In December 2012, three men braved Antarctica's treacherous and remote Princess Ragnhild Coast to seek out a colony of Emperor Penguins that has hitherto just been suspected to exist. They were not disappointed!
Read news articleIn December 2012, three men braved Antarctica's treacherous and remote Princess Ragnhild Coast to seek out a colony of Emperor Penguins that has hitherto just been suspected to exist. They were not disappointed!
Read news articleWhile summers in the world's driest inhabited continent AKA Australia can get a little uncomfortable, this year seems to be starting out a little more extreme than usual. On Monday January 8th, the Australian meteorological dept reported an average continent temperature of 104.6°F (40.33°C) - Surpassing a record set in 1972. And, the forecast for the rest of the season looks even worse.
Read news articleGiant squids, the kind referred to in Jules Verne's 1870 novel, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, have been known to exist for many centuries. However, finding the world's largest invertebrate in its natural habitat had proved a little elusive. Now, thanks to some patient Japanese researchers, we can all finally get a glimpse of this magnificent cephalopod!
Read news articleOn January 7th, 68-year-old British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes and his team of five sailed off from the picturesque port of Cape Town, to begin the first leg of what is aptly being called 'The Coldest Journey' - A never before done 2,300-mile trek across the Antarctica in winter!
Read news articleMany parts of the Northern Hemisphere have experienced a rather severe winter this year. However, very few can be compared to that felt by the residents of some parts of Russia where the temperatures have dipped as low as -50°Ç - Some of the lowest recorded in the area in the last 50 years!
Read news articleOne might expect people living in subzero temperatures to escape to some warmer destinations or simply, hibernate. But the residents of Harbin in Northeast China do neither. They instead turn the hostile icy environment into such an amazing winter wonderland that millions of tourists from all over the world actually brave the chilly temperatures to experience it.
Read news articleThe fact that dolphins are one of the smartest living creatures on earth has been known for many years. Now it turns out that these magnificent animals are quite generous too! At least the ones that live in the waters around Australia's popular Tangalooma Island Resort who apparently love to swim to shore bearing gifts for the staff that have been feeding them daily, since 1992.
Read news articleIf you like most of us, have read and perhaps even seen all the old and new reiterations of Cinderella, Snow White and Rapunzel a zillion times, you are in luck. That's because a cultural curator in Germany has discovered a treasure trove of 500 new fairy tales that have been tucked away in the archives for over 150 years!
Read news articleIn this digital age when most music is consumed via streaming or downloads, even waiting for a vinyl record to begin playing, seems like an eternity. So you can only imagine how excruciating it must have been for the fans of Shout Out Loud, who had to wait for more than six hours to listen to the Swedish Band's latest single, because it had to be first, chilled to perfection!
Read news articleOn Tuesday December 18th, the web was abuzz with some sensational news - A toddler playing in a park in Montreal, Canada had been suddenly scooped up by a massive golden eagle, taken for a quick spin and then, dropped back safely - All in broad daylight ! Of course, to prove that it really happened the whole incident was caught on camera and downloaded on YouTube!
Read news articleWhile most of you are still waiting to see you what surprises are in store for you this Christmas, some animals in Australia are sitting content and happy. That's because for them, the holiday came early this year!
Read news articleYou have all heard of 'Puss in Boots', but 'Goat in Boots' - That, has to be a first. And this four-legged animal is not a fictional character in a book or movie either, but a real life specimen that resides in the tiny village of Probus in Cornwall, England.
Read news articleIf you have ever wondered what Noah's Ark, the ginormous boat that saved Noah, his family and two specimens of every animal genus that inhabited the earth may have looked like, you are in luck. That's because a Dutchman has created a life-size replica, with a slight modern day twist!
Read news articleSince house designs cannot be changed unless the entire structure is renovated, they are normally built with the worst weather patterns in mind. For example, a house in the Arctic would have thick concrete walls to preserve heat, while the opposite would be true for one built in the desert. This means that while residents are sheltered during severe weather conditions, they are unable to enjoy seasonal changes. Now, two British architects are trying to change this with a revolutionary design that believe it or not, uses a math puzzle that you may all be quite familiar with!
Read news articleIt is often said that you cannot 'teach an old dog new tricks', but either these three New Zealand pooches have never heard of the idiom or have decided to prove otherwise by learning a skill that even most of you have yet to master - Driving a car!
Read news articleLet's face it - Art shows can get just a tad boring. After all, how many exhibits can you ooh and aah over? Unless of course, you are one of those lucky people that live in South-East Russia and was fortunate enough to visit the Archstoyanie art festival where one of the art installations this year, happened to be 'Fast Track' - The world's longest trampoline!
Read news articleIn 1986, Pixar introduced its pioneering computer animation technique with a short film whose main star was a perky lamp called Luxo Jr. Not only did the film get nominated for an Academy Award, but Luxo Jr. also became a permanent fixture in the company's logo. Now three students from New Zealand's Wellington University have brought this iconic lamp to life - And, it's even more fun than the animated version.
Read news articleWith just 22 days left before the big day, Christmas trees are starting to light up in cities all around the world. While each one is stunning in its own way, some are really outstanding, like this floating creation that is an annual tradition at Rio de Janeiro's, Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, since 1996.
Read news articleMost hotels are lucky if they go through one or two renovations during their lifetime. However this hotel in the tiny village of Jukkasjarvi, Sweden gets a complete makeover every year because believe it or not, it is carved entirely from Ice blocks lugged in from the nearby Torne River. What's even more stunning is that the hotel gets increasingly fabulous each year!
Read news articleSurfers visiting Sydney's world famous Bondi Beach on Tuesday November 26th, were in for a little shock - The normally crystal clear blue ocean waters had turned a crimson red! However, before you get all concerned, it was not the result of a brutal shark attack, nor oily tomato sauce as was the original rumor! Instead the culprit was an over abundance of algae called noctiluca scintillans or sea sparkle.
Read news articleGermination, the process through which plants disperse seeds so that they can sprout and grow into new plants can be a little tricky, given that plants are immobile. Some like dandelions use wind, others by growing prickly fruits that stick to the fur or spine of animals. Then there are those that yield sweet fruit that animals seek out and devour. However, in order for that to work successfully, those plants have to get it really right!
Read news articleFor the last three years, a group of lucky 8-10 year olds have been involved in a super-exciting experiment - To see if replacing traditional pencil and paper with hi-tech interactive desks would help improve their math skills! But before we tell you the obvious results of this 'study' let's talk about the more interesting part - The desks.
Read news articleFor some reason being home to the world's tallest skyscraper seems to be something every country is constantly vying for. Now, China too has joined the fray. However, unlike any of the other contenders it is planning to complete this amazing feat in less time than it takes most countries to design a structure - A mere 90 days!
Read news articlePotholes, those pesky unexpected dents on our roads are not only a nuisance and often destructive for cars but also, an eyesore - Now, an avid British gardener is transforming them into works of art by creating miniature flower beds!
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