Today is the spring equinox, which means it’s officially spring (astronomically speaking) in the Northern Hemisphere! And this year, Washington, D.C.’s iconic Tidal Basin cherry blossoms celebrated the new season with an early bloom. The trees reached peak bloom on Sunday, the second-earliest on record following a warmer-than-usual winter. Crowds flocked to the capital to see the light pink flowers and revel in the start of spring — check out some of the photos.
These skiers in their 80s and 90s don’t let age keep them away from the mountains
Environment
“Oregon Outback” Is Now the World’s Largest Dark Sky Sanctuary
Joey Hamilton/Travel Oregon
As part of an ongoing effort to preserve the northern region of the Basin and Range Province in the western U.S., the so-called “Oregon Outback” has become the world’s largest International Dark Sky Sanctuary. The newly designated area, comprising2.5 million acres in the southeastern part of the state, is remote and sparsely populated — meaning that at night, the stars put on quite a show. “It’s surprising sometimes to see that many stars all at once. It catches you and it makes you pause because you feel like you can touch it,” Bob Hackett, the executive director of Travel Southern Oregon, told The Guardian, adding, “That vastness of the whole cosmos up there — it almost makes you get closer to the people you’re with on the ground.” Hackett’s description perfectly encapsulates why the high-desert region is an ideal Dark Sky Sanctuary, a certification that will earn it greater protections. “As the population of Oregon and the trend of light pollution continue to rise, the unparalleled scale and quality of the Outback’s dark skies will long serve as a starry refuge for people and wildlife alike,” Dawn Nilson, an environmental consultant who wrote the application for the designation, said in a statement. Explore other dark sky places around the world.
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After decades of work, scientists unveiled the first truly complete sequence of a human genome in 2022. The finished project, poised to open new doors in science and medicine, is akin to another one that’s still underway at Seattle’s Allen Institute. Rather than sequencing the human genome, though, these researchers are looking to create detailed maps of the human brain. The maps, one of the institute’s long-term “moonshot” initiatives that utilize interdisciplinary teams, could become a “really powerful reference” for understanding brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, senior investigator Dr. Ed Lein told ABC News. Beyond disease, Allen Institute President and CEO Dr. Rui Costa said learning more about the brain means learning more about what it means to be human, on every level. “To understand the brain is something very important for humans, because the brain is essential to who we are, what we love, what we hate, what we remember, how we behave, how we feel,” he said. “Everything that makes our persona, in a way, depends on how our brains evolve, and they experience things throughout life. So, to understand the brain is one of the big quests of humanity.”
The Comedy Wildlife Awards tend to capture the internet’s attention when the winners are unveiled each year, and the team behind the contest recently announced a new development for the 2024 iteration. The 10th annual competition will be sponsored by Nikon for the first time, and thus named the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards. In addition to the name, there will be new prizes, new judges, and new categories, according to a press release shared with Nice News. The competition also noted that it’s now taking entries for the 2024 awards, the winners of which will be revealed in November. “Utilizing the natural affinity between our brands to celebrate global wildlife, we look forward to generating vital awareness surrounding conservation,” said Stefan Maier, a senior general marketing manager at Nikon Europe, adding that the company is excited about “providing a platform for talented creatives to not only tell stories that make an impact — but that put a smile on people’s faces too.” In honor of the announcement, the Comedy Wildlife Awards released some previously unseen photos from past years, including the one above. See the other hilarious shots.
Researchers discovered not one, not two, but 10shipwrecks off the coast of Greece, using the Iliad as a guide. Their origins ranged from classical Greece to World War II.
Apolis Customizable Market Bags The customizable totes from Apolis make the perfect gift (for yourself or a loved one). Choose from an array of shapes, sizes, and designs, and then add the message you want printed on the bag. The bags are made from 100% natural golden jute fiber harvested in Bangladesh — and the working mothers who handcraft them in the South Asian country receive Fair Trade wages, annual profit dividends, and a retirement fund.
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Inspiring Story
Finding freedom on the road
Gil Howard is an 82-year-old retired professor who has taught hundreds of Afghan women how to drive in Modesto, California. Locals say that thanks to Mr. Gil, as he’s known in the community, there may be more Afghan women driving in the Central Valley city than in the entire country of Afghanistan.
A richly colored half moon rose over the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, on Sunday night. The mosque is an Ottoman-era monument, constructed in the early 17th century.
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