Each year on the first Saturday of June, thousands of people flock to a scenic Minneapolis neighborhood to witness a pencil being sharpened. As strange as it may sound, this is no ordinary pencil. It stands an impressive 20 feet (60 m) tall and boasts a diameter of 32 inches (81 cm)....

A runaway zebra threw a Tennessee community into chaos in early June. Less than a day after arriving as a new pet, the zebra broke free, triggering a weeklong search. The elusive animal, soon nicknamed Ed, was finally captured and returned to his owners on June 8, 2025....

School may be out for the summer, but the astronomical start of the warm season in the Northern Hemisphere will not be until June 20, 2025. Known as the summer or June solstice, this is when the North Pole is tilted closest to the Sun. As a result, those in the Northern Hemisphere will enjoy the longest day of 2025. Meanwhile, the Southern Hemisphere will welcome the start of winter with the shortest day of the year....

Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. The holiday is observed every year on June 19. On this day in 1865, the last enslaved people in America — a group in Galveston,Texas — learned they were free....

Cori "Coco" Gauff stunned the tennis world on June 7, 2025, by defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at the French Open. With this win, she became the first American woman to claim the title since Serena Williams in 2015. At 21, Gauff is also the youngest American winner since Williams, who was 20 when she first won the tournament in 2002. The victory marks Gauff’s second Grand Slam singles title, following her US Open win in 2023....

A robot built by undergraduate students from Indiana’s Purdue University has solved a Rubik’s Cube in an incredible 0.103 seconds. This is about twice as fast as an average human blink. Named "Purdubik’s Cube," it claimed a new Guinness World Record for the "Fastest robot to solve a rotating puzzle cube" on April 21, 2025. The previous record was held by a robot built in Japan by Mitsubishi Motors engineers in 2024. It completed the task in 0.305 seconds....

For most climbers, summiting Mount Everest is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. But for Kami Rita Sherpa, it is just another day at work. On May 31, 2025, the 55-year-old Nepali climber stood atop the world’s highest peak for the 31st time. He broke his own world record for the most ascents of Everest....

For most people, June 13 — which falls on a Friday this year — will simply signal the start of another weekend. But for the over 20 million Americans — and many more worldwide — who suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia, it will be the unluckiest day of the year. No one knows how Friday the 13th became so feared. But there are a few theories....

Chimpanzees are well known for their intelligence, especially in using tools to hunt and gather food. Now, new research on chimps at Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania, Africa, suggests these clever primates are not just tool users — they may also be natural engineers....

Most runners pick their routes based on distance or surface type. Some pick flat roads for steady pacing, while others seek hills for a tougher workout. But for Lenny Maughan, running is about creating art — one stride at a time....

Need an excuse to eat a donut? Then, you will be happy to know that June 6 2025, is National Donut Day. This makes it your civic duty to indulge in the fried treat. The sweet holiday is celebrated annually on the first Friday of June. It was created by the Salvation Army to raise funds for those in need....

At first glance, Reginald (Reggie), the world's tallest living dog, and Pearl, the world's smallest dog, seem like an unlikely pair. The seven-year-old Great Dane from Idaho Falls measures 3.3 feet (1 m) tall, while the four-year-old Chihuahua from Florida stands just 3.59 inches (9.1 cm) high. But a recent playdate showed that when it comes to friendship, size does not really matter....

A stunning lamp designed by renowned American architect Frank Lloyd Wright has set a new record. It sold for an impressive $7.5 million in just seven minutes at a Sotheby's auction in New York City on May 13, 2025. This is now the most expensive Wright object ever sold at auction. The previous record was held by a ceiling light from 1902, which fetched $2.9 million in 2023....

Kermit the Frog brought a heartfelt and humorous twist to graduation season at the University of Maryland. On May 22, 2025, he took the stage at SECU Stadium to deliver the university’s commencement address, affectionately known as “Kermencement.” Dressed in a custom cap and gown, the beloved Muppet delivered a playful and uplifting speech to more than 13,000 graduates and guests....

Crows are remarkably smart animals, with thinking skills comparable to those of five- to seven-year-old children. They can solve puzzles, use tools, and even remember faces. Now, researchers at the University of Tübingen in Germany have found that these unassuming birds can also recognize different geometric shapes — a skill previously seen only in humans....

The Magna Carta, or "Great Charter," is one of the most important documents in the history of democracy. It introduced the idea that no one — not even the king — is above the law. The charter helped shape the founding principles of many nations, including the United States....

Two hikers were walking along a moss-covered wall in the foothills of the Krkonoše Mountains in the Czech Republic in early February when a glint of metal caught their eye. A closer look revealed an aluminum box. To their surprise, it contained nearly six hundred well-preserved gold coins. They were neatly arranged in 11 columns and wrapped in black fabric. Just a few feet away, they uncovered a second, smaller metal box. This one had 16 cases, 10 bracelets, a comb, a chain, and a compact case....

Memorial Day, which falls on May 26 this year, is often considered the unofficial start of summer. However, the federal holiday has a much deeper purpose. It honors the men and women who lost their lives while serving in the US Armed Forces. This includes those in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy....

Like many kids, Liam LaFavers sometimes gets to use his mom’s phone as a treat. But instead of watching shows or playing games, the eight-year-old likes browsing Amazon for carnival supplies. He often fills the checkout cart with decorations and prizes, but never buys anything. That changed in early May when Liam accidentally pressed the "buy" button after adding 30 boxes of Dum-Dums to the cart. For those curious, that is over 70,000 lollipops!...

For centuries, the world beneath Antarctica’s thick ice shelves remained one of Earth’s greatest unknowns. No one knew what, if anything, lived there. That changed when a massive iceberg, roughly the size of Chicago, unexpectedly broke away. This rare event gave scientists a once-in-a-lifetime chance to explore a part of the planet that had never been seen before....

Spending time in space might sound thrilling, but it takes a serious toll on the human body. Weightlessness affects everything from muscles to blood flow. Hence, before astronauts head to the Moon or Mars, scientists must find ways to reduce the physical effects of long-term space travel....

Most 12-year-olds dream of a big party or a fun sleepover to celebrate their birthday. But Mia DaPonte, from East Greenwich, Rhode Island, had a different goal in mind. She wanted to celebrate by becoming New England’s first 12-year-old — and the youngest female in the US — to earn the title of PADI Master Scuba Diver. This is the highest recreational diving certification offered by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors....

The papal conclave has ended. Just one day after entering seclusion, the 133 cardinals inside the Sistine Chapel elected Cardinal Robert Prevost as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The 69-year-old, now known as Pope Leo XIV, is the first American-born pope....

In the summer of 2014, millions of people worldwide dumped buckets of ice water over their heads and challenged others to do the same. But this was not just for fun — they were taking on the Ice Bucket Challenge. The campaign, which went viral on social media, aimed to raise awareness and funds for ALS research, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. It raised an impressive $115 million for the ALS Association in just a few months....