Embedded Files
JUNE
JUNE
This series of visualisations shows how some of Earth's key climate indicators are changing over time.
This series of visualisations shows how some of Earth's key climate indicators are changing over time.
June 1, 2024 6:15 AM
NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test Launch
Launch coverage of NASA’s Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test, with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, to the International Space Station. Launch is scheduled for 12:25 p.m. EDT.
MAY
MAY
Retrieved from:https://www.sciencefocus.com/science/fun-facts
Our collection of the best interesting trivia covers animals, biology, geography, space and much more.
If you’re looking to impress your friends, kids and family with random fun facts, and weird and wonderful trivia, you've come to the right place. Below you can find 101 interesting facts that will reshape how you see our world – and far far beyond.
So, buckle up and prepare to amuse children, impress (or annoy) your co-workers, dazzle your dinner party guests, and have your own mind blown with our best collection of extraordinary and fun tidbits.
Retrieved from: https://www.beano.com/posts/guess-the-movie-from-the-emoji-clues
Quiz Time
Can you translate emojis? Try and crack these codes and guess the movie from the emoji with our emoji movie quiz!
Can you translate emojis? Try and crack these codes and guess the movie from the emoji with our emoji movie quiz!
Here at Beano, we love emojis just as much as a movie marathon, so it makes total sense to have a movie-based emoji quiz. Perfect, right?
How much do you know about movies? Can you apply that knowledge to some seemingly easy picture-led questions? Some are trickier than they appear, so don’t rush in and answer each question immediately!
Are you ready? See if you can get a perfect score. Good luck!
APRIL
APRIL
Children’s Day Celebrations Around the World
Children’s Day Celebrations Around the World
By Julie Yeros
National Children’s Days are observed on various days throughout the year in countries all around the world. The day is devoted to celebrating the health and happiness of all children. Japan and South Korea celebrate Children’s Day on May 5, the fifth day of the fifth month.
Children’s Day in Japan
Children’s Day in Japan
Kodomo No Hi is a national holiday in Japan. Colourful streamers called koinobori are popular symbols of the celebration and are hung on poles outside of homes. In Japanese, koi means carp (a type of fish symbolizing strength and perseverance) and nobori means “to rise.”
A typical pattern for setting up koinobori is to have a colourful streamer representing the family crest at the top, then the biggest koinobori (black) representing the father, then the next biggest one (red) representing the mother, and then one for each child decreasing in size to the smallest child. Make a koinobori.
Inside the house are displays of gogatsu-ningyo (samurai warrior figurines) and kabuto (samurai helmets) to inspire strong character traits, such as strength and courage. Shobu (iris flowers) are displayed around the house to keep bad spirits away, and taking a bath with floating iris leaves (syobuyu) is a tradition dating back to the 12th century. Popular foods for the celebration include chimaki (dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves) and kashiwa-mochi (rice cakes with sweet bean paste wrapped in oak leaves).
Also taking place on Children’s Day is a Kids’ Olympics at the national Kasumigaoka Stadium in Tokyo, with thousands of children and their parents participating in races.
What is Children’s Day in Korea?
What is Children’s Day in Korea?
Urini nal is a national holiday in South Korea. Celebrations include parades, pageants, parties, picnics, and Tae Kwon Do demonstrations. Children dress in traditional clothing and go out with family to museums, parks, and movies – with many places offering free admission for the special day. Make a South Korean craft, such as a handheld sogo drum, a lotus lantern, or a Sam Taeguk fan.
Rice is an important part of Korean celebrations. Other traditional foods are mandoo, a meat and vegetable dumpling; kujulpan, strips of meat and vegetables wrapped inside of pancakes; sollongtang, beef soup with rice and noodles (above); and songpyeon, pine-flavored rice cakes shaped like half-moons (above).
Children’s Day in Other Countries
Children’s Day in Other Countries
Other National Children’s Day celebrations throughout the year include January 9 (Thailand); February 13 (Myanmar); March 6 (New Zealand); April 4 (China); April 23 (Turkey); April 30 (Mexico); May 8 (Spain); May 27 (Nigeria); June 1 (Albania, Cambodia, Ecuador, Lebanon, Mongolia, Portugal, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and more); June 12 (United States); July 23 (Indonesia); August 21 (Argentina); September 9 (Costa Rica); October 5 (Chile); November 20 (Canada, France, Greece, Israel, Spain, Sweden, and more); December 25 (Congo, Chad).
Find out how these, or any other, countries celebrate their national Children’s Day. What’s similar? What’s different?
Retrieved from https://www.globetrottinkids.com/may-5-childrens-day-celebrations/
Retrieved from https://www.noiser.com/short-history-of
Podcast
SHORT HISTORY OF…
SHORT HISTORY OF…
History is full of the extraordinary.
Amazing civilisations like the Mayans and the Aztecs. Remarkable peoples, like the Vikings and the Ancient Egyptians. Fearsome warriors like the Samurai and the Spartans. Fascinating figures steeped in mystery, like the Ninjas and the Knights Templar. Then some events changed everything: the California Gold Rush, Watergate, the Mount Vesuvius Eruption, and the Black Death.
You may have heard of these things. But ever wish you knew more?
Short History Of… is the new podcast from Noiser. Each week, you’ll find yourself transported back in time and immersed in a barely believable tale.
New episodes every Monday.
MARCH
MARCH
What Did Hubble See on Your Birthday?
What Did Hubble See on Your Birthday?
Hubble explores the universe 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That means it has observed some fascinating cosmic wonder every day of the year, including on your birthday.
What Did Hubble See on Your Birthday
Podcast
Stuff You Should KnoW
Stuff You Should KnoW
Stuff You Should Know is an entertaining show that covers many funny and strange questions and topics.
Previous topics tackled by the podcast include: “Do zombies exist?”, “How black boxes work” and “Do objects or experiences make us happier?”
This podcast’s diverse topics and occasional use of technical language exposes the student to a rich source of vocabulary.
FEBRUARY
FEBRUARY
National Human Rights: Teaching Children About Human Rights
National Human Rights: Teaching Children About Human Rights
For those of us living in free societies, basic human rights can sometimes feel like a given. But the concept is relatively new to the world and, even today, there are many places that fail to recognize the human rights of their citizens.
All around the world, human rights remain a pressing issue. That’s why it’s so important for those of us in free nations to continue learning about human rights and sharing that knowledge with kids. After all, those rights are the foundation of our freedoms.
What Are Human Rights?
What Are Human Rights?
When drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Commission on Human Rights focused on the rights that are most important to every human being. Commission chairperson and former U.S. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt emphasized that human rights begin close to home. “Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere,” she said.
The 30 articles of the Declaration lay out the UN’s vision of what human rights are. These articles establish a wide range of rights and prohibitions, which include the following:
Right to dignity, liberty, and equality for all people regardless of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or another opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status.
Right to life and the security of one’s person.
Right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.
Prohibition of slavery and torture.
Right to impartial trials and equal protection under the law.
Right to participate in one’s government, directly or through representation.
Right to own property.
Right to an education.
Right to peaceful assembly.
Right to free movement within one’s own national borders.
Right to leave one’s nation.
Right to work where one chooses and receives just and equal pay for that work.
Right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of oneself and of one’s family, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care.
Additionally, the Declaration states that individuals have a duty to uphold the principles of human rights in their communities. There is only so much any government can do to ensure rights like dignity. Protecting human rights takes all of us.
Human Rights Activities for Children
Human Rights Activities for Children
While human rights are valuable every day of the year, National Human Rights Month is an opportunity to truly recognize and celebrate those rights. You can include your child by partaking in human rights activities for students, kids, and families.
You can:
Choose a different culture to learn about. Taking time to learn about another culture is a great way to expand understanding and empathy, which is vital to protecting human rights. Plus, learning about other cultures can be fun!
Pick a charity to support. As a family, look over charities that promote and support human rights and choose one that everyone likes. You don’t have to give much. Even a small donation teaches your children the importance of supporting human rights.
Read a book together. Books are a great way to learn about the world and other people. There are plenty of children’s books that explore the world and can help your child understand that all people yearn for and deserve human rights.
Watch a video. The UN’s official video on human rights offers a quick look at why we must continue to support human rights around the world.
Volunteer. As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, human rights begin close to home. Go out in your neighbourhood and perform an act of kindness like volunteering at a soup kitchen, free clinic, or another place that helps ensure those in need get the services they deserve as human beings.
While you can teach your child plenty about human rights, your child can also learn about these rights at a school with a high-quality curriculum like Connections Academy®. Online and tuition-free, Connections Academy tailors the learning experience for each child, ensuring they learn in the way that works best for them and gain the knowledge they need to thrive in the world ahead.
The online school could be exactly what your child needs. Learn more about our education philosophy and get tips for raising a well-rounded child on our Resource Hub. Start with our article about inspiring curiosity in children, an important characteristic for anyone learning about the world and the need for human rights. an important characteristic for anyone learning about the world and the need for human rights.
Let’s laugh today!
Let’s laugh today!
Podcast
No Amor E3 by Kaylee Lo
What is love to you? In this episode of the No Amor(e) series, high school senior Kaylee Lo interviews kids in elementary school to get back to the heart of what love really means.
What is love to you? In this episode of the No Amor(e) series, high school senior Kaylee Lo interviews kids in elementary school to get back to the heart of what love really means.
This podcast was produced by Kaylee Lo, a student in the Advanced Cinematic Arts class at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, CA. Michael Hernandez is the adviser (Twitter: @cinehead)
This podcast was produced by Kaylee Lo, a student in the Advanced Cinematic Arts class at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, CA. Michael Hernandez is the adviser (Twitter: @cinehead)
DECEMBER
DECEMBER
Six celebrations this holiday season besides Christmas
Six celebrations this holiday season besides Christmas
Whether you celebrate or not as the year comes to a close, Christmas can still feel very much present in our day-to-day lives. With exposure to songs, advertisements, and decorations everywhere we go, it can seem like it’s the only holiday in the world.
However, while around 92% of the UK population plans to celebrate Christmas in 2022, it’s important to remember that not only do many people not celebrate the holiday – but that is several other important festivities take place around this time of year too.
One thing that many winter holidays have in common is a focus on togetherness, gratitude, and community. So, in the spirit of this time of year, we thought we’d celebrate the diversity of the festive season.
Here’s a look into six popular religious and cultural holidays that take place between December and January.
1. Hanukkah
1. Hanukkah
Hanukkah, also called the ‘festival of lights’, is a holiday commonly celebrated in the Hebrew calendar.
Traditionally, it takes place in late November or early December and commemorates the Maccabean revolt – when Jews fought for their religious freedom against the Greek-Syrian army in ancient Jerusalem.
After some years of revolt, the vastly outnumbered Jewish forces eventually won against their oppressors. Once the Jews had begun to rebuild their most sacred temple, they lit the menorah – a seven-armed golden candelabra which is traditionally kept burning through each night.
The story goes that there was very little oil remaining in the menorah – just about enough for one day. However, according to legend, the menorah burned for eight full nights before going out. For this reason, Hanukkah is celebrated over eight days beginning on the 25th day of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar (which falls between November and December in the Gregorian calendar). This year, Hanukkah began on the 18th of December and ended on the 26th of December.
The symbol of Hanukkah is a special menorah called a hanukiah, which has nine arms instead of seven. The hanukiah is traditionally displayed in a window, and on each of the eight nights, a candle is added, which is then lit by the central candle.
Throughout the celebrations, Jews often eat foods cooked in oil to remember the miraculous longevity of the oil in the menorah. These include fried potato cakes called latkes, and jelly-filled doughnuts named sufganiyot. Families also exchange gifts and play with square spinning tops called dreidels.
Winter solstice/yule
Winter solstice/yule
Celebrated on the winter solstice – the shortest day of the year, December 21st – Yule is one of the oldest known festivals observed at this time of year.
Yule was originally celebrated by the Pagan and Norse people of Northern Europe and is still celebrated in several ways by Pagan and Wiccan communities today.
The original celebration of Yule was tied to beliefs about and worship of the sun and honoured the rebirth of life and the year.
As the ancient Norse believed the sun to be a wheel upon which the seasons turned, they would ward off the darkness of the winter months by drinking merrily, lighting great bonfires, and sharing tales.
Yule is still celebrated by many across the world today, though like any ancient religious tradition, its customs vary. Neopagans often burn a yule log throughout the midwinter and hang sacred boughs of plants such as holly, ivy, and mistletoe. They also give gifts and thanks to their families and friends, sharing a meal.
3. Kwanzaa
3. Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a modern African-American and pan-African holiday that was established in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor of African studies. Beginning December 26th and ending on January 1st, Kwanzaa is a cultural festival celebrating African culture and community.
Kwanzaa centres around the Nguzo Saba, or ‘The Seven Principles’, which are as follows: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith). You can find a thorough explanation of the Nguzo Saba on the official Kwanzaa website.
At its heart, Kwanzaa is a celebration of connection and togetherness. Dr. Maulana Karenga created the holiday as a way for African Americans to reconnect with their cultural roots. The name is derived from a Swahili word meaning ‘first fruits’, as the harvest is commonly observed throughout the different countries of Africa.
As a non-religious, cultural holiday, Kwanzaa is celebrated by people of all different faiths, alongside any other religious festivals they might be celebrating at this time of year. Festivities include the lighting of a seven-armed candelabra to represent the seven principles, the sharing of gifts and stories, singing and dancing, feasting, and all kinds of activities steeped in African arts and traditions.
Bodhi Day
Bodhi Day
Bodhi Day, celebrated annually on December 8th, is a Buddhist holiday celebrating the enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha. On this day, Buddhists commemorate the day that Gautama completed his meditation beneath the Bodhi tree, where he explored the root of suffering.
Upon awakening, Gautama is said to have had some profound realisations, which became the founding principles of Buddhism – namely The Noble Eightfold Path and the Four Noble Truths.
From that day, Gautama is referred to as the Buddha, which means ‘enlightened one’.
Buddhists celebrate this important day through meditation, hoping to one day become enlightened and reach Nirvana. Other traditions include hanging multi-coloured lights around the house to represent the eight paths. These lights are lit for 30 days, alongside a candle representing enlightenment. People will also enjoy tea and cake with friends and family.
5. Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti
In January, Sikhs across the world celebrate the birthday of the 10th guru of the Sikh faith, Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The 10th guru is a particularly significant figure in Sikhism, not only as a famed warrior, poet, and philosopher but also due to his contributions to modern Sikh practices.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji is responsible for introducing the five K’s of Sikhism – beliefs that many Sikhs live by every moment of their day-to-day lives.
The anniversary is celebrated around the world with prayer meetings and processions at gurdwaras (places of worship for Sikhs), as well as kirtan –gatherings at which hymns and verses are sung. Celebrants also take part in seva, which means ‘selfless service’, and is an important principle of the faith. Among other acts of service on this day, families distribute food to the poor.
6. Shōgatsu
6. Shōgatsu
While many cultures hold festivities to welcome in the new year, in Japan, the New Year (Shōgatsu) is the most important holiday on the calendar.
In the UK, the first few days of the new year can feel a bit like a post-Christmas afterthought, but New Year’s celebrations in Japan (for those who celebrate it) involve family get-togethers across the country as businesses close from the 1st to the 3rd of January.
Years are viewed as more distinct in Japanese culture than in the UK, so a lot of celebrations focus more heavily on beginning anew. On New Year’s Eve, families commonly undertake a deep cleaning of their house called oosouji, in which no nook or cranny is left unturned so that the coming year can begin on a blank slate.
A variety of traditional foods are eaten on both New Year’s Eve and on the first day of the year. Toshikoshi soba, a simple and healthy buckwheat noodle dish, is enjoyed on the eve, followed by ozoni (mochi soup with chicken and vegetables) on New Year’s Day.
On New Year’s Day and the following two days, many families follow the tradition of hatsumode – the first shrine visit of the year. Shrines and temples are extremely busy during the New Year period, with famous locations such as the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo hosting millions of visitors over the period. As the new year begins at midnight, shrines across the country herald the event with the ringing of huge bells.
It has also become common for families and friends to send each other New Year’s postcards. People send their greetings via postcards specifically marked to be delivered on January 1st, along with expressions of gratitude and hope for further kindness to come in the new year.
We hope that our list has introduced you to a few new ways to celebrate the winter season. Whether you already celebrate one of these holidays or would like to get involved in something new this year, it’s always nice to learn about the different ways we celebrate the same core idea of togetherness at this time of year.
NOVEMBER
NOVEMBER
7 Cultures That Celebrate Death
7 Cultures That Celebrate Death
by Adelle Archer
Some cultures may celebrate their loved one’s legacy or honour their ancestors in hopes of some familial blessings or provisions. Feelings around the topic of death are heavily influenced by cultural beliefs about death. Here you will read about cultures around the world that celebrate death through various festivals and celebrations.
Mexico: Dia de Los Muertos
Día de Los Muertos — or Day of the Dead — is a ceremony in Mexico that is celebrated on November 1 and 2. The Day of the Dead is a time of celebration when families welcome back the souls of their departed loved ones.
The celebration is alive with music, dancing, and decadent food and drinks. Since family members welcome their deceased loved ones as guests, families prepare their loved one's favourite foods for the reunion.
During this Mexican holiday, the streets are populated with parades and people dressed in costume. The most common symbol associated with the Day of the Dead is the sugar skeleton.
Vital to this celebration is the ‘ofrenda’ (altar) decorated with pictures of deceased ancestors and their favourite foods and drinks. Ofrendas are often garnished with marigolds, the Day of the Dead’s symbolic flower. Decorating the ofrenda with pictures of deceased family members is believed to guide the ancestors' souls back to their families.
2. Ghana: Fantasy Coffins
Another culture that celebrates death is communities in Ghana, Africa. Ghana fantasy coffins are a way to honour the life and profession of loved ones who have passed away.
These coffins are constructed to represent the profession that individuals held during their lifetime. From an airplane coffin for a deceased pilot to a truck-shaped coffin for a driver, these fantasy coffins leave plenty of room for imagination.
Families may also choose coffins to represent different attributes of their lost loved one or animals they feel embody characteristics of their loved one. Owl coffins could be created to signify the wisdom of the deceased, or a lion could represent fearless leadership. This is where the fantasy comes into play — the coffins can be anything the family thinks their loved one would want.
For over five decades, fantasy coffins have been a way that Ghanaians celebrate their dead. Funerals in Ghana often consist of music and dancing as well as dining. During these celebrations, fantasy coffins are carried to the funeral. Pallbearers carry fantasy coffins on their shoulders while dancing to music and wearing brightly coloured clothing.
3. Madagascar: Famadihana
Famadihana is a celebration of the dead that happens every five to seven years in Madagascar. Famadihana means “the turning of the bones” and is a time when deceased loved ones are unearthed and their burial cloths are removed and replaced with fresh shrouds.
The celebration exists so that family members can meet their deceased relatives. It is also a time for family members who knew their ancestors to share memories and stories in their honour. It also exists to bring living family members together to strengthen familial bonds.
During this celebration, family members will eat a meal of rice and pork together and share stories of ancestors with younger generations. This day is called the entry day. The next day is wrapping day, which is a time for family members to visit their loved one’s tomb together and replace their old burial shrouds with new ones.
4. Bali: Ngaben
In Bali, death is a time of celebration because it is believed to be the soul’s entry into reincarnation. Balinese people believe the body to have no significance except for providing a shell or temporary dwelling place for the soul.
Ngaben is a cremation ceremony where family members and friends will gather for their loved one’s cremation. Ngaben ceremonies are a time without weeping and mourning because families believe their loved one has returned to God.
When preparing a Ngaben ceremony, families must consult a spiritual advisor to determine the day of cremation because not all days are acceptable. Families must then have a casket made. These caskets are constructed in the form of various animals such as a bull, cow, or lion. A cremation tower must also be constructed for this occasion.
The Ngaben ceremony is an all-day celebration. The departed loved one’s village gathers early in the morning to hear music and watch dancers partake in a sacred dance. Once the body is cremated, its ashes are sent to sea as a way of returning them to nature.
5. New Orleans: Jazz Funeral
5. New Orleans: Jazz Funeral
While many death celebrations occur on international soil, communities in New Orleans, Louisiana know a thing or two about celebrating death. The Jazz Funeral is a New Orleans tradition that celebrates life. Known as the birthplace of Jazz, New Orleans is known for parades and celebrations that include lively music and dancing.
Jazz Funerals gained popularity in the 19th century as funeral attendees engaged in a procession. Mourners would follow a jazz band to the church or funeral location as the band played somber music. After the ceremony, the music would change as the band began to play more lively and upbeat jazz music.
The upbeat music at the close of the ceremony is an intentional celebration of the person’s life. These ceremonies encapsulate the conflicting emotions that arise when we lose a remarkable loved one. Family members and friends grieve the loss of those they love while celebrating their lives and the ways they impact those around them.
6. China: Qingming
Qingming is known as tomb-sweeping day, a day dedicated to ancestral worship. Families visit the tombs of their deceased family members to bring food, drinks, and money as offerings. Families may even cultivate new soil for their ancestors' graves as well as sweep the tomb and remove weeds.
This festival typically involves the use of willow tree branches to ward off evil spirits. Families will place these branches on gates or their front doors to protect them from spirits they believe may be wandering during the festival. Families may also plant willow trees by their ancestors' graves.
Kite flying is another custom that is important to the Qingming celebration. Families will fly kites during the day and into the evening. Often, lanterns are even tied to kites to illuminate the night sky. Kites are sometimes cut and released into the sky, a practice that is believed to bring good luck and ward off disease.
The Qingming festival can be traced back over 2,500 years ago to the Zhou Dynasty. Royal families would offer sacrifices to their ancestors in hopes of receiving wealth, peace, and a good harvest in return. Today, this tradition has been carried on as a way to pay respects to lost loved ones.
7. Japan: Obon Festival
Similar to Qingming, the Obon festival is a time to pay respects to the dead and honour ancestral spirits. The Obon festival is a three-day celebration that has been observed for over 500 years.
The Obon festival originated from a Buddhist myth that told of a disciple of Buddha who was able to free his deceased mother from anguish in the afterlife by offering sacrifices. During this three-day festival, it is believed that the spirits of the ancestors return to reunite with the living.
During Obon, families will visit their ancestors' graves to tidy up as well as offer food and drink sacrifices. They will also participate in various celebratory acts such as attending carnivals and eating festival foods. Traditional dances are also performed to the sound of taiko drums.
Wrapping Up
Wrapping Up
While death is a universal experience for humanity, the ways in which we respond to death may vary based on cultural or religious beliefs. There exists a long list of cultures across the world that celebrate death, this list here being just a few.
For many around the world, death represents a passage from this life to the next. It is also seen as an opportunity to celebrate the life of a deceased loved one. No matter how you choose to celebrate your loved one’s remarkable life, honoring their memory can be an important aspect of your healing journey.
Retrieved from https://www.eterneva.com/resources/cultures-that-celebrate-death
Keep Calm and Ace the Test!
Keep Calm and Ace the Test!
Is It Recyclable? 20 Questions to Test Your Recycling Smarts
Think you know what to toss in the blue bin?
Think you know what to toss in the blue bin?
Test your knowledge with these recycling trivia questions.
Test your knowledge with these recycling trivia questions.
Sure, you know how to recycle, and perhaps you’ve upcycled a thing or two, but it can be tricky to figure out if anything is recyclable. Take batteries, for instance: They shouldn’t go in the trash, but can you throw them in your blue bin? Well, we have a fun (and educational) way to test your recycling knowledge: a recycling quiz.
This recycling quiz features 20 questions that ask if common household items, like aluminium foil and egg cartons, are recyclable—or if they should go in the compost bin instead. Keep in mind that while, technically, some of these items are recyclable, it doesn’t mean you should recycle them at home. You may have to bring them somewhere that specifically recycles those objects.
With that in mind, it’s time to click and put your recycling knowledge to the test. Best of luck!
Retrieved from https://www.timeout.com/things-to-do/best-podcasts
Podcast
Drifting Off with Joe Pera
Drifting Off with Joe Pera
Had a bit of trouble sleeping recently? You're in for a treat. Joe Pera made a triumphant return to podcasting in March 2023 with his brand new podcast ‘Drifting Off with Joe Pera’ – his first actual sleep podcast (the rest were just unintentionally relaxing). Listen to the sweet sounds of Pera's soothing voice, the twinkling music, and the pretty random subject matters, and find yourself waking up after a peaceful eight hours. Thanks, Pera. Ella Doyle, Guides Editor
OCTOBER
OCTOBER
Additional Popular Random Facts
Additional Popular Random Facts
Every year, October ends on the same day as February. So yes, in 2023, February ended on a Tuesday and so will October.
The Anglo-Saxons called October “Winterfylleth” — it means “fullness of winter”. The reason they called it that? It’s because October has the first full moon of the winter season. 🌕
The birthstones for October are tourmaline and opal. Tourmalines are believed to help you stay calm while under pressure, bring peace and tranquility, and defeat negative emotions like jealousy and anger. On the other hand, opal gemstones are believed to cure eye infections, strengthen memory, calm nerves, and enhance creativity. 💎
The traditional flower of October is the calendula — it symbolizes comfort, healing, protection, and grace. 🌼
October is also the name of a fruit. It is a sweet orange that originated in China. October was chosen because oranges are usually abundant in the fall.
Another fun fact about October is that it is considered a lucky month because it is associated with prosperity. October is also the beginning of harvest season.
Although we have a complete section discussing Halloween, I would be amiss without including it here. Halloween is celebrated in several countries on October 31, the eve of All Hallows’ Day. On this day, it is believed that spirits can wander the earth freely. People tend to take this opportunity to disguise themselves in various costumes. 🎃
Retrieved from https://madeyousmileback.com/amazing-fun-facts-about-october/
10 Spanish Inventors Who Have Changed Your Life
10 Spanish Inventors Who Have Changed Your Life
What would you say if I told you that Spanish inventors have changed your life? It’s true!
Inventions originating from Spain have contributed much to the world we know and enjoy today.
Many Spanish inventions have changed the world in large and small ways. These include the mop, the submarine, and the guitar. While these are some of the greatest Spanish inventions, there are plenty more.
Today, I’ll tell you about 10 essential Spanish inventors and their inventions. Although there are many noteworthy inventors from other Spanish-speaking countries, today our focus is on Spain.
Retrieved from https://www.spanish.academy/blog/10-spanish-inventors-who-have-changed-your-life/
1. Speed of Sound
1. Speed of Sound
The term “the speed of sound” was first proposed by a Cordoba scholar from the Golden Age of Al Andalus named Ibn Hazm. At the beginning of the 11th century, he calculated the speed of sound using echoes in the Mosque of Cordoba.
Ibn Hazm was also the first person to declare that thunder was a production of lightning.
2. Spacesuits
2. Spacesuits
Surprisingly, it was neither an American nor a Russian, but rather a Spanish inventor who created the first astronaut suit!
Emilio Herrera Linares, a Spanish military engineer, designed the pressurised spacesuit in 1936. It was used first in a stratospheric balloon flight. The Russians used his model for their first flight into space, and the United States eventually adapted it for their own use.
3. Berets
3. Berets
What comes to your mind when you hear “beret”? Most of us associate it with a chic life in Paris, but the beret was actually invented by the Spaniards.
This flat hat was originally used by shepherds in the Basque Country to protect them from the cold and rain. The Spanish call it ‘la boina’.
4. Neuroscience
One of the most notable Spanish medical inventions was the discovery of the neuron as the functional unit of the brain. The Spaniard Santiago Ramón y Cajal shared a Nobel Prize with an Italian, Camilo Gilgo, in 1906. It was the first scientific Nobel for a person of Spanish origin.
As the father of modern neuroscience, the list of his discoveries in this field is quite long, and most of them have very complicated names.
5. Gregorian Calendar
5. Gregorian Calendar
The Gregorian Calendar is another key Spanish invention. Pedro Chacón was a Spanish mathematician working at the School of Salamanca. He did most of the complicated calculations that made it possible to move from the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian one that most countries still follow today.
He was summoned by Pope Gregory XII to Rome, and 10 years later, on October 4, 1582, the new world adopted the new calendar.
6. Eyeglasses
6. Eyeglasses
Abbas ibn Frinas was an Andalusian inventor in the 10th century. He invented a way to manufacture colorless glass and used it to make “reading stones.” These were magnifying lenses for reading.
Anyone who has ever used corrective lenses will appreciate the greatness of this discovery. We wouldn’t have eyeglasses today without ibn Frinas’ glass planispheres. Remember the last name of this Spanish inventor, as I’ll mention him again later in this post.
7. Wheelchairs
7. Wheelchairs
The wheelchair is yet another amazing Spanish invention (although some historians argue that it was used in China as early as the 5th century).
In 1595, an anonymous inventor from Spain built a wheelchair for King Philip II, who suffered from gout. The design has been improved over the centuries by many others.
8. A Portable X-Ray Machine
8. A Portable X-Ray Machine
Mónico Sánchez Moreno is a fascinating inventor. He lived between 1880-1960 and was a Spanish millionaire. Without speaking English he signed himself up for a distance electrical engineering course offered by a British School to study electricity. It was still a recent discovery at that time. Later, he took interest in other areas and finally developed portable X-ray equipment. It weighed 10 kilos and not 400 as the original machine.
In 1913, he produced the machines in a small town of Piedrabuena, with just 3,000 inhabitants. He first brought running water, electricity, and communications. Machines produced there save the lives of many in French Army ambulances.
9. Pencil Sharpeners
9. Pencil Sharpeners
The first pencil sharpener was similar to the first computer, in that it was much bigger than the ones we use today. Ignacio Urresti created the first pencil sharpener in 1945 (in Spain, of course).
However, it weighed almost three pounds, so it definitely wasn’t something to put in your pencil case!
By the way, in Spanish, a sharpener is called ‘el sacapuntas’, and it’s a compound noun.
10. Planetariums
10. Planetariums
Do you remember Ibn Firnas? The one who created the first eyeglasses? Well, he also built a mechanized planetarium with revolving planets, stars, and clouds. It even produced thunder and lightning, which dazzled visitors.
Abbas Ibn Firmas is often compared with the famed Italian Renaissance man Leonardo da Vinci (who came along 600 years later) due to his many passions and varied inventions.
Have fun and laugh with some Halloween jokes!
Retrieved from https://www.rd.com/article/halloween-jokes/
SEPTEMBER
SEPTEMBER
September gets its name from the Latin septem, meaning seven, because it used to be the seventh month of the year under the Roman calendar.
September begins on the same day of the week of just one other month, December.
This September “Harvest Moon” is the fullest moon of the year.
When you gaze at it, it looks very large and gives a lot of light throughout the entire night. No other lunar spectacle is as awesome as the Harvest Moon.September is the month to celebrate Eat an Extra Dessert Day (4th), International Literacy Day (8th),
International Day of Peace (21st) and World Car-Free Day (22nd).
Mexican Textiles: A Beautiful Story of Culture and Art
Mexican Textiles: A Beautiful Story of Culture and Art
Let’s learn about Mexican Textiles!
Mexican textiles are a key part of Mexican culture and the central piece of the identity of all of its civilizations. This is how they owned who they were and distinguished themselves from one another.
Keep in mind that Mexico was occupied by many ancestral civilizations like the Aztecs, Mayans, Olmecs, Toltecs, Teotihuacans, Zapotecs, Mixtecs, Huastecs, Totonacs, and Purépechas, among many others. The approximately 60 ethnic groups each had their own representative Mexican textile patterns, fabric uses, and clothing styles. If you adore natural-dyed, handmade, modern, or vintage Mexican textiles, keep reading. They represent centuries of traditions that have survived globalization and modern life. Let’s explore the history and characteristics of Mexican textiles, along with a quick guide to where to buy them and other travel tips
Trivia is a well-known game that is fun to play with family, friends, and colleagues! It tests your general knowledge skills while creating bonds for a lifetime.
Trivia is typically played with a prepared list of fun questions on any topic of your choice.
Trivia can be played at any event, from virtual game night to a classic pub quiz during your next night out.
It's a great way to engage people and also learn some new things in the process. If you're looking for a live trivia game for you then make sure to click on the link: Cute but Dangerous Trivia
Podcast
From HowStuffWorks.com — the folks who bring us the famed Stuff You Should Know podcast — comes Stuff To Blow Your Mind. Hosts Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick meet weekly on the show to “examine neurological quandaries, cosmic mysteries, evolutionary marvels, and our transhuman future.”
Stuff To Blow Your Mind comes in at number 34 as one of our most interesting podcasts.
JULY
JULY
Van Gogh's Cypresses
Known for his sunflowers, Vincent van Gogh was also drawn to another recurring symbol – one that gave him strength at his lowest moments, writes Matthew Wilson.
A new exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York puts the spotlight on the tree that became the artist's obsession. "This is the first exhibition to focus on Van Gogh's cypresses," its curator Susan Alyson Stein, tells BBC Culture. "It is an unprecedented and entirely new perspective. It reveals the back story behind his long-standing interest in the motif."
Here's what four key artworks in the exhibition reveal about Van Gogh's symbol of resilience.
India's flower that blooms every 12 years
India's flower that blooms every 12 years
The Science of the Bloom
The Science of the Bloom
The Neelakurinji is a monocarpic plant, meaning that each shrub reproduces once after flowering and then dies, and it takes a particular period for the new seeds to bloom. The mass flowering every 12 years helps the survival of the plant, as so many seeds are produced so that predators cannot eat them all. It also provides the best chance for the flowers to be seen and studied.
A rare flower that doesn’t grow anywhere else in the world, the Neelakurinji has several cultural associations in India.
JUNE
JUNE
Language can influence how quickly kids learn to count – but does it make a difference in the long run?
As intriguing as these studies are, they couldn't rule out the potential influence of the different education systems in the different countries – it's possible that maths is just taught more effectively in some countries than others. However, a clever test of Welsh speakers in the UK managed to rule out this confounding factor.
What food and drink is good for your memory?
What food and drink is good for your memory?
Your friend’s address. A family holiday as a child. The name of that lady you see at work every day. Memory is our ability to recall information from the recent or distant past. But can what we eat affect how well it works?
Kimberley Wilson, a psychologist with a master's degree in nutrition, looks at the food and drink that can have a surprisingly positive effect on improving our memory, and those that can do it harm.
Written and presented by Kimberley Wilson
Pioneering research could help development of miniaturised devices for stroke patients and paralysed people
The “digital bridge” is the latest from a team of neuroscientists in Switzerland who have a longstanding programme to develop brain-machine interfaces to overcome paralysis. The project aims to use wireless signals to reconnect the brain with muscles that are rendered useless when spinal cord nerves are broken.
Podcast
Sam Altman tries to Regulate AI, Why AI Will Displace Your Job & The Future of AI | E15
“The jobs will get better,” he said. “I think it’s important to think of GPT as a tool not a creature … GPT 4 and tools like it are good at doing tasks, not jobs. GPT 4 will, I think, entirely automate away some jobs and it will create new ones that we believe will be much better.”
In Episode 15 we explore AI regulation, new job-stealing capabilities for AI, and the dangers of autonomous drones, while pondering how to advise students on future careers.
We discuss OpenAI's call for regulation amid fears of losing their monopoly, the rise of AI in gaming creating interactive stories, and their anxiety over autonomous killer drones. We also cover the latest news including ChatGPT for iOS and the wide release of Plugins for ChatGPT PRO users.
MAY
MAY
Women in peacekeeping
As peacekeeping has evolved to reflect the populations we serve, women have become increasingly part of the peacekeeping family – making operations more effective.
As peacekeeping has evolved to reflect the populations we serve, women have become increasingly part of the peacekeeping family – making operations more effective.
More women in peacekeeping means more effective peacekeeping. Women peacekeepers improve overall peacekeeping performance, have greater access to communities, help in promoting human rights and the protection of civilians, and encourage women to become a meaningful part of peace and political processes.
The forgotten 20th Century 'Sun engine'
The forgotten 20th Century 'Sun engine'
The world's first solar power station was built before World War One, created by a man with a vision for cleaner air.
Shuman had a far-sighted appreciation of how such "solar engines" could replace dirty fuel when built in great numbers. As early as 1911, writing in Scientific American, he predicted the kind of vast solar farms we see today:
"A Sun-power plant, in order to be practicable, must possess, first, high efficiency; low cost of installation and maintenance; well-marked length of service; and should not require specially trained mechanics for its operation… It is entirely practicable to produce a sun-power plant in this manner up to 10,000 horse-power and over. An ideal plant must be subject to little accident; hence, it must lie near the ground in order not to be affected by storms and winds. Each unit must be repairable without stopping the operation; construction must be simple and easily understood by the ordinary steam engineer; and wear and tear must be reduced to a minimum."
Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230420-the-forgotten-20th-century-sun-engine
Why do aircraft leave contrails in the sky?
Why do aircraft leave contrails in the sky?
These wispy man-made clouds have fascinated humans for a century, but what actually are they?
During the Second World War, militaries tried to avoid contrails because they wanted to avoid visibility of their aircraft – Ulrich Schumann
During the Second World War, militaries tried to avoid contrails because they wanted to avoid visibility of their aircraft – Ulrich Schumann
The first correct explanations of how they formed were derived in the early 1940s, and 50s however, with what is now known as the Schmidt-Appleman criterion showing threshold conditions depended on ambient pressure, humidity and the ratio of water and heat released by the plane.
Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220823-what-makes-up-a-planes-contrails
The Nigerian-Irish teens who developed a dementia app
The Nigerian-Irish teens who developed a dementia app
A group of Nigerian-Irish teens have developed an app which uses music to comfort those living from dementia.
Rachel, Margaret and Joy were worried about how people with dementia were coping during lockdown, so they decided to design and code Memory Haven.
The app has already won a prize at the prestigious technology competition Technovation, beating 1,500 other entries from across 62 countries worldwide.
Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p08sjz37/the-nigerian-irish-teens-who-developed-a-dementia-app
Why some people wake up unable to move?
Why some people wake up unable to move?
Sleep paralysis has inspired paintings and horror stories. Now scientists are starting to understand why people wake from dreams unable to move – and why at times they can continue hallucinating.
It's a surprisingly common night-time condition in which part of your brain wakes up while your body remains temporarily paralysed. After that initial scary incident, it became a frequent occurrence, with an episode every two or three nights. The more it happened, the less frightening it became. Eventually it was little more than an inconvenience.
Podcast
Food Authenticity
Bruker is proud to host Ron Phipps, president and founder of CPNA International and Vice President of Apimondia Scientific Commission on Beekeeping Economy discussing the impact of food fraud on the honey industry and steps that have been taken to combat the sale of illicit honey.
Retrieved from https://www.bruker.com/en/landingpages/bbio/ron-phipps-honey-authenticity-episode2.html
Beekeeping - Short and Sweet
A Beekeeping podcast for the inquisitive beekeeper with a short attention span! A beekeeper, in fact, Just like me!
It's been a cold week, a very cold week in some spots. We got off lightly here in Norfolk but the snow still settled on the ground, if only for an hour or two. The forecast is slightly warmer and then back to colder conditions, time then, to hold fast, wait another couple of weeks and prepare for the new season to begin.
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks and welcome to Episode 249 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
Contact Me at The Norfolk Honey Company
Retrieved from
APRIL
APRIL
Posters for Climate Action
Posters for Climate Action
Did you know?
The planet is losing 4.7 million hectares of forests every year, an area larger than Denmark.
A healthy ecosystem helps to protect us from these diseases. Biological diversity makes it difficult for pathogens to spread rapidly.
It is estimated that around one million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction.
Download your favourite poster and share it widely to get the word out:
Download your favourite poster and share it widely to get the word out:
We need to act to save the climate starting now!
We need to act to save the climate starting now!
The numbers that are too big to imagine
The numbers that are too big to imagine
What's the biggest number you can think of?
Eventually, someone would remember that they knew the winning answer: "infinity!"
These numbers are enormous. The human body has around 30 trillion cells – so to get a quadrillion cells in a room, you'd need 34 people. And quintillions only really come into play if you want to talk about, say, how many insects there are on Earth (around 10 quintillion). The number sextillion, meanwhile, is so big that a tower of sextillion people would be 180,000 light years tall – bigger than the diameter of the Milky Way.
You can keep going up to a centillion, which has 303 zeroes in the US version (and beyond, with duocentillion, trecentillion, but these are less standardised). Realistically, only physicists and mathematicians would have much use for a centillion, and even then, only in specialist fields like string theory. If Elon Musk wanted to become a centillionaire, he would have to earn his current wealth every millisecond for the next 1.7 x 10^282 years – a number 283 digits long.
Antarctic ocean currents heading for collapse- report
Antarctic ocean currents heading for collapse- report
Rapidly melting Antarctic ice is causing a dramatic slowdown in deep ocean currents and could have a disastrous effect on the climate, a new report warns.
The deep-water flows which drive ocean currents could decline by 40% by 2050, a team of Australian scientists says.
Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-65120327
Podcast
Watch your back! Idioms with the word ‘back’
Watch your back! Idioms with the word ‘back’
There are an extraordinary number of phrases containing the word ‘back’, so today’s post will pick out some of the most useful ones, all of which use ‘back’ in the sense of a part of the body.
‘More women and girls in science equals better science’, UN chief declares
‘More women and girls in science equals better science’, UN chief declares
The low number of women working in science, or studying to enter the field, directly reflects the discrimination they face around the world, said Sima Bahous, head of UN Women, the agency championing gender equality.
This is even more true for marginalised women and girls, including indigenous and Afro-descendant women, women with disabilities, those living in rural areas or who identify as LGBTIQ+.
“It starts in their early years and is shaped and reinforced by gender stereotypes and norms,” said Ms. Bahous.
“These can be found embedded in curricula, textbooks, and teaching and learning practices. The choices imposed upon girls in school shape their careers and employment opportunities as adults.”
Retrieved from https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/02/1133367
Can you guess which words come from which languages?
The Children’s University of Manchester
It's common for languages to adopt words from other languages, usually called BORROWING.
Many words, which are now English words, come from other languages.
Here are some examples, try to match each English word with the language that it was borrowed from.
Retrieved from https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/01/1132417
Motorbike ambulance saves mothers and babies in Kenya: UNFPA
Motorbike ambulance saves mothers and babies in Kenya: UNFPA
Having worked in the community for more than 11 years, Mr. Epeyon has mastered the art of navigating both on and off-road terrain – quickly locating a mother in urgent need of assistance, even in the most inaccessible areas.
Having worked in the community for more than 11 years, Mr. Epeyon has mastered the art of navigating both on and off-road terrain – quickly locating a mother in urgent need of assistance, even in the most inaccessible areas.
“I became a community health volunteer because I saw the impact that a lack of proper health information and access to services was having on my people”, he told UNFPA.
“I became a community health volunteer because I saw the impact that a lack of proper health information and access to services was having on my people”, he told UNFPA.
“When my wife got pregnant the first time, she gave birth at home. Our child developed health complications that have affected him into adulthood”.
“When my wife got pregnant the first time, she gave birth at home. Our child developed health complications that have affected him into adulthood”.
Equality versus Equity: What's the difference as we #EmbraceEquity for IWD 2023 and beyond?
Equality versus Equity: What's the difference as we #EmbraceEquity for IWD 2023 and beyond?
The words equity and equality are often used interchangeably.
Etymologically, the root word they share is aequus, meaning “even” or “fair” or “equal” - which led to equity being from the Latin aequitas, and equality from aequalitas. Yet, despite these similarities, equity and equality are inherently different concepts, and the IWD 2023 #EmbraceEquity campaign theme seeks to help forge worldwide conversation about this important issue and its impact.
So, what's the difference between 'equity' and 'equality' - and why is it important to understand, acknowledge and value this?
International Women's Day 2023 campaign theme: #EmbraceEquity
International Women's Day 2023 campaign theme: #EmbraceEquity
For International Women's Day and beyond, let's all fully #EmbraceEquity.
The IWD 2023 campaign theme drives worldwide understanding why Equal opportunities aren't enough!
Imagine a gender equal world.
A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.
A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
A world where difference is valued and celebrated.
Together we can forge women's equality.
Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias.
International Women’s Day 2023 Canada
International Women’s Day 2023 Canada
Women’s Day is more important than ever before. Last year, there were alarming assaults on the rights of women in Canada and around the world. Legal protections were also dismantled, and women worldwide faced unprecedented risk.
Without a doubt, achieving gender equality and protecting the rights of women is crucial to post-COVID-19 recovery. Therefore governments must act decisively to reverse these widening economic inequalities and protect the rights of women.
On International Women’s Day 2023, join Amnesty International and take action to uphold the rights of women in countries worldwide.
National Museum of Women in the Arts
As long as generations change but our struggles stay the same, I will be a feminist.
Advocate for Women
Women artists have been marginalised for centuries. Gender bias is less overt today, but contemporary women artists still face many obstacles and disparities, as well as persistent underrepresentation in museum collections and exhibitions worldwide. Their historical precursors still deserve to have their stories told.
Remove plastic packaging from supermarket fruit and veg
Campaign created by Daniel Webb, Everyday Plastic
We are calling for all UK supermarkets to remove plastic packaging from five top-selling fruit & veg products –– potatoes, apples, bananas, carrots and onions –– so we can fight the plastic problem, reduce food waste and save money.
AmplifyHER Podcast
AmplifyHER Podcast
Around the world, women musicians are producing art in the face of, and sometimes inspired by, the challenges they face in society, whether related to conflict, human rights, climate change, inequality, or simply because of their gender.
In this series, 10 inspiring women musicians from diverse cultural backgrounds talk to us from their homes and studios, about their challenges as women in a male-dominated industry, overcoming barriers, and what drives them to continue creating music.
Eating chicken without killing chicken?
A US company, Upside Foods, has regulatory approval for lab-grown meat and is aiming to sell 'cultivated chicken' to restaurants this year and plans to have it in grocery stores by 2028.
Retrieved from https://davebirss.com/storydice-creative-story-ideas/
What is Valentine's Day and how did it start?
Around the year 270 AD, the Roman Emperor Claudius II had banned marriage because he thought married men were bad soldiers. Valentine felt this was unfair, so he broke the rules and arranged marriages in secret.
When Claudius found out, Valentine was thrown in jail and sentenced to death.
There, he fell in love with the jailer’s daughter and when he was taken to be killed on 14 February, he sent her a love letter signed “from your Valentine”.
Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/16945378
Why marine animals can’t stop eating plastic
Plastic doesn’t just look like food, it smells, feels and even sounds like food.
One explanation is that animals simply mistake plastic for familiar food items – plastic pellets, for example, are thought to resemble tasty fish eggs. But as humans, we are biassed by our own senses. To appreciate animals’ love of plastic, scientists must try to view the world as they do.
Podcast
Podcast
Creating Pixar’s “Turning Red”
When Pixar asked Domee Shi to create a feature film, she ran to her friend’s office and rolled on the floor with joy.
In the latest Spark & Fire podcast episode, she shares her experience of directing Turning Red – from ideation to embracing outlandish ideas and surrounding herself with the right people, all the way through to the wrap party.
Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-63957085
Nuclear fusion is the process which gives the Sun its energy
Scientists from more than 50 countries have been trying to recreate it on Earth since the 1960s.
They hope it could eventually provide huge quantities of clean energy for the world.
In nuclear fusion, pairs of tiny particles called atoms are heated and forced together to make one heavier one.
It is the opposite of nuclear fission, in which heavy atoms are split apart. Nuclear power stations currently use nuclear fission to generate electricity.
Nuclear fusion doesn't need fossil fuels like oil or gas. It also doesn't generate greenhouse gases, which trap the Sun's heat and are responsible for climate change.
Retrieved from https://www.timeout.com/film/best-marvel-movies
All the Marvel movies ranked from worst to best
All the Marvel movies ranked from worst to best
It took a super heroic effort, but here’s our deeply opinionated ranking of all the Marvel movies to date
It took a super heroic effort, but here’s our deeply opinionated ranking of all the Marvel movies to date
The past & the curious
The past & the curious
Humans are a curious lot as this podcast attests to in its mission statement: “True stories of inspiration, humour, and the incredible achievements of all types of people, many of which are sadly under-shared.”
Activity to try: Have your students reach out to relatives, friends, or neighbours and ask them to share stories from their past.
Retrieved from https://thepastandthecurious.com/
The North Pole: One of Earth's last 'un-owned' lands, the world is filled with wondrous places.
There are still many far-flung corners of the globe that few people ever get to see. In their forthcoming book, Remote Experiences: Extraordinary Travels from North to South, photographer David De Vleeschauwer and travel journalist Debbie Pappyn journeyed to 12 of the world's most hidden, uncharted and remote territories relatively untouched by tourism. By going where the crowds don't, the duo is hoping to encourage others to travel slower and more purposefully and to take better care of the planet we all share.
Xiaoxhai Tiankeng
The world's biggest sinkhole was only "discovered" by the outside world in 1994, and experts still aren't sure how it formed.
Peering down from outer space at the rolling green landscape of south-western China's rural Chongqing Municipality, a series of deep, dark gashes appear, denting the land like an alien footprint. Some experts wonder whether these mysterious formations are the result of a meteorite crashing into the Earth. Others believe they gradually formed over some 128,000 years, as water seeping into underground rivers slowly carved the surrounding limestone rock on its journey.
But one thing is for certain: measuring 660m deep, with a volume of 130 million cubic metres, China's Xiaoxhai Tiankeng is both the deepest and largest sinkhole in the world.
Energy crisis: How living in a cold home affects your health.
With the world in the grip of a global energy crisis, hundreds of millions of people are now facing fuel poverty this winter as they struggle to keep their homes warm. The consequences could be wide-reaching and long-lasting, finds Chris Baraniuk.
The menu tweaks that lower diners' emissions
Miers agrees that carbon labels only tell us a fraction of the story but says it's a useful tool that gets people to start thinking about food's climate impact. "But if we just focus on carbon, we are really at risk of oversimplifying a complex subject which is nature and shooting ourselves in the foot," she says, adding that Wahaca is also focusing on other environmental issues beyond greenhouse gas emissions, including sourcing ingredients from regenerative farmers who do not use any herbicides or fertilisers to boost soil health (which further enables it to trap more carbon).
"We're not here to bash people over the head," says Miers. "It's just about giving people information. It's not about telling people what they can or can't eat."
Quiz of the week:
Quiz of the week:
NOVEMBER
The secrets being revealed by ocean garbage patches
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is an enormous agglomeration of plastic waste floating in the world's largest ocean, but it's not the only one and now scientists are trying to work out how to clean them up.
Thanks to ocean pollution, the gyres have become floating, soupy masses of microplastics.
Thanks to ocean pollution, the gyres have become floating, soupy masses of microplastics.
November 10
World Science Day for Peace and Development
The International Week of Science and Peace was first observed during 1986 as part of the observance of the International Year of Peace. The organization of events and activities for the week was undertaken as a non-governmental initiative; the secretariat for the International Year of Peace was informed of the preparatory activities and the final summary of events that occurred during the week. The organizers sought to encourage the broadest possible international participation in the observance.
Retrieved from
November 14
World Diabetes Day
Access to diabetes care
Access to diabetes care
The theme for World Diabetes Day 2021-23 is access to diabetes care.
100 years after the discovery of insulin, millions of people with diabetes around the world cannot access the care they need. People with diabetes require ongoing care and support to manage their condition and avoid complications.
The centenary of the discovery of insulin presents a unique opportunity to bring about meaningful change for the more than 460 million people living with diabetes and the millions more at risk. United, the global diabetes community has the numbers, the influence and the determination to bring about meaningful change. We need to take on the challenge.
Retrieved from
OCTOBER
History quiz: how much do you know about Queen Elizabeth II and her reign?
History quiz: how much do you know about Queen Elizabeth II and her reign?
June 2022 marks the Queen's platinum jubilee. But how much do you know about Elizabeth II and her reign? Take our quiz to find out...
Queen Elizabeth II’s life in pictures
Queen Elizabeth II’s life in pictures
Lots of people have been paying tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The UK's head of state had a remarkable life, filled with important duties, life-changing moments and cherished memories. Newsround looks back at her 70-year reign in pictures.
Retrieved from
King Charles: New coins featuring monarch's portrait unveiled
King Charles: New coins featuring monarch's portrait unveiled
New coins featuring the portrait of King Charles have been revealed, with a 50p carrying his image entering general circulation within weeks.
The world's first long-distance car journey
The world's first long-distance car journey
In 1888, Bertha Benz, wife of automotive inventor Karl Benz, set off on a groundbreaking trip.
A pioneer and investor in her own right, Bertha took the world's first combustion engine-powered car on the world's first long-distance car journey.
The 100km journey was full of inventive problem-solving. Bertha made numerous stops to source fuel, fix the carburettor and the brakes. Her trip became a vital road test of the car's good points as well as highlighting teething issues.
Video by Next Stop Stories
Executive produced & narrated by Howard Timberlake
Designed to Last: 10 of the world's most ingenious buildings
Why abandon buildings once they're no longer needed?
A new book reveals the best projects finding new uses for factories, grain silos and market halls. For BBC Culture's new series Designed to Last, here are 10 of the most ingenious – and inspiring – spaces around the globe.
October 1st
October 1st
2022 Theme：Resilience of Older Persons in a Changing World
2022 Theme：Resilience of Older Persons in a Changing World
The 2022 theme of International Day of Older Persons (UNIDOP) serves as a hallmark and reminder of the significant role older women play in traversing global challenges and contributing to their solutions with resilience and fortitude.
Recognizing the vital contributions of older women and promoting the inclusion of their voices, perspectives and needs are critical to creating meaningful policies to enhance a holistic response to local, national, and global challenges and catastrophes, UNIDOP 2022 is a call to action and opportunity aimed to embrace the voices of older women and showcase their resilience and contributions in society, while promoting policy dialogues to enhance the protection of older persons human rights and recognize their contributions to sustainable development.
October 2
Say No to Violence
The International Day of Non-Violence is observed on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence.
According to General Assembly resolution A/RES/61/271 of 15 June 2007, which established the commemoration, the International Day is an occasion to "disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness". The resolution reaffirms "the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence" and the desire "to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence".
Introducing the resolution in the General Assembly on behalf of 140 co-sponsors, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr. Anand Sharma, said that the wide and diverse sponsorship of the resolution was a reflection of the universal respect for Mahatma Gandhi and of the enduring relevance of his philosophy. Quoting the late leader’s own words, he said: "Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man".
October 10th
World Mental Health Day
Whilst the pandemic has, and continues to, take its toll on our mental health, the ability to reconnect through World Mental Health Day 2022 will provide us with an opportunity to re-kindle our efforts to protect and improve mental health.
Many aspects of mental health have been challenged; and already before the pandemic in 2019 an estimated one in eight people globally were living with a mental disorder. At the same time, the services, skills and funding available for mental health remain in short supply, and fall far below what is needed, especially in low and middle income countries.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a global crisis for mental health, fueling short- and long-term stresses and undermining the mental health of millions. Estimates put the rise in both anxiety and depressive disorders at more than 25% during the first year of the pandemic. At the same time, mental health services have been severely disrupted and the treatment gap for mental health conditions has widened.
SEPTEMBER
Chenab Rail Bridge
A close look at the highest railway bridge in the world
A close look at the highest railway bridge in the world
35m (114ft) higher than the Eiffel Tower and spanning 359m (1,178ft) above the Chenab river bed in the Himalayas, the Chenab Rail Bridge will be the world’s tallest railway arch bridge once completed. It will surpass the record of the Beipan River Shuibai railway bridge in China.
September 16
Day for the preservation of the Ozone Layer
Retrieved from https://www.un.org/en/observances/ozone-day
The ozone layer, a fragile shield of gas, protects the Earth from the harmful portion of the rays of the sun, thus helping preserve life on the planet.
The phaseout of controlled uses of ozone depleting substances and the related reductions have not only helped protect the ozone layer for this and future generations, but have also contributed significantly to global efforts to address climate change; furthermore, it has protected human health and ecosystems by limiting the harmful ultraviolet radiation from reaching the Earth.
September 21
Day of Peace
Retrieved from https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-day-peace
2022 Theme: End racism. Build peace.
2022 Theme: End racism. Build peace.
Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.
But achieving true peace entails much more than laying down arms. It requires the building of societies where all members feel that they can flourish. It involves creating a world in which people are treated equally, regardless of their race.
JULY
Join millions of people reducing their plastic waste!
Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities. Will you be part of Plastic Free July by choosing to refuse single-use plastics?
Plastic Free July provides resources and ideas to help you (and millions of others around the world) reduce single-use plastic waste everyday at home, work, school, and even at your local cafes.
Our movement has inspired over 120 million participants in 177 countries. You making a small change will collectively make a massive difference to our communities. You can choose to refuse single-use plastics in July (and beyond!). Best of all, being part of Plastic Free July will help you to find great alternatives that can become new habits forever.
July 1
Wallace & Gromit’s Wrong Trousers Day 2022
Wallace & Gromit’s Wrong Trousers Day 2022
Thousands of other fantastic fundraisers across the South West by donning your weirdest, wackiest and most wonderful Wrong Trousers, all to raise money to support critically ill children and babies at Bristol Children’s Hospital. Whether you parade your pajamas in the playground, shimmy around your office in sequins or just have some fun in some funky flares, all you have to do is get your friends, family, school friends or colleagues to choose their trews and donate for the right to look wrong!
Our cracking fundraising kit is packed with everything you need to plan a truly terrific day, from posters to advertise your event, to stickers to reward your best dressed legs. We also have lots of ideas to make sure your Wrong Trousers Day is a day to remember!
REGISTER NOW on the form below for a FREE fundraising pack to be sent out to you!
11 July
World Population Day
Despite constitutional guarantees of gender equality in many countries, worldwide, on average, women enjoy just 75% of the legal rights of men.
Quantitative surveys suggest that between 4% - 29% of women who use contraception do so without their husbands’ or partners’ knowledge.
An estimated 58% of female victims of murder were killed by an intimate partner or member of their own family, amounting to 137 women every day. This has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic—and violence against women has been deemed the “shadow pandemic.
15 July
15 July
World Youth Skills Day
World Youth Skills Day
Reimagining Youth Skills Post-Pandemic
Reimagining Youth Skills Post-Pandemic
Young people aged 15-24 have been even more severely affected by the COVID-19 crisis than adults. Globally, youth employment fell by 8.7 per cent in 2020, compared with 3.7 per cent for adults.
Young people aged 15-24 have been even more severely affected by the COVID-19 crisis than adults. Globally, youth employment fell by 8.7 per cent in 2020, compared with 3.7 per cent for adults.
About 70% of the adult population (US, UK, Germany, Russia, India) has played chess at some point in their lives, 605 million adults play chess regularly.
Mathematically there are more possible games of chess than there are atoms in the Observable Universe.
It is possible to checkmate an opponent in chess in two moves.
JUNE
Did you know?
June 3
World bicycle day
World Bicycle Day draws attention to the benefits of using the bicycle — a simple, affordable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transportation. The bicycle contributes to cleaner air and less congestion and makes education, health care and other social services more accessible to the most vulnerable populations. A sustainable transport system that promotes economic growth, reduces inequalities while bolstering the fight against climate change is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Bicycle sculpture by the sea by Ai Wei Wei
Bicycle sculpture by the sea by Ai Wei Wei
When others are stripped of their freedom, you also lose yours.
“Bare Life,” which inaugurated the Kemper Museum’s newly expanded and renovated galleries, operated on several levels at once. First and foremost, this dense and multifaceted exhibition was a retrospective of Ai Weiwei’s work from the past 15 years; dozens of works in an array of media addressed themes ranging from human rights to political dissent to globalism.
Since Ai’s 2012 retrospective organized by the Hirshhorn, when he was still forbidden to travel outside of China, he has gone into self-imposed exile in Europe and devoted himself to witnessing and representing the global refugee crisis, the subject of his most recent works.
June 5
World Environmental Day
The celebration of this day provides us with an opportunity to broaden the basis for an enlightened opinion and responsible conduct by individuals, enterprises and communities in preserving and enhancing the environment.
Sound, Negotiating Trauma
This virtual tour will explore the new site-specific mural by Christine Sun Kim at the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum.
The multidisciplinary artist and activist Christine Sun Kim (b. 1980) explores concepts of sound and how it is valued in society from her perspective as part of the Deaf community. She often creates diagrammatic drawings that incorporate communication systems such as American Sign Language (ASL) and musical notation to examine sound as visual representation and as different states of emotion. In Stacking Traumas Kim identifies three sources of trauma for Deaf people: Dinner Table Syndrome, Hearing People Anxiety, and Alexander Graham Bell. Adapted from a drawing, the twenty-five-foot mural scales the curved wall of the Kemper Art Museum’s Saligman Family Atrium.
https://sites.wustl.edu/christinesunkim/items/stacking-traumas/
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/aa96692ccc7b4a1cbf4694137cb24f22
MAY
Why are cockroaches so hard to kill?
By Ameya Gondhalekar, directed by Irida Zhonga
In ancient Egypt, there was a spell that declared, “Be far from me, O vile cockroach.” Thousands of years later, we’re still trying to oust these insects. But from poison traps to brandished slippers, cockroaches seem to weather just about everything we throw at them. So, what makes cockroaches so hard to kill? Ameya Gondhalekar digs into the genetic wonders of this troublingly tenacious creature.
The mystery of Mexico's vanishing stream oaks
The mystery of Mexico's vanishing stream oaks
Mexico has more species of oak tree than any other country. In recent years, the saplings of one of its most vulnerable and well-loved oak species have disappeared.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220222-the-mystery-of-mexicos-vanishing-stream-oaks
Do you know all the different pollinators?
A diverse assemblage of pollinators, with different traits and responses to ambient conditions, is also one of the best ways to minimize risks due to climate change. Their diversity ensures that there are effective pollinators not just for current conditions, but for future conditions, as well. As a result of biodiversity, resilience can therefore be built in agro-ecosystems.
Over 80% of human food is supplied by plants. The loss of pollinators would, therefore, lead to an exponential loss of biodiversity, endangering our ecosystems and our diet.
APRIL
April 2
The 2022 World Autism Awareness Day observance
The 2022 World Autism Awareness Day observance
Virtual Event
Friday, 8 April 2022
10:00 -11:15 am EST
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjwjCl53KLcHIm3r0JqCON3Kz--wzxu6Z0-Rplg2HCfc-DOw/viewform
This year‘s observance will address inclusive education in the context of SDG 4 - the promise and reality - through a virtual event that will include a moderated panel discussion, along with brief presentations by self-advocates, educators and other experts.
The theme of inclusive education is intrinsically linked with the focus of last year’s WAAD observance, “Inclusion in the Workplace”. Panellists in last year’s event emphasized how crucial it is to foster inclusive quality education for people on the autism spectrum so that they can fulfill their potential and achieve sustainable success in the labour market. In this respect, inclusive education is the key to the transformative promise of the Sustainable Development Goals, to LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND.
The event is organized by the UN Department of Global Communications and UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, with the support of civil society partners including the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, the Global Autism Project and the Specialisterne Foundation.
April 7
World Health Day: Our planet, our health
It is celebrated annually and each year draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world.
The date of 7 April marks the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948.
In the midst of the pandemic, a polluted planet, increasing diseases like cancer, asthma, heart disease, on World Health Day 2022, WHO will focus global attention on urgent actions needed to keep humans and the planet healthy and foster a movement to create societies focused on well-being. Who estimates that more than 13 million deaths around the world each year are due to avoidable environmental causes. This includes the climate crisis which is the single biggest health threat facing humanity. The climate crisis is also a health crisis.
Anticipate, prepare and respond to crises - Invest Now in Resilient Occupational Safety and Health Systems
Anticipate, prepare and respond to crises - Invest Now in Resilient Occupational Safety and Health Systems
Since emerging as a global crisis in early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has had profound impacts everywhere. The pandemic has touched nearly every aspect of the world of work, from the risk of transmission of the virus in workplaces, to occupational safety and health (OSH) risks that have emerged as a result of measures to mitigate the spread of the virus.
Shifts to new forms of working arrangements, such as the widespread reliance on teleworking, have, for example, presented many opportunities for workers but also posed potential OSH risks, including psychosocial risks and violence in particular.
April 30
April 30
11th anniversary celebration of International Jazz Day
11th anniversary celebration of International Jazz Day
International Jazz Day has had extraordinary successes over the past decade, becoming the world’s largest annual celebration of jazz. It is a global movement, engaging people annually, on every continent, through education programs, performances, community outreach and media coverage.
April 23
What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
William Shakespeare, "Romeo and Juliet"
What is the shortest English language sentence you can come up with?
What English words rhyme with orange, purple, silver or month?
What is the dot over the letter “i”?
How many English words can you come up with that end in “dous”?
What English word, spelt all in capitals, looks the same upside down?
What is the present tense word for the past tense word “durst”?
Approximately how many English words are in the Oxford Dictionary?
17,000
170,000
17,000,000What’s so special about this sentence? “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”
Why is English Language Day celebrated on 23 April?
This day was chosen because it is thought to be Shakespeare's birthday and the anniversary of his death. As well as being the English language's most famous playwright, Shakespeare also had a huge impact on modern-day English. At the time he was writing, in the 16th and 17th centuries, the English language was going through a lot of changes and Shakespeare's creativity with language meant he contributed hundreds of new words and phrases that are still used today. For example, the words 'gossip', 'fashionable' and 'lonely' were all first used by Shakespeare. He also invented phrases like 'break the ice', 'all our yesterdays', 'faint-hearted' and 'love is blind'. Can you guess what they mean?
#1. Have fun with this one. Go. #2. There are none. #3. A title. #4. hazardous, stupendous, horrendous, tremendous. #5. SWIMS #6. dare #7. 170,000 words (and growing). #8. The sentence uses all the letters in the English alphabet.
Page updated
Report abuse