Trivia, History & Games

The costume maker who convinced Hersheypark to embrace candy mascots and ‘chocolatize’ their old-timey theme park

The park, with its name originally two words, Hershey Park, opened in the early 1900s when Milton Hershey built it for his chocolate factory workers and their families.
John Haddad, Penn State, The Conversation
Tuesday, April 7
Hersheypark underwent a total transformation in the 1970s, when candy mascots and thrill rides replaced barn animals and old-timey recreations of Tudor England.
The Declaration of Independence did more than assert the Colonies' independence from Britain.

1776’s Declaration of Independence inspired Washington’s troops to fight against the odds – and also helped bring in powerful allies

Christopher Magra, University of Tennessee, The Conversation
Tuesday, April 7

The Declaration of Independence isn’t just a philosophical breakup letter. It was a strategic move to secure vital support for America after its first declaration of war.

New prison policy gives Trump administration more power to punish enemies

Joseph Neff for The Marshall Project
7 hours ago
The Marshall Project reports that a new prison policy under the Trump administration gives Attorney General Todd Blanche the power to manipulate prisoner placements, raising concerns of political favoritism and corruption. 
Very interesting
The benefits of testosterone for women, according to 1,220 patients
Aviva Patz for Hone Health
6 hours ago
Hone Health reports a September 2026 FDA workshop on testosterone for menopausal women, exploring its benefits for sexual desire, energy, and overall health.
Sarah Maddigan for Ally Financial
6 hours ago
Ally Financial reports that parents can secure their children's financial future by planning for key milestones like allowances, first jobs, and college savings.
The Crossword Puzzle

Friday, September 23, 2022

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The leaked document about AI data centers, oil and gas causing a stir in Alberta
Drew Anderson for The Narwhal
Yesterday at 9:00 AM
The Narwhal reports on a leaked cabinet document revealing plans to revamp Alberta's natural gas pipeline system to support AI data center growth, sparking controversy.
Ontario is reviving its threat to cut electricity exports to the US. What does that mean?
Fatima Syed for The Narwhal
3 days ago
The Narwhal reports Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatens to cut electricity exports to the U.S. amid trade tensions, affecting 1.5 million homes and businesses.
Americans are relocating less than ever, but still frustrated by packing
James Kelly for Closets by Design
Thursday, September 24
Closets by Design reports that Americans are moving less than ever, with only 11% relocating in 2024. 
Proposed Roadless Rule rescission could hurt rural economies
Ilana Newman for The Daily Yonder
Wednesday, September 23
The Daily Yonder reports that in August 2026, the Trump administration proposed rescinding the Roadless Rule, risking 45 million acres of public land for development, despite local opposition citing economic and ecological concerns.
Healthcare and insurance rules for 8 investor-residence programs
Dean Fankhauser for Golden Visa Lawyers
Tuesday, September 22
Golden Visa Lawyers reports on healthcare requirements for eight investor-residence programs, highlighting the need for private insurance and public enrollment details.

A 1917 silent film about a deadly factory fire was lost for over a century. It just resurfaced.

Kristin Hunt for UL Research Institutes
Tuesday, September 22

UL Research Institutes reports on the rediscovery of the 1917 silent film "An Unbeliever Convinced," revealing its impact on industrial safety and film preservation.

The cannabis industry’s trafficked workforce

Wufei Yu for The Economic Hardship Reporting Project and High Country News
Tuesday, September 22

The Economic Hardship Reporting Project and High Country News report on how Chinese immigrants are trafficked into New Mexico's marijuana farms, facing exploitation and harsh conditions.

Paleontologists uncover a new ‘Spinosaurus’ species by following a clue from a decades-old book into the Sahara Desert

In this illustration, _Spinosaurus mirabilis_ fight over a carcass some 95 million years ago in what is now the Sahara Desert in Niger.  Dani Navarro

Paul C. Sereno, University of Chicago, The Conversation
Monday, March 16

The hunt for a mythicized fossil hot spot took a team of researchers on a journey through the Sahara Desert.

Jackie Dowling for AT&T
Tuesday, September 22
AT&T reports wildfires are increasing in frequency and severity, emphasizing the need for reliable communication for first responders during emergencies.
Read more.
Why Michelangelo’s ‘Last Judgment’ endures
Virginia Raguin, College of the Holy Cross, The Conversation
Wednesday, February 25
The artist used daring imagery that sparked controversy from the moment it was unveiled.
As part of the Artemis II mission, humans will fly around the Moon for the first time in decades.
NASA’s Artemis II crewed mission to the Moon shows how US space strategy has changed since Apollo – and contrasts with China’s closed program
Michelle L.D. Hanlon, University of Mississippi, The Conversation
Tuesday, January 27
Today, there aren’t just two countries competing to get to the Moon. More countries have space programs, and private industry plays a larger role.
Your shoes might not necessarily free your mind.
Can shoes alter your mind? What neuroscience says about foot sensation and focus
Atom Sarkar, Drexel University, The Conversation
Tuesday, January 27
Your feet can send a lot of sensory information to your brain. But whether you believe that your footwear is affecting your cognition may matter more than what shoes you wear.
A land manager examines young longleaf pines, some in their grassy phase, in a private forest in South Carolina.
How fire, people and history shaped the South’s iconic longleaf pine forests
Andrea De Stefano, Mississippi State University, The Conversation
Tuesday, January 27
One of North America’s richest ecosystems, sustained and shaped by Native peoples before European contact, nearly disappeared. A recovery is underway.
Boston and much of the U.S. faced a cold winter blast in January 2026.
How the polar vortex and warm ocean are intensifying a major US winter storm
Mathew Barlow, UMass Lowell and Judah Cohen, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), The Conversation
Monday, January 26
The atmosphere is a complicated place. Warm temperatures in one spot can contribute to brutally cold storms somewhere else.