Taryn Smith has made history as the first American woman to win the women's solo category of the World's Toughest Row Atlantic. The 25-year-old finished the race in 46 days, 3 hours, and 37 minutes, arriving in Antigua on January 29, 2026. Smith's achievement is even more remarkable considering she had never rowed competitively before....

Every spring, the NCAA Division I men's and women's basketball championships grip the United States. Known as "March Madness," the tournaments turn even casual basketball fans into devoted followers of teams they have never watched before. Here is everything you need to know about the championships, which begin on March 17, 2026....

A holiday devoted to a math constant might not sound exciting. But Pi Day, celebrated every March 14 (3/14) in the United States, is an exception. The day usually starts with activities celebrating pi (π) — the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter (about 3.14). But it almost always ends with a tasty slice of pie....

Winter is almost over — at least according to the clocks. On March 8, 2026, most Americans will start "Daylight Saving Time" (DST) by moving their clocks ahead an hour. That lost hour on Sunday will ensure longer days in the spring and summer months....

When 13-year-old Austin Appelbee went on a beach adventure with his family on January 30, 2026, he expected a fun afternoon on the water. Instead, he was thrown into a life-or-death emergency that would test his courage and endurance....

India is home to a host of vibrant festivals. But Holi — the Festival of Colors — is one of the most eagerly awaited. This Hindu holiday marks the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. In 2026, Holi will be celebrated on March 4....

Skywatchers are in for a treat. On March 3, 2026, a spectacular total lunar eclipse will turn the Moon a deep reddish color, creating what is known as a "Blood Moon." The eclipse will be visible wherever the Moon is above the horizon during the event. This includes much of the Americas, Australia and East Asia. This will be the last total lunar eclipse until late 2028....

Dozens of black leather shoes dating back to the 19th century have been washing up along the beaches of Ogmore-by-Sea in South Wales. The unusual discovery has created one of the strangest mysteries in recent memory....

In the early 1990s, five unusually large shark vertebrae were unearthed along the rugged coastline near Darwin, Australia. At the time, they were thought to be the remains of a great white shark, the largest living predatory fish. The bones were placed in a local museum collection and soon forgotten. As it turned out, the fossils were not from a great white at all. Instead, they belonged to a previously unknown species of an extinct giant shark that ruled the oceans millions of years ago....

Every year, Muslims around the world observe Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It is the holiest month in Islam. During this month, archangel Jibril revealed the first five verses of the Quran — Islam’s holy text — to Prophet Muhammad. Ramadan begins with the sighting of the new crescent moon. This year, it is expected to start at sundown on or around February 17, 2026....

On February 17, 2026, more than 1.5 billion people worldwide will welcome the start of the Chinese New Year. Also called Lunar or Spring New Year, it is one of the most important holidays in China. The date of the two-week celebration is determined by the lunar calendar. It usually falls between late January and mid-February. For many families, it is a time to reflect on the past year and prepare for a fresh start....

This Friday is February 13, 2026. For most people, it will simply be the start of the weekend. But for over 20 million Americans — and countless others worldwide — who suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia, it could be the unluckiest day of the year. No one knows exactly why Friday the 13th is so feared, but there are several theories....

Valentine's Day, celebrated on February 14, is observed worldwide. In the US, people often exchange candy, flowers, and gifts. Other countries have their own unique traditions, and some even celebrate love on a different date. Here are some fun Valentine's Day customs from around the world....

The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics will officially kick off on February 6, 2026, with a grand opening ceremony at Milan’s San Siro Stadium. Running through February 22, the Games will feature about 2,900 athletes competing in 16 sports. With 116 medal events — from snowboarding to speed skating — fans can expect nonstop action on ice and snow. Here are a few young stars to watch this year....

The countdown to Super Bowl LX — the National Football League’s (NFL) championship game — has begun! On February 8, 2026, millions of Americans will watch the New England Patriots face off against the Seattle Seahawks for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The game will be played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California....

A powerful winter storm has left a trail of destruction across North America — from the Mexican border through much of the United States (US) and into Eastern Canada. The massive system, nicknamed Fern, began its cross-continent trek on January 22, 2026 and lasted several days. It brought heavy snow, ice, and freezing rain to more than 220 million people....

American rock climber Alex Honnold made history on January 25, 2026, by completing the first rope-free climb of Taipei 101 in Taiwan. The 1,667-foot (508 m) skyscraper is located in downtown Taipei. It was the world’s tallest until it was surpassed by Dubai’s Burj Khalifa in 2010....

Researchers in Canada confirmed a rare and remarkable event on January 1, 2026. A wild female polar bear had adopted an unrelated cub. The five-year-old mother was identified as bear X33991. She belongs to the Western Hudson Bay polar bear subpopulation in northern Manitoba. The scientists say this is only the 13th known adoption since they began tracking the group 45 years ago....

On December 20, 2025, Michaela "Michi" Benthaus became the first person in a wheelchair to travel to space. The 33-year-old German aerospace engineer launched from West Texas aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-37 spacecraft. Her flight marked an important step toward making space travel more accessible to people with physical disabilities....

Each winter, Logan Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, hosts more than just airplanes. Snowy owls also make a surprising stop here. This rare phenomenon has long delighted travelers and birdwatchers alike....

Martin Luther King Jr. Day honors the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK), a leader of the American civil rights movement. Celebrated every year on the third Monday of January, it is also a national day of service, encouraging Americans to give back to their communities. In 2026, the holiday will be observed on January 19....

In the summer of 2019, ecologist Patrick Sullivan traveled to northern Alaska to study forests near the Salmon River. Known for its pristine water, the river supports a thriving population of wildlife, including fish and bears. Instead of the crystal-clear water he had expected, large sections farther down the river appeared bright orange. The riverbanks were also stained with rust-colored sediment....

The Basílica de la Sagrada Família in Barcelona, Spain, reached a historic milestone on October 30, 2025. With the placement of the first part of a cross atop the Tower of Jesus Christ, it became the world’s tallest church. Rising 534 feet (162.91 m), it now surpasses Germany’s Ulm Minster, which had held the record since 1890. Despite this achievement, the structure, under construction for over 140 years, is far from complete....

In 1916, two soldiers put handwritten notes into a glass bottle and threw it into the sea as they sailed from Adelaide, South Australia, to Europe to fight in World War I. More than a century later, the bottle has been found on a Western Australian shore, with its contents intact....