Smell is one of the most powerful, and complicated, of the five senses. Olfaction has been linked to memory, cognition, and mood, and may even influence our other senses as well. So losing the capability, a condition known as anosmia, is not only frustrating and inconvenient, but can also be extremely emotionally taxing. That’s why two […]
Babies are soft, bouncy, and spend most of their time eating and sleeping — so, at first thought, they may not seem like a demographic in need of frequent massages. But infant massage has actually been practiced for centuries in Asia and is said to offer myriad benefits. Studies have found that it can increase […]
Stargazers, rejoice! April brings a few major astronomical treats and feasts for the eyes. Most fittingly, this month is designated as Global Astronomy Month, per Astronomers Without Borders, with International Astronomy Day taking place on April 29. The day was started in 1973 by Doug Berger — the then president of the Astronomical Association of […]
This past December marked “a milestone in veterinary medicine,” as three elderly king penguins, all aged 20 and older, received intraocular lens implants to correct their ailing vision. The trio were among a group of six penguins, including three Humboldt penguins aged 7 to 13, from Singapore’s Jurong Bird Park to undergo cataract surgery. Following […]
About seven years ago, Andrew Rea launched his simple but unique cooking show concept: recreating dishes that have appeared in TV shows and movies (think: the signature meal in Ratatouille, the Goodfellas prison sauce, and the krabby patty from Spongebob Squarepants). He dubbed his YouTube channel Binging With Babish, and it’s grown exponentially since then, […]
Considered one of the greatest American architects, Frank Lloyd Wright designed over 1,100 buildings throughout his career, which spanned seven decades until his death in 1959 at age 91. Of those blueprints, 532 came to fruition, and many of those masterpieces still stand today, such as the Guggenheim Museum in New York City and the […]
Wisdom, a 71-year-old Laysan albatross and the oldest known bird living in the wild, has become a grandmother again! According to a March 17 Instagram post from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wisdom’s newest “grandchick” was discovered in February at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Battle of Midway National Memorial “under the […]
When Lisa and Phil Sichhart met Coco Pierre at a Doberman pinscher dog rescue in 2007 at a shelter in Illinois, they instantly fell in love. Coco Pierre was no Doberman, though he kept up with his larger canine brethren all the same. When they arrived at the rescue, Lisa saw the 7-month-old toy poodle […]
Researchers in England are encouraged by the preliminary results of a new wearable device that’s intended to reduce tics for those with Tourette syndrome. The device, called Neupulse, looks similar to a large smartwatch and delivers electrical stimulation to the nerves in the wrist. The goal is to influence the “brain networks involved in generating […]
Wearing a sun hat, aviator sunglasses, and a heavy backpack, John Jepkema leaned against the Bright Angel Trailhead. To anyone passing, Jepkema looked like just another of the 5.9 million people who visit the Grand Canyon each year. But after an exhausting five-day overnight trek, Jepkema, at age 91, had become the oldest person to […]
If you’ve ever been to a Maryland-style crab feast, a summer staple in the mid-Atlantic state, you’re well aware of the affinity many people have for the crustacean. Crab has been enjoyed around the world for thousands of years — so much so that we’ve even created a more affordable imitation of the delicacy. In […]
A new study has established a correlation between preschool-educated children and numerous positive educational outcomes, including a boost in high school graduation and college attendance, and a decrease in problematic behavioral issues. The study, led by MIT economist Parag Pathak and published in The Quarterly Journal of Economics, followed the academic paths of over 4,000 […]