Sarah Biren
Freelance Writer
There are a lot of opinions on self-checkout. Some embrace it, others loathe it. Some prefer it after a short grocery shop, but others hate packing their own bags. It’s a great way to avoid social interaction unless you like the human interaction with the cashier. And there is the frustrating experience of trying to […]
Freelance Writer
A fisherman caught the largest freshwater fish on record in northern Cambodia. It’s a giant stingray named Boramy (meaning “full moon” in the Khmer language) of a relatively unknown species. The massive female fish measured about 13 feet in length, weighing 661 pounds. It had roamed near an island on the Mekong River in the […]
Freelance Writer
Children are becoming adults without basic life skills. Home economics used to be taught regularly, but this class is dwindling in schools. Unfortunately, it shows. Skills that adults take for granted, — like shopping for groceries, keeping a budget, how interest on credit cards work, how to pay taxes, and cooking — young adults lack. […]
Freelance Writer
Fleas are common pests for cats and dogs. They are small, fast insects that feed on animal blood, and their bites can cause an allergic reaction. Pets with fleas may begin scratching themselves more frequently, and they might have scabs and flea dirt on their skin. Unfortunately, fleas can also bite people and cause itchy […]
Freelance Writer
Australia is known for its many dangerous creatures, from snakes to crocodiles to spiders. But in Central Queensland, researchers have discovered a new venomous arachnid: an over-sized species of trapdoor spiders. It’s been called Euoplos dignitas, which scientists with the Queensland Museum explained as being “derived from the Latin ‘dignitas,’ meaning ‘dignity’ or ‘greatness’” to […]
Freelance Writer
The unsuspecting Jackson family from Middletown, Ohio, returned from a vacation at Walt Disney World in early September. They had no idea about the series of fevers, tests, and doctor’s appointments in store for them. Their 2-year-old son, Wilder, tested positive for the flu when they arrived home but he soon recovered, and his parents […]
Freelance Writer
The boss of the largest ATM network in the UK warns that cash may have only five years left. John Howells, chief executive at Link, says the infrastructure is undergoing a “death by a thousand cuts”. As he explains, “The cost of providing cash infrastructure, which includes the ATMs, security, and bulk cash centers is […]
Freelance Writer
Eighteen-year-old Cartier Woods passed away on February 6. The senior student at Detroit Northwestern in Detroit, went on life support on January 31st after suffering cardiac arrest while playing basketball. His family and friends held a vigil for him and struggle to accept how a healthy and strong teenager could suffer a cardiac incident. “He […]
Freelance Writer
A gardening expert experiments with an unorthodox fertilizer for his tomato plants: a whole egg and a banana. First, he buries the food then buries the plant on top of them. He explains that the egg and banana will rot over time, providing nutrients to the growing tomato plants. No further fertilizer is needed. Whether […]
Freelance Writer
Leslie Howe inadvertently saved her children from a painful sting. They was sitting on a bench at Gwinnet County Park when they noticed a strange creature beside them. “I’ve never seen anything like that before,” said Howe. “It looked like a cross between a rodent and a caterpillar.” However, it was a venomous puss caterpillar. […]
Freelance Writer
Passive House is a concept for an energy efficient building. The design is structured to maintain room temperature inside with little to no energy used for heating or cooling. Patrick McCunney owns one of these houses in Maine, and he shares the in-and-outs of his 1,500-square-foot, two-story New England farmhouse-style home. He and his wife, […]
Freelance Writer
Aerophobia is the name for flight anxiety, and it’s fairly common. Even those who don’t have this phobia can still experience fear while flying. It’s easy — but not recommended — to start imagining all the ways the flight could end in disaster. All it takes is a little turbulence for the imagination to run […]
Freelance Writer