In 1914, Richard Platz, a 20-year-old son of a baker, was hiking when he threw a message in a bottle into the Baltic Sea. Little did he know that it would take over a century before anyone would read his message. Earlier this year, a fisherman named Konrad Fischer pulled the beer … [Read more...]
Birdbrained
Birds aren’t usually the first animal that people think about when they think about smart animals. In English, calling someone birdbrained means that they are stupid. And saying something is ‘for the birds’ means that it’s trivial or worthless. However, these expressions … [Read more...]
That Prairie Dog Thinks You’re Fat!
Has anyone ever told you, you could stand to lose some weight? Or maybe people have told you you’re as thin as a rail. Either way, it might not just be other people judging you on your looks. Prairie dogs have a complex language, and they are not only talking about people, but … [Read more...]
Secret Language of Plants
A famous book from the 70s called The Secret Life of Plants says that plants are conscious and even have a preference for music. In one research study, plants exposed to Mozart were healthier and grew faster than plants exposed to Jimi Hendrix. Some say these studies that claim … [Read more...]
The Man Who Accidentally Invented Hypnotism
Hypnosis is a form of direct communication with the unconscious mind. It is a valuable tool for raising self-awareness. It can also help people change negative patterns of behavior. It was accidentally invented by a man named Franz Anton Mesmer. Mesmer belongs to a small group … [Read more...]
The Loneliest Creature On Earth
Imagine the loneliness of speaking a language that only you can understand. Researchers have been studying a whale, who communicates in a language not recognizable by other whales. This whale has spent over two decades looking for a friend who will understand him. Whales are … [Read more...]
Mining Asteroids For Water
The Martians were giants with the strength of twenty men. When they attacked Earth, it looked like all was lost. The Martians were just too strong. Fortunately, their immune systems were not strong enough to fight off common earthly bacteria. Edison’s Conquest of Mars is a … [Read more...]
The Context of Culture
Learning a foreign language is not easy. Not only do you need to learn a whole new set of sounds, vocabulary, and grammar, but you also need to understand the context in which communication takes place. The context is basically the background or framework surrounding the act of … [Read more...]