In the 1980s, John Goodenough co-invented the lithium-ion battery. Initially, no one in the battery or consumer electronics industry took his invention seriously. Today, however, lithium ions power nearly every portable device on the market. They also power electric vehicles. Forty years later, now 94-year-old Goodenough has done it again. This time, however, he’s invented...
Honey bees are one of the most important agricultural commodities in the United States and around the world. They are essential for pollinating flowers, fruits, and vegetables, and support approximately twenty billion dollars worth of crop production in the US every year. Worldwide, that number is 170 billion [1]. Over the last fifteen years, however,...
Albino animals stand out from the pack because their partial or complete loss of pigmentation makes them much lighter in color compared to the other members of their species. Although they are very rare, they have been spotted in the wild around the world. Over the years, there have been sightings of albino turtles, seals, and...
Humans have always found parrots’ ability to “talk” and make funny noises entertaining. Recently, however, some parrots brought in to a British wildlife park used their talents to make rather unsavory comments. Five new feathered and chatty residents were removed from public viewing areas after the swearing parrots hurled insults at each other and guests....
You’ve likely heard the term “bird brain” before. Usually, it describes someone who lacks intelligence or who makes dumb decisions. Well, that saying may change because a new study has shown that crows have conscious thought. For many years, people considered birds to be unintelligent compared to mammals and humans. We thought conscious decision-making was a...
This father was told he had only a few months left to live. Wanting to make the most of it, he wrote a bucket list of things to do before he died. On the top of that list was to watch his son play his season opener football game. Thankfully, he had a hospice nurse...
In 1999, Andrew Ginzel and Kristen Jones unveiled their mixed-media artwork, “Metronome”. The piece is a clock that covers a ten-story-high area on the north wall of One Union Square South, a residential building. The work also included concentric circles of gold-flecked brick. They rippled outward from a round opening, with clouds of steam and...
Plastic was invented in the late nineteenth century to replace materials derived from nature, like ivory from elephant tusks. For this reason, plastics were celebrated. They could protect the natural world from the destructive needs of human beings – it turns out, big oil misled us. After World War Two, the plastics industry began booming....
When we think of extinction, most of us first think about different species of endangered or already extinct animals. Extinct fruit isn’t something that most of us consider. This couple spent 20 years searching for an “extinct” apple variety. Finally, their search has been fruitful. The Hunt for an Extinct Fruit Though not the most...
The world is a tough place for homeless pets. Shelters often aren’t much better: They can be crowded, frightening places for many dogs, despite the shelter’s best efforts. This animal shelter in Austin, Texas is building tiny homes for rescue dogs to make shelter life better. These little homes are the perfect place for them...
Rituals surrounding death are deeply ingrained into our religious and cultural past. Throughout history, humans have gone to great lengths to preserve those traditions, and in almost every culture there is great ceremony surrounding the passing of a loved one. In many societies, burying the deceased is the traditional way of handling the passing of...
Devastating photos have emerged of two polar bear cubs eating a plastic bag they dug up on the shore. Hungry polar bears aren’t the only ones who unintentionally eat plastic waste in the arctic, and this leftover trash is a big problem. Hungry Polar Bears Eat Plastic Bag Jens Wikström is an Arctic Expeditions leader...
