Mont Blanc climber gets to keep his 2013 treasure discovery
A very fortunate climber is being allowed to keep a trove of emeralds and sapphires he found while exploring Mont Blanc in 2013. The climber stumbled upon the precious stones and turned them over to the authorities. After the authorities failed to find the gems’ rightful owner, the climber was Read More...
New York City will allow noncitizens to vote in local elections
For long-time residents of the US who have difficulty acquiring citizenship, elections can be a painful reminder of the difficult road to fully establishing oneself in the US. In an unprecedented move to support those seeking citizenship, New York City has approved a bill that would let noncitizens Read More...
Physical books beat tablets when it comes to storytime with kids
Most parents read books with their children before bed, but with the rise of modern technology, the iPad is quickly replacing the dog-eared picture book. However, new research indicates you might want to hold onto those physical books as they are more beneficial for cognitive development in Read More...
Italy’s generous subsidies are driving a wave of green home upgrades
Homes account for 11.5 percent of Italy’s greenhouse gas emissions, but fortunately, the country’s green “superbonus” scheme is encouraging record numbers of residents to make sustainable upgrades to their homes and businesses. Under the program, the Italian government will pay an Read More...
Chile legalizes same-sex marriage
After a decade-long legal battle, Chile’s Congress has officially passed a law to legalize same-sex marriage. Passed on Tuesday, the bill is expected to be signed into law soon by President Sebastian Pinera. The road to marriage equality has been long and arduous in the conservative South Read More...
Art sale dedicates profits to endangered animals and ecosystem conservation
Looking for a new piece of art to tie your home together? Buying a print from Vital Impacts will give you a stunning natural photograph for your home while also supporting endangered habitat conservation efforts. Founded by award-winning photographer Ami Vitale and visual journalist Eileen Read More...
Research finds that empathy is key to ending online hate speech
Many social media platforms have launched more elaborate filters in an attempt to root out hate speech and inappropriate content, but unfortunately, many of these are imprecise and, as any social media user knows, harmful and hateful content still runs rampant on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Read More...
Instagram to launch parental control and time limit features
Following concerning findings about the effect of social media use on teens’ mental health, Instagram has announced plans to implement several new safety and mental health features in early 2022. These include parental controls and a new “Take a Break” feature. New parental control Read More...
Paris has an Olympic-sized plan to clean up the Seine
If you stroll through Paris on a warm summer day, you’ll likely see groups of sunbathers and picnickers lounging near the Seine, but you probably won’t see anyone swimming. Waste management and pollution issues have made the river too dirty to swim in, but that may change thanks to a new city Read More...
This neighborhood supports one of Latin America’s largest community gardens
The Manguinhos neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro was once a polluted and dangerous area, but thanks to community efforts, the area is now a thriving vegetable garden that feeds 800 families in the city. Made up of 300 beds and the size of four soccer fields, the community garden is one of the Read More...