“Fire season” is an unfortunate part of Australian summers. During this time, low soil moisture, a lack of rain, and dry vegetation allows small flames to become rapidly-spreading wildfires. Once ignited by lightning or discarded cigarettes, the inferno is difficult to contain and extinguish. Sometimes the fires begin from arsonists. And they may be human...
Orcas may join parrots and the other animals who can imitate human speech. A study examined a captive orca who is able to mimic human sounds and words. Listeners may find the voice eerie but some of the phrases are unmistakable. Not only that, the researchers believe that this mimicry can explain why killer whale...
In 2023, Lenore Satterthwaite’s fridge exploded. The homeowner from North Carolina, USA, was in the other room when she thought an earthquake rocked her kitchen. But when she investigated, she found her less-than-a-year-old Frigidaire refrigerator in pieces and damage on the walls and furniture near it. The Person County Fire Marshall couldn’t determine the exact...
A parade of planets is coming this January, but if you miss it, you can catch it in later months. Six planets in our solar system, namely Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, and Saturn will be aligning in January. If there are clear nights, people will be able to see them. But there is greater...
People may no longer need sunshine to harvest solar power. Researchers from University of New South Wales (UNSW) have found a way to generate electricity using the Earth’s radiant infrared heat, creating the opportunity for “nighttime” solar power. The Australian team’s plan goes beyond keeping on the lights in residential homes; they are now taking...
Memory loss is a commonly-known sign of Alzheimer’s disease, but it is not always the first symptom. Alzheimer’s, one cause of dementia, is a brain disease caused by damaged neurons, thereby impacting the ability to think, talk, and walk. The beginning stages tend to involve damage to the area of the brain responsible for memory,...
In the 1980s, researchers documented some strange orca behavior. In the Northwest Pacific ocean, orcas were seen with dead salmon on their heads like hats, although the purpose was unknown. This bizarre ritual seemed to end as quickly as it came. But like many trends from the 80s, it’s making a comeback. Scientists are taking...
Folk medicine has used elderberries for hundreds of years. Indigenous people have used them to treat rheumatism and fevers, and ancient Egyptians use them for burns and to improve their skin. Today, scientific research has examined elderberries for their effects on the immune system, which may help fight colds, the flu, and similar conditions. Elderberries...
Patrick Hardison was a 27-year-old volunteer firefighter when he received the call that would change his life in 2001. There was a house on fire in his small town in Mississippi, and he went to rescue a woman trapped inside. But during his search, the roof collapsed and severely burned his face. Doctors managed to...
Oranges are tropical fruits in season during the winter months. So while most other fruit trees fall into hibernation, the citrus are in their prime. There are over 400 varieties of oranges grown all over the world, each with their own unique qualities when it comes to juiciness, flavors, and texture. Depending on the type,...
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), also known as autism, often goes unnoticed in women. ASD used to be considered a predominantly male issue, but recent research indicates that there are many women with ASD who aren’t diagnosed until adulthood. Since the assessment tools and traits are based on men, there’s much less understanding how ASD represents...
Cloud-watchers can talk all about the interesting shapes they’ve noticed over the years. They may have been gazing out the car window during a road trip, or tanning on the beach, or on a morning walk. Then they notice a cloud formation that looks like a dolphin, or a boat, or letters of the alphabet....
