long-term costs.

The Initial Enrollment Period runs three months before and after your birthday month

The window begins three months before the month of a person's 65th birthday, includes that month, and continues for three months afterward. During this time, eligible people can enroll in Part A and Part B, plus Part D prescription drug coverage if needed.

Philadelphia – October 09, 2026 -- For every block the Philadelphia 76ers make this season, TENA will donate up to $25,000 worth of incontinence products to a local community organization in the Philadelphia region.

TENA becomes a Proud Partner of the 76ers

TENA, an incontinence care brand, has been named a Proud Partner of the Philadelphia 76ers. As Presenting Partner of its "Blocking the Stigma" campaign, the brand will reach fans through in-arena visibility, digital engagement, social activation and community impact.

The campaign targets men's bladder health

The initiative is aimed at bringing attention to men's health. According to a 2025 TENA study, 1 in 4 men over 40 will experience drips and dribbles in their lifetime, said Thiago Icassati, Vice President Personal Care for Essity North America.

Manchester, Vt. – October 09, 2026 -- Refrigerators typically last 13 to 15 years, dishwashers 10 to 12 years, and washers about 9 to 10 years, according to a HelloNation article featuring appliance expert Bill Pronovost of P&F Appliance.

Knowing these ranges helps homeowners budget for repairs and replacements and avoid unexpected breakdowns.

Lifespans vary by appliance type

Refrigerators reach 13 to 15 years with proper maintenance. Dishwashers last slightly less, at 10 to 12 years. Washers run about 9 to 10 years, while dryers can last much longer depending on usage. Microwaves and coffee makers often last between five and ten years.

Washers and dryers wear faster with frequent use, especially in larger households.

Routine upkeep keeps machines running longer

The article names maintenance as the most effective way to extend appliance life. Recommended tasks by appliance:

Webster – October 09, 2026 -- A sharp beard cut won't last if the skin under it is dry or irritated, according to barber Brett Bishopp of Stache Grooming Lounge in Webster, N.Y., who says sculpting and skin care work best as one routine.

Skin problems start many beard problems

In a HelloNation article, Bishopp explains that itchiness, dryness, irritation and uneven growth often begin at the skin level. Beard hair absorbs natural oils, which can leave the skin beneath dry or tight. Poor hydration can lead to discomfort, patchiness and irregular growth.

Sculpting does more than trim stray hairs

Sculpting shapes the beard's outline and refines the cheek and neckline. A skilled barber evaluates symmetry, angles and balance. The right shape can tighten the jawline and keep the beard from looking uneven or overgrown.

San Mateo – October 09, 2026 -- Viki will stream the 10-episode Korean animated series The Painted Soul exclusively starting October 21 in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Oceania, India and Southeast Asia. Viewers can watch for free with ads or without ads through the Viki Pass Standard and Viki Pass Plus subscriptions.

A fantasy romance built around a sealed painting

The story follows Yun Hwa, an apprentice spirit painter who accidentally frees Seol Jin, a mysterious man who has been sealed inside a painting for decades. Legend says anyone who meets his gaze is doomed.

As Yun Hwa is drawn closer to the stranger, she must decide whether what she feels is fear or something more. The series blends fantasy and romance with Eastern inspiration.