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June 30, 2022
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7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service: Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son of the late dictator ousted over 30 years ago, has taken office as president of the Philippines after a...
From the BBC World Service: Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son of the late dictator ousted over 30 years ago, has taken office as president of the Philippines after a...
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : June 30, 2022
scintillate \SIN-tuh-layt\ verb
What It Means
Scintillate means "to dazzle or impress with liveliness or wit."
// Her hil...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : June 30, 2022
scintillate \SIN-tuh-layt\ verb
What It Means
Scintillate means "to dazzle or impress with liveliness or wit."
// Her hil...
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FREEScience Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
Keep your head in the game! One June 23, researchers from Michigan State University published a paper in the journal Nature describing a new, flexible sensor that can detect concussions in athletes. Concussions are common in high-impact sports like football and hockey, with short-to-long-term symptoms ranging from memory loss to seizures. When just a single concussion can cause lasting damage and the best treatment is an early one, it’s important to be able to accurately detect when one occurs. While there are already helmets that use accelerometers to detect concussions, they have been found to be only moderately accurate, sometimes giving false readings because the device tracks the movement of the helmet instead of the wearer’s head directly. However, the newly developed sensor is attached directly to the body of the wearer, eliminating that source of error.
The sensor, which is placed on the nape of the neck as a patch, is composed of a thin piece of piezoelectric film that generates an electric charge when under tension or compression. Electrodes connect the film to a computer which keeps track of the charges produced, and the information can be analyzed for the type of sudden movements that result in concussions. Researchers attached the device to a dummy that was also equipped with a separate set of accelerometers and gyroscopes. When the dummy was dropped from two feet up in the air to simulate sports-related impacts, the results showed that the new device was 90 percent accurate at detecting potentially concussion-causing movements. The next step for the researchers will be to make the device wireless, so that it could be easily worn by athletes. No doubt this device could make a big impact in the sports world.[Image description: A football player wearing a maroon jersey tackles a player wearing a white jersey.] Credit & copyright: KeithJJ, Pixabay
Keep your head in the game! One June 23, researchers from Michigan State University published a paper in the journal Nature describing a new, flexible sensor that can detect concussions in athletes. Concussions are common in high-impact sports like football and hockey, with short-to-long-term symptoms ranging from memory loss to seizures. When just a single concussion can cause lasting damage and the best treatment is an early one, it’s important to be able to accurately detect when one occurs. While there are already helmets that use accelerometers to detect concussions, they have been found to be only moderately accurate, sometimes giving false readings because the device tracks the movement of the helmet instead of the wearer’s head directly. However, the newly developed sensor is attached directly to the body of the wearer, eliminating that source of error.
The sensor, which is placed on the nape of the neck as a patch, is composed of a thin piece of piezoelectric film that generates an electric charge when under tension or compression. Electrodes connect the film to a computer which keeps track of the charges produced, and the information can be analyzed for the type of sudden movements that result in concussions. Researchers attached the device to a dummy that was also equipped with a separate set of accelerometers and gyroscopes. When the dummy was dropped from two feet up in the air to simulate sports-related impacts, the results showed that the new device was 90 percent accurate at detecting potentially concussion-causing movements. The next step for the researchers will be to make the device wireless, so that it could be easily worn by athletes. No doubt this device could make a big impact in the sports world.[Image description: A football player wearing a maroon jersey tackles a player wearing a white jersey.] Credit & copyright: KeithJJ, Pixabay
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FREEBiology Daily Curio #2470Free1 CQ
There’s more than gold buried in the Yukon. On June 21, gold miners digging in the permafrost of the Yukon uncovered a shockingly-well-preserved, mummified baby mammoth that is around 30,000 years old. The miners were working in the gold fields in the territory of the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin people when they made the discovery. One of the workers, operating a front-end loader, felt the machine strike an unexpected object while digging near a creek. Upon further investigation, workers found the mammoth buried in the mud. The mining work was halted until two geologists could arrive on site to secure the animal’s remains, which could be the best preserved and most complete mammoth remains ever found in North America. Measuring around 4.5 feet long, the mammoth appears to have been female and was around a month old when it died. Remarkably, she still has most of her hair and skin after millennia underground.
Based on her stomach contents, the mammoth seems to have been grazing shortly before death, possibly getting stuck in the mud after wandering off from her mother while feeding. The baby mammoth has been given the name "Nun cho ga,” which means "big baby animal" in the Hän language. Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in Chief Roberta Joseph said in a statement, “This is as a remarkable recovery for our First Nation, and we look forward to collaborating with the Yukon government on the next steps in the process for moving forward with these remains in a way that honours our traditions, culture, and laws. We are thankful for the Elders who have been guiding us so far and the name they provided. We are committed to respectfully handling Nun cho ga as she has chosen now to reveal herself to all of us.” Grant Zazula, a paleontologist for the Yukon government, also stated, "As an ice age paleontologist, it has been one of my life long dreams to come face to face with a real woolly mammoth. That dream came true today. Nun cho ga is beautiful and one of the most incredible mummified ice age animals ever discovered in the world. I am excited to get to know her more." It’s a second life for this woolly young one.
[Image description: A mummified baby mammoth discovered in the Yukon lies on a blue tarp.] Credit & copyright: Government of Yukon, image cropped for sizeThere’s more than gold buried in the Yukon. On June 21, gold miners digging in the permafrost of the Yukon uncovered a shockingly-well-preserved, mummified baby mammoth that is around 30,000 years old. The miners were working in the gold fields in the territory of the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin people when they made the discovery. One of the workers, operating a front-end loader, felt the machine strike an unexpected object while digging near a creek. Upon further investigation, workers found the mammoth buried in the mud. The mining work was halted until two geologists could arrive on site to secure the animal’s remains, which could be the best preserved and most complete mammoth remains ever found in North America. Measuring around 4.5 feet long, the mammoth appears to have been female and was around a month old when it died. Remarkably, she still has most of her hair and skin after millennia underground.
Based on her stomach contents, the mammoth seems to have been grazing shortly before death, possibly getting stuck in the mud after wandering off from her mother while feeding. The baby mammoth has been given the name "Nun cho ga,” which means "big baby animal" in the Hän language. Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in Chief Roberta Joseph said in a statement, “This is as a remarkable recovery for our First Nation, and we look forward to collaborating with the Yukon government on the next steps in the process for moving forward with these remains in a way that honours our traditions, culture, and laws. We are thankful for the Elders who have been guiding us so far and the name they provided. We are committed to respectfully handling Nun cho ga as she has chosen now to reveal herself to all of us.” Grant Zazula, a paleontologist for the Yukon government, also stated, "As an ice age paleontologist, it has been one of my life long dreams to come face to face with a real woolly mammoth. That dream came true today. Nun cho ga is beautiful and one of the most incredible mummified ice age animals ever discovered in the world. I am excited to get to know her more." It’s a second life for this woolly young one.
[Image description: A mummified baby mammoth discovered in the Yukon lies on a blue tarp.] Credit & copyright: Government of Yukon, image cropped for size
June 29, 2022
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6 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service: Now that Turkey has dropped its opposition, Sweden and Finland look set to join NATO shortly. Finland’s president told the BBC wh...
From the BBC World Service: Now that Turkey has dropped its opposition, Sweden and Finland look set to join NATO shortly. Finland’s president told the BBC wh...
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : June 29, 2022
duress \dur-RESS\ noun
What It Means
Duress, which is typically used with under, refers to force or threats meant to make ...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : June 29, 2022
duress \dur-RESS\ noun
What It Means
Duress, which is typically used with under, refers to force or threats meant to make ...
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FREEWorld History Daily Curio #2469Free1 CQ
You’ve heard of Evita, but what about Isabel? While Evita Perón is by far the most famous of Argentenian leader Juan Perón’s wives, he had three throughout his life: the last of whom was Isabel Perón. She was secretly sworn in as the President of Argentina on this day in 1974, as her husband and predecessor Juan Perón was on his deathbed. Isabel Perón was previously the vice president in her husband’s regime, and when he died a few days later on July 1, she was officially left in charge of a nation in turmoil. Argentina was suffering from inflation, labor unrest and escalating violence by terrorist groups and guerrillas. Despite the fact that she had served as vice president and even filled in as acting president several times when her husband was ill, she could not maintain effective control over the various political groups vying for power. This may have been because, prior to her marriage to Juan Perón, Isabel Perón had no real political experience. A former nightclub dancer, Isabel Perón began working as a personal secretary to Juan Perón when he was exiled in the mid 1950s, before the two were married in 1961. Juan Perón was 36 years her senior. She visited Argentina in the 1960s and 70s to drum up support for her husband’s return to power, and on the suggestion of one of their advisers, became his running mate in the election of 1973.
The two successfully won the election and took office in October of that year, but with Juan Perón’s failing health, his time as president was short-lived. As soon as he died, Isabel Perón’s most trusted adviser, José Lopez Rega, the head of the paramilitary group Alianza Anticomunista Argentina (AAA), began abusing his power to eliminate political opponents, which led to thousands of deaths. In 1976, as the country continued to decline economically and politically-motivated violence ran rampant, Isabel Perón was deposed by a military coup and arrested on charges of corruption. She was placed under house arrest for five years and after being convicted and paroled in 1981, she left for Spain where she resides to this day. Since her exile, she has faced little in the way of consequences; she was pardoned in 1983 for stealing $9 million from public funds and although Argentina issued an arrest warrant in 2007 for human rights abuses, Spain refused to extradite her. It seems that turmoil will never quite be done with this ex-leader.
[Image description: A black-and-white photo of Isabel Perón speaking at a conference surrounded by government supporters in 1976.] Credit & copyright: Cichero, César, National Museum of Fine Arts, Wikimedia Commons, Public DomainYou’ve heard of Evita, but what about Isabel? While Evita Perón is by far the most famous of Argentenian leader Juan Perón’s wives, he had three throughout his life: the last of whom was Isabel Perón. She was secretly sworn in as the President of Argentina on this day in 1974, as her husband and predecessor Juan Perón was on his deathbed. Isabel Perón was previously the vice president in her husband’s regime, and when he died a few days later on July 1, she was officially left in charge of a nation in turmoil. Argentina was suffering from inflation, labor unrest and escalating violence by terrorist groups and guerrillas. Despite the fact that she had served as vice president and even filled in as acting president several times when her husband was ill, she could not maintain effective control over the various political groups vying for power. This may have been because, prior to her marriage to Juan Perón, Isabel Perón had no real political experience. A former nightclub dancer, Isabel Perón began working as a personal secretary to Juan Perón when he was exiled in the mid 1950s, before the two were married in 1961. Juan Perón was 36 years her senior. She visited Argentina in the 1960s and 70s to drum up support for her husband’s return to power, and on the suggestion of one of their advisers, became his running mate in the election of 1973.
The two successfully won the election and took office in October of that year, but with Juan Perón’s failing health, his time as president was short-lived. As soon as he died, Isabel Perón’s most trusted adviser, José Lopez Rega, the head of the paramilitary group Alianza Anticomunista Argentina (AAA), began abusing his power to eliminate political opponents, which led to thousands of deaths. In 1976, as the country continued to decline economically and politically-motivated violence ran rampant, Isabel Perón was deposed by a military coup and arrested on charges of corruption. She was placed under house arrest for five years and after being convicted and paroled in 1981, she left for Spain where she resides to this day. Since her exile, she has faced little in the way of consequences; she was pardoned in 1983 for stealing $9 million from public funds and although Argentina issued an arrest warrant in 2007 for human rights abuses, Spain refused to extradite her. It seems that turmoil will never quite be done with this ex-leader.
[Image description: A black-and-white photo of Isabel Perón speaking at a conference surrounded by government supporters in 1976.] Credit & copyright: Cichero, César, National Museum of Fine Arts, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain -
FREEEntrepreneurship Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
You don’t have to be an artist to start a business based on pop art…you just have to be willing to collaborate! Jackson Aw founded Mighty Jaxx, a company specializing in artistic toys of pop-culture characters, without much experience in art. What Aw did have was a love of collectibles, especially toys based on his favorite comic and movie characters. In fact, the now-32-year-old Aw has been collecting toys since he was 17. In 2011, after getting inspired by the show How It’s Made, Aw began to think about making his own toys. Before taking the plunge, he took a trip to China to tour toy factories. The toy-making process was more involved than he had imagined, involving multiple machines and workers hand painting details onto each toy. There was a lot of artistry involved, even with mass-produced toys.
So Aw did what any smart businessman would do: he teamed up with an artist. With the help of a $20,000 business loan, Aw and Singaporean graffiti artist Clogtwo created Hell Lotus, a figurine of a skeletal character sitting in a “lotus position” atop a red flame shaped like a lotus flower. The figures sold out not long after debuting at 2012’s Singapore Comic Convention. For the next few years, Aw stuck with the same business model, teaming up with artists to create figures based on their works. In 2015, Aw took a leap of faith by reaching out to Warner Brothers’ Vice President of Global Toys via email. Within weeks, Aw scored a contract allowing him to make figures of many Warner Brothers’ characters, including DC Comics characters like Batman. In just one year, Mighty Jaxx’s total sales quadrupled. Today, Mighty Jaxx sells its figures in more than 80 countries and is valued at over $200 million. That’s some grown-up money for toys!
[Image description: A green-and-white robot toy, with a yellow bird perched on its hand.] Credit & copyright: vinsky2002, PixabayYou don’t have to be an artist to start a business based on pop art…you just have to be willing to collaborate! Jackson Aw founded Mighty Jaxx, a company specializing in artistic toys of pop-culture characters, without much experience in art. What Aw did have was a love of collectibles, especially toys based on his favorite comic and movie characters. In fact, the now-32-year-old Aw has been collecting toys since he was 17. In 2011, after getting inspired by the show How It’s Made, Aw began to think about making his own toys. Before taking the plunge, he took a trip to China to tour toy factories. The toy-making process was more involved than he had imagined, involving multiple machines and workers hand painting details onto each toy. There was a lot of artistry involved, even with mass-produced toys.
So Aw did what any smart businessman would do: he teamed up with an artist. With the help of a $20,000 business loan, Aw and Singaporean graffiti artist Clogtwo created Hell Lotus, a figurine of a skeletal character sitting in a “lotus position” atop a red flame shaped like a lotus flower. The figures sold out not long after debuting at 2012’s Singapore Comic Convention. For the next few years, Aw stuck with the same business model, teaming up with artists to create figures based on their works. In 2015, Aw took a leap of faith by reaching out to Warner Brothers’ Vice President of Global Toys via email. Within weeks, Aw scored a contract allowing him to make figures of many Warner Brothers’ characters, including DC Comics characters like Batman. In just one year, Mighty Jaxx’s total sales quadrupled. Today, Mighty Jaxx sells its figures in more than 80 countries and is valued at over $200 million. That’s some grown-up money for toys!
[Image description: A green-and-white robot toy, with a yellow bird perched on its hand.] Credit & copyright: vinsky2002, Pixabay
June 28, 2022
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : June 28, 2022
fulsome \FULL-sum\ adjective
What It Means
Fulsome can be a positive term, as when it's used to mean "abundant, copious," ...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : June 28, 2022
fulsome \FULL-sum\ adjective
What It Means
Fulsome can be a positive term, as when it's used to mean "abundant, copious," ...
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6 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service: European Central Bank Chief Christine Lagarde has taken the podium this morning at an annual gathering of European policymakers i...
From the BBC World Service: European Central Bank Chief Christine Lagarde has taken the podium this morning at an annual gathering of European policymakers i...
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FREEMusic Song CurioFree2 CQ
The secret to David Bowie’s first number one hit in the U.S.? Karma. John Lennon believed so, at least. The ex-Beatle did have a front row seat to Bowie’s stateside success, as he helped write and sing backup vocals for Fame, released on this day in 1975 on Bowie’s album Young Americans. It features a modified bridge originally played by Stevie Wonder (which Lennon and Bowie flipped backwards) and repeated, echoed cries of the word “fame” as the song’s narrator describes the pitfalls of celebrity. The funky tune was a far cry from Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust persona and accompanying album, which had flopped in the U.S. just a few years earlier. On John Lennon’s official website, the late musician described the process of helping Bowie achieve his first number one, just as Elton John had helped Lennon do with their 1974 collaboration, Whatever Gets You Thru The Night. “...I felt like that was like the karmic thing – you know, with me and Elton I got my first Number One – so I passed it on to Bowie and he got his,” Lennon explained. With records, what goes around always comes around.
[Image description: David Bowie wears an eyepatch and plays guitar during filming of his Rebel Rebel music video in 1974.] Credit & copyright: AVRO, Wikimedia Commons, image cropped for size, image is hereby distributed under the same license linked here.
The secret to David Bowie’s first number one hit in the U.S.? Karma. John Lennon believed so, at least. The ex-Beatle did have a front row seat to Bowie’s stateside success, as he helped write and sing backup vocals for Fame, released on this day in 1975 on Bowie’s album Young Americans. It features a modified bridge originally played by Stevie Wonder (which Lennon and Bowie flipped backwards) and repeated, echoed cries of the word “fame” as the song’s narrator describes the pitfalls of celebrity. The funky tune was a far cry from Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust persona and accompanying album, which had flopped in the U.S. just a few years earlier. On John Lennon’s official website, the late musician described the process of helping Bowie achieve his first number one, just as Elton John had helped Lennon do with their 1974 collaboration, Whatever Gets You Thru The Night. “...I felt like that was like the karmic thing – you know, with me and Elton I got my first Number One – so I passed it on to Bowie and he got his,” Lennon explained. With records, what goes around always comes around.
[Image description: David Bowie wears an eyepatch and plays guitar during filming of his Rebel Rebel music video in 1974.] Credit & copyright: AVRO, Wikimedia Commons, image cropped for size, image is hereby distributed under the same license linked here.
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FREEBiology Daily Curio #2468Free1 CQ
For these frogs, every leap is a leap of faith. A team of scientists have found that the reason some tiny species of frogs in Brazil can’t jump well is due to their undersized ear canals. The frogs in question are pumpkin toadlets, which are native to Brazil and are known for their bright colors and extremely diminutive size. Even when fully grown, they’re small enough to sit snugly on a person’s fingertip. Technically, these frogs can jump; it’s the landing that’s the tricky part. When these tiny toadlets take a leap, they instantly lose control of their bodies, often landing upside down. To figure out why, an international team consisting of scientists from the U.S. and Brazil looked at 147 species of frogs and toads to see what anatomical differences may be responsible. It turns out, the answer lies in the animals’ ear canals, which in the case of pumpkin toadlets are so small that they’re practically non-functional.
The ear canals of most frogs allow them to orient themselves quickly in mid-air. This is made possible by the fast-moving fluids within the inner ear that trigger nerve cells. However, the ear canals of pumpkin toadlets are so small and contain so little fluid that they cannot get a grasp on their orientation in the time between jumping and landing. So how have these frogs managed to not only survive but thrive without being able to effectively perform the one activity that others of their kind are so well-known for? The short answer is: these little guys just don’t need to jump much. Edward Stanley, one of the scientists involved in the research, told the press, “They’re not jumping around a lot, and when they do, they’re probably not that worried about landing, because they’re doing it out of desperation. They get more benefits from being small than they lose from their inability to stick a landing.” In addition, the researchers say that these frogs have other adaptations that help them survive despite their lack of acrobatic ability. For example, some of these frogs have bright warning colors, camouflage, or simply thicker skin. That last one might come in handy if other frogs decide to tease them about their jumping skills.
[Image description: A tiny toad sits on a human hand.] Credit & copyright: Marys_fotos, PixabayFor these frogs, every leap is a leap of faith. A team of scientists have found that the reason some tiny species of frogs in Brazil can’t jump well is due to their undersized ear canals. The frogs in question are pumpkin toadlets, which are native to Brazil and are known for their bright colors and extremely diminutive size. Even when fully grown, they’re small enough to sit snugly on a person’s fingertip. Technically, these frogs can jump; it’s the landing that’s the tricky part. When these tiny toadlets take a leap, they instantly lose control of their bodies, often landing upside down. To figure out why, an international team consisting of scientists from the U.S. and Brazil looked at 147 species of frogs and toads to see what anatomical differences may be responsible. It turns out, the answer lies in the animals’ ear canals, which in the case of pumpkin toadlets are so small that they’re practically non-functional.
The ear canals of most frogs allow them to orient themselves quickly in mid-air. This is made possible by the fast-moving fluids within the inner ear that trigger nerve cells. However, the ear canals of pumpkin toadlets are so small and contain so little fluid that they cannot get a grasp on their orientation in the time between jumping and landing. So how have these frogs managed to not only survive but thrive without being able to effectively perform the one activity that others of their kind are so well-known for? The short answer is: these little guys just don’t need to jump much. Edward Stanley, one of the scientists involved in the research, told the press, “They’re not jumping around a lot, and when they do, they’re probably not that worried about landing, because they’re doing it out of desperation. They get more benefits from being small than they lose from their inability to stick a landing.” In addition, the researchers say that these frogs have other adaptations that help them survive despite their lack of acrobatic ability. For example, some of these frogs have bright warning colors, camouflage, or simply thicker skin. That last one might come in handy if other frogs decide to tease them about their jumping skills.
[Image description: A tiny toad sits on a human hand.] Credit & copyright: Marys_fotos, Pixabay
June 27, 2022
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : June 27, 2022
jingoism \JING-goh-iz-im\ noun
What It Means
Jingoism is excessive patriotism or nationalism, especially when marked by a ...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : June 27, 2022
jingoism \JING-goh-iz-im\ noun
What It Means
Jingoism is excessive patriotism or nationalism, especially when marked by a ...
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FREEScience Daily Curio #2467Free1 CQ
Fashion might look a little fishy in the future, and that’s a good thing. A Tampa-based company, Inversa Leathers, has been making a splash in both the fashion world and the world of conservation by selling wallets and other accessories made from lionfish leather. Although native to the Pacific and Indian Oceans, lionfish have long been wreaking havoc in the Atlantic and Caribbean, where they were introduced by people. As invaders to the ecosystem, lionfish have earned a reputation for fast destruction. Within five weeks of entering a coral reef system, a single one of the spiky, venomous creatures can devour 79 percent of juvenile marine life in the area. Compounding the problem is the fact that a single female lionfish can release around 25,000 eggs per day, so their population increases fast. Not only does this devastate native fish populations, it also destroys coral reefs. Since many of the fish preyed upon by lionfish eat algae that grows on reefs, their absence leads to algae overgrowths that suffocate coral.
An avid diver, Inversa Leathers co-founder Aarav Chavda was shocked by the destruction caused by lionfish. To do his part to help, Chavda teamed up with his friend Roland Salatino to start a company which buys wild-caught lionfish by the thousands each day. Once purchased, the fish are processed for meat, which is sold to restaurants around Tampa. The hides are then taken to a tannery in Ohio where they’re turned into a workable leather, which can be used to make anything from wallets to watch straps. In this way, Inversa is creating an economic incentive to go after lionfish. Chavda told The Guardian, “A lot of the geographies, especially the lower-income Caribbean area, have no market at all [for lionfish]—and so this fish is not only destroying the coral reefs, which sustain these fishing cooperatives’ livelihoods, but they also can’t do anything about it. They could hunt lionfish, but that takes time, and it means they’re not hunting other things. They’d be spending their precious time not on lobster, not on grouper—so it’s very unfortunate.” Looking ahead, Chavda plans to branch out by developing new fashion materials from other invasive species, curbing their spread by creating demand for them as a product. Fish sticks and cool wallets all around!
[Image description: A lionfish is pursued by a scuba diver underwater.] Credit & copyright: G1les, PixabayFashion might look a little fishy in the future, and that’s a good thing. A Tampa-based company, Inversa Leathers, has been making a splash in both the fashion world and the world of conservation by selling wallets and other accessories made from lionfish leather. Although native to the Pacific and Indian Oceans, lionfish have long been wreaking havoc in the Atlantic and Caribbean, where they were introduced by people. As invaders to the ecosystem, lionfish have earned a reputation for fast destruction. Within five weeks of entering a coral reef system, a single one of the spiky, venomous creatures can devour 79 percent of juvenile marine life in the area. Compounding the problem is the fact that a single female lionfish can release around 25,000 eggs per day, so their population increases fast. Not only does this devastate native fish populations, it also destroys coral reefs. Since many of the fish preyed upon by lionfish eat algae that grows on reefs, their absence leads to algae overgrowths that suffocate coral.
An avid diver, Inversa Leathers co-founder Aarav Chavda was shocked by the destruction caused by lionfish. To do his part to help, Chavda teamed up with his friend Roland Salatino to start a company which buys wild-caught lionfish by the thousands each day. Once purchased, the fish are processed for meat, which is sold to restaurants around Tampa. The hides are then taken to a tannery in Ohio where they’re turned into a workable leather, which can be used to make anything from wallets to watch straps. In this way, Inversa is creating an economic incentive to go after lionfish. Chavda told The Guardian, “A lot of the geographies, especially the lower-income Caribbean area, have no market at all [for lionfish]—and so this fish is not only destroying the coral reefs, which sustain these fishing cooperatives’ livelihoods, but they also can’t do anything about it. They could hunt lionfish, but that takes time, and it means they’re not hunting other things. They’d be spending their precious time not on lobster, not on grouper—so it’s very unfortunate.” Looking ahead, Chavda plans to branch out by developing new fashion materials from other invasive species, curbing their spread by creating demand for them as a product. Fish sticks and cool wallets all around!
[Image description: A lionfish is pursued by a scuba diver underwater.] Credit & copyright: G1les, Pixabay -
7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
President Biden’s call for a suspension of the gas tax holiday probably sounds like an awesome way to ease the pain of high gas prices, but it might not be a...
President Biden’s call for a suspension of the gas tax holiday probably sounds like an awesome way to ease the pain of high gas prices, but it might not be a...
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FREEArt Appreciation Art CurioFree1 CQ
This much staring would make anyone self-conscious. Canadian-American artist Philip Guston, born on this day in 1913, was a master at depicting the unnerving. His surrealist paintings and sketches often featured terrifying monstrosities with oversized eyes. In his black-and-white sketch Hovering, a being with a head resembling a human baby’s, and a body resembling a millipede’s perches on an egg-like form, staring down at a pile of random objects with what seems to be a single, enormous eye. Some of the objects, such as a sandwich, book, clock, and watch, are identifiable while others appear as simple, geometric forms. Guston wasn’t all surrealist, though. Some of his paintings are totally abstract, featuring formless colors against plain backgrounds. He was also commissioned to paint several grounded, figurative murals which barely resemble much of his other work. Hey, nothing wrong with being a man of many styles.
Hovering, Philip Guston (1913-1980), 1976, Brush and ink on paper, 18.125 x 24 in. (46.1 x 61.1 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.
Below: Another of Guston’s works, Early Mail Service and Construction of Railroads, rendered in a completely different style from his abstract and surrealist works.
This much staring would make anyone self-conscious. Canadian-American artist Philip Guston, born on this day in 1913, was a master at depicting the unnerving. His surrealist paintings and sketches often featured terrifying monstrosities with oversized eyes. In his black-and-white sketch Hovering, a being with a head resembling a human baby’s, and a body resembling a millipede’s perches on an egg-like form, staring down at a pile of random objects with what seems to be a single, enormous eye. Some of the objects, such as a sandwich, book, clock, and watch, are identifiable while others appear as simple, geometric forms. Guston wasn’t all surrealist, though. Some of his paintings are totally abstract, featuring formless colors against plain backgrounds. He was also commissioned to paint several grounded, figurative murals which barely resemble much of his other work. Hey, nothing wrong with being a man of many styles.
Hovering, Philip Guston (1913-1980), 1976, Brush and ink on paper, 18.125 x 24 in. (46.1 x 61.1 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.
Below: Another of Guston’s works, Early Mail Service and Construction of Railroads, rendered in a completely different style from his abstract and surrealist works.
June 26, 2022
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : June 26, 2022
culminate \KUL-muh-nayt\ verb
What It Means
Culminate usually means “to reach the highest or a climactic or decisive point...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : June 26, 2022
culminate \KUL-muh-nayt\ verb
What It Means
Culminate usually means “to reach the highest or a climactic or decisive point...
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7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
We speak with Dan Erickson, the creator, showrunner and head writer of the Apple TV+ show “Severance,” where a group of workers at a mysterious corporate mon...
We speak with Dan Erickson, the creator, showrunner and head writer of the Apple TV+ show “Severance,” where a group of workers at a mysterious corporate mon...
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FREEPolitical Science PP&T CurioFree1 CQ
Happy birthday, United Nations! On this day in 1945, the United Nations Charter, the organization’s founding document, was signed in the hopes that an international body could help nations resolve disputes and promote world peace. Since then, the U.N. has doubled in size and grown in influence. In fact, the U.N.’s top court recently ordered Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine. But just how much power does this international organization have? The answer is complicated.
The story of the United Nations begins with the outbreak of World War I, in 1914. Upset by the massive loss of life caused by the war, influential world leaders, most notably President Woodrow Wilson, began calling for an international body to promote peace between nations. He believed that such an organization could prevent another world war. By 1918, the idea had taken off, and the League of Nations was officially established in 1920, at the Paris Peace Conference, which established the terms of peace after World War I. The League had 42 founding members. Over the following decades, some nations were added via elections, while others withdrew or were expelled. In fact, the Soviet Union was expelled in 1939 for invading Finland. Strangely, even though a U.S. President was influential in establishing the League, the United States never joined due to strong isolationist sentiments among American lawmakers at the time.
The League wasn’t as functional as Woodrow Wilson might have hoped. From the offset, it was hampered by issues ranging from infighting to the United States’ refusal to join, and a general unwillingness among members to actually enforce the League’s resolutions. The final nail in the coffin came in 1939, with the outbreak of World War II—the very thing the League had been created to prevent. In 1943, allied powers agreed to dissolve the League once the war ended, and replace it with a more active, effective international organization. President Franklin Roosevelt coined the name “United Nations” in 1941, and many of the new organization’s rules and goals were outlined, debated and revised in various meetings throughout the remainder of the war.
On June 26, 1945, the United Nations was formed with the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, which had taken two months to fully draft. 50 countries signed, and the document was ratified on October 24. U.N. members had no time to celebrate and take it easy, though. In 1947, the U.N. approved a resolution to create the state of Israel by partitioning Palestine, a move that remains controversial to this day, but that effectively demonstrated the new organization’s power. Over the next decade, the escalation of the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union caused tensions in the U.N. Some resolutions had to be passed without the U.S.S.R. present, including a 1950 resolution that agreed to let U.S. forces stop the North-Korean-led, U.S.S.R.-supported invasion of South Korea. Still, the U.N. immediately proved more effective than the defunct League of Nations. Unlike the League, The U.N. took a very active role in global peacekeeping, approving resolutions for certain nations, like the U.S., to send humanitarian aid, military troops, or both into war-torn areas in an attempt to calm tensions. So far, the U.N. has conducted over 70 peacekeeping missions, at least 12 of which are still ongoing.
The modern U.N. includes 193 member states and functions via six principal organs: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Trusteeship Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Secretariat, and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ICJ recently made headlines by ruling that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is illegal under international law, and that Russia must withdraw. Of course, since no international government exists, the U.N. can’t actually force Russia to comply. But that doesn’t make the ICJ’s ruling useless. In fact, the ruling makes it easier for other nations to justify harsh sanctions against Russia, and makes it much more difficult for Russia to deny the illegality of its invasion. It also serves as a subtle reminder of the U.N.’s policy of collective security: an attack against one U.N. nation will lead to military resistance from all of them. Certainly something for any country to keep in mind before tangling with the U.N.
[Image description: The blue-and-white United Nations flag] Credit & copyright: padrinan, PixabayHappy birthday, United Nations! On this day in 1945, the United Nations Charter, the organization’s founding document, was signed in the hopes that an international body could help nations resolve disputes and promote world peace. Since then, the U.N. has doubled in size and grown in influence. In fact, the U.N.’s top court recently ordered Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine. But just how much power does this international organization have? The answer is complicated.
The story of the United Nations begins with the outbreak of World War I, in 1914. Upset by the massive loss of life caused by the war, influential world leaders, most notably President Woodrow Wilson, began calling for an international body to promote peace between nations. He believed that such an organization could prevent another world war. By 1918, the idea had taken off, and the League of Nations was officially established in 1920, at the Paris Peace Conference, which established the terms of peace after World War I. The League had 42 founding members. Over the following decades, some nations were added via elections, while others withdrew or were expelled. In fact, the Soviet Union was expelled in 1939 for invading Finland. Strangely, even though a U.S. President was influential in establishing the League, the United States never joined due to strong isolationist sentiments among American lawmakers at the time.
The League wasn’t as functional as Woodrow Wilson might have hoped. From the offset, it was hampered by issues ranging from infighting to the United States’ refusal to join, and a general unwillingness among members to actually enforce the League’s resolutions. The final nail in the coffin came in 1939, with the outbreak of World War II—the very thing the League had been created to prevent. In 1943, allied powers agreed to dissolve the League once the war ended, and replace it with a more active, effective international organization. President Franklin Roosevelt coined the name “United Nations” in 1941, and many of the new organization’s rules and goals were outlined, debated and revised in various meetings throughout the remainder of the war.
On June 26, 1945, the United Nations was formed with the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, which had taken two months to fully draft. 50 countries signed, and the document was ratified on October 24. U.N. members had no time to celebrate and take it easy, though. In 1947, the U.N. approved a resolution to create the state of Israel by partitioning Palestine, a move that remains controversial to this day, but that effectively demonstrated the new organization’s power. Over the next decade, the escalation of the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union caused tensions in the U.N. Some resolutions had to be passed without the U.S.S.R. present, including a 1950 resolution that agreed to let U.S. forces stop the North-Korean-led, U.S.S.R.-supported invasion of South Korea. Still, the U.N. immediately proved more effective than the defunct League of Nations. Unlike the League, The U.N. took a very active role in global peacekeeping, approving resolutions for certain nations, like the U.S., to send humanitarian aid, military troops, or both into war-torn areas in an attempt to calm tensions. So far, the U.N. has conducted over 70 peacekeeping missions, at least 12 of which are still ongoing.
The modern U.N. includes 193 member states and functions via six principal organs: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Trusteeship Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Secretariat, and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ICJ recently made headlines by ruling that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is illegal under international law, and that Russia must withdraw. Of course, since no international government exists, the U.N. can’t actually force Russia to comply. But that doesn’t make the ICJ’s ruling useless. In fact, the ruling makes it easier for other nations to justify harsh sanctions against Russia, and makes it much more difficult for Russia to deny the illegality of its invasion. It also serves as a subtle reminder of the U.N.’s policy of collective security: an attack against one U.N. nation will lead to military resistance from all of them. Certainly something for any country to keep in mind before tangling with the U.N.
[Image description: The blue-and-white United Nations flag] Credit & copyright: padrinan, Pixabay
June 25, 2022
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day : June 25, 2022
noisome \NOY-sum\ adjective
What It Means
The word noisome describes what is very unpleasant or disgusting, and is used es...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : June 25, 2022
noisome \NOY-sum\ adjective
What It Means
The word noisome describes what is very unpleasant or disgusting, and is used es...
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7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
The ruling on Roe v. Wade could have a big effect on tech business located in states where abortion could become banned, especially when it comes to drawing ...
The ruling on Roe v. Wade could have a big effect on tech business located in states where abortion could become banned, especially when it comes to drawing ...
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FREESports Daily CurioFree1 CQ
She’s still got it! On June 20, U.S. Olympian Katie Ledecky won gold in the 1500-meter freestyle race during the 2022 FINA World Championships, leaving the second-place winner over 14 seconds behind her as she secured her 20th World Championship medal. Ledecky finished the race with a time of 15:30.15, about 10 seconds off her world record, while 16-year-old American Katie Grimes came in second with a time of 15:44.89. 20-year-old Australian Lani Pallister finished third with a time of 15:48:96. After the race, Ledecky told NBC Sports, “It was perfect. Well, not perfect. I never have a perfect swim. My goal was to hold 1:02s, 31-low, so that’s great.” Upon being informed that she set another record that day by earning her 20th career world medal (the record for most medals was previously held by fellow American Natalie Coughlin) she replied, "...It’s pretty wild because I feel like just yesterday I was in Barcelona at my first Worlds. It’s awesome representing Team USA year after year, and it’s an honor and a privilege, and it’s why I work hard.” Not one to rest on her laurels, the 25-year-old swimmer has her eyes on the 2024 Summer Olympics, which will be held in Paris. Who knows if she’ll leave some medals for the rest of the swimmers.
[Image description: Katie Ledecky wears a swimsuit, swim cap and goggles as she walks beside a pool in 2018.] Credit & copyright: JD Lasica, Wikimedia Commons, image cropped for size, image is hereby distributed under the same license linked here.
She’s still got it! On June 20, U.S. Olympian Katie Ledecky won gold in the 1500-meter freestyle race during the 2022 FINA World Championships, leaving the second-place winner over 14 seconds behind her as she secured her 20th World Championship medal. Ledecky finished the race with a time of 15:30.15, about 10 seconds off her world record, while 16-year-old American Katie Grimes came in second with a time of 15:44.89. 20-year-old Australian Lani Pallister finished third with a time of 15:48:96. After the race, Ledecky told NBC Sports, “It was perfect. Well, not perfect. I never have a perfect swim. My goal was to hold 1:02s, 31-low, so that’s great.” Upon being informed that she set another record that day by earning her 20th career world medal (the record for most medals was previously held by fellow American Natalie Coughlin) she replied, "...It’s pretty wild because I feel like just yesterday I was in Barcelona at my first Worlds. It’s awesome representing Team USA year after year, and it’s an honor and a privilege, and it’s why I work hard.” Not one to rest on her laurels, the 25-year-old swimmer has her eyes on the 2024 Summer Olympics, which will be held in Paris. Who knows if she’ll leave some medals for the rest of the swimmers.
[Image description: Katie Ledecky wears a swimsuit, swim cap and goggles as she walks beside a pool in 2018.] Credit & copyright: JD Lasica, Wikimedia Commons, image cropped for size, image is hereby distributed under the same license linked here.
June 24, 2022
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6 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service: EU leaders gather for a summit in Brussels, as concerns grow over the bloc’s reserves of natural gas. Toyota is recalling 2,700 o...
From the BBC World Service: EU leaders gather for a summit in Brussels, as concerns grow over the bloc’s reserves of natural gas. Toyota is recalling 2,700 o...
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : June 24, 2022
confidant \KAHN-fuh-dahnt\ noun
What It Means
A confidant is someone to whom secrets are entrusted, and especially a very ...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : June 24, 2022
confidant \KAHN-fuh-dahnt\ noun
What It Means
A confidant is someone to whom secrets are entrusted, and especially a very ...
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FREEArt Appreciation Art CurioFree1 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! In honor of World UFO Day, enjoy these curios all about mankind’s fascination with the mysteries of space. It's those dang UFOs vandalizing our crops again! Since mid-2017, German photographer Max Slobodda has been working on his Stranger Things series, a collection of surreal photos designed to take our imaginations into the upside-down. Pictured above is what appears to be a cluster of flying objects against a crimson sky (or so we think). Slobodda created the bizarre scene by first tightening the aperture of a broken camera to magnify floating dust particles, before overexposing them to light and giving them new life. According to Slobodda, works like this one from Stranger Things were designed without intended meaning, and they even lack individual titles to dissuade viewers from seeking preconceived meanings. Instead, his illogical photos, with their incongruent noontime skies and trees cloaked in nightfall, incite the viewer's emotions to build their own fantastical narrative. Fortunately, no demogorgons or Eggo waffles were harmed in the making of these images!
Image credit & copyright: Max Slobodda
It's Flashback Friday! In honor of World UFO Day, enjoy these curios all about mankind’s fascination with the mysteries of space. It's those dang UFOs vandalizing our crops again! Since mid-2017, German photographer Max Slobodda has been working on his Stranger Things series, a collection of surreal photos designed to take our imaginations into the upside-down. Pictured above is what appears to be a cluster of flying objects against a crimson sky (or so we think). Slobodda created the bizarre scene by first tightening the aperture of a broken camera to magnify floating dust particles, before overexposing them to light and giving them new life. According to Slobodda, works like this one from Stranger Things were designed without intended meaning, and they even lack individual titles to dissuade viewers from seeking preconceived meanings. Instead, his illogical photos, with their incongruent noontime skies and trees cloaked in nightfall, incite the viewer's emotions to build their own fantastical narrative. Fortunately, no demogorgons or Eggo waffles were harmed in the making of these images!
Image credit & copyright: Max Slobodda
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FREELight & Exposure Photo CurioFree1 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! In honor of World UFO Day, enjoy these curios all about mankind’s fascination with the mysteries of space. Beam us up, Scotty! In the 2017 Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition, scientist Daniel Michalik won the Astronomy category for his photo Lunar spotlight, South Pole, Antarctica, which captures a bright light pillar beneath the moon. The optical phenomenon isn't actually caused by a vertical ray of light; rather, ice crystals suspended in the air give the moon its upright reflection. The bits of frozen ice typically form high up in clouds, but occasionally make their way lower, creating pillars, halos, and majestic light shows, depending on their orientation in space. These occurrences are often associated with UFO sightings, though Michalik's purpose for being in the right place at the right time was far more scientific. As part of the crew at the South Pole Telescope (the leftmost building with the large satellite atop it), Michalik researches things like radiation left over from the Big Bang and the presence of dark energy in the universe. Antarctica is the perfect, undisturbed space for studying cosmic phenomena—whether they be light years away, or right above our heads!
Image credit & copyright: Daniel Michalik
It's Flashback Friday! In honor of World UFO Day, enjoy these curios all about mankind’s fascination with the mysteries of space. Beam us up, Scotty! In the 2017 Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition, scientist Daniel Michalik won the Astronomy category for his photo Lunar spotlight, South Pole, Antarctica, which captures a bright light pillar beneath the moon. The optical phenomenon isn't actually caused by a vertical ray of light; rather, ice crystals suspended in the air give the moon its upright reflection. The bits of frozen ice typically form high up in clouds, but occasionally make their way lower, creating pillars, halos, and majestic light shows, depending on their orientation in space. These occurrences are often associated with UFO sightings, though Michalik's purpose for being in the right place at the right time was far more scientific. As part of the crew at the South Pole Telescope (the leftmost building with the large satellite atop it), Michalik researches things like radiation left over from the Big Bang and the presence of dark energy in the universe. Antarctica is the perfect, undisturbed space for studying cosmic phenomena—whether they be light years away, or right above our heads!
Image credit & copyright: Daniel Michalik
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FREEMusic Appreciation Song CurioFree2 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! In honor of World UFO Day, enjoy these curios all about mankind’s fascination with the mysteries of space. Electronica pairs well with intergalactic adventures. On this day in 2001, Daft Punk dropped Discovery, a pop-centric concept album that came packaged with Interstella 5555—a cosmic anime flick about a band poached by a nefarious music industry. To create the two-facet masterpiece, Daft Punk called upon famed Japanese animator Leiji Matsumoto, a childhood favorite of the cybernetic French duo. As Daft Punk crafted the music, Matsumoto simultaneously drew up corresponding scenes. The animator wisely employed body language to ensure his cartoon bandmates' mirth and misery not only matched the rhythms of Daft Punk's tunes, but danced in harmony around them. Take Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger, a mechanical jam built entirely around a jerky portion of Edwin Birdsong's funky Cola Bottle Baby (and later sampled by Kanye): Daft Punk's recursive, robotic lyrics and rhythmic pulses are coupled with Matsumoto's vision of a gem rock, retro-styled factory. In the music video, a peaceable band of blue aliens are systematically disassembled and reproduced into a mass-marketable super-group by a power-hungry music producer. But no spoilers here—watch the whole series to learn if the band escapes with their blue skins!
Other streaming options
Image credit & copyright: Fabio Venni, Wikimedia Commons, image cropped for size, image is hereby distributed under the same license linked here.
It's Flashback Friday! In honor of World UFO Day, enjoy these curios all about mankind’s fascination with the mysteries of space. Electronica pairs well with intergalactic adventures. On this day in 2001, Daft Punk dropped Discovery, a pop-centric concept album that came packaged with Interstella 5555—a cosmic anime flick about a band poached by a nefarious music industry. To create the two-facet masterpiece, Daft Punk called upon famed Japanese animator Leiji Matsumoto, a childhood favorite of the cybernetic French duo. As Daft Punk crafted the music, Matsumoto simultaneously drew up corresponding scenes. The animator wisely employed body language to ensure his cartoon bandmates' mirth and misery not only matched the rhythms of Daft Punk's tunes, but danced in harmony around them. Take Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger, a mechanical jam built entirely around a jerky portion of Edwin Birdsong's funky Cola Bottle Baby (and later sampled by Kanye): Daft Punk's recursive, robotic lyrics and rhythmic pulses are coupled with Matsumoto's vision of a gem rock, retro-styled factory. In the music video, a peaceable band of blue aliens are systematically disassembled and reproduced into a mass-marketable super-group by a power-hungry music producer. But no spoilers here—watch the whole series to learn if the band escapes with their blue skins!
Other streaming options
Image credit & copyright: Fabio Venni, Wikimedia Commons, image cropped for size, image is hereby distributed under the same license linked here.
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FREEUS History PP&T CurioFree1 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! In honor of World UFO Day, enjoy these curios all about mankind’s fascination with the mysteries of space. Take us to your leaders! If extraterrestrials ever did land on Earth, the government probably wouldn't host them at Area 51. The location in Lincoln County, Nevada, was the source of much speculation during the second half of the 20th century, and for good reasons—though, not the ones we would expect.
In April of 1955, the CIA scouted locations near the Edwards Air Force base seeking a testing ground for new weapons and aircraft. President Eisenhower had recently approved a secret counterstrategy to address the Soviet Union's aggressive air force expansion, and it needed a venue. Groom Lake was chosen because of its flat, plane-accessible field and Emigrant Valley's sight-obstructing mountain ranges. Once Project OXCART began in 1959, so did decades of classified testing. Pilots were trained to fly U-2 jets and search-and-rescue helicopters; anti-radar stealth materials were tested; and captured Soviet fighter planes were analyzed for structural weaknesses. All of the military secrecy combined with higher flight restrictions around Groom Lake led locals to suspect something fishy (or alien-y) was going on.
Some of the earliest UFO sightings near Area 51 came from commercial pilots who had never seen an aircraft fly as high as the air force's new prototypes. Air Force officials knew about the reports, however their need to protect classified projects led to stories of "high-altitude weather research" or "natural phenomena" as the source of all the "nothings" to see at Groom Lake. Conspiracy theories were stoked in 1989 when Bob Lazar claimed to have reverse engineered alien spacecrafts in a clandestine, underground lair at Area 51. He also claimed the as-yet-undiscovered element 115 (moscovium) was the main fuel source for the vehicle. Lazar's allegations and MIT degree have yet to be verified by outside sources.
Area 51's shroud was finally cleared in 2013 when a Freedom of Information Act request was granted, forcing the CIA to publicly acknowledge the existence of the classified base. Detailed records of the base's history and purpose have also been released, but conspiracy theorists remain skeptical. These days the Extraterrestrial Highway surrounding Edwards Air Force base is a hotbed of kitschy UFO tourism where visitors of the terrestrial kind can see the Alien Research Center, or grab a room at the A'Le'Inn. Just don't expect to wake up to spooky theremin music and a neon gravity beam pulling the inn up to the mothership!
Image credit & copyright: MartinStr, Pixabay
It's Flashback Friday! In honor of World UFO Day, enjoy these curios all about mankind’s fascination with the mysteries of space. Take us to your leaders! If extraterrestrials ever did land on Earth, the government probably wouldn't host them at Area 51. The location in Lincoln County, Nevada, was the source of much speculation during the second half of the 20th century, and for good reasons—though, not the ones we would expect.
In April of 1955, the CIA scouted locations near the Edwards Air Force base seeking a testing ground for new weapons and aircraft. President Eisenhower had recently approved a secret counterstrategy to address the Soviet Union's aggressive air force expansion, and it needed a venue. Groom Lake was chosen because of its flat, plane-accessible field and Emigrant Valley's sight-obstructing mountain ranges. Once Project OXCART began in 1959, so did decades of classified testing. Pilots were trained to fly U-2 jets and search-and-rescue helicopters; anti-radar stealth materials were tested; and captured Soviet fighter planes were analyzed for structural weaknesses. All of the military secrecy combined with higher flight restrictions around Groom Lake led locals to suspect something fishy (or alien-y) was going on.
Some of the earliest UFO sightings near Area 51 came from commercial pilots who had never seen an aircraft fly as high as the air force's new prototypes. Air Force officials knew about the reports, however their need to protect classified projects led to stories of "high-altitude weather research" or "natural phenomena" as the source of all the "nothings" to see at Groom Lake. Conspiracy theories were stoked in 1989 when Bob Lazar claimed to have reverse engineered alien spacecrafts in a clandestine, underground lair at Area 51. He also claimed the as-yet-undiscovered element 115 (moscovium) was the main fuel source for the vehicle. Lazar's allegations and MIT degree have yet to be verified by outside sources.
Area 51's shroud was finally cleared in 2013 when a Freedom of Information Act request was granted, forcing the CIA to publicly acknowledge the existence of the classified base. Detailed records of the base's history and purpose have also been released, but conspiracy theorists remain skeptical. These days the Extraterrestrial Highway surrounding Edwards Air Force base is a hotbed of kitschy UFO tourism where visitors of the terrestrial kind can see the Alien Research Center, or grab a room at the A'Le'Inn. Just don't expect to wake up to spooky theremin music and a neon gravity beam pulling the inn up to the mothership!
Image credit & copyright: MartinStr, Pixabay
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FREEAstronomy Daily CurioFree1 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! In honor of World UFO Day, enjoy these curios all about mankind’s fascination with the mysteries of space. Take solace UFO conspiracy theorists: Japan is with you. In 2020, the Pentagon officially released some UFO footage—which was so convincingly unidentifiable that Japan is now taking preemptive action. There are two videos, one from 2004 and another from 2015. Both show saucer-shaped craft either zooming by at astonishing speeds or eerily hovering. One UFO is roughly 40 feet long and levitates just 50 feet above water (see below). A now-retired navy commander was in the cockpit of a jet during the 2004 sighting. In a recent interview, he described how the UFO moved forward, backward, and to the sides as if an arcade game spaceship. He also noted how his radar was jammed in the UFO's presence. Even weirder, these UFO sightings were initially leaked in 2017 by To the Stars, a scientific entertainment company formed by Tom DeLonge… of the rock group Blink-182. Evidently, DeLonge turned a fascination with aliens into an effective enterprise? Nevermind—cut to 2020. At a press event, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura stated he firmly believes in UFOs. Which is surprising, seeing as Japan has never formally documented one. Regardless, Machimura affirmed that "[He] definitely believe[s] they exist," which prompted reporters to giggle. Sure, they can laugh it up all they want. But the Pentagon's footage has inspired Machimura and his cohort to instill new UFO protocols in Japan's air force. What a strange—or rather "alien"—time we live in.
Below: some of the Pentagon's UFO footage.
Image credit & copyright: Pixabay/Victor Tangermann
It's Flashback Friday! In honor of World UFO Day, enjoy these curios all about mankind’s fascination with the mysteries of space. Take solace UFO conspiracy theorists: Japan is with you. In 2020, the Pentagon officially released some UFO footage—which was so convincingly unidentifiable that Japan is now taking preemptive action. There are two videos, one from 2004 and another from 2015. Both show saucer-shaped craft either zooming by at astonishing speeds or eerily hovering. One UFO is roughly 40 feet long and levitates just 50 feet above water (see below). A now-retired navy commander was in the cockpit of a jet during the 2004 sighting. In a recent interview, he described how the UFO moved forward, backward, and to the sides as if an arcade game spaceship. He also noted how his radar was jammed in the UFO's presence. Even weirder, these UFO sightings were initially leaked in 2017 by To the Stars, a scientific entertainment company formed by Tom DeLonge… of the rock group Blink-182. Evidently, DeLonge turned a fascination with aliens into an effective enterprise? Nevermind—cut to 2020. At a press event, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura stated he firmly believes in UFOs. Which is surprising, seeing as Japan has never formally documented one. Regardless, Machimura affirmed that "[He] definitely believe[s] they exist," which prompted reporters to giggle. Sure, they can laugh it up all they want. But the Pentagon's footage has inspired Machimura and his cohort to instill new UFO protocols in Japan's air force. What a strange—or rather "alien"—time we live in.
Below: some of the Pentagon's UFO footage.
Image credit & copyright: Pixabay/Victor Tangermann