Author: Lisa Mungovan

Today is Mole Day. It has nothing to do with the animals that tunnel underground, or skin growths, or the sauce made from chilies and chocolate. It refers to the unit of measurement for a substance. At 6:02 on 10/23, Avogadro’s Number is represented. 6.02 x 10^23 is roughly the number of particles per mole.

San Juan Capistrano, in California, has a huge population of cliff swallows. Every year, the birds leave around the same time, to migrate south. 6000 swallows leaving at once, is quite a spectacle, so the town celebrates Swallows Depart From San Juan Capistrano Day. After they winter over in Goya Argentina, the swallows will return.

Mysterious holes have been appearing, in Florida’s freshwater riverbanks. Wildlife officials investigated, and found the holes were made by catfish. Sailfin catfish, also known as plecos, use the burrows for nesting sites to protect their young. Unfortunately, plecos are an invasive species, and the catfish condos destabilize banks and disrupt ecosystems.

Today is World Wombat Day, celebrating one of Australia’s wonderful animals. Wombats are marsupials that look kind of like groundhogs. They’re about 3 1/2 feet long, and have a backwards-facing pouch, so it doesn’t fill with dirt as they dig underground. The coolest thing is, wombats have square poop! The cubes stack up nicely.

What’s your dog’s favorite thing to do? It’s Make A Dog’s Day, so take your doggo on a nice long walk, play fetch with the neighbor’s dog, or make a dog’s whole life, by adopting one from a shelter! Don’t forget to pick up the poop. Nobody wants to step in that stuff.

Today is Color Day! Wear your most colorful clothes, use your red pen, and eat colorful fruits and vegetables! It’s also Nut Day, so grab a handful of almonds or walnuts to much on. Then celebrate CAPS LOCK DAY, by using all uppercase letters while typing, for TODAY ONLY. It looks like you’re yelling.

Today is International Stuttering Awareness Day. The speech disorder makes it difficult, to speak the words you want to say. Many famous people have overcome stuttering, like President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Emperor Claudius, Marilyn Monroe, and James Earl Jones, the voice of Darth Vader! It’s hard work, but you’ll succeed!

Don’t forget, the Orionids meteor shower will be at its peak tonight, around 2:00 in the morning. They’ll continue through October. The meteors are created by debris left by Halley’s Comet. Set your alarm and hope for clear skies, and you might get to wish on 20 shooting stars per hour!

Earlier this month, animal rescuers captured an Arctic fox in Oregon. The animal was a long way from its native habitat far north, and didn’t seem to be too afraid of people, so they suspect the fox escaped from illegal captivity. The fox was a little thin and dehydrated, but otherwise healthy.

How many buttons do you have on your clothes? Today is Count Your Buttons Day, so make sure they’re all firmly attached! Eat a delicious apple while you count, because it’s Apple Day! It’s also Reptile Awareness Day. Do lizards, snakes, alligators, or turtles live around your house? Be nice to them!