Author: Lisa Mungovan

Every year, the World Happiness Report compiles a list of the top 10 happiest countries in the world. After surveying residents in 150 countries, about subjects such as generosity, life expectancy, social support, and freedom. Finland was Number 1, followed by Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Sweden, Norway, Israel, and New Zealand.

With the International Space Station retiring from service in 2030, NASA is joining up with private companies, to make sure work can continue in space. The first private mission to the ISS blasted off yesterday, carrying 4 members from the Axiom Space company. The crew will be doing scientific research, during their 8-day stay.

Did you know, it’s Take Your Parents To The Playground Day? Gather some snacks from the kitchen, and a ball or frisbee, then surprise them with your plans for a picnic at the park! Be sure to push them on the swings, and catch them when they come down the slide, haha!

Don’t call me Alexa today. Call me Malecksahchakahowie. It’s Name Yourself Day! Make a name tag with your new name on it so everyone else will know what to call you, too! It’s also Unicorn Day! Maybe your unicorn will name itself Frank, instead of Princess Rainbow Sparkle-Toes. Have a fun day!

Workers at a New Zealand french fry factory, found an unexpected object, rolling down the conveyor belt. Mixed in with the potatoes, was a muddy hand grenade! Luckily, it was an non-explosive training grenade, from World War 2. It’s a good thing they didn’t try to slice it up!

The newly-detected galaxy HD1, is the most distant galaxy ever discovered. The faint red light from the cluster of stars, has taken 13.5 billion years to reach Earth. Astronomers say the galaxy existed, when the Universe was only 330,000,000 years old. It’s difficult to study something so far away, but they’re doing their best.

Today, eat all your meals packaged in pastry, because it’s Empanada Day. To make empanadas, fold dough around the filling of your choice. You could use cheese, vegetables, fruit, or whatever else you’d like. The pockets are then baked or fried. They’re so popular, some cities even have empanada carts on the street corners.

What looks like a hippopotamus, but is even cuter? A pygmy hippo! Pygmy hippos are much smaller than regular hippopotamuses, weighing only 400-600 pounds. A full-size hippo can weigh 4000 pounds! There are fewer than 2,500 pygmy hippos left in their native habitat, the West African rainforests. They’re nocturnal, so tell them Happy Pygmy Hippo Day tonight.

Today is Zoo Lovers Day. Look for the A-Z-A logo, to show that a zoo is accredited. That means they take great care of their animals! It’s also Draw A Picture Of A Bird Day. Try sketching the unusual birds at the zoo’s aviary, common ones at home, or crazy imaginary birds!

Cracker Jack caramel popcorn and peanut snacks, have been a favorite at baseball games in the US, for over 100 years. Now, inspired by female athletes, Cracker Jack will feature a twist in their packaging, by introducing Cracker Jill. 5 different designs will be available at ballparks this summer, supporting the Women’s Sports Foundation.