A Bosnian man rescued an abandoned bear cub. Now they're inseparable
MOUNT OZREN, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — Masa the bear and Petar Tubic have formed an unlikely friendship on Bosnia's Mount Ozren. Tubic found Masa abandoned as a cub in 2019 and has cared for her ever since. Masa, now weighing about 150 kilograms, still tries to sit on Tubic’s lap. Tubic has also adopted another bear, Ljubica, and his home has become a local tourist attraction. Visitors come to see the bears and other rescued animals. Tubic, an electrician, lives with his family and enjoys outdoor activities. He worries that releasing the bears into the wild could put them in danger.
Twice a year, a golden sunbeam illuminates a 3,000-year-old Egyptian temple
ABU SIMBEL, Egypt (AP) — Tourists and locals gathered at a temple in southern Egypt on Thursday to witness a rare solar phenomenon. Twice a year, the sun illuminates the statues of Ramesses II and two gods inside the Great Temple of Ramses II. This event marks the pharaoh's ascension and birthday. The temple's alignment with the sun allows this to happen. Visitors, including Janice Souudi from Atlanta, said they were amazed by the temple's preservation and carvings. In the 1960s, archaeologists relocated the temple to protect it from rising waters, ensuring the alignment remained intact. Performers celebrated outside with music and dance.
New study traces van Gogh's famed 'Starry Night' to an actual night sky from 1889
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Scientists have traced Vincent van Gogh's “The Starry Night” to a celestial scene that suggests a new date for one of the world's most famous paintings. Their findings indicate that rather than being a product of van Gogh’s imagination, “The Starry Night” may have been inspired by what he saw as he gazed up from his French asylum 137 years ago. A South Korean team reported Thursday that they have matched his masterpiece to a predawn sky from around July 22, 1889. That’s a month later than the long-accepted time frame for the painting. Results were published in Scientific Reports.
Stick it to them: Before social media, bumper stickers were the Twitter of the roads
Before we had social media, Americans used bumper stickers to share their strongest and strangest views with people who didn’t necessarily care. The medium back then was cars. Slap a belief on the rear end and go. If people agreed, they honked. If they disagreed, they honked. Drivers figured it out, usually without crashing. The original Twitter with its character limits was nothing. With bumper stickers, a sentiment had to be packed into a dozen words or less or it was just a blur.
Need a smile? This livestream features 6 puppies all day long
Every wiggle and wobble of six newborn puppies snuggling together in Finland is captured by cameras. Even though the puppies don’t do much yet, they’ve entranced millions of Finnish viewers and others around the world through “Pentulive,” a 24/7 slow TV livestream from Finland’s national public broadcaster, Yle. “Pentu” means puppy in Finnish. The puppies’ mother gave birth to four males and two females on Oct. 10. The puppies have brown and white fur, weighed roughly 1 kilogram Thursday and were just starting to open their eyes. A naming ceremony is set for Saturday. The slow TV show is in its sixth season.
Children's singer Raffi on his 50-year career, screen time and Ms. Rachel
The beloved children's musician Raffi continues to charm audiences with his timeless songs. Fifty years after his debut children's album, his music remains a staple for young children. Raffi's latest album, “Love is Everywhere,” comes out Friday. It features songs celebrating everything from individuality to the importance of voting. He believes that while technology changes, the essence of childhood remains the same. In an interview with The Associated Press, Raffi emphasized the importance of protecting children's development from excessive technology. He also discussed his commitment to not exploiting children through advertising and how it caused him to turn down a movie offer for “Baby Beluga.”
A Vermont woman scrubs grime from gravestones and researches who is buried there
RUPERT, Vt. (AP) — Caitlin Abrams has gained attention for her videos cleaning 18th and 19th-century headstones in Vermont cemeteries. She uses a brush and sprayer to reveal the beauty beneath grime and moss. Abrams also researches and shares the stories of those buried, focusing on young women and children. Her work connects viewers to history, a trend that became popular during the pandemic. However, experts warn that improper cleaning can damage graves. Abrams emphasizes the importance of proper techniques and permissions. She hopes her work can help people see cemeteries as places of connection and remembrance.
A novel mRNA cancer vaccine helps reduce the chances of melanoma patients' tumors returning
WASHINGTON (AP) — A first-of-its-kind cancer vaccine is helping significantly reduce the chances that melanoma patients' tumors return. Drugmakers Moderna and Merck announced the results Thursday. The vaccine was custom-brewed for each patient to match their tumor. It teaches the patient’s immune system to watch out for and attack any cancer cells that start forming again. Adding it to a standard post-surgery treatment reduced by 42% the risk of melanoma returning two years after surgery, according to the most advanced study to date.
Coastal construction projects threaten the mangrove forest that protects Vietnam's biggest city
CAN GIO, Vietnam (AP) — Construction projects are putting at risk a mangrove forest that stands between Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City and rising seas. Mangroves play a vital role in buffering coastlines from storms, flooding and erosion. They support fisheries and store vast amounts of carbon. But Vietnam’s rapid economic growth is transforming the coast as its biggest company, Vingroup, builds a new seaside city. The project includes plans for a major port, roads, bridges and a sea-crossing route. Scientists warn the new infrastructure could disrupt water flows that sustain the mangroves, weakening a natural defense as climate change increases risks of flooding.
