Animals
September 1, 2022

Lolita the Orca May Soon Go Free After Decades of Forced Captivity

If you visited a big aquarium such as SeaWorld or the Miami Seaquarium a decade ago, performances by orcas, also known as killer whales, were probably a centerpiece of the visiting experience. However, animal advocates, Indigenous activists, and others have pushed to end the harmful practice of keeping these enormous whales locked up in small pools, forced to perform for audiences. Now good news emerges in this continuing crusade.

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News
September 1, 2022

People Around the World Are Sharing Their Grocery Haul and How Much They Paid For It

Inflation in the U.S. is at its highest in 40 years. This has made the price of everything go up, but it feels especially painful on a grocery bill. In July 2022, food costs had a year-over-year gain of 10.9%. It’s easy to see that type of change week to week, especially if your shopping list stays the same. To compare grocery shopping prices around the world (and lament the rising costs)

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Astronomy
August 31, 2022

Astronomers Discover an Ocean-Covered “Super-Earth” Exoplanet

Science-fiction writers have long dreamed of waterworlds—planets covered in endless ocean. Scientists, too, have postulated that these planets exist. Finding and verifying candidates, however, is elusive. The nearby exoplanet named TOI-1452 b may be the most promising of possibilities discovered. In The Astronomical Journal, scientists say its mass indicates that the surface of the exoplanet may be covered in a layer of liquid ocean.

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Cats
August 31, 2022

Cat Saves Owner From a Heart Attack by Jumping on Her Chest

Around 4:30 a.m. on August 8, Sam Felstead was having a heart attack in her sleep. Her 7-year-old cat, Billy, woke her up by relentlessly jumping on her chest and meowing. “He was quite clever, bless him,” says the 42-year-old woman. “He wanted to stay beside me all the time.” Because of her feline hero’s determination, Felstead is alive. Felstead was surprised to say the least. “I went to bed and I felt fine.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.