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10 dumb hiding spots burglars always find

Under the mattress Burglars will make a beeline to the room with the most valuables. “The good stop is always going to be in the master bedroom,” says Chris McGoey, CPP, CSP, CAM, president of <a href="http://www.crimedoctor.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McGoey Security Consulting.</a> “That’s where you have your clothes, your jewellery, your extra cash, your prescriptions – anything of value.” Hiding things under the mattress is one of the oldest tricks in the book, so a thief will likely check there for hidden treasures, he says. Bedroom closet A thief might rummage through your entire closet – pockets and all – looking for cash or other valuables. If you do decide to store valuables in your closet, leave them in a box purposely mislabelled with a boring name (think: “uni textbooks 1980” or “baby clothes”) to keep sticky fingers out, suggests McGoey. Dresser drawers While burglars are in your bedroom, a jewellery box on top of the dresser is a hot commodity. Even if you don’t store your jewellery in plain sight, a thief will probably hunt around in dresser drawers for a shoebox or other unique box that could be filled with watches, jewels, and other valuables, says Robert Siciliano, CSP, security analyst with <a href="https://www.hotspotshield.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hotspot Shield</a>. Instead of putting your high-value belongings in an obvious box, ball them up in a sock, he suggests. Pick a pair with a bright pattern that will stand out to you but won’t look fishy to a crook. Portable safe You probably want to keep your precious items locked away, but it won’t do much good if the safe isn’t attached to the floor or a wall. “If it’s closed and locked, it implies there are things of value in there,” says McGoey. “If it’s small and portable, they’ll take the whole thing.” On the other hand, burglars are generally trying to get in and out as quickly as possible. They won’t bother using a stethoscope to crack the combination, so a heavy safe they can’t lift is your best bet, he says. Medicine cabinet Robbers want to make quick cash off your belongings, so they’ll be sure to browse your medicine cabinet for prescription pills they can sell. The pills might not be a concern because you can get a refill easily, but be careful what you store nearby. “You want to avoid putting anything of significant value around medication of any kind,” says Siciliano. For instance, using an old pill container as a hiding spot for jewels could actually make them a target. Freezer If you’ve thought of the freezer as a sneaky hiding spot, chances are a robber has, too. A burglar won’t rummage through your entire stack of frozen peas and fish sticks, but if you leave your treasures in something out-of-place, such as a sock, the thief will be onto you. “If you’re going to put something in the freezer, you want to put it in with something that looks legit, like wrapping it in a bag that used to have blueberries in it,” says Siciliano. Use the same rule of thumb if hiding anything in a pantry. Just give a loved one a heads up so that if anything happens, your valuables won’t be trashed with the rest of your food. Office drawers Think twice before stashing important papers like birth certificates or passports in your office drawers. “People want to be convenient. They have a file labelled,” says McGoey. Unfortunately, that also means you’re leading burglars straight to everything they need to steal your identity. Use a locked drawer to keep sensitive data safe, recommends Siciliano. Vase An empty vase could act as a hiding place for valuables, but swindlers are onto your tricks. They’ll likely tip the vase over or even break it, hoping to find goods inside. “Have something additional in it, like flowers, that would obscure somebody looking in it,” he says. They’ll also be less likely to empty your vase if it means dropping flowers all over the floor. Liquor cabinet A liquor cabinet might not seem like an obvious spot for thieves to hunt for valuables, but that doesn’t mean they’re safe. “It’s a target for kids looking for [alcohol],” says Siciliano. You might not be devastated if your whiskey goes missing, but you don’t want to lose an heirloom along with it. Suitcase Your luggage might seem like a waste of valuable storage space when you’re not travelling, but don’t keep anything irreplaceable inside. “Suitcases are common things people use as a safe even though it’s not a safe,” says McGoey. Criminals will open a suitcase up if they find one in your closet, he says. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/home-tips/10-hiding-spots-burglars-always-look-first" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Home & Garden

Ever feel like your life is a performance? Everyone does – and this 1959 book explains roles, scripts and hiding backstage

Shakespeare’s adage — “All the world’s a stage” — suggests human beings are conditioned to perform, and to possess an acute social awareness of how they appear in front of others. It resonates in the age of social media, where we’re all performing ourselves on our screens and watching each other’s performances play out. Increasingly, those screen performances are how we meet people, and how we form relationships: from online dating, to remote work, to staying in touch with family. While the idea of performance as central to social life has been around for centuries, <a href="https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/display/document/obo-9780199756384/obo-9780199756384-0228.xml">Erving Goffman</a> was the first to attempt a comprehensive account of society and everyday life using theatre as an analogy. His influential 1959 book <a href="https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-presentation-of-self-in-everyday-life-9780241547991">The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life</a> is something of a “bible” for scholars interested in questions of how we operate in everyday life. It became a surprise US bestseller on publication, crossing over to a general readership. Goffman wrote about how we perform different versions of ourselves in different social environments, while keeping our “backstage” essential selves private. He called his idea <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003160861-3/dramaturgy-charles-edgley?context=ubx&refId=6e9b71d0-973c-4ebe-b90b-41a372d12623">dramaturgy</a>. Playwright Alan Bennett <a href="https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v03/n19/alan-bennett/cold-sweat">wrote admiringly</a> of him, “Individuals knew they behaved in this way, but Goffman knew everybody behaved like this and so did I.” <h2>Goffman as influencer (and suspected spy)</h2> In a <a href="https://www.isa-sociology.org/en/about-isa/history-of-isa/books-of-the-xx-century">poll of professional sociologists</a>, Goffman’s book ranked in the top ten publications of the 20th century. It influenced playwrights such as <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/019027250907200402">Tom Stoppard</a> and, of course, Bennett, who <a href="https://www.routledge.com/Alan-Bennett-A-Critical-Introduction/OMealy/p/book/9780815335405">was interested in</a> depicting and analysing the role-playing of everyday life that Goffman identified. Goffman was <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9781444396621.ch24">born in Mannville</a>, Alberta in 1922 to Ukrainian Jewish parents who migrated to Canada. The sister of the man who would become famous for his theatre analogies was an actor, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0062844/">Frances Bay</a>: late in life, she would play quirky, recognisable roles such as the “marble rye” lady on <a href="https://theconversation.com/science-of-seinfeld-131606">Seinfeld</a> and a recurring part on <a href="https://theconversation.com/ill-see-you-again-in-25-years-the-return-to-twin-peaks-32624">Twin Peaks</a> (as Mrs Tremond/Chalfant). The path to Goffman’s book was an unusual one. It didn’t come from directly studying the theatre, or even from asking questions about theatregoers. While completing postgraduate studies at the the University of Chicago, Goffman was given the opportunity to conduct fieldwork in the Shetland Islands, an isolated part of northern Scotland, for his <a href="https://www.mediastudies.press/pub/ns-ccic/release/4">PhD dissertation</a>. Goffman pretended to be there to <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9780470999912.ch3">study agricultural techniques</a>. But his actual reason was to examine the everyday life of the Shetland Islanders. As he observed the everyday practices and rituals of the remote island community, he had to negotiate suspicions he may <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Goffman-Social-Organization-Sociological-Routledge/dp/0415112044">have been a spy</a>. In Goffman’s published book, the ethnography of the Shetland Islands takes a back seat to his dramaturgical theory. <h2>More than a popular how-to manual</h2> <a href="https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-presentation-of-self-in-everyday-life-9780241547991">The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life</a> quickly became <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Sociological-Bent-InsideMetro-Culture/dp/0170120015">a national bestseller</a>. It was picked up by general readers “as a guide to social manners and on how to be clever and calculating in social intercourse without being obvious”. This fascinating and complex academic work could indeed be read as a “how-to” manual on how to impress others and mitigate negative impressions. But Goffman <a href="https://www.routledge.com/Erving-Goffman/Smith/p/book/9780415355919">didn’t mean</a> “performance” literally. Reading the book as a guide to middle-class etiquette misses some of its nuances. One is the sophisticated understanding of how reality and contrivance relate to each other. A good performance is one that appears “unselfconscious”; a “contrived” performance is one where the fact the social actor is performing a role is “painstakingly evident”. In everyday language, we tend to describe the latter as trying too hard. But Goffman is making a more general point, about the way we all perform ourselves, all the time – whether the effort is visible or not. If “All the world is not, of course, a stage”, then “the crucial ways in which it isn’t are not easy to specify”. <h2>Playing roles and being in character</h2> Today, we regularly use theatrical terms like “role”, “script”, “props”, “audience” and being “in and out of character” to describe how people behave in their everyday social life. But Goffman is the one who introduced these concepts, which have become part of our shared language. Together, they highlight how social life depends on what Goffman terms a shared definition of particular situations. Whether we are performing our work roles, having dinner with someone for whom we have romantic affections, or dealing with strangers in a public setting, we need to produce and maintain the appropriate definition of that reality. These activities are “performances”, according to Goffman, because they involve mutual awareness or attentiveness to the information others emit. This mutual awareness, or attention to others, means humans are constantly performing for audiences in their everyday lives. <h2>Being in and out of character</h2> It matters who the audience is – and what type of audience we have for our performances. When thinking about how people adapt their behaviour for others, Goffman differentiates between “front regions” and “back regions”. Front regions are where we must present what is often referred to as the “best version of ourselves”. In an open-plan office, a worker needs to look busy if their supervisor is about. So, in the front region, they need to look engaged, industrious and generally perform the role of being a worker. In an open-plan office, a worker needs to be constantly “in character”, as Goffman puts it. Back regions are where a social actor can “let their guard down”. In the context of a workplace, the back regions might refer to the bathroom, the lunchroom or anywhere else where the worker can relax their performance and potentially resort to “out of character” behaviour. If the worker takes a diversionary break to gossip with a colleague when their supervisor is no longer in earshot, they could be said to be engaging in back region conduct. Front and back regions are not defined by physical locations. A back region is any situation in which the individual can relax and drop their performance. (Of course, this means regions overlap with physical locations to some extent – people are more likely to be able to relax when they’re in more private settings.) Thus, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/08/opinion/open-plan-office-awful.html">open-plan offices</a> are often unpopular because workers feel they are constantly under surveillance. Conversely, the work-from-home arrangements that have become more common since the era of COVID lockdowns are popular because they allow people to relax their work personae. Renowned writer Jenny Diski <a href="https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v26/n05/jenny-diski/think-of-mrs-darling">reflected</a> in 2004, "reading Goffman now is alarmingly claustrophobic. He presents a world where there is nowhere to run; a perpetual dinner party of status seeking, jockeying for position and saving face. Any idea of an authentic self becomes a nonsense. You may or may not believe in what you are performing; either type of performance is believed in or it is not." <h2>21st-century Goffman</h2> Dramaturgy has survived the onset of our new media environment, where the presentation of the self has migrated to platforms as diverse as <a href="https://theconversation.com/instagram-and-facebook-are-stalking-you-on-websites-accessed-through-their-apps-what-can-you-do-about-it-188645">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/its-corn-how-the-online-viral-corn-kid-is-on-a-well-worn-path-to-fame-in-the-child-influencer-industry-189974">TikTok</a>. In some ways, it’s more relevant than ever. Goffman’s approach has been applied to <a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/product/no-sense-of-place-9780195042313?cc=au&lang=en&">electronic media</a>, radio and <a href="https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/The_Media_and_Modernity/asB7QgAACAAJ?hl=en">television</a> <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003160861-19/reception-goffman-work-media-studies-peter-lunt">studies</a>, <a href="https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262515047/new-tech-new-ties/">mobile phones</a> – and, more recently, <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13548565211036797">social media</a> and even <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0263276419829541">AI studies</a>. The “successful staging” (as Goffman terms it) of our social roles has only become more complex. This is perfectly illustrated by “BBC Dad” Robert Kelly, whose 2017 <a href="https://junkee.com/bbc-dad-pictures-kids-now-marion-james/324165">live television interview</a> from his home study was interrupted when his children wandered into the room. This was before COVID lockdowns, when our home and work lives (and personae) increasingly merged. “Everyone understands that now,” <a href="https://junkee.com/bbc-dad-pictures-kids-now-marion-james/324165">wrote Reena Gupta</a> in 2022. “You or someone in your family or circle of friends has been BBC Dad.” Maintaining and maximising performances still matters. And so does Goffman. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/ever-feel-like-your-life-is-a-performance-everyone-does-and-this-1959-book-explains-roles-scripts-and-hiding-backstage-195939" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Images: Getty

Books

"We see you hiding that bump!": Bindi Irwin's suspicious new pic

Rumours of a potential new wildlife warrior baby have started to swirl, as Bindi Irwin has been called out by her fans for trying to conceal her baby bump. While celebrating her husband Chandler's 26th birthday at the Crocodile Hunter Lodge at Australia Zoo, eagle-eyed fans were quick to notice the strategic placement of the birthday cake over Bindi's stomach. "We see you hiding that bump!" one fan commented, while another questioned, "Ooooooh is there another lil Irwin on the way?" While the wildlife warrior couple have yet to confirm the news themselves, a source told <a href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/celeb-news/bindi-irwin-pregnant-chandler-powell-second-baby-75762" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Woman's Day</a> that the pregnancy news is true. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/ClFEbFNBaao/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ClFEbFNBaao/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Bindi Irwin (@bindisueirwin)</a> </div> </blockquote> According to the source, Bindi and Chandler chose the special occasion, while Chandler's US-based parents Chris and Shannan were in Australia, to break the happy news to their relatives that baby number two is on the way. "They're hoping to officially announce another baby is on the way any day now," a source tells Woman's Day. "They also can't wait to give Grace a sibling close in age. They really want a boy, given that both Bindi and Chandler grew up with a brother each and loved it." Image credits: Instagram

Family & Pets

Man hides hefty lottery win from wife and child

A Chinese man has kept his eye watering 219 million yuan (AUD$47,068,869) lottery win a secret from his wife and child so they don’t become lazy. Known only as Mr Li to conceal his identity, the man dressed up in a yellow cartoon costume when he accepted the huge win on October 24 at the lottery office in Nanning, in the southern region of Guangxi. “I did not tell my wife and child for fear that they would be too complacent and would not work or work hard in the future,” he told Nanning Evening News. Mr Li confessed that he bought 40 lottery tickets all of which had the same seven numbers, with the lottery company paying out 5.48 million yuan (AUD$1,177,811) for each ticket. Eventually he found out that he had the winning lottery numbers of 2, 15, 19, 26, 27, 29, and 2 and went to claim his prize. After receiving the hefty sum, Mr Li donated 5 million yuan (AUD$1,074,597) to charity and is still unsure of what to do with his fortune. Mr Li has been playing the lottery for a decade and only won minor prizes until this time round. “I regard buying the lottery as a hobby, and my family does not care. Plus, I do not spend much money on it, and the lottery provides a ray of hope for me,” he told the South China Morning Post. Image: Guangxi Welfare Lottery Centre

Money & Banking

Instagram and Facebook have been hiding abortion posts

In the wake of the US Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade and placing the right to accessing an abortion in jeopardy, Instagram has been hiding posts that mention abortion from public view and, in some cases, asking viewers to verify their age in some cases to make posts visible. Several Instagram accounts run by abortion rights advocacy groups have found their posts and stories hidden with warnings that describe them as “sensitive content”. Bleu Grano, who runs the account Fund Aborition Not Police, found that a post containing a guide to abortion services - including how to obtain abortion pills through the mail - had been removed for violating the platform’s community guidelines on the “sale of illegal or regulated goods”. “I got really stressed that they were going to suspend the account,” Grano told <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/meta-abortion-content-restriction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wired</a>. “I started to think it was specific to abortion, and stopped using the word ‘pills’ and only said ‘abortion by mail’.” <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/instagram-abortion-snip.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> A educaitonal post Bleu Grano, who runs the account Fund Abortion Not Police, shared on Instagram was removed for violating certain policies amid growing crackdowns on posts mentioning abortion. Image: Bleu Grano <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7gav3/facebook-is-banning-people-who-say-they-will-mail-abortion-pills" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Motherboard</a> also found that posts like Grano’s were being restricted by Meta (which owns both Facebook and Instagram) for violating policies that restrict the sale of illegal or controlled substances on the platforms. On June 27, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/instagram-restricts-abortion-resource-posts-hashtags-rcna35522" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC</a> reported that Meta was restricting search results for the terms “abortion” and “mifepristine”, one of two drugs commonly used to induce a medical aboriton. These reports have led to speculation that the company had changed its policies since the Supreme Court decision - though Meta has denied making any changes. However, pro-choice advocates have said this censorship isn’t new, telling Wired that the company’s AI moderation system has been seen tagging abortion content, oftentimes about abortion pills, as “sensitive”, decreasing its visibility, or removing the content altogether. “We have been seeing social media platforms, specifically Meta, suppressing abortion content for quite a while now,” Jessica Ensley, the digital outreach and opposition research director at Reproaction, a nonprofit that supports access to abortion, told the outlet. A volunteer moderator for a large Facebook group for American women seeking abortion information and support said recent content removals were “totally precedented”, with posts about abortion pills being removed by Facebook for years. “What’s wild is that you don’t know where the line is,” she said. “Every single post has to be seen by a moderator, because we don’t want people posting requests for pills, to request or to send pills, because that will get the entire group taken down.” In comparison, a similar group she moderates on Reddit also has rules about not selling or buying rules on the platform. But, sharing content and links discussing the pills aren’t removed by the platform or put the group at risk of being shut down. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/Meta-Censoring-Abortion-Content-Abortion-Finder-Business.jpg" alt="" width="794" height="987" /> Posts containing information about accessing abortion, like this one shared on Power To Decide’s Abortion Finder page, are being labelled as ‘sensitive content’ by the platform. Images: Power To Decide Though censoring this kind of content doesn’t seem to be a new issue, the platforms have only come under scrutiny for hiding this content but not others in the weeks since the Supreme Court decision. The <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/roe-v-wade-update-instagram-hides-some-posts-that-mention-abortion/1ce6239e-1337-4669-bc35-3a85c5cc1811" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Associated Press</a> recently identified nearly a dozen posts mentioning the word “abortion” which were covered up by Instagram, while an earlier report found that both platforms were deleting posts that offered to mail out abotion pills in states where their use was restricted. The platforms said the posts were being deleted because they violated policies relating to the sale or gifting of certain products, including pharmaceuticals, drugs, and firearms. But, the AP reported finding that similar posts offering to send guns or marijuan through the mail weren’t removed by Facebook, which is yet to respond to questions about the discrepancy. Images: Supplied

Technology

Young boy caught in fatal game of hide and seek

A young boy in the US state of Georgia has died after a family game of hide and seek went terribly wrong, and he accidentally got himself awkwardly stuck between a washing machine and dryer. Emergency services rushed to the boy's grandparents’ home on Friday evening after the child, aged 9, became trapped. Tim Watkins, from the local Sheriff’s Office, said it is believed the little boy was trying to hide behind the appliances when he got stuck between them. After looking for him for about five to ten minutes, the family discovered him and immediately began performing CPR. Despite continued efforts, paramedics were unable to revive the boy. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. It is believed he may have died from positional asphyxiation. There was no trauma to the little boy’s body. The Sheriff’s Office confirmed no charges have been brought against the family. Local residents have expressed their shock at the tragic news, with many taking to social media to express their condolences. “How tragic! Praying that the family is able to find some kind of peace during these most unfortunate circumstances,” one woman wrote on Facebook. Image: Getty

Family & Pets

Extremely valuable snake found hiding in city bin

An abandoned pet snake has been spotted on bustling Oxford Street in the Sydney CBD, with authorities saying the precious reptile is worth around $1000.The very out-of-place diamond head python was discovered hiding in a bin outside a Paddington barber's shop, after which a helpful bystander coaxed the snake into a leather bag for safe-keeping.The native Australian reptile's rare appearance has sparked concern among authorities and wildlife carers, with the incident now set to be investigated by police.<img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/snake-on-bin.jpg" alt="" width="471" height="261" />The snake was taken to a vet to be treated for minor injuries, which are believed to have been inflicted by its previous owner.Once given the all-clear, the python will be given the chance to find a new owner and fresh start.According to Australia Zoo, diamond pythons are closely related to the commonly recognised carpet python.They are often black in colour with cream or yellow, diamond-shaped blotches covering the entire length of their body. Being a python, they are non-venomous. They constrict their prey in order to kill it and then consume it whole.Image: Nine News

Travel Trouble

fitness tips your trainer is hiding from you

Image: Getty Here is what some industry experts have to say: For weight loss 1. Ben Gregory, former international athlete and coach, and PT at Manor London: “Drink more water and get your steps in. “General activity levels will help you lean down and feeling full with plenty of water not only makes your skin glow, it give you loads of energy but also keeps you feeling more satiated - you won’t be wanting to reach for those naughty snacks!” 2. Samuel Aremu, Level 3 PT and body transformation coach: “Set alarms on your phone for getting up and away from your desk to take a 10 to 20 min walk a few times a day.” 3. Lewis Bloor, online fitness coach: “Focus on the times you eat. Instead of going from junk food to rabbit food straight away, focus first on eating all your food within an eight hour window. “Gain this control, then move on to fine tuning the diet. This is called Intermittent Fasting.” 4. Lucy Gornall, personal trainer at Digme: “Females, work with your body! Appreciate that at certain times of the month, you’ll have an increased appetite and a lower desire to exercise. “During these times, aim to maintain, then get back on the weight loss wagon after.” 5. Samuel: “Use an online calorie calculator to work out what your personal calorie requirements are. “Start by consistently consuming your daily maintenance calories; once you can do this consistently for two weeks, and if your weight has dropped, calculate your calories again and do the same for two weeks. “If your weight hasn’t dropped, then slightly decrease your calories by 200 to 300 calories less per day as this will kick start the weight loss process.” For a flat tummy 6. Baz Gouldsbury, PT and gym owner: “Abs are made in the kitchen; having reduced-sugar meals will definitely assist in achieving a flatter tummy.” 7. Lucy: “Your posture could have a role to play in the flatness of your tummy - try tilting your pelvis forwards when you’re upright, which can often stop the lower belly protruding out.” 8. Samuel: “Aim for a minimum of two litres of clean fluid, daily - our body retains water and it’s usually stored around our waistline. “Drinking water regularly allows your body to get rid of the excess, especially around the love handles.” 9. Alex Crockford, PT and creator of fitness app, #CrockFit: “Something a little different is the ‘vacuum’ and it’s something you can do as part of your daily routine. “It involves really pulling in that deep core muscle, which really does tighten up the whole tummy area, irrelevant of fat loss: hold this for 15 seconds and increase this over time.” 10. Samuel: “Avoid inflammation of the gut by cutting out the foods that you know will get you bloated, no matter how nice they may be.” For lean legs 11. Maurice Ryan, general manager and PT at Fitness First Harringay: “Try weighted walking, lunge forwards and backwards. “Typically use a barbel on your back and take six to 10 steps forwards depending on the space you have, followed immediately by the same steps backwards. “Doing it this way gives us the opportunity to make it the total leg burner!” 12. Samuel: “If leaner legs are what you want, high repetitions - around 20 or more - with low-moderate weight is the direction you want to be heading in. “Avoid heavy lifts and instead go for a weight around 30-60 per cent of your heaviest.” 13. Lewis: “Running, sprinting, jumping and kickboxing are all great ways to strengthen and tone the legs. “Make sure you train legs three times a week and get your rest in too!” 14. Lucy: “Walk everywhere. Honestly, walking is such an underrated form of movement and means your lower body is consistently working, helping to shed fat.” 15. Jayne Lo, Elite Trainer, Third Space: “A split squat builds muscle and strength by working each leg individually. “Stand tall, then take your right leg back, as if you were about to do a lunge, keeping the right heel off the ground. “Engage your core, and bend both knees, dropping down until the right knee is just above the ground, then push back up to standing. “Avoid the front knee coming past the front toes and aim for eight to 10 reps on each leg.” For a broad chest 16. Godswill Ejiogu, sport scientist and PT: “I would recommend press ups as the best exercise to grow your chest, with my second favourite being a dumbbell chest press. “For this, lie back on a bench, feet flat on the ground, hold a dumbbell in each hand, and then extend your arms up, so the dumbbells are over your chest. “Then, move the dumbbells back down towards your chest slowly; pause, then press up again - try four sets of 12 reps, with a 45 second rest between each set.” 17. Ben: “Go heavy on any bench exercise and focus on that time under tension by going slowly and pausing at the top of the move. “Superset (as in, go straight into another exercise with no rest) with resistance band exercises to get that real full pump after each set.” 18. Baz: “A lot of people stick to the same routine, week in week out, so take yourself out of that same old routine and mix it up, as shocking the body is the way to achieve the best results. “If you’ve always done the same program of weights, then change the moves and change the number of repetitions.” 19. Samuel: “There are three things our chest loves; volume, variety, and big weights, son each chest day aim to do a total of no fewer than 100 reps. “In fact, aim towards 200 to 300. Split these repetitions between a variety of four to six different exercises then, aim to increase the weight you use for each exercise on a weekly basis and aim to do this in increments of 2.5 - 5kg.” 20. Alex: “Instead of doing a chest day every week, try doing push ups as a part of your daily routine. “Do a little push up session to failure (until you can do no more reps) every day and this will help you grow your chest much better than one workout per week.” To be a faster runner 21. Ben: “Go for shorter and faster paced sessions with good recovery between reps, so you can keep giving that high intensity effort. “Don’t be afraid of long recovery sessions that span more than five to six minutes’.” 22. Jay Revan, boxing and conditioning coach at My Manor London: “Introducing explosive plyometric movements like jump squats, jump lunges or box jumps into your strength training program can improve your running speed. “These movements will teach your muscles to contract at a faster and more efficient rate.” 23. Ryan Lucas-Lowther, Crossfit coach at Fortitude Fitness London: “It sounds simple, but move your arms faster, and it seems to work!” 24. Lewis: “Instead of running for hours every day, split your training between endurance and explosiveness. “Go for two long, slow runs and two hard and fast sprint sessions a week; this will get you to level up in a matter of weeks.” 25. Jay: “Interval training is a great way to improve running speed. “Switching between short intense bursts of running and timed recovery periods not only helps build muscle but will improve your overall speed and aerobic endurance.” 26. Samuel: “Mix up a normal jogging pace with sprints. “Try one minute of jogging followed by 20 seconds of sprints, done eight times, back to back.” For tackling a 5k 27. Baz: “If you’re new to running, start off slow. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Join your local running club as this will build your confidence.” 28. Tim Kayode, founder of Myoset Sports and performance therapist: “Introduce a purposeful warm up - I’d encourage everyone before running a 5k to perform 3D Stretching. “This is functional, dynamic stretching and offers a more active way to loosen up before exercise, plus, it activates your muscles and improves flexibility and joint mobility.” 29. Louenna Edwards, Barry’s Bootcamp Trainer and LuLuFiit founder: “Get yourself a pair of decent trainers; comfortable, supportive and bouncy - Adidas Pureboost 19’s are my go tos. “The same goes for your gear, don’t wear anything that will be a nuisance, fall down or get in the way of movement.” 30. Samuel: “Map out a 5k route that you’re familiar with; select a day where you’ll cover 1k out of this 5k distance; try and jog this 1k then walk the rest. “Then, continue to do this and gradually increase your jogging distance to 2k. Keep repeating this until you can do 5k.” 31. Louenna: “Use an app to track your split times, distance and progression - Strava would be my recommendation. “You can see what your friends are up to on it, keep yourself accountable and hearing how fast or slow I’m running each kilometre really does help me progress.” 32. Ben: “Spend less time focusing on pace and looking at your fitness tracker. Instead, try to get out and just enjoy the feel of running. “Building up lots of easy miles that don’t even feel like training will help build you a serious base to build on.” 33. Louenna: “If you struggle with distance, start by running 1k for example and build up each week. “Slowly but surely as you get fitter you can add a little distance and before you know it, 5k will be a breeze!” For toned arms 34. Maurice: “Work on [your] triceps because they are the biggest muscle group in the arm and can give the toned look we all love. “Using the cable machine in your gym is a great way to tone the triceps. Go for a Cable Pulldown first. For this, stand arms length away from the cable machine and make sure the cable attachment point is above your head. “Hold a handle in each hand, overhead with arms straight. Slowly pull the cable down towards your thighs, keeping arms and back straight. “Pause when the cable handles reach your thighs, then return to overhead arm extension. Do 10 reps. “Superset this with Dumbbell Extensions: stand tall holding one dumbbell in both hands, arms up overhead. “Keeping upper arms straight, bend at the elbows and lower the dumbbells down towards your upper back. “Pause, then using your tricep muscles, bring the dumbbell up to the start position. Do 10 reps. “Do these moves back to back, taking a one minute rest between each pair. Go for three rounds and feel the burn!” 35. Samuel: “Find a group of arm exercises you enjoy doing and increase the volume of each exercise. “So if you were doing 10 rep of three sets before, now do 20 rep of six - 10 sets. “The weight you chose should not be so heavy that you are unable to complete 15 reps.” 36. Lucy: “Boxing is a great cardio workout that also provides serious arm toning. Go for five sets of three minute intervals.” 37. Godswill: “Try a dumbbell bicep curl supersetted with a body weight bench dips. “Opt for 15 reps of each, back to back, then take a 45 second break before repeating it again. Do this four times. “For the dumbbell bicep curl, stand upright, with a dumbbell in your left hand, arm down by your side, palm facing forward. “Keeping your upper arm close to your body, bend at the elbow and curl your forearm up towards your shoulder, holding the dumbbell. Pause, then lower back to the start position - that’s one rep. “For bodyweight bench dips, you’ll need a bench or the edge of a chair. “Sit on your bench, and place your hands on the edge, either side of your hips. Legs should be straight out in front of you with heels in the ground. “Slide your glutes off the bench, then bend at the elbows and lower yourself down until you are hovering just above the ground. Then, push back up through your palms to the start position.” To be more motivated to exercise 38. Ben: “Watch any fitness documentary on Netflix - I can’t help banging out some push ups after watching Mat Fraser win another CrossFit Games. “They are just such inspiring athletes.” 39. Samuel: “Tell someone your goals as when we are accountable to someone we are less likely to quit because deep down we want to keep the image that person has of us, a positive one. “So we will do whatever it takes to keep it that way!” 40. Baz: “The biggest motivation is yourself and who you surround yourself with. “Try to be around like-minded people who love to keep fit and healthy. Attending fitness classes is also a good way to do this.” 41. Kate Beckitt, marketing specialist at Fresh Fitness Food and PT: “Don’t wait for motivation to come. “Real progress comes when even in the moments when you really don’t want to do the workout, or you really want to eat that extra slice of cake, you push through and do it anyway.” 42. Louenna: “Music holds the key to my motivation and I really struggle if I realise my Beats headphones are out of battery! “Create a playlist that is going to motivate you and keep you pumped up! “The sense of euphoria that music can create can sometimes make you feel on top of the world, so do not underestimate the power of a great playlist.” 43. Samuel: “Writing down your goal makes the reason why you train and exercise in the first place, more real, and the more real it feels, the more you will be connected to it which will keep you on track.” 44. Lewis: “Focus on how you’re going to feel after the workout. “Try not to engage the little voice in the back of your head and just GO! Half the battle is getting there, the workout will take care of itself.”

Body

Teacher sacked for punching and kicking horse has gone into hiding

Content warning: This article contains mentions and depictions of animal abuse. A UK school teacher <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/animals/teacher-sacked-over-shocking-horse-video-in-the-uk/news-story/a098daeb99f46976d6e4363050ce4658" target="_blank">has been fired</a> after footage emerged of her seeming to kick and hit a distressed horse. The graphic footage shows Sarah Moulds striking the white pony after it ran out onto the road in the UK’s East Midlands, <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/17099018/rider-kicks-punches-horse-teacher-sacked/" target="_blank">The Sun</a> reports. Following the circulation of the footage, it was revealed that the 37-year-old woman from Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire was being probed by the RSPCA. The Mowbray Education Trust also said Ms Moulds has been suspended during a formal investigation. However, the trust has said the mother-of-two has officially been dismissed from her roles as a teacher at Somerby Primary School and as a director of the Knossington & Somerby Pre-School in Leicestershire. “I can confirm that Sarah Mould’s employment with the trust has been terminated,” Paul Maddox, chief operating officer of the trust, told the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-59728476" target="_blank">BBC</a>. “As a trust we are committed to ensuring the best standard of education for all of our young people and we look forward to continuing this throughout the 2021/22 academic year and beyond.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Yesterday we filmed a <a href="https://twitter.com/CottesmoreHunt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CottesmoreHunt</a> rider kicking and punching her horse in the face. Watched on by lackeys Will Ashmore and son Ed. Violence running through their veins.<a href="https://twitter.com/RSPCA_official?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RSPCA_official</a> <a href="https://t.co/s37BlR4Hv3">pic.twitter.com/s37BlR4Hv3</a> — Hertfordshire Hunt Saboteurs (@HertsHuntSabs) <a href="https://twitter.com/HertsHuntSabs/status/1457304240079228929?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2021</a></blockquote> The footage was shared last month by Hertfordshire Hunt Saboteurs, an anti-hunting group, who were monitoring the hunting event at the time. The woman alleged to be Ms Moulds was seen acting aggressively towards the horse, after it ran towards her when another young rider lost control of it while trying to lead it onto a trailer. She was filmed kicking and hitting the horse before pulling it into the horse trailer. Ms Moulds is believed to belong to the Cottesmore Hunt, a foxhound hunting group based in Rutland. At the time, she was surrounded by other members. After the incident, Cottesmore Hunt reportedly said it did not condone the actions depicted in the video “under any circumstances”. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CWBYBdUKiaN/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CWBYBdUKiaN/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by The Cottesmore Hunt (@cottesmorehuntofficial)</a> </div> </blockquote> The RSPCA was contacted by multiple people after the clip was posted online, and later issued a statement. “This footage is really upsetting. We will always look into complaints made to us about animal welfare.” A spokesman from the Hunting Office in the UK said: “The Hunting Office expects the highest level of animal welfare at all times - both on and off the hunting field - and condemns the actions taken by this individual, who is not a member of the hunting associations.” Members of the public also condemned the woman online, labelling her behaviour as unacceptable. “As a horsewoman myself, nothing makes me angrier than seeing such footage as this. It is shameful. There is absolutely no excuse for this behaviour,” one person wrote. “No matter how frustrated you are, no matter if you’ve had a bad day. Horses are so sensitive. What a way to make them head shy.” Image: @HertsHuntSabs (Twitter)

Legal

1 millipede, 1,306 legs: we just discovered the world’s leggiest animal hiding in Western Australia

Millipedes were the first land animals, and today we know of more than 13,000 species. There are likely thousands more species of the many-legged invertebrates awaiting discovery and formal scientific description. The name “millipede” comes from the Latin for “thousand feet”, but until now no known species had more than 750 legs. However, my colleagues and I recently found <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-02447-0">a new champion</a>. The eyeless, subterranean Eumillipes persephone, discovered 60 metres underground near the south coast of Western Australia, has up to 1,306 legs, making it the first “true millipede” and the leggiest animal on Earth. <h2>Finding life underground</h2> In Australia, most species in some groups of invertebrates are still undescribed. Many could even become extinct before we know about them. Part of the reason is that life is everywhere, even where we least expect it. You could be excused for thinking remote areas of Western Australia such as the Pilbara and the Goldfields, where the land is arid and harsh, are not home to too many species. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437949/original/file-20211216-15-11fkzif.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /> The arid landscapes of Western Australia harbour a surprising diversity of life. Shutterstock But the reality is very different. An enormously diverse array of poorly known animals live underground, inhabiting cavities and fractures in the rock several metres below the surface. One way to find out about these creatures is to place “troglofauna traps” far below the surface. E. persephone was found in one of these traps, which had spent two months 60m underground in a mining exploration bore in the Goldfields. <h2>A lucky discovery</h2> At the time I was working for a company called Bennelongia Environmental Consultants, which had been hired by the mining company to survey the animals in the area. I was lucky enough to be in the laboratory on the day the leggiest animal on Earth was first seen. Our senior taxonomist, Jane McRae, showed me these incredibly elongated millipedes, less than a millimetre wide and almost 10 centimetres long. She pointed out how their triangular faces placed them in the family Siphonotidae, comprised of sucking millipedes from the order Polyzoniida. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437938/original/file-20211216-21-3yvudt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437938/original/file-20211216-21-3yvudt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> A female Eumillipes persephone with 330 segments and 1,306 legs. Paul E. Marek, Bruno A. Buzatto, William A. Shear, Jackson C. Means, Dennis G. Black, Mark S. Harvey, Juanita Rodriguez, Scientific Reports, Author provided Their long, thin and pale bodies, with hundreds of legs, reminded me of a paper I had read years earlier, which redescribed the leggiest millipede in the world, the Californian Illacme plenipes, bearing 750 legs. Back in 2007, while teaching zoology at Campinas State University in Brazil, I used that paper to explain to students how no millipede species in the world really had 1,000 legs. Often, popular names are scientifically inaccurate, but in front of me I had an animal that stood a chance of finally making the name millipede biologically correct. <h2>A true millipede at last</h2> I suggested to Jane that our new specimens might be more consistent with I. plenipes, which belongs to another order of millipedes, the Siphonophorida. We consulted Mark Harvey from the WA Museum, and together were surprised to realise Siphonophorida are very rare in Australia: there are only three known species, all found on the east coast. Next, I contacted Paul Marek at Virginia Tech in the United States, a millipede expert and lead author of that paper about the 750-legged I. plenipes. He was excited to receive the specimens a few weeks later. This new species turned out to have up to 1,306 legs, making it the first true millipede. Paul named it Eumillipes persephone, in reference to its “true 1,000 legs” nature, and to Persephone, the goddess of the underworld in Greek mythology who was taken from the surface by Hades. <h2>Why so many legs?</h2> E. persephone was most likely driven to its underground life as the landscape above became hotter and drier over millions of years. We eventually discovered Jane was right about the nature of E. persephone: it is in fact a member of the Siphonotidae family, only distantly related to I. plenipes, and is therefore the only species in the whole order Polyzoniida with no eyes. We classify any millipede with more than 180 body segments as “super-elongated”. E. persephone has 330. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437943/original/file-20211216-15-zklige.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437943/original/file-20211216-15-zklige.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> Just a few of the legs of a male Eumillipes persephone. Paul E. Marek, Bruno A. Buzatto, William A. Shear, Jackson C. Means, Dennis G. Black, Mark S. Harvey, Juanita Rodriguez, Scientific Reports, Author provided With a genetic analysis, we found that super-elongation has evolved repeatedly in millipedes, and it might be an adaptation to living underground. The large number of legs likely provides enhanced traction and power to push their bodies through small gaps and fractures in the soil. But this is just a hypothesis at this stage, and we have no direct evidence that having more legs is an adaptation to subterranean life. <h2>Finding the unknown</h2> Finding this incredible species, which represents a unique branch of the millipede tree of life, is a small first step towards the conservation of subterranean biodiversity in arid landscapes. This starts with documenting new species, assessing their vulnerability, and ultimately devising conservation priorities and management plans. A large proportion of the species of arid Australia are undescribed. For subterranean fauna, this may be more than 90%. Not knowing these animals exist makes it impossible to assess their conservation status. Biodiversity surveys, and especially the taxonomy that supports them, are incredibly important. Taxonomists such as Jane, Paul and Mark are the unsung heroes of conservation.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/173753/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bruno-alves-buzatto-185830">Bruno Alves Buzatto</a>, Principal Biologist at Bennelongia Environmental Consultants, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-western-australia-1067">The University of Western Australia</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/1-millipede-1-306-legs-we-just-discovered-the-worlds-leggiest-animal-hiding-in-western-australia-173753">original article</a>.

Domestic Travel

Nature is hiding in every nook of Australia’s cities – just look a little closer and you’ll find it

Thanks to technological advances, citizen science has experienced unprecedented global growth over the past decade. It’s enabled millions of people to get involved in science, whether by gathering data, sharing health information or helping to map galaxies. And just because you live in a city, it doesn’t mean you can’t observe, learn about and contribute to scientific understanding of the natural world. Sometimes, it just means looking a little closer. However, <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11252-021-01187-3">our recent study</a> revealed in Australia, the number and diversity of urban ecology citizen science projects is relatively low. This is despite cities being important places of conservation and discovery. There’s enormous value in citizen science projects that encourage urbanites to learn about what is often, quite literally, on their doorsteps. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436266/original/file-20211208-25-4348qs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Two woman tag butterfly" /> Urban citizen scientists are a valuable, untapped resource in Australia. Shutterstock <h2>Cities are important for conservation</h2> Recent COVID-19 restrictions mean many of us became more intimately connected to the environment around us. But there is still an overriding <a href="https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cobi.13193">perception</a> of urban areas as wastelands devoid of rich and diverse species. It’s true that for many centuries, vegetation in urban areas has been removed to make way for buildings, roads and other human structures. In many cases, this had led to a more homogeneous composition of species and, in Australia’s case, a seeming predominance of introduced plant and animal species. However, recent <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.2032">literature</a> has shown cities remain vital habitats for many native species. This includes threatened species such as the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/geb.12404">fringed spider orchid</a>, found only in Greater Melbourne. Recent research <a href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/fee.2032">found</a> 39 nationally threatened species live only in Australian cities and towns, including the western swamp tortoise in Perth and the angle-stemmed myrtle in Brisbane. It’s important to preserve native vegetation remnants in towns and cities, as well as traditional urban green spaces like parks, cemeteries and backyards. But it’s just as important to understand which species call these areas home and why. That’s where citizen science can play a big role. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436280/original/file-20211208-188518-bgx9vh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="white flower and leaves" /> The angle-stemmed myrtle is found only in Brisbane. Logan City Council <h2>What we found</h2> We set out to examine the extent to which urban ecology projects in Australia harnessed the resources of citizen scientists. We did this by analysing the projects <a href="https://biocollect.ala.org.au/acsa#isCitizenScience%3Dtrue%26isWorldWide%3Dfalse%26max%3D20%26sort%3DnameSort">listed</a> in the Citizen Science Project Finder, hosted by the Atlas of Living Australia. Of 458 active citizen science projects, only 19 (or 5.3%) were focused on urban environments. Given the number of urban residents in Australia, this constitutes a significant under-representation of projects tailored for these people. Most of the 19 projects focused on four major cities – Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide – while other major cities were notably omitted. Eight projects focused on broad census approaches – essentially ad hoc observations focused on birds or all flora and fauna in a region. Documenting the presence of various species in urban areas is important. But there’s potential for citizen scientists to help answer more targeted research questions. For example, grey-headed flying foxes have been <a href="https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2005.00005.x">documented</a> re-colonising habitat in Melbourne they were once absent from. As cities continue to grow, knowing which species can persist and which have been pushed out is incredibly valuable – and citizen scientists can help in this task. Also, many of the 19 projects did not provide an easy way to participate, such as easy links to platforms to record and upload data. We were also unable to find scientific papers where results from any of the 19 projects had been published. Publications would further strengthen the validity of a citizen science approach in urban environments and add another way to measure success. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436277/original/file-20211208-141979-1rfi2bs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="flying foxes hand upside down on branch" /> Grey-headed flying foxes have recolonised parts of Melbourne. Shutterstock <h2>Citizens are good for science</h2> More than 70% of Australians live in a major city. This offers a large pool of potential participants in citizen science projects. And cities are home to people from a variety of cultures, backgrounds, ages and mobilities. There is increasing <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jid/article/220/Supplement_2/S33/5552350">acknowledgement</a> that science is enhanced by increasing the diversity of people involved. So a greater number of urban citizen science projects would be good for science. What’s more, urban projects can provide data from places not typically accessible to professional scientists such as backyards and school grounds. They also allow for the collection of observation-rich and continuous data, which is rare even in professional settings. And of course, citizen science projects benefit the participants themselves – encouraging people to get outdoors, get active and connect more deeply with nature. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436278/original/file-20211208-19-1ll5ixn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="woman shows frog to school students" /> Citizen science can provide data from places professional researchers can’t always access, such as schools. Australian Museum <h2>A tool for measuring change</h2> Increasing citizen science in cities could help to shift an overriding narrative that cities are not important places for biodiversity. This may in turn afford greater concentrated effort towards conserving remaining urban green spaces. Citizen science could help answer key ecological questions about urban environments. For example, <a href="https://theconversation.com/birdwatching-increased-tenfold-last-lockdown-dont-stop-its-a-huge-help-for-bushfire-recovery-141970">research</a> last year showed how citizen scientists helped document species seeking refuge in urban areas following Australia’s horrific 2019-20 bushfires. Expanding such an approach could lead to a better understanding of how cities function as biodiversity refuges. And a greater focus on citizen science in cities would also enable residents to engage in their surroundings, share their knowledge and help inform the management of the environment around them.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/168256/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/erin-roger-1140886">Erin Roger</a>, Citizen Science Program Lead, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/csiro-1035">CSIRO</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alice-motion-291397">Alice Motion</a>, Associate professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/nature-is-hiding-in-every-nook-of-australias-cities-just-look-a-little-closer-and-youll-find-it-168256">original article</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Family & Pets

Couple shocked to find own dog hiding in suitcase

Images: Travel Nine A US couple got the shock of a life time when they were told their suitcase was overweight only to discover their pet dog hidden inside. Jared and Kristi Owens were checking into their flight from Texas to Las Vegas when they had to do a quick re-shuffle of their bag after it registered as being too heavy. The suitcase was nearly three kilograms heavier than what it should have been. When Jared opened the hid, he was surprised to see their dog, Icky, looking back at him. “Literally, there’s our dog coming out of my boot, coming out of my boot with her head bopping up,” Jared told radio station KCBD. “She’s the burrower, that’s what she does/ She burrows in clothes, she burrows in, obviously suitcases now.” Icky the chihuahua had managed to sneak herself inside the suitcase, keeping quiet until the moment she was discovered at the check-in counter for Southwest Airlines at the airport in Lubbock. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844787/new-project-4.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/6c094dcfec1d4aeea60f35d6b2e71513" /> Thankfully, a caring staff member offered to take care of Icky while Jared and Kristi went to Vegas for the weekend, in late September. “They have got a heck of an employee in Cathy,” Jared said. “She went above and beyond and never made us feel, you know, they could have turned us in saying we were trying to smuggle a day to Vegas or something. “Never acted like that, they were extremely gracious. Like I said she was willing to watch our dog for us while we were gone.”. Their story went global after Jared shared the photos of their discovery to his Facebook page. Jared said the process of checking the bag’s weight most likely saved his dog’s life.

Travel Trouble

Sneaky snake stumps social media

A photo shared by a snake catcher has left dozens scratching their heads while attempting to spot the hidden reptile. The image, shared by Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7, asked followers if they could see where the snake was in the photo. Though many people commented on the “fairly easy” post with their guesses, with the apparently normal-looking hedge making some followers question their eyesight. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.53846153846155px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843356/bef582329eea8dc282fa83f634b91c739e44667e.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/6734aa1f44754460b304507088e54da9" /> Image: Facebook “If this is easy I have no chance with a hard one,” one person commented. “I would die in Australia because I would never see snakes,” a second added. The snake catchers later revealed the answer, sharing how the snake was in the corner of the bush. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.53846153846155px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843355/6eafa83184257125b349b84513c8a407e9319e78.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/fdec6f5e04c74c5bb321f33548a225c6" /> Image: Facebook The team had rescued the reptile after residents saw the Coastal Carpet Python near their house. Though Coastal Carpet Pythons aren’t venomous, they can still cause considerable damage to people.

Family & Pets

Can you spot the dog among the teddy bears?

When a collector of cuddly toys lost her dog among her teddy bear collection, she faced a difficult task in trying to find it. The woman, who is not named but is from the province of Liaoning in China, owns an extensive collection of teddy bears. As they collect dust, the collection needs a spring clean regularly to maintain them in good condition. It was while she was cleaning her bears that her Teddy Bear dog - a cross between the Shih Tzu and Bichon Frise - attempted to play with the bears. So she could finish cleaning, she picked him up and dropped him in the middle of the toys. But, when she went to take a break and decided to look for her dog who had fallen asleep in the pile, she said could not find him. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842474/bears1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/5718bf4c48db4a0b980607fccfc5a420" /> After deciding to record the amusing process of trying to find him and share it with some friends online to see if they could find him, she said she was amazed when it went viral. Images: 7NEWS

Mind

Diana’s car up for sale after decades in hiding

The Princess of Wales’ old car, given as an engagement gift from Prince Charles, will soon be sold after being kept in hiding for 20 years. The anonymous owner says she bought the vehicle because she is a “big fan” of Diana, and kept the 1981 Ford Escort Ghia Saloon as a second car, only driving it around her local town for years. The woman also says she refused to tell locals and neighbours who the vehicle originally belonged to. A car given to Princess Diana as an engagement present from Prince Charles will soon be sold at auction after its origins were kept secret for 20 years. Prince Charles gifted the car to his future bride in May 1981, and Diana drove it around until August 1982. It is expected to fetch between $54,000 - $73,000 when it goes under the hammer at the Reeman Dansie's Royalty, Antiques and Fine Art Sale in Essex on June 29. The car still holds its original registration WEV 297W, 83,000 miles (133,575 kilometres) on the clock and has meticulously retained its original paintwork and upholstery. A silver frog mascot given as a gift to the Princess of Wales by her sister, Lady Sarah Spencer still sits on the hood of the car, but is sadly just a replica. It was reportedly meant to represent the fairy tale of the girl who kisses a frog that later turns into a prince. Diana chose to keep the original frog when she sold the car. The woman who currently owns the car bought it for $10,000 in 1995 by an antiques dealer as a birthday present for his daughter, before it was passed on to the Diana-crazed fan. "Of course I knew when I bought it that it once belonged to Princess Diana, that is why I wanted it," the woman said to The Sun. "I was a big fan of hers. "I have driven it around as a second car ever since. A lot of people ask me why I had it and I used to tell them that it was my first car I passed my test in and that I was attached to it. "I felt that its history and provenance were so unique and I didn't want many people knowing."

Money & Banking

Malaria found in new hiding place in the body

Malaria is known for entering the bloodstream via a mosquito bite, but it has been found to have another trick up its sleeve. Scientists have found that the deadly parasite can lurk undetected in the spleen, which filters blood. Not only does this discovery change what we know about the biology of the disease, but it has significant implications for malaria elimination programs, according to the researchers. “What we found is that there are some people walking around that have malaria parasites in their spleen and not in their [circulating] blood,” said lead author Steven Kho, from the Menzies School of Health Research. Dr Kho says one of the other problems is people with infected spleens show no symptoms, so they are unlikely to seek medical treatment. This means they could be carriers and able to transmit the disease if a mosquito bites them and once the parasite moves back into the bloodstream. Why the spleen matters Playing a critical role in the immune system, blood flows in and out of the spleen to filter out abnormal and dead blood cells. This filtering process puts the spleen under a large amount of pressure and people in areas where malaria is common often have enlarged spleens. “If the spleen only removes parasites, we should only see parasite remnants or evidence of dead parasites [in the spleen],” Dr Kho said. Instead, the researchers found live malaria parasites in 95 percent of the spleens they examined, collected from 22 people living in the Indonesian province of Papua who had their spleens removed after rupturing during an accident. These people showed no symptoms of the disease and no parasites were found in their blood, large amounts of the two most common species were found in their spleen. This discovery could mean that the spleen acts as a hiding place for the first stage of the parasites, before they enter blood cells and cause disease. “That shows if they are viable, they can come out again, so there’s a possibility for reseeding an infection that makes someone feel sick, but also able to transmit it onward,” said Dr Justin Boddey of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, who was not involved in the research. “I can see this [discovery] having a huge influence in the way we understand malaria transmission into the mosquito and back out of the mosquito, and the disease itself,” Dr Boddey said.

Body

Purrfectly hidden kitten drives the internet crazy

Cats are crafty little critters, and they seem to have an uncanny ability to cram themselves in the most unlikely spaces. A photograph of one feline winning a game of hide and seek went viral this week on Twitter. On Sunday, Kate Hinds, newsroom planning editor at WNYC public radio, shared a photo of her impressive bookcase at her Manhattan home, captioning it “Today in find the cat.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Today in find the cat <a href="https://t.co/P6soGOv8k1">pic.twitter.com/P6soGOv8k1</a> — Kate Hinds (@katehinds) <a href="https://twitter.com/katehinds/status/1269697161329082370?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2020</a></blockquote> "My cat's name is Norah, although in my family no one agrees on whether there should be an 'h' on the end," Hinds told cnet in an email. "We adopted her a little over ten years ago from a local rescue group." Hind said she knows her family knows most of the places the kitty tends to hide in, and the spot she’s sought out in the photo is one of Norah’s favourite summer hiding spots. Twitter users were left stumped. "I can't find the cat but I love your bookcase," wrote one. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"> There's an actual cat in this pic?? Or a figurine or something? 🧐 — Nicole J. Butler aka "She-Shed Cheryl" 🏚🔥👩🏾‍🚒 (@NicoleJButler) <a href="https://twitter.com/NicoleJButler/status/1269709061575991296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2020</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"> I can’t find the cat but I love your bookcase. — IslandMaven (@LisaAguiar8) <a href="https://twitter.com/LisaAguiar8/status/1269707563416731648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2020</a></blockquote> Give up? Hinds posted a closeup of the image showing Norah’s paw sticking out from under the TV. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"> The Power Nap Broker <a href="https://t.co/EEWraGhM6i">pic.twitter.com/EEWraGhM6i</a> — Kate Hinds (@katehinds) <a href="https://twitter.com/katehinds/status/1269698103361318914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2020</a></blockquote> "For some reason, she goes behind the TV in the summer," Hinds told me. "She prefers to bed down with the winter hats/scarves in the colder months."

Family & Pets

Hiding in plain sight: Bizarre $10 note conspiracy theory

A cohort of Australian conspiracy theorists has claimed they found “proof” of an organised coronavirus conspiracy on the $10 note. Some “COVID-19 truthers” said the sign of a global conspiracy is featured on the Australian $10 banknote in the form of a gold reflective illustration. “The new $10 Australian note complete with corona virus symbols. You can’t make this up!” one Facebook post read. The coronavirus conspiracy movement, which has led to small protests in Sydney and Melbourne in recent weeks, reportedly believe the pandemic is an orchestrated effort by billionaires and governments to force vaccinations on the general population. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7836144/embed.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/867ee92f4dd04f68bdf656e11078bd70" /> The Reserve Bank said the $10 note feature is an illustrated version of Bramble Wattle. “Tilt the banknote to see a rolling colour effect, which is visible on both sides of the banknote,” the Reserve Bank said on its website. “The feature appears on each denomination of the Next Generation Banknotes series, with a different type of wattle depicted in the design on each banknote. In this instance, the design framing the feature is a designer’s interpretation of Bramble Wattle.” Katie Attwell from the University of Western Australia said conspiracies receive “worrying” level of traction because of the uncertainty the general public is facing. “The general public is uncertain, afraid, and experiencing cognitive impairment from the strain of it all,” Attwell wrote on <a href="https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-anti-vaxxers-arent-a-huge-threat-yet-how-do-we-keep-it-that-way-138531">The Conversation</a>. “Governments overseas, most notably the US government, have failed dismally in responding efficiently to COVID-19. This has the potential to devastate citizens’ trust. “In this volatile cocktail, the distinction between what is ‘bats**t crazy’ and what is worryingly plausible starts to break down.” In a <a href="https://10daily.com.au/news/a200519xdyqc/one-in-eight-australians-believes-bill-gates-is-responsible-for-coronavirus-and-wow-20200519">recent survey of 1,073 Australians</a>, one in eight said they believe Microsoft founder Bill Gates is somehow responsible for the coronavirus and the 5G wireless network is spreading the disease. “For those who reject these premises, it’s hard to understand how conspiracists sustain this alternative reality. But for those with long histories of rejecting government and expert authority, it’s completely conceivable,” Attwell said. “Many of those who reject vaccines, or strenuously object to COVID-19 health measures, are influenced by interconnected social groups with clear identities.” Attwell said it might be best to “quietly ignore” lockdown protesters to stop the spread of misinformation, “like a parent walking away from their child’s supermarket tantrum”. “When we walk away from a child having a tantrum in a supermarket, we are also saving them from themselves – even if they can’t appreciate it.”

Money & Banking

Hide and seek killer's astonishing excuse for murder

A US woman faces a second-degree murder charge for allegedly killing her partner by zipping him up in a suitcase as she filmed herself taunting him. Sarah Boone, 42, was arrested on Tuesday over the death of her boyfriend Jorge Torres Jr, 42, who was found dead in an Orlando home on Monday afternoon. According to court records, Boone told investigators she and Torres had been playing a game of hide-and-seek while drinking during the night. She said she zipped Torres into the suitcase before heading upstairs and passing out. She said she woke up later and realised her boyfriend was still in the bag, where she found him unresponsive, according to the records. She called 911, and emergency responders who arrived at the home confirmed Torres had died. Boone gave consent to let investigators search her cell phone, on which they found two videos recorded the previous evening. In one of the clips, Boone can allegedly be seen taunting her boyfriend as he yells from inside the suitcase and tells her he can’t breathe. “Yeah, that’s what you do when you choke me,” said Boone in the two-minute video, according to court records. “That’s on you. Oh, that’s what I feel like when you cheat on me.” Investigators said another clip shows the suitcase in a different position with Torres calling out for Boone. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Arrested: Sarah Boone, 42, for Second Degree Murder in the death of 42-year-old Jorge Torres Jr., who died after Boone zipped him into a suitcase, and didn’t return for hours. <a href="https://t.co/JCHWG7WNkp">pic.twitter.com/JCHWG7WNkp</a> — Orange County Sheriff's Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrangeCoSheriff/status/1232479493001859072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2020</a></blockquote> Deputies with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/davidmack/florida-boyfriend-killed-zipped-suitcase">wrote</a>, “Jorge begged Sarah repeatedly telling her he could not breathe and Sarah left him in the suitcase. “[This] therefore proves the unlawful killing of Jorge by Sarah’s actions that were imminently dangerous and demonstrated a depraved mind without regard for Jorge’s life.”

Travel Trouble

Inside the popular island paradise that hides a deadly secret

Sitting among the quiet island of Stromboli, Italy, is a ticking time bomb that has also made the island home. The 300-full time residents are used to the rumbles that frequently disturb the island that’s surrounded by the Tyrrhenian Sea. The rumbles are due to a deadly volcanic mountain that rises 924 metres above sea level and extends more than 1,000 metres below. Earlier this year, the volcano erupted twice, separated by 30 seconds. Residents and tourists were quickly evacuated from the island as lava spat from the active mouths of the mountain. “It was like being in hell because of the rain of fire coming from the sky,” Stromboli priest Giovanni Longo told local media. The explosion killed one hiker and covered the island in ash. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3VDSRiCEmY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3VDSRiCEmY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Italy, together with Iceland, presents the highest concentration of active volcanoes in Europe and is one of the first in the world #volcano #volcanoes #italy #etna #vesuvio #stromboli #vulcano #naples #napoli #catania #pompei #eruption #risk #risks #alerts #eruption #lava #lapilli #island</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/i_love_made_in_italy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> I love made in Italy</a> (@i_love_made_in_italy) on Oct 7, 2019 at 12:35pm PDT </div> </blockquote> After the small town recovered, there was a “high intensity” blast just two months later. No one was injured, but footage emerged of residents fleeing the island in a panic. Experts believe that the volcano on the island has been in nearly continuous eruption for at least 2,000 years, but it’s the unknown that keeps residents and tourists on edge. More and more tourists are heading to the island to witness the powerful experience of a volcanic eruption. “Volcanoes are one of the forces of nature that truly are beyond human power to control: We can’t do anything about eruptions, other than get out of the way,” Amy Donovan, a geographer at the University of Cambridge, wrote for a paper published in December with the Royal Geographical Society.

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Malaria found in new hiding place in the body

Purrfectly hidden kitten drives the internet crazy

Hiding in plain sight: Bizarre $10 note conspiracy theory

Hide and seek killer's astonishing excuse for murder

Inside the popular island paradise that hides a deadly secret