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Because bee exoskeletons are made of chitin, a fibrous substance that decomposes rather quickly after the animal dies, finding bee exoskeletons preserved for so long is incredibly rare. However, these bees had been sealed within a silk-like waterproof thread created by the mother bee, and over the course of millennia, this casing protected the bees' cells from the outside environment, preventing their decomposition.
#3
Now, scientists have just used DNA analysis to identify four sailors from the doomed Franklin expedition - read more at the link in our profile.
The world is filled with incredible kindness, generosity, and uplifting moments, but it also contains its fair share of hardship, tragedy, and negativity. The problem is that negative stories often grab our attention much more quickly than positive ones. When we constantly read about disasters, conflicts, crimes, or other distressing events, it can leave us feeling emotionally drained and overwhelmed. Of course, these events are real and deserve coverage, especially when they affect people's lives.
However, repeatedly consuming difficult news can take a toll on our mental well-being. Many people walk away from their news feeds feeling anxious, helpless, or discouraged about the state of the world. That's why it's important to recognize how the information we consume affects our mood. While staying informed matters, so does protecting our emotional health.
#4
Just moments after the flight took off, it was detected by the USS Vincennes, a U.S. Navy warship patrolling the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran-Iraq War. The Vincennes had just engaged Iranian g*nboats, and it mistook the civilian aircraft for an Iranian fighter jet heading in its direction. With minutes to react, the ship's captain gave the order to fire — and the warship sh*t Iran Air Flight 655 out of the sky, k**ling everyone onboard.
In the aftermath, the U.S. called the incident a "terrible tragedy" but also blamed Iran for letting its civilian aircraft fly near an active military zone. Iran, meanwhile, called the downing of the aircraft a "barbaric m**sacre," and sued the U.S. in the International Court of Justice. Without admitting liability, the U.S. settled the case and agreed to pay $61.8 million (more than $100 million today) to the victims' families.
But the memory of Iran Air Flight 655 is far from forgotten in Iran today
#5
Go inside the famous Spadena House with 25 whimsical photos by clicking the link in our profile.
#6
They found that four of the children shared a father, and Hillblom's mother ultimately relented and gave blood after she was promised $1 million. The four children were thus proven to be Hillblom's, and because he died without adding a disinheritance clause to his will, the children inherited a huge share of his $600 million estate - read more at the link in our profile.
If you've noticed that many modern news headlines seem unusually dramatic, alarming, or negative, you're not imagining it. The way people consume news has changed dramatically over the past few decades. Earlier generations often relied on physical newspapers, where readers might spend considerable time engaging with articles.
Today, a large portion of global news consumption happens online. In the United States alone, 89% of adults get at least some of their news from the internet, and reliance on digital news sources continues to grow. At the same time, research shows that most users spend less than five minutes per month across all of the top 25 news websites combined. This means news organizations are competing fiercely for an extremely limited amount of reader attention. As a result, many outlets feel pressured to publish eye-catching, emotionally charged, and often negative headlines designed to encourage clicks—a phenomenon commonly known as clickbait.
#7
Since local authorities were no help, the m*rder spree soon became the first big case for the future FBI, which turned the case over to a former Texas Ranger named Tom White, who was willing to work with a Native American agent to investigate the crimes properly. Because of this, a wealthy cattleman named William Hale was later revealed to be one of the masterminds behind the Osage Indian M*rders, along with Hale's nephew Ernest Burkhart, who had married an Osage woman named Mollie solely to steal her fortune after brutally k**ling off a number of her family members. But they weren't the only ones behind this vicious crime spree.
Learn more about the Osage Indian M*rders — and how the FBI investigation only scratched the surface of this deadly conspiracy — at the link in our profile.
#8
Lange asked Owens for a photograph as part of a series she was doing for the federal government to document the plight of migrant laborers. Allegedly, Lange promised Owens she would not distribute the photos, even though these "Migrant Mother" images would become part of history for decades to come.
#9
Mental health experts have increasingly begun examining how constant exposure to troubling news affects people emotionally. Don Grant, PhD, who has worked with teenagers and young adults through both Newport Academy and his private practice in Los Angeles, has observed this impact firsthand. He explains that young people may read a story about an endangered animal species, climate change, or another distressing global issue and not immediately realize how deeply it affects them.
However, the information often lingers in the background of their minds throughout the day. They continue thinking about it, worrying about it, and feeling unsettled by it. As Grant points out, they may find themselves perseverating on the story without fully recognizing why their mood has shifted. The emotional impact can be subtle at first, but it often accumulates over time.
#10
Armed with a knife, a gun, and a Bible, de la Rocque reportedly survived by fighting off wild animals — including polar bears. She was finally rescued two years later in 1544, and her story sparked such interest that the queen of France included it in her short story collection.
#11
After leaving, she filled her pockets with heavy stones and walked into the cold water. Her walking stick and footprints were found on the bank shortly after, but her body wouldn't be recovered for another three weeks.
#12
This is the story of how a eunuch became the empress of Rome - read more at the link in our profile.
Grant refers to this growing phenomenon as "media saturation overload," a term that captures the emotional exhaustion many people experience after consuming large amounts of news and online content. He is far from the only mental health professional noticing this trend. In recent years, several new phrases have entered public conversation to describe similar experiences. Terms such as "doomscrolling," "headline anxiety," and "headline stress disorder" have become increasingly common as people struggle to manage a nonstop stream of information.
Thanks to smartphones and social media, troubling news is no longer limited to a morning newspaper or evening broadcast. Instead, it follows people throughout the day, arriving through notifications, social feeds, videos, and conversations. While technology keeps us connected, it can also make it difficult to mentally disconnect from upsetting events.
#13
Though you'd never know it from the dour expressions in his iconic portraits, Washington absolutely loved to drink. Two days before he signed the U.S. Constitution, shortly before he became president, Washington threw a party for 55 guests in Philadelphia and racked up a bar tab of over $17,000 — plus another $300 for all the glasses they broke. The soon-to-be president and his guests drank 54 bottles of Madeira wine, 60 bottles of Bordeaux, eight bottles of whiskey, 22 bottles of ale, eight bottles of hard cider, 12 jugs of beer, and seven large bowls of punch. And Washington didn't slow down after he ascended to the presidency — when he spent an eyebrow-raising 7 percent of his presidential income on alcohol. He apparently liked to end each night with a full bottle of Madeira, plus some rum or beer.
#14
Never afraid of tackling weighty topics, Rogers centered some of his most enduring episodes on subjects like divorce, the loss of a family pet, and racial harmony. In fact, perhaps the series' most iconic scene came in 1969 when Rogers broke barriers by sharing a pool with a Black policeman character named Officer Clemmons. Likewise unafraid to take up important causes in real life, Rogers also remains famous for testifying before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Communications in 1969 in order to stop proposed budget cuts that would have gutted funding for PBS. As he delivered a heartfelt speech on the importance of children's programming, he brought Committee Chairman John Pastore to tears — and convinced Congress to halt the budget cuts.
#15
But their most treasured find was an intact cavalry sabre known as a Ludwikówka - see more at the link in our profile.
Research has repeatedly shown a connection between frequent news consumption and emotional distress. One study examining news-seeking behaviors and emotional responses found that increased exposure to current headlines (whether through traditional media outlets or social media platforms) can negatively affect mental well-being. Researchers surveyed 2,251 adults during the spring of 2020 and discovered a clear pattern.
The more frequently participants sought information about COVID-19 through television, newspapers, websites, and social media, the more likely they were to report experiencing emotional distress. While staying informed can help people feel prepared, constantly checking for updates can have the opposite effect. Instead of providing reassurance, excessive news consumption may heighten feelings of fear, uncertainty, and worry. This highlights the importance of finding a healthy balance between staying informed and becoming overwhelmed.
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Brian Brown-Easley had been a shy, gentle young man before enlisting in the U.S. Marines. But after his dishonorable discharge, his family noticed a marked change in the man who'd been known as "Easy." He showed signs of paranoia, sometimes flew into fits of rage, and briefly broke off contact with his wife and daughter when he checked himself into a mental hospital. Eventually diagnosed with PTSD, schizophrenia, and paranoia, Brown-Easley seemed to be pulling his life together after his release from the hospital, forming a strong bond with his daughter and supporting himself on his monthly disability payments from the VA. Then, these payments suddenly stopped — and he "just snapped."
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Unfortunately, his condition led to him experiencing congestive heart failure at the age of just 46. The crematoriums in Paris, where he passed, were not big enough to accommodate a body of his size. After his body was sent back to the United States, he was cremated, and his ashes ultimately weighed 17 pounds.
Studies have also linked prolonged exposure to negative news with increased symptoms of anxiety and depression. In fact, one study found measurable increases in these symptoms after just 14 minutes of news consumption. While that may sound surprising, psychologists explain that repeated exposure to distressing information can trigger feelings of helplessness, particularly when the problems being reported feel beyond an individual's control.
Whether it's a natural disaster on the other side of the world or a major global crisis, people often feel emotionally invested but powerless to change the outcome. This combination of concern and lack of control can amplify stress levels. Over time, constant exposure to difficult news stories may contribute to emotional fatigue, making it harder for individuals to maintain a positive outlook and sense of well-being.
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