In The 1870s, 37 Cats Were Tasked To Deliver Mail To Local Villagesin Germany. However, The Cats Were

In the 1870s, 37 cats were tasked to deliver mail to local villages in Germany. However, the cats were not disciplined enough so it was quickly dropped

Could a Cockroach Survive a Fall From Space?

The results are bad news, at least for those of us who aren’t too fond of cockroaches. 

Around 5.4 million people worldwide are bitten by snakes every year. About half of those bites are from venomous snakes, and an estimated 81,000–138,000 people die from them and around three times as many amputations and other permanent disabilities are caused by snakebites annually.

The tradition of the Christmas tree originated in eastern Europe more than 500 years ago. Today, it has become a thriving industry, employing nearly 100,000 people and generating almost $2 billion in revenue annually. Approximately 25-30 million natural Christmas trees are harvested each year, with about 30 percent coming from the Pacific Northwest. Sales of real Christmas trees have increased by nearly 20 percent since 2020, and artificial trees are also popular.

While artificial trees have faced criticism for the chemicals used in their production and their environmental impact, live trees also have their drawbacks.

via The Toxic Truth About Your Christmas Tree

Psychedelic Cryptography

California-based nonprofit group called Qualia Research Institute has awarded cash prizes to artists who made videos encoded with hidden messages that can be most easily deciphered by a person who is tripping on psychedelic substances, such as LSD, ayahuasca, or psilocybin mushrooms.

Meet one of the planet’s smallest turtles: the bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii)! This petite reptile grows up to 4.5 in (11.4 cm) long. It’s easily identifiable by the orange patches on either side of its head.

The bog turtle has an impressive lifespan, with the oldest documented individual reaching an age of 61! Unfortunately, this species is critically endangered due in part to poaching and habitat loss as a result of human expansion.

Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, CC BY 2.0, flickr (juvenile pictured)