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Sharp Increase in the Numbers of Nesting Sea Turtles Rewards a Generation of Hard Work in Greece

By
Andy Corbley
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Photo by Adolfo Félix on Unsplash
Photo by Adolfo Félix on Unsplash

From Spain in the west to Cyprus in the east, the Mediterranean has witnessed a record rise in sea turtle nesting.

It’s taken immense dedication, benefited from technological advances, and needed a long time to come to fruition; nowhere is this truer than on the Greek island of Zakynthos, described as the largest loggerhead turtle maternity ward in the Med.

Since 2023, Greece has recorded over 10,000 sea turtle nests on its beaches, up from averages of 6,000 during the 21st century.

“Throughout the 2000s, we were registering annual declines of about 6% on Crete, for example,” said Dr. Aliki Panagopoulou, research coordinator for Archelon, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece.

“Now we are looking at a dramatic increase in nest numbers, the result of decades of conservation efforts. Our strategy has always been to make sure that as many hatchlings as possible get to the water and are recruited to the population,” he added, speaking with the Guardian.

Dr. Panagopoulou was just one of several scientists and activists speaking with the Guardian about the news of the explosion in turtle nesting numbers. In addition to the rise in nests, there has been a large rise in the numbers of sea turtle hatchlings surviving into adulthood—which under normal circumstances is about 1 in 1,000.

Turtles tagged with radio wave-trackers at birth are now coming back to beaches around Zakynthos to nest—20, sometimes 25 years after the fact.

In some parts of the island, such as Sekania beach, there is one nest for every 50 square centimeters of sand.

Some beaches are strictly monitored during nesting season—a tactic also used in Florida, where sea turtle numbers have been growing steadily for years—and the installation of CCTV cameras has helped keep turtle protection teams alert to the massed presence of predators like ghost crabs and seagulls.

In 2022, Georgia recorded an all-time record of loggerhead sea turtle nests on its beaches, with 5 short of 4,000.

ALSO CHECK OUT: India’s Rhino Stronghold Sees 86% Drop in Poaching and Five-Fold Increase in Rhinos

In 2023, Palm Beach County saw over 20,000 nests—a nesting rate never seen before on several beaches.

African turtle havens Seychelles and Cape Verde have also seen massive increases in the numbers of turtle nests this decade. Cape Verde recorded 200,000 sea turtle nests in 2020. The nation has worked incredibly hard to cut down on poaching of turtles and their eggs.

REGARDING THEIR COUSINS ON LAND: 500 Giant Tortoises Reintroduced to Four Galapagos Islands in 2023

Like Cape Verde, the Seychelles saw their nesting numbers rebound substantially from lows of around 10,000, and the atoll of Aldabara is now the second-largest green sea turtle rookery in East Africa.

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Decorative Throne Room Unearthed May Have Belonged to an Ancient Peruvian Queen

By
Andy Corbley
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Conservator César Alfredo Velásquez and Archaeologist/painter Pedro Neciosup work on the painted throne – By Lisa Trever
Conservator César Alfredo Velásquez and Archaeologist/painter Pedro Neciosup work on the painted throne – By Lisa Trever

Excavations on a pre-Inca site in northern Peru revealed the presence of a throne room where court was held by a woman.

Unfairly obscured by the glory of the Incan Empire, the medieval Moche Culture are known as prolific builders and inspired artists, but it was during this season’s excavations that a startling revelation was made.

Painting on a pillar shows enthroned woman speaking to a bird-man –Photograph by Lisa Trever

Among the remains of the archaeological site known as Pañamarca, a throne room richly decorated with murals has been dug up. The murals are nothing new, because at Pañamarca, there’s not one surface that’s bare, to quote one archaeologist on the dig team.

But this time the murals threw up a surprise—images of a queen, a high priestess, or female god, dominated the depictions. Sometimes receiving lines of people, sometimes sitting on a throne, and other times wielding a scepter—signs of a sovereign almost everywhere, the queen of Pañamarca has breathed new life into the study of this antique culture.

In the shadows of the Aztecs, Inca, and Maya, many other great cultures, civilizations, and even empires flourished in the Americas before the arrival of Europeans. The Moche Culture, with a heartland that rested around modern-day Trujillo in coastal northwest Peru, is just one of these peoples.

Existing from about 350 CE to 850 CE, the Moche painted every square inch of surface area on their large adobe temples and palaces with intricate murals. The most famous finds associated with the Moche are the Temples of the Sun and Moon a short drive from Trujillo.

In contrast to this important site and tourist attraction, Pañamarca is still under excavation, and is under the responsibility of the Archaeological Landscapes of Pañamarca, who released a statement on the discovery.

The adobe throne was found within what project director Jessica Ortiz Zevallos has named the “Hall of the Moche Imaginary” (Sala del Imaginario Moche). It is surrounded by walls and pillars depicting four different scenes of a powerful woman.

SOUTH AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY:

Prior seasons of the project’s research documented a bevy of painted surfaces within this hall, including paintings of elegantly dressed men and women, human-animal hybrid warriors with spider, deer, canid, and serpent features, and multiple battles between the Moche mythic hero and his enemies from the sea.

Lisa Trever with research assistants Joseph Senchyshyn and Riley Tavares behind the painted throne –Photo by José Antonio Ochatoma Cabrera

The powerful woman painted on the walls and pillars of the throne room—as well as on the interior surfaces of the throne itself—is associated with the crescent moon, with the sea and its creatures, and with the arts of spinning and weaving.

Mural paintings uncovered in July include a rare scene of an entire workshop of women spinning and weaving, as well as a procession of men carrying textiles and the female leader’s crown, complete with her braids.

Scholars will debate whether the woman painted on the walls of the throne room is human or mythical (a priestess, goddess, or queen). But the physical evidence of the throne, including the erosion to its back support and the recovery of greenstone beads, fine threads, and even human hair, make clear that it was occupied by a real living person—and the evidence all points to a seventh-century woman leader of Pañamarca.

“Pañamarca continues to surprise us,” says Lisa Trever, an art historian at Columbia University, in the statement, “not only for the ceaseless creativity of its painters but also because their works are overturning our expectations of gender roles in the ancient Moche world.”

Painted architecture within the Hall of the Moche Imaginary, 2024 – by Lisa Trever

The project’s excavations on Pañamarca’s plaza have also revealed a monumental structure that was entirely unknown to prior research. The Hall of the Braided Serpents (Sala de las Serpientes Trenzadas) was also built with wide square pillars. Many of these pillars were arrayed with paintings of intertwining serpents with human legs—a motif not seen elsewhere in Moche art.

Other surfaces were decorated with images of warriors, anthropomorphized weapons, and a large monster chasing a man. The Hall of the Braided Serpents underwent multiple renewal events that included copious material offerings—most notably textiles—burning events, the careful capping of floors, and the whitewashing of previously decorated walls.

“Perched above the plaza, this hall offered a prominent position—almost like box seats at a theater or stadium—from which to observe the goings-on down below, while it also provided private spaces for its privileged occupants,” explains archaeologist Michele L. Koons of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

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“A champion is someone who gets up when he can’t.” – Jack Dempsey

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “A champion is someone who gets up when he can’t.” – Jack Dempsey

Photo by: Katrina Berban

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Rescue Team Finds Dog Stranded in Tree 20 Feet Up–And Reunites Her With Family After Hurricane Helene

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Good News Network
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Credit: Kingsport Fire Department via Facebook
Credit: Kingsport Fire Department via Facebook

Humans aren’t the only ‘loved ones being rescued in the wake of Hurricane Helene destruction.

The situation looked desperate for a dog that lived in Jonesboro, Tennessee, when flooding overtook her home—and her family almost gave up hope that she had survived.

But on Wednesday, October 2, after the Nolichucky River receded, the Kingsport Fire Department was out surveying the wreckage with a team of rescue workers.

A K9 dog was helping search for casualties when he began barking uncontrollably.

“The bloodhound was walking, and then started going crazy,” Capt. Zach Helvey told WCYB News.

“I just happened to look up in the tree and, it was like, ‘oh my God, there’s a dog in the tree.’”

The rescue team found a ladder in the debris and used it to climb up—where they lured the pup with food, straight into a firefighter’s arms.

Back on the ground, Athena was cuddling with all the rescuers. “She was thanking us,” said Zach.

The fire department shared images of their dog rescue on Facebook, and Athena’s family spotted the video.

“I was weeping, I was laughing. I was so happy,” the owner said.

YOUTH to The RESCUE: N. Carolina Youth Pulls Couple and Dog from Pickup Truck Sinking in Floodwaters

Despite watching their home float away ‘like an ark’, they described the reunion with their pooch as “a light at the end of the tunnel.”

WATCH the Rescue Below–And Share The Heartwarming Story on Social Media…

Don’t Forget to Share! 💯🙏🐾

‘It’s Been Amazing’ the Outpouring of Support From Pilots, Business, Celebrities and Government After Hurricane

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Good News Network
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Operation Airdrop loading plane with emergency supplies for Helene victims – Operation Airdrop via FB
Operation Airdrop loading plane with emergency supplies for Helene victims – Operation Airdrop via FB

After Hurricane Helene slammed into the Southeastern US, the governors in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Virginia said they are getting government assistance with their emergency response efforts, and most of the officials have praised the FEMA government action so far.

“It’s been superb,” said SC Gov. Henry McMaster. “We’re getting assistance, and we’re asking for everything we need.”

In hardest-hit North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper said Friday their priority is still search and rescue efforts, with 92 teams currently deployed who are still bringing people to safety. Meanwhile, supplies are being flown into Asheville, NC by the federal FEMA managers.

“They’ve delivered a million liters of water and 600,000 meals (and) we have sent out hundreds of pallets to 20 different locations throughout Western North Carolina.”

“It’s been amazing to see the work that’s going on,” said Cooper, describing it as an “unprecedented massive effort being coordinated among local, state, and federal governments and nonprofits.”

Angels with real wings

One of those nonprofits has become a key to both search-and-rescue and getting supplies to people without water or electricity. Operation Airdrop, a collection of aviators who fly into disaster zones, reported that its nationwide membership logged nearly 600 “missions” in the first two days in North Carolina and Tennessee.

“I’m retired. I’m available. So I came,” said Griffith who flew in his airplane from Ohio. (Watch the video below from WFMY.)

Operating from an airport in Hickory, NC, helicopter pilots—from privately owned choppers to US Army Hueys and Blackhawks—were buzzing in and out for days.

Several of the pilots helped move over 100 nursing home residents, some with dementia, that had been stuck in Burnsville, NC because the facilities were running out of resources, especially medicine.

Companies Showing Heart

Yesterday, FedEx flew in a Boeing 757 loaded with 60,000 pounds of humanitarian relief aid for western North Carolina, along with 3 trucks to help deliver them.

Honda has donated a half million dollars to the relief fund of the American Red Cross, which also received $1 million from Lockheed Martin.

Celebrities are getting involved too.

Dolly Parton, along with her theme parks, will partner with Walmart to provide significant donations to flood relief across Appalachia—with Walmart giving $10 million immediately, and Dolly making a personal donation of $1 million, telling reporters “We’re all here to mend these broken hearts.”

NFL quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Baker Mayfield have donated $50,000 each to Team Rubicon, a Veteran-based nonprofit that deploys its crews of vets into natural disaster sites.

The NFL football family as a whole is also providing $8 million in support, led by contributions from the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the NFL Foundation.

ALSO SEE: North Carolina Sports Come Together to Support Victims of ‘Unprecedented’ Hurricane Helene

A Temporary Fix for Electricity

The regional power company, Duke Energy, is implementing a temporary solution so Asheville neighborhoods without electricity don’t have to wait for their substation, which was ruined in the storm, to be “completely rebuilt”. The company said it will take them three to four months to replace this key piece of infrastructure.

Special crews drove in a 200,000-pound mobile substation from across North Carolina that will restore power to thousands, as soon as this weekend. Other mobile substations are also being mobilized in Western counties.

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New Fabric Inspired by Squid is Leading to Temperature-Controlled Clothing

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Digital rendering of squid by Jigar Panchal
Digital rendering of squid by Jigar Panchal

A radical new fabric that enables temperature-controlled clothing was inspired by squid—and allows for user-adjusted warmth, according to scientists.

Current athletic clothing brands boast temperature-controlling fabrics that may adapt to every climate, with lightweight but warm products. However, American researchers wanted to create a fabric that the wearer can adjust to the specific temperature they need.

Inspired by the color-changing properties of squid skin, researchers from the University of California in Irvine developed a method to manufacture a heat-adjusting material that is breathable—and washable—and can be integrated into the flexible fabric.

“Squid skin is complex, consisting of multiple layers that work together to manipulate light and change the animal’s overall coloration and patterning,” explained Professor Alon Gorodetsky.

“Some of the layers contain organs called chromatophores, which transition between expanded and contracted states, upon muscle action, to change how the skin transmits and reflects visible light.”

Instead of manipulating visible light, the team engineered a revolutionary composite material that operates in the infrared spectrum, because when people heat up they emit some of their heat as invisible, infrared radiation.

Clothing that manipulates and adapts to this emission and is fitted with thermoregulatory features can finely adjust to the desired temperature of the wearer.

According to the research published in the journal APL Bioengineering, the material consists of a polymer covered with copper islands, and stretching it separates the islands and changes how it transmits and reflects infrared light.

UC Irvine / APL Bioengineering / SWNS

Gorodetsky, who authored the paper, says the innovation creates the possibility of controlling the temperature of a garment.

In previous research, also published in APL Bioengineering, the team modeled their composite material’s adaptive infrared properties. Now they have built on the material to increase its functionality by making it washable, breathable, and integrated into fabric.

The researchers layered a thin film onto the composite to enable easy washing without degradation, a practical consideration for any fabric.

MORE INNOVATION:
• A Polyester-Dissolving Process Could Make Modern Clothing Recyclable
• Color-Changing Inks Can Be Printed on Clothing to Warn the Wearer About Potential Health Issues

To make the composite material breathable, the team perforated it, producing an array of holes. The resulting product exhibited air and water vapor permeability similar to cotton fabrics. The researchers then adhered the material to a mesh to demonstrate straightforward fabric integration.

They tested the material’s adaptive infrared properties and used a sweating guarded hot plate (SGHP) installed in a custom chamber to test the dynamic thermoregulatory properties.

Even with simultaneous thin-film layering, perforations, and fabric integration, the materials’ heat-managing performance did not suffer.

“Our advanced composite material now opens opportunities for most wearable applications but may be particularly suited for cold weather clothing like ski jackets, thermal socks, insulated gloves, and winter hats,” said Gorodetsky.

LOVE THIS LOOK: Fashion Student Makes ‘Memory Bears’ for Grieving Folks From the Clothing Of Their Deceased Loved Ones

He says that as well as the possible applications for the fabric, the manufacturing process the team used to develop the fabric is also full of potential.

“The strategies used for endowing our materials with breathability, washability, and fabric compatibility could be translated to several other types of wearable systems, such as washable organic electronics, stretchable e-textiles, and energy-harvesting triboelectric materials.”

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Nearly 9 in 10 Adults Believe in ‘Love at First Sight’ With Their Dogs

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Good News Network
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Getty Images for Unsplash+
Getty Images for Unsplash+

More dog owners had an “instant connection” with their pet than with their own partners, according to a new poll.

The survey of 2,000 dog owners who are in serious relationships revealed that 87% were more likely to believe in “love at first sight” with their animals, compared to people.

80% of respondents said they had an immediate connection with their dog, compared to 69% who said the same for their partner.

Still, one in five said it took time to build a bond with their dog. A few had questioned whether they made the right decision in adopting their pet because they didn’t have an instant connection.

But the wait was worth it: 74% said the bond between them and their dog is stronger because they built it over time.

And, 76% said food is their “love language” and they take great care in feeding their dog.

Commissioned by The Honest Kitchen and conducted by Talker Research, the survey asked respondents if there was anything they wished they knew, ahead of adopting their dog.

Some respondents wished they would have known “the true investment of time” that comes with having a dog—and how “They are literally like raising children.”

“It feels like watching a child grow up, but you know you’re going to outlive them,” said one of those surveyed.

The love they have for their dogs surprised one respondent, who wished they’d had a clue about the amount of joy they bring, saying, “I would have gotten one sooner.”

In fact, despite the challenges, 83% of respondents said the pet ownership experience is even better than expected. And the same number agreed that while it’s messy and not always easy, they wouldn’t change their experience with their dog for anything.

YOUR PET’S LOVE LANGUAGE: Do You Know Your Pet’s Love Language? Survey Shows Which are the Most Popular

“There’s so much to look forward to when you have a dog, but we wouldn’t be honest if we didn’t acknowledge how hard it can be, too,” said Miki Dosen, CMO at The Honest Kitchen.

“It’s important to remember that no two pets are the same—so whether it’s your first pet or your fifth, pet parents are likely in for some surprises along the way.”

“At the end of the day it’s the full experience—both highs and lows—that make it one of the most meaningful relationships people have in their lives.”

“Voting is a chess move, not a valentine.” – Angela Davis

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “Voting is a chess move, not a valentine.” – Angela Davis

Photo by: JEshoots.com

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Single-Dose Gene Therapy is Potentially Life-Changing for Adults with Hemophilia

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Good News Network
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By Kateryna Hliznitsova
By Kateryna Hliznitsova

Adults with hemophilia B saw their number of bleeding episodes drop by an average of 71 percent after a single infusion of gene therapy, according to the results of an international Phase III clinical trial by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.

Hemophilia is a genetic disorder that limits the blood’s ability to clot and affects around 30,000 people in the United States, mostly males. Left untreated, it can cause spontaneous bleeding, particularly internal bleeding into the joints, which, over time, can cause painful joint damage and mobility issues.

Hemophilia B is caused by a lack of clotting factor IX. The gene therapy enables the liver to create factor IX, which allows the blood to clot and protects patients from frequent bleeds.

“What we saw from patients in this study was that within a few days of receiving the gene therapy infusion, it took root, and their bodies started making factor IX for the first time in their lives,” said study investigator and lead author Adam Cuker, MD, MS, section chief for Hematology, and clinical director of the Penn Blood Disorders Center and the Penn Comprehensive Hemophilia Program.

“We always want to be careful about using the word ‘cure’ especially until we have longer follow-up data, but for many of these patients, it’s been life changing.”

After at least one year of follow-up, participants in the study had an average 71 percent reduction in bleed rate after receiving the gene therapy, compared to the year prior, when they were treated with prophylactic infusions of factor IX, the standard treatment for the disease.

In fact, more than half of the 45 patients in the study did not have any bleeds after receiving gene therapy.

Based on the results of this study, the FDA approved the gene therapy (fidanacogene elaparvovec) in April 2024. Cuker was the site lead for the clinical trial at Penn Medicine, which was one of the top-enrolling sites for the study. It represents the second form of gene therapy approved to treat hemophilia B. The first such therapy (etranacogene dezaparvovec-drlb) was approved in November 2022, and Penn Medicine is one of several medical centers in the United States where this treatment is available to patients.

Gene therapies have very specific guidelines that determine eligibility and require specialized knowledge to carry out patient screening and selection, education about treatment risks and benefits, and post-therapy monitoring. Penn Medicine offers access to numerous clinical trials for gene therapy and expertise in administering FDA-approved gene therapies.

Life-changing impact

Currently, for patients with hemophilia B, the standard preventative care is ongoing infusions of factor IX, which is generally effective—but burdensome. Depending on the specific product, a patient requires regular infusions anywhere from once every two weeks up to several times a week. Most patients learn how to put their own IV in to be able to complete their infusions at home—with the goal of regularly give the body enough factor IX to prevent bleeds, though they still occur.

By contrast, the new gene therapy only requires a single dose, and most patients in the study did not need to resume prophylactic factor IX treatments.

“We hear from people born with hemophilia that—even if their disease is well-managed—there’s this burden that’s always in the back of their mind. The frequent infusions, the cost of treatment, the need to plan for infusions when traveling, what happens if they do experience a bleed, and so on, is always there,” said Cuker who previously served as a paid consultant for Pfizer, which funded the study.

“Now that we have patients who were treated on this study and are essentially cured of their hemophilia, they’re telling us about realizing a new, ‘hemophilia-free state of mind.’ As a physician, it’s amazing to see my patients so happy with their new reality.”

In the current study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the most common adverse effect was related to an immune system attack on liver cells that were targeted by the gene therapy, which can render the gene therapy ineffective if not quickly treated. (In the study, affected patients were treated with steroids to limit this immune reaction—and all patients in the study will continue to be followed for at least five years to monitor potential long-term side effects.)

Patients interested in gene therapy for hemophilia can call 800-789-7366 or request an appointment online at Penn Medicine.

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Stunning Job Growth Adds 250K as Wages Rise 4% and Violent Crime Continues Dramatic Drop Across US: New Reports

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Getty Images for Unsplash+
Getty Images for Unsplash+

According to new reports from the FBI and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the United States is seeing hugely positive trend lines continue—falling crime and job growth.

CRIME

For their final annual report covering over 94% of the country’s population, the FBI announced this week that violent crime declined across the country last year, including a dramatic drop in the number of murders—down nearly 12% from 2022 to 2023—the largest decline in decades.

The reported number of rapes also dropped significantly, by more than 9%, while property crime decreased an estimated 2.4%.

Last year, the FBI said in its report, “every city agency covering a population of 1,000,000 or more inhabitants contributed a full 12 months of data” to the bureau’s crime reporting program, according to CNN.

For instance, the Chicago Police Department reported in January their crime stats for 2023, which showed a 12.9% drop in homicides compared to 2022.

However, not all agencies participate in the survey, including the Los Angeles Police Department.

The FBI reported also that crime rates continued dropping from January to June in 2024, in new preliminary report:

“A comparison of data from agencies that voluntarily submitted at least three or more common months of data for January through June 2023 and 2024 indicates reported violent crime decreased by 10.3%. Murder decreased by 22.7%, rape decreased by 17.7%, robbery decreased by 13.6%, and aggravated assault decreased by 8.1%. Reported property crime also decreased by 13.1%.”

When talking to reporters, a senior FBI official defended its Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, which includes more than 16,000 state, county, city, university and college, and tribal agencies, saying that the bureau’s methodology “has been consistent for decades.”

JOB GROWTH SURGES, AS WAGES CLIMB

A blockbuster jobs report on Friday showed the US economy created 254,000 new jobs in September—blowing past economists’ predictions—while revising upward their estimates of the two previous months.

Most of the new jobs were created in food and beverage services (+69,000), health care (+45,000), government (+31,000), social assistance (+27,000), and construction (+25,000).

And, people may have more money in their pocket because over the past 12 months average hourly earnings in the US have increased by 4 percent, well above inflation which is now back down to pre-pandemic levels.

One guest on Fox News, the president of MDB Capital, summed up the data this way: “I thought there would be more red flags than a communist parade in this report, and there’s not a single one. … There’s not one data point in here that I can point to that is not good.”

MORE GREAT TRENDS: 10 Major Metrics Show The American Recovery is Best in the World – And Still Improving

The annual inflation rate over the last 12 months ending in August was 2.5%, compared to 3.4% in the previous year, according to U.S. Labor Department data published on September 11.

Stock markets surged on the good news, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average adding 341 points on Friday, to hit yet another all-time closing high of 42,352.

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Rock Formation Deep in Australian Outback Holds New Clues to Climate Change Now That its True Age is Known

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The Pinnacles limestone rock formation in Australia / SWNS
The Pinnacles limestone rock formation in Australia / SWNS

An unusual rock formation deep in the Australian outback could hold key clues to future climate change, now that it has finally been dated correctly.

The Pinnacles—part of the world’s largest wind-blown limestone belt, spanning more than 600 miles—are providing new insights into Earth’s ancient climate and changing landscape, after scientists investigated iron-rich nuggets found within.

A new study, published in the journal Science Advances, found they were formed about 100,000 years ago during what was the wettest period in the past half-million years for the area—very different from the Mediterranean climate Western Australia enjoys today.

Lead author Dr Matej Lipar says the “spectacular” finger-like stone pinnacles in Nambung National Park are a type of karst created by water dissolving rocks.

“These formations offer crucial insights into ancient climates and environments, but accurately dating them has been extremely challenging until now,” said Dr. Lipar, of Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia.

“Karst landscapes, like those in Nambung National Park, are found globally and serve as sensitive indicators of environmental change. Studying them within an accurate timeline helps us understand how Earth’s geological systems respond to climate shifts.

“We found this period was locally the wettest in the past half-million years, distinct from other regions in Australia and far removed from Western Australia’s current Mediterranean climate.”

MYSTERY SOLVED: The Stonehenge ‘Altar Stone’ Mystery is Solved: It Came from Scotland 460 Miles Away

“An abundance of water during this time caused the limestone to dissolve, forming the distinctive pillars of the Pinnacles and creating the ideal environment for the iron nodules to develop,” explained Lipar, now at the Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

Co-author Associate Professor Martin Danišík says the iron-rich nodules acted as “geological clocks”, trapping helium from the consistent radioactive decay of tiny quantities of naturally occurring uranium and thorium.

“Measuring this helium provides a precise record of when the nodules formed,” said Prof. Danišík, of Curtin University.

LOOK: NASA Stunned by Discovery After Mars Rover Breaks Open a Rock

“The innovative dating techniques developed in this study reveal the nodules date back about 100,000 years, highlighting an exceptionally wet climate period.”

Study co-author Associate Professor Milo Barham explained that being able to reconstruct past climate changes was important given the context it provides to understanding human evolution and ecosystems more broadly amid “dramatic” climate fluctuations over the past three million years.

“This new knowledge will enhance our understanding of global environments and ecosystems, helping us prepare for, and mitigate the impacts of, a warming planet,” said Dr. Barham, also of Curtin University.

LITHIUM DISCOVERY: Pyrite May Be Known as Fool’s Gold, but It Actually Contains a Kind of Green Gold: Lithium

“This research not only advances scientific knowledge but also offers practical insights into climate history and environmental change, relevant to anyone concerned about our planet’s present and future.”

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One-Minute Phone Breaks Help Keep College Students More Focused in Classroom: Study

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Credit: Sam Balye
Credit: Sam Balye

Researchers investigated whether letting students use their phones for very brief amounts of time can enhance classroom performance—and it seems to have worked.

Their long-term experiment showed that allowing one-minute mobile phone breaks in college classrooms could result in more focus, less mobile use during lectures, and higher test scores.

Phones can be useful tools for teachers to remind pupils of deadlines or encourage more exchange between students and teachers, but they can be distracting. On average, students were using their phones for non-academic purposes during lessons as often as 10 times a day.

The team in the U.S. investigated if letting students use their phones for very brief amounts of time—dubbed phone or technology breaks—can enhance classroom performance and reduce mobile use.

Participants were undergraduate students from a large Midwestern university enrolled in a lower division critical thinking course. The mean attendance over 22 class periods was 21 participants.

“To our knowledge, this is the first evaluation of technology breaks in a college classroom,” said study first author Professor Ryan Redner. “We showed that technology breaks may be helpful for reducing cell phone use.”

Throughout a full term, the research team evaluated the effectiveness of technology breaks, lasting one, two, or four minutes, respectively.

In some of the bi-weekly sessions, the researchers introduced equally long question breaks as a control condition. During the breaks, students were not allowed to use their phones but were encouraged to ask questions.

Both breaks occurred 15 minutes into the lecture element of class. In the study, phone use was defined as touching the phone.

The results, published in the journal Frontiers in Education, showed that when technology breaks were introduced, students generally used their phones less often than during the sessions with only question breaks.

During breaks lasting just 60 seconds, phone use was at its lowest, making them the most efficient at reducing the time students spent on their phones during class.

The researchers at Southern Illinois University say it is not yet fully understood why that might be, but Redner said one possibility is that one minute is enough time to read and send a smaller number of messages.

“If they have more time to send many messages, they may be more likely to receive messages and respond again during class.”

Higher Test Scores

The research team also found that in class sessions where one-minute breaks were in effect, students’ test performance peaked.

Higher average test scores for over 80% of participants were consistently observed.

“Our hope is that it means students were less distracted during lecture, which leads to better performance.”

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The researchers say that it is unlikely that students behaved differently knowing their phone use was monitored—an effect called “reactivity”.

“Typically, reactivity occurs early in a study and its effects are reduced over time. We may see some in early sessions, but I am not convinced that we had much reactivity.

“At this point, students are probably used to using cell phones in the college classroom, also under the observation of the professor and other students.”

While the results point to the possible effectiveness of short technology breaks, the researchers said further studies are needed.

“We are trying to find ways to reduce cell phone use and doing so without penalties.

ALSO CHECK OUT: More Teens Than You Think Understand the Positive and Negative Aspects of Smartphones–Survey

“We hope our findings inspire researchers and teachers to try approaches to reducing cell phone use that are reinforcement-based.”

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Your Weekly Horoscope – ‘Free Will Astrology’ From Rob Brezsny

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Our partner Rob Brezsny, who has a new book out, Astrology Is Real: Revelations from My Life as an Oracle, provides his weekly wisdom to enlighten our thinking and motivate our mood. Rob’s Free Will Astrology, is a syndicated weekly column appearing in over a hundred publications. He is also the author of Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How All of Creation Is Conspiring To Shower You with Blessings. (A free preview of the book is available here.)

Here is your weekly horoscope…

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY – Week of October 5, 2024
Copyright by Rob Brezsny, FreeWillAstrology.com

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
On those infrequent occasions when I buy a new gadget, I never read the instructions. Despite the fact that I may not know all the fine points of using my new vacuum cleaner, air purifier, or hairdryer, I ignore the booklet. Research reveals that I am typical. Ninety-two percent of all instructions get thrown away. However, I don’t recommend this approach to you in the coming weeks, whether you’re dealing with gadgets or more intangible things. You really should call on guidance to help you navigate your way through introductory phases and new experiences.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
I knew a Scorpio performance artist who did a splashy public show about private matters. She stationed herself on the rooftop of an apartment building and for 12 hours loudly described everything she felt guilty about. (She was an ex-Catholic who had been raised to regard some normal behavior as sinful.) If you, dear Scorpio, have ever felt an urge to engage in a purge of remorse, now would be an excellent time. I suggest an alternate approach, though. Spend a half hour writing your regrets on paper, then burn the paper in the kitchen sink as you chant something like the following: “With love and compassion for myself, I apologize for my shortcomings and frailties. I declare myself free of shame and guilt. I forgive myself forever.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
Be HEARTY, POTENT, and DYNAMIC, Sagittarius. Don’t worry about decorum and propriety. Be in quest of lively twists that excite the adventurer in you. Avoid anyone who seems to like you best when you are anxious or tightly controlled. Don’t proceed as if you have nothing to lose; instead, act as if you have everything to win. Finally, my dear, ask life to bring you a steady stream of marvels that make you overjoyed to be alive. If you’re feeling extra bold (and I believe you will), request the delivery of a miracle or two.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
19th C. Capricorn author Anne Brontë wrote The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, which many critics regard as the first feminist novel. It challenged contemporary social customs. The main character, Helen, leaves her husband because he’s a bad influence on their son. She goes into hiding, becoming a single mother who supports her family by creating art. Unfortunately, after the author’s death at a young age, her older sister Charlotte suppressed the publication of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. It’s not well-known today. I bring this to your attention, Capricorn, so as to inspire you to action. I believe the coming months will be a favorable time to get the attention and recognition you’ve been denied but thoroughly deserve. Start now! Liberate, express, and disseminate whatever has been suppressed.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
What is the most important question you want to find an answer for during the next year? The coming weeks will be an excellent time to formulate that inquiry clearly and concisely. I urge you to write it out in longhand and place it in a prominent place in your home. Ponder it lightly and lovingly for two minutes every morning upon awakening and each night before sleep. (Key descriptors: “lightly and lovingly.”) As new insights float into your awareness, jot them down. One further suggestion: Create or acquire a symbolic representation of the primal question.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
Scientific research suggests that some foods may be addictive—including pizza, chocolate, potato chips, and ice cream. The good news is that they are not as problematic for long-term health as cocaine, for example. The bad news is that they are not exactly healthy. I invite you to re-order your priorities about addictive things. Now is a favorable time to figure out what substances and activities might be tonifying, invigorating addictions—and then retrain yourself to focus your addictive energy on them. Maybe you could encourage an addiction to juices that blend spinach, cucumber, kale, celery, and apple. Perhaps you could cultivate an addiction to doing a pleasurable form of exercise or reading books that thrill your imagination.

ARIES (March 21-April 19):
During certain ancient rituals, participants are asked, “What binds you? And what will you do to free yourself from what binds you?” I recommend this exercise to you right now, Aries. Here’s a question: Will you replace your shackles with a weaving that inspires and empowers you? In other words, will you shed what binds you and, in its stead, create a bond that links you to an influence you treasure?

TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
If I had to name the zodiac sign that other signs are most likely to underestimate, I would say Taurus. Why? Well, many of you Bulls are rather modest and humble. You prefer to let your practical actions speak louder than fine words. Your well-grounded strength is diligent and poised, not flashy. People may misread your resilience and dependability as signs of passivity. But here’s good news, dear Taurus: In the coming weeks, you will be less likely to be undervalued and overlooked. Even those who have been ignorant of your appeal may tune in to the fullness of your tender power and earthy wisdom.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
In the coming days, I invite you to work on writing an essay called “People and Things I Never Knew I Liked and Loved Until Now.” To get the project started, visit places that have previously been off your radar. Wander around in uncharted territory, inviting life to surprise you. Call on every trick you know to stimulate your imagination and break out of habitual ruts of thinking. A key practice will be to experiment and improvise as you open your heart and your eyes wide. Here’s my prophecy: In the frontiers, you will encounter unruly delights that inspire you to grow wiser.

CANCER (June 21-July 22):
Now is an excellent time to search for new teachers, mentors, and role models. Please cooperate with life’s intention to connect you with people and animals who can inspire your journey for the months and years ahead. A good way to prepare yourself for this onslaught of grace is to contemplate the history of your educational experiences. Who are the heroes, helpers, and villains who have taught you crucial lessons? Another strategy to get ready is to think about what’s most vital for you to learn right now. What are the gaps in your understanding that need to be filled?

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
The English language has more synonyms than any other language. That’s in part because it steals words from many tongues, including German, French, Old Norse, Latin, and Greek, as well as from Algonquin, Chinese, Hindi, Basque, and Tagalog. Japanese may be the next most magpie-like language, borrowing from English, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, French, and German. In accordance with astrological possibilities, I invite you to adopt the spirit of the English and Japanese languages in the coming weeks. Freely borrow and steal influences. Be a collector of sundry inspirations, a scavenger of fun ideas, a gatherer of rich cultural diversity.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
Here are my bold decrees: You are entitled to extra bonuses and special privileges in the coming weeks. The biggest piece of every cake and pie should go to you, as should the freshest wonders, the most provocative revelations, and the wildest breakthroughs. I invite you to give and take extravagant amounts of everything you regard as sweet, rich, and nourishing. I hope you will begin cultivating a skill you are destined to master. I trust you will receive clear and direct answers to at least two nagging questions.

WANT MORE? Listen to Rob’s EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES, 4-5 minute meditations on the current state of your destiny — or subscribe to his unique daily text message service at: RealAstrology.com

(Zodiac images by Numerologysign.com, CC license)

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“Autumn is the mellow time.” – William Allingham

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Good News Network
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Mathieu Odin for Unsplash+

Quote of the Day: “Autumn is the mellow time.” – William Allingham

Photo by: Mathieu Odin for Unsplash+

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Miracle Twins Given 10% Chance of Survival Are Now Thriving Thanks to Hero Medics

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Andy Corbley
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(left) Kelsea and Willow credit - Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity, released
(left) Kelsea and Willow credit – Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, released

A Scottish mom is thanking her lucky stars after her “miracle” twins avoided the worst of a potentially mortal fetal complication.

At one point given a 10% chance to live, Kelsea and Willow were born at 32 weeks, breathing on their own. After a one-month stay in the NICU, they went home and are developing normally.

More than halfway into her pregnancy, mother Sally Kynoch from Moray was transferred from Aberdeenshire Maternity Hospital to the Fetal Medicine Department in Glasgow, where she was told her twin girls had a life-threatening complication.

They were diagnosed with stage 4 twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) which describes a condition where two babies share one placenta, locking them in a delicate balance where one could die if it gives away more blood than it receives, and the other could die from an overworked heart if it receives too much.

“After discussing possible options… we decided to go ahead with laser ablation to seal off some of the blood vessels in the placenta so that both babies receive a more equal supply of blood,” Kynoch told the Daily Record.

credit – Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, released.

“This came with a lot of potential risks and complications such as preterm delivery, rupture of membranes, and complications for the babies. But without any treatment, there was only a 10% chance of both twins surviving. Thankfully, the laser ablation was successful.”

OTHER MIRACLE SURVIVORS: When Dying Boy’s Life Support Was Turned off He Began Improving–and Went Home with Parents

“The weeks following the surgery were scary. We didn’t know what to expect,” she said.

MORE STROKES OF LUCK: 6-Year-old Boy Found in the Forest After 150 Searched for Five Days

But nothing undue befell little Willow and her sister Kelsea, who are now 7 months old and going from strength to strength.

SHARE Little Willow And Kelsea’s Harrowing Journey Into Our World… 

Torn Between Volunteering and Dream of Adopting a Cat, 6-year-old Starts Poop Scooping Business

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Andy Corbley
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credit - @poopa.scoopa.luca
credit – @poopa.scoopa.luca

This is Luca Arpin, better known to his neighbors as “Poopa Scoopa Luca.“

His moniker is well-earned, as the 6-year-old styled himself the neighborhood’s #1 number to call for cleaning up after dogs and cats.

“People hate picking up dog poop,” said the first-grader from Warwick, Mass. Speaking with WJAR, Arpin said he has an appreciation for all things tidy, and prefers cleaning up above other activities.

His rate is $15 for one dog, or $20 for multiple dogs. He even has his own business card.

His mother says that volunteering is one of their family’s core values. She and Luca have an enduring love for animals and together have fostered 98 four-legged friends through her work at a local animal shelter.

First to fold laundry or mop a floor, Luca’s mother said that his tendencies to offer his help pro bono at the shelter slowly landed him in a predicament where he wanted to afford to permanently adopt a cat, but couldn’t afford to do so.

Asking mom how he could earn money, the two settled on that poo patrol, which he says is work he doesn’t mind at all.

“I have the coolest kid in the entire world,” said his mother proudly.

MORE ADORABLE KIDS: Boy Offered a Dollar to Man He Thought Was Homeless, Gets Richly Rewarded for His Kindness

It didn’t take long for Luca to save enough money to bring ‘Pebble’ a little female kitten he decided he couldn’t live without, into the busy embrace of their home. Luca continues to work, raising money which he hopes can go to help other animals.

WATCH the story below from KMVT…

OVERWHELM Your Friends With Heartwarming Cuteness With This Kind, Enterprising Lad… 

Mystery of Nazca Lines Deepens as AI Survey Doubles Number of Geoglyphs and Alters Their Meaning

By
Andy Corbley
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Sakai et al. Yamagata University Institute of Nasca, via PNAS, CC 4.0. BY SA
Sakai et al. Yamagata University Institute of Nasca, via PNAS, CC 4.0. BY SA

It took nearly a century to locate the 430 geoglyphs hidden in the Nazca Desert of Peru, but archaeologists surveying almost the entire region with the help of AI just turned up another 303 in a single study period.

Nazca is one of the greatest mysteries in anthropology—why did the Nazca Culture, active perhaps around the first century BCE, take the time to carve, dig, and arrange the Earth into these massive motifs of animals and human figures all over the desert?

The mystery has now deepened considerably.

The artificial intelligence used by the research team, consisting of scientists and archaeologists from Japan, France, Germany, and New York, was poorly trained, the team said, because of the limited number of subjects for it to study.

AI programs trained to identify tumors in X-ray images or mammograms, for example, are trained using thousands of positive cases. In stark contrast, there were only 430 Nazca lines for it to study.

So when the team deployed their AI to examine photographs of the Nazca Pampas taken from airplane, it went ballistic—identifying 47,000 possible matches. The team eventually cut that number down to 1,309 high-potential candidates.

Between September 2022 and February 2023, the team visited as many of the high-potential sites as possible to see whether a geoglyph was there. Aided by drones, they eventually narrowed down the 1,309 to 303.

“Of the 303 newly discovered figurative geoglyphs, 178 were suggested by the model, and 125 were additional finds. Of those, 66 were found as part of an AI-discovered cluster of geoglyphs, while 59 were discovered during the fieldwork without any help from AI,” CNN reports. 

There’s no leading theory in why the Nazca Culture carved or dug out the lines on the ground, which have been well preserved in their unique, dry ecosystem prohibitive to agriculture, and remain visible at least 2,000 years after they were carved. Ideas suppose they are some form of calendar, that they were a pilgrimage site that got out of hand, or that they played some role in communication, dancing, and ceremony.

AI IN ARCHAEOLOGY: AI Used With Cold War Spy Satellites Can Detect Ancient Underground Aqueducts

In the study of the figurative Nazca geoglyphs, the symbols are designated as either a line-type or relief-type geoglyph. Among the most famous line-type examples is the hummingbird, but more than half of the newly identified geoglyphs are relief-type, which more often depict humans, and without the beautiful geometry of the line-type glyphs.

The addition of 303 data points has allowed the study team to more broadly define the style and nature of the geoglyphs. For example, out of the more than 700 known, the line-type geoglyphs are almost all huge. Often utilizing straight lines and U-turns, they average around 90 meters—about 300 feet, in size.

ANCIENT MYSTERIES: 13,000 Years Ago, These Ancient Builders Carved a Calendar into Stone to Mark Destructive Occasion

By contrast, the relief-type geoglyphs, which are often stylized humans, heads, domesticated animals, or things modified/used by humans, average about one-tenth of the size of the line types.

The authors propose that the explanation of what these decorations were for involves how locals traveled across the area.

The figurative, relief-style geoglyphs are arranged often together, and often within sight of hundreds of miles of winding, well-worn footpaths. Using aerial imagery, the team determined that these winding trails had no fixed beginning or end, and were simply a result of continual use. Averaging 30 feet or so in length, these glyphs could be clearly seen by a person even at ground level.

By contrast, the line-type geoglyphs are massive and can only be seen in their entirety from the air. Their margins sat dozens or even hundreds of yards from a network of straight ‘roads’ that could be 120 feet wide at times.

BEFORE YOU GO: How a Chatty Motorist Led to One of the Biggest Finds in Greek Archaeology–the Lost 2,800-year-old Temple of Artemis

These roads ran in straight lines and in trapezoidal arrangements, and passed by each of the largest line-type geoglyphs on the northern boundary of the Nazca Pampas, with their other ends terminating at Cahauchi Temple and the confluence of the Tierras Blancas and Aja rivers.

“This indicates that the network was mainly designed for groups from the Ingenio River Valley to make pilgrimages to the Cahuachi Temple and the confluence of rivers in the Nazca River Valley,” the authors write in their study. 

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San Francisco Opera Offers Prime Tickets For $10 to Get New Folks Interested in Magnum Opuses Like Carmen

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Andy Corbley
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Ticket for Grand Opening of the War Memorial Opera House in 1932 – Credit: San Francisco Opera Archives
Ticket for Grand Opening of the War Memorial Opera House in 1932 – Credit: San Francisco Opera Archives

In 1932, the above ticket to the San Francisco Opera was sold for $10. Now, the artistic company is offering prime seats for the same price to welcome opera-curious locals.

The ticket priced in today’s currency is over $220, but two years ago, in honor of the SF Opera’s 100th anniversary, they rolled back the cost for some prime tickets to celebrate the War Memorial Opera House birthday—and the program was so popular, they’ve extended the offer for the second season.

This Monday, “Opera for the Bay” tickets will go on sale under a partnership with the Dolby family that will subsidize tickets for people who have never seen a magnum opus—or those who’ve not seen one in three years.

Just $10 will get you into prime seating locations to feast your ears—and eyes—on two classics, Carmen and La Boheme. 

“With the company now entering its second century, we want to invite people of all ages and backgrounds around the Bay Area to experience the art produced by this dynamic institution — their opera company,” Dagmar Dolby said when the program launched in 2022.

“We hope the ‘Opera for the Bay’ ticket initiative is the catalyst that encourages the newcomer, entices the opera curious, and welcomes back those who have not been in a while.”

To get a ticket, residents of San Francisco with a zip code between 94000–95999, who haven’t purchased a ticket to a main stage performance at San Francisco Opera in the past three years, can create an account at the SF Opera and visit this page when tickets go on sale.

$10 tickets are limited to two per person, and go on sale online only one month prior to the opening night. If the past is repeated, tickets will go fast.

At noon on Monday, October 10th, tickets for George Bizet’s classic French tragedy Carmen, will go on sale.

Telling the story of a lustful Spanish dragoon who falls in love with a fiery independent gypsy woman, Carmen is a mainstay in any opera calendar and features compositions so famous you may not even know you’ve heard them.

Don’t forget to pass along this amazing opportunity to see a world-class opera by sharing this good news on social media—or directly with friends in San Francisco…

CHECK OUT NEW MOZART: Previously Unknown Mozart Song Discovered in German Library After 200 Years

TO DO IN OCTOBER: Draconid Meteor Shower Offers Chance to See Hundreds of Shooting Stars per Hour in October Skies

“The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work.” – Emile Zola

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work.” – Emile Zola

Photo by: Flow Clark

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Draconid Meteor Shower Offers Chance to See Hundreds of Shooting Stars per Hour in October Skies

By
Andy Corbley
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The Draconid Shower of 2018 - credit Mike Lewinski, Flickr CC 2.0.
The Draconid Shower of 2018 – credit Mike Lewinski, Flickr CC 2.0.

On the night of October 8th, the Earth will pass through a meteor shower radiating from the constellation Draco, an event that stargazers await with great anticipation.

That’s because the Draconid Meteor Shower can often display a peak rate of shooting stars of just a few per hour, but, every few years, exceeds all others for activity.

In 2011, the Draconids approached a rate of 600 per hour; more than the hyper-active Geminids and Perseids, and in 1933, topped out at 6,000 per hour. 

There are reasons to be hopeful for a good show if you’re a stargazer. The Draconid shower is expected to peak around midnight (8th into the 9th of October) so there’s no reason to wake up intolerably early.

The light from the Moon can sometimes obscure the faint light of shooting stars, but a waning crescent moon means that lunar illumination will be just 32% that evening.

To find the constellation of Draco, the great serpent, its body snakes like the letter ‘S’ only backwards, with the tip and lowest section of its tail sitting between the Big Dipper (below) and the Little Dipper (above).

These shooting stars come from the comet 21/Giacobini-Zinner.

“Because this comet has an orbital period of nearly seven years, the next perihelion won’t come until 2025. So we’re not expecting an outburst this year. But, then, no one really knows for sure,” writes EarthSky.com

If the Draconids don’t impress, don’t worry—just 11 days later will be the peak of the Orionids, one of the more routinely active meteor showers.

Originating from the easy-to-locate constellation of Orion’s Belt, they are expected to be at their zenith from the night of October 20th, and through the a.m. hours of October 21st.

One may see up to 21 shooting stars per hour, or around 1 every three minutes.

Much of this information, as usual, comes from Valerie at Space Tourism Guide, who details that for almost all of October the Earth will be passing through meteor showers, including the two already mentioned, and others like the Cameleopardids and the Southern Taurids.

If asked what he will be looking for this year, this author would write that he looks forward to seeing the Pleiades, aka, the Seven Sisters, aka M45, which will be especially visible on October 19th when it passes very close to the newly-waning full moon. The Pleiades can be seen in a dark sky with the naked eye, but any old set of binoculars makes them truly dazzling to behold.

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