The stars will be out tonight, and not just in the sky. Presented at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, the 96th Academy Awards are set to kick off at 7 p.m. ET, with the red carpet pre-show airing a half-hour before. Talk show veteran Jimmy Kimmel is hosting, and a bevy of celebs are on the roster to present, including Jessica Lange, Nicolas Cage, and Regina King. But we might just be most excited to watch Ryan Gosling regale the audience with a live rendition of best original song nominee “I’m Just Ken” from Barbie, for which Gosling is also up for best supporting actor. Gear up for the festivities by checking out some of the Oscars’ most exciting moments, from 1940-2023.
Featured Story
April 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Guide: Everything You Need to Know
On April 8, scores of people across parts of North America will gather outdoors at the same time to witness this year’s most anticipated celestial event:a total solar eclipse that will turn daylight into darkness for up to 4 minutes, 28 seconds. While the eclipse itself isn’t that rare — they take place every 18 months or so — being able to witness one is a far less common occurrence. On average, a total solar eclipse can be seen from some point on the planet only once every 375 years. Luckily for us, the last one visible from the United States happened just under seven years ago, in 2017. Click the link below to learn which fortunate folks will get a front row seat to this year’s eclipse, what safety gear is needed to view it, and how to catch the action from the comfort of home.
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This Week’s Top Stories
Environment
National Monument in Hawaii May Soon Become a Protected Marine Sanctuary
NOAA
Papahānaumokuākea, an expanse off the coast of Hawaii, is deeply significant to Native Hawaiians. Its name represents the union of ancestors Papahānaumoku and Wākea, who, per tradition, created the Hawaiian islands, taro root, and the Hawaiian people. It was also the site of commercial whaling in the 19th century and the World War II Battle of Midway, making it an important historical location in addition to its cultural and ecological value. And the marine national monument might soon earn greater protections under the law by becoming a national marine sanctuary, which is a designation requiring an act of Congress. Earlier this month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released the draft documents for making 582,250 square miles of Papahānaumokuākea a national marine sanctuary. From now through early May, the agency will accept public comment on its proposal and co-host meetings with the state of Hawaii to garner feedback from community members. Papahānaumokuākea contains “unique environmental resources,” with interconnected ecosystems including coral islands, various reefs, open ocean waters, and deep-water habitats, per the NOAA. Watch a video exploring the proposed sanctuary area.
Humanity
These California High Schoolers Help Community Members File Taxes for Free
Would you let a teenager file your taxes? That’s not a riddle, but a reality at Rancho Cucamonga High School in the Southern California city of the same name. There, a group of students trained in tax filing and led by accounting teacher Chris Van Duin help run a free clinic for community members. The clinic exists thanks to an Internal Revenue Service program called VITA, or Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. As a result, the students get to assist people in need and learn valuable life skills (and they get breakfast burritos brought by Van Duin). Many of them are thinking about finance careers in the future — Calob Chavez, 17, told The New York Times he wants to be an investment banker, while Destiny Linda, 17, plans to get her doctorate in business. For now, though, they’re focused on figuring out tax returns for others, and sometimes themselves. “I work at Taco Bell,” said Nicholas Rosales, a 16-year-old who serves as Van Duin’s teaching assistant. “I got an $8 refund. Which is $8 I can buy more candy with.” Since we’re in the thick of tax season, check out these 2024 filing tips from the IRS.
Culture
Archeologists Discover Colorful Frescoes in Pompeii Excavation
Nearly 2,000 years after Pompeii was buried in volcanic ash due to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, archeologists are still finding new treasures in the remarkably preserved ancient Roman city. The latest discovery is a series of colorful frescoes uncovered in the House of Leda, a mansion that has been subject to excavations since the late 18th century. The most recent work on the site began in 2018, when researchers set out to reconstruct the building’s plans, CBS News reports. According to a press release, the frescoes will be cleaned of all volcanic residues and then restored. One in particular, depicting the mythological siblings Phrixus and Helle fleeing their stepmother on a ram with the Golden Fleece, “stands out” from the rest, researchers wrote. Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeii archaeological park, described the characters as “two refugees at sea from ancient Greece.” The painting is surrounded by a black border, simulating a frame hung on a yellow wall — take a look.
At some point, we’ve all likely asked ourselves: “Why am I so forgetful?” But the key to understanding the answer may lie in reframing the question. In Charan Ranganath’s new book, the neuroscientist and psychologist guides readers through the science of memory, sharing fascinating anecdotes from the field and offering practical tips to help us remember better.
Something We Love
Maldon Sea Salt Flakes
You don’t have to be Salt Bae to appreciate the importance of finishing a meal with a sprinkle of the stuff, and any kitchen connoisseur will tell you that Maldon is a great go-to for that purpose. The brand makes flaky sea salt that adds a pop of flavor to both sweet and savory dishes, like these shortbread chocolate chunk cookies that Assistant Editor Rebekah Brandes considers among her all-time favorite recipes.
Sixty-five years ago, the first Broadway show written by a Black woman debuted at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York.Penned by Lorraine Hansberry (pictured), the Tony-winning play follows a family living on Chicago’s South Side — where Hansberry herself grew up — and chronicles each member’s pursuit of a better life against a backdrop of deep racial prejudice. The show was also the first to be helmed by a Black director, and the original cast included Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee. Take a look back at the production.
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