Author: Lisa Mungovan

For a couple of weeks in December, the Geminids meteor showers are visible in the night sky. The meteors appear near the constellation Gemini, created from particles of the asteroid 3200 Phaethon. The best night to see the Geminids will be Sunday night. You could start seeing them at 8, but they’ll peak at 2 a m!

Yesterday at sundown, Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, began. The Jewish holiday commemorates an ancient miracle in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. A one-day supply of oil lit a menorah, which is a type of candelabra, for 8 days. Hanukkah is celebrated for 8 days by lighting the menorah to prayers, songs, food, gifts and games.

Are you missing any mittens? Is your hat in hiding? Today is Lost And Found Day, so try and track down all your missing items. Check the Lost and Found box at school or work, for any your belongings. Clean under your bed, and you may find lost socks, library books, or spare change!

Today is Have A Bagel Day. The dense and chewy bread can be toasted, and topped with anything you like! Take a bagel sandwich, to eat on a hike in the mountains. It’s International Mountain Day! You could ski down a mountain, draw a picture of a mountain, or sculpt one from mashed potatoes!

Wildlife officials in Colorado, had to rescue an overly-decorated deer. A buck had gotten tangled up, in a string of holiday lights. The lights were tied in knots around his antlers and face. They didn’t even light up, because he didn’t have an extension cord. Perhaps he should try a nice wreath instead.

People climbing Mount Everest, will have to climb a little higher. After the first survey in 16 years, Nepal and China found that the tallest mountain in the world, is over 2 feet taller. It now measures 20,031.69 feet above sea level. The Indian continental plate continually pushes against Asia’s, causing the Himalayan mountains to grow upward.

Scientists say sneezes, are like mini atomic bombs. The largest droplets easily travel over 6 feet, while smaller droplets can be carried 20 feet upwards, by a buoyant vortex. Aiming your head downwards, helps direct droplets away from ventilation systems. Always sneeze into your elbow! Masks help to keep gross droplets, in your own space.

Today is Human Rights Day. 72 years ago, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It said every human being, has the right to equality, life, liberty, personal security, education, information, religious freedom, get married, own property, and be innocent until proven guilty. They also deserve freedom from slavery, torture, and discrimination.

Today is Dewey Decimal System Day. When you go to the library to look for a book, you’re probably using Melvil Dewey’s classification system, which he invented in 1876. You’ll see the number on the spine of the book, which lets librarians know exactly where to file it!

Did you know that a goldfish, needs a 20-gallon tank, is not compatible with other fish, and can live 30 years? They’ll grow to fit the size of their tank. Apparently, someone released their goldfish into a lake in South Carolina. It was discovered in a fish survey, after happily growing into a 9-pound giant.