This will be a thread where we can post positive bits of news since mainstream news is so "doom and gloom".
(163) Dolphin Moms Use Baby Talk to Call to Their Young, Recordings Show - YouTube
Human moms and dads often adopt a high-pitched lilt when speaking to their young children, a style called “parentese” that helps improve language learning in little ones. Now, new research has found that bottlenose dolphin mothers use a similar type of baby talk to communicate with their calves, and it may serve the same purpose.
In a study published June 26, scientists recorded the signature whistles — basically audible ID badges — of wild bottlenose dolphins near Florida’s Sarasota Bay over three decades. They found that all 19 of the mother dolphins they studied “produced signature whistles with significantly higher maximum frequencies and wider frequency ranges” when they were with their dependent calves.
This dolphin version of parentese “may function to enhance attention, bonding, and vocal learning in dolphin calves, as it does in human children,” the researchers wrote in the study. Speaking to the Associated Press, co-author Frants Jensen elaborated: “It would make sense if there are similar adaptations in bottlenose dolphins — a long lived, highly acoustic species.”
Norwegian family finds Viking-era relics while looking for earring - BBC News
About 40 million people make the trip between Miami and Orlando, Florida, each year, and over 90% travel by car, per the Associated Press. Brightline is hoping to change that with its new high-speed rail linking the two cities — the first private intercity passenger rail line in the U.S. in 100 years.
“This is a pretty important moment, whether you’re thinking about it in the context of the state of Florida or what it might mean for these kinds of products as they develop elsewhere in the United States,” Brightline CEO Mike Reininger told the outlet. “The idea that my car is the only way for me to get where I need to go is being challenged by a new product. A new product that’s safer, that’s greener, that is a great value proposition [and] it’s fun.”
The trains, which began running September 22, use biodiesel and travel at speeds up to 125 mph. TAbout 40 million people make the trip between Miami and Orlando, Florida, each year, and over 90% travel by car, per the Associated Press. Brightline is hoping to change that with its new high-speed rail linking the two cities — the first private intercity passenger rail line in the U.S. in 100 years.
“This is a pretty important moment, whether you’re thinking about it in the context of the state of Florida or what it might mean for these kinds of products as they develop elsewhere in the United States,” Brightline CEO Mike Reininger told the outlet. “The idea that my car is the only way for me to get where I need to go is being challenged by a new product. A new product that’s safer, that’s greener, that is a great value proposition [and] it’s fun.”
The trains, which began running September 22, use biodiesel and travel at speeds up to 125 mph. They deliver passengers to their destination in 3.5 hours, about 30 minutes faster than driving.
“It is quite exciting for South Florida to kind of be a test bed for what could be seen as a new paradigm for transportation, particularly high-speed rail transportation, in the United States,” said John Renne, the director of Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions.hey deliver passengers to their destination in 3.5 hours, about 30 minutes faster than driving.
“It is quite exciting for South Florida to kind of be a test bed for what could be seen as a new paradigm for transportation, particularly high-speed rail transportation, in the United States,” said John Renne, the director of Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions.
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Michigan State Students Unearth 19th Century Observatory Foundation
Wyoming Tribes Tackle Bear Problem by Removing Humans Instead of Animals
When a particularly bold grizzly bear had multiple close encounters with humans on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming, officials decided that they would tackle the problem by closing the area to people and allowing the bear some space. And the reservation’s tribes, the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho, agreed.
It may seem like an obvious solution, but preemptively removing the humans from the situation rather than the animal is actually “fairly unique,” Dan Thompson, a supervisor with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, told WyoFile.
“We had to look out for people,” added Art Lawson, the Shoshone and Arapahoe Fish and Game’s director. “But at the end of the day it was for wildlife, too. We don’t want the bear going into camps and thinking it’s OK. We wanted to give the bear a chance to move out of the area.”
Thankfully, the plan worked. Three weeks after shutting down access to a section of the Wind River Range, the tribes reopened it and there have been no further conflicts with the grizzly — a win for wildlife and nature lovers alike.
Explore the winds
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Team Sports Can Improve Kids’ Mental Health, Study Shows
Cue up Neil Young, the Harvest Moon is here! This month’s full moon, which is also the final supermoon of 2023, will rise tonight, peaking around 6 a.m. ET Friday. The lunar spectacle is a special one in that it actually carries two names: the Corn Moon (the September full moon) and the Harvest Moon (the full moon closest to the fall equinox). Though it’s most associated with September, the Harvest Moon occurs in October every three years or so. Click here to see the names of each of the full moons that occur throughout the year, from January’s Wolf Moon to June’s Strawberry Moon, and learn the reasoning behind the monikers.
Perennials, plants that regrow every year, are mostly associated with spring. But in order to beautify your garden with them in the warmer months, you have to start thinking about planting bulbs now. “Fall, with its combination of still-warm soil and cooler, wetter weather, presents the ideal opportunity to encourage root growth in new spring perennials,” per the home advice website Bob Vila. To ensure a bountiful springtime bloom, the site recommends a slow-acting organic fertilizer, a layer of mulch, and regular watering. Click here to read more tips and learn about some of the best perennials to plant in the fall.
20 Perennials to Plant in the Fall for Beautiful Spring Flowers - Bob Vila
In 2022, brides spent an average of $1,900 on their wedding dresses, per The Knot. Emmali Osterhoudt, on the other hand, found hers for $24.99 at a Goodwill over Labor Day weekend. She isn’t currently engaged — but, really, that’s a minor detail in the face of such a bargain, particularly when the dress in question is a designer gown that retails at over $6,000.
Thrilled, Osterhoudt shared a video of the shimmering lace number (which she said fits her “like a glove”) to TikTok. The post went viral, racking up millions of views and the special attention of the dress designer herself, Galia Lahav. While this may have been one of the first times that a creation of hers made it to a Goodwill, it won’t be the last.
Osterhoudt’s dress wound up on the rack thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, but Lahav plans to follow suit. According to People magazine, the designer’s brand announced that it’s been in touch with Goodwill about gifting several more gowns to various branches, so bargain-hunting brides-to-be might be similarly delighted.
“It’s a reminder that sometimes life’s surprises can be as beautiful as the dress itself,” said Lahav.
See the $25 gown.
Scientists Map “Immortal” Jellyfish’s Full Genome — Moving Closer to Unraveling Mystery of Its Immortality
Self-doubt and the imposter syndrome phenomenon are all too common, especially among women and marginalized groups, but those unpleasant feelings could actually be secret superpowers in the workplace. Author Christie Hunter Arscott surveyed a group of more than 120 women hailing from all around the world, and concluded that courage is to be valued over confidence. The majority of those she interviewed mentioned self-doubt, but she noticed that it didn’t affect their success. “My work has found that successful women take decisive action to move forward even while grappling with fears and doubts and questioning their own ‘readiness,’” Arscott writes in the Harvard Business Review. And her message isn’t just applicable to women — read more about how imposter syndrome can be a healthy tool for building confidence.
Creativity Is Good for Your Mental Health, Study Finds — Try These 6 Activities to Boost Your Mood
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Good deeds and acts of kindness go a long way in helping those in need, but volunteering is often beneficial to the volunteer as well. Studies have shown that the activity can foster greater self-esteem, provide a sense of purpose, and decrease depression and anxiety. Now, research out of the University of California, Davis has determined that volunteering later in life may also protect brain health and boost cognitive function.
Those who subscribe to a “less is more” philosophy are sure to find peace in the 2023 Minimalist Photography Awards. The competition, which received more than 3,100 images from 31 different countries this year, showcases the quieter side of life. “Contained within the Minimalist Photography Awards are a set of artists who refuse to be overwhelmed by the ‘visual noise’ that surrounds them and instead find those moments of poetry, order, and the sublime which gives this competition its strength,” explained former jury member Mick Moore. Explore the winning shots — we promise you’ll come away breathing a bit more deeply and feeling a bit more relaxed.
Minimalist Photography Awards Winners 2023 - Minimalist Photography Awards
Utah Ranked the Happiest State in the US: Read the Full List
Last week, we shared WalletHub’s rankings of the best U.S. cities to retire in, and now the site is back with a list of the happiest states in the country.
“In this study, WalletHub drew upon the findings of ‘happiness’ research to determine which environmental factors are linked to a person’s overall well-being and satisfaction with life,” the report reads. “Previous studies have found that good economic, emotional, physical, and social health are all key to a well-balanced and fulfilled life.”
The results were based on 30 key metrics broken up into three categories — emotional and physical well-being; work environment; and community and environment — which were then combined into a total score. Utah had the highest overall score, followed by Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, and New Jersey.
“This may vary widely from person to person, but where we live can have a substantial impact on our happiness,” said psychological sciences professor Melanie M. Wilcox. “Similar to career ‘fit,’ it can be important for our happiness to live in a place that is fit with our interests, needs, and values. Further, and increasingly important, is that feelings of safety and welcomeness are important for happiness.”
Happiest States in America (2023) (wallethub.com)
While some people hitting middle age buy a new car or do a career pivot, Erlend Bore decided he would take up metal detecting. The 51-year-old Norwegian bought his first metal detector just before the summer, “partly to go treasure hunting, but mostly to have a hobby that got him off the sofa,” according to a translated Facebook post from the Archaeological Museum at the University of Stavanger.
In a surprise for Bore and archeologists alike, he ended up making the country’s “gold find of the century.” Though he initially thought he’d come upon a trove of chocolate coins while canvassing the island of Rennesoey, the amateur detectorist actually unearthed nine pendants, three rings, and 10 gold pearls.
The pendants and pearls were part of “a very showy necklace” that one of society’s elite may have worn 1,500 years ago, archeology professor Håkon Reiersen said in a press release. “In Norway, no similar discovery has been made since the 19th century, and it is also a very unusual discovery in a Scandinavian context,” he added.
As required for objects from before 1537 in Norway, Bore handed his find in immediately and the artifacts will be “preserved and displayed as soon as possible” at the Archaeological Museum.
See more.
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Fierce Felines and Flying Dogs: The Funniest Pet Photos of 2023
Wild Atlantic Salmon Have Had Their Best Year Since 2011barbaraaaa/ iStockWild Atlantic salmon returning to U.S. rivers have had their best year in more than a decade, according to data from the Maine Department of Marine Resources. The organization counted more than 1,500 salmon in the state’s Penobscot River, the highest number since 2011, when there were about 2,900.
While wild Atlantic salmon were once abundant on the East Coast, overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution have hurt the population. This year’s resurgence could be a sign that conservation efforts are working, Sean Ledwin, director of sea-run fish programs at the Department of Marine Resources, told the Associated Press.
He explained that river herring numbers are also up this year, which in turn may be helping the wild salmon: “The increasing runs of river herring help distract hungry predators such as seals and striped bass from the relatively rarer Atlantic salmon, which may help increase salmon survival of the predator gauntlet.”
Neville Crabbe, a spokesperson for the Atlantic Salmon Federation, added that the salmon boost serves as motivation to keep on working toward conservation goals. “It’s going to take a commitment from everybody in the world,” he said.
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Chemical Imaging Reveals “Hidden Mysteries” of 3,000-Year-Old Egyptian Tomb Paintings