مستوى مبتدئ

Six single Nike Air Jordans, worn by basketball legend Michael Jordan, fetched $8 million at a Sotheby's auction on February 2, 2024. The jaw-dropping price set a new global auction record for game-worn sneakers....

Adult Chinstrap penguins love their naps. A recent study found that the flightless birds take as many as 10,000 naps a day when nesting! Each snooze lasts about four seconds, adding up to a total of 11 hours. But at no point do the penguins fall into deep sleep....

California's Yosemite National Park is famous for its giant, ancient sequoia trees and impressive rock formations. They include El Capitan and Half Dome. But from mid to late February, the park's main attraction is Horsetail Fall, located at the edge of the eastern side of El Capitan. During this time, the setting Sun hits the seasonal waterfall at just the right angle, creating the illusion that it is on fire....

It is not unusual for visitors to find diamonds at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas. Park officials at the 37.5-acre (15.2 hectare) park register one to two gem discoveries almost weekly. But most stones weigh about a quarter carat. On January 11, 2024, French tourist Julien Navas defied the odds when he unearthed a massive 7.46-carat diamond....

On February 14, Americans will show their affection for family and friends with a gift or two. This display of love will not come cheap. The National Retail Federation (NRF) estimates that consumers will spend a record $25.8 billion, an average of $185.81 per person, on Valentine's Day in 2024. It is no wonder that US retailers love the holiday....

Evaporation has long been thought to happen only when a liquid absorbs enough heat to turn into vapor. However, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently found the process can also occur in the presence of just light....

The countdown to Super Bowl LVIII — the National Football League's championship game — has begun. On February 11, 2024, a record 200 million American adults are expected to tune in to watch the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers compete for the Vince Lombardi trophy. The championship game, the fifth one for the Chiefs and the seventh for the 49ers, certainly promises to be exciting. But Super Bowl Sunday is about more than just football....

There is no shortage of reusable water bottles available to consumers. However, few can claim the popularity of the Stanley Quencher. Social media sites like TikTok are rampant with videos of individuals showing off their extensive collections or camping outside Target to get a limited edition "Stanley." Though now considered a status symbol, the company and its tumblers have been around for over a century....

On February 10, 2024, over two billion people worldwide will celebrate the first day of the Chinese New Year. Also called Lunar or Spring New Year, it is one of China's most important holidays....

After lying dormant for 6,000 years, the Fagradalsfjall volcano on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula suddenly came to life in 2021. The eruption lasted six months. But it was considered minor, and posed no risk to nearby residents. However, the volcano's most recent outbursts are threatening the survival of Grindavík. The small fishing village of 3,800 residents is located about 6 miles (9.9 km) from the volcano....

Tired of winter? Then, you will be delighted to know that spring is around the corner. On February 2, 2024, aka Groundhog Day, legendary woodchuck Punxsutawney Phil failed to see his shadow. This means the year's frosty weather will soon be a distant memory....

The classic version of Tetris for Nintendo, released in 1985, has achieved remarkable success, with over 520 million copies sold worldwide. The game's objective is to stop the accumulation of falling geometric shapes by rotating and placing them into straight lines. In theory, the game can go on forever since there is no end screen. However, the accelerating pace of the falling blocks causes players to make mistakes, and the game always wins....

Black History Month, observed every February, celebrates the contributions and central role of African Americans throughout US history. President Gerald Ford was the first to officially recognize what is also called African American Month in 1976. However, the idea was the brainchild of American historian and author Dr. Carter G. Woodson....

About 4.5 billion years ago, a Mars-sized planet smashed into the newly-formed Earth. The collision ejected a large amount of planetary debris into space. Scientists believe that due to the energy from the impact, the debris was initially molten. It solidified over time as the material cooled and eventually became the Moon. However, how quickly that happened is up for debate....

American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift had a phenomenal 2023. Her Eras Tour, which kicked off in March 2023, surpassed $1 billion in ticket sales after only 60 shows. This is the highest-grossing music tour ever. The record was previously held by Elton John's five-year-long Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. It earned $939 million over 328 shows....

Blow the horn! The world's largest cruise ship is about to embark on its inaugural voyage. Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas will glide out of the Port of Miami on January 27, 2024, for a seven-day tour of the Caribbean....

Amazon warehouse workers are used to working alongside robots. Over the years, the company has deployed over 750,000 automated machines to help lift, sort, and fulfill the millions of orders that need to be completed daily. However, most of them are cart-shaped or just have robotic arms. In this mix, a robot named "Digit," unveiled in October 2023, stands out....

On January 23, 2024, the OREO brand took a huge step forward for "cookie-kind" with the introduction of a space-inspired cookie. The limited-edition OREO Space Dunk cookies promise consumers an "out-of-this-world" experience....

On January 8, 2024, the world witnessed a remarkable effort by NASA and Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology to land a spacecraft on the Moon. It was the first US attempt at the lunar surface since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The Peregrine Lunar Lander was launched into Earth's orbit without a hitch. Its final destination was an unexplored area on the western rim of the Moon's largest impact crater....

To say that Madison Marsh is an overachiever is an understatement. The 22-year-old is an accomplished pilot with an undergraduate degree in astrophysics from the US Air Force Academy (USAFA). Now a Second Lieutenant in the US Air Force, Marsh is currently pursuing a master's degree in public policy at Harvard Kennedy School. Oh, and on January 14, 2024, she became the first active duty service member to be crowned Miss America!...

When it comes to brainpower, bottlenose dolphins are second only to humans. The intelligent animals are known to use tools, help fellow dolphins in distress, and even prepare their food to make it more palatable. Now, a new study has found that just like humans, dolphin moms change their voices when "talking" to their young ones....

In a medical breakthrough that could save thousands of lives, surgeons at NYU Langone Health reported that a pig-to-human kidney transplant had worked for two months. This is the longest period a genetically modified pig kidney has functioned in a human....

On January 5, 2024, 171 passengers and six crew members boarded Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 in Portland, Oregon, for what they believed would be a short, uneventful trip to Ontario, California. However, just ten minutes after take-off, they heard a loud explosion. Before anyone could react, an aircraft panel broke off and flew away, leaving behind a gaping hole. It was later revealed that the panel was a "door plug." It covers optional emergency exits in some Boeing 737-9 Max airplanes....

Archeologists in China have unearthed what they believe is an ancient "celestial calendar." The 23 rectangular wooden pieces were found inside a 2,200-year-old tomb in China's Wulong District. They are etched with Chinese characters connected to an astronomical calendar known as Tiangan Dizhi. It was established during the Shang dynasty, which ruled from 1600 BC to about 1050 BC. This is the first time written slips linked to the ancient calendar have been found in a tomb....