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Slovak traditional highland axe dance

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El Ojo ‘The Eye’ Island Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

First discovered by Argentinian filmmaker Sergio Neuspiller in 2003, El Ojo is an uninhabited circular rotating floating island located within a slightly larger circular lake in the Paraná Delta in the Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. This island is constantly rotating on its own axis due to the flow of the river beneath it. The island was named because of its resemblance to an eye when viewed from above: as the island rotates within its surrounding circular lake, the eye appears to move.

Atomic Gardening refers to a mid-20th-century scientific technique that involved exposing plants to radiation in order to induce mutations and create new, potentially improved varieties. The idea behind atomic gardening was to harness the mutagenic effects of radiation, such as X-rays or gamma rays, to induce random genetic mutations in plants. Scientists believed that some of these mutations might lead to desirable traits, such as improved yield, disease resistance, or other beneficial characteristics.

This approach was explored as a method for crop improvement and was part of broader efforts to increase food production in the post-World War II era. The hope was that by exposing plants to radiation, researchers could generate genetic diversity more rapidly than traditional breeding methods, allowing for the development of new and improved crop varieties.

The term "Atomic Gardening" gained popularity in the 1950s and 1960s when various countries, including the United States, conducted experiments in which crops like wheat, rice, and barley were exposed to radiation. However, the technique eventually fell out of favor as researchers better understood the complexities of genetic mutations and the potential risks associated with ionizing radiation. Modern genetic engineering techniques have largely replaced atomic gardening in contemporary agricultural research. However, it remains popular in the Asia-Pacific region.

*Photo | Rio Star Grapefruit: https://historycollection.com/atomic-gardening

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

There is evidence to suggest that chimpanzees, like humans, can experience a phase similar to menopause. Menopause is a biological phenomenon in which females cease to be fertile and undergo hormonal and reproductive changes. In the case of chimpanzees, studies have observed that female chimpanzees also go through a reproductive senescence, a period of time when they cease to reproduce.

Research conducted on wild chimpanzee populations, particularly in East Africa, has shown that female chimpanzees experience a decline in fertility and reproductive success as they age. The age at which chimpanzee females experience reproductive senescence is estimated to be around the mid-30s to early 40s, which is similar to the age range at which human females typically go through menopause.

By the way, the reasons behind reproductive senescence in chimpanzees are not fully understood, but it's believed to be related to physiological changes and possibly ecological factors.

Besides humans and chimpanzees, there are a few other species of animals where females experience menopause or a similar reproductive phenomenon. Here are some examples:

Orcas (Killer Whales): Female killer whales are known to go through menopause. The reasons behind this are not entirely clear, but it is suggested that older females, post-reproductive, play a crucial role in supporting and guiding their offspring and the larger pod, contributing to the survival and reproductive success of their kin.

Short-finned Pilot Whales: Similar to killer whales, short-finned pilot whales also exhibit post-reproductive lifespans, where older females cease reproduction and contribute to the social structure and survival of the group.

Narwhals: Female narwhals have been observed to go through menopause as well. As with other species, post-reproductive females may contribute to the group's overall fitness by assisting with the care of younger members.

Beluga Whales: There is some evidence suggesting that beluga whales also experience a form of menopause. Older females may stop reproducing and play roles in supporting their social groups.