Did you know that the vibrant hues leaves turn in the fall are their actual colors? It's true — leaves that change color are naturally those orange, red and yellow shades, but during half of the year, those hues are overwhelmed by green chlorophyll. Colder, cloudier months mean less chlorophyll, which means the trees and flora can finally show their true colors. It's kind of poetic, isn't it? A lot of people see the changing colors of the season as a prelude to the barrenness of winter, but really it's a special show all its own — one full of unexpected, unique life.
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Our favorites this week
Get going with some of our most popular good news stories of the week
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A family affair
A grandmother, mother and two daughters are among the newest group of students at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Yes, three generations at once! Sisters Samantha Malczewski and Mia Carter are undergrads (they even share a dorm), and are joined by their grandmother and mother, who are both pursuing graduate degrees. Amy Malczewski, who represents the middle generation of the group, is a graphic design instructor and a career specialist for students who decided to pursue a master's degree in her free time. She convinced her mother, Christy Schwan, to join in and get her own master's. Carthage is no stranger to family connections on campus, but they said this is the first time three whole generations have been studying at once.
Read the full story here.
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Art in a changing land
Bidi Bidi is one of the world's largest refugee settlements in the world. Located outside of the Ugandan town of Yumbe, the area began as a rapidly growing camp for refugees fleeing South Sudan’s civil war, but has now become a permanent settlement. With permanence, with some modicum of security, comes the need for something more. The Bidi Bidi Music & Arts Centre, which is currently under construction, will provide residents with a way to create and reclaim their cultures. “Why should millions of people worldwide be denied access to creative spaces simply because they have been displaced due to conflict, climate change or for any other reason?” said Nachson Mimran, co-founder and CEO of to.org, the developer behind the project. Mimran also pointed out that such pursuits are shown to be therapeutic for those with PTSD, which is common in refugee communities. The center’s sleek steel roof will serve an additional purpose: It is shaped like a funnel to collect rainwater for the local community.
Read the full story here.
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A good end to a harrowing story
It's the stuff of every pet owner's nightmares: Nearly a month ago, a Delta passenger's dog went missing in Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport amid a flurry of visa woes for her owner. On August 18, Paula Rodriguez and her dog Maia embarked on a journey from their home in the Dominican Republic to California for a two-week vacation. However, Rodriguez was turned away by border patrol in Atlanta because her visa didn't meet the right requirements. In the scramble to arrange new travel plans, Maia escaped from her crate while in the airline's hands. People from all over the world poured out empathy for Rodriguez, while local animal activists tried to keep abreast of efforts to locate the six-year-old pup. Luckily, Maia was found! While Rodriguez is still processing what she calls her "living nightmare" (I'd say so!), Maia is back where she belongs at her human's side.
Read the full story here.
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This isn't just a Bob Ross painting, it's the Bob Ross painting. The very first on-air work from Ross' iconic "The Joy of Painting" show is up for sale for just short of $10 million. (Wanna split it, anyone?) Ross painted "A Walk in the Woods" during the first episode of the show in January of 1983. It was bought later that year by a volunteer at the Virginia PBS station where the show's first season aired. They kept the painting safe for decades before it was acquired by the Minneapolis-based art gallery Modern Artifact. It's everything that made Bob Ross so iconic: A placid gold and blue landscape painted using Ross' preferred "wet-on-wet" technique, featuring rugged rocks and water and, of course, some happy little trees.
Read the full story here.
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Nearly 50 global treasures are up for addition to the UNESCO World Heritage List this year. According to UNESCO, sites must be of “outstanding universal value” to be included. The nomination process can extend over years, but once a landmark is given UNESCO World Heritage status, the country or nation it’s based in can receive financial assistance and expert advice from UNESCO to help preserve the site. Among this year's prospects are a collection of tombs from Korea’s ancient Gaya confederacy, a Viking age ring fortress in Denmark, and the ancient town of Si Thep, Thailand, shown above. The US has just one entry on this year's list: Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks in Ohio. These gigantic ceremonial structures date back up to 2,000 years, with some believed to be used as lunar or astral observatories.
Read the full story here.
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Time for some fun national park trivia! I'll put the answers below the photo, which, yes, is a hint.
- What's the world's largest national park?
- What's the world's oldest national park?
- The world's tallest waterfall is part of a national park in what country?
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How many national parks are in Antarctica?
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OK, ready for the answers?
- The world's largest national park is Northeast Greenland National Park, located on the world's largest island. It spans an sprawling 375,000 square miles, which makes it larger than all but 29 of the United Nations’ member states.
- The world's oldest national park is Yellowstone! It became the first national park in 1872.
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The world's tallest waterfall is Angel Falls, one of the jewels of Canaima National Park in Venezuela.
- Trick question! Antarctica doesn't have any national parks. But there are more than 6,000 national parks across the world!
Read more fun national park facts here.
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Rec of the week
Brought to you by CNN Underscored
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Actor and producer Issa Rae shares her nine everyday essentials
CNN Underscored caught up with President Barbie, aka Issa Rae, to learn about the items she can't live without. From her favorite $4 lip balm to the perfume she uses every day, shop her picks right here.
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Shameless animal video
There's always time for cute animal videos. That time is now.
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Behold, the mighty call of the pika, a ferocious mountain mammal could fit in the palm of your hand. Don't pick it up though, it's wild — and very ferocious, don't forget! (Click here to view) |
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