Bear Huggers In addition to the intellectual and spiritual awe that wildlife elicits in the lover of nature, it is undeniable that many of the furry, feathered, and fluffy fauna that share our planet are downright cute. Many humans have a soft spot for critters, especially the baby variety. Puppies and kittens get all the
The Ghost of the Mountains Let’s begin with a little game. Can you spot the adorable murder machines in the following images? If the pictures are two small to inspect in your browser, click on them to view a full-resolution version. Answers will follow at the end of the article. 3 4 1 1 1
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Monotreme Mucus Bubbles In Greek mythology, Echidna was half-woman and half-snake. With Typhon, she birthed some of the most famous mythological monsters, including, according to various sources, Cerberus, Hydra, Chimera, the Nemean Lion, Sphinx, and Scylla. When early naturalists encountered one of the planet’s strangest critters, they weren’t sure if it was a mammal or
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The Slow Loris Its life is not a happy one, for it is continually seeing ghosts; that is why it hides its face in its hands. — Daniel Giraud Elliot When it comes to cute and funny animals on the internet, cats and dogs easily rule the charts; occasionally, parrots, rabbits, and otters bubble up. Every so often,
Do Fish Drink Water? What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow? –The Bridgekeeper Life, as we currently understand it, depends on water. Perhaps, somewhere in the universe, a form exists that does not require the liquid; but, on our pale, blue orb, anything alive needs dihydrogen monoxide to survive. You and I
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Aye-Aye, Captain Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore— While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.“’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door—
Animal Foley Many of our favorite movies are filled with highly unrealistic aspects. For example, nearly every explosion or medical scene is exaggerated or flat-out impossible. Confoundingly, one aspect of filmmaking that is inherently artificial goes a long way toward the brain’s ability to suspend disbelief. One element has kept our eyes and ears in
Freya, the Boat-Sinking Giant The title of today’s article might lead you to believe we’re in for a tale of mythological proportions. A boat-sinking giant would not be out of place in the spheres of ancient gods. Fans of Norse mythology will recognize the name Freya, as one of the prominent goddesses in that world.
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They Can Talk When we think of animals and speech, the paragon is the bird. Our avian friends are the only other creature on the planet that can produce human speech. Though they cannot currently ape human vocalizations, gorillas and chimpanzees can employ sign language. Despite the fact that we can intuit how many species feel
The Great Migration Elton John famously sings about the “Circle of Life” in The Lion King. The piece speaks generally about the cycle of life and death. The animated feature takes part on the continent of Africa. While John’s melodies emerge from an animated feature, the song is more apropos to its setting than most
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