Author: Beth Anne Macaluso

You’ve made your Christmas card list and you’ve checked it twice. Now comes the hard part: actually getting started. To shake up what could otherwise be a pretty tedious process, two brothers decided to put their own spin on the traditional holiday card using a machine they built from LEGO bricks, as Gizmodo reports.

Fourteen-year-old Sanjay Seshan and his 12-year-old brother Arvind recently debuted the Holiday Card Plott3r, a machine powered by a series of LEGO MINDSTORMS sensors, gears, and motors, which prints out holiday greeting cards and their corresponding envelopes. Operating much like a dot-matrix printer, the machine uses two markers to draw a festive image dot-by-dot. The robot features three designs—a snowflake, a Christmas tree, and Santa’s signature—while a connected machine slides out envelopes using a pair of wheels.

“LEGO MINDSTORMS is a great way to prototype real world machines. We have been interested in dot matrix printers for a while and wanted to build one ourselves using LEGO,” Sanjay and Arvind told mental_floss over email. “We have been working on different versions all year. We thought it would be fun to create a complete holiday-themed machine that automated the process of creating Christmas cards.” But, they note, “it can be modified for any occasion.”

Sanjay and Arvind are LEGO enthusiasts and budding engineers from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Together, they founded Ev3Lessons.com and Beyond The Instructions, websites and communities that encourage other kids to explore concepts like robotics and coding using LEGO blocks. The Seshan brothers are also part of “Team Not the Droids You Are Looking For” in the FIRST LEGO League, a competitive engineering league for children ages 9 to 16. Teams develop solutions for real-world problems using nothing but LEGO MINDSTORMS.

The Seshan brothers have made the design for their Holiday Card Plott3r project public, so others can build their own—and finally finish that Christmas to-do list.

[h/t Gizmodo]

Header/banner image courtesy of iStock 

From America to Australia, everyone wants to start the New Year off on the right foot. Here are 15 rituals from around the world that are said to ensure a forthcoming year filled with happiness, prosperity, love, and adventure.

1. LATIN AMERICA // CARRY AROUND AN EMPTY SUITCASE.

In many Latin American countries, New Year’s revelers with a case of wanderlust will set an empty suitcase by their front door (or even drag it around a room in circles, or around the block) to conjure an upcoming year filled with adventure and travel.

2. SPAIN // EAT 12 GRAPES AT MIDNIGHT.

Some people guzzle sparkling wine at midnight on New Year’s Eve, but in Spain (and in some Latin American countries, too), they stick with grapes until the clock is done striking the hour.  They’ll gobble 12 bits of fruit—one grape for each stroke of midnight—to ensure the next 12 months will be filled with luck.

3. ARGENTINA // EAT BEANS.

In Argentina, beans aren’t just prized for their fiber content—they’re also considered to be a lucky New Year’s Eve dish. Eating them right before midnight is said to provide job security for the coming year—perhaps the most responsible tradition on this list.

4. BELARUS // HAVE A ROOSTER PREDICT YOUR LOVE LIFE.

In Belarus, single women looking for lasting love sit in a circle, each with a pile of corn in front of her. A rooster is placed in the circle’s center, and the woman whose grain heap it pecks at first is believed to be the first of the bunch to get married.

5. CHINA // CLEAN THE HOUSE (BUT WATCH WHICH WAY YOU SWEEP THE DIRT).

The Chinese New Year (known as the “Spring Festival”) corresponds with the turn of the lunar-solar Chinese calendar, and technically isn’t celebrated until late January to mid- February. But just like in many Western countries, the occasion is marked with numerous traditions and superstitions. One good-luck custom is to clean your home from top to bottom as a way to usher out the prior year. But to ensure the good luck doesn’t accidentally get pushed out along with the bad, people sweep the home inward, collect the dirt, and dispose of it out the back door instead of the front one. And during the first two days of the New Year, homemakers aren’t supposed to clean their dwellings at all, to avoid sweeping away any lingering fortune.

6. DENMARK // THROW BROKEN DISHES AT YOUR NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE.

Most people toss broken dishes into the trash, but in Denmark, they dispose of them in a much more creative fashion. They save them, and on New Year’s Eve, they toss the shards at their friends’ and family’s homes as a gesture of good luck. (No word on whether they volunteer to clean up the mess after.) Danes (and Germans) with less-pugnacious personalities—or simply weaker throwing arms—can opt to leave a heap of broken china on doorsteps, instead.

7. ROMANIA // PERFORM A CEREMONIAL BEAR DANCE.

In Romania’s eastern Moldova region, villagers dress in real bearskins and dance up and down the streets to ward off bad luck. The ritual takes place each year, between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, and stems from an ancient Roma tradition.

8. THE AMERICAN SOUTH // EAT BLACK-EYED PEAS.

In America, many Southern families eat a festive New Year’s Day dinner of collard greens, pork, and black-eyed peas—a type of legume with a distinctive black spot on its cream-colored shell. The latter dish is said to bring good luck (and whoever finds a coin hidden in the beans’ serving pot will have the most of it). Nobody quite knows where this tradition originated, but some people say it began after the Civil War, when Union soldiers stole all Confederate food supplies aside from black-eyed peas  (thus making them “lucky”). Another theory is that Sephardic Jews—who settled Georgia during the 18^th century—ate black-eyed peas to ring in the New Year, and brought the tradition with them to America.

9. SOUTH AFRICA // TOSS FURNITURE OUT THE WINDOW.

In Johannesburg, South Africa, locals who live in the city’s Hillbrow neighborhood toss old furniture out the windows, or off their balconies. Presumably, this act symbolizes shedding the old for the new, and embracing the promise of a new year. (Sadly, people have been injured from this practice, and the police have gotten involved, so think twice before emulating this one.)

10. ESTONIA // EAT MULTIPLE MEALS.

In Estonia, people eat seven to 12 meals on New Year’s Day to provide them with the strength of seven to 12 men. (They then, presumably, take seven to 12 food coma-induced naps.)

11. FINLAND/SCANDINAVIA // POUR MELTED TIN INTO WATER.

In some Nordic countries, like Finland, people melt tin horseshoes, then pour the resulting liquid into cold water and watch it swirl into a new, solid form. The shape it makes is said to predict what kind of year you’ll have.

12. BRAZIL // TOSS WHITE FLOWERS AND GIFTS INTO THE OCEAN.

Many Brazilians believe that giving gifts to Yemanja, an Afro-Brazilian ocean spirit, on New Year’s Eve will give them newfound vitality and strength. They travel to Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, and toss white flowers and other offerings into the waves.

13. ECUADOR // BURN A SCARECROW.

To New Year’s Eve revelers in Ecuador, a scarecrow serves as a symbol for the previous year’s bad energy. They burn the straw effigy to promote a fresh, positive start to the year.

14. SCOTLAND // THE YEAR’S FIRST GUEST BRINGS YOU GIFTS.

In Scotland, the first person to cross your home’s threshold in the New Year is required to bring you an assortment of symbolic gifts: a coin, salt, bread, coal, and whiskey.

15. THE PHILIPPINES // MAKE LOTS OF NOISE

New Year’s Eve is typically rowdy in most cultures, but people in the Philippines make lots of noise. To scare off evil spirits, they bang together pots and pans, set off fireworks, and even shoot guns into the air.

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The start of the winter season is marked by holiday carolers, hot cocoa, and in some parts of the world, blustery weather. Whether you enjoy bundling up in your coziest gear or are already counting down the days until spring, here are 15 facts about what’s happening outdoors this time of year.

1. IT SOMETIMES SNOWS WHERE YOU LEAST EXPECT IT.

You wouldn’t be shocked to see snow on the ground of Siberia or Minnesota when traveling to those places during the winter months. But northern areas don’t have a monopoly on snowfall—the white stuff has been known to touch down everywhere from the Sahara Desert to Hawaii. Even the driest place on Earth isn’t immune. In 2011, the Atacama Desert in Chile received nearly 32 inches of snow thanks to a rare cold front from Antarctica.

2. SNOWFLAKES COME IN ALL SIZES.

The average snowflake ranges from a size slightly smaller than a penny to the width of a human hair. But according to some unverified sources they can grow much larger. Witnesses of a snowstorm in Fort Keogh, Montana in 1887 claimed to see milk-pan sized crystals fall from the sky. If true that would make them the largest snowflakes ever spotted, at around 15 inches wide.

3. A LITTLE WATER CAN ADD UP TO A LOT OF SNOW.

The air doesn’t need to be super moist to produce impressive amounts of snow. Unlike plain rainfall, a bank of fluffy snow contains lots of air that adds to its bulk. That’s why what would have been an inch of rain in the summer equals about 10 inches of snow in the colder months.

4. YOU CAN HEAR THUNDERSNOW WHEN THE CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT.

If you’ve ever heard the unmistakable rumble of thunder in the middle of a snowstorm, that’s not your ears playing tricks on you. It’s likely thundersnow, a rare winter weather phenomenon that’s most common near lakes. When relatively warm columns of air rise from the ground and form turbulent storm clouds in the sky in the winter, there’s potential for thundersnow. A few more factors are still necessary for it to occur, namely air that’s warmer than the cloud cover above it and wind that pushes the warm air upwards. Even then it’s entirely possible to miss thundersnow when it happens right over your head: Lightning is harder to see in the winter and the snow sometimes dampens the thunderous sound.

5. SNOW FALLS AT 1 TO 6 FEET PER SECOND.

At least in the case of snowflakes with broad structures, which act as parachutes. Snow that falls in the form of pellet-like graupel travels to Earth at a much faster rate.

6. IT DOESN’T TAKE LONG FOR THE TEMPERATURE TO DROP.

Don’t take mild conditions in the middle of January as an excuse to leave home without a jacket. Rapid City, South Dakota’s weather records from January 10, 1911, show just how fast temperatures can plummet. The day started out at a pleasant 55°F, then over the course of 15 minutes a wicked cold front brought the temperature down to 8 degrees. That day still holds the record for quickest cold snap in history.

7. THE EARTH IS CLOSEST TO THE SUN DURING THE WINTER.

Every January (the start of the winter season in the northern hemisphere) the Earth reaches the point in its orbit that’s nearest to the Sun. Despite some common misconceptions, the seasonal drop in temperature has nothing to do with the distance of our planet to the Sun. It instead has everything to do with which direction the Earth’s axis is tilting, which is why the two hemispheres experience winter at different times of the year.

8. MORE THAN 22 MILLION TONS OF SALT ARE USED ON U.S. ROADS EACH WINTER.

That comes out to about 137 pounds of salt per person.

9. THE SNOWIEST CITY ON EARTH IS IN JAPAN.

Aomori City in northern Japan receives more snowfall than any major city on the planet. Each year citizens are pummeled with 312 inches, or about 26 feet, of snow on average.

10. SOMETIMES SNOWBALLS FORM THEMSELVES.

Something strange happened earlier this year in northwest Siberia: Mysterious, giant snowballs began washing up on a beach along the Gulf of Ob. It turns out the ice orbs were formed naturally by the rolling motions of wind and water. With some spheres reaching nearly 3 feet in width, you wouldn’t want to use this frozen ammunition in a snowball fight.

11. WIND CHILL IS CALCULATED USING A PRECISE FORMULA.

When the weatherman reports a “real feel” temperature of -10 degrees outside, it may sound like he’s coming up with that number on the spot. But wind chill is actually calculated using a complicated equation devised by meteorologists. For math nerds who’d like to test it at home, the formula reads: Wind Chill = 35.74 + 0.6215T – 35.75(V^0.16) + 0.4275T(V^0.16).

12. CITIES ARE FORCED TO DISPOSE OF SNOW IN CREATIVE WAYS.

When snow piles up too high for cities to manage, it’s usually hauled away to parking lots or other wide-open spaces where it can sit until the weather warms up. During particularly snowy seasons, cities are sometimes forced to dump snow in the ocean, only to be met with criticism from environmental activists. Some cities employ snow melters that use hot water to melt 30 to 50 tons of snow an hour. This method is quick but costly—a single machine can cost $200,000 and burn 60 gallons of fuel in an hour of use.

13. WET SNOW IS BEST FOR SNOWMAN-BUILDING, ACCORDING TO SCIENCE.

Physics confirms what you’ve likely known since childhood: Snow on the wet or moist side is best for building your own backyard Frosty. One scientist pegs the perfect snow-to-water ratio at 5:1.

14. SNOWFLAKES AREN’T ALWAYS UNIQUE.

Snow crystals usually form unique patterns, but there’s at least one instance of identical snowflakes in the record books. In 1988, two snowflakes collected from a Wisconsin storm were confirmed to be twins at an atmospheric research center in Colorado.

15. THERE’S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET

Freezing rain and sleet can both have scary effects on driving conditions, but their formations differ in some key ways. Both types of precipitation occur when rain formed in warm air in the sky passes through a layer of cold air near the ground. Thicker layers of cold air create sleet, a slushy form of water that’s semi-frozen by the time it reaches the Earth. Thinner layers don’t give rain enough time to freeze until it hits the surface of the ground—it then forms a thin coat of ice wherever it lands.

Winter weather can be unpredictable, which is why GEICO’s Emergency Roadside Service is available 24/7 via the GEICO mobile app. If you need a tow, a jump start, help fixing a flat tire, or if you lock your keys in the car, help can be dispatched with just a few taps of the finger.

Whether it’s a lost purse or an entire galaxy, the thing you’re looking for is almost always the last place you look. Read on to learn about some amazing finds that were right under our noses the whole time.

1. AN OVERLOOKED AVANT-GARDE PAINTING

When an art historian settled in to watch movies with his young daughter, he expected to relax and tune out. Instead he was shocked back into work mode when a long-lost avant-garde painting appeared onscreen behind the human parents of a certain talking mouse. The rare and expensive painting had been missing since 1928; the film’s set designer later said he’d bought it at an antique store for a mere $500.

2. A LITTLE WHALE

The 24-foot-long whale that washed up on an Alaska beach looked familiar to biologists. It also looked … different. The animal resembled a species called the Baird’s beaked whale, but it was far too small and its skin was a strange color. DNA tests revealed that the specimen belonged to an entirely new species. But it turns out that wasn’t the only one; the same genetic code was found in a whale skeleton that had been hanging up in a nearby high school gym.

3. PREHISTORIC EARTHWORKS

Historians believed a 42-foot mound in East Yorkshire, UK, had been constructed by the Normans in the 11th century. But when archaeologists began excavating, they soon realized the site was much, much older—by about 1,500 years.

4. AN ASTRONAUT’S PURSE

Movie stars aren’t supposed to keep their costumes or props, and astronauts aren’t supposed to keep their equipment. But sometimes they do it anyway. The first man on the Moon passed away in 2012. Not long after, his widow was cleaning out their house when she found a white bag containing a camera, mirrors, clips, and other equipment. She brought it to experts, who immediately realized that the bag was the same one the astronaut had supposedly left on the lunar surface during his mission. Whoops.

5. A MISSING MASTERPIECE

A legendary surrealist painter pulled the ultimate art prank when he made one of his masterpieces vanish into thin air. Art historians had long given up on locating the artist’s beautiful nude painting when it appeared—or part of it, anyway. X-rays of several of the painter’s other works revealed that he had cut the nude portrait into pieces and stuck it to other canvases before painting over it.

6. A BRAND-NEW CRAB

China’s booming pet trade has turned many in the fishing business into exotic animal spotters. Because of this, scientists have begun to visit pet markets in search of strange species. In early 2016, they found one: a grumpy-looking freshwater crab that no one had ever seen before. The orange crustacean they dubbed Yuebeipotamon calciatile was so different from others that it was declared not only a new species, but an entirely new genus.

7. A WHOLE BUNCH OF BEETLES

Victorian naturalists used to go out into the field with a net and a collecting jar and scoop up any interesting organism they could find. Scientists are a bit more methodical in their investigations these days—a fact that may result in some missed opportunities. One biologist doing some old-fashioned exploring on the side of a Hawaiian volcano in 2015 discovered 74 new species of predatory beetles.

8. AN ANCIENT MONUMENT

The desert city of Petra, Jordan, sees more than half a million visitors each year, and archaeologists have been digging there for centuries. Yet until 2016, nobody had spotted the enormous structure laying less than a mile outside the city. Drone photography and satellite images revealed a monument as large as an Olympic-sized swimming pool just under the sand. Pottery found at the site suggests that the monument is a staggering 2150 years old.

9. SURPRISE REEFS

Scientists mapping the seafloor near Australia’s Great Barrier Reef were astounded to discover fields of enormous circular mounds beneath the coral. The donut-shaped mounds were Halimeda bioherms, or reef structures made of calcified green algae.

10. SOME VERY ANTIQUE JEWELRY

Two young archaeologists had popped into a shop in Dabene, Bulgaria, to buy cigarettes when they saw something very unusual: a local woman wearing a striking gold necklace. The woman said her husband was a farmer, and that he’d found the jewelry while plowing his field. Examination of the necklace revealed that it dated back to the Bronze Age, and subsequent excavations in the village have uncovered a huge hoard of Thracian gold.

11. AN ACTUAL DINOSAUR

Scientists at a South African museum were startled to learn that a familiar specimen was not what they thought it was. The fossilized remains of a 200-million-year-old herbivore had been sitting in the museum since the 1930s, labeled as an Aardonyx. But when researchers took a closer look they realized the bones belonged to an entirely new species, which they christened Sefapanosaurus zastronensis.

12. A ROYAL TREE

The Wentworth elm was extinct, or so botanists thought—wiped out in the 1980s and ‘90s by Dutch elm disease. Then they paid a visit to the queen’s house. Experts conducting an inventory of the flora on the grounds of the queen of England’s home in Scotland discovered two enormous living Wentworth elms, each more than 100 feet tall, existing happily on the royal grounds. Experts hope to use cuttings from the trees to restart the population.

13. A RARE BIRD

How they missed this one is anyone’s guess: A loud-mouthed bird with bright feathers was recently identified in the bustling city of Phnom Penh. The Cambodian Tailorbird naturally makes its home on the lowland scrub of the floodplain. As urbanization spreads and the floodplain disappears, the bird moved further toward the city, until eventually someone spotted it.

14. A SNEAKY WORK OF ART

It was a nice enough painting: a lovely little still life of poppies and wildflowers in a jar. Its owner, an antique dealer, enjoyed it for decades until his death. When it came time to evaluate the worth of the man’s estate, art appraisers became very suspicious of the painting’s provenance. The artist’s monogram, originally believed to read “PS,” was eventually deciphered as “PG”—the initials of a very famous French painter known for his beautiful still life paintings.

15. GALAXIES

What look like clouds of glowing dust may in fact be clouds of stars upon stars upon stars. Earlier this year, astronomers using a high-powered space telescope reported finding numerous bright but distant galaxies hidden in plain sight in an area of the sky previously thought to contain only a single galaxy.

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When you’re living off the grid, your chances of staying alive are only as good as your instincts—and the gear you have on you. Here are 11 items that savvy, self-sufficient survivalists—like the ones you’ll see on the new season of HISTORY’s Alone, airing Thursdays, at 9/8c—always take with them.

1. A RELIABLE FIRE SOURCE

Fire is a basic—yet important—necessity for human survival. In the wilderness, you’ll need a steady blaze to keep warm, scare off wild animals, cook food, and boil water. Waterproof matches are handy, but they’re also expensive—plus, you’ll eventually run out. A much handier piece of equipment to have on hand is a rod made from ferrocerium, a man-made metallic material that emits sparks when it’s scraped across a rough surface.

2. A FIRST-AID KIT

What goes into your First Aid kit is entirely dependent on your individual health needs, but mainstay supplies include materials and tools for cleaning, disinfecting, dressing, and suturing wounds; pain medication and sundry items like sunblock and bug spray.

3. PARACORD

Paracord (short for parachute cord) is a superior alternative to rope. The smooth, nylon cord is durable, elastic, and mold-resistant. It can be used to secure a tent, haul heavy items, and make everything from clotheslines to fishing lines. If you’re really in a pinch, you can even use its inner threads as emergency dental floss.

4. MATERIALS FOR COLLECTING AND PURIFYING WATER.

Hopefully, your campsite is located near a body of water, which can be made drinkable by boiling it. If it isn’t, you can collect rain, snow, or dew by leaving bandannas outside and wringing out the moisture they collect. (Bonus? This type of water doesn’t need to be purified.) Another handy water-gathering method is to secure a clear plastic bag over a leafy tree branch. Plants “transpire”—meaning they release water through their leaves—and you can collect this condensation inside the bag and drink it.

5. MAPS AND A COMPASS

Even if you are living off the grid, you still need to know where you are in case you run out of gear or decide to return to civilization. Survivalists recommend carrying a compass, along with three different types of maps: a detailed local one, a regional topographic map, and an extended area road map. That way, you can navigate distances both large and small.

6. A SLEEPING BAG

One of the most dangerous threats you’ll face isn’t encountering a wild beast—it’s developing hypothermia.  A sleeping bag keeps you warm, protects you from the elements, and also serves as a makeshift shelter. Select a warmer, insulated sleeping bag for cold climes; a lighter one for warm weather; or a synthetic one that wicks away moisture if you’re expecting a lot of rain.

7. A COOKING POT

A large, two-quart cooking pot might take up a lot of room in a rucksack, but survivalists say it’s an essential piece of camping gear that’s well worth toting with you into the wilderness. For one thing, a pot lets you purify lake, stream, or river water by boiling it, and you can also use it to cook food.  And when you’re not using the pot for meal prep, it serves as a handy storage receptacle.

8. A SHARP, ALL-PURPOSE KNIFE

A good, fixed-blade knife with a long blade is an essential part of a survivalist’s tool kit. You can use it to hew branches and trees to construct a shelter; fashion weapons and tools; skin and dress game; and protect yourself from predators. Select an all-purpose knife that’s thick and heavy enough to do some heavy-duty chopping, but fine and sharp enough for more detailed work.

9. AN AXE

A good knife goes a long way, but you’ll also need an axe to chop firewood and cut down trees. Select one that’s sharp and sturdy, yet easily maneuverable.

10. A FLARE GUN

If you’re injured or in danger, the only way you’re going to get outside help is if you signal for it. A flare gun—a firearm that launches flares—reveals your position when you shoot it directly above you into the air.

11. EMERGENCY FOOD RATIONS

An emergency store of food won’t last you forever, but it will tide you over during lean hunting seasons. Bring along non-perishable items like canned goods, dried foods in bulk, and freeze-dried meats, and store them somewhere cool and dry. And to grow your own food, have seeds on hand.

See how 10 survival experts fare in one of the most remote—and most dangerous—place on Earth, Patagonia, on the new season of Alone, airing Thursdays at 9/8c on HISTORY.

The Earth is home to some pretty extraordinary destinations. Some, like a reflective salt flat that stretches thousands of miles, definitely deserve a spot on your travel bucket list. But others, like the coldest corner of Antarctica, are best appreciated from a distance. Here are seven of the most extreme environments on the planet.

1. THE HOTTEST // LUT DESERT, IRAN

The title of world’s hottest place is a subject of heated (pun intended) debate. California’s Death Valley claimed the record when temperatures reached 134°F on a summer’s day in 1913. Nine years later, El Azizia, Libya surpassed that figure by two degrees—a record that still technically stands today. But weather experts claim that temperatures get much more extreme elsewhere on the planet. In Iran’s Lut Desert for instance, the climate is so severe that it would be impractical to maintain a weather station there. Scientists have found an alternative way to measure the surface temperature using infrared satellite imagery. After looking at five years of data, the Lut Desert consistently came in as the world’s hottest spot. In one particularly hot year the temperature measured in at a blistering 159.3°F.

2. THE COLDEST // EAST ANTARCTIC PLATEAU

It’s no shock that all the extreme cold records belong to Antarctica, but just how low temperatures can dip in our southernmost continent may be surprising to some. In 1983, temperatures outside Russia’s Vostok research station on the East Antarctic Plateau plummeted to 128.6 degrees below zero—about 20 degrees colder than dry ice. Scientists believe that the alarming drop in temperature was the result of a combination of a lack of warm air that normally flows in from the southern ocean and the flow of cool air circling the station. No colder temperatures have been recorded on the ground since, but in 2013 satellites detected temperatures bottoming out at -135.8 degrees in that same area of Antarctica. 

3. THE DRIEST // ATACAMA DESERT, CHILE

It’s not unusual for years to go by before a single drop of rain hits Chile’s Atacama Desert. The arid landscape earned the distinction of world’s driest place after sustaining a 173-month long dry spell in the early 20th century. On average it receives 1 millimeter of rain a year—to qualify as a desert, an area must receive an average of no more than 250 millimeters a year. There are corners of the desert where rainfall has never been recorded, and local residents who have never witnessed the phenomenon with their own eyes. There are three main factors contributing to the Atacama’s exceptionally dry conditions: Its position west of the Andes places it in a “rainshadow,” with all the moisture carried by the ocean winds ending up on the wrong side of the mountain range; the winds that blow over it from the neighboring Pacific are unusually dry to begin with; and lastly, its position south of the equator creates high air pressure, causing any moisture in the air to evaporate. Any one of these conditions alone would be enough to create a dry climate, and together they create the perfect (rainless) storm.

4. THE RAINIEST // MAWSYNRAM, MEGHALAYA, INDIA

Anyone planning a trip to the Indian village of Mawsynram would be wise to bring an umbrella. Located in the state of Meghalaya, or “land of the clouds,” the spot receives an average of 467 inches of rainfall a year. For comparison, Seattle was drenched with just 44.83 inches in 2015. The high hills of Meghalaya create a tight space in the atmosphere that squeezes out rainwater from any clouds passing overhead. This results in roughly 320 days of rainfall a year in the area. It’s become such a common part of life that people working outside often suit up in fully-body umbrellas made of bamboo and banana leaf.

5. THE MOST ELECTRIFYING // LAKE MARACAIBO, VENEZUELA

Visit the spot where the Catatumbo River meets Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela on any given night and chances are you’ll be treated to a light show. The lake sees 260 stormy days a year, and in peak season the Beacon of Maracaibo, or the “everlasting storm”, produces 28 lightning strikes a minute. They even light up in a rainbow of colors thanks to dust particles and water vapor in the surrounding air. There are numerous theories as to the cause of the electrifying phenomenon: Uranium deposits in the ground there were once thought to attract lighting, and recently methane released from oil fields was believed to make the air above more conductive. Today it’s widely accepted that evaporating water from the lake, the topography of the surrounding Andes, and trade winds from the neighboring sea form the wicked storm clouds.

6. THE FLATTEST // SALAR DE UYUNI, BOLIVIA

Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia is remarkable for what it lacks: There’s not a peak or valley for over 4500 square miles. The salt flat was formed between 40,000 and 25,000 years ago after a large lake covering what is now southwestern Bolivia dried up. Today the desert is home to 10 billion tons of salt. Tourists come from all over to walk or drive across the flat terrain in the winter season or gaze at the massive reflecting pool that forms during the wet summer months.

7. THE MOST ISOLATED // BOUVET ISLAND, NORWAY

If you’re really looking to get away from it all, there’s no better place to be than Bouvet Island. The volcanic landmass is located in the South Atlantic halfway between Antarctica and South Africa. The closest human life is on Tristan da Cunha 1404 miles away, which just so happens to be the most remote inhabited island in the world. Bouvet Island is difficult to walk on, much less live on, but despite that many people have tried to claim it for themselves. Today the 19-square-mile, glacial chunk of rock is a dependency of Norway.

See how 10 of the world’s most skilled survival experts fare all by themselves in another place known for its remoteness: Patagonia, the so-called “End of the World.” The all-new season of Alone airs Thursdays at 9/8c on HISTORY.

When it comes to saving money, the best time to start was yesterday. But today is pretty good, too! It may feel like you have no money to save when you’re just starting out, but even a small amount of cash put away on a regular basis can add up to a respectable amount  over time. Here are seven smart money habits worth practicing at any stage in life.

1. PLAN OUT YOUR MEALS.

Feeding yourself without keeping an eye on your budget is a quick way to blow money—something that comes as a shock to many people leaving the nest for the first time. Instead of going out to eat every other meal or spending money on more perishable groceries than you can possibly consume, take the time to plan out your meals. Only buy the ingredients for the dishes you actually plan to cook that week and save takeout meals and restaurant trips for special occasions. You’ll be surprised to see how much better off your bank account will be because of it.

2. DON’T MAKE A HABIT OF DIPPING INTO YOUR SAVINGS.

A savings account doesn’t serve much of a purpose if you’re taking more money out of it than you’re depositing into it. You should only dip into your savings for serious emergencies. Medical issues, damage to your property or vehicle, and sudden unemployment are all situations where a hefty amount of savings can come in handy. In order to have that cushion to fall back on, make sure that your daily spending comes from your checking account.

3. SET UP AUTOMATIC DEPOSITS TO YOUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

When looking at your monthly expenses, it’s important to budget money for savings just like you would food, gas, or utilities. If you’re employed part- or full-time and your salary is direct deposited to your checking account each month, consider setting up an automated transfer to your savings account. The amount doesn’t have to be large: If all you can afford to set aside is $20 per deposit, that’s better than saving nothing for the next five years.

4. SAVE YOUR SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME.

Whether you’re a student or a recent graduate, there are plenty of opportunities to earn a little income on the side. Dog walking, babysitting, and freelancing in your field are all ways to supplement your regular income. And although you most certainly deserve a vacation right about now, consider sending it straight to your savings account. It may not sound like the most glamorous use of your extra cash, but you’ll reap the benefits in the long run.

5. KEEP A MONEY DIARY.

It’s hard to know how much money you should be saving without knowing how much you’re already spending. For one month, commit to writing down every transaction you make, from student loan payments to snack purchases. Once you have the full list recorded, you can decide which purchases were unnecessary and calculate how much money you would save without them. Go into the next month aiming to stick to the necessities and vow to put away whatever money you would have spent otherwise.

6. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR FULL BENEFITS PACKAGE.

If you’re employed full-time, you could be passing up free money through your employer without even realizing it. In addition to healthcare, vision, and dental, many companies offer money-saving perks like matching 401(k) programs, discounted gym memberships, and transportation reimbursements to their full-time employees. If you’re still a student, there are other ways to save cash that are unique to your situation. Museums, retail stores, and restaurants often offer student discounts. Don’t hesitate to ask lots of questions of your human resources rep (if you’re employed full-time), or of your campus’s student activities council. They’ll be able to point you towards benefits and discounts you didn’t even know existed.

7. SPLURGE RESPONSIBLY.

After weeks spent budgeting your meals, taking advantage of discounts, and padding your savings, it’s important to reward yourself for all that self-discipline. Rather than spending indiscriminately throughout the month, determine a set amount of money for splurging like you would with any other expense. This cash can be used for a spa day, a fancy meal out, or that pair of sneakers you’ve had your eye on for a while—all that matters is that you spend it guilt-free so you can jump right back into your money-saving habits the next day.

Ready to learn more? Visit Prudential.com for tips and tools on budgeting, overcoming procrastination and more.

When it comes to saving money, the best time to start was yesterday. But today is pretty good, too! It may feel like you have no money to save when you’re just starting out, but even a small amount of cash put away on a regular basis can add up to a respectable amount  over time. Here are seven smart money habits worth practicing at any stage in life.

1. PLAN OUT YOUR MEALS.

Feeding yourself without keeping an eye on your budget is a quick way to blow money—something that comes as a shock to many people leaving the nest for the first time. Instead of going out to eat every other meal or spending money on more perishable groceries than you can possibly consume, take the time to plan out your meals. Only buy the ingredients for the dishes you actually plan to cook that week and save takeout meals and restaurant trips for special occasions. You’ll be surprised to see how much better off your bank account will be because of it.

2. DON’T MAKE A HABIT OF DIPPING INTO YOUR SAVINGS.

A savings account doesn’t serve much of a purpose if you’re taking more money out of it than you’re depositing into it. You should only dip into your savings for serious emergencies. Medical issues, damage to your property or vehicle, and sudden unemployment are all situations where a hefty amount of savings can come in handy. In order to have that cushion to fall back on, make sure that your daily spending comes from your checking account.

3. SET UP AUTOMATIC DEPOSITS TO YOUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

When looking at your monthly expenses, it’s important to budget money for savings just like you would food, gas, or utilities. If you’re employed part- or full-time and your salary is direct deposited to your checking account each month, consider setting up an automated transfer to your savings account. The amount doesn’t have to be large: If all you can afford to set aside is $20 per deposit, that’s better than saving nothing for the next five years.

4. SAVE YOUR SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME.

Whether you’re a student or a recent graduate, there are plenty of opportunities to earn a little income on the side. Dog walking, babysitting, and freelancing in your field are all ways to supplement your regular income. And although you most certainly deserve a vacation right about now, consider sending it straight to your savings account. It may not sound like the most glamorous use of your extra cash, but you’ll reap the benefits in the long run.

5. KEEP A MONEY DIARY.

It’s hard to know how much money you should be saving without knowing how much you’re already spending. For one month, commit to writing down every transaction you make, from student loan payments to snack purchases. Once you have the full list recorded, you can decide which purchases were unnecessary and calculate how much money you would save without them. Go into the next month aiming to stick to the necessities and vow to put away whatever money you would have spent otherwise.

6. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR FULL BENEFITS PACKAGE.

If you’re employed full-time, you could be passing up free money through your employer without even realizing it. In addition to healthcare, vision, and dental, many companies offer money-saving perks like matching 401(k) programs, discounted gym memberships, and transportation reimbursements to their full-time employees. If you’re still a student, there are other ways to save cash that are unique to your situation. Museums, retail stores, and restaurants often offer student discounts. Don’t hesitate to ask lots of questions of your human resources rep (if you’re employed full-time), or of your campus’s student activities council. They’ll be able to point you towards benefits and discounts you didn’t even know existed.

7. SPLURGE RESPONSIBLY.

After weeks spent budgeting your meals, taking advantage of discounts, and padding your savings, it’s important to reward yourself for all that self-discipline. Rather than spending indiscriminately throughout the month, determine a set amount of money for splurging like you would with any other expense. This cash can be used for a spa day, a fancy meal out, or that pair of sneakers you’ve had your eye on for a while—all that matters is that you spend it guilt-free so you can jump right back into your money-saving habits the next day.

Ready to learn more? Visit Prudential.com for tips and tools on budgeting, overcoming procrastination and more.

Study after study has found that taking breaks and caring for ourselves makes us better and more effective at what we do. Yet when crunch time comes, taking a break seems like an impossible luxury. Here’s our finals-week gift from us to you: official, scientific permission to take a few minutes and treat yourself. If you need an idea, try one of these seven free and easy methods.

1. BECOME AN EXPLORER.

There are places in your town you’ve never been, and sights on campus you’ve never seen. Identify one new-to-you spot—whether that’s a museum, a hiking trail, or the site of a famous haunting—and go check it out. If you’re at a loss as to where to begin, consider playing tourist for the day, and pay a visit to your town or university’s visitor’s center. They’ll be able to point you toward the little-known sights worth your time.

2. PAMPER, PAMPER, PAMPER

You don’t have to shell out $85 for a mud mask to baby your body. Give yourself a manicure or make your own exfoliating sugar scrub or face mask (a quick online search should turn up plenty of recipes for masks using stuff you probably already have in the fridge). Dig out all those free samples from the bottom of the bathroom cabinet. Or, consider visiting a department store’s cosmetics counter, or your favorite beauty retailer, to stock up on samples of face masks, moisturizer, and more. At one major national chain, employees are encouraged to send shoppers home with samples, even if they don’t end up buying anything.

3. DANCE BREAK!

Think back to the last time you enjoyed dancing. Now find that song on the Internet, get up from your desk, press play, and let the rhythm take you away.

4. HUG A TREE.

We don’t mean literally, but you could. Make snow angels. Build a bonfire. Lay in the grass and watch clouds go by. Get yourself out into the natural, primal world just for a few minutes. (Or, if weather forbids, cue up a good old-fashioned Yule log video and enjoy the crackles and pops of cheerful, simulated flames.)

5. INDULGE YOUR SENSES.

Dip a hand in cool running water. Change into your softest, coziest pajamas. Dig out that fancy perfume or cologne you save for special occasions. Eat one really good piece of chocolate. Do something that takes you out of your head and into your body just for a moment.

6. MAKE SOMETHING…

It doesn’t have to be complicated or even good. You could spend a few minutes with a coloring book or baking a cake from a mix. You could arrange the food on your plate into a ridiculous face. You could write a limerick about how much you hate finals. The goal is to stop thinking and let your creativity flow—without applying any pressure.

7. …OR BREAK SOMETHING.

Sometimes the best way to relieve tension is to let it rip. We’re not suggesting that you take a hammer to your roommate’s alarm clock, but you could shred a page of notes you no longer need, stomp on a sheet of bubble wrap, or make friends with the birds by crumbling a bunch of cookies on the sidewalk.

Over budget? Under budget? What’s a budget? Answer these questions and more with tools like Slice-a-Budget on Prudential.com.

The holiday season is full of (prettily wrapped) potential land mines. Even if you know better than to re-gift Aunt Ida’s sweater or insult Grandma’s fruitcake, you could still be slipping up. We spoke with etiquette expert Joy Weaver, author of How to Be Socially Savvy in All Situations, to get the scoop on how you can secure your spot on the “Nice” list.

1. RESPOND TO INVITES.

Yup, all of them—and promptly. And if you really want to be proper, don’t ring up your friend and let them know you’re calling to RSVP. As Weaver explains, that’s technically an abbreviation for the French phrase “Répondez s’il vous plait” (meaning “reply if you please”): “So you don’t say you’re going to RSVP. It’s not a word!”

2. SHOW UP ON TIME(ISH).

If it’s a sit-down dinner party you should be there right on time, says Weaver. But if it’s a more casual drop-in situation, showing up promptly is actually kind of rude. “You know what it’s like, the party starts at seven and you’re running around getting everything just right,” she says. Best to allow your pal a second to breathe, she notes: “Give it a minute or two before you ring the doorbell.”

3. FORGET THE FLOWERS (BUT DON’T COME EMPTY-HANDED.)

If there are multiple hosts, you only need to bring something for the person whose home it is, explains Weaver, because they’re the ones that had to clean up their spread. And your trinket should be well-thought-out, she says, “You always want to give them something they’ll like.” Off limits: flowers (“Unless they come in a vase so the host doesn’t have to take time out from the party looking for one”) and any wine or food to be set out. “The menu has been determined and the drinks selected,” she says. “So if you bring food or champagne let them know it’s for them to save.”

4. KNOW WHEN TO SAY THANKS.

It’s proper form to send your pal a written thank you for having you at their get-together. But if you’re the host, you’re off the hook. Even though you should, in theory, be collecting all sorts of hostess gifts, you don’t have to send notes for any of them. “This is the one time you’re not required to write a thank you,” says Weaver, “because it’s like saying thank you for a thank you. It could go on and on.”

5. DON’T SKIP THE OFFICE PARTY.

Ever. Even if it’s just a conference room gathering with stale crackers and cheap wine, “it’s a must-attend event,” says Weaver. Opting out “shows disrespect for your company, supervisors, and colleagues and can be a career-killer.”

6. BUT DON’T BE THE LIFE OF IT, EITHER.

You (hopefully) know dancing on the bar is a bad call. (“It’s just not the time to be over-served,” says Weaver.) But overindulging in the cheese tray isn’t a good look either, she says: “You don’t want to seem like you’re going there because the company owes you food. You’re there to establish better relationships.”

7. MAKE IT EASY FOR HIGHER-UPS TO MEET YOU.

If your office bash is a name-tag-required situation, place it high up on the right side of your body, says the expert: “When you’re about to shake hands, your right shoulder comes forward, so it’s a perfect glance.” And when you go in for the palm-to-palm grab, make sure you’re standing. “Never shake hands sitting down,” says Weaver. “It’s a respect thing.”

8. GET (SLIGHTLY) POLITICAL.

Talking too much about business or your kid’s latest milestone just isn’t done, says Weaver: “Talk about something interesting, current events, just something unique and different.”

9. WHEN HOSTING, DON’T FORGET THAT YOU’VE GOT A JOB TO DO.

And it’s not just refilling the chip bowl. It’s considered proper to stand at the door to greet each guest as they arrive. Repeat the process at closing time, walking each of your attendees to the door for a brief goodbye. Note to guests, says Weaver: “Do not engage the host in a long conversation at the door.”

10. MASTER THE ART OF ADDRESSING HOLIDAY CARDS.

If you’re keeping it formal, technically, you shouldn’t be sending a card to Mrs. Joy Weaver. Explains the expert, “Mrs. means married to the next person. I’m not married to Joy, I am Joy.” The truly proper form, she says, is Mrs. [husband’s name] Weaver or simply Mrs. Weaver. And these days, she says, Miss is only appropriate for women under the age of 18.

11. NEVER, EVER USE THE EXCUSE “MY DOG ATE YOUR GIFT.”

We’ve all been there: your cubicle mate presents you with a gift and you didn’t realize you were that tight. Don’t fib and say you forgot their present at home, says Weaver; simply be gracious. “The only thing they want in that moment is for you to be happy,” she explains. “Do not bring up the fact that you don’t have a gift for them. Just say, ‘This is wonderful. Thank you.’” If you’d like to surprise them with something down the road, you can, but it’s not a must: “You need to think through, is this someone that I want to give a gift to next year, or should I just accept this gift and move on?” Now that’s learning how not to be a jerk to yourself.

All images via Getty