A Plastic That Fully Decomposes In Soil And Seawater

Plastic pollution is one of the world's most pressing environmental challenges. A large portion of the 400 million tons of plastic produced annually ends up in landfills or the ocean. Unlike organic waste, plastic never decomposes. Instead, it breaks down into tiny pieces called microplastics. These particles contaminate water, soil, and air, harming marine life, livestock, and even humans....

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Winnie-the-Pooh Collection Auctions For Over $100,000

A treasure trove of original Winnie-the-Pooh manuscripts, drawings, and letters sold for $108,000 on January 16, 2025. This price was much higher than the $18,600 estimated by UK-based Fieldings Auctioneers. Two-thirds of the 1920s-era collection was purchased by British fans. The rest went to buyers in the United States....

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A Little Red Swedish House Is Heading To The Moon

Swedish artist Mikael Genberg has been hoping to put a toy red house on the Moon for 25 years. His dream moved a step closer to reality on January 15, 2025. On that day, his "Moonhouse" set off for the Moon aboard a SpaceX rocket with the Resilience lunar lander built by the Japanese company ispace....

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Why Mount Everest Keeps Growing Taller

Mount Everest, Earth's highest peak, is growing faster than expected. Recent GPS measurements indicate it is adding up to 2 millimeters annually. This is nearly twice the previously estimated rate. This growth is mainly due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates over the past 50 million years. However, a new study by the China University of Geosciences suggests that a river capture event may also be helping the growth of the 29,032-foot (8,849-meter) mountain....

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Israel And Hamas Reach Ceasefire Agreement

Israel and Hamas signed a ceasefire agreement on January 15, 2025. It marks the first step in ending the 15-month conflict, which has killed thousands and caused widespread devastation in Gaza. The United Nations estimates that 1.9 million of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents have been displaced by the war....

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Get Ready To Celebrate The Year Of The Snake

On January 29, 2025, over two billion people worldwide will celebrate the Lunar New Year. Also known as the Chinese New Year, the ancient festival lasts two weeks and is China's biggest holiday. Most businesses are closed for at least seven days. This allows millions of city dwellers to visit family and friends. The festival travel rush is known as Chunyun. It is the world's largest seasonal human migration....

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From The White House To Global Peace — The Lasting Legacy Of Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, died peacefully at his home in Plains, Georgia, on December 29, 2024. The former American leader, who turned 100 on October 1, 2024, was the longest-living president in US history. Mr. Carter will be laid to rest at the family's residence on January 9, 2025. He will be buried alongside his wife, Rosalynn, who died in 2023 at age 96. In his honor, President Joe Biden has declared January 9 a federal holiday....

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Cities Worldwide Ring In 2025 With Spectacular Fireworks Displays

As the clock struck midnight, cities across the globe erupted in a dazzling display of light and color to welcome 2025. These stunning pyrotechnic spectacles lit up landmarks and brought communities together in a shared moment of joy and anticipation for the year ahead. Here is a look at some of this year’s most spectacular displays worldwide....

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Duct-Taped Banana "Art" Sells For Over $6 Million!

"Comedian," a conceptual artwork featuring a banana duct-taped to a wall, fetched an astounding $6.2 million at a Sotheby’s auction on November 20, 2024. Bidding began at $800,000 and quickly surged to $4 million and then $5.2 million, plus $1 million in auction fees. The final price surpassed the $1.2 million pre-auction estimate for the artwork....

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Make A Difference On GivingTuesday

The days following Thanksgiving — Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday — are filled with deals to jump-start the holiday shopping season. However, GivingTuesday, which falls on December 3 this year, has a more altruistic purpose. The "Global Day of Giving" encourages individuals and businesses to give back in meaningful ways. This can include charitable donations, volunteer work, or simple acts of kindness....

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Metal Detectorists Unearth Ancient Silver Coins Worth Millions

In January 2019, Adam Staples and his friends traveled to Chew Valley in Somerset, England, to test a new metal detector. While exploring a farmer's field, the device found a trove of silver coins buried in the soil. Staples, an auctioneer specializing in ancient coins, immediately knew they had found something extraordinary....

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Emperor Penguin Spotted On Western Australian Shores For The First Time

On November 1, 2024, Aron Fowler and his friends were at Ocean Beach, just south of Denmark in Western Australia, when they saw an emperor penguin walking toward them. This aquatic flightless bird had swum over 2,000 miles (3,218 km) from its usual habitat in the icy waters off the Antarctic coast. It was the first recorded sighting of an emperor penguin in Australia....

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Amateur Paleontologist Finds An Almost Complete Titanosaur Skeleton

About two years ago, Damien Boschetto was walking his dog in a forest near Cruzy in southern France when he noticed a large bone poking out from an eroded cliff. Suspecting it might belong to a dinosaur, the amateur paleontologist quickly alerted experts at the Cruzy Museum. His hunch was correct: the fossil turned out to be the pelvic bone of a titanosaur, one of the largest dinosaurs ever to roam Earth....

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Nepalese Teen Becomes Youngest To Conquer All 14 Of The World's Tallest Peaks

At just 18 years old, Nima Rinji Sherpa has achieved a feat that few can even imagine. He has become the youngest person, and one of only about 50, to climb all 14 of the world's "eight-thousanders." These peaks, located within Asia's Himalayan and Karakoram ranges, stand over 26,247 feet (8,000 m) tall. This is above the so-called "death zone," where the lack of oxygen makes it impossible to sustain human life for long....

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Tennis Legend Rafael Nadal Announces His Retirement

On October 10, 2024, Rafael Nadal announced he will retire from professional tennis at the end of the 2024 season. The 38-year-old Spanish player will conclude his storied career with a final appearance at the Davis Cup. The prestigious tournament is set to take place in Nadal's home country, Spain, from November 19 to 24....

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Runaway Goat Steals The Show At Canadian Marathon

The inaugural T'Railway Trek half marathon in the Canadian town of Conception Bay South on September 29, 2024, had an unexpected star: a pet goat named Joshua. The four-legged competitor stole the spotlight after he suddenly began trotting alongside the runners. By the finish line, Joshua had earned not just a medal but also the hearts of the entire town and fans worldwide....

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New Zealand's Māori People Crown New Queen

The Māori people of New Zealand welcomed a new queen on September 5, 2024. Nga Wai Hono i te Po succeeds her father, Kiingi Tuheitia, who died on August 30, 2024, after 18 years as king. The 27-year-old is the youngest child and only daughter of the late king. She was chosen by a committee of 12 Māori leaders. Nga Wai Hono i te Po is only the second woman to lead the Māori monarchy since it was founded in 1858....

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Postcard Finally Gets Delivered After 121 Years

A postcard sent 121 years ago has finally reached its destination. The Christmas-themed card was originally sent from the coastal town of Fishguard, Wales, in 1903. It was delivered to the Swansea Building Society in Swansea, Wales, on August 16, 2024. Now, a search is underway to reunite the card with the descendants of its intended recipient....

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