Study Debunks Myth of Native Hawaiians Brutishly Causing Bird Extinctions
Challenging a 50-year-old narrative about Hawaii’s native birds, a new study from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa found no scientific evidence that indigenous people hunted waterbird species to extinction. Published in the journal Ecosphere, the research debunks this long-held myth and offers a new, integrated theory to explain the disappearances. It’s not the first […]
Meet the Oxford Library Cat Who’s Purr-fectly Content Being the Unofficial College Mascot
For this hefty long-haired cat, no amount of attention seems to be enough for his new public relations role. Named Isambard Kitten Brunel after the famous British industrialist, the cat is called Issy for short, and makes a bus commute to the Oxford University library at Lady Margaret Hall alongside his owner Jamie Fishwick-Ford. Jamie […]
First Female Leader of Japan was a Drummer in ‘Deep Purple’ Cover Band–Watch her Welcome Their Tour
“I can’t believe Deep Purple are here,” swooned the hard-rock drummer Sanae Takaichi, whom readers may know from her other job—the Prime Minister of Japan. Indeed, the aged rockers were in Japan recently on tour, returning to the country where they recorded their critically-acclaimed live album, Live in Japan. The band attended a face-to-face meeting […]
Group Works Together to Save Humpback Whale After it Became Stranded on Australian Sandbar
Rescuers in Australia were able to save a humpback whale after becoming stranded on a sandbar during its migration. The 10-ton marine giant was freed and guided back into the ocean off Forster, New South Wales, after becoming trapped in shallow waters in a n urgent and complex rescue operation. Humpback whales typically migrate along […]
Good News in History, April 17
62 years ago today, Americans got their first glimpse of Ford’s new sporty car. The Mustang first appeared in showrooms at the 1964 World Fair in New York City for a retail price of $2,368 (equivalent to $23,263 in 2023). Because it was introduced four months before the usual start of the 1965 production year, […]
Soaking in a Hot Tub Bestows Surprising Health Benefits, Even More Than Saunas, New Study Says
Saunas are all the rage these days for exercise recovery and longevity, because the increased ambient heat triggers a cascade of effects in the body that can lower blood pressure and reduce inflammation. But, how many of us have access to a sauna? That’s why researchers from the University of Oregon compared the effects of […]
World’s Last Wild Horse Thriving After 3 Years in Spain’s Gallop Towards Rewilding
3 years ago, the last non-domesticated species of horse was reintroduced into a Spanish woodland in the hopes they would act upon the land as wild equines had done for thousands of years. The Iberian Highlands Rewilding Project (IHRP) is now happy to report that 10 foals have been born since then, as the Przewalski’s […]
Chicago Turns All Public School IDs into Library Cards to Boost Student Access
In 2022 during a conceptual bid to improve library access, Chicago Public Schools thought they’d see whether teens would be more likely to use the library if their school ID doubled as a library card. It turns out when you remove membership requirements, attendance and use at all 81 locations of the Chicago Public Library […]
World’s Largest Battery Maker to ‘Spare No Effort’ in Electrifying Marine Cargo Industry
A Chinese conglomerate that controls 37% of global market for EV batteries has recently said it will “spare no effort” to electrify parts of the marine shipping industry. The costs of lithium ions have fallen 90% over the past two decades, epitomizing the overall reductions in the costs of batteries that have facilitated the resulting […]
Good News in History, April 16
108 years ago today, Xuan Hua, also known by the dharma name An Tzu, was born. Xuan Hua founded The Dharma Realm Buddhist Association, and the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in Ukiah, California, bringing Chan Buddhism and the fully ordained monastic order to the West. He also founded the Dharma Realm Buddhist University at […]