Ensuring this supposedly unlucky day has plenty of good news as a positive counter-balance.
Conservation Success
In Zambia’s Kafue National Park, a conservation organization specializing in wildcats has reported that the number of leopards there has tripled. With an increase of 2.9, there are now 4.4 leopards per 38 square miles of terrain, which is much more than it sounds when you discover how big Kafue is: 22,700 square miles. That's two-and-a-half-times larger than Yellowstone, but exists within the Greater Kafue Ecosystem - a mosaic of landscapes enjoying various levels of protection that’s three times larger than that.
10,000 Year Old Beer
Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of rice beer dating back about 10,000 years at a site in Eastern China, providing further insights into the origins of alcoholic beverages in Asia.
The discovery at the Shangshan archaeological site in China’s Zhejiang Province unveils the cultural and environmental context of the practice of rice fermentation in the region as well as the broader development of early agriculture in Asia. The research highlights the emergence of brewing technology in the early Shangshan culture as closely linked to rice domestication and the period’s warm and humid climate.
Special Christmas Tree
In a little village in central England that has no street lights, a Christmas tree has grown so tall that people can see its sparkling lights from miles around. In fact, the entire population of Inkberrow in Worcestershire, gathers every year for the annual “Switching on” ceremony. Avril and Christopher Rowlands bought the tiny fir tree in 1978 and after Christmas planted it in their front garden to mark their first holiday together in their new home. With 45 years of nurturing, it has grown 52-ft high - completely dwarfing all the houses around it. The couple, now in their 80’s, are still draping it with Christmas lights - with help from friends and neighbours.
Longest Journey
A humpback whale has journeyed more than 8,000 miles (13,000km) from South America to Africa, which researchers say is the longest distance ever recorded for an individual whale. New research published in Royal Society Open Science recorded sightings of a male humpback whale, initially spotted near the coast of Colombia and recorded nearly a decade later near Zanzibar, Africa. Co-author Ted Cheeseman, a whale biologist based at Southern Cross University, said the distance travelled was unusual - almost twice the typical migration - and suggesting the whale ended up way out of its usual range and population group. Researchers were unsure how the whale may have been received, he said. “When he showed up, was it like, ‘Oooh, sexy foreigner with a cool accent’?”
What Makes Someone Wise?
Certain people just seem to embody wisdom: grandparents and teachers, the changemakers we admire from afar, the intellectuals whose ideas have influenced our own. However, given that cultures vary widely throughout the globe, it would make sense that the criteria for being deemed “wise” would vary as well. To test that hypothesis, researchers from the University of Waterloo in Ontario enlisted 2,650 participants across 12 countries on five continents to analyze their perceptions of wisdom. Interestingly, across all locations, people agreed that thinking logically and reflectively and taking others’ thoughts and feelings into consideration are what makes a person wise. The findings have been published in the journal Nature Communications.
AI Granny Anti-Scam
On the surface, Daisy’s warm, serene voice and earnest questions about how to use her computer make her sound like any other sweet, innocent grandmother - but don’t be fooled. She’s actually an AI bot on a mission to keep phone scammers from bothering you (if you are a Brit and use the O2 mobile service). Developed by British mobile phone company O2 “to waste scammers’ time,” Daisy waxes rhapsodic about her grandchildren, cat Fluffy, and favourite hobby (knitting, naturally). She also offers fraudsters fake bank account details to string them along. “The newest member of our fraud-prevention team, Daisy, is turning the tables on scammers - outsmarting and outmanoeuvring them at their own cruel game simply by keeping them on the line,” says Murray Mackenzie, director of fraud at Virgin Media O2. Since her debut in mid-November, the AI model has wasted hundreds of hours of exasperated scammers’ time, with some phone calls lasting as long as 40 minutes. And in doing so, she’s brought to light many of the common tactics used to victimize real humans.
“If you let your head get too big, it’ll break your neck.” Elvis Presley
On This Day
13 December 1642: Dutch navigator Abel Tasman sighted South Island, New Zealand. He was the first European to sight New Zealand and Tasmania.
Today's Articles
Spicy Chicken Nugget: A sassy kitten with that name has found a forever home after an hilarious description of the feline went viral on social media.
Lucky Couple Strike Gold: Wouldn't it be wonderful if you were renovating your home and you found some hidden treasure?
Mood Boosting Video
99th Birthday Today: Dick Van Dyke dances on the video for Coldplay's latest single.