SWIM

MIT researchers have built a paper-thin swimming robot that moves using living muscle cells rather than motors. The soft robotic swimmer can navigate through watery mazes, demonstrating precise control of biohydraulic movement in a device thin enough to be flexible like paper. The work highlights growing progress in biohybrid robotics, where engineered living tissue is combined with synthetic materials to create machines that move in ways conventional robots cannot.

BTS took home three awards at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, becoming the first Korean group to win Song of the Year. The award went to "SWIM," the title track from their fifth album "ARIRANG," honored at the ceremony held September 27 local time. The triple win marks another historic milestone for the group's international recognition.

A striking underwater photograph of a Pacific Trumpetfish, known in Hawaiian as Nākolo, shows the slender yellow fish hovering beside the wall of an ocean cave. The image, shared as part of a daily sealife photo feature, is drawing admiring comments and inquiries about purchasing prints of the marine wildlife shot.

Images of a whale swimming alongside a small fishing boat in the open ocean are circulating widely, with commenters saying the comparison makes the animal's enormous size finally comprehensible. Many responses describe being surprised that photos and documentaries fail to convey how large whales are until they are seen next to a familiar object like a vessel.

Dutch former speed skater Erben Wennemars has spoken warmly about swimmer Maarten van der Weijden, calling him 'a philosopher in swimming trunks'. Wennemars' comments highlight the respect Van der Weijden commands in Dutch sport, known for his marathon swimming and charity endurance swims. The remarks are circulating in Dutch sports media.

A wildlife photographer captured a green sea turtle, known in Hawaiian as the honu, swimming beside an outflow pipe along west O'ahu. The image was shared as a photo of the day and is drawing attention from ocean and marine life enthusiasts, with prints offered to interested buyers.

A presentation of a new book by Novella Calligaris, the legendary Italian swimmer, took place in Rome on Wednesday 30 September. The event drew attention from the sporting world, with federations and fans celebrating the career of one of Italy's most iconic athletes. Calligaris remains a benchmark figure in Italian swimming history.

Spanish swimmer Mireia Belmonte has been inducted into the Florida Swimming Hall of Fame, honoured as the best Spanish swimmer, La Vanguardia reports. Belmonte, an Olympic medallist and multiple world champion, is being celebrated in Spain for the international recognition of her career.

Water Babies swim classes are being highlighted as a way to teach children water safety throughout the year, not just in summer. The segment frames swim lessons as part of a community effort in parenting, with instructors helping young children build confidence and safety skills in the water year-round.

Researchers at Cornell University have designed a large underwater robot modelled on the oarfish, a deep-sea creature known for its long ribbon-like body and distinctive dorsal fin. The team studied how the fish propels itself with a rippling fin along its body and reproduced that movement in the robot, aiming for efficient, stable swimming at scale for future underwater exploration.

Engineers at MIT have designed a small swimming robot propelled by living muscle cells, according to Forbes. The biohybrid device uses biological tissue as its power source rather than a conventional motor, pointing to a growing field of robotics that merges synthetic structures with living cells for soft, agile movement.

Armand Landmann secured his place at the world championships by winning the 50 metre freestyle at the South African national swimming titles, according to Swimming World. The result confirms his qualification for the global event and marks a standout performance at the national competition, drawing attention from the swimming community.

A striking wildlife photograph shows a jaguar hunting for caiman along the Cuiabá river in Brazil, challenging the common assumption that cats avoid water. Jaguars in the Pantanal region are known to swim and hunt caiman, and images like this draw admiration for the species' power and beauty.

A new multi-domain robot can travel through air, across water surfaces and underwater without human control, Popular Science reports. The machine is being described as transformative for autonomous vehicles, since most existing robots are built to operate in only one environment. Coverage highlights potential uses in exploration, monitoring and research, though specific details about the robot's design and developers were not provided in the available reports.

A resident of Dingwall in the Scottish Highlands has signed up for a HighLife membership, saying £30 a month covers unlimited swimming and gym use across 25 leisure centres in the region. They plan to swim daily and look forward to watching Ross County, known as the Staggies, play at weekends, calling the membership phenomenal value.

People in and around Toulon are looking up the local weather as southern France enjoys sunny skies and unusually warm sea temperatures. Forecasts from regional outlets describe ideal conditions on Provence beaches this Sunday, with sunshine and water still warm enough for swimming, prompting beachgoers to check conditions before heading to the coast.

Researchers have developed a new propulsion method for small robots that uses low-power twisting movements, allowing them to hop and swim without large amounts of energy. The approach could make miniature robots more practical by reducing power demands while keeping them mobile across different environments.

The former Barnes & Noble building is set to be filled by four new tenants: a swim school, a jeweler, a fitness center and an ice cream shop. The leasing plan revives a large retail space left vacant by the bookstore's closure, replacing a single big-box occupant with a mix of recreational, retail and food businesses.

A swimmer in Dorset, England, has taken on a 261-mile swim for the ocean after finding a bag of rubbish on a local beach. The story highlights how a single piece of litter sparked a long-distance challenge raising awareness of marine pollution, with environment-focused readers sharing it as an example of individual action turning frustration into positive change.

A new multi-environment robot has been unveiled that can fly, sail on the surface, and swim underwater, all autonomously without human control. The vehicle, described by Popular Science as transformative, points to a growing trend in robotics toward machines that adapt to air, sea surface, and underwater environments, with potential uses in exploration, monitoring, and research.

With Austin's triple-digit summer temperatures finally easing, a long-time resident is sharing tips for enjoying the city outdoors — running, swimming at spots like Cold Springs, eating well, and catching live music without the usual crowds. The message: autumn is the ideal season to experience Austin as an outdoor paradise before the heat returns.