Nature goes on whether we’re there to witness it or not, but one recent miracle of the natural world was captured by a fortuitously placed camera. Last week, wildlife photographer Alexander Forrest was watching the “humpback highway,” a stretch of ocean off the coast of New South Wales, Australia, when he spotted one whale moving particularly slowly. He flew his drone above it and ended up recording some incredible footage of a humpback giving birth— a potential world first, per The New York Times. See the video.
The First At-Home Lyme Disease Test Rolls Out This Month
Andreas Häuslbetz—iStock/Getty Images Plus
If a tick has bitten you, one of the first questions that likely pops into your head is: What are the odds it gave me Lyme disease? This month, a first-of-its-kind Lyme screening tool is rolling out to help answer that question. Called LymeAlert, the three-step at-home test determines if the tick in question carries the pathogen known to cause Lyme disease. The tick-borne illness, which can cause a rash, fever, joint pain, and neurological complications, is spread by only about two of the nearly 50 species of ticks in the U.S., and the percentage of ticks within those species that are infected varies by region, from less than 1% to over 50%. “It’s similar to a pregnancy test or a COVID test, and takes about 15 minutes,” LymeAlert co-founder Erin Dawicki told Smithsonian magazine. The team is also rolling out an accompanying app to make the results accessible and put people in touch with health care providers, so they can get treatment within the crucial 72-hour window after a bite. Health experts emphasize the test is helpful, but not a standalone tool, as a positive tick test doesn’t necessarily mean the person is infected. “It does offer information to share with a health care provider if you bring in the test and say it tested positive,” explained entomologist Erika Machtinger. Read up on tips to prevent tick bites in humans and pets.
Together With LMNT
Boost Your Summer Hydration Routine
Your afternoon energy drink isn’t actually giving you energy — at least not how you want it to. That quick initial spike typically ends in a crash that leaves you feeling more exhausted due to the isolated caffeine. Caffeine from natural sources like tea works differently, and that’s exactly what LMNT added to its new Lemonade Iced Tea. LMNT uses caffeine from full-spectrum black tea extract, which contains L-theanine and polyphenols, delivering a steady source of energy. It’s the same salty science-backed electrolyte formula for optimal hydration, plus 50 milligrams of caffeine for a balanced boost. Try Lemonade Iced Tea and get a free eight-count sample pack with your order.
How to Fall in Love, With the Help of Spreadsheets
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A trend called “love hacking” is putting the data in dating. Instead of leaving finding a match to chance, more single people are using spreadsheets to track, evaluate, and analyze their dates. Much like tracking fitness goals or budgets, the idea behind love hacking is to spot dating patterns and red flags sooner rather than later — and make the often chaotic world of dating feel a little more organized. Vera Vlasova told Good Morning America she developed a “dating system” before she met her boyfriend of three years to refine what kind of dates she would want to go on and narrow down places she could find “high-quality matches.” But it’s important to remember that there’s a difference between using data to help meet someone and overanalyzing potential partners too soon. “I love spreadsheets. I love tracking data, but you have to be tracking the right things. You can’t just track data for data’s sake,” said Bela Gandhi, founder and president of Smart Dating Academy, suggesting that singles be careful to not overfilter. Learn more about the trend.
Environment
Kayakers Bring a Wave of Optimism to the LA River
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
A beach day and trip to the Hollywood sign are classic choices for a weekend in Los Angeles, but if you want to go down the path less traveled, you might consider a kayak ride down the LA River. The concrete-encased waterway has been overlooked (and criticized) for decades, but there are still people dedicated to improving access to the river and enjoying it for what it is — with life vests and oars no less. Today’s expeditions down the river are thanks to a group of “guerilla kayakers.” When the concrete encasement started being added in the 1930s as a flood-prevention tactic, kayaking the river became illegal. But some Angelenos believed it was still navigable, and undertook an illicit kayak trip in 2008 to prove their point and get more protections for the waterway. By 2011, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began opening certain stretches to kayakers, as well as generally increasing public access and restoring the river’s natural habitat. Fifteen years later, you can now take kayak tours down the iconic body of water. George Wolfe, who founded one of the tour companies, told SFGATE that the number of kayakers has grown from “only a handful of people in 2007” to about 20,000 today. While kayak season is typically May through September, Wolfe explained he hopes to expand the season and get more people involved in the future. If you do make the unconventional kayak trip (as playfully portrayed in the TV show Platonic), be warned you may get some looks of surprise from passersby who didn’t know kayaking was even possible in the river. Scroll through more pics from a recent ride.
In Other News
Eco win: Colombia recorded a 20-year low in deforestation levels between 2022 and 2025 (read more)
At the U.S. Open of Surfing, Jake Marshall took home his first championship — see footage from the competition (read more)
Go Jesse! A toddler with a rare genetic disease took his first steps following a new prescription medicine (read more)
Scientists found 210 million-year-old fossils of a previously unknown dinosaur in Zimbabwe(read more)
An adorable anoa calf, a member of the world’s smallest buffalo species,was born at the Chester Zoo (read more)
Inspiring Story
A run for the record books
In just 29 days, New Zealand ultrarunner Sophie Woods ran 1,242 miles across the Alps to conquer the Via Alpina, one of the toughest endurance challenges — and become the fastest runner to ever do it. “I am ecstatic but knackered,” said the 42-year-old athlete, noting she has plans to “spend quite a lot of time on the couch and watch Netflix.” Well deserved!
Photo of the Day
Heather Diehl/Getty Images
Rusty the miniature pinscher is not rusty when it comes to his surfing skills! While the U.S. Open of Surfing was happening in Southern California over the weekend, some very cool four-legged surfers were making waves at the World Dog Surfing Championships farther north in Pacifica, near San Francisco. Best of all, the annual competition raises money for local animal charities and doubles as an adoption event. Watch some adorable footage.
Try LMNT’s Lemonade Iced for Hydration and Energy
Nothing beats an ice-cold iced tea in the summer. LMNT’s new Lemonade Iced Tea delivers optimal hydration and balanced energy using the brand’s signature science-backed electrolyte ratio plus organic black tea caffeine. Sip on this functional drink all season long and feel the difference for yourself — and get a free sample pack with LMNT’s most popular flavors when you order.
