See what wild things were happening with the world starting with the blind naked mole and moving to the world's oldest man's surprising secret to immortality!
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Holy mole-y
WHERE?
Great Sandy Desert, Australia
WHAT?
A blind, hairy northern marsupial mole also, known as kakarratul, was found and photographed by Indigenous rangers — a rare sight said to occur only a few times every decade. Characterized by their silky golden, flipper hands and lack of eyes, the tiny creatures are often mistaken for guinea pigs. Who knew a blind mole could be so good at hide and seek?
Not quite my tempo, says Chechnya
WHERE?
Chechnya
WHAT?
Chechnya banned music deemed too fast or slow. The culture minister of the Russian Republic said “all musical, vocal and choreographic works should correspond to a tempo of 80-116 beats per minute” to ensure that Chechen music aligns with the nation’s “mentality and musical rhythm.” The ban will apply to many pop and techno songs (Politico has a list).
Total eclipse of the common sense
WHERE?
United States
WHAT?
Google search for “my eyes hurt” spiked across the United States as the solar eclipse passed. Those who looked directly at the solar eclipse, not heeding the warning to wear protective glasses, took to social media and Google to figure out why their eyes were hurting. With the solar eclipse now passed in the U.S. for 2024, expect to see the trend again in the land of the free for the next solar eclipse in 2044.
19 presidential cats
WHERE?
Mexico City, Mexico
WHAT?
Mexico City has granted 19 feral cats the right to roam the National Palace, which is the official presidential residence. These felines have made hiss-tory as the first animals to be granted the title of “living fixed assets,” as declared by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The special strays are now free to prowl every part of the palace as they please — even to walk in on meetings or wander into press conferences.
A museum worker's reverse art heist
WHERE?
Munich, Germany
WHAT?
A worker at Munich 's Pinakothek der Moderne museum was fired after displaying his own artwork in the gallery, the museum confirmed Tuesday. The technician had access to the gallery space outside public hours and has since been punished for hanging one of his own paintings. While the museum would not comment on the painting’s subject or style — to avoid encouraging copycats — a spokesperson did say that "We did not receive any positive feedback on the addition from visitors to the gallery."
Fish on Friday (with extra chips)
WHERE?
London, UK
WHAT?
Fish and chips for a long, healthy life. Englishman John Alfred Tinniswood, aged 111, who has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest man, attributes his longevity to luck, moderation, and... a tradition of having fish and chips every Friday.