Even though there is evidence of certain self-medication behaviors in animals, so far it has never been known that animals treat their wounds with healing plants. Now, biologists in Indonesia have observed this in a male Sumatran orangutan. After sustaining a facial wound, he ate and repeatedly applied sap from…

Beyond simply providing entertainment and relaxation, watching sports fosters community and belonging, which benefits both individuals and their society. Despite its recognized positive effects, limited evidence exists on the link between watching sports and well-being. To address this gap, the team of Japanese researchers used a multi-method approach and found…

The world’s oldest bird may have lost her mate, but she’s now courting new suitors in her 70s. The Laysan albatross named Wisdom, was photographed dancing with potential mates on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, the seabird’s home. Thought to be around 72 years old and recognized by her band…

The White House recently announced it has issued a final rule that requires airlines to promptly provide passengers with automatic cash refunds when owed. The new rule makes it easy for passengers to obtain refunds when airlines cancel or significantly change their flights, and following significantly delayed checked bags, or…

Researchers have found that vitamin D improves immunity to cancer by encouraging the growth of a type of gut bacteria in lab mice. Given a diet rich in vitamin D, they had better immune resistance to cancers and improved responses to immunotherapy treatment. The team found that vitamin D acts…

Our partner Rob Brezsny, who has a new book out, Astrology Is Real: Revelations from My Life as an Oracle, provides his weekly wisdom to enlighten our thinking and motivate our mood. Rob’s Free Will Astrology, is a syndicated weekly column appearing in over a hundred publications. He is also the…

English couple Margaret Isdale and her husband Robert decided to welcome a teenage girl into their home for foster care back in 1978. Now almost 40 years later, they are receiving a lifetime achievement award, because the octogenarians have fostered an incredible 150 children and teenagers. They’ve seen many dramatic…

Like the mythical Excalibur sword of King Arthur, a relic from 1,000 years ago was recently found lodged upright in a stone in Spain. But while Arthur quested for the Holy Grail and gathered knight-brothers of the church on his holy mission, the sword in the stone in Spain was…

In a world-first, University of Sydney researchers have developed a chemical process using plasma that could create sustainable jet fuel from methane gas emitted from landfills, potentially creating a low-carbon aviation industry. Offering the potential to clear two hurdles in a single leap, the scientists believe that if their process…

In a pair of busts that will end up costing criminals millions, Thai police raided a suspected wildlife smuggling site and saved hundreds of animals. 48 lemurs, 30 primates of various species, several crocodiles, and over 1,000 rare tortoises were seized when a convoy of four smuggling trucks was raided…