years

A diver found a $3 million gold cross in a Spanish shipwreck; 20 years later, it vanished from a museum

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A diver found a $3 million gold cross in a Spanish shipwreck; 20 years later, it vanished from a museum

Golden Emerald Cross From 16th‑Century Shipwreck, PC: Teddy Tucker In 1955, a Bermudian diver named Teddy Tucker pulled a gold cross studded with seven emeralds from the wreck of a sixteenth-century Spanish galleon resting in the reefs off Bermuda. It would go on to be called one of the most valuable single objects ever recovered … Read more

In 1965, a couple began counting pigeons in Queensland. Three years later, numbers fell from 4,692 to 1,451, beginning a 60-year conservation story

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In 1965, a couple began counting pigeons in Queensland. Three years later, numbers fell from 4,692 to 1,451, beginning a 60-year conservation story

A couple, Margaret and Arthur Thorsborne, travelled north from Queensland’s Gold Coast to Hinchinbrook Island, a place they knew largely through photographs. They would return many times, eventually making the Cardwell area their home and becoming closely associated with its forests, wetlands and wildlife. Among the animals that caught their attention were pied imperial-pigeons, which … Read more

Archaeologists in Málaga uncovered a 13-metre megalithic tomb more than 5,000 years old; ivory, amber and seashells point to long-distance exchange networks

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Archaeologists in Málaga uncovered a 13-metre megalithic tomb more than 5,000 years old; ivory, amber and seashells point to long-distance exchange networks

Photo credit: University of Cádiz Archaeologists working near Teba in Málaga, southern Spain, have uncovered a remarkably well-preserved megalithic tomb that is more than 5,000 years old. Announced by the University of Cádiz, the structure, known as Dolmen I of the La Lentejuela necropolis stretches about 13 metres, or roughly 42 feet, and contains multiple … Read more

‘After 14 years of dealing with the endless US immigration stress’: H-1B Redditor says he moved to Switzerland and life is incredible

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'After 14 years of dealing with the endless US immigration stress': H-1B Redditor says he moved to Switzerland and life is incredible

Redditor says after living in the US for 14 years with immigration uncertainty, he relocated to Switzerland. A tech lead of a company shared his experience of being an H-1B in the US for years and then finally putting an end to this altogether by relocating to Switzerland. What triggered him was the US immigration … Read more

In 2023, a Swedish couple moved into the dream home they built near Malmö; three years later, they left it behind for a $49,000 rural home in Japan

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In 2023, a Swedish couple moved into the dream home they built near Malmö; three years later, they left it behind for a $49,000 rural home in Japan

As dreaming adults in this world, no matter what you believe and how much you earn, one of the most important parts of everyone’s bucket lists is owning a home. A place that reflects their identity and is just their own. But what happens when you finally have the abode, only to realise that you … Read more

Florida dumped millions of tyres into the ocean to build a reef. More than 50 years later, it is still cleaning them up

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Florida dumped millions of tyres into the ocean to build a reef. More than 50 years later, it is still cleaning them up

In the early 1970s, state officials and the US Army Corps of Engineers approved the dumping of vast numbers of used tyres into the Atlantic Ocean off Broward County, Florida. The idea was simple: create cheap, abundant artificial reef habitat to boost fish populations for anglers. Instead, the scheme left behind what is now known … Read more

In 1999, a dinosaur bone was found on Japan’s Fukushima coast and left unstudied; in 2026, scientists identified it belonged to a 3-metre iguanodontian that lived 90 million years ago

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In 1999, a dinosaur bone was found on Japan’s Fukushima coast and left unstudied; in 2026, scientists identified it belonged to a 3-metre iguanodontian that lived 90 million years ago

Photo credit: Jstage.jst.go.jp A small dinosaur bone discovered in Fukushima, Japan, more than two decades ago has given scientists a new glimpse into the diversity of ancient life along East Asia’s coast.The fossil, found in 1999 and left largely unexamined for years, has now been identified as part of the breastbone of a plant-eating dinosaur … Read more

China planted trees the Taklamakan Desert for nearly 50 years. Satellites now show the landscape is capturing more carbon than it releases

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China planted trees the Taklamakan Desert for nearly 50 years. Satellites now show the landscape is capturing more carbon than it releases

China’s shelterbelt initiative has made remarkable strides, turning arid desert borders into thriving carbon sinks. Through strategic vegetation choices, this project now captures more carbon dioxide than it expels. This achievement is anchored in mountain meltwater, vital for its irrigation systems. The initiative showcases the powerful impact of ecological restoration given optimal environmental conditions, though … Read more

In 1956, an 11-year-old took an abbot’s kneecap and medieval tile from Glastonbury Abbey; 70 years later, his widow returned it from Australia

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In 1956, an 11-year-old took an abbot’s kneecap and medieval tile from Glastonbury Abbey; 70 years later, his widow returned it from Australia

George crafted a special box for the kneecap and floor tile to make the journey back to Somerset. (Picture: Facebook/Glastonbury Abbey) A kneecap believed to have belonged to a medieval abbot has been returned to Glastonbury Abbey in Somerset, England, more than 70 years after it was taken by an 11-year-old schoolboy during an archaeological … Read more

In 1974, a German fisherman released thousands of baby catfish into a Spanish river; 50 years later they are threatening native wildlife as an ‘ecological time bomb’

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In 1974, a German fisherman released thousands of baby catfish into a Spanish river; 50 years later they are threatening native wildlife as an 'ecological time bomb'

German biologist and recreational fisherman Roland Lorkowsky released thousands of juvenile Wels catfish into Spain’s Ebro River in 1974. His goal was simple and positive: to create a world-class sport fishery by introducing one of Europe’s biggest freshwater fish. But today, the Wels catfish has become one of the dominant predators in many Spanish waterways. … Read more