trueactivist--2020-09-22--Several Innocent People Harassed By Police Using A Faulty Crime Predicting Algorithm

The year has seen thousands of people protesting against the police , for one reason or another .
And the year is not yet at its end .
It seems all across America , there are some members of the police force who discriminate , are brutal , or commit unjustified errors against citizens .
A recent investigation highlights a Pasco Sheriff ’ s Office in Florida for using a faulty crime-predicting algorithm which targets innocent people , and are harassed for no valid reason .
According to the Tampa Bay Times , it was reported that police visited the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and searched for reasons to arrest them .
Definitely a form of police harassment .
If no reason could be found , they would cite these citizens for zoning violations or some other whimsical offenses .
These offenses were then fed into the algorithm , which branded the people as criminals again , leading to further harassment .
The report by the Tampa Bay Times identified 21 families focused on by the algorithm and regularly harassed even though no evidence was uncovered of any wrongdoing .
Most of the time , these citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encounters with the police , or had prior criminal charges filed against them , no matter the offense .
Surely the Pasco Sheriff ’ s Office responded to the reports by the newspaper.A spokesman from the sheriff ’ s office defended the program , citing that it was similarly used by other police departments .
They took offense with the word “ harassment , ” citing that visiting a random person ’ s home is not illegal , and searching for any violation is part of “ basic law enforcement functions.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the media outlet responsible for this piece didn ’ t feel compelled to shed light on facts , and instead chose to weave a salacious , fictitious tale.
” And on Facebook , the Pasco Sheriff ’ s Office posted a lengthy attack on the paper and their report , along with the officers who gave statements about the program .
The article by the paper revealed the disciplinary records of the officers who were quoted for the story .
It mentioned that one got into trouble for lurking around a subordinate female @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported to have had sex with a confidential informant .
The Facebook post admitted that the sheriff ’ s office targeted people simply because of their criminal history , and explained that criminal history is sufficient evidence to start an investigation on the person .
But this perspective is not shared by the courts , that don ’ t allow previous charges to be used as evidence in current criminal cases .
And the fact is , the algorithm identified people for being a suspect in a crime , even if they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Others who scored high on the algorithm were people who appeared in at least five police reports , even if they were listed as a witness , or surprisingly , as the victim .
Even before the use of the algorithm , the sheriff ’ s office already focused on people who they considered to be criminals , no matter if they had already paid their debt to society .
And if you think the sheriff ’ s office apologized to the people who were “ harassed , ” think again.
” We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our community safe , ” the sheriff ’ s office was quoted as saying .
Definitely the sheriff ’ s office would do what they can to protect their integrity , and deny any wrongdoing .
But surely their reputation has been tainted .
Of course we should not generalize , as there are cops who really do a good job .
It is sad that many are disgusted with the police force because of some errant elements .
But , that is life .
What are your thoughts ?
Please comment below @ @ @ @ @

The year has seen thousands of people protesting against the police, for one reason or another. And the year is not yet at its end. It seems all across America, there are some members of the police force who discriminate, are brutal, or commit unjustified errors against citizens. A recent investigation highlights a Pasco Sheriff’s Office in Florida for using a faulty crime-predicting algorithm which targets innocent people, and are harassed for no valid reason.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, it was reported that police visited the homes of people identified by the algorithm and searched for reasons to arrest them. Definitely a form of police harassment. If no reason could be found, they would cite these citizens for zoning violations or some other whimsical offenses. These offenses were then fed into the algorithm, which branded the people as criminals again, leading to further harassment.
The report by the Tampa Bay Times identified 21 families focused on by the algorithm and regularly harassed even though no evidence was uncovered of any wrongdoing. Most of the time, these citizens were targeted simply because they had previous encounters with the police, or had prior criminal charges filed against them, no matter the offense.
Surely the Pasco Sheriff’s Office responded to the reports by the newspaper.A spokesman from the sheriff’s office defended the program, citing that it was similarly used by other police departments. They took offense with the word “harassment,” citing that visiting a random person’s home is not illegal, and searching for any violation is part of “basic law enforcement functions.”
The spokesperson further added, “Unfortunately, the media outlet responsible for this piece didn’t feel compelled to shed light on facts, and instead chose to weave a salacious, fictitious tale.” And on Facebook, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office posted a lengthy attack on the paper and their report, along with the officers who gave statements about the program. The article by the paper revealed the disciplinary records of the officers who were quoted for the story. It mentioned that one got into trouble for lurking around a subordinate female officer’s home. Another was reported to have had sex with a confidential informant.
The Facebook post admitted that the sheriff’s office targeted people simply because of their criminal history, and explained that criminal history is sufficient evidence to start an investigation on the person. But this perspective is not shared by the courts, that don’t allow previous charges to be used as evidence in current criminal cases. And the fact is, the algorithm identified people for being a suspect in a crime, even if they were cleared and had the charges dropped. Others who scored high on the algorithm were people who appeared in at least five police reports, even if they were listed as a witness, or surprisingly, as the victim.
Even before the use of the algorithm, the sheriff’s office already focused on people who they considered to be criminals, no matter if they had already paid their debt to society. And if you think the sheriff’s office apologized to the people who were “harassed,” think again.”We will not apologize for continuing to keep our community safe,” the sheriff’s office was quoted as saying.
Definitely the sheriff’s office would do what they can to protect their integrity, and deny any wrongdoing. But surely their reputation has been tainted. Of course we should not generalize, as there are cops who really do a good job. It is sad that many are disgusted with the police force because of some errant elements. But, that is life.
What are your thoughts? Please comment below and share this news!
True Activist / Report a typo


trueactivist--2020-09-28--With The West Coast Choking From Hazardous Wildfire Smoke, Bird Populations Are Disappearing

Recent West Coast wildfires raging across numerous states have alarmed California bird lovers that many birds are disappearing or dead .
The Birding California group on Facebook have noticed the total silence coming from their backyards , which used to greet them with birds chirping and singing every morning .
Examples like “ I live in Folsom – have not seen a bird or heard a bird chirp this morning , ” resident Jodi Root said .
Tammy Saunders said , “ Same here in Napa , ” and further adds that things have become “ very quiet which just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colored sky.
” Another resident , Karen Holden , this time from Gardnerville said , “ We live in Northern Nevada and have noticed the same thing.
” Nearly a hundred veteran birdwatchers from the group voiced out the same concerns .
Most noted a sharp decline in birds visiting their feeders and birdbaths .
They also noted a thinning-out of a variety of species .
The heatwave and toxic air conditions in California and other western states have not only affected humans .
Insects , which wild birds rely on for food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of decline , just like the birds.Unfortunately , the ash falling on West Coast cities is not only from trees and brush , but also charred remains of birds and other creatures caught in the wildfire .
According to a report by Deborah Pertersen of Inside Climate News , the highly sensitive respiratory systems of birds which respond quickly to changing environmental conditions , acts like a global alarm comparable to the caged canary in a coal mine .
Even if not much is actually known how smoke affects bird populations , Andrew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of Connecticut notes that birds constantly live on the edge , and extreme changes have grim effects for their species .
He told Inside Climate News , “ One thing that is important to point out is we do know high levels of smoke exposure can be harmful to bird.
” And they “ can not escape like humans by going indoors.
” Similarly , the Audubon Society notes that bird scientists and veterinarians agree that smoke can leave a damaging impact on the lung tissue of captive birds , leaving them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanderfoot , a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow , at the University of Washington in Seattle , who studies the impact of air pollution on birds , said , “ We do know that exposure to particulate matter , which of course is of great concern for human health , can affect birds as well.
” And the still raging fires have not given researchers much of a chance really to study the population of birds along the west coast , it is evident that the massive plumes of smoke from over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sanderfoot notes that bird activity declines during smoke events .
Together with Tracey Holloway in a 2017 paper , she wrote that “ Birds have long been recognized as sentinel species for environmental change.
” The paper concluded that “ Exposure to air pollution clearly causes respiratory distress in birds and increases their susceptibility to respiratory infection , ” aside from complications to bird reproduction .
Yet , the science of the effect of wildfire smoke on birds remains largely underdeveloped .
Sanderfoot explained , “ We know pretty much nothing about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” In fact , most of the research on birds only covers a small amount of species , and studies mostly focus on pollution rather than wildfire smoke .
Sanderfoot and Holloway wrote , “ Of the roughly 10,000 species of birds known worldwide , only a few have been studied to characterize avian responses to air pollution , and the animals used in laboratory experiments may not be representative of the wild bird species most at risk from air pollution.
” Sanderfoot and fellow researchers are currently conducting research in Washington , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air pollution recorded recently .
Sanderfoot and her team are planting cameras and microphones in areas where the smoke is dense to find out if bird songs decrease in these areas .
A nursery volunteer from Los Altos , California , Tara Sears Lee , also noted the dreadful impact of hazardous smoke on birds recently .
Her Facebook account said , “ Outside for 6 hours yesterday and no jays , crows , ravens , quail , turkeys , or hawks – all usual and very vocal visitors .
Only hummingbirds , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Worst of all was a dead hummingbird just lying on the ground – had heard they are being overcome by heat and smoke and just drop dead.
” Several bird lovers from across the state are also posting on Facebook about dead hummingbirds .
And on the reverse side , a larger number of birds at their backyard feeders , evidence of forced migration caused by the fires and smoke .
Charlotte Trethway Noriega posted on Facebook , “ I think all the birds came to my house south of San Jose .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ out there.
” In her article , Petersen explained that bird populations in North America have significantly dropped by 29 percent ( 3 billion birds ) since 1970 .
Similarly , a 2019 study explained that widespread high temperatures resulting from climate change are likely to drastically change migration patterns of bird species .
Nesting places have also lessened due to pastures and grasslands being converted to crops .
And insects diminished by pesticides also contribute to altered migration patterns of birds .
But , Stillman still finds traces of hope in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas hit by wildfires .
Blackbacked woodpeckers are seen returning to burned-out areas to feast on the larvae of wood-boring beetles that thrive on trees burned by the fires .
However , Stillman cautions that the new generation of “ mega fires ” like what is currently plaguing the West Coast is far more destructive than past wildfires .
And how “ Birds are responding to this new normal ” is still up in the air .
What are your thoughts ?
Please comment below and share this news !

Recent West Coast wildfires raging across numerous states have alarmed California bird lovers that many birds are disappearing or dead. The Birding California group on Facebook have noticed the total silence coming from their backyards, which used to greet them with birds chirping and singing every morning. Examples like “I live in Folsom – have not seen a bird or heard a bird chirp this morning,” resident Jodi Root said. Tammy Saunders said, “Same here in Napa,” and further adds that things have become “very quiet which just adds to the eeriness of the orange colored sky.” Another resident, Karen Holden, this time from Gardnerville said, “We live in Northern Nevada and have noticed the same thing.”
Nearly a hundred veteran birdwatchers from the group voiced out the same concerns. Most noted a sharp decline in birds visiting their feeders and birdbaths. They also noted a thinning-out of a variety of species.
The heatwave and toxic air conditions in California and other western states have not only affected humans. Insects, which wild birds rely on for food, have also been in a state of decline, just like the birds.Unfortunately, the ash falling on West Coast cities is not only from trees and brush, but also charred remains of birds and other creatures caught in the wildfire.
According to a report by Deborah Pertersen of Inside Climate News, the highly sensitive respiratory systems of birds which respond quickly to changing environmental conditions, acts like a global alarm comparable to the caged canary in a coal mine.
Even if not much is actually known how smoke affects bird populations, Andrew Stillman, a doctoral candidate of the University of Connecticut notes that birds constantly live on the edge, and extreme changes have grim effects for their species. He told Inside Climate News, “One thing that is important to point out is we do know high levels of smoke exposure can be harmful to bird.” And they “ cannot escape like humans by going indoors.”
Similarly, the Audubon Society notes that bird scientists and veterinarians agree that smoke can leave a damaging impact on the lung tissue of captive birds, leaving them vulnerable to deadly respiratory infections.
Olivia Sanderfoot, a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, at the University of Washington in Seattle, who studies the impact of air pollution on birds, said, “We do know that exposure to particulate matter, which of course is of great concern for human health, can affect birds as well.”
And the still raging fires have not given researchers much of a chance really to study the population of birds along the west coast, it is evident that the massive plumes of smoke from over 85 fires is affecting bird populations tremendously. Sanderfoot notes that bird activity declines during smoke events. Together with Tracey Holloway in a 2017 paper, she wrote that “Birds have long been recognized as sentinel species for environmental change.” The paper concluded that “ Exposure to air pollution clearly causes respiratory distress in birds and increases their susceptibility to respiratory infection,” aside from complications to bird reproduction.
Yet, the science of the effect of wildfire smoke on birds remains largely underdeveloped. Sanderfoot explained, “We know pretty much nothing about the long-term impact of smoke on birds.”
In fact, most of the research on birds only covers a small amount of species, and studies mostly focus on pollution rather than wildfire smoke. Sanderfoot and Holloway wrote, “Of the roughly 10,000 species of birds known worldwide, only a few have been studied to characterize avian responses to air pollution, and the animals used in laboratory experiments may not be representative of the wild bird species most at risk from air pollution.”
Sanderfoot and fellow researchers are currently conducting research in Washington, a state affected by the most toxic air pollution recorded recently. Sanderfoot and her team are planting cameras and microphones in areas where the smoke is dense to find out if bird songs decrease in these areas.
A nursery volunteer from Los Altos, California, Tara Sears Lee, also noted the dreadful impact of hazardous smoke on birds recently. Her Facebook account said, “Outside for 6 hours yesterday and no jays, crows, ravens, quail, turkeys, or hawks – all usual and very vocal visitors. Only hummingbirds, juncos, towhees, and titmice. Worst of all was a dead hummingbird just lying on the ground – had heard they are being overcome by heat and smoke and just drop dead.” Several bird lovers from across the state are also posting on Facebook about dead hummingbirds. And on the reverse side, a larger number of birds at their backyard feeders, evidence of forced migration caused by the fires and smoke.
Charlotte Trethway Noriega posted on Facebook, “I think all the birds came to my house south of San Jose. sometimes there will be more than 40-50 out there.”
In her article, Petersen explained that bird populations in North America have significantly dropped by 29 percent (3 billion birds) since 1970. Similarly, a 2019 study explained that widespread high temperatures resulting from climate change are likely to drastically change migration patterns of bird species. Nesting places have also lessened due to pastures and grasslands being converted to crops. And insects diminished by pesticides also contribute to altered migration patterns of birds.
But, Stillman still finds traces of hope in his research of birds that have survived in areas hit by wildfires. Blackbacked woodpeckers are seen returning to burned-out areas to feast on the larvae of wood-boring beetles that thrive on trees burned by the fires. However, Stillman cautions that the new generation of “mega fires” like what is currently plaguing the West Coast is far more destructive than past wildfires. And how “Birds are responding to this new normal” is still up in the air.
What are your thoughts? Please comment below and share this news!
True Activist / Report a typo


trueactivist--2020-09-29--Blind Piano Prodigy Is Extremely Talented That Scientists Are Studying His Brain To Learn More About

Blind Piano Prodigy Is Extremely Talented That Scientists Are Studying His Brain To Learn More About HIs Musical Ingenuity

A young piano prodigy from Hackensack , New Jersey that is blind has had wonderful successes in his life by entertaining fans from all over the world since he was just 11-years-old .
Scientists have started studying his brain to figure how exactly he has been so amazingly talented with that musical instrument .
Matthew Whitaker entered into this world prematurely at only 24 weeks .
Not only was he born blind , but he also had various healthy problems wherein doctors told her parents he had less than a 50 percent chance of surviving infancy .
Whitaker had already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ birthday .
By a miracle , Whitaker survived and by the age of three , he was already skilfully playing the piano and even writing his own songs – without any professional teacher to guide him .
Now , at the age of 18 , Whitaker is a universally praised tunesmith and jazz pianist that has experienced performing in the most prestigious stages like the Carnegie Hall , Lincoln Center , Kennedy Center and the Apollo Theater .
This musical genius can play any melody by ear , from Beyonce to Dvorak .

A young piano prodigy from Hackensack, New Jersey that is blind has had wonderful successes in his life by entertaining fans from all over the world since he was just 11-years-old. Scientists have started studying his brain to figure how exactly he has been so amazingly talented with that musical instrument.
Matthew Whitaker entered into this world prematurely at only 24 weeks. Not only was he born blind, but he also had various healthy problems wherein doctors told her parents he had less than a 50 percent chance of surviving infancy. Whitaker had already undergone 11 surgeries even before his second birthday. By a miracle, Whitaker survived and by the age of three, he was already skilfully playing the piano and even writing his own songs – without any professional teacher to guide him.
Now, at the age of 18, Whitaker is a universally praised tunesmith and jazz pianist that has experienced performing in the most prestigious stages like the Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center and the Apollo Theater. This musical genius can play any melody by ear, from Beyonce to Dvorak.


trueactivist--2020-09-29--Theoretical Physicist Shockingly Shares That Parallel Universes Exist With Facts To Back Up His Clai

Theoretical Physicist Shockingly Shares That Parallel Universes Exist With Facts To Back Up His Claims

Sean Carroll , a theoretical physicist explained that clues found in the universe ’ s small scale structure prove an existence of other parallel worlds .
The scientist made these shocking comments on the Joe Rogan Experience ( JRE ) podcast in 2019 .
Carroll claims that the mere fact that electrons , photons and all these minute particles are not located in just one place in the universe is evidence enough of parallels universes .
In another interview that Carroll gave with news.com.au , he explained further : The rules of physics that we follow in our everyday lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the very minuscule detail , this common sense completely breaks apart .
If you are observing physics at a quantum level , the empty space is filled with tiny particles that are coming in and out of existence at every millisecond .
According to New Scientist , nn important construct in quantum mechanics , Bell ’ s theorem can also prove that parallel universes exist .
This theorem discusses particles that interact and entangle with each other , and eventually go their separate ways .
Carroll has also discussed and advanced in other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time and the Big Bang theory .
He insists that the universe didn ’ t come to life after a huge explosion , but that it has been an ancient and constant entity wherein time runs both forward and backward .
Carroll can not break down and explain the complicated depth of quantum physics in a much simpler manner .
Fellow physicist , Brian Greene authored a book titled The Hidden Reality : Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos .
“ You almost can ’ t avoid having some version @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you push deeply enough in the mathematical descriptions of the physical universe .
There are many of us thinking of one version of parallel universe theory or another .
If it ’ s all a lot of nonsense , then it ’ s a lot of wasted effort going into this far-out idea .
But if this idea is correct , it is a fantastic upheaval in our understanding , ” Greene shared with NPR .
Even theoretical physicist , Stephen Hawking made a suggestion that because of quantum mechanics , it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with more than just one universe .
Until now , quantum physics and all its realms has been impossible to figure out entirely , but Carroll has high hopes that this will soon change as technology improves .
The researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee are joining the bandwagon of Carroll , Greene and Hawking ’ s theories by creating experiments to discover other multiverses or mirror images of the reality we know .
Last year , the team sent a beam of subatomic particles down a 50-foot tunnel , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wall .
Leah Broussard , lead researcher told New Scientist that , “ if it exists , it would form a bubble of reality nestling within the fabric of space and time alongside our own familiar universe , with some particles capable of switching between the two.
” What are your thoughts ?
Please comment below and share this news !

Sean Carroll, a theoretical physicist explained that clues found in the universe’s small scale structure prove an existence of other parallel worlds. The scientist made these shocking comments on the Joe Rogan Experience (JRE) podcast in 2019. Carroll claims that the mere fact that electrons, photons and all these minute particles are not located in just one place in the universe is evidence enough of parallels universes.
In another interview that Carroll gave with news.com.au, he explained further:
“But there’s a lot more going on. Not every world you imagine actually comes true. There are still equations, physical rules, patterns that must be obeyed. Some possible alternate worlds can come true. But not all of them.”
The rules of physics that we follow in our everyday lives seem like common sense, but at the very minuscule detail, this common sense completely breaks apart. If you are observing physics at a quantum level, the empty space is filled with tiny particles that are coming in and out of existence at every millisecond.
According to New Scientist, nn important construct in quantum mechanics, Bell’s theorem can also prove that parallel universes exist. This theorem discusses particles that interact and entangle with each other, and eventually go their separate ways.
Carroll has also discussed and advanced in other controversial theories such as the nature of time and the Big Bang theory. He insists that the universe didn’t come to life after a huge explosion, but that it has been an ancient and constant entity wherein time runs both forward and backward. Carroll cannot break down and explain the complicated depth of quantum physics in a much simpler manner.
He writes:
“As far as we currently know, quantum mechanics isn’t just an approximation to the truth; it is the truth. Physics is stuck trying to understand the fundamentals of nature and the Big Bang. It’s time to take a step back and understand its foundations. It’s time to tackle our understanding of the quantum world.”
Fellow physicist, Brian Greene authored a book titled The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos.
“You almost can’t avoid having some version of the multiverse in your studies if you push deeply enough in the mathematical descriptions of the physical universe. There are many of us thinking of one version of parallel universe theory or another. If it’s all a lot of nonsense, then it’s a lot of wasted effort going into this far-out idea. But if this idea is correct, it is a fantastic upheaval in our understanding,” Greene shared with NPR.
Even theoretical physicist, Stephen Hawking made a suggestion that because of quantum mechanics, it is known that the Big Bang supplied us with more than just one universe. Until now, quantum physics and all its realms has been impossible to figure out entirely, but Carroll has high hopes that this will soon change as technology improves.
“Now we’re getting better at that, technology has improved. Maybe things are going to change.”
The researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee are joining the bandwagon of Carroll, Greene and Hawking’s theories by creating experiments to discover other multiverses or mirror images of the reality we know. Last year, the team sent a beam of subatomic particles down a 50-foot tunnel, passing a powerful magnet to an impenetrable wall.
Leah Broussard, lead researcher told New Scientist that, “if it exists, it would form a bubble of reality nestling within the fabric of space and time alongside our own familiar universe, with some particles capable of switching between the two.”
What are your thoughts? Please comment below and share this news!
True Activist / Report a typo


trueactivist--2020-09-30--21-Year-Old Lion Lovers In The L.A. Zoo Were Put To Sleep Together So They Wouldn’t Be Without The O

21-Year-Old Lion Lovers In The L.A. Zoo Were Put To Sleep Together So They Wouldn’t Be Without The Other

Elderly African lions named Hubert and Kalisa living at the Los Angeles Zoo were put to sleep at the same time so that they wouldn ’ t have to live without each other on their last days alone .
These 21-year-old loyal lovers have been together for many years and were well known for their “ frequent cuddles ” that have been witnessed by visitors and staff alike .
Hubert was born in the Lincoln Park Zoo on the 7th of February , 1999 and fathered 10 cubs , while Kalisa was born in the Oklahoma City Zoo on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ met one another after both moving to the L.A .
Zoo in 2014 , and while they never had offspring together , they were completely inseparable since then .
Los Angeles Zoo officials came out with a statement that was posted on their Instagram account saying , “ it is with a heavy heart that we announce the loss of our African lion pair , ” adding that their action to “ humanely euthanize ” the pair proved to be very difficult for them .
Denise Verret , zoo director and CEO said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an iconic part of the L.A .
Zoo experience , and our staff and guests have been touched by their loyal companionship .
Their longevity is truly a testament to the level of expert care our veterinary and animal care teams provide for our elderly animals .
These lions will remain a positive part of our history , and they will be greatly missed.
” The couple were both moved to the L.A .
Zoo and Botanical Gardens when they were both 17 .
This is typically considered an old age for these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be about 10 to 15 years in the wild .
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) Red List , the African Lion is under the classification of “ vulnerable.
” While they say that this “ king of beasts ” is not facing an imminent extinction , there are only about 25,000 lions left living in the wild located all over Africa , while three quarters of their population is on a steady decline .
Although the lion ’ s population has increased in Southern African countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Africa by 12 percent , their numbers all across West , Central and East Africa have declined by a whopping 60 percent .
So , while their Red List status is under “ vulnerable , ” the lion meets the criterion as an endangered species in most areas of its population .
What are your thoughts ?
Please comment below and share this news !

Elderly African lions named Hubert and Kalisa living at the Los Angeles Zoo were put to sleep at the same time so that they wouldn’t have to live without each other on their last days alone.
These 21-year-old loyal lovers have been together for many years and were well known for their “frequent cuddles” that have been witnessed by visitors and staff alike. Hubert was born in the Lincoln Park Zoo on the 7th of February, 1999 and fathered 10 cubs, while Kalisa was born in the Oklahoma City Zoo on the 26th of December, 1998. They met one another after both moving to the L.A. Zoo in 2014, and while they never had offspring together, they were completely inseparable since then.
Los Angeles Zoo officials came out with a statement that was posted on their Instagram account saying, “it is with a heavy heart that we announce the loss of our African lion pair,” adding that their action to “humanely euthanize” the pair proved to be very difficult for them.
Denise Verret, zoo director and CEO said that:
“Hubert and Kalisa are an iconic part of the L.A. Zoo experience, and our staff and guests have been touched by their loyal companionship. Their longevity is truly a testament to the level of expert care our veterinary and animal care teams provide for our elderly animals. These lions will remain a positive part of our history, and they will be greatly missed.”
Beth Schaefer, L.A. Zoo animal programs director told the Los Angeles times that:
“These lions were charismatic both together as partners and separately, but they were hardly ever apart from one another. Their undivided attention was always on the other as they rested together, cuddled and nuzzled often.”
Alisa Behar, mammal curator also stated that:
“This is a very hard loss for our zoo community. In the early mornings, staff would routinely hear Hubert’s waking roars, and I will personally miss hearing them on my walks around the grounds. You cannot think of Hubert without thinking of his companion, Kalisa; they’ve been an inseparable couple for years.”
The couple were both moved to the L.A. Zoo and Botanical Gardens when they were both 17. This is typically considered an old age for these majestic cats since they only live to be about 10 to 15 years in the wild.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the African Lion is under the classification of “vulnerable.” While they say that this “king of beasts” is not facing an imminent extinction, there are only about 25,000 lions left living in the wild located all over Africa, while three quarters of their population is on a steady decline.
Although the lion’s population has increased in Southern African countries like Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa by 12 percent, their numbers all across West, Central and East Africa have declined by a whopping 60 percent. So, while their Red List status is under “vulnerable,” the lion meets the criterion as an endangered species in most areas of its population.
What are your thoughts? Please comment below and share this news!
True Activist / Report a typo


trueactivist--2020-10-02--This Electrically Charged Red Jellyfish Lightning Majestically Appears Over Texas

In recent years , scientists have been able to document a rare phenomenon seen in the sky : red lighting eerily shaped like tentacles of a glowing , crimson jellyfish displaying itself majestically above us .
According to the European Space Agency , these spurts of lighting are known as “ sprites , ” and they are really quick electrical bursts that happen 27 to 50 miles up in the atmosphere that reach towards space .
Sprites have been seen displaying themselves in every continent so far , except Antartica since they were discovered back in 1989 .
There isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phenomenon yet , aside from them lasting mere tenths of a second that generally occur behind heavy , stormy clouds .
Last July , an expert on dark skies from the Austin McDonald Observatory , Stephen Hummel was able to capture the perfect photo showcasing these sprites from a ridge on Mount Locke located in the Davis Mountains of West Texas .
He was able to take this photo while recording hours upon hours of footage throughout the whole year .
On the 2nd of July , he was 4 and a half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to capture the image of the sprite .
Throughout 70 hours of his footage , he was able to capture 70 sprites just this year alone , he mentioned to Business Insider .
“ Sprites usually appear to the eye as very brief , dim , grey structures .
You need to be looking for them to spot them , and oftentimes I am not certain I actually saw one until I check the camera footage to confirm , ” said Hummel .
These alien-like jellyfish lightning creatures are likely seen dangling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ layer that lies above the lower atmosphere .
There have also been cases where they resemble red pillars that end with curling tendrils mostly being described as ‘ carrot curls.
’ Because they appear only during massive storms above the earth ’ s surface , sprites are not easy to see from the ground .
They are far easier to be seen from the International Space Station , such as this occasion that was beautifully captured last August 2015 .
Davd Sentman , late University of Alaska professor coined the magical name ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was “ well suited to describe their appearance ” and light , fairy-like nature .
There have been cases of sprites seen that are absolutely massive , much like Hummel ’ s photo showing them towering “ probably around 30 miles long and 30 miles tall , ” he said .
Despite the nature of their occurrence , not all thunderstorms produce sprites .
They usually occur when lightning hits the ground , which releases positive electrical energy that needs an oppositely charged electrical discharge to balance that energy throughout the sky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the more lightning it produces , the more likely it is to produce a sprite , ” said Hummel .
The red glow is that result of nitrogen gas seen high up in the atmosphere that reacts because of the burns of electricity from lightning strikes .
When the sprites spark , it becomes red because of the nitrogen floating across the Earth ’ s atmosphere .
The gas is excited by that burst of electricity , emitting a red glow all throughout .

In recent years, scientists have been able to document a rare phenomenon seen in the sky: red lighting eerily shaped like tentacles of a glowing, crimson jellyfish displaying itself majestically above us. According to the European Space Agency, these spurts of lighting are known as “sprites,” and they are really quick electrical bursts that happen 27 to 50 miles up in the atmosphere that reach towards space. Sprites have been seen displaying themselves in every continent so far, except Antartica since they were discovered back in 1989. There isn’t much information known about this phenomenon yet, aside from them lasting mere tenths of a second that generally occur behind heavy, stormy clouds.
Last July, an expert on dark skies from the Austin McDonald Observatory, Stephen Hummel was able to capture the perfect photo showcasing these sprites from a ridge on Mount Locke located in the Davis Mountains of West Texas. He was able to take this photo while recording hours upon hours of footage throughout the whole year. On the 2nd of July, he was 4 and a half hours into recoding, when he was able to capture the image of the sprite. Throughout 70 hours of his footage, he was able to capture 70 sprites just this year alone, he mentioned to Business Insider. “Sprites usually appear to the eye as very brief, dim, grey structures. You need to be looking for them to spot them, and oftentimes I am not certain I actually saw one until I check the camera footage to confirm,” said Hummel.
Sprite medusa. Foto Stephen Hummel pic.twitter.com/WDdDcKPzG4
— Gustavo Vela (@GustavoVela71) August 15, 2020
These alien-like jellyfish lightning creatures are likely seen dangling from the ionosphere, which is the layer that lies above the lower atmosphere. There have also been cases where they resemble red pillars that end with curling tendrils mostly being described as ‘carrot curls.’ Because they appear only during massive storms above the earth’s surface, sprites are not easy to see from the ground. They are far easier to be seen from the International Space Station, such as this occasion that was beautifully captured last August 2015.
Here’s some sprite lightning as photographed from the International Space Station in August 2015. City lights in an orbital blur, a flash of red, stars everywhere. It is so unbelievably cool we get to live on this planet. (credit: NASA/Expedition 44) pic.twitter.com/G1Ie7Z4II7
— Adrienne LaFrance (@AdrienneLaF) August 15, 2020
Davd Sentman, late University of Alaska professor coined the magical name ‘sprites’ for this weather phenomenon because it was “well suited to describe their appearance” and light, fairy-like nature. There have been cases of sprites seen that are absolutely massive, much like Hummel’s photo showing them towering “probably around 30 miles long and 30 miles tall,” he said.
Despite the nature of their occurrence, not all thunderstorms produce sprites. They usually occur when lightning hits the ground, which releases positive electrical energy that needs an oppositely charged electrical discharge to balance that energy throughout the sky.
“The more powerful the storm and the more lightning it produces, the more likely it is to produce a sprite,” said Hummel. The red glow is that result of nitrogen gas seen high up in the atmosphere that reacts because of the burns of electricity from lightning strikes. When the sprites spark, it becomes red because of the nitrogen floating across the Earth’s atmosphere. The gas is excited by that burst of electricity, emitting a red glow all throughout.
Multiple column sprites line up above an angel sprite in my last sprite lightning capture from the night of 4/17/2019 . An uncropped image on the 50mm about 20 minutes before being clouded over. Anadarko, Oklahoma. #okwx #APOD @JimCantore @emilyrsutton @MichaelSeger pic.twitter.com/gXNlPMKucZ


trueactivist--2020-10-05--Binge Drinking May Cause Lasting Anxiety And Damage The Brain, A New Study Shows

Maybe lots of people will tell you that drinking is bad for you , especially excessively , like binge drinking .
Well , a new study collaborates with that fact ( although you probably don ’ t need a study to prove it ) .
The study explains how binge drinking can damage your brain and increase the risk of cognitive-behavioral issues like anxiety .
Researchers of the University of Porto conducted a study showing that just 10 days of binge drinking can cause immune cells in the brain to wreck connections between neurons .
The effect is mental health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so the study did not use human subjects , in case you were wondering .
Mice were the test subjects , but the experiments give important insights into how different substances may affect the brains of humans .
“ We don ’ t have any reason to believe that the same mechanisms will not be operating in the human brain .
Even for a short period of time , excessive drinking is likely to affect the brain , increasing the level of anxiety , a relevant feature in alcohol abuse and addiction , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s co-author .
He further adds , “ The dangers of alcohol drinking , especially amongst the younger population , have been widely underestimated and excessive alcohol drinking is socially relatively well tolerated .
Increasing public awareness and education of the young can , together with other measures , change the way society looks at alcohol intake.
” The study grouped the mice into two…one was given alcohol over a 10 day time period , while the other was not .
To put it in perspective , the group of mice given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ethyl alcohol each day , which is about equal to 5 drinks for an adult human weighing about 165 pounds .
After the 10 day period , the researchers examined the mice ’ s brain tissue and found out that the mice who consumed alcohol had significant damage to the brain that controls decision making and complex cognition .
This resulted in increased anxiety .
The researchers believed that alcohol boosts the production of an inflammatory molecule called TNF .
Further experiments showed that using a drug called pomalidomide to block TNF helped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brain , and reduce anxiety .
Relvas believes this drug could be potentially used to treat alcohol addiction .
“ This study suggests that regulating the levels of TNF might eventually be useful when treating alcohol addiction.
” He explained that the symptoms are “ ultimately driven by increased secretion of TNF by microglia , as we show that reducing its production either pharmacologically or genetically can prevent synapse loss and anxiety.
” But , the team does not recommend that anyone use TNF inhibitors while binge drinking , as further studies need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure that the drug is safe and effective for the purpose .
Besides , TNF inhibitors will not prevent any other damage to the rest of the body caused by alcohol .
“ Alcohol abuse is a leading cause of disease with a massive impact on human life and should be treated so , ” Relvas adds .
Well there you have it…if you are a binge drinker , know that your brain ( as well as other organs ) gets damaged with excessive alcohol intake .
Whether you believe the study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the effects .
It ’ s all up to you anyway .
What are your thoughts ?
Please comment below and share this news !

Maybe lots of people will tell you that drinking is bad for you, especially excessively, like binge drinking. Well, a new study collaborates with that fact (although you probably don’t need a study to prove it). The study explains how binge drinking can damage your brain and increase the risk of cognitive-behavioral issues like anxiety. Researchers of the University of Porto conducted a study showing that just 10 days of binge drinking can cause immune cells in the brain to wreck connections between neurons. The effect is mental health issues, like anxiety.
Okay, so the study did not use human subjects, in case you were wondering. Mice were the test subjects, but the experiments give important insights into how different substances may affect the brains of humans.
“We don’t have any reason to believe that the same mechanisms will not be operating in the human brain. Even for a short period of time, excessive drinking is likely to affect the brain, increasing the level of anxiety, a relevant feature in alcohol abuse and addiction,” explains Joao Relvas, the study’s co-author. He further adds, “ The dangers of alcohol drinking, especially amongst the younger population, have been widely underestimated and excessive alcohol drinking is socially relatively well tolerated. Increasing public awareness and education of the young can, together with other measures, change the way society looks at alcohol intake.”
The study grouped the mice into two…one was given alcohol over a 10 day time period, while the other was not. To put it in perspective, the group of mice given alcohol was 1.5 grams per kilogram of ethyl alcohol each day, which is about equal to 5 drinks for an adult human weighing about 165 pounds. After the 10 day period, the researchers examined the mice’s brain tissue and found out that the mice who consumed alcohol had significant damage to the brain that controls decision making and complex cognition. This resulted in increased anxiety. The researchers believed that alcohol boosts the production of an inflammatory molecule called TNF.
Further experiments showed that using a drug called pomalidomide to block TNF helped reduce the damage of alcohol on the brain, and reduce anxiety. Relvas believes this drug could be potentially used to treat alcohol addiction. “This study suggests that regulating the levels of TNF might eventually be useful when treating alcohol addiction.” He explained that the symptoms are “ ultimately driven by increased secretion of TNF by microglia, as we show that reducing its production either pharmacologically or genetically can prevent synapse loss and anxiety.”
But, the team does not recommend that anyone use TNF inhibitors while binge drinking, as further studies need to be done. They certainly want to ensure that the drug is safe and effective for the purpose. Besides, TNF inhibitors will not prevent any other damage to the rest of the body caused by alcohol. “Alcohol abuse is a leading cause of disease with a massive impact on human life and should be treated so,” Relvas adds.
Well there you have it…if you are a binge drinker, know that your brain (as well as other organs) gets damaged with excessive alcohol intake. Whether you believe the study or not, definitely you have felt the effects. It’s all up to you anyway.
What are your thoughts? Please comment below and share this news!
True Activist / Report a typo


trueactivist--2020-10-06--10 Real-Life Stories Of Wild Animals Saving Humans

Viral posts circling through the internet ever since have been heartwarming videos of humans rescuing animals in grave danger , even the wild ones .
From birds in your backyard that have broken wings , to animals in labor – humans have rescued them despite dangers they may face , and the internet just eats it all up !
What we don ’ t see very often though are wild animals saving humans .
When viral videos come up , it ’ s most often the humans saving animals , or animals reacting violently towards humans .
There have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in desperate need of help , and the only ones able to rescue them to survival were animals .
These rescued humans have lived to tell their miraculous stories which are the most mind-blowing tales !
Here are 10 real-life stories of wild animals risking their lives to save humans : Warning : While these stories have been proven to be true , do not put yourself in a dangerous situation thinking these wild animals are always safe and reliable .
Always be cautious , nevertheless , with future encounters with animals .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hear are done by dolphins .
Back in 2007 , Todd Endris , a surfer from California was violently attacked by a Great White Shark .
This vicious sea animal went at him thrice and injured him so badly that his right leg was carved down to the bone .
Thankfully , Endris was rescued by dolphins that defended him from the shark , which caused it to eventually leave the surfer alone .
The dolphins formed a circle around Endris to protect him and guided him to the shore .
2 ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on its back safely to shore The Philippine Navy once published a story about Candalaria Villanueva , a 62-year-old that survived a shipwreck after a sea turtle saved her life .
The navy crew members that retrieved her from the sea turtle confirmed her story , reporting that she was in fact , hanging on to the back of the giant animal .
Villanueva retold her experience by sharing that she was struggling to hold on to something when the turtle came along and she was able to grab on to her shell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its back for two whole days without stopping to dive down the depths of the ocean for food .
When she was taken in by the sailors on the ship , the turtle even made sure to observe that she was in safe hands by circling the ship thrice before diving down back into the ocean .
A 12-year-old Ethiopian girl was kidnapped by seven men who were trying to force her against her will to marry one them back in 2005 .
For over a week , they tortured her by beating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what was going on .
Three powerful lions came to this little girl ’ s rescue and chase the abductors away .
They also stood guard around her until the authorities were able to get to the crime scene .
Amazingly , lions are aware about violent assault because this is a way for them to survive the wilderness when they isolate the victim from predators .
The girl was finally taken in by authorities and safely sent home without being harmed by the three wild beasts .
Back in 1996 , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a gorilla enclosure located at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago .
He hit his head severely upon the crash and was almost mauled by the gorillas inside the enclosure claiming their territory .
Miraculously , the little boy was protected by a female Lowland Gorilla named Binti Jua .
She defendedh him from her housemates and carried the child into safety .
5 ] Beavers protected a boy by warming him up and saving him from freezing to death .
Rheal Guindon went fishing with his parents in Ontario , Canada and decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while his parents took the boat into the ocean .
This little boy had to watch and experience in horror when his parents ’ boat capsized right in front of his very eyes , eventually leading to their untimely death .
He was crying for hours yet nobody came to his rescue , so he decided to walk to the nearest town and ask for help .
Guindon never made it to the town before sunset , and since he was exhausted , hungry and scared , he decided to stop and sleep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warm fur on his skin , and whilst completely worn out , thought it was a dog cozying up to him so he once again drifted off to sleep .
When he awoke the next morning , he realized that he was kept warm and protected throughout the night by three wild beavers .
They kept him warm out in the wild without thick clothes in Ontario , where the temperature usually drops down below zero .
6 ] Man jumps off the Golden Gate Bridge and is rescued by a sea lion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off San Francisco ’ s Golden Gate Bridge back in 2006 , without thinking about how his impact on the water would break and dislocate his bones .
He eventually jumped 1280 meters down and while he did dislocate his spine upon impact , he was unable to get himself back to shore .
Amazingly , Hines was rescued by a sea lion who held above water until he was eventually rescued by the authorities .
7 ] Bear saves man from getting mauled by a mountain lion Back in 2012 , 62-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a mountain lion attack while he was watching a mother bear and her cubs .
Biggs intended to fight the beast back with a rock hammer , but was thankfully rescued by the mother bear who bit the lion and flung it around by the neck .
The two wild animals scuffled for a while until the mountain lion ran away .
Biggs was miraculously safe despite a few abrasions , while his rescuer campy went back to her cubs .
8 ] A seal saves a group of men from being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a British tourist was attacked by a shark in South Africa .
Terribly wounded on both legs , he lost a lost of blood and was at a point of dying , when two brave men dove in to try and rescue him , but the shark was ready to attack all of them .
Luckily , a seal appeared out of nowhere to save the three men by circling around them , which confused the shark and caused him to leave the scene .
The seal stayed with the men until they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the shore .
9 ] A pod of dolphins and two whales rescued a fisherman that was shipwrecked In 2008 , Ronnie Dabal , a Filipino fisherman was working in Puerto Princesa Bay , Palawan when his boat suddenly got wrecked , launching him to the water .
He struggled , trying to survive the turbulent waters on top of a styrofoam raft for the next 24 hours .
When his energy eventually gave out was beginning to go under water , 30 dolphins and two whales came to his rescue !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to safety until the they reached the shore of the island .
10 ] Girl was rescued by an elephant from the tsunami In the 2008 tsunami in Thailand , eight-year-old Amber Mason got separated from her family .
If not for a kind-hearted elephant named Ningnong , Mason would ’ ve been washed away by the first wave .
When the tsunami struck , Amber was riding on Ningnong ’ s back .
It intuitively stopped and turned its back to the wave just as it was about to crash on them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intense force of water .
What are your thoughts ?
Please comment below and share this news !

Viral posts circling through the internet ever since have been heartwarming videos of humans rescuing animals in grave danger, even the wild ones. From birds in your backyard that have broken wings, to animals in labor – humans have rescued them despite dangers they may face, and the internet just eats it all up!
What we don’t see very often though are wild animals saving humans. When viral videos come up, it’s most often the humans saving animals, or animals reacting violently towards humans. There have been a number of reports about humans being in desperate need of help, and the only ones able to rescue them to survival were animals. These rescued humans have lived to tell their miraculous stories which are the most mind-blowing tales!
Here are 10 real-life stories of wild animals risking their lives to save humans:
Warning: While these stories have been proven to be true, do not put yourself in a dangerous situation thinking these wild animals are always safe and reliable. Always be cautious, nevertheless, with future encounters with animals.
1] A pod of dolphins rescue a wounded surfer attacked by a shark
The most common animal rescue stories we hear are done by dolphins. Back in 2007, Todd Endris, a surfer from California was violently attacked by a Great White Shark. This vicious sea animal went at him thrice and injured him so badly that his right leg was carved down to the bone. Thankfully, Endris was rescued by dolphins that defended him from the shark, which caused it to eventually leave the surfer alone. The dolphins formed a circle around Endris to protect him and guided him to the shore.
2] A giant sea turtle rescued a woman on its back safely to shore
The Philippine Navy once published a story about Candalaria Villanueva, a 62-year-old that survived a shipwreck after a sea turtle saved her life. The navy crew members that retrieved her from the sea turtle confirmed her story, reporting that she was in fact, hanging on to the back of the giant animal.
Villanueva retold her experience by sharing that she was struggling to hold on to something when the turtle came along and she was able to grab on to her shell. The animal swam with on on its back for two whole days without stopping to dive down the depths of the ocean for food. When she was taken in by the sailors on the ship, the turtle even made sure to observe that she was in safe hands by circling the ship thrice before diving down back into the ocean.
3] Lions rescued a 12-year-old girl that was kidnapped
A 12-year-old Ethiopian girl was kidnapped by seven men who were trying to force her against her will to marry one them back in 2005. For over a week, they tortured her by beating and assaulting her until her rescuers realized what was going on. Three powerful lions came to this little girl’s rescue and chase the abductors away. They also stood guard around her until the authorities were able to get to the crime scene. Amazingly, lions are aware about violent assault because this is a way for them to survive the wilderness when they isolate the victim from predators. The girl was finally taken in by authorities and safely sent home without being harmed by the three wild beasts.
4] Gorilla rescues toddler from other gorillas
Back in 1996, a 3-year-old boy fell 18 feet down into a gorilla enclosure located at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. He hit his head severely upon the crash and was almost mauled by the gorillas inside the enclosure claiming their territory. Miraculously, the little boy was protected by a female Lowland Gorilla named Binti Jua. She defendedh him from her housemates and carried the child into safety.
5] Beavers protected a boy by warming him up and saving him from freezing to death.
Rheal Guindon went fishing with his parents in Ontario, Canada and decided to stay behind in the shores, while his parents took the boat into the ocean. This little boy had to watch and experience in horror when his parents’ boat capsized right in front of his very eyes, eventually leading to their untimely death. He was crying for hours yet nobody came to his rescue, so he decided to walk to the nearest town and ask for help. Guindon never made it to the town before sunset, and since he was exhausted, hungry and scared, he decided to stop and sleep. The little boy woke up feeling warm fur on his skin, and whilst completely worn out, thought it was a dog cozying up to him so he once again drifted off to sleep. When he awoke the next morning, he realized that he was kept warm and protected throughout the night by three wild beavers. They kept him warm out in the wild without thick clothes in Ontario, where the temperature usually drops down below zero.
6] Man jumps off the Golden Gate Bridge and is rescued by a sea lion
19-year-old Kevin Hines had plans of jumping off San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge back in 2006, without thinking about how his impact on the water would break and dislocate his bones. He eventually jumped 1280 meters down and while he did dislocate his spine upon impact, he was unable to get himself back to shore. Amazingly, Hines was rescued by a sea lion who held above water until he was eventually rescued by the authorities.
7] Bear saves man from getting mauled by a mountain lion
Back in 2012, 62-year-old Californian native, Robert Biggs was caught in a mountain lion attack while he was watching a mother bear and her cubs. Biggs intended to fight the beast back with a rock hammer, but was thankfully rescued by the mother bear who bit the lion and flung it around by the neck. The two wild animals scuffled for a while until the mountain lion ran away. Biggs was miraculously safe despite a few abrasions, while his rescuer campy went back to her cubs.
8] A seal saves a group of men from being attacked by a shark
In 2011, a British tourist was attacked by a shark in South Africa. Terribly wounded on both legs, he lost a lost of blood and was at a point of dying, when two brave men dove in to try and rescue him, but the shark was ready to attack all of them. Luckily, a seal appeared out of nowhere to save the three men by circling around them, which confused the shark and caused him to leave the scene. The seal stayed with the men until they were all able to make it back to the shore.
9] A pod of dolphins and two whales rescued a fisherman that was shipwrecked
In 2008, Ronnie Dabal, a Filipino fisherman was working in Puerto Princesa Bay, Palawan when his boat suddenly got wrecked, launching him to the water. He struggled, trying to survive the turbulent waters on top of a styrofoam raft for the next 24 hours. When his energy eventually gave out was beginning to go under water, 30 dolphins and two whales came to his rescue! The helped each other push his raft to safety until the they reached the shore of the island.
10] Girl was rescued by an elephant from the tsunami
In the 2008 tsunami in Thailand, eight-year-old Amber Mason got separated from her family. If not for a kind-hearted elephant named Ningnong, Mason would’ve been washed away by the first wave. When the tsunami struck, Amber was riding on Ningnong’s back. It intuitively stopped and turned its back to the wave just as it was about to crash on them, protecting the little girl from the intense force of water.
What are your thoughts? Please comment below and share this news!
True Activist / Report a typo


trueactivist--2020-10-07--The Speed Of Light May Soon Be Possible Through A New Thruster, Claims A NASA Funded

Ever since the dawn of history , man has been fascinated with the heavens , and the possible ways to explore the infinite mystery .
The concept of interstellar expeditions has been of particular interest , thanks to the Star Trek movies and series .
New discoveries seem to bring us closer to the reality that travelling through the speed of light may soon be a reality .
Or so we want to believe .
Just imagine , if man sent its fastest space probe to the nearest reachable star , Alpha Centauri , it would take tens of thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mathematically daunting actually .
Having said this , most scientists believe that interstellar travel won ’ t happen in the next several centuries .
The galaxies in the universe are so ridiculously vast , it is hard to imagine such a theory .
But , it has never stopped some scientists from exploring the possibilities .
Recently , a number of advanced models of propulsion have come about , fusion engines , ion thrusters , light sails pushed by lasers , wormholes , and even hydrogen bombs , have made the concept of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The latest theory is from a physics professor emeritus at Fullerton , Jim Woodward , who has proposed a Mach-effect gravitational assist ( MEGA ) drive .
Strange as it may sound , Woodward submits that his drive could slowly accelerate with the help of a propulsion system powered by electricity , not combustible fuel .
It is based on a disputable sub-component to Einstein ’ s general relativity , the principle holds that the inertia is directly tied to gravity – and in theory , clears the way for “ propellantless propulsion.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ some scientific jargon , a stack of piezoelectric crystals generates the thrust , by storing small amounts of energy and vibrate when electrified .
The synchronization of tens of thousands of vibrations per second produces physical momentum.Woodward calls these crystals “ gizmos ” , and explains that the changes in mass or “ Mach effects ” will slowly but surely accelerate to incredible speeds .
His followers describe it as “ rowing a boat on the ocean of spacetime.
” The theory suggests that a starship could reach the speed of light and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The ship would probably need a nuclear reactor on board to sustain electricity for the decades-long voyage .
Still a mind-boggling amount of time though .
80 year old Woodward , who is a survivor of stage IV lung cancer , as well as Hodgkin ’ s lymphoma , received a grant and a slot in NASA ’ s Innovative Advanced Concepts program .
He has also invested around $ 200,000 of his own money into testing the MEGA thrusters .
Though for many years , his thrusters were considered to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given it a semblance of respect .
But given that , there are still many doubters and critics .
“ In my opinion there is no merit to Woodward ’ s theory .
I think the experimental results are more interesting than the theory , ” Mike McCulloch , a physicist at University of Plymouth , had this to say .
Woodward has his collaborators as well , physicist Hal Fearn explains that his doubts were answered by the lab results .
“ I haven ’ t been able to disprove it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been trying to disprove it for the last 10 years.
” Even while the odds of the MEGA drive delivering on its promise are low , it still presents a ray of hope that soon enough , humans will be able to explore the universe just like Star Trek… ” to boldly go where no man has gone before.
” What are your thoughts ?
Please comment below and share this news !

Ever since the dawn of history, man has been fascinated with the heavens, and the possible ways to explore the infinite mystery. The concept of interstellar expeditions has been of particular interest, thanks to the Star Trek movies and series. New discoveries seem to bring us closer to the reality that travelling through the speed of light may soon be a reality. Or so we want to believe. Just imagine, if man sent its fastest space probe to the nearest reachable star, Alpha Centauri, it would take tens of thousands of years to get there. Really mathematically daunting actually. Having said this, most scientists believe that interstellar travel won’t happen in the next several centuries. The galaxies in the universe are so ridiculously vast, it is hard to imagine such a theory.
But, it has never stopped some scientists from exploring the possibilities. Recently, a number of advanced models of propulsion have come about, fusion engines, ion thrusters, light sails pushed by lasers, wormholes, and even hydrogen bombs, have made the concept of interstellar travel a bit more possible.
The latest theory is from a physics professor emeritus at Fullerton, Jim Woodward, who has proposed a Mach-effect gravitational assist ( MEGA) drive. Strange as it may sound, Woodward submits that his drive could slowly accelerate with the help of a propulsion system powered by electricity, not combustible fuel. It is based on a disputable sub-component to Einstein’s general relativity, the principle holds that the inertia is directly tied to gravity – and in theory, clears the way for “ propellantless propulsion.”
If you don’t mind some scientific jargon, a stack of piezoelectric crystals generates the thrust, by storing small amounts of energy and vibrate when electrified. The synchronization of tens of thousands of vibrations per second produces physical momentum.Woodward calls these crystals “gizmos”, and explains that the changes in mass or “Mach effects” will slowly but surely accelerate to incredible speeds. His followers describe it as “rowing a boat on the ocean of spacetime.”
The theory suggests that a starship could reach the speed of light and reach other stars within a human lifetime. The ship would probably need a nuclear reactor on board to sustain electricity for the decades-long voyage. Still a mind-boggling amount of time though.
80 year old Woodward, who is a survivor of stage IV lung cancer, as well as Hodgkin’s lymphoma, received a grant and a slot in NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts program. He has also invested around $200,000 of his own money into testing the MEGA thrusters. Though for many years, his thrusters were considered to be improbable, the scientific community has slowly given it a semblance of respect.
But given that, there are still many doubters and critics. “In my opinion there is no merit to Woodward’s theory. I think the experimental results are more interesting than the theory,” Mike McCulloch, a physicist at University of Plymouth, had this to say.
Woodward has his collaborators as well, physicist Hal Fearn explains that his doubts were answered by the lab results. “I haven’t been able to disprove it, and believe me, I’ve been trying to disprove it for the last 10 years.”
Even while the odds of the MEGA drive delivering on its promise are low, it still presents a ray of hope that soon enough, humans will be able to explore the universe just like Star Trek…”to boldly go where no man has gone before.”
What are your thoughts? Please comment below and share this news!
True Activist / Report a typo


trueactivist--2020-10-08--Tennessee Has An Enchanting “Skywalk” Bridge That Allows You To Stroll Through The Treetops

If you have never gone sightseeing in Tennessee , particularly in the Smoky Mountains , you are missing a lot .
The best scenic views can be admired via the Gatlinburg SkyLift , SkyDeck , and SkyBridge , which offer nature lovers an enchanting experience .
The Smoky Mountain range , which is a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains , runs along the Tennessee – North Carolina border in the south-eastern United States .
It has a rich history that spans thousands of years – from the ancient Paleo Indians , to the European settlers in the 1800s , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mountains National Park , which was established in 1934 , protects most of the range .
It is the most visited National Park in America , and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site , and part of an International Biosphere Reserve .
It is home to around 187,000 acres of virgin forest , and is among the most diverse ecosystems in North America .
The first settlers in Gatlinburg were Martha Jane Huskey Ogle and her seven children who moved in from South Carolina in the early 1800s .
They built a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known as White Oaks Flats .
Other pioneers , including veterans of the Revolutionary War also settled in White Oaks Flats .
The first general store in the area was run by Noah Ogle in 1850 .
A preacher by the name of Radford C. Gatlin settled in the area in 1854 , and opened the town ’ s second general store .
He also opened a post office in his store , which prompted the change of the town ’ s name to Gatlinburg in 1856 .
However , it seemed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was soon banned from the area .
The SkyLift was opened in 1954 , and remains to be one of the oldest continuously operated attractions in the Smoky Mountains .
It is located across the street from Ripley ’ s Believe It Or Not , another famous attraction in downtown Gatlinburg .
The SkyLift ride starts from the middle of town and travels upward to the top of Crockett Mountain .
It is a 20-minute ride that ascends 500 feet , and you may opt to rest and enjoy snacks or some craft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a new attraction added in 2019 , just like the SkyBridge .
The SkyBridge is a must for those who enjoy a stroll , it spans 680 feet , and is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America .
It reaches a height of 140 feet at its midpoint .
An interesting addition are the glass panels periodically located along the bridge , which offers an exhilarating view beneath your feet ( not for those with a fear of heights though ) .
So “ brave the glass ” , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as proof of your courage .
The park offers all-day passes which you can enjoy at your own pace .
But Gatlinburg offers lots of other attractions , and reasonable accommodations should you want to stay longer .
There are cabins , lodges , resorts , and hotels .
So if you haven ’ t been to Gatlinburg , Tennessee , go and experience a magical nature sensory trip .
Truly worth it .
What are your thoughts ?
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If you have never gone sightseeing in Tennessee, particularly in the Smoky Mountains, you are missing a lot. The best scenic views can be admired via the Gatlinburg SkyLift, SkyDeck, and SkyBridge, which offer nature lovers an enchanting experience.
The Smoky Mountain range, which is a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, runs along the Tennessee – North Carolina border in the south-eastern United States. It has a rich history that spans thousands of years – from the ancient Paleo Indians, to the European settlers in the 1800s, to the present day.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which was established in 1934, protects most of the range. It is the most visited National Park in America, and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, and part of an International Biosphere Reserve. It is home to around 187,000 acres of virgin forest, and is among the most diverse ecosystems in North America.
The first settlers in Gatlinburg were Martha Jane Huskey Ogle and her seven children who moved in from South Carolina in the early 1800s. They built a cabin in the area which later became known as White Oaks Flats. Other pioneers, including veterans of the Revolutionary War also settled in White Oaks Flats. The first general store in the area was run by Noah Ogle in 1850. A preacher by the name of Radford C. Gatlin settled in the area in 1854, and opened the town’s second general store. He also opened a post office in his store, which prompted the change of the town’s name to Gatlinburg in 1856. However, it seemed that Gatlin was a controversial figure, and was soon banned from the area.
The SkyLift was opened in 1954, and remains to be one of the oldest continuously operated attractions in the Smoky Mountains. It is located across the street from Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, another famous attraction in downtown Gatlinburg. The SkyLift ride starts from the middle of town and travels upward to the top of Crockett Mountain. It is a 20-minute ride that ascends 500 feet, and you may opt to rest and enjoy snacks or some craft beer on the SkyDeck. The SkyDeck is a new attraction added in 2019, just like the SkyBridge. The SkyBridge is a must for those who enjoy a stroll, it spans 680 feet, and is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America. It reaches a height of 140 feet at its midpoint. An interesting addition are the glass panels periodically located along the bridge, which offers an exhilarating view beneath your feet (not for those with a fear of heights though). So “brave the glass”, as they say, and take a selfie as proof of your courage.
The park offers all-day passes which you can enjoy at your own pace. But Gatlinburg offers lots of other attractions, and reasonable accommodations should you want to stay longer. There are cabins, lodges, resorts, and hotels. So if you haven’t been to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, go and experience a magical nature sensory trip. Truly worth it.
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trueactivist--2020-10-09--Quantum Teleportation Between Computer Chips Has Recently Been Achieved For The First Time By Physic

Quantum Teleportation Between Computer Chips Has Recently Been Achieved For The First Time By Physicists

Two very interesting words – quantum and teleportation .
Quantum has been used loosely recently , even though we are just beginning to comprehend the main aspects of quantum physics .
Even Albert Einstein did not agree with a lot of the theories regarding this physics , but quantum is not anymore the future , it is here .
However , don ’ t think teleportation is like the device used in Star Trek , we aren ’ t there yet .
Recently , a group of physicists have for the first time demonstrated quantum teleportation between 2 computer chips @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to appreciate one of the properties of quantum physics – entanglement .
Quantum entanglement is a physical phenomenon that happens when a group of particles is generated , interacts , or shares spatial proximity , such that the quantum state of each particle of the group can ’ t be described independently of the state of the others .
Having said that , the University of Bristol scientists , together with the Technical University of Denmark , have successfully developed chip-scale devices that can generate and manipulate single particles of light with programmable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teleportation allows quantum state transfer of a quantum particle from one place to another via entanglement .
But this entangled communication was by no means easy and simple .
Bristol co-author Dan Llewellyn said , “ We were able to demonstrate a high-quality entanglement link across two chips in the lab , where photons on either chip share a single quantum state.
” He adds , “ Each chip was then fully programmed to perform a range of demonstrations which utilize the entanglement…the flagship demonstration was a two-chip teleportation experiment , whereby the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transmitted across the two chips after a quantum measurement is performed .
This measurement utilizes the strange behavior of quantum physics , which simultaneously collapses the entanglement link and transfers the particle state to another particle already on the receiver chip.
” Another co-author , Dr. Imad Faruque , further adds : “ Based on our previous result of on-chip high-quality single-photon sources , we have built an even more complex circuit containing four sources…all of these sources are tested and found to be nearly identical emitting nearly identical photons , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experiments we had performed , such as entanglement swapping.
” The results showed a 91 percent efficiency in quantum teleportation , and entanglement swapping , used for quantum repeaters and networks , and four-photon GHZ states .
Scientists are predicting that these developments would have immense impacts on modern life…with quantum computing and quantum internet .
You don ’ t have to be an Einstein to realize we are opening new doors in the technology world .
It may take some time , but we will surely get there .
Who knows what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What are your thoughts ?
Please comment below and share this news !

Two very interesting words – quantum and teleportation. Quantum has been used loosely recently, even though we are just beginning to comprehend the main aspects of quantum physics. Even Albert Einstein did not agree with a lot of the theories regarding this physics, but quantum is not anymore the future, it is here. However, don’t think teleportation is like the device used in Star Trek, we aren’t there yet.
Recently, a group of physicists have for the first time demonstrated quantum teleportation between 2 computer chips. To further understand this you have to appreciate one of the properties of quantum physics – entanglement. Quantum entanglement is a physical phenomenon that happens when a group of particles is generated, interacts, or shares spatial proximity, such that the quantum state of each particle of the group can’t be described independently of the state of the others.
Having said that, the University of Bristol scientists, together with the Technical University of Denmark, have successfully developed chip-scale devices that can generate and manipulate single particles of light with programmable nano-scale circuits. Simply said, quantum teleportation allows quantum state transfer of a quantum particle from one place to another via entanglement. But this entangled communication was by no means easy and simple.
Bristol co-author Dan Llewellyn said, “We were able to demonstrate a high-quality entanglement link across two chips in the lab, where photons on either chip share a single quantum state.” He adds, “ Each chip was then fully programmed to perform a range of demonstrations which utilize the entanglement…the flagship demonstration was a two-chip teleportation experiment, whereby the individual quantum state of a particle is transmitted across the two chips after a quantum measurement is performed. This measurement utilizes the strange behavior of quantum physics, which simultaneously collapses the entanglement link and transfers the particle state to another particle already on the receiver chip.”
Another co-author, Dr. Imad Faruque, further adds: “Based on our previous result of on-chip high-quality single-photon sources, we have built an even more complex circuit containing four sources…all of these sources are tested and found to be nearly identical emitting nearly identical photons, which is an essential criterion for the set of experiments we had performed, such as entanglement swapping.”
The results showed a 91 percent efficiency in quantum teleportation, and entanglement swapping, used for quantum repeaters and networks, and four-photon GHZ states. Scientists are predicting that these developments would have immense impacts on modern life…with quantum computing and quantum internet.
You don’t have to be an Einstein to realize we are opening new doors in the technology world. It may take some time, but we will surely get there. Who knows what scientists will come up with next?
What are your thoughts? Please comment below and share this news!
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trueactivist--2020-10-12--Parrots That “Cursed” Visitors Were Eventually Removed From A Zoo

Believe it or not , a UK zoo suspended a group of five parrots from public view after a shocking stream of curses and profanities were hurled at visitors .
According to the park ’ s management the foul-mouthed birds started teaching each other curses while quarantined in the same room at the Lincolnshire Wildlife Park last August .
The 5 are African grey parrots named Elsie , Eric , Billy , Tyson , and Jade , and started encouraging one another to swear .
They had joined a colony of about 200 other grey parrots .
CEO Steve Nichols @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw it very quickly , we are quite used to parrots swearing but we ’ ve never had five at the same time.
” He added , “ Most parrots clam up outside , but for some reason these five relish it.
” In a separate interview , the CEO explained that other parrots taken in by the park displayed “ blue language ” and were quite “ comical ” , but these five just took it to another level , and things just escalated to a situation beyond the park ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the same week and because they were all quarantined together , it meant that one room was just full of swearing birds.
” he mentioned .
Nichols added , “ The more they swear the more you usually laugh which then triggers them to swear again.
” He continued , “ But when you get four or five together that have learned the swearing and naturally learnt the laughing , so when one swears , one laughs and before you know it , it just got to be like an old working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are all just swearing and laughing.
” With the lifting of health restrictions , the park reopened and put the parrots on display .
But to everyone ’ s surprise , they started cursing at the visitors .
However the visitors did not seem to mind , and some actually enjoyed the cacophony of verbal abuse .
“ Literally within 20 minutes of being in the introductory we were told that they had sworn at a customer and for the next group of people , all sorts of obscenities came out , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come to us , they think it ’ s highly amusing , we haven ’ t had one complaint , ” he adds .
“ When a parrot tells you to f**k off it amuses people very highly…It ’ s brought a big smile to a really hard year.
” Amusing , maybe , but the decision to withdraw the parrots from public view was made , especially for the sake of children .
The “ notorious ” five were placed in an enclosure with other parrots where park officials hope the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the birds .
But , with over 1,500 birds in the park , the last thing they want is for the cursing to catch on .
The five will eventually be released in separate areas of the park , so at least if they continue to curse , it won ’ t be as bad as a group cursing .
But it makes you wonder where these parrots learned to curse in the first place ?
Lincolnshire zoo had another parrot that made headlines before .
Chico , a 9-year old yellow-crowned Amazon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viral of the bird singing Beyonce ’ s If I Were A Boy .
That was devoid of curses surely .
What are your thoughts ?
Please comment below and share this news !

Believe it or not, a UK zoo suspended a group of five parrots from public view after a shocking stream of curses and profanities were hurled at visitors. According to the park’s management the foul-mouthed birds started teaching each other curses while quarantined in the same room at the Lincolnshire Wildlife Park last August.
The 5 are African grey parrots named Elsie, Eric, Billy, Tyson, and Jade, and started encouraging one another to swear. They had joined a colony of about 200 other grey parrots. CEO Steve Nichols said in an interview, “We saw it very quickly, we are quite used to parrots swearing but we’ve never had five at the same time.” He added, “Most parrots clam up outside, but for some reason these five relish it.”
In a separate interview, the CEO explained that other parrots taken in by the park displayed “blue language” and were quite “comical”, but these five just took it to another level, and things just escalated to a situation beyond the park’s control. “We took in five in the same week and because they were all quarantined together, it meant that one room was just full of swearing birds.” he mentioned.
Nichols added, “The more they swear the more you usually laugh which then triggers them to swear again.” He continued, “But when you get four or five together that have learned the swearing and naturally learnt the laughing, so when one swears, one laughs and before you know it, it just got to be like an old working men’s club scenario where they are all just swearing and laughing.”
With the lifting of health restrictions, the park reopened and put the parrots on display. But to everyone’s surprise, they started cursing at the visitors. However the visitors did not seem to mind, and some actually enjoyed the cacophony of verbal abuse. “Literally within 20 minutes of being in the introductory we were told that they had sworn at a customer and for the next group of people, all sorts of obscenities came out,” Steve Nichols explains. “People have come to us, they think it’s highly amusing, we haven’t had one complaint,” he adds. “When a parrot tells you to f**k off it amuses people very highly…It’s brought a big smile to a really hard year.”
Amusing, maybe, but the decision to withdraw the parrots from public view was made, especially for the sake of children. The “notorious” five were placed in an enclosure with other parrots where park officials hope the other noises will have a positive effect on the birds. But, with over 1,500 birds in the park, the last thing they want is for the cursing to catch on.
The five will eventually be released in separate areas of the park, so at least if they continue to curse, it won’t be as bad as a group cursing. But it makes you wonder where these parrots learned to curse in the first place?
Lincolnshire zoo had another parrot that made headlines before. Chico, a 9-year old yellow-crowned Amazon parrot took centerstage with footage that went viral of the bird singing Beyonce’s If I Were A Boy. That was devoid of curses surely.
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trueactivist--2020-10-08--Usually Peaceful Orcas Have Been Aggressively Attacking Boats In The Gibraltar Strait All Summer

This summer , a number of isolated cases of orcas attacking boats in the Gibraltar Strait near Spain and Portugal have been reported .
Experts have theorized that these orcas could be fighting back against threats from these fishing boats and other vessels .
Because orcas are generally known to be friendly and playful , this type of violent behavior is very unusual for these good-natured sea creatures .
Last July , Victoria Morris , a biology graduate was sailing off the coast of Spain when their vessel was suddenly surrounded by a pod of orcas .
Initially , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strange natural phenomenon of being followed by nine orcas , until they realized they weren ’ t there to ooh and aah over these magnificent creatures .
The pod began to aggressively attack and ram into the boat altogether .
The orcas continued on their assault for over an hour causing serious damage to the boat .
As reported by the Guardian , this incident also happened in four different instances all taking place in the same general area all during the summer .
Morris has reason to believe that these orcas were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their attack , or in her words , they “ orca-strated ” it .
During the attack , the biology graduate heard them whistling to each other , which is how they are known to communicate with other members of their pod .
Morris explains that “ it was like a whistle , like a very , very loud whistle , and there was lots of them , maybe about four or five of them were doing it at the same time .
And it was just so loud .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also shared that when her crew had eventually called out for help , “ it was almost like they didn ’ t believe us at first .
They asked us to repeat a quite a few times .
Like , ‘ Can you confirm that you are actually under attack by orcas ?
” Eventually , the crew was rescued and brought to a town nearby called Barbate , where they shocked onlookers by the look of their boat vessel which was covered and damaged in bite marks .
Marine biologist Jörn Selling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been attacking boats is because they got used to quiet waters during the pandemic restrictions , and have now been disturbed with the extra noise and increase in traffic now that life is going back to how it was pre-coronavirus .
Morris said that “ they do have the capacity to be angry and they ’ re very , very intelligent creatures and so it is very possible .
But if that is true , then , you know , something needs to be done .
I think as bad as it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happening , especially to us , but I think in a way it ’ s also a good thing because it ’ s turned the spotlight on the fact that there is a problem .
Something has changed that ’ s causing them to do this.
” She believes these attacks need to raise awareness as to what this species is facing .
Orcas in the Glbraltar Strait are endangered , with fewer than 50 of them remaining in the wild .
What are your thoughts ?
Please comment below and share this @ @

This summer, a number of isolated cases of orcas attacking boats in the Gibraltar Strait near Spain and Portugal have been reported. Experts have theorized that these orcas could be fighting back against threats from these fishing boats and other vessels. Because orcas are generally known to be friendly and playful, this type of violent behavior is very unusual for these good-natured sea creatures.
Last July, Victoria Morris, a biology graduate was sailing off the coast of Spain when their vessel was suddenly surrounded by a pod of orcas. Initially, the crew was amazed to see such a strange natural phenomenon of being followed by nine orcas, until they realized they weren’t there to ooh and aah over these magnificent creatures. The pod began to aggressively attack and ram into the boat altogether. The orcas continued on their assault for over an hour causing serious damage to the boat.
“They just started surrounding us in a circle, coming for the rudder and the keel. They really just were going for us, and there was definitely no playing,” Morris told CBC during an interview.
As reported by the Guardian, this incident also happened in four different instances all taking place in the same general area all during the summer.
Morris has reason to believe that these orcas were communicating with one another for the coordination of their attack, or in her words, they “orca-strated” it. During the attack, the biology graduate heard them whistling to each other, which is how they are known to communicate with other members of their pod.
Morris explains that “it was like a whistle, like a very, very loud whistle, and there was lots of them, maybe about four or five of them were doing it at the same time. And it was just so loud. It was actually quite amazing to hear.”
She also shared that when her crew had eventually called out for help, “it was almost like they didn’t believe us at first. They asked us to repeat a quite a few times. Like, ‘Can you confirm that you are actually under attack by orcas?”
Eventually, the crew was rescued and brought to a town nearby called Barbate, where they shocked onlookers by the look of their boat vessel which was covered and damaged in bite marks.
Marine biologist Jörn Selling has theorised that a possibility the orcas have been attacking boats is because they got used to quiet waters during the pandemic restrictions, and have now been disturbed with the extra noise and increase in traffic now that life is going back to how it was pre-coronavirus.
Morris said that “they do have the capacity to be angry and they’re very, very intelligent creatures and so it is very possible. But if that is true, then, you know, something needs to be done. I think as bad as it is that all these attacks have been happening, especially to us, but I think in a way it’s also a good thing because it’s turned the spotlight on the fact that there is a problem. Something has changed that’s causing them to do this.” She believes these attacks need to raise awareness as to what this species is facing.
Orcas in the Glbraltar Strait are endangered, with fewer than 50 of them remaining in the wild.
What are your thoughts? Please comment below and share this news!
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