In 2012, a family from Sardinia, Italy, won the Guinness World Record for highest combined age for nine living siblings. The Melis family consisted of six sisters and three brothers, who lived a collective 818 years and 205 days as of June 1, 2012. They became local legends in their hometown of Perdasdefogu, which is...
In March 2011, Japan endured the strongest earthquake in its recorded history, followed by a severe tsunami. The Tohoku tsunami involved waves 40 meters/132 feet high and over 15,500 deaths. Over 450,000 people lost their homes during the floods, and the destruction spread to infrastructure all over the country, including the meltdown of three nuclear...
Steve Irwin, also known as the Crocodile Hunter, had inspired millions to appreciate and protect animals. Perhaps there’s no one he had inspired more than his own family. Robert Irwin, his 20-year-old son, followed his father’s footsteps in becoming a zookeeper, conservationist, TV personality, as well as a wildlife photographer. Despite his dangerous work with...
The Super-Kamiokande neutrino detector looks like something out of a sci-fi movie that critics would deem “too unrealistic.” Picture a gigantic dome-shaped golden chamber with gold walls, an array of light detectors, and 50,000 tons of pure water. However, the Super-K neutrino detector is real and hidden 1,000 meters under Mount Ikeno in Japan. (Neutrinos...
A waiter in Los Angeles was working his shift when a group of four teenagers entered the restaurant. They were heading to their homecoming dance and were dining in a higher-end restaurant for the first time by themselves. The waiter took it upon himself to give them a good experience. However, at the end of...
The Algarve is the southernmost region of Portugal, and it’s extremely popular among tourists. It’s known for its hot summery weather, serene beaches, fishing villages, delicious local food and wine, and magnificent landmarks. One of its most spectacular locations is the Benagil Caves. Portugal’s coastline displays many beautiful grottos shaped by the waves of the...
Australia is full of unique and sometimes dangerous creatures. So if you enjoy the outdoors, it’s a good idea to identify the animals around you. You’ll be able to steer clear of the risky species and let down your guard around the harmless ones. So when an Australian man found a suspicious-looking hole in his...
Lauren Wasser nearly died from toxic shock syndrome (TSS) — a rare but life-threatening condition caused by a bacterial infection. In this case, Wasser’s infection was brought on by a regular tampon. Despite using the hygiene product as directed, Wassur contracted TSS and was on the brink of death when she arrived at the hospital....
Car windshields used to be prime hotspots for bugs. Insects would fly into the path of the moving vehicle and end up splattering against the glass. But experienced drivers might notice that there are fewer splatterings these days. While this might seem a good thing at first, it’s not fun to drive with bug guts...
Dan Harrison and his girlfriend Laura Harrison have done what many people have dreamed of: quitting the hustle and bustle to live in nature. They moved from the United Kingdom to Portugal, where they purchased a small farm. They had no previous experience with farming or construction, just a dream to create an off grid...
Fisherman Cy Williams managed to film a humpback whale emerging next to a dock, its huge mouth open. Onlookers are shocked to see the creature hunt so close to shore. It had swum beneath docks and tied boats at the Knudson Cove Marina in Ketchikan, Alaska. The whale was so close the video captured the...
If you enjoy spending time in nature, you may have noticed stacks of rocks called rock cairns. These man-made structures can be miniature or enormous, but in any case, the balancing of the stones can look impressive. However, officials at Yosemite National Park warn visitors not to build these piles while on the trail. In...
