At just under 3.75 inches in length, the Vallarta mud turtle, endemic to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, is thought to be the smallest turtle species in the world. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most endangered, as rapid urbanization in the bustling tourist city threatens its only natural habitat. The species was first described just five […]
Scott Shigeoka is a curious person — a trait that’s overwhelmingly apparent from just a brief conversation about his background. Originally from Hawaii, Shigeoka started his career as a freelance journalist for The Washington Post before moving to Iceland to launch a music festival focused on sustainability. From there, he developed a portfolio of social […]
We shared some of the world’s friendliest cities in June, and now we’re back with the most livable. Per the Economist Intelligence Unit’s latest Global Liveability Index, Vienna is once again in the top spot. The Austrian capital city “retained its crown this year, thanks to its unsurpassed combination of stability, good infrastructure, strong education […]
A boat, a blue bus, and a former bank — these are all homes to wildly wonderful and unique bookstores across the world. While all bookshops are arguably good bookshops, some are extra memorable for how they look and make us feel. Below, we’ve compiled some of the most unforgettable ones, spanning six continents (excluding […]
If you look closely at the image above, you might notice a round, bready dish that closely resembles pizza. There’s a hitch, though: The Italian fresco was recently uncovered during an excavation in the city of Pompeii, which was buried in A.D. 79 after Mount Vesuvius erupted. That’s long before tomatoes, a South American crop, […]
The 1997 tearjerker Titanic held the record for the highest-grossing film of all time for a solid 12 years, until it was eclipsed by Avatar in 2009. Arguably, key contributors to the success and emotional resonance of the two films were their scores. The man behind the music for both features, Oscar-winning composer James Horner, […]
Back-to-school season can be an exciting time for kids — shopping for new backpacks, lunch boxes, and supplies branded with the year’s hottest trend (’90s kids might fondly remember the Lisa Frank varieties). But for teachers, especially those in high-needs schools, it can be more stressful. “I realized that it was not an exciting time,” […]
This article was originally posted on 8/1/23 announcing the shortlist of finalists. It was updated on 10/25/23 with the winner. The Royal Institute of British Architects launched its Reinvention Award late last year to highlight the importance of retrofitting older buildings in the global quest to achieve net zero emissions by the year 2050. On […]
Sponsored by Thrive Market We live in an era of seemingly endless options to support healthy lifestyles — from yummy prebiotic sodas to CBD-infused skincare. But often, those items require several (expensive) trips to various stores, and sometimes are not available in your area at all. Enter Thrive Market: a one-stop online grocery store that […]
The Area Sacra, or Sacred Area, of Largo di Torre Argentina is a world-famous archeological site in downtown Rome that’s been home to a community of feral cats for decades. Renowned for being the location where the Roman general and statesman Julius Caesar was assassinated during the Ides of March in 44 B.C., the ruins […]
Wildlife photographer Michel Zoghzoghi has taken close-up shots of lions in Africa, tigers in India, and jaguars in South America, but the fiercest (and funniest) felines he’s ever encountered reside in his very own home. Today, Zoghzoghi was named the overall winner of the 2023 Comedy Pet Photography Awards for the above image of his […]
The joy of wall murals is contagious. Pops of art — on brick walls, freeways, and street corners — brighten our routines and remind us that the world is full of wonder, surprise, and opportunities to look up when we’re all too often looking down. One of the most impactful examples of the power of paint […]