Author: Lisa Mungovan

Today is Fairy Day! You might think fairies are cute little creatures, but in Ireland, you don’t mess with the fairy folk. If you see a rock or a ring of trees and bushes in the middle of a field, leave it alone. It’s a fairy fort, and you don’t dare anger the fairies!

A Canadian researcher made a happy discovery. She found a species of harlequin toad, that was previously thought to be extinct. Herpetologist Melissa Costale spotted the Mindo harlequin toad in Ecuador, 30 years after the last reported sighting. 9 other harlequin species have also made a return, after disappearing for decades. It’s great news for toads!

A suspicious package in a German post office, caused the evacuation of 60 people, and made 12 postal workers sick. The package was emitting a foul odor, which turned out to be fruit. Thai durian fruits, have a notoriously noxious smell, but some people still love to eat them. Maybe they shouldv’e sent a postcard instead.

Happy Hydration Day! The human body is about 60% water, and it’s easy to lose it in the hot summertime. Dehydration can make you tired, dizzy, confused, grumpy, or give you a headache. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty, to grab a drink. Humans can survive 3 weeks without food, but only 4 days without water!

Get out all your pink clothes, because it’s Pink Day! The color pink is not just for girls. In fact, it used to be the color for boys in the 19th century, since it’s a lighter shade of red, which was considered masculine. These days, anybody can wear any color, because they’re all great!

Today is Typewriter Day. Typing on a computer, where you can delete mistakes, or move paragraphs around, is so easy. But the printer’s always running out of ink. On a typewriter, you can enjoy rolling the paper in, listening to the clacks and dings, and watching keys strike the paper. It’s so satisfying!

27 years ago, Buster Kast lost his high school class ring, while in a rental car on a family vacation. Chance McDonald was only a baby, when his family rented the same car, and found it. Chance recently set out to find its owner, and reunited a very happy Buster with his long-lost class ring.

Last week in Vermont, there were reports of a large lizard, wandering across the road. A game warden came to investigate, and discovered a 4-foot-long South American tegu. It turned out to be someone’s escaped pet, named Red Dragon. The lizard was reunited with its family unharmed.

Inspired by Akira Miyawaki, a Japanese botanist, European countries are starting to plant tiny forests. A forest full of indigenous trees and plants, packed into a space the size of a tennis court, can become a biodiversity hotspot. Trees grow 10 times faster, shelter native species, and capture loads of harmful CO2. Microforests are magnificent.

Rainforests are home to countless species of plants, animals, and insects, as well as an important source of oxygen. The Amazon rainforest alone, supplies 20% of the world’s oxygen, and holds a fifth of the world’s freshwater. Unfortunately, acres of rainforest are cut down every minute. Educate yourself, in honor of World Rainforest Day.