Some prefer to spend their vacations lounging on the beach or leisurely strolling picturesque city streets; others want their free time to consist of a bit more adventure — say, embarking on hikes with sweeping views at the top, or braving trains, planes, and automobiles to reach remote destinations. This story is for the latter group: Check out eight natural phenomena, including glowing bioluminescence, towering icebergs, and adorable seabirds, worth traveling for this year.
Now Departing: European Sleeper’s Dreamy New Train Route From Brussels to Venice
European Sleeper
Starting today, European Sleeper is operating a new train route that connects seven cities in five countries for one very scenic experience. Brussels and Venice, Italy, are the itinerary bookends, with stops along the way in Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Cologne, Germany; Munich; Innsbruck, Austria; and Verona, Italy. “Passengers will be able to board our train from Belgium and the Netherlands, and relax in the comfort of the restaurant car, while the train transports them through Germany and Austria, and across the Alps, ending in the historic cities of Verona and Venice the following day,” Chris Engelsman, the co-founder of European Sleeper, said in a statement. The seasonal service — which costs between about $123 and $250 — will run in both directions weekly through the end of March to make it easier for travelers to trek to and from winter sport destinations, per Time Out. But if summer travel is more to your liking, there’s a Brussels-Prague route we’ve got our eye on that looks equally dreamy.
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Capt. Barrington Irving Is Inspiring Kids to Spread Their Wings and Fly High
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
“We want young people to dream again,” Capt. Barrington Irving told Today earlier this week. And that’s not just an idealistic statement — it’s something he’s actively working toward through the Flying Classroom and other endeavors. If you don’t know Irving, here’s a quick intro: Eighteen years ago, the Jamaican-American pilot became the first Black person and the youngest person to fly solo around the world. He’s pictured above returning from that three-month journey in 2007. Today, Irving is using his voice and his wisdom to inspire kids to spread their own wings and fly. Flying Classroom is a digital STEM curriculum based on Irving’s expeditions that brings hands-on education to schools around the country. The 41-year-old also launched a technical school to help at-risk kids reach their full potential, and turned his story into a new children’s book, titled Let’s Fly. “There’s a difference between dreaming and pushing young people to their wildest dreams,” he said. Meet the history-making pilot.
Science
Why Bats Don’t Get Sick Despite Facing Scores of Diseases
BirdHunter591/ iStock
Next time a kiddo in your life asks you what animal you’d like to be, you might want to consider being a bat. Besides being the only flying mammal, bats have seriously robust immune systems — so much so that they can harbor myriad viruses without being harmed by them. And scientists are now closer to understanding exactly how this superpower of sorts works, according to a recent study. After sequencing coronavirus genomes from 10 bat species, researchers discovered that the secret behind the winged animals’ resilience is layered: “These defense mechanisms are linked to their immune system — on one hand, the immune system of the bats makes it harder for the viruses to replicate upon infection,” study co-author Sonja C. Vernes told Salon. “On the other hand, the bats suffer less from inflammation usually caused by an animal’s own immune system that can cause so much harm following infection.” Compared to other mammals, they also havemore (and more frequent) adaptations in their immune genes, which might inform research beyond the bats themselves. “The changes found in bat genomes give us exciting antiviral targets to explore,” Vernes said. “This could lead to medical breakthroughs that help us protect ourselves from future viral pandemics.”
In Other News
Cholesterol and cognitive care: A study linked statins to a 63% reduction in dementia risk (read more)
“Shocked” archaeologists in Alaska unearthed a food storage pit dating back nearly 1,000 years (read more)
Recycling the batteries used in most EVs has numerous eco benefits, Stanford researchers found (read more)
India’s tiger population has doubled in about a decade, thanks to comprehensive conservation efforts (read more)
OlympianJordan Chiles scored a perfect 10 for UCLA with her gymnastics floor routine — watch her fly (read more)
Inspiring Story
“Through hell and high water to deliver a pizza”
Police Lt. Richard Craig was on duty when he spotted Connor Stephanoff delivering pizza in a snowstorm. “Did you get a good tip?” he asked, and found out the delivery driver had received just $2.15. So Craig not only tipped Stephanoff $15 himself, but also posted a video on TikTok and started a GoFundMe on his behalf, which had raised over $40,000 as of yesterday.
Photo of the Day
Ian Wood / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Badger, meet badger graffiti. This photo, showing a Eurasian badger appearing to investigate a bit of street art, was taken by photographer Ian Wood — and it won the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award. The annual photo competition is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London. See the runners-up for the fan-voted award.
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