Homeless student a semifinalist for Intel's science award, and more

Homeless student a semifinalist for Intel's science award

A newly homeless 18-year-old overcame her plight to become a semifinalist in a national science contest. Samantha Garvey and her family were evicted from their home on Long Island, N.Y., in December after a car accident injured both her parents and left her mother unable to work. While living in a shelter, the high school senior learned she had been shortlisted for the Intel Science Talent Search for her research on Long Island mussels. Though she didn’t qualify as a finalist, Garvey received a $50,000 scholarship from talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres, and her family has found a home.

Felicity Aston's solo journey across Antarctica

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A British woman has become the first person to ski across Antarctica without the help of kites, machines, or dogs. Felicity Aston, 34, completed the 1,084-mile journey in 59 days, battling through the frozen wastes in temperatures as low as -22 and dragging 187 pounds of supplies behind her on a sled. She overcame crushing loneliness by listening to Agatha Christie audiobooks on an MP3 player and tweeting regularly via a satellite phone. At journey’s end, Aston said she was looking forward to home comforts. “I’ve been promised red wine and a hot shower,” she said.

Woman with no arms becomes British Paralympics masseuse

A woman born with no arms will act as an official masseuse for the British Paralympics team, using her feet to soothe the aching muscles of tired athletes. Sue Kent was born with severely underdeveloped arms after her mother took thalidomide while pregnant, but learned to give massages with her feet. Patients at her clinic lie on the floor while Kent works on their muscles from a bench above. Having trained as a sports therapist, Kent will treat Paralympic athletes at this summer’s games in London.