Thursday, October 3, 2024

In this week’s Discovery newsletter, we learn what scary stuff does to us, examine why humans are getting colder, consider Dry October ... and figure out what a REAL second moon would do to us.

First off, our evolutionary “fight or flight” response can keep us alive. But pump us full of artificial anxiety-increasers (i.e. scary movies) and strange things happen to our brain and body. Like what? Well, a fright fest may cause a bad back to seize up. And that’s just one thing.

Related: Why getting scared can feel so good 
Also: Afraid of Bigfoot? Here’s where people have claimed to see the legendary beast.

First, we have to answer “what” in the world is this bluff in the middle of a desert, which once was home to the world’s largest waterfall. This island of ancient soil survived ice-age megafloods but fooled scientists for generations—until a high school science teacher schooled them. Take a guess: In what U.S. state is this found?  

A. Alabama 
B. North Carolina 
C. Maine 
D. Washington 

Hint: Near this state, there was this problem with human feet washing on shore 

Today’s Soundtrack: we fell in love in october, girl in red

Today’s newsletter was edited and curated by David Beard and produced by Alec Egamov. Sign up here to get tomorrow’s Top Ten stories of the week or catch Sunday’s Photo of The Week.