Author: Lisa Mungovan

The Taurid meteor showers can be seen lighting up the night skies, from October to December every year. The Southern Taurids peak this week, with 8 to 12 meteors per hour. The exciting thing about the Taurids, is that they often produce brighter than average fireballs! Set your alarm for midnight, and start watching!

Today is Cook Something Bold And Pungent Day. Try a flavorful Indian curry, or bake garlic bread, and fill your kitchen with delicious smells! Many spices also have health benefits. Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory, cayenne pepper helps burn fat, garlic is good for your heart, cinnamon contains antioxidants, and ginger helps ease nausea.

Today is X-Ray Day. Have you ever broken a bone, or gotten dental X-rays? If you got a copy of your X-ray, take a good look at it. X-rays are a type of radiation, called electromagnetic waves. It takes pictures of the inside of your body, so doctors can look at bones, organs, and teeth.

Today is Cappuccino Day, a delicious version of coffee made with espresso and foamy steamed milk. Speaking of steam, it’s also National STEAM Day, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. The day was created to inspire kids to explore those subjects, for possible careers in the future.

Researchers in Australia are showing that solar farms, can create biodiversity. While agricultural fields discourage wild animals and native plants, solar fields allow them to thrive. Vegetation can grow underneath solar panels, providing shade and food for sheep, cows, and wildlife. The plants also cool the panels, helping them generate electricity more efficiently.

A masked intruder caused chaos, at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. Passengers waiting in the terminal were surprised to see a raccoon, come out of the ceiling. The critter climbed down a cord and scampered around the waiting area, until being safely captured and released outside. Maybe it wanted to fly somewhere for a vacation!

Last month, mysterious black balls were washing up onto the beach in Sydney Australia. One theory was that they were balls of tar, from an oil spill. The truth may be much grosser. Analysis revealed soap scum, cooking oil, and signs of human poop. They probably broke off a greasy fatberg, clogging the sewer.

Scientists get to perform some interesting experiments. Researchers wanted to see how efficiently vampire bats metabolized a recent meal of blood. They made the bats run at different speeds on a tiny treadmill, then measured their oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. I wonder if the bats’ new exercise program improved their fitness!

Gather all your teddy bears, and start hugging. It’s Hug A Bear Day! Although wild bears also look cute and fuzzy, it’s best to leave them alone! It’s also Bittersweet Chocolate With Almonds Day. It’s not the most common candy bar, so today would be a good day to make your own delicious treat!

A hotel in the Philippines, is easy to spot. The Campuestohan Highland Resort, is the largest building in the world, that’s shaped like a chicken. The colorful rooster stands more than 114 feet tall, and holds 15 rooms. The owner believes its calm and commanding appearance, reflects the attitude of the Filipino people.