Author: Lisa Mungovan

My raisin bran is crunchy, and kind of chewy too. I’ll bake it in a bundt pan, and make a cake for you! That’s a little poem I made up, for I Love Writing Day. It’s also Raisin Bran Cereal Day, and Bundt Cake Day. Bundt pans can make ring-shaped cakes, or beautiful jello.

Today is Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day! Look way in the back for moldy leftovers, and compost them. Don’t forget to recycle any disposable containers, because it’s also America Recycles Day. Plus, it’s Philanthropy Day, which is giving money to good causes. Buy less, donate more, and give the landfills nothing!

Wind turbines generate electricity, but they have to shut down if the wind gets too strong. In Japan, where tropical storms and typhoons are common, one company is determined to harness the energy from those storms. Challenergy’s Magnus Wind Turbines, spin around a horizontal axis, and can withstand typhoons, while harvesting their tremendous power.

Space travel is difficult for plenty of reasons. Shielding against radiation, is one of the biggest obstacles. The solution could be radiation-loving mushrooms! A fungus called Cladosporium spahaerospermum, actually thrives on radiation, by growing with radiosynthesis. In the future, space travelers could grow, and wear, their own fungi radiation shields.

Antarctica is cold. One penguin must have been fed up with all the ice and snow, because he showed up 3100 miles away, in New Zealand. The Adelie penguin was dehydrated and underweight, so he was taken to the Kaikoura wildlife hospital. He’s recovering with plenty of fluids, and fish smoothies.

Today is Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day. Don’t be so uptight, stop taking everything so seriously, and have some fun. Start your silliness, with Family PJ Day. Spend the day in your pajamas! One thing you shouldn’t loosen up, is your seat belt. For Seat Belt Day, promise to always, always, always buckle up!

Today is Pickle Day. Whether it’s a giant crunchy dill pickle or a tiny sweet gherkin, sliced on a sandwich, or fried on a stick, pickled cucumbers are delicious! Would you try one dipped in squashed avocado? It’s also Spicy Guacamole Day, so this would be the day to try it!

It’s a beautiful sight, to see leaves turn red, orange, and yellow in the autumn. Chlorophyll gives plants their green color, but what compounds cause the other fall colors? Orange leaves are full of beta-carotene, just like carrots. Yellow leaves are showing off their flavonols, while red leaves get their color from anthocyanins.

Students at a high school in Tasmania, are fighting climate change, by making their school energy efficient. They installed solar panels, improved insulation, added more efficient curtains and windows, make fuel for the pellet stove, and ride stationary bikes, to produce power for cooking. Going green has also saved $44,000, in utility bills.

2 tourists slipped down a rock wall, by a waterfall at Canada’s Golden Ears Provincial Park. Luckily, 5 hikers spotted them, stranded far below. The group of international students were wearing turbans, as part of their religion. They unwrapped their turbans, tied them into a 33-foot-long rope, and fished the couple out.