Photo: zambezi/Depositphotos

For humans, naming animals comes almost naturally. It may be done either out of a need to organize them and give them a sort of identifier, or simply out of endearment. But it turns out that an animal species has been found to assign names to one another—a breakthrough find in the field of zoology. According to researchers, African savannah elephants have names for each other in the form of low, rumbling sounds.

The scientists who study the elephants at some of Kenya's elephant reserves noticed that the animals appeared to call to each other with individual names—that is, unique sounds specific to individuals in their social groups. But the indication of them being a name came from recipients responding accordingly to the call.

For the study, the researchers recorded elephant calls in two areas of Kenya—527 sounds in the Samburu ecosystem in the north and and 98 calls in the Amboseli National Park in the south. To determine which vocalizations were specific to an individual, the team singled out which members of groups of female elephants and their offspring had become separated from their herd when a sound was produced or was approached when the call was made. In the end, the scientists identified rumbles specific to 119 individuals.

While the elephant rumbles may sound similar upon first listen, the researchers have trained an AI to make out the subtle differences in each vocalization. So far, they've correctly identified the receivers of 20.3% of the 625 recorded calls. Interestingly, the calls were not generic sounds aimed at mothers or babies, but rather distinct to the receiver. In groups, sounds from different callers to the same receiver were similar, creating a more visible pattern than the one observed in simple messages between one caller and one receiver. More so, the scientists discovered that elephants responded more strongly to recordings of calls originally addressed to them than to calls addressed to other elephants, a reaction very similar to that of a name.

These trailblazing findings make elephants the first non-human animals to give each other names. And while the research still has a long way to go, zoologists are excited about the insights this may bring in terms of animal communication. Not only may it be much more complex than ever thought, but it may also be one thing shaping their communities in ways we never imagined.

According to researchers, African savannah elephants have names for each other in the form of low, rumbling sounds. This makes them the first non-human animals to give each other names.

Photo: gattophotos/Depositphotos

h/t: [Live Science]

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READ: Elephants Have Been Found to Give Each Other Names in the Form of Rumbling Sounds

Photo: Merrillie/Depositphotos

Marine bioluminescence enhances beautiful nature scenes with its blue glow. And while it has mostly been photographed as a blue light that sways with the waves, it is natural phenomenon that also moves along with the creatures that call the ocean home. A video by Newport Coastal Adventure shows a group of dolphins in bioluminescent water, lighting up the dark ocean as they swim.

First shot in 2020 by photographer Patrick Coyne, the clip begins aboard the whale watching company's boat. Rocking the waters as they sail, bioluminescence marks their path. In a moment, they are joined by a couple of dolphins that, despite swimming below the surface, can clearly be seen by the sailors. Engulfed in a blue glow, the dolphins happily tread water. “We were out for a few hours and on our final stretch back we finally had two dolphins pop up to start the incredible glowing show,” wrote Coyne on Instagram. “A few minutes later and we were greeted by a few more which was insane. ”

Despite their brightness, dolphins do not themselves glow. This can be noticed when the dolphins jump out of the water. Instead, the credit goes to the microorganisms found in the water. Bioluminescence is a natural chemical process that allows living things to produce light in their body, to either lure prey, confuse predators, or even as a form of communication. As for bioluminescent water, it can be attributed to algae bloom of plankton, aided by calm and warm sea conditions.

For all the beauty of the scene, capturing this phenomenon isn't an easy feat. “For starters the bioluminescence has sweet spots to where it shows up and then fades away so while on the water it’s impossible to just find it,” Coyne explains. “Not only that, but actually finding any type of animal in pitch black is just so ridiculously hard. Conditions have to be absolutely perfect for the bioluminescence to show up and to have an animal swim through it so we can film it.” Ultimately, the effort paid off, as his footage documents a stunning moment where all stars aligned for nature to put on a show.

Photographer Patrick Coyne captured footage of a group of dolphins in bioluminescent water, lighting up the dark ocean as they swim.

h/t: [Reddit]

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Photo: Icelandic Meteorological Office via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

On Monday, December 18, a volcano erupted on Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula. While it currently doesn't pose a threat to life, the eruption was larger than scientists had predicted. The pictures taken by authorities and photojournalists depict lava fountains reaching up to 98 feet high, as the glow from the eruption lights up the sky in cities several miles away.

The eruption occurred about two miles north of the town of Grindavík— 25 miles from Reykjavik. The volcanic activity was not unexpected, as it had been preceded by thousands of small earthquakes in the area. This prompted an evacuation weeks prior to the event, and alerted the authorities about the possibility of an eruption.

Iceland is no stranger to volcanic activity. In 2021, many flocked to the Reykjanes peninsula after Fagradalsfjall, a volcano that had been dormant for some 6,000 years, became active once again in March that year. A decade before that, a different Icelandic volcano, the Eyjafjallajökull, produced giant clouds of ash that grounded over 100,000 flights in Europe. Luckily, the characteristics of this eruption do not indicate that similar disruptions will occur.

“Eruptions and earthquakes are a part of our DNA, and we Icelanders are always well prepared for volcanic events,” Icelandair said in a statement. “The country’s incredible nature has given us excellent training and expertise to deal with unique situations.” While operations in Keflavík airport—the largest in the nation—had not been affected, authorities said that they will continue to asses the situation.

To keep everyone safe, the area was closed to all traffic and authorities have strongly urged people to stay away from the volcano. This is especially important given that gases from the eruption can be dangerous, and more vents could still open up along the original fissure. As the world hopes it all turns out ok for Icelanders, the images of the eruption present a mesmerizing show of fire and power from the depths of the earth.

On Monday, December 18, a volcano erupted on Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula.

The 2023 eruption near Grandavik, Iceland, as photographed from a helicopter of the Icelandic Coast Guard. (Photo: Icelandic Meteorological Office via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

While it currently doesn't pose a threat to life, Iceland's volcano eruption was larger than scientists had predicted.

Volcano eruption north of Grindavík sometime after midnight on 19th of December. (Photo: Almannavarnadeild ríkislögreglustjóra via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

The pictures taken by authorities and photojournalists depict lava fountains reaching up to 98 feet high, as the glow from the eruption lights up the sky in cities several miles away.

Volcanic eruption in Iceland near of Grindavík, December 18, 2023, a photo from Garður, municipality Suðurnesjabær. (Photo: Steinninn via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 )

The eruption occurred about 2 miles north of the town of Grindavík—25 miles from Reykjavik.

 

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Una publicación compartida por Reuters (@reuters)

To keep everyone safe, the area was closed to all traffic and authorities have strongly urged people to stay away from the volcano.

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

h/t: [CNN]

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READ: Fiery Photos of Iceland’s Volcano Eruption Show a Surreal Display of Lava and Smoke

 

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Una publicación compartida por National Portrait Gallery USA (@smithsoniannpg)

Trailblazing Americans have their likeness hanging on the walls of the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. The latest to join the company of presidents, entertainers, and athletes with a brand new portrait is Oprah Winfrey. The entrepreneur and TV personality recently unveiled the life-size painting, created by Shawn Michael Warren, in the Washington, D.C., museum.

“As I stand here on the eve of my 70th birthday, to have a portrait included in the National Portrait Gallery, alongside all the greats: Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln and Ida B. Wells, Michelle and Barack Obama, Lena Horne, John F. Kennedy… Oprah Winfrey,” Winfrey said during a speech at the unveiling of the portrait.

Finding the right artist to paint the portrait was a five-year endeavor before Winfrey personally selected Warren. Speaking about this task, the artist told Oprah Daily, “I wanted to carefully represent her, but I also thought about how she would be depicted to the generations that aren’t here yet—who will see it long after we’re gone, 100 years from now, when it starts to cross over into a piece of art history.” The painting sees Winfrey holding an olive branch on a sunny day on the grounds of her Montecito, California, home.

In the portrait, Winfrey dons a floor-length taffeta gown that represents a watershed moment of her career. In 1985, she starred in an adaptation of Steven Spielberg's The Color Purple, which earned her a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, cementing her as a star and media personality. Later, with her role as a producer of the Broadway musical in 2005 and an upcoming 2023 movie adaptation of the musical, Winfrey's relationship with The Color Purple has come full circle, representing her reach behind and in front of the camera.

“Of all the dreams I’ve had, I didn’t even know there was a national gallery to dream and aspire for,” Winfrey wrote on Instagram. The painting is now on view on the first floor of the National Portrait Gallery, and has been added to the museum's permanent collection. The TV personality concluded her message thanking those who made the portrait possible, and invited her fans to go to see it at the museum. She exclaimed, “I can’t wait for y’all to visit the portrait and meet her!”

A new Oprah Winfrey portrait was unveiled at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery.

 

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Una publicación compartida por Shawn Michael Warren (@warrenart)

The life-size painting was created by artist Shawn Michael Warren, and is now part of the museum's permanent collection.

 

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Una publicación compartida por Oprah Daily (@oprahdaily)

Oprah Winfrey: Website | Instagram
h/t: [Today]

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READ: Oprah Winfrey Is Honored With a Painting Permanently at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery

 

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Una publicación compartida por Vineyard Candle Co (@vineyardcandleco)

Ever since its creation in the 19th century, Dr. Pepper has been among the most popular sodas out there. While its fans have celebrated their love for the soft drink with a wide array of merch, from t-shirts to flavored lip balm, a creative company has found inspiration in another element of the drink—its smell. Vineyard Candle Company launched a soy wax candle that smells just like Dr. Pepper.

To make the experience even more vivid for Dr. Pepper fans, the candle is made in a recycled Dr. Pepper can. And just like the soda that inspired it, the candle comes in 7.5, 12, and 16-ounce sizes, with the largest offering up to 45 hours of burn time. “Vineyard Candle Co takes recycled and upcycled glass bottles and brings them back to life with candles and glass material,” writes the company. Additionally, they use all natural 100% soy wax and its products are all hand made.

Even though the Dr. Pepper scented candle is currently all the rage, the company has something for everyone who has a different favorite drink. Whether it's a classic Coke, a Mountain Dew, a Fanta, or even a PBR, you'll surely find your drink of choice here. And if you still long for the Dr. Pepper aesthetic, you can order a candle in the can but with a different scent, from Very Vanilla to Cognac and Cubans. In fact, you can mix match scents and containers.

Vineyard Candle Company's quirky inventory is also available via Etsy's vast marketplace. Should your love transcend that of a soy wax candle, you can also find sweatshirts, slippers, earrings, lights, tumblers, and more to celebrate your favorite drink on Etsy.

Vineyard Candle Company launched a soy wax candle that smells just like Dr. Pepper.

@5stark4y THE WAY IT ACTUALLY SMELLS LIKE DR PEPPER THO.. Its so cute my favorite candle ive ever gotten for sure. Definitely should buy it if anyone you know loves dr pepper. #fyp #drpepper #drpeppercandl ♬ My Love Mine All Mine – Mitski

To make the experience even more vivid for Dr. Pepper fans, the candle is made in a recycled Dr Pepper can.

@shayna.c3 Perfect gift idea #drpepper #drpeppercandle #giftideas ♬ original sound – Shayna

Vineyard Candle Co: Website | Instagram
h/t: [Apartment Therapy]

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission. Please read our disclosure for more info.

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READ: People Are Buying This Dr. Pepper Candle That Smells Just Like the Fan-Favorite Soft Drink

 

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Una publicación compartida por @nkmann5

New York City has long been a bustling city—a characteristic that transcends its financial hubs and runs through all of its neighborhoods. In a tribute to its robust history, multimedia artist Adrian Sas partnered with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation for Broadway: Now & Then, a new piece of public art that offers a look into the past. When looking it at it from different angles, the lenticular photo installation shifts between a photograph taken in 1910 and an image snapped in the present day, both captured at the same location—the corner of 157th Street and Broadway.

Broadway: Now & Then builds a bridge between old and new in architecture, urban planning, design, culture, technology, and photography. The 1910 image was taken by photographer Thaddeus Wilkerson, and depicts a horse and buggy, which have been replaced by cars and e-bikes. Most notably, the building in the foreground still stands and maintains its architectural style, having evolved from the distribution hub among the first to supply New Yorkers with pasteurized, bottled milk, to a gym and a fast food locale. The subway, which opened six years before the picture was taken, had its entrance moved to the sidewalk.

“It's a time machine, of sorts, that I built to transport passersby from a contemporary moment to one more than a century ago,” Sas explains on Instagram. “Flipping between an archival image from 1910 (courtesy of [the Museum of the City of New York]) and a photograph I took earlier this year, of the very same street corner where it is installed, this 4-foot-wide lenticular composition provides a unique perspective on the ever-evolving city I love.”

The installation, which was funded by the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, will be on view at Ilka Tanya Payán Park for the next six months. To stay up to date with the artist, follow Sas on Instagram.

Broadway: Now & Then is a new lenticular installation by multimedia artist Adrian Sas that offers a look into the past of a New York City street corner.

 

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Una publicación compartida por Adrian Sas (@pixsas)

Adrian Sas: Website | Instagram
h/t: [Laughing Squid]

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Photo: Caitlyn Moore/GoFundMe

Even when all hope seems lost, miracles can still happen. Just ask the Moore family, whose 4-month-old baby Lord survived a tornado in extraordinary circumstances. The baby was inside his bassinet when a tornado ripped through the roof of his parents' mobile home in Tennessee, picking up the child. Despite the terrifying scene, Lord was later found safe and sound.

“The tip of the tornado came down and picked up the bassinet with my baby, Lord, in it,” Sydney Moore, the boy's mother, told local news station WSMV. “He was the first thing to go up.” While Lord's father lunged to protect the baby in the bassinet, he ended up getting picked up by the tornado as well. “He was just holding onto the bassinet the whole time, and they went into circles, he said, and then they got thrown.”

As it all unfolded, the mom of two was holding onto her 1-year-old, Princeton. “Something in me just told me to run and jump on top of my son,” Moore explained. “Literally the moment I jumped on him, the walls collapsed.” Once the tornado passed, they were able to escape the rubble, and immediately started looking for Lord, worried about what might have happened to him.

Searching through the wreckage, they feared the worst. But then, they spotted a familiar sight—the bassinet, in what Moore described “like a little tree cradle.” Inside was baby Lord, with only minor cuts and bruises. “We are told that he looked like he was placed on the tree gently. Like an angel guided him safely to that spot,” wrote Moore's sister Caitlyn.

Once the family was reunited, it came time to make sense of their surroundings. Their home and car were completely destroyed. While the mom and her children only had minor injuries, the father had a broken arm and shoulder. While their renters have put them up in a hotel for a month, the family has lost everything. To get them on their feet again, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched by Moore's sister.

“Sydney and her family would like to purchase a home, as you can imagine this has been extremely traumatizing for everyone involved so they do not feel comfortable living in a trailer again,” she explains, adding that the family will need furnishings, vehicle insurance, and baby supplies. The fundraiser has happily met its goal, but you can still make a donation via GoFundMe.

A 4-month-old baby was picked up by a tornado from his home in Tennessee. Despite the terrifying scene, he was later found safe and sound.

Photo: Caitlyn Moore/GoFundMe

Although the baby only had minor injuries, the family lost everything. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help them get back on their feet.

Photo: Caitlyn Moore/GoFundMe

h/t: [BBC]

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Photo: gustavofrazao/Depositphotos

The Amazon is considered the most biodiverse tract of tropical rainforest in the world. Sadly, it has been facing large-scale deforestation due to climate change and logging. In an effort to fight this, Brazil has just pledged $204 million to help restore degraded or destroyed woodland in the Amazon rainforest.

The announcement was made by Brazil's national development bank (BNDES) at the United Nations COP28 climate summit in Dubai. The project aims to rescue 60,000 square km (23,160 square miles)—an area around the size of West Virginia—in the Amazon rainforest by 2030.

The endeavor, named the Arc of Restoration program, will have access to a funding of up to 1 billion reais ($205 million) through 2024. In addition to fighting deforestation, it would also seek to capture 1.65 billion tons of carbon from the atmosphere in six years.

“Avoiding deforestation is no longer the answer to the climate crisis. We need to be more ambitious,” BNDES President Aloizio Mercadante said in a statement. “Let's reforest, so that the forest regenerates. It's the cheapest and quickest answer to the climate crisis because it captures carbon and stores it.”

Carlos Nobre at the University of Sao Paulo, who first proposed the concept for the Arc of Restoration, described the effort as a “very ambitious project.” However, according to him, it would take restoring 70,270 square miles of the Amazon to help avert a tipping point that would see the rainforest turn into a degraded savanna, with just under half that area requiring active replanting. Still, the project offers hope for the future of the Amazon forest. Nobre adds: “This project has been put in place now because the Amazon is nearing a point of no return, so this is a very important, urgent and innovative initiative.”

The Arc of Restoration project was preceded by the announcement of “Tropical Forests Forever,” an initiative spearheaded by Brazilian officials which aims to raise $250 billion for efforts to protect and restore the world’s tropical forests. As overseers of 60% of the Amazon rainforest, Brazil seems to be making important steps in the right direction to salvage a priceless resource.

In an effort to fight deforestation, Brazil has just pledged $204 million to help restore degraded or destroyed woodland in the Amazon rainforest.

Photo: pedarilhos/Depositphotos

The project aims to rescue 60,000 square km (23,160 square miles)—an area around the size of West Virginia—in the Amazon rainforest by 2030.

Photo: pxhidalgo/Depositphotos

h/t: [Reuters]

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READ: Brazil Pledges $204 Million To Restore Damaged Woodland in the Amazon Rainforest

Source: Google

Ever since it was created, Google has changed the way we learn and how we explore the world. As the company turns 25 years old, Google is looking back at the most searched topics, people, and events of the last two and a half decades. The tech company released a short film featuring everything from contemporary pop culture figures to world-changing historical events.

“25 years ago, the world started to search,” begins the video. Among the topics depicted in the video are “the most searched first step in history,” introducing the Apollo 11 landing on the Moon.  Some of the queries provide some insight into what some of the most popular things are, like the 1980s being the most searched decade, while Cristiano Ronaldo is the most searched athlete ever. Pop culture is heavily represented in the recap, with Google presenting the Harry Potter actors as the “most searched cast,” Taylor Swift as the “most searched songwriter,” and Spongebob Squarepants as the “most searched cartoon.”

In addition to the video, Google also shared Search Playground, a “Where's Waldo”-style game where users can find 25 of the most-searched people, food, places, and moments from the past 25 years by testing their knowledge and following the clues. “Trends were our compass,” writes the team. “We dove headfirst into the world's most searched queries, and from that treasure trove, we hand-picked 25 trends that capture the zeitgeist, spark global curiosity, and span every corner of the spectrum. There's something for everyone, zoom in enough and you’ll see.”

Also faithful to their annual traditions, Google present their Year in Search 2023. Globally, the top news story was the war in Israel and Gaza, while Damar Hamlin's health scare and recovery landed him atop of the most searched people list. Following the box office trend, Barbie was the most searched movie, while Hogwarts Legacy was the most searched game. Google also shared the top searches for Maps, where the most searched museum in the world was the Louvre and Barcelona's Park Güell was the most popular park.

You can browse Google's Year in Search 2023 report in its entirety here, as well as exploring what your local community is exploring by entering your city or zip code here.

Google is celebrating its 25th anniversary by looking back at the most searched terms with a poignant video and a game.

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Photo: kozzi2/Depositphotos

LEGO bricks are one of the most beloved toys by kids around the world. Known for their simple design, these tiny plastic bricks can foster infinite creative possibilities. Unfortunately, because of their price tag, they can be just out of reach for kids in underserved communities. Aware of how these toys can inspire and inform children in the long run, a teenager named Charlie Jeffers created Pass the Bricks, a project that collects, cleans, and packaged new building sets with the repurposed blocks, which are then donated to kids who otherwise wouldn't have access to them.

“I believe that every kid deserves access to play and learning tools, and no one does that better than LEGO,” Jeffers states. To achieve this, he gathers LEGO bricks from around his community in Northern California. He then washes, sanitizes, sorts, and reassembles them into “new” sets, which are then redistributed by organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs, the Bay Area Crisis Nursery, and Refugee and Immigrant Transitions. His efforts have even had international reach, with some of his sets being distributed in Ecuador with the help of a neighbor.

Jeffers' endeavor also presents a sustainable practice. LEGO bricks are made of sturdy plastic, which means they are high quality and durable; however, many blocks and sets end up in landfills once their owner disposes of them. By turning the collected pieces into new sets, he gives them a second life, reducing the amount of plastic waste in his community.

This is all with the priceless help of 22 volunteer builders, who put their creativity to work to come up with fun and appealing designs, such as Spider-Man catching a bad guy or Chewbacca on a waterskiing adventure. Aware that every kid has different needs and abilities, the team has created compelling sets with as little as 14 blocks, and complex models such as a 196-piece orange motorcycle. Jeffers then photographs and packs each set in a white box, which is decorated by an image of the assembled set. As a result, kids get the experience of opening a brand new toy.

So far, Pass the Bricks has collected over 900 pounds of LEGO bricks and turned them into over 3,000 sets that have been donated. The teams goal is to launch Pass the Bricks program in 10 cities, while continuing to collect bricks and deliver LEGO sets to kids.

To learn more about this project and get involved, visit Pass the Bricks‘ website.

A teen named Charlie Jeffers created Pass the Bricks, a project that collects, cleans, and packaged new LEGO sets with donated blocks, which are then handed out to kids in underserved communities.

 

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Una publicación compartida por Pass the Bricks (@passthebricks)

This is all with the priceless help of 22 volunteer builders, who put their creativity to work to come up with fun and appealing designs with the repurposed blocks.

 

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Una publicación compartida por Pass the Bricks (@passthebricks)

Jeffers then photographs and packs each set in a white box, which is decorated with an image of the assembled set. This allows kids to get the experience of opening a brand new toy.

 

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Una publicación compartida por Pass the Bricks (@passthebricks)

Pass the Bricks: Website | Instagram
h/t: [Good News Network]

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READ: Teen Collects, Cleans, and Packages Custom LEGO Brick Sets To Donate To Underprivileged Kids