Another yacht goes down: Why orcas are evil geniuses
Despite being dubbed the "killer whale," the orca has enjoyed a pretty family-friendly image, whether it's putting on shows with humans at Sea World or starring in 'Free Willy.' But just like how its classification as a whale is misleading (it's actually the largest subspecies of the dolphin family), so too is its friendly reputation. Orcas live in all the world's oceans, from the Arctic Ocean and Antarctica to warmer tropical seas, and in every single one they are menaces, apex predators at the top of the food chain, ruling with an iron fin! Massive, agile, and extremely intelligent, they are the most powerful and deadly animals in the water. And as if that weren't enough, there have been increasing reports in recent years of their species serial killing, vengefully sinking boats, torturing other animals for sport, and more. The most recent incident was more serious than the average boat attack. A 50 ft (15 m) yacht was rammed off course in the Strait of Gibraltar by orcas and eventually sank due to the damage. The two passengers aboard the boat, named the Alboran Cognac, began to feel heavy blows to the hull and rudder around 9 AM local time on Saturday. The yacht began taking on water and they radioed for assistance. Thankfully, an oil tanker in the area took them aboard and brought them to Gibraltar. In the meantime, the yacht slowly sank—another victory for the killer whales. Orca rammings have become common in this area, and are attributed to a subpopulation of around 15 whales collectively named Gladis. Have we got your attention? Then click through to learn more about the evil genius of orcas.
2024-01-18T17:05:37Z
The Best Solo Travel Destinations in the United States for an Unforgettable Adventure
Whether you're looking for nonstop activity or total relaxation. While traveling with friends and family can be a lot of fun, going somewhere alone has its perks. You get to choose everything — the destination, the hotel, the itinerary, the restaurants, how much money you spend and beyond. Only one opinion matters...yours. It's also a great way to push yourself out of your comfort zone, meet new people (if you so choose), unplug, rejuvenate and bask in moments of reflection — or even just escape reality for a few days. Whether you're planning your first adventure on your own or are a solo travel veteran, choosing a destination can be overwhelming, especially if you still have a lot of places to check off your bucket list. The good news is, you don't have to go far for the adventure or relaxation you crave, because there are plenty of options across the U.S. Weighing variables such as walkability, safety, self care opportunities, number of historic sites and museums and access to nature, we've come up with a list of the best places in the U.S. for solo travelers — ranging from mountain and beach destinations to small towns and large cities. Time to book your ticket for one, plan your itinerary (or don't, remember, it's your trip!) and answer to no one except yourself for a few days.
2023-04-21T22:03:00Z
What are the world's safest airlines right now?
Airline Ratings, the world’s only airline safety and product rating website, has published its World's Safest Airline list for 2024. In making its evaluation, Airline Ratings takes into account "a comprehensive range of factors that include serious incidents, recent fatal accidents, audits from aviation’s governing and industry bodies, profitability, industry-leading safety initiatives, expert pilot training assessment and fleet age." The results are timely, revealed shortly after the shocking Japan Airlines accident that occurred on January 2. The Airbus A350 burst into flames following a collision with a Coast Guard aircraft while landing at Tokyo's Haneda airport. Five of the six crew members on the smaller aircraft were killed, but miraculously, all 379 people aboard the Japan Airlines plane managed to escape. So, if you're planning to fly anytime soon, you might first want to browse this list of 25 airlines deemed the safest in the air. Click through and find out which airline has claimed the top spot.
2024-01-08T07:05:45Z
Santa Muerte and the rise of "narco saints"
Mexico, like most Latin American countries, has deep roots in Catholicism. But the country also has a strong pagan tradition that dates back thousands of years. In a country plagued by considerable social issues, poverty, crime, and religion can be a dangerous mix, especially when drug cartels believe their saints make it okay to commit atrocious acts, and even protect them! But these "narco saints," as they are known, are also worshiped by regular, law-abiding citizens—and the cult is growing. So, what's going on, after all? Click through this gallery and delve into the world of Santa Muerte and other narco saints.
2023-03-09T10:17:40Z
30 capital cities with the best air in the world (America’s represented)
Everyone knows bad air quality when they breathe it in, but how does it measure and compare across different capital cities? To get this information, the amount of particulate matter is measured to arrive at a number the residents are breathing in over a period of time. In 2023, IQAir released their World Air Quality Report, looking at the concentration of PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) in capital cities around the world. The report applied population-based adjustments to standardize its results and calculated an annual average of the data. If a city exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) safety guideline of five micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m³) for annual average PM2.5 levels, it meant potential health risks for its residents. So, how did your capital city do? Click on to check out the top 30. (Pictured: CopenHill, Copenhagen, a waste-to-energy plant that doubles as a recreational space, featuring a ski slope on its roof, exemplifying the integration of sustainability and public engagement.)
2024-01-24T08:16:06Z
The 30 loudest animals in the world
Nature truly is a marvel. There are so many unbelievable sights, smells, and in this gallery, sounds. Most people have heard about the legendary howl of a wolf, or the mighty roar of the king of the jungle, yet not many have actually experienced it. The only way to truly understand the intensity of their voices would be to stand before them, but in many cases, that's not a great idea... Instead, we've decided to use the best comparison which is the decibel (represented as dB). The decibel scale shows us how intense a sound is. The higher the number of decibels is, the louder the sound. For reference, a typical car horn can reach 107–109 dB. In this gallery, you'll find 30 of the loudest animals in the world ranked in order of recorded decibels (dB). Click through and prepare to be surprised!
2024-02-15T12:58:43Z
