For non-believers, Friday, September 13, 2024, will simply mark the start of a well-deserved weekend. However, others may not share this sentiment. Millions of people worldwide consider Friday the 13th the unluckiest day of the year. The origins of the day's fearsome reputation remain unclear, but experts have some theories....

Hundreds of fans gathered at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC, on July 20, 2024, to witness the spectacular fall of over 100,000 dominoes. The exciting event was the grand finale of the museum's two-week-long "Destination Domino" event hosted by domino artist Lily Hevesh....

The Big Basin Redwood State Park in Santa Cruz, California, is home to some of the tallest and oldest redwood trees on Earth. The towering trees reach heights of over 300 feet (91 m) and have an incredibly thick bark. This natural armor usually protects their upper branches and needles from wildfire damage. However, the CZU Lightning Complex Fire that burned 97 percent of the park in August 2020 was so intense that it even scorched these ancient giants....

This summer, Banksy captivated Londoners with a remarkable series of artworks. From August 5 to 13, 2024, the anonymous British street artist revealed stunning animal sketches at various locations around the city....

September 11, 2001, began as a serene autumn morning in New York City. However, within a few hours, this tranquility was shattered by the deadliest terrorist attacks in US history. This unprovoked act of violence was planned and executed by members of the Islamic extremist organization al-Qaeda. The tragedy resulted in the deaths of 2,977 innocent people and altered life as we knew it forever....

North America's Great Lakes — Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario — were once a hub of maritime activity. Thousands of ships used the inland waterways to move cargo and passengers between cities. Among them was the Adella Shores, a wooden steamship that mysteriously vanished in the icy waters of Lake Superior in May 1909....

A mummified adult wolf could offer scientists valuable insights into the late Pleistocene era (129,000 to 11,700 years ago). The animal was buried in thick permafrost for over 44,000 years. It was unearthed by the residents of Sakha, Russia, in 2021. The specimen boasted well-preserved teeth, fur, and internal organs, including the stomach. It was the first complete adult wolf found from the late Ice Age....

On August 25, 2024, NASA officials announced that Boeing's Starliner spacecraft will return to Earth in early September without its crew members Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams. NASA's decision is based on lingering concerns about the spacecraft's safety. Wilmore and Williams will remain at the International Space Station (ISS) until February 2025....

On August 22, 2024, Lucara Diamond revealed the discovery of a massive 2,492-carat diamond in Botswana. The gemstone is the second biggest one ever found and the largest one found in the Southern African nation. The largest diamond discovered to date is the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond. It was found in South Africa in 1905....

US gymnast Jordan Chiles is at the center of an unusual controversy. The 23-year-old is being asked to return her Olympic bronze medal due to the timing of an appeal filed by her coach. The chain of events leading to this unprecedented decision unfolded shortly after the individual floor exercise final on August 5, 2024....

Ants are known for their teamwork. The tiny insects work together to build homes, find food, and care for their young. Now, a new study has found that Florida carpenter ants even perform life-saving "surgeries" to save their nestmates. This remarkable social behavior has never been observed in a non-human species before....

In AD 79, Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying the city of Pompeii and nearby areas in thick volcanic ash. Among them was Herculaneum, a small seaside resort on the west coast of central Italy. Nearly 2,000 years later, the ancient city's beach has been excavated and restored. It was opened to the public on June 19, 2024....

Elephants are known for their exceptional intelligence, empathy, and communication skills. A new study suggests they may have another remarkable ability: assigning individual "names" to each other. The mammals are the first non-human species to exhibit this unique capability....

Archaeologists have found 35 glass bottles dating back to the 18th century in George Washington's Mount Vernon home. Twenty-nine bottles were intact and contained perfectly preserved cherries and berries, likely gooseberries or currants. The exciting discovery, announced on June 13, 2024, was made during the excavation of six storage pits in the cellar. The exercise is part of a $40 million revitalization project to preserve the historic Virginia mansion for future generations....

July 12, 2024, began like any other day for Jose Romero. The dishwasher at Red Lobster in Pueblo, Colorado, began his shift by unpacking the day's lobster shipments. But as he dug into the crate filled with the live crustaceans, he noticed a vibrant orange lobster. It was unlike any other he had seen in his twelve years at the job....

The Paris 2024 Olympics, held from July 29 to August 11, 2024, showcased incredible athletic talent. From record-breaking swimmers to skateboarding phenoms, these young athletes left an indelible mark on their respective sports. Here are the amazing stories of three of the many breakout stars of the 2024 Summer Games....

US Vice President Kamala Harris was formally certified as the Democratic Party's presidential nominee for the November election on August 6, 2024. The 59-year-old emerged as the top contender on July 21, 2024, after President Joe Biden decided not to seek a second term. Notably, Harris is the first Black and South Asian woman to be nominated for president by a major political party....

The Paris 2024 Olympics will be one for the history books for American gymnastics. The USA men's and women's teams won a total of 10 medals. Their impressive haul included three gold, one silver, and six bronze medals....

There are numerous meteor showers throughout the year. However, few are as popular, or as reliable, as the Perseids. The "shooting stars" have been zooming across the skies at a rate of about a dozen an hour since mid-July. But the best time to watch them will be from midnight to dawn on August 11, 12, and 13, 2024. That is when the number of meteors will increase sharply to between 50 and 100 an hour. Also, unlike previous years, this upcoming show will not be overshadowed by a bright Moon. This will make it easier to view even the dimmer meteors....

China's Chang'e 6 lunar probe made history on June 25, 2024, when it brought back soil samples from the Moon's far side. The feat marks the first return of materials from the unexplored lunar region....

In the ultra-competitive world of Olympic swimming, a mere hundredth of a second can make a difference between a gold and silver medal. While skill and intense training are essential for success, the right swimsuit can be a game-changer in the tightest of races....

Former US president and Republican nominee Donald Trump has tapped Ohio Senator James David Vance as his running mate for the 2024 presidential elections. The announcement was made on the first day of the Republican National Convention, held in Milwaukee, Minnesota, from July 15 to July 18, 2024. If elected, Vance, 39, will be the nation's youngest vice president since Richard Nixon in 1952. He will also be the only US vice president to have served in the Marine Corps....

President Ronald Reagan's love for jelly beans was well-known. However, America's 40th leader also had a soft spot for ice cream. In 1984, he issued Proclamation 5219. It declared July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of July as National Ice Cream Day. Americans are urged to celebrate the month "with appropriate ceremonies and activities." This means eating as much ice cream as you can. These fun facts will keep you entertained while you perform your civic duty....

The countdown to the 2024 Summer Olympics has begun. In just one month, on July 26, about 11,000 athletes from 206 nations will gather in Paris, France, for the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad. Here are a few trailblazers ready to make their mark on the world stage....