Lake Tahoe, which Mark Twain called “the fairest picture the whole earth affords,” is famous for its stunning crystalline waters. And in the next few years, scientists say, the world’s clearest large lake could become even clearer due to changes in its ecosystem. In their annual “State of the Lake” report last week, researchers at […]
The majestic mustang, a longstanding symbol of freedom and the American West, may be an unlikely hero in the fight against wildfires. According to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) most recent estimates, there are currently about 64,604 wild horses and 17,780 wild burros roaming the western United States. Another 58,800 are in captivity in […]
“Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind.” The quote from Lilo & Stitch sums up how Disney’s parks have been working to become more inclusive of all visitors. Guest Zoe Tapley, who is deaf, experienced it this past July when she was meeting characters at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Jeanette Tapley, Zoe’s mother, […]
Two centuries after becoming locally extinct, and three years after being reintroduced, the Galapagos land iguana population is booming on the island of Santiago. In 1835, Charles Darwin observed a large population of iguanas on Santiago, located near the center of the Galagapos archipelago off the coast of Ecuador — a locale the English naturalist […]
It may seem obvious that travel can leave people feeling relaxed and restored, but a recent study says it’s the first of its kind to explore the link between tourism and mental health, specifically for vulnerable groups like people with dementia. The researchers concluded that tourism can provide dementia patients with “relaxing and memorable experiences that stimulate neurological functioning,” and recommended using […]
Up, up, and away! If you’re yearning to hop aboard a hot air balloon but are too nervous to throw caution to the wind and take off, Dutch chef Angélique Schmeinck has something to sweeten the deal — literally. On CuliAir Skydining, the world’s first hot air balloon restaurant, you can enjoy a three-course meal […]
Ultrasounds, while safe and effective, require a trip to the doctor’s office or hospital, bulky equipment, and a slather of cold gel on the area to be imaged. But a group of MIT engineers hopes to change that process. The team has developed a small, ultrasound sticker that can provide continuous, high-resolution images of internal […]
It’s estimated that an individual requires a donation of blood or platelets every two seconds in the U.S., and a new initiative from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is working to ensure everyone who needs blood can get it. The national blood drive, called Giving = Living, aims to increase awareness of […]
This is truly a sporting event you have to see to believe. On August 6, the World Dog Surfing Championships took place in Pacifica, California, near the San Francisco Bay, and hundreds of people gathered to watch dozens of dogs ride the waves. “I can’t even explain his passion for it and how much he […]
Much like the intricate and beautiful webs spiders create in waking life, their minds may spin dreams. New research led by behavioral ecologist Daniela Roessler at the University of Konstanz in Germany shows that jumping spiders (evarcha arcuata) experience a sleep-like state with muscle twitches and rapid-eye-movements (REM) similar to those observed in dreaming humans. […]
Whoever said cats can’t get attached to their owners hasn’t met Delilah — the orange, fluffy, and crafty kitty who made herself a “stowaway” on her family’s road trip. The Scholten family of St. Albans, Maine, left in July for a long-awaited trip to EAA AirVenture, an aviation show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. After throwing pillows […]
This orthopedic technician can now add “artist” to his resume. Luis Ruiz, who works at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, transforms his young patients’ casts into adorable pieces of art. Ruiz has painted thousands of casts over the past decade or so, customizing the plaster with everything from cartoon characters to sports teams. And while the […]