It’s no secret that, here at the 360 Digital Starters hub, we spend our days scouring the internet for interesting snippets and challenges we think our audience would love. Along the way, we often stumble upon incredible stories from around the world that truly baffle and surprise us. Today, we’ll share a few of our favorites.
The effects of lockdown seen from space
The impact of Coronavirus on the environment is so stark in China that it can be seen from space! Thanks to the lockdown and subsequent travel restrictions, there has been a dramatic drop in pollution (primarily nitrogen dioxide) since January. According to a statement from Fei Liu, an air quality researcher at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, “this is the first time [they] have seen such a dramatic drop-off over such a wide area for a specific event.”
The Flat Earth Convention
The Flat Earth International Conference (FEIC) are planning a cruise to what they argue is the edge of the world.
This delusion-filled event plans to prove, once and for all, that the planet is a pancake-like disc and not, in fact, spherical. The event has sadly been put on hold since Coronavirus began to dominate headlines, but we’re keeping our eyes peeled for any updates in 2021.
Check out our myth-busting “True or False” quiz to find out how well you can distinguish fact from fiction.
Bilingual children make better storytellers
According to scientists from the University of Alberta, bilingual children’s ability to switch between languages makes them better storytellers. The reasoning behind it? Bilingual children are more flexible when it comes to exploring different concepts and are able to use this flexibility to convey stories in more creative ways.
Helpful parrots lend a…wing
Following a study of African grey parrots, researchers recently reported that the birds were displaying curious similarities in behavior to that of humans and other great apes. Most intriguing was their willingness to help others in need. The parrots on study voluntarily and spontaneously offered support to other parrots in order to help them achieve their goals and even more remarkably they were intrinsically motivated to help others, regardless of whether they were friends.
Spider spins web in a man’s ear
This story is not for the faint of heart. When a man in China approached doctors complaining of a “crawling sensation” in his right ear, they were shocked to discover that a tiny spider was squatting comfortably near the ear drum and had spun a web that covered the patient’s entire ear canal. This nightmare occurrence luckily caused no harm to the man and doctors were able to remove the crawly creature without any damage.
Liked these? Our quizzes, tests, and articles are always accompanied by fascinating facts, so that readers have the opportunity to learn even more about the topics that interest them. Check out our blog post for our top 10 favorite mind-boggling facts.