Author: Lisa Mungovan

NASA is looking for Martian-wanna-bees. They’re taking applications for a future year-long simulation, of life on Mars. During the mission, called Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog, 4 people will live in a 3-D recreation of a Mars habitat. Mars Dune Alpha will be mentally challenging, and help NASA prepare for the real thing.

A huge pterosaur was soaring through the skies over Australia, 110,000,000 years ago. With a 23-foot wingspan and a mouth full of sharp teeth, the newly-discovered pterosaur is the largest ever found on the continent. The dragon-like creature, called Thapunngaka shawi, looked like a skull on a long neck with wings. Awesome!

Today, the United Nations celebrates International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. There are over 476,000,000 indigenous people living around the world, in 90 countries. The people that were native to a land, before invaders or explorers came, are trying to preserve unique cultures, languages, and traditions. Research who originally lived in your region.

Books are the best. Book Lovers Day is for those who take time to appreciate a good book. If your home looks more like a library, with books everywhere, this day is for you! It’s also Rice Pudding Day, so cook up a batch of this creamy dessert, and dig in.

Today is Melon Day. There are at least 30 varieties of melon, so if you buy them all, you can have a feast! The biggest cantaloupe in the world, weighed 65.9 pounds, while the world’s biggest watermelon weighed over 350 pounds! Plant the seeds, and maybe you can grow your own watermelon bathtub!

Donald Gorske really likes McDonald’s. He holds the world record, for number of Bic Macs eaten in a lifetime. He decided to eat them every day, after he first tried the sandwich in 19 72. Nearly 50 years later, he’s eaten more than 32,340 Big Mac burgers. Don’t worry, he also walks 6 miles-per-day.

Astronauts at the International Space Station, are having their own Olympics competition. They floated through the air, twisting and turning together for the synchronized space swimming event. No-handball required them to blow ping-pong balls through hatches. There was also the lack-of-floor event, requiring gymnastic feats without landing, and weightless sharpshooting with elastic bands.

Sometimes you don’t try to be happy; it just happens. Celebrate Happiness Happens Day, without planning anything special. Maybe crafts make you happy. 8 8 is the Date To Create, so write a story, or create some art. It’s fun! If dessert makes you happiest, celebrate Frozen Custard Day with some creamy soft-serve deliciousness.

Have you ever been camping? Tonight is Global Sleep Under The Stars Night. Whether you’re an old camping pro, or never slept outdoors in your life, spend the night outdoors. You can pitch a tent in your backyard, sleep on your porch, or pack up and camp in the wilderness. Don’t forget mosquito repellent!

Meow meowey meow. It’s International Cat Day! Spend some quality time with your kitty. Maybe he can teach you to be stealthy. You’ll need it, to celebrate Sneak Some Zucchini Into Your Neighbor’s Porch Day! Some gardens produce so much squash, that it takes creativity to make sure it doesn’t go to waste.