For many of us‚ the idea of having a home full of adorable four-legged friends sounds like the dream. However‚ the folks who run the YouTube account Life with Malamutes‚ they’ve made this dream a reality. For a while‚ they had three Alaskan malamutes named Phil‚ Niko‚ and Teddy‚ along with a Maine coon cat called Milo. Recently‚ though‚ they added a new member to their family: a second cat named Kodi. As much fun as it is to have a home full of pets‚ one of the challenges is making sure that they all get along. This process can take some time but‚ with patience‚ it’s possible. This has certainly been the case for Kodi who‚ despite being surrounded by giant wolf-like creatures‚ isn’t afraid to make bold choices‚ like eat from Phil’s bowl. YouTube Luckily‚ Kodi and Teddy are starting to warm up to one another. In fact‚ when this massive dog partially sat on Kodi‚ the surprised kitten didn’t seem to mind — though he did look over to Mom with an expression that said‚ “Are you seeing this?” Watch Teddy the husky and Kodi the kitten start to become best friends in the video below. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here! The post Kitten Isn’t So Sure About New Canine Brother At First… But Look At Them Now! appeared first on InspireMore.

Satanic Abortion Ceremonies? Really?!

A pretty pink and white agate sitting in the Natural History Museum‚ London’s Mineralogy Collection since 1883 has turned out to be even more stunning than thought for a surprising reason. Around 15 centimeters (6 inches) across‚ almost completely spherical but otherwise unassuming‚ the specimen has remained in the collection for the last 175 years‚ until a chance finding earlier this year revealed it to be a dinosaur egg.The specimen's attractive interior colors caught the eye of Robin Hansen‚ one of the Mineral Curators at the NHM who helped prepare the specimen when it was selected to go on display in 2018. Then a trip to a mineral show in France helped reveal the significance of the “rock”.'While I was looking around the show‚ a dealer showed me an agatised dinosaur egg‚ which was spherical‚ had a thin rind‚ and dark agate in the middle‚" Hansen told Josh Davis at the NHM. "That was the lightbulb moment when I thought: 'Hang on a minute‚ that looks a lot like the one we've just put on display in the Museum!'"The pieces of the egg fit together perfectly to show how round it was.Image courtesy of © Trustees of the Natural History Museum‚ LondonThe mineral was then inspected by the museum’s dinosaur curators Professor Paul Barrett and Dr Susie Maidment‚ who decided to run a CT scan on the specimen to see what clues they could unveil. Unfortunately‚ the density of the agate meant the CT scan could not pick out any finer details. On the plus side‚ the team agreed that the thin layer around the agate looked like a shell‚ and found that the outside of the specimen suggested that more than one object had been gathered together. Furthermore‚ the specimen was collected in India and the size‚ shape‚ and surface features are the same as those of other specimens of titanosaur eggs from China and Argentina. The egg is thought to date back to 60 million years ago when titanosaurs were the most common dinosaurs living in India. Titanosaurs‚ despite their massive size‚ were thought to have laid clutches of around 30-40 eggs and had no parental care involvement with their offspring. "This specimen is a perfect example of why museum collections are so important‚" explained Hansen. "It was identified and cataloged correctly as an agate in 1883 using the scientific knowledge available at the time.""It is only now that we have recognized that this specimen has something extra special – the agate has infilled this spherical structure‚ which turns out to be a dinosaur egg."The team think this occurred due to volcanic activity causing the egg to become encased in solidified volcanic rock after an eruption. The internal structures would have eventually decomposed‚ and the silica-rich water would have made its way through the rock and into the egg cavity‚ creating the banded agate specimen we see today. To find out more about the nests the titanosaurs would have made‚ check out our exclusive feature on Patagotitan‚ one of the largest dinosaurs to ever walk the Earth.An earlier version of this article was first published in March 2023. 

Nothing ruins a road trip like the feeling of needing to vom all over your car mats – and yet‚ for more than one in four of us‚ it’s pretty common. Motion sickness is annoying for some‚ debilitating for others‚ and strikes seemingly at random‚ with some people getting it their entire lives and others never experiencing it at all. Still more may feel that tell-tale nausea in some circumstances but not others; at one time of their life but not another; heck‚ the feeling can even be worse depending on where you’re at in your menstrual cycle.So what is behind this mysterious and unpredictable phenomenon? Why do some of us have to suffer it while others don’t? And‚ most importantly‚ what can we do about it when it strikes?Who gets motion sickness?If there’s one thing worse than getting motion sickness‚ it’s having it while traveling with someone who doesn’t. Here you are‚ trying every folk remedy you’ve heard of to try not to chuck in your friend’s mom’s car‚ while said friend is calmly reading a classic novel in the back while looking as comfortable as a long-haired cat that’s just found your favorite freshly laundered sweater.“What gives?!” you might think – and the good news is‚ there are answers.The bad news is‚ there aren’t many. “Motion sickness affects people differently‚ and there’s no single reason why some people experience motion sickness more frequently than others‚” explained Saima Rajasingam‚ a lecturer in audiology at Anglia Ruskin University in a piece for The Conversation.For instance‚ we know that “experiences peak around nine or ten years of age‚ and are more common in women‚” she continued. “However‚ it is uncertain as to why this may be the case.”For some of us‚ the urge to hurl on the highway may literally be in our DNA: there are a whopping 35 genetic variants associated with motion sickness‚ according to a 2015 study that analyzed data from 23andMe. Twin studies have corroborated the genetic angle‚ with one 2006 study estimating that as much as 57 percent of a person's susceptibility to motion sickness may be inherited.Motion sickness can go hand-in-hand with other disorders – it seems to be tightly linked to migraine susceptibility‚ for some reason‚ while inner ear problems such as Ménière’s disease also increase the likelihood of experiencing motion sickness‚ Rajasingam noted.For some of us‚ it may just be the roll of the dice. “Some people are just unlucky‚” Timothy Hain‚ an otoneurologist and professor emeritus at Northwestern University‚ told The Atlantic back in 2015. “[They’re] wired to be more sensitive to motion than others.”What causes motion sickness?There are two suggestions as to what’s behind that familiar nausea – one you probably have heard before‚ and one you may not have.The first‚ more common explanation is that it’s your body getting confused by a clash of sensory data. “As we move through space‚ multiple sensors in our middle ear‚ limbs and eyes feed information to our balance center in our brains to orientate us‚” explained UNSW Sydney pharmacology professor Ric Day and University of Sydney Dean of Pharmacy Andrew McLachlan in The Conversation. “It’s when these sources of information are in apparent conflict that we may experience motion sickness.”This theory essentially puts the blame for motion sickness on our balance system. Usually‚ our bodies keep us upright – or walking in a straight line‚ or simply able to pat ourselves on the head without missing – by harnessing a complex network of sensory input from our eyes‚ our muscles‚ and the sloshing around of the fluid in our inner ears. Imagine walking up a hill‚ for instance: our eyes see the vertical lines of the buildings around us; our muscles pick up on the increase in pressure on our feet and the unevenness in our weight as we take a step; and the fluid in our ears tells us that we’re currently upright‚ despite the funny angle at which we’re walking.The problem comes when one of those inputs disagrees with the others. In a plane‚ for example‚ our eyes and muscles are convinced we’re sitting still‚ reading a book‚ or watching an in-flight movie – our inner ear‚ meanwhile‚ is very aware that we’re being pitched and yawed and rolled through the sky at approximately 600 miles per hour.“This is also why the less sensory mismatch we experience in a vehicle‚ the less likely we are to experience motion sickness‚” Rajasingam wrote. “For example‚ traveling in a car on a smooth‚ straight road will cause less sensory mismatch than traveling on a winding road with lots of potholes.”Of course‚ there’s a slight problem with that explanation: we all have inner ears and eyeballs‚ and yet not all of us get motion sickness. But this is where the second explanation of the nauseating phenomenon comes in: perhaps‚ some argue‚ it has to do with our posture.As anybody who has tried to take a long-exposure photo without stabilization knows‚ the human body is constantly moving. Even standing still requires muscle activation: “If you relax all your muscles‚ you collapse on the floor‚” University of Minnesota kinesiologist Thomas Stoffregen told The Atlantic.Precisely how we make all these little movements is unique to each of us – though it does follow some general rules. For example‚ “in women‚ the weight tends to be carried in the hips‚ and in men‚ in the chest‚” Stoffregen said. “You have a big mechanical difference there.”If the theory is correct‚ it’s enough to account for the discrepancy between the sexes‚ Stoffregen said. In experiments‚ "if you were going to get sick you swayed this way‚ if you weren’t‚ you swayed this other way‚” he explained. Similarly‚ it explains why children are more susceptible than adults to yakking in the car: “Before puberty‚ boys’ and girls’ bodies are not all that different‚” Stoffregen pointed out. “And after‚ they are.”Why would this result in motion sickness? Once again‚ it comes down to a mismatch between what our bodies expect‚ and what they actually experience.“Ships are an obvious example‚” Stoffregen told Vox. As the vessel tips this way and that‚ our bodies’ usual micro-movements that should keep us upright are instead fighting against an unpredictable environment: “When the floor is rolling and pitching under you‚ there will be some body movement that is not under your control‚” he said.Of course‚ none of that explains why exactly our bodies think throwing up is the right thing to do – but there is one‚ admittedly controversial‚ explanation for that‚ too.“The deeper‚ more fundamental subconscious systems that regulate our bodies don’t really know how to deal with such internal problems as this‚” wrote neuroscientist Dean Burnett in his 2016 book The Idiot Brain. “In fact‚ as far as the reptile brain is concerned‚ there is only one likely answer: poison.”“In nature‚ that is the only likely thing that can so deeply affect our inner workings and cause them to get so confused‚” he explained. “Poison is bad‚ and if the brain thinks there is poison in the body‚ there is only one reasonable response: get rid of it‚ activate the vomiting reflex‚ pronto.”How to cope with motion sicknessSo‚ if we know – or‚ at least‚ suspect – the cause of motion sickness‚ surely we can treat it‚ right?Well‚ to an extent‚ yes. If we take Stoffregen’s explanation as a starting point‚ for example‚ we can deduce a potential remedy: simply try to reduce the amount of uncontrolled movement your body experiences. Sit in the center of the plane‚ where the turbulence and movement are lowest; consciously anchor your head to the headrest in a car; wherever you are‚ try to sit in as stable a position as possible.This may also be why certain medications such as Dramamine can reduce motion sickness‚ Stoffregen said. “Any sedative will tend to make you move less or wish to sit down as opposed to stand‚ lie down as opposed to sit‚” he explained. “Anything that will stabilize the body will help.”Similarly‚ any action we can take to reduce discordance within our balance system may help. “The longer the experience lasts and the larger the size of the movement‚ the worse the symptoms‚” advised Rajasingam. “For example‚ traveling on a small boat in a storm for more than eight hours will cause quite severe symptoms – whereas a one-hour train journey will probably have little effect‚ even if the track isn’t perfectly smooth.”Some treatments take a little of both. If you’re one of those people who feel sick in the passenger seat of a car‚ but not as a driver – which is a pretty common experience‚ it turns out‚ “probably because drivers are (unsurprisingly) much better at anticipating the motion of a vehicle and move their bodies according to the movement of the vehicle‚” Rajasingam explained – then your best bet is to‚ essentially‚ pretend to be the driver: focus on the horizon‚ Hain suggests‚ and “do everything the driver does.”And if all else fails‚ at least there’s this: eventually‚ motion sickness will almost certainly abate. Not just long-term‚ with age‚ but within a single journey. “There tends to be a reduction in symptoms after a couple of days at sea‚” Day and McLachlan assure. “Medicines can then be reduced and even stopped.” “Symptoms often return when back on dry land‚ usually for just a day or two‚” they add. The universe is nothing if not ironic‚ we suppose.The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice‚ diagnosis‚ or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions. All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text‚ images‚ and links may be edited‚ removed‚ or added to at a later date to keep information current.  

This article first appeared in Issue 14 of our free digital magazine CURIOUS.Twelve thousand years ago‚ changing sea levels left a pocket of water isolated from the rest of the ocean‚ trapping in its confines a group of jellyfish. The unique subspecies can’t be found anywhere else on Earth‚ but exist in their millions in Palau’s Jellyfish Lake.Jellyfish reign supreme inside one of 70 saltwater lakes on an island off the coast of Koror‚ Palau‚ in the western Pacific‚ that’s uninhabited by humans. The water bodies were once connected to the ocean but got cut off thousands of years ago‚ creating unique pockets of ecosystems and unusual food chains including a haven for cnidarians.It’s estimated that Jellyfish Lake may have become isolated from the ocean as far back as 12‚000 years ago‚ trapping its inhabitants. This was due to rising sea levels depositing them in the lake before receding again‚ leaving them behind.Its residents are Mastigias papua etpisoni‚ also known as the golden jellyfish. The unique subspecies is named after former President Ngiratkel Etpison and this marine lake is the species’ exclusive home.They survive in partnership with symbiotic algae that live in their tissues. Collectively‚ these dinoflagellates are known as zooxanthellae‚ a term used to describe single-celled microorganisms that live inside a range of marine invertebrates including demosponges‚ corals‚ jellyfish‚ and nudibranchs.Subscribe to our newsletter and get every issue of CURIOUS delivered to your inbox free each month.The lake is home to millions of jellyfish.Image credit: zaferkizilkaya/Shutterstock.comJellyfish aren’t the only wildlife found in the lake‚ which is lined at its edge by mangrove trees whose tangled roots are bustling with marine invertebrates. It’s also home to moon jellyfish‚ but the golden jellyfish are by far the most numerous. During a peak for the lake’s residents back in 2005‚ it’s estimated there were around 30 million M. papua etpisoni in Jellyfish Lake‚ but most of the time there are thought to be nearer to 5 million swimming around.While they can rest easy without the fear of predators‚ the jellyfish have a job to do. To ensure their tenant zooxanthellae get the sunlight they need for photosynthesis‚ they must rotate and swim around the lake’s surface waters if they’re to receive any energy and nutrients in return.The lake’s collaborating inhabitants aren’t its only peculiar feature‚ as the water column is split up with all the complexity of a B52 shot. In total‚ it’s around 400 meters (1‚312 feet) long and 30 meters (98 feet) deep‚ but not all of the lake is safe to swim in.At a depth of 13 to 15 meters (43 to 49 feet) sits a pink layer of bacteria that light cannot get through‚ creating a barrier beyond which no sunlight or oxygen can reach. This means the bottom water layer is made up of poisonous dissolved hydrogen sulfide gas‚ explains the Coral Reef Research Foundation.So‚ are you going in?How to get there: The best way to visit Jellyfish Lake is as part of a tour as environmental fees and permits are required to swim among the jellies‚ and they can collect you from Koror.CURIOUS magazine is a digital magazine from IFLScience featuring interviews‚ experts‚ deep dives‚ fun facts‚ news‚ book excerpts‚ and much more. Issue 17 is out now.

In the spring of 1973‚ a pair of children encountered a bizarre clown-like figure beckoning to them from beneath a bridge‚ leading them into what some suggest might have been another dimension. Off the coast of Hampshire‚ England‚ lies the Isle of Wight‚ celebrated for its mild climate and natural allure. Yet‚ amidst its beauty‚ an extraordinary encounter unfolded with an intelligent‚ non-human entity. Nestled between the seaside havens of Sandown and the town of Shanklin is the Shanklin &; Sandown Golf Club. Here‚ in May of 1973‚ a peculiar incident commenced on the meticulously groomed fairways. Around 4:00 pm‚… This premium content is for PLUS+ members only. Visit the site and log in/register to read. The post Sam the Sandown Clown: Cryptid‚ Robot‚ Alien‚ Ghost or Hoax? appeared first on Anomalien.com.

Inside the silo of the “legacy media‚” they are alarmed that left-tilting government bureaucrats are being discouraged from telling social-media platforms what speech they should suppress…in the name of “democracy.” In 2020‚ these platforms crushed damaging stories about Hunter Biden and “conspiracy theories” about COVID emerging from a Chinese lab. It doesn’t matter now that the “suppressed” side was correct‚ and the “misinformation” actually came from the Left. The Washington Post expressed alarm under the headline: “U.S. stops helping Big Tech spot foreign meddling amid GOP legal threats.” Notice the Biden gang and the leftist permanent bureaucracy are described as the “U.S.‚” like they’re super-neutral. Reporters Naomi Nix and Cat Zakrzewski began with “The U.S. federal government has stopped warning some social networks about foreign disinformation campaigns on their platforms.” This alarmed the Censorship-Industrial Complex on the Left‚ who were also described super-neutrally as “researchers.” The Post lamented‚ “For months‚ researchers in government and academia have warned that a barrage of lawsuits‚ congressional demands and online attacks are having a chilling effect on programs intended to combat health and election misinformation.” A series of "researchers" are quoted making the left-wing case. Their back-door control of the political narrative through the federal government is pawned off as “election integrity.” If democracy is synonymous with the Democrats‚ then integrity is only assured by Democrat victory.  The Post duo warned‚ “The shift erodes a partnership that was considered crucial to the integrity of elections around the world — just months before voters head to the polls in Taiwan‚ the European Union‚ India and the United States.” Nowhere in this story did these scribes Naomi and Cat give the slightest clue they interviewed a conservative or a Republican outside their tight-knit circle of “researchers.” All the quotes were united with the Post narrative‚ or what one supportive source called the “defender community.” There's passing mentions of Sen. Rand Paul and Rep. Jim Jordan‚ but no quotes. Sen. Mark R. Warner of Virginia‚ the Democratic chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee‚ was quoted as complaining that “legal warfare by far-right actors” has “led to a dire situation.” He was referring to Missouri vs. Biden‚ a lawsuit by Republican attorneys general into how the federal government pressured Big Tech to suppress so-called “misinformation” which might prevent a full accounting of COVID origins or Biden family shenanigans in China and Ukraine. It’s a “dire situation” that judges ruled against the Biden administration pressuring social-media giants to curtail anti-Biden expression. It's terrible that "far-right actors" have spurred "broad legal uncertainty" inhibiting their censorious impulses. The Post pretended these were mere allegations‚ that the lawsuit focused on “ways federal officials allegedly pressured social networks to remove misleading posts about coronavirus vaccines and elections.” Allegedly?? Everyone knows how pre-Musk Twitter suspended the New York Post account for 17 days and temporarily suspended accounts -- even liberal journalists -- who merely retweeted the tabloid’s stories on Hunter Biden. They weren’t “protecting elections.” They were protecting Democrats.  Time magazine proclaimed after the successful suppression: “They were not rigging the election; they were fortifying it.” It's great news that the Big Tech-government partnership to "fortify" the election for the Democrats through censorship has been frustrated by Republican lawsuits and congressional hearings. If we had a slogan for what The Washington Post is fervently supporting here it's.... Democracy Dying In Darkness.