Author: Lisa Mungovan

The Puerto Rican crested toad, is a critically endangered species. At one point, they were even believed to be extinct. ZooTampa in Florida, is part of the Species Survival Plan, and they’re helping return crested toads to their native habitat. A special delivery of thousands of tadpoles, was just sent to Puerto Rico.

Periodical cicadas are singing their songs, and they’re loud! The brood 10 cicadas spent the last 17 years underground as nymphs. Now they’re singing as loud as a motorcycle, to find a mate. The volume can reach over 90 decibels! The big bugs are harmless, so hold one on your finger and get a closer look.

On a hot summery day, you need 2 things: an icy snack, and skin protection! It’s Grape Popsicle Day, and Sun Screen Day. 11 year-old Frank Epperson invented popsicles in 1905, when he left a stick in his grape soda and it froze. They were originally called Eppsicles. Apply your sunblock, then enjoy popsicles in the sun!

Today is Cellophane Tape Day. Invented in 1930, clear tape does more than seal packages. Artist Mark Jenkins, uses tape to make sculptures! You might be lucky enough to come across his figures in unusual situations, on the streets in your city. Learn how to use his tape-casting method at tape-sculpture.org, and make your own!

A man in Menlo Park California, writes inspiring messages in his front yard that are quacking people up. Jim Preston uses rubber duckies, to spell out phrases like “Be Strong”, or “No Fear”. Along with words of hope and encouragement, he’ll wish people “Happy Birthday,” by request. Maybe it should say “Quackie Birthday!”

Last week in Florida, a big chunk of ice made a hole in the roof of a house. It went through the edge and landed back outside, so there were no injuries, but nobody knows where it came from! It just fell out of the sky. They won’t need to buy ice for awhile!

Earth takes about 365 days, or one Earth year, to make 1 trip around the Sun. Mercury only takes 88 days, while a Martian year lasts 687 days. Pluto is so far away, that it hasn’t completed a trip around the Sun since it was first discovered, in 19 30! Pluto takes 248 Earth years, to orbit the Sun.

Today is World Lindy Hop Day. The Lindy Hop is a dance from the 19 twenties. If you don’t know anyone that can teach you, look it up and try it! Eat some cheesecake while you dance, because it’s also Blueberry Cheesecake Day. Dessert while dancing sounds sweet.

Break out your cape and plastic fangs, because today is Dracula Day! The famous vampire drank blood, but you can celebrate with fruit punch instead. It’s also Paper Airplane Day. Make a whole fleet of folded aircraft, and see which designs fly straightest, farthest, or loopiest. Find directions for different planes at Foldnfly.com!

Don’t forget to watch the Moon after midnight, as it will look bigger, brighter, and reddish in color. It’s a supermoon, meaning it’s at its closest distance to Earth, and there will also be a lunar eclipse. In California, the eclipse will be around 4 in the morning, but it’ll be around 9 at night in Australia.