Five Things You Never Knew About Rainbows

by Nicole Villeneuve Interesting Facts    Rainbows have fascinated humans for years. Long before scientists understood the physics behind these colorful arcs, people came up with legends to explain them, sometimes seeing them as pathways to treasure.    Today we know how rainbows work: Sunlight bends, reflects, and separates into different wavelengths inside millions of …

These Seven Animals Hardly Sleep At All

by Interesting Facts    Sleep duration varies drastically across the animal kingdom, with some such as the koala sleeping for as many as 22 hours each day, while others require just a few hours of daily rest to function.     Sometimes these abbreviated sleep schedules are due to external factors (such as the threat of …

Time Outdoors, Just What The Doctor Ordered

by Good News Network    A hospital in south London opened a garden on its rooftop where critical care patients can spend hours in the fresh air and sunlight.    ICU patients visiting the rooftop garden receive “full life support” while experiencing the therapeutic benefits of the natural surroundings.    Located on top of the …

Words Describing The Beauty Of Nature

by Dictionary Scoop    The wonders of nature can’t be fully described. No person alive can explain the myriad of feelings that overcome us when we gaze upon a particularly breathtaking landscape. The magnificence of the Great Canyon and the splendor of the Northern Lights truly have a way of eluding words.    Having said …

‘Miracle Tree’ Removes Plastics From Water

by Angela Symons  Euronews.com    A millennia-old purification technique could be the cure for Europe’s microplastic-riddled drinking water.    In a recent study, seeds from the ‘miracle’ moringa tree were found to match or outperform their chemical counterpart in filtering out aged PVC microplastics – one of the most harmful plastic types for human health. …

“Cat Island” Japan And Other “Animal Towns”

by Dictionary Scoop    Traveling to foreign cities and towns is a great way to interact with different people and their cultures, but have you ever thought about visiting an animal town?    Scattered around the world, some of these places are the result of natural reserves set up to protect endangered species, while others …

MIT Study Finds Seeds Can “Hear” Rain

by Good News Network    Seeds may come alive to the soothing sound of rainfall, sensing the drops while they are still beneath the surface, suggests a new study.    A series of experiments at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology demonstrated that rice seeds sprouted faster to the sound of rainfall.    The sound of …

Pleasures And Benefits Of Soaking In The Rain

by Ally Hirschlag BBC    It was the sixth straight day of the heat index topping 100F (38C) in New Milford, Connecticut, when the sky turned a sickening shade of puce.    I was leading an outdoor theatre workshop, and noticed campers gawking at an ominous, miles-long shelf cloud advancing overhead. Then a thunderclap shook …

The Meaning Of Ten Geographical Terms

by dictionary Scoop    Geography, like all academic disciplines, has its own vocabulary and terminology. Concerned with everything from physical phenomena of the planet to social interactions, geographers have many specialized terms and concepts.    You’ve probably used some of the words in this list. Yet, do you know exactly what they mean or where …

The Weird And Wonderful Words Of Winter

by Kevin Burton     Winter has some words for you, even as you perhaps, have some muttered, unkind words for winter.    Merriam-Webster dictionary is just a collector of words, and I a mere humble blogger. So we’re not worthy of blame, though we have conspired today to bring you words you would rather not …