Happy Halloween! You’ll notice that we really got into the spirit this year, as today’s featured stories all revolve around the spooky holiday. If you’re hankering for a real fright, though, check out The New York Times’ roundup of 25 of the best jump scares in movie history. A warning before you click: Some of them are truly terrifying!
Must Reads
Zoom in: the top shots from the Close-Up Photographer of the Year shortlist
Tomorrow kicks off Native American Heritage Month, and today is the last day to donate to our October fundraiser beneficiary, the Warrior Women Project
Culture
The “Spine-Chilling” Origins of Trick-or-Treating
Rawpixel/ iStock
Hello, goblins and ghouls! We’d argue there’s nothing more quintessentially Halloween than dressing up for trick-or-treating. And though costumes nowadays often reflect the latest trends, the candy-filled outing has roots that go about 2,000 years deep. The earliest traces of trick-or-treating can be linked to the Celtic holiday Samhain, which means “summer’s end” in Gaelic. The holiday typically fell around Nov. 1, when the Celts believed the barrier between the living and dead became blurred and supernatural entities were thought to “stalk the Earth for one spine-chilling night,” Smithsonian Magazine writes. In hopes of blending in with the otherworldly visitors, people wore costumes (the trick part) and offered food to appease the monsters (the treat part). Immigrants from Ireland and Scotland brought these traditions to the U.S. in the mid-1800s, but it wasn’t until after World War II and the end of sugar rationing that the celebrations became mainstream. All that, plus the rise of suburban layouts and individually wrapped pieces of candy, set the stage for trick-or-treating as we know it today.
Together With Med-X
Natural Solutions and Nasdaq Bound
Med-X isn’t just making the world greener — it’s starting to turn heads on Wall Street. Their revolutionary natural pesticides are outpacing chemical alternatives in performance in certain use cases, and their impact is undeniable: 200% revenue growth in a booming $17 billion market. The best part? Med-X is gearing up for a major milestone: a Nasdaq listing (ticker: MXRX). But the real opportunity is now, before they hit the big stage. Why wait? Become an early Med-X shareholder today and get in ahead of the crowd.
Disclosure: This is a paid advertisement for Med-X’s Regulation CF Offering. Please read the offering circular athttps://invest.medx-rx.com/.
Science
Tarantulas’ Signature Hairy Look May Be a Defense Mechanism, Study Finds
tenra/ iStock
In creepy crawly news, a recent study found that tarantulas’ signature thick hair might be an evolutionary adaptation to help the arachnids defend themselves. The insight comes after a team of scientists watched South American army ants as they hunted for food in tarantula-filled dens. And although the two species usually coexisted, the few ant attacks were squashed due to the spiders’ stiff hairs. “The dense hair covering the tarantula’s body makes it difficult for the ants to bite or sting the spider. Therefore, we believe that the hairiness may have evolved as a defense mechanism,” study author Alireza Zamani said in a statement. The researchers also noticed that the species had a mutually beneficial relationship — the ants scavenged for food in spider areas, but they tidied up while they were there. Think: One makes dinner, the other cleans dishes. “It seems that tarantulas might not be as scary and threatening as their reputation suggests,” Zamani added. Whether or not you agree (some arachnophobic Nice News team members are on the fence), check out more spooky spider facts to keep up your sleeve this Halloween.
Environment
The Stuff of Zombies: Meet the Fungi Dubbed “Dead Man’s Fingers”
You don’t have to watch The Last of Us to see the macabre side of fungus. Just look at the bottom of decaying trees and you might notice a real-life mushroom scene that’s eerily reminiscent of zombie fingers. Aptly named “dead man’s fingers,” these particular fungi grow out of wood and are known for being relentless reproducers. “It might give off the false impression that there’s a dead body, emerging from the leaf litter, but these Xylariafungi are wood associated,” West Virginia University mycologist Matt Kasson explained to Popular Science. The “fingers” start pale and become black and crusty, making wispy structures called hyphae that grow through dying wood and can extend from plant to plant, potentially with no end (eep). “Fungi, in some regards, are immortal,” said Kasson. Perhaps inspiration for next year’s costume?
In Other News
OlympianAllyson Felix is working with a nonprofit to offer childcare to North Carolina moms while they vote (read more)
Opera Philadelphia is offering $11 tickets to make performances more accessible (read more)
Power of the pen: A letter-writing campaign saved a Midwestern river refuge — a century later, it’s thriving (read more)
A piece of Beatles history is up for auction with a seven-digit price tag (read more)
For the first time, astronomers mapped a nebula in deep space with a curious dandelion-like look (read more)
Inspiring Story
A ball game to remember
The World Series isn’t the only momentous baseball event of late. This week, a group of Japanese Americans paid tribute to the baseball teams formed at U.S. incarceration camps during World War II by playing a game at one of the former camps in California. “It’s honestly a surreal experience,” said Logan Morita, who played in honor of his grandparents and great-grandparents. Scroll through photos from the games, then and now.
Photo of the Day
Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
Residents of the Five Sisters Zoo in Scotland had a pumpkin party to celebrate Halloween, and lemur Manja decided to investigate the inside of the seasonal squash, creating a hilarious headless horseman effect. Watch a video of other animals partaking in the “pumpkin festivities.”
Boost Your Protein Intake With NativePath’s Collagen
Pop quiz: What’s the body’s most abundant protein? The answer: collagen. NativePath’s Certified Grass-Fed Collagen Powder is made from grass-fed, pasture-raised cows and contains 20 grams of protein per suggested serving. You can incorporate it daily to support skin elasticity, joint health, bone strength, and muscle growth and maintenance.
