San Jose Teen Honored as Hero For Yosemite Rescue
Source: NBC Bay Area
Alec Smith, age 17, risked his own life to save a child from a dangerous river. He received the Carnegie Medal for his heroism.
Science & Nature
The Quest to End the Flu
Source: The Atlantic
Every year, thousands of people die from the flu. However, the methods used to make flu vaccines are slow. Read this article to find out about the researchers who are on a quest to find new, faster ways to make vaccines.
Top 10 Most Poisonous Plants
Source: How Stuff Works
Trees that seem to reach out to sting you? A plant that poisons milk and killed Abraham Lincoln’s mother? A bean used in assassinations? Check out this list of plants we should fear, some of which may live in our very own homes!
Humboldt in the New World
Source: Humanities
Journeying through South America, Alexander von Humboldt sought nothing less than “the unity of nature.”
Optimism May Be Hard-Wired into the Brain
Source: National Post
Researchers have discovered that our brains are much better at remembering positive events than negative ones. How does optimism play a role in survival? Read this article to find out more.
We Don’t Have to Choose Between Fossil Fuels and Green Energy
Source: Smithsonian Magazine
Does America’s energy future depend on fossil fuels, such as oil and gas, or alternative energy, such as solar and wind power? According to author Michael Levi, Americans should embrace both forms of energy. Read this article to find out how Americans can find common ground on this important issue.
Swift Water Rescue
Source: Desert Rescue Research
Nature not only has the power to stir human emotions—it also has the power to kill us. This website details the dangers hidden in a beautiful river and how to avoid them.
Ten Scariest Animals in Nature
Source: NBCNews.com
The world is packed with scary animals. Luckily, most live a long, long way away. Check out this top ten list of frightening animals, including explanations of why they’re scary. You’ll recognize some of them, but others may be quite a surprise.
Frog Fable Brought to Boil
Source: Conservation Magazine
We’ve all heard the analogy of the frog that allows itself to be boiled to death because it doesn’t notice the gradual change of temperature in the pot. People often cite this story to show the danger of overlooking a gradual change—but of course, it’s completely false. A noted science writer explains the truth.
Dangerous Exotic Pets
Source: The Humane Society of the United States
Lions and tigers and bears—and cougars, leopards, cheetahs, chimpanzees, lemurs, anacondas, and pythons—are sometimes kept as pets. How wise is it for people to keep dangerous exotic animals? Visit this site to learn the Humane Society’s opinion and arguments about whether anyone should keep an exotic pet.