“In September 1859, miners following the Colorado gold rush woke up to another sunny day. Or so they thought. To their surprise, they soon discovered it was actually 1am and the sky wasn’t lit by the sun, but rather by brilliant drapes of light. The blazing glow was a solar storm— the largest in recorded history.”
Stealing Baby Howler Monkeys Is Suddenly All The Rage Among Capuchins On Jicarón Island White-faced capuchin monkeys on Jicarón Island have started abducting baby howler monkeys, surprised scientists report. It’s possible this behavior comes in waves, but it had not been detected in the first five years scientists intensively studied the population, and now appears to be spreading widely. The reasons are still unknown, but the authors think adolescent male boredom may be at the heart of it. Jicarón Island lies in the Pacific off the coast of Panama and forms part of Coiba National Park. The island’s isolation from the mainland makes it a natural laboratory for scientists observing monkey behavior. That research attracted global attention when some white-faced capuchin monkeys there were observed to have “ entered the Stone Age ”, using stones to break open coconuts and crabs. The fact that this stone-cracking behavior seemed to be restricted to some of Jicarón’s capuchins, and no...
“It Can Suck Down Earthworms Like Spaghetti”: The Mission To Save A Really Big Snail It’s hard not to feel jealous of New Zealand , home to some of the planet’s most spectacular organisms. They’ve got blue mushrooms and the world’s rarest and most eccentric birds (that aren’t easy to get sperm from , FYI). The most recent specimen to catch our eye? A snail whose worm slurping skills makes that spaghetti scene in Lady And The Tramp look amateur. If this is your first time hearing about the snail Powelliphanta hochstetteri, prepare to be impressed. For starters, these babies are massive. About the size of a lemon, they have beautiful brown shells and big black bodies. Becoming such a unit takes calories, which is why these snails have developed a taste for meat. “These snails are quite special because they’re carnivorous,” said science advisor and director of operations for Project Janszoon Ruth Bollongino to Justine Hausheer for The Nature Conservancy. “They’re not after the let...
5 Surprising Facts About St. Patrick’s Day St. Patrick’s Day, celebrated on March 17 each year, is known for its parades, shamrocks, and a whole lot of green. It’s a day when people around the world embrace Irish culture — whether they have Irish heritage or not. But behind all the revelry, St. Patrick’s Day has a deep and fascinating history that goes far beyond the modern celebrations. Some of the traditions we associate with March 17th aren’t as old as you’d think, while others have surprising historical roots. Here are five intriguing facts about St. Patrick’s Day that might just change the way you see this beloved holiday. Credit: traveler1116/ DigitalVision Vectors via Getty Images Pubs Were Closed on St. Patrick’s Day Long before it became a worldwide celebration filled with traditional food, music, and pints of Guinness, St. Patrick’s Day was a quiet and solemn religious feast day in Ireland. For centuries, March 17 was dedicated to honoring St. Patrick’s role in bringing Chris...
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