This week's severe winter storm, which dumped
record amounts of snow in the Mid-Atlantic and the
Northeast, had most residents scrambling for the
safety and warmth of their homes. However, the
animals at the Smithsonian's National Zoo were not
going to let Washington, DC's first significant
snowfall in two years go to waste....
Read news articleIf you think all penguins look alike, you are not the
only one. A hilarious video, captured by Andrea
Barlow, director of the Falkland Islands Museum and
National Trust, reveals that the aquatic, flightless
birds sometimes also have a hard time
distinguishing between one another....
Read news articleOn December 31, 2020, people around the world let
out a collective sigh of relief that the difficult and
unpredictable year, which tested our resilience in
numerous ways, had finally ended. Though the
COVID-19 pandemic's continued threat resulted in
one of the most muted New Year's Eve celebrations
in recent history, a few countries were able to ring ......
Read news articleCanada's WestJet Airlines is famous for its annual
"Christmas Miracle" videos. In the past, the
heartwarming footage has shown the airline's
employees surprising a few, unsuspecting families
with extravagant gifts, ranging from iPods to
vacations to diamond rings. While the 2020
"Christmas Miracle" did not involve any fancy pres......
Read news articleFor most Americans, Christmas celebrations entail
decorating homes with lights and wreaths, putting
up Christmas trees, finding meaningful gifts for
loved ones, and, of course, binge-watching holiday
classics like Elf and Home Alone. However, not
everyone observes the holiday in the same way.
Here are some unique and wonderful Christmas tra......
Read news articleMention goldfish, and the image that comes to mind
is that of small, colorful creatures swimming in
circles in fish bowls or home aquariums. However,
the one recently discovered by biologists conducting
a fish survey at a South Carolina lake was no
ordinary goldfish - it was a 9-pound, 15-inch-long
behemoth!...
Read news articleOn November 24, 2020, President Donald Trump
exercised his executive powers for a beloved
Thanksgiving tradition — the turkey pardon. The
gorgeous toms, dubbed "Corn" and "Cob," were
raised at an Iowa family farm owned by National
Turkey Federation Chairman Ron Kardel, a 6th
generation turkey, corn, and soybean farmer. The l......
Read news articleWhile giant panda cubs are always popular,
22-year-old Mei Xiang's latest offspring, born at the
Smithsonian's National Zoo on August 21, 2020, is
particularly so. The daily live-stream of the adorable
male cub, whose birth brought much-needed cheer
during the COVID-19 pandemic, has garnered over a
million virtual visitors. Hence, it is only fitting that ......
Read news articleWhen 22-year-old giant panda Mei Xiang gave birth
to a healthy cub on August 21, 2020, Smithsonian's
National Zoo officials were both excited and anxious.
That's because giant panda cubs, which weigh
about 100 grams — the equivalent of a stick of
butter — when born, are challenging to keep alive.
Unable to see, hear, or crawl, the helpless infants ......
Read news article