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: penicillin.
Scientists Gave Their Lives Protecting Seeds
“All human life, all life, depends on plants,” says Jonathan Drori in his TED talk about the Millenium 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 over 10% of the world’s variety of plants.
Where Are All The Aliens?
Our Milky Way Galaxy may be home to 2 billion planets that have the right conditions to support life. These planets have the correct temperature for liquid water. While no one knows what alien life would look like, if it is anything like life on earth, it would need water to survive. The possibility of liquid water depends on a planet’s distance from the nearest star. Too close and water evaporates; too far away and water freezes. Scientists have also looked at the effects of clouds on planet temperature. This has increased the estimate of habitable planets to 2 billion. This is only the number of habitable planets in the Milky Way Galaxy, which is just one of an estimated 100 to 200 billion galaxies in the universe.
5 Regrets Of The Dying
Carsie Blanton sings about the futility of worrying about reputations and trying to meet expectations when we’re all on a one way trip to the grave. Life is short, and we should make the most of it. She penned these lyrics while still in her twenties, and for someone so young, she understands a lot about the psychology of regret.
Gift Of Life – Organ Donation Chains
When he turned 60, Indian billionaire Kochouseph Chittilappilly wanted to do something big. He had a vision of a kidney donation chain. And the chain would start with him. Some said it was a publicity stunt. Others thought he was joking and wouldn’t actually go through with it. His wife told him to avoid the health risks and just donate money. Kochouseph was serious, and he did go through with it.
Living In Fear
While all phobias are irrational fears, some are stranger than fiction. Most of us are afraid of dying, but people with Apeirophobia are cut from a different cloth. They are afraid of living forever. When Bobby Azarian was four years old, his grandfather died from cancer. Bobby was told the old man had gone to a happy place where he would enjoy eternal life with his loved ones.
Dog Smells Cancer Saving Owner’s Life
One evening, Linda Munkley’s dog Beau jumped on the sofa and began sniffing her chest. At first, Linda wasn’t bothered by her dog’s strange behavior, but he wouldn’t leave her alone.
Koreans Practice Dying in Living Funerals
Hyowon is not your run of the mill funeral company. In addition to traditional ceremonies, they also offer mass funerals for the living.
Participants in the living funeral service wear traditional burial clothes. First, they take funeral photos. Next, they are led up a dark staircase by a man dressed as a Korean grim reaper. They enter a room filled with coffins and chrysanthemums.