Rare Turtle Is Brought Back from the Edge of Extinction by Caretakers of Hindu Temple
Seventeen years ago, the black softshell turtle was declared extinct in the wild – gone from its entire range in India and Bangladesh. But due to the efforts of a few Hindu temple caretakers, the turtles are bouncing back. Once plentiful in the northeastern state of Assam, the turtles’ numbers diminished because of loss of...
Check And See If Your Sunscreen Is Harming the Environment, Look For “Reef Friendly”
More and more sunscreens are claiming to be “reef friendly” these days. A new label on sunscreens allows consumers to see at a glance how safe the product is for ocean life. If you see the words “reef friendly” printed next to an image of a coral, then the sunscreen should be lacking damaging chemicals....
10 Disney World Free Stuff You May Not Know About
Saving for a Disney World vacation is no walk in the park – It’s pricey to visit the Most Magical Place on Earth. So to help you out, we’ve got a list of some freebies you can pick up once you make it in the gate. Scroll through these 10 things available for you and...
Twins Conjoined at the Head Separated After 50 Hours of Surgery
Doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London recently announced they had successfully separated conjoined twin girls after several surgeries totaling over 50 hours. We’ve an incredible story to share with you: conjoined twins Safa and Marwa have been successfully separated – the first such procedure at @GreatOrmondSt since 2011! Discover their extraordinary story. https://t.co/aKrOCMGu3q...
Apollo 11 Astronauts Had to Go Through Customs on Their Return from the Moon
This year marks 50 years since Apollo 11’s famous moon landing. Those brave men did something no one had ever done before, uniting humanity in awe and wonder at the mysteries of the universe. Apparently, humanity is also united in experiencing the joys of going through customs upon entering the country – even those astronauts....
U.S. National Park Is the First to Offer Disabled Visitors a Heavy Duty Wheelchair
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, located in Michigan, is the first U.S. National Park to offer a specially outfitted, off-trail style wheelchair to disabled visitors. Now, everyone can enjoy the trails. It’s called the track chair, and it has treads in place of wheels – perfect for the park’s trails and hills, which can be...
Talking to Animals and Inanimate Objects Is a Sign of Intelligence and Empathy
People who talk to their pets as if they are human are not simple-minded or nutty. Rather, the habit seems to be a sign of high intelligence and empathy. That’s reassuring news for anyone who has been mocked for telling the dog the weather is too bad for a walk right now, but maybe later...
Move over Dogs: Scientists Say Goats Are as Smart and Loving as Man’s Best Friend
Researchers recently asserted that goats can bond to humans as closely and as lovingly as dogs. And, why not? They’ve been domesticated for over 10,000 years (goats were one of the earliest species to be domesticated). In all that time, goats have probably learned a thing or two about humans. One of the things goats...
If Apollo 11 Had Failed, This Is the Speech President Nixon Would Have Given
The journey to the moon embarked upon by the crew of Apollo 11 50 years ago is one of the greatest achievements in the history of humankind. But as the country cheered liftoff, leaders silently prepared for catastrophe. The US National Archives has released a speech written specifically for President Nixon to deliver if astronauts...
Gorillas Sing “Little Food Songs” When They Eat
A German scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology who was working in the Republic of the Congo recently reported that gorillas hum and sing while they eat. Yummy songs, if you will. Eva Luef, primatologist from the institute based in Seewiesen, Germany, studied two families of western lowland gorillas in Congo, and identified the...
Children Don’t Recognize Anxiety, but They Know Their Stomachs Hurt
Children experience a wide range of emotions as they grow and that also includes negative feelings. However, their lack of experience and perspective can keep them from clinically labeling what they are feeling. Instead, they use other descriptors. Kids will discuss their symptoms before their feelings. We, as adults, then need to use our own...
The Word “Snake” May Be Scary, but Garter Snakes are Harmless and Helpful
Lots of people who grew up in North America probably remember looking for garter snakes in their gardens and flower beds as children. They were fun to catch and carry around on your hand until they squirmed away (poor little things were probably terrified). They are, for the most part, harmless. As adults, many of...
Kindergarten Teacher Shares All Her Unfiltered Reasons Why She Quit Teaching
Teaching is hard and not as rewarding as it once was. As a profession, it is grossly underrated and underpaid. Unfortunately, many excellent teachers leave their classrooms each year because of burnout. Teachers need many skills within the classroom–time management, crowd control, creative writing and design, along with proven mastery of the curriculum and limitless...
U.S. Coast Guardsman Leaps onto Moving Drug-Smuggling Sub and Pounds on the Hatch
Recently, a released video showed crew members of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro who came across a SPSS, or self-propelled, semi-submersible vessel, they suspected of carrying illegal drugs. The event happened on July 18 somewhere in the international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, “Purpose-build smuggling vessels like...
Beware: Popular Sugar Substitute Xylitol Is Deadly Poison for Your Pets
Recently, the FDA reported a common sugar substitute is dangerous for dogs to ingest. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol and is found in many food items, including sugar-free candies, puddings and even in some peanut butters. It is also used in mouthwash and toothpaste. Although xylitol is totally safe for humans, it causes a massive...