Octopuses are among the smartest animals in the ocean. The invertebrates can navigate through mazes, complete tasks in exchange for food, and even recognize human faces. Now, the clever animals have been caught throwing objects at one another. The rare behavior has previously been seen in only a few animals like chimpanzees, elephants, and birds....
Read news articleAs is the tradition each year, at midnight on December 31st, 2022, cities and towns worldwide ushered in the new year with elaborate fireworks displays. Here are a few that were particularly noteworthy....
Read news articleWestJet Airlines is famous for its annual "Christmas Miracle" initiatives. In 2020, the Canadian company delivered care packages to those in need. In 2021, it helped reunite families for the holidays. This year, WestJet is focusing on giving back. Its "Miracle Miles" program gives passengers aboard select flights one dollar for every mile flown. They can donate the money to a charity of their choice....
Read news articleThe mention of goldfish usually conjures up images of small, colorful creatures swimming inside fish bowls or home aquariums. However, the one reeled in by Andy Hackett on November 3, 2022, was no ordinary "goldfish." It weighed an astounding 67.4 pounds (30.6 kg), or about as much as a fully-grown golden retriever!...
Read news articleWith a large part of the US currently under a winter storm warning, it may appear that the chilly season is upon us. But while meteorologists consider December 1 the start of the Northern Hemisphere winter, the astronomical first day of winter is December 21....
Read news articleFor Americans, Santa Claus is a jolly, white-haired man in a red suit. But that is just one version of the generous being who brings well-behaved children toys on Christmas Eve. Here are a few of the many portrayals of Santa-like figures worldwide....
Read news articleSky watchers are treated to over thirty meteor showers throughout the year. However, most pale in comparison to the Geminids. Nicknamed the "900-pound gorilla of meteor showers" by NASA, they outweigh other dust streams by factors of between 5 to 500! The "shooting stars" have been active since December 4 and will continue until December 17, 2022. But their best showing will be on the night of December 13 into the morning of December 14, 2022, when up to 120 meteors will be flying through the sky every hour....
Read news articleNASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft returned from its 26-day, record-breaking 1.4 million-mile (2.2 million kilometers) roundtrip to the Moon on December 11, 2022. The uncrewed spacecraft re-entered Earth's atmosphere at an impressive speed of 25,000 mph (40,000 kph). This is 32 times faster than the speed of sound. The capsule's flawless splashdown into the Pacific Ocean marks the first step in returning humans to the Moon again....
Read news articleHanukkah is an eight-day-long Jewish festival. Also called the Festival of Lights, it celebrates the victory of good over evil and is a happy occasion with many fun traditions. The date of the celebrations, determined by the Hebrew calendar, varies annually. This year, Hanukkah will be observed from December 18, 2022, to December 26, 2022....
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