Among the more unusual news stories recently…the notes change in a piece of music that lasts 639 years, an orca mother who lost a calf two years ago has another baby, and scientist take a super high-quality picture - of broccoli.
Published in “Science”
Every year, about 3 billion flip-flops are produced. Now scientists have come up with a way to make sure new flip-flops don't add to the massive plastic waste problem in our oceans - by making flip-flops out of algae.
Criminals are targeting the computer systems of school districts, universities, banks, large businesses, and other groups around the world, locking up their computer files, and refusing to unlock them until they are paid.
Two teens helping out on an archeological dig in Israel wound up striking gold - literally. The teenagers revealed a clay pot holding hundreds of gold coins over 1,100 years old.
An unusual experiment in Botswana suggests that painting eyes on the rear ends of cows may help protect them from large predators like lions. Protecting cows could also wind up protecting the lions - from angry farmers.
In recent years, Japan has had many advanced and unusual toilets, including some with automatic lids and self-warming seats. Now one area of Tokyo is trying something completely new - public toilets with see-through walls.
Researchers report that there is 10 times more plastic in the Atlantic Ocean than previously thought. The scientists got their results by collecting samples of "invisible" microplastics below the ocean's surface.
California is battling hundreds of wildfires caused by lightning strikes, and is asking nearby states for help. Already the state has lost more area to wildfires this year than it did in all of 2019.
Among the more unusual news stories recently…scientists discover that some bats use "baby talk" to communicate with their cubs, someone in China just paid $325,000 for a phone number, and a town in Switzerland gets hit with "chocolate snow".
Last year, a group working to protect sea animals rescued two beluga whales from an aquarium in China and flew them to Iceland. The belugas have now been moved into a protected ocean area off the coast of Iceland.