Our World

A variety of stories, both good and bad, about this wonderful world we are trying to share with one another and with all other forms of life.

By Lorenzo

Science
Archaeologists unearth more evidence that when a civilization drinks together, it stays together
Popular Science - By Alex Schwartz
The Wari people used their corn-based beer to spread their culture across Peru. The Wari empire, an ancient Peruvian civilization that predated the Inca, made advances in agriculture, art, architecture,
Technology
Earth's magnetic north pole is moving too fast for experts to keep up. Now scientists might know why.
Business Insider - Aylin Woodward
In the Hollywood blockbuster "The Core," the planet's core suddenly stops rotating, which causes Earth's magnetic field to collapse. Then bursts of deadly microwaves cook the Colosseum and melt the Golden
Earthquakes
Skyscraper's Rooftop Pool Spills Everywhere as Earthquake Rocks Manila
Gizmodo - Matt Novak
The Philippines was rocked with a 6.3 earthquake this morning that sent buildings swaying and people running for safety. But one of the most bizarre …
Climate
Since the first Earth Day, the planet’s CO2 levels have gone off the rails
Mashable - Mark Kaufman
When Americans celebrated the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, the planet's atmosphere was markedly different than it is today. Nearly 50 years ago, scientists measured Earth's levels of carbon dioxide
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Why Immigrants, Students And U.S. Companies Are Going To Canada
Forbes - Stuart Anderson
“Oh, Canada” is a refrain more U.S. companies, high-skilled foreign nationals and international students are listening to in response to more restrictive immigration policies in the United States. The
Liberal View
A professor of astrophysics explains why humans are on the path to self-destruction: 'Not the first time there’s been a in
rawstory.com - Chris Hedges and Mr. Fish
The spectacular rise of human civilization—its agrarian societies, cities, states, empires and industrial and technological advances ranging from …
New Mexico
Mexico warns of 'deep concern' over armed groups on U.S. border
Reuters - Reuters Editorial
FILE PHOTO - A general view shows a newly built section of the U.S.-Mexico border fence at Sunland Park, U.S. opposite the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, in this picture taken from the side
Opinion (UK)
The Observer view on the Mueller report: Trump is a disgrace and is not welcome in Britain
The Guardian - Observer editorial
This scandal looks certain to escalate, not fade. Barr’s many redactions will not be allowed to stand The prospect of Donald Trump making a state visit to Britain in June is stomach-churning. The corruption
Science
We’re altering the climate so severely that we’ll soon face apocalyptic consequences. Here are 9 last-ditch ways we could
Business Insider - Aylin Woodward
Oceans are hotter than they've ever been in recorded history. Ice Sheets are melting at unprecedented rates. Sea-level rise threatens countless species, coastal cities, and local economies. As researchers'
World News
Paris Yellow Vest Protests Mix Anger With Notre Dame Mourning
TIME - ANGELA CHARLTON / AP
PARIS — French yellow vest protesters set small fires as they marched through Paris on Saturday to drive home their latest message to the government: that rebuilding the fire-ravaged Notre Dame Cathedral
Deutsche Bank
Trump’s favorite bank fears disciplinary action for acting as ‘global laundromat’ for Russian mobsters
rawstory.com - Brad Reed
Deutsche Bank, the German bank that became famous for lending Donald Trump money when no other major bank would touch him, fears it’s about to get …
Latin America
As police wait to arrest him, ex-Peru president kills self
Associated Press - By FRANKLIN BRICEÑO and CHRISTINE ARMARIO, Associated Press
LIMA, Peru (AP) — Former President Alan Garcia mortally wounded himself with a gunshot to his head Wednesday as officers waited to arrest him in a big graft probe that has put Peru's most prominent politicians
Cardiac Arrest
When you die ‘you know you’re dead because your brain keeps working’, scientist claims
Fox News - The Sun
We know we are dead when we die because our brains keep working to make us aware of what's happening around us, haunting new research suggests. Top medical experts have forever been at loggerheads over
Colorado River
Trump signs Colorado River drought plan
Associated Press - By JONATHAN J. COOPER, Associated Press
PHOENIX (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a plan to cut back on the use of water from the Colorado River, which serves 40 million people in the U.S. West. The Colorado River drought contingency
The Future
Watch a pack of SpotMini robot dogs tow a huge truck like it's nothing
CNET - Shelby Brown
Maybe we should stop kicking them now.
Liberal View
Scientists have established a link between religious fundamentalism and brain damage
rawstory.com - Bobby Azarian
A study published in the journal Neuropsychologia has shown that religious fundamentalism is, in part, the result of a functional impairment in a …
Killer Whales
New study: There's one animal great white sharks are really afraid of
The Mercury News - Paul Rogers
Ever since the 1975 movie “Jaws,” great white sharks have been considered the most fearsome predators in the ocean. But new research published …
Liberal View
The evidence that Jesus ever existed is weaker than you might think
rawstory.com - Valerie Tarico
Before the European Enlightenment, virtually all New Testament experts assumed that handed-down stories about Jesus were first recorded by eye …
Saudi Arabia
Saudi crown prince holds quiet meeting with head of U.S. Central Command
The Washington Times - Ben Wolfgang
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met quietly Monday with the head of U.S. Central Command, Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie, and the two men discussed …
Business
Bankers are already preparing for a world without cash
Axios - Dion Rabouin
There's an arms race underway for control of the world's money in the coming cashless society. While a future without hard currency notes may seem …
How to verify a photo online
France 24 - France 24 EN
You just received a photo on WhatsApp, Facebook or Twitter. The image makes you angry, sad or joyful and the caption encourages you to share it as widely as possible. But you're a little cautious, because
Notre Dame Cathedral
A Challenge of Rebuilding Notre Dame: The Forests That Supplied Its Wood Are All But Gone
Fortune - Katherine Dunn
As flames erupted in the attic of Paris’s Notre Dame Cathedral on Monday, some 400 firefighters rushed to save one of Europe’s great historical and …
Blood Vessels
A 3D-printed heart with blood vessels has been made using human tissue
MIT Technology Review - Charlotte Jee
The rabbit-sized heart was made using a patient’s own cells and tissues, using techniques that could help to increase the rate of successful heart …
Israel
I co-founded the BDS movement. Why was I denied entry to the US?
The Guardian - Omar Barghouti
Last Wednesday, as I was preparing to depart for the United States for a series of speaking engagements, I was abruptly stopped and prevented from boarding my flight at Ben Gurion airport. The US consulate
World News
Secret Report Reveals Saudi Incompetence and Widespread Use of U.S. Weapons in Yemen
The Intercept - Alex Emmons
Since the brutal murder of Saudi dissident and Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi last October, Congress has increasingly pressured the …
Home
WATCH: This Is What Science Says About People Who Like Being Alone
Southern Living - Stacey Leasca
If you’re more of the lone wolf type we have some good news for you: You may be a genius. According to a 2016 study by researchers at Singapore …
Ecstasy (Drug)
Psychedelic renaissance: could MDMA help with PTSD, depression and anxiety?
The Guardian - Jesse Noakes
In August 2016 I went to New York for the first time. On the second evening, as the sun slipped behind the building across the street, I was sitting on a long couch on the top floor of an old church. around
Al-Qaeda
New concerns Trump administration may be laying legal groundwork for military action against Iran
ABC News - Conor Finnegan
When Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the Trump administration would designate a branch of Iran’s military as a foreign terrorist …
U.S. Politics
The Russians are screwing with the GPS system to send bogus navigation data to thousands of ships
Business Insider - Jim Edwards
On May 15, 2018, under a sunny sky, Russian President Vladimir Putin drove a bright orange truck in a convoy of construction vehicles for the opening of the Kerch Bridge from Russia to Crimea. At 11 miles