Penguins Can’t Help With Air Mail

The world’s southernmost post office, in Antarctica, is hiring. Port Lockroy’s post office processes about 80,000 letters and postcards each year, but its employees are also responsible for counting penguins. The penguin post office is on Goudier Island, which is home to a colony of 1,500 gentoo penguins, and lots of penguin poop.

Worms Were Hiding In the Salty Mud

The Great Salt Lake, in Utah, is one of Earth’s saltiest bodies of water. Scientists previously believed it was home to only 2 animals, bigger than single-celled bacteria and algae. Brine shrimp and brine flies lived in the hyper-saline waters, and now nematodes have also been found under the surface. Wiggly worms were everywhere.

That’s Not Trash Yet

The world is full of stuff, that can be used again. Discarded plastics can become new roads. Electronics can be broken down to recover precious metals. Old clothes can be worn again by someone else. Uneaten food can be composted to become soil. For Global Recycling Day, vow to start recycling everything you can.

Forgive Being Awkward

Today is Forgive Mom And Dad Day. Did they make you eat a disgusting vegetable? Or scrub the dirt off your face? Forgive them for being so mean! Maybe they shared a mortifying photo of you. Don’t stay mad, because it’s also Awkward Moments Day! Everyone does embarrassing things sometimes. Just laugh it off!

That’s a Funny Hat You’re Wearing

A museum in Missouri holds the dubious honor, of setting a record for the largest gathering of people wearing underwear on their heads. 355 people met at the City Museum topped with underwear, to set the world record. Afterwards, visitors could see the largest underpants in the world, on display at the museum.

Mountain Lion Heads East

A mountain lion named P66, took scientists on a long trip. The cougar was fitted with a GPS collar, to track her movements. Her journey started in Central Utah, and ended 1000 miles later, on the eastern slopes of the Rockies. Biologists believe the big cats could be reintroduced east of the Rocky Mountains.

Plan a Quick Trip

Hey 4th graders, would you like to visit a National Park over spring break? The year you’re in 4th grade in the United States, you can get into any National Park for free! Students can print a free annual pass, good for everyone in the car, at Every-Kid-Outdoors.gov. Where will you go first?

 

Under Pressure

12 people have walked on the Moon. Making it to the bottom of the ocean is almost as rare, because only 27 people have visited Challenger Deep, over 36,000 feet down, at the bottom of the Mariana Trench. The submarines had to withstand 15,750 pounds-per-square-inch. Congratulations to tiny subs, on Submarine Day.

Everything Is Green

Today is Saint Patrick’s Day. Patrick was British, but became a Christian missionary in Ireland in the 5th century. The Feast of Saint Patrick has become a celebration of all things Irish, from shamrocks to leprechauns to the color green. Bake some Irish soda bread, and dye the butter green. Happy Paddy’s Day!

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