The Tiny Strip of Land That Could Save Florida’s Panthers

Only 11 miles long and one mile wide, Chaparral Slough doesn’t look like much. But its location between two large areas of preserved land makes it a vital link in the conservation chain. “It’s important for panthers and other wildlife to have a protected corridor so that they can move and have genetic diversity to ensure the long-term survival and health of their species,” said the Nature Conservancy’s Lindsay Stevens. It took eight years to secure protected status for Chaparral — but new federal legislation currently making its way through Congress with bipartisan support should make achieving future triumphs much easier. (Source: The Guardian)

The 2,000-Year-Old Archaeological Wonder No One’s Heard Of

The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks — built between 100 B.C. and 500 A.D. with mathematical precision and complex astronomical alignment — are the largest non-defensive geometrical earthworks in the world. But few folks outside Ohio even know they exist — and one section is currently being used as a golf course. “You could put four Roman Colosseums inside just The Octagon,” said archaeologist Brad Lepper, adding that Stonehenge would fit into a small circle that’s now a putting green. Hopefully Hopewell Culture earthworks will soon get broader recognition: Eight sites in Ohio have been nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status in 2023. (Source: BBC)

Scientists Just Figured Out That Ants Make Milk — and Drink It Too

No one ever took much notice of ant pupae. “The pupae were considered useless,” said ethologist Patrizia d’Ettorre. “They are immobile … they don’t eat, they’re just moved around by the workers, so they [wouldn’t] contribute anything to ant society.” Now a new paper’s thrown that thinking out the window. Orli Sner and colleagues at The Rockefeller University discovered that pupae secrete a nutrient-rich milk-like fluid that’s eaten by both adults and larvae. “We identified a mechanism that unites the colony, binding ants across developmental stages — adults, larvae and pupae — into a coherent entity, the superorganism,” said Sner. (Source: Nature)

UK Navy Comes to the Rescue of World’s Most Remote Post Office

The four women were still settling into their new workplace in Port Lockroy, Antarctica, when snow buried the building that houses Goudier Island’s museum, gift shop and post office. Luckily the Royal Navy ship HMS Protector was nearby and crew rushed to help. After two days of digging they then had to fix the hut’s roof. Warrant Officer First Class Lee “Rattler” Morgan was only too happy to “step ashore and help out.” And he noted that Port Lockroy was far less stinky than usual, as the snow had buried the mess caused by the island’s 1,500 gentoo penguins. (Sources: Sky News, BBC)

Alleged Sex Offender Deshaun Watson Disappoints in NFL Comeback

The QB’s first game in 700 days was punctuated by loud and frequent boos. Watson claimed the frosty treatment was because he was playing his former team, the Texans, in Houston. “They’re supposed to boo,” he said. “I’m a Cleveland Brown now.” But many fans were more concerned with his off-field behavior. Watson served an 11-game ban after being accused of sexual harassment and assault by more than two dozen women. “I’m cheering for the jersey and the team but it’s hard to accept him as my quarterback,” said Cleveland fan Brandon Collins. The Browns won 27-14 despite a rusty performance from Watson. (Source: AP)

EPISODE 3 NOW STREAMING!

Featuring Genevieve Channelle & Keia Kodama