Mold is all around us. In the air and on our food, it can make us sick and gross us out , but not all molds are bad. Some can make delicious food, and others can save lives. One famous mold, discovered by accident by a sloppy scientist, became the first antibiotic medicine: … [Read more...]
Scientists Gave Their Lives Protecting Seeds
“All human life, all life, depends on plants,” says Jonathan Drori in his TED talk about the Millennium Seed Bank. This project involves collecting seeds in an underground storage facility strong enough to withstand a nuclear attack. It holds over 2 billion seeds, which represent … [Read more...]
Monogamy
Helen and Maurice Kaye met in 1929 when they were just teenagers. Fast forward to 2015, and the pair is now celebrating their 80th anniversary. They’ve been married longer than most people on Earth have been alive. Through thick and thin, their marriage has endured. They lost two … [Read more...]
Animal Laughter
Aristotle once questioned what separates humans from animals. He decided it’s not language or reason. It’s laughter. Aristotle wrote that the moment when a baby first laughs is when the child becomes fully human. According to historian Barry Sanders, Aristotle believed that … [Read more...]
Unusual Friendships Between Humans And Animals
In 1989, Chito was walking along the shore of the Parismina River in Costa Rica. Suddenly, he saw something eye-catching. It was a larger than life crocodile. Usually, the fearsome reptile would be something to avoid at all costs. Yet Chito saw the creature was in distress. It … [Read more...]
Dog Whisperer
In the 1920s, a circus clown and a scientist conducted a series of psychic experiments on telepathy. The results were intriguing. Vladimir Durov was Russia’s most famous animal trainer. He was also a popular circus clown who claimed he could communicate with dogs via “mental … [Read more...]
Motivation Is Free
The gods of Greek mythology could be brutal when angered. Of all the punishments given by the gods, the one given to Sisyphus stands out above the rest. Sisyphus was a king and a trickster. He was so clever that he actually cheated death – twice! As punishment for his hubris, he … [Read more...]
Robot Wants To Name Her Daughter Sophia
Should a robot, no matter how intelligent, have the same rights as a human-being? Some say the Saudi Arabian government appears to think so. They recently created the world's first robot 'citizen.' Her name is Sophia. Saudi Arabia is in a state of change. They recently granted … [Read more...]