Author: Matt Gilligan

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These Pictures of Endangered Animals Have as Many Pixels as There Are Remaining Members of the Species

We’re seeing a mass extinction of animals and plants from the face of the earth at a frightening pace. It’s strange to think that our children or grandchildren will live in a world where giraffes or white rhinos could cease to exist in the wild – could, perhaps, vanish altogether.

Every Pixels is one animal. The more pixelated the image, the closer it is to extinction.

The World Wildlife Fund wanted to shine a spotlight on the often-forgotten but still looming tragedy, so they worked with creative designers Nami Hoshino, Yoshiyuki Mikami, and Kazuhiro Mochizuki at Hakuhodo C&D in Tokyo to create the concept of population pixelation.

Image Credit: JJSmooth44

Image Credit: JJSmooth44

Recently, Imgur user JJSmooth44 made a followup to the project then posted it on Imgur and Reddit, and people seem just as taken.

Image Credit: JJSmooth44

Image Credit: JJSmooth44

The results, as you can see, are stark and sad.

Image Credit: JJSmooth44

Sadder still? These population declines are all driven by humans.

Image Credit: JJSmooth44

Image Credit: JJSmooth44

Will we do something to turn the tide in time?

Image Credit: JJSmooth44

That remains to be seen.

Image Credit: JJSmooth44

But as long as there are a few pixels left, there’s still hope.

The post These Pictures of Endangered Animals Have as Many Pixels as There Are Remaining Members of the Species appeared first on UberFacts.

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Your Daily Cup of Tea Might Contain Billions of Microplastics

Let’s start off by saying this: there is no science, as of today, that proves (or disproves) that microplastics are harmful to human beings.

As of today is a pretty big qualifier here, though, and most people believe that inhaling, touching, and/or ingesting tiny plastics all day every day can’t be the best thing in the world.

So your tea? It might be trouble, my friends.

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PLASTIC FREE TEA ANYONE? ?‍♀️?‍♂️? . For any tea lovers, we always recommend to have your tea loose and brewed with stainless steel (or other food-grade metals), glass, or ceramic strainer. . Why? Because most of the tea bags sold in the stores are made of plastics and they are releasing billions of micro & nano plastics when came in contact with hot water. Afterall, all we want is a nice cup of tea, not a cup of microplastic brew, don't we? . Both loose tea (with many variants!) and stainless steel tea strainer are available in our stores. You can pop by to see our selections or simply visit our web to have yours delivered right to your doors with our #refillservice! Ps. Keep an eye out on tomorrow #igstories as I will be heading to one of our organic tea garden supplier ? . ? @easyecotips . #zerowastebali #zerowastefacts #plasticfacts #plasticteabags #breakfreefromplastic #balibulkfood #loosetea #naturaltea #plasticfree #teaaddict #tealover

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Recently, many tea manufacturers have begun replacing paper teabags with plastic (silken) ones that are both terrible for the environment and, it turns out, capable of releasing loads of microplastics.

Microplastic particles are around 100 nanometers to 5 millimeters in size, and when they get into your teach, you eat them.

The report was published in Environmental Science & Technology by researchers from McGill University in Montreal, and their findings came from examining 4 different types plastic teabags. They heated the bags in water around 200 degrees F (after emptying the bags of tea) and then used electron microscopes to analyze the contents of the water.

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Tea drinkers beware!! Coincidently after drinking this tea last night (a single bag in my tea collection), and article came out today about how some tea bags are made with plastic, and that at a brewing temperature of 95 degrees releases 11.6 billion microplastics into a single cup. ?While the #worldhealthorganization says there is no evidence of microplastic having health risks for humans?a research team from McGill University in Montreal ??believes more research has to be done. (We agree!!!) Just because there is no ‘evidence’ – we’ve seen the effects on marine life…it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to determine this certainly can’t be a good thing!! I’m going to stay away from plastic tea bags (#Teavana, #Tazo) and check for compostable tea bags – thankfully my normal brands(#traditionalmedicinals, #numitea, #yogitea, #stashtea and others, check packaging!!) or use loose leaf in a metal infuser…?just in case?Full article : https://www.newscientist.com/article/2217483-plastic-tea-bags-shed-billions-of-microplastic-particles-into-the-cup/ #beachrelief #tea #plasticteabags #compostableteabags #teatime #cupofplastic #cupoftea

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An average of 11.6 billon microplastics and 3.1 billion nanoplastics were in the water.

The bags are made of a blend of nylon and polyethylene, a form of plastic that’s also found in water bottles.

Like I said up front, the potential effects on human health aren’t known, and the WHO has said that microplastics in drinking water probably won’t harm our bodies…at least not “based on the limited information we have.”

“To date, the health effects of consuming micro- and nanoplastics to humans are still unknown, while the sublethal effects observed in the present study and in other animals (e.g. algae, zooplankton, fish, mice) give an early warning of both environmental risk and possible human health risk,” say the researchers.

That said, scientists around the world have concerns.

“One of the main potential human exposure pathways of micro- and nanoplastics is likely via ingestion, and particle uptake may occur in the digestive tract. Once inside the digestive tract, cellular uptake and subcellular translocation or localization of the ingested particles may occur.”

If you want to try avoiding microplastics just in case, well, good luck. They’re everywhere, from rainwater to snow, in your food, your water, the soil, and so on.

A 2019 study found that the average American consumes over 74,000 of the particles every year.

Which I guess wasn’t accounting for any cups of tea consumed.

I guess we’ll find out eventually whether they’re harmful or not. Hopefully not in the worst way possible.

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People Are Surprised About Where Cashews Really Come from

Prepare to be deeply confused and a little scared about where cashews come from. The truth is so weird that people on Twitter can’t stop talking about it.

First of all, these delicious nuts grow on trees. That in itself is not so surprising, as many types of nuts grow on trees—but it’s not the weirdest part by far.

Nope, that would be the fact that they grow from these things.

Excuse me, is that a nut or a monster?! I don’t know anymore.

That apple-looking thing is apparently called a “cashew apple,” which grows from the branches of the cashew tree. The shell below the apple contains the actual cashew.

To get to the nut, you have to pick the entire thing, cashew apple included, from the branch. Then you pull off the shelled nut, dry it, steam it, freeze it, and boil it to remove the shell. The shell is filled with caustic acid, so this is no joke—in fact, the extracting the nut is so grueling and dangerous that picking cashews is sometimes used as penal work in south- and southeast Asia where they grow.

Cashews are delicious and healthy, but are they really worth all this effort? Whose idea was this, anyway?

People on Twitter are understandably freaking out about the news.

“Who knew cashews look like angry, old men yelling at you to get off their lawn as they grow?” one user wrote.

Others pointed out that the middle cashew in this photo looks like it has a face.

FYI, you can eat cashew apples, too. The flesh is quite bitter, though, so it’s best to process it for jam or juice.

Now, excuse me while I go have nightmares about cashews for the rest of my life.

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These Dandelion Health Benefits May Convince You Not to Treat Them like Weeds Anymore

They’ve long been touted for their healing and restorative powers in the naturopathic community. Now, even the more scientific minded are starting to take notice of this humble backyard flower.

Also known as Taraxacum spp., with Taraxacum officinale the most common variety, these plants are typically dismissed as weeds. Homeowners hate them and will go to great lengths to get rid of them.

But dandelion are slowly showing us they are worth keeping around. So scroll through these 7 reasons why you should put away the weed killer and discover the potential benefits of dandelion.

1. They are good to eat.

This one doesn’t need any additional evidence—people have been eating dandelions for ages. The plants and flowers are full of nutritients, including vitamins A, C, K, E and small amounts of B vitamins (like folate), as well as antioxidants, like beta-carotene.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia

2. They may fight inflammation.

Some studies have shown a reduction in inflammation markers in cells when dandelion compounds are applied—although these results haven’t been verified in humans yet.

3. They may help control blood sugar.

Studies show compounds found in dandelions can improve the pancreas’ insulin secretion and improve the absorption of glucose, or sugar, in muscle tissues.

Photo Credit: Pexels

4. They could help improve cholesterol levels.

Studies with mice and rabbits have shown that test animals that have been fed a diet high in cholesterol and then treated with dandelion extract ended up with lowered cholesterol levels.

5. They may help reduce blood pressure.

Dandelion is a known natural diuretic, and Western medicine credits reducing fluids in the body as a way lowered blood pressure. Also, dandelion is rich in potassium, which is also known for lowering blood pressure.

Photo Credit: Flickr

6. They may keep your liver healthy.

Animal studies show dandelion extract reduced the levels of excess fat stored in the liver and defended against oxidative stress in liver tissue.

7. They may help with losing weight.

Dandelion could possibly help with weight loss by improving carbohydrate metabolism and reducing fat absorption. Chlorogenic acid, one of the compounds found in dandelion was shown to aid with reducing body weight and levels of some fat-storage hormones in obese mice.

Photo Credit: Flickr

Though these results are exciting, many of these studies were done on animals or cell cultures in petri dishes—very few involving any testing on humans. Much more research is necessary before medicine declares the dandelion a miracle treatment, but the preliminary findings are showing there are benefits of keeping dandelion on hand.

Or in your lawn.

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This Is How to Win Monopoly, According to the Experts

These little tidbits of advice on how to win got me running to pass go and collect my $200!

The game of cutthroat business was invented in 1906 by American anti-monopolist Lizzie Magie (ironic, the way the game has come to be viewed) and was later licensed by Parker Brothers in 1936. It’s a game of control, winning properties and building hotels to win millions and send your competition into bankruptcy.

Exciting, right?

Maybe not for some. But for those of you who want to learn a little strategy to take down your family champion, keep reading.

 

Buy up every property you land on

When you start hopping around the board, you should buy up any properties you land on. This strategy does work. Trust me, I still have bragging rights in my home as the monopoly champion! But you don’t have to take my word for it: here’s what Flynn Zaiger, who is the founder of the Tulane University Board Games Club, confirms.

“From the start of the game, it’s a good idea to buy as much as possible,” Zaiger told Reader’s Digest. “Unlike real life, in Monopoly, it’s rarely good to save. You don’t earn any interest from the money you have, whereas property you purchase will always have a chance to be bringing in dollars.”

The reason for this is to amass as many properties as possible to start building houses – that’s when the money starts rolling in.

Know which properties are the best, and should never be passed up.

Think like how real-life real estate investors think. They buy property in places that will most likely be seen and shopped at by consumers. In Monopoly, it’s the same. Focus on orange properties like New York Avenue and St. James Place and the red ones, such as Kentucky and Indiana Avenue. In fact, all “corner” properties are special.

“Statistically speaking, the most common spaces on the board to land on are those between Jail and Free Parking, and Free Parking [and] Go to Jail,” Zaiger explains. “When given a chance, trade/build on those five monopolies: light blue, pink, orange, red, and yellow.

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Road Trip

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Only buy houses. Forget the hotels.

I always liked the aesthetic of the little red buildings. It made me feel like the Queen of Boardwalk. But did you know there are only 32 houses available to play with? And this is intentional.

Dary Merckens, who is the CTO of Gunner Technology and huge fan of the iconic board game says,

“Once those 32 houses run out, nobody can build any more houses on any of their properties. You want to be building houses right away, and if you ever get a monopoly, throw three houses on that sucker as fast as you can. You want to exhaust the supply of houses available.”

OMG! I can’t believe I didn’t know this! You can really put the other players in a pickle by not giving up your houses. According to Zaiger:

“The first player to get a monopoly on the board has the best chance at bankrupting their opponents before they can do the same to you. Building houses is essential to taking down the competition. Even if you don’t have a lot of money remaining, you should do everything you can, including trading and mortgaging, to get up to at least three houses on a property.”

Learning about the right investments while playing is important. Back to Merckens:

“Your primary goal should be to have all the houses on all of your properties, which effectively stops your competitors from building any houses on any of theirs.”

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#monopoly #macrophotography #classic

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Other awesome tips

Buy railroads! It’s easy passive income when players land on it. The more railroads you own, the higher the rent. It starts at $25 for one railroad up to $200 if you own all four.

And if you end up in jail at the end of the game? It may not be worth leaving.

“Towards the end of the game, don’t be afraid to hang out in Jail,” Merckens says. “It might be the safest place to be and your competitors might go bankrupt while you’re chilling in prison.”

There you have it!

These secret weapons are the best in your arsenal when playing in any high-stakes game. Get out and win!

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13 Memes That Show Us Why Australia Might Be Better Than the USA

Have you ever been down under? Because things there are pretty awesome.

  • First, that accent is amazing… especially when it comes to making people more attractive. It’s like an English accent, but sexier. I get the shivers just thinking about it.
  • Second, the weather and the beaches… wow. Enough said.
  • Third, the way they respond to tragedies actually makes sense! Who would have thunk it?

So, without further ado, here are 14 times Aussies got the upper hand on the United States, and there’s not much we can do about it.

1. Colors equals value with their currency… so no need to look at numbers!

Photo Credit: Whisper

2. Speaking of money, look at all those cute animals on their coins!

Photo Credit: Whisper

3. Two words: Chicken Salt. It’s better than ANY other salt.

Photo Credit: Whisper

4. They never get in conversations like this…

Photo Credit: Whisper

5. Yeah… why is it ROOMmate?

Photo Credit: Whisper

6. No tipping means no worries…

Photo Credit: Whisper

7. Lots of subsidized education means that student loans aren’t NEARLY as bad…

Photo Credit: Whisper

8. Gravy the way gravy should look… brown NOT grey…

Photo Credit: Whisper

9. No fake cheese. No canned cheese. Just REAL cheese.

Photo Credit: Whisper

10. Metric system is soooooooo much better!

Photo Credit: Whisper

11. Hershey’s has ruined chocolate for the US. #truth

Photo Credit: Whisper

12. Aussies know how to Kmart, but our Kmarts don’t even know how to Kmart.

Photo Credit: Whisper

13. Aussie coffee is REALLY good, so none of that shit is needed.

Photo Credit: Whisper

Alright, who wants to go Australia with me? Because I’m getting on the next flight.

Anybody been? Let us know in the comments! We want to commune with all your mindz!

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13 Memes About the White Claw Sensation That Is Sweeping the Nation

Have you heard about the White Claw train?

Oh, you have! So I don’t have to explain it’s basically alcoholic water with some CO2 mixed in? Yeah, we’re putting liquor in water instead of the other way around. That’s what we’ve come to these days because of calories and waist lines and things like that.

Here are 13 delicious tweets about the drink that has no laws…

1. It’s holy AF!

2. No, I don’t want to see your sleeve tattoo

3. If this is your first night at White Claw Club… you have to fight

4. The evolution of trash water…

5. OMFG!

6. Oh… you fancy!

7. Actually, I’d listen!

8. Rachel… come on now…

9. Everybody’s doing it…

10. Blessed be the lord of boozy seltzer…

11. You know what… yes. Accurate.

12. No. Not at all. Ever.

13. Yeah, guys ruin every damn thing…

I think we can all agree it definitely was the summer of White Claw, but will the trend keep going?

Well, they just introduced this…

Why? Because they hate us all, that’s why.

Alright, leave your thoughts in the comments, because we’re sure you have PLENTY…

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15 People Confess to the Deepest, Darkest Secrets They’re Hiding Right Now

Secrets can be terrible to have but delicious to hear about – as long as they have nothing to do with you.

So, sit back and relax, and enjoy the fact that none of these bombshells are gathering anxiety in your closet.

15. Dank memes.

“That the girl I’m currently dating and beginning a relationship with started messaging me on Facebook because she liked the memes I posted so much. We had never met and she thought I was cute and really funny, so she initiated things.

We tell people that we met by being introduced by her sister-in-law. I have no idea who her sister-in-law is, and have only met her a couple of times.

Everyone asks “how did you meet?” and we’re too embarrassed to tell the truth about dank memes and her pursuing me as a result.”

14. I was such an idiot.

“I’m very embarrassed to admit that I’m hurt over this so I haven’t told anyone. I was talking to someone for a few months and turns out, he has a girlfriend he never mentioned. We went on dates, kissed, and finally had sex.

Told me he’s working on ending the relationship but can’t right now because it’s complicated. Sounds like bullshit. I don’t want to tell my closest family and friends because I was such an idiot.”

13. The next best time.

“I bought the ring, I’m just waiting for a good time. Our vacation out of country is coming up but I don’t know how easy it will be to get a very expensive piece of jewelry with me without her noticing so I’m trying to find the next best time to propose.”

12. A stupid game.

“My gf, her friend, and I went out for mini golfing. I had the score card. I got second and my gf got third, but I botched the numbers and put her as second and me as third.

She was jumping up and down excited she beat me for the rest of the day, and even brought it up the next day.

I’m very happy my secret could make her this happy, even if just for a little bit over a stupid game.”

11. It’s the medicine.

“That i’m taking antidepressants. everyone thinks I’ve gotten my shit together on my own. but it’s the medicine that is keeping me going.”

10. A massive bill.

“When I was about 16, 3-way prank calling was a thing. If you 3-way called someone that person could call someone and on and on.

We had a line party of about 10 or so people. I was feeling bored and 3-way called a fetish porn line which played the introductory message for the whole party who thought it was hilarious.

1-800-WET-FART, 1-800-FAT-LADY, etc etc…

When the phone bill came it reflected a charge of 99 cents for each call I had made.

It was a massive bill.

My mom had no idea it was me. She got the charges removed and I’m glad I never had to explain why her 16 year old daughter was calling those numbers.

Edit The charges were likely from using the 3-way feature I’m not sure. I believe it was free to call the numbers. The numbers still showed up on the phone bill. My mom called the very first number on the bill and it was my friends grandmas house. The lady told her she didn’t have kids in the house. After that my mom dropped it and assumed the “wires got crossed”. Thankfully she never dialed any of the 1-800 numbers.”

9. I really miss her.

“I still really miss my ex, and nothing in my life has come close to filling that void. The thing is, we had a connection from day one and the relationship was really good and just flowed well. It was such an abrupt ending that I think I’m still in shock. We tried to stay friends, but it didn’t work out (mainly because I was still hurting at the time), and I really miss her.”

8. Literal decades.

“People used to confide in me who they had crushes on back in elementary school, I have been keeping that shit under wraps for literal decades now.”

7. He deserves a break.

“I bought my boyfriend tickets to see his favorite NFL team for his birthday. I’ve already got everything set and his boss will let him take the days off. He’s a hard worker and deserves a break.

Hopefully he likes it!”

6. We just don’t know how.

“My wife an I lost our unborn child 3 weeks ago. We still cant tell our family or friends. We just don’t know how.”

5. Stuck doing it.

“The one place I deliver to thinks I have Tourettes. About 5 months ago I started a job being a beer delivery driver. My first day on my route I was delivering to a gas station and there was an Utz snack truck ahead of me delivering as well.

So I’m standing outside my truck waiting to deliver and being bored I started saying Utz to myself in a weird fast way over and over again (pretty much how a samurai would say it I guess). I turn around and there is the manager of the gas station giving me a weird look. My dumbass thought it was a good idea to keep saying it to make him believe I have this weird tick of saying the word Utz. Even filling out his order for him I would throw in Utz. So I get in my truck and think to myself what the fuck did I just do and start cracking up. So for the past couple months everytime I deliver there I throw out the word Utz every couple sentences then get in my truck and start cracking up.

That might make me a shitty person but I’m pretty much stuck with doing it until I find a new job or route.”

4. In 2 and 1/2 years.

“I’m buying my mother a plane ticket to Salt Lake City for Christmas to visit my two brothers who live there one of which she hasn’t seen in 2 1/2 years.”

3. I hate it here.

“I’m studying to take the bar in another state with much better job prospects. I want to leave this state (have never lived anywhere else) because I hate it here. I will be far, far away from any family in the new state.

My family will freak. I’ve always been the one everyone goes to when shit needs fixed. My siblings have all done jack shit for my parents all of their lives. It’s always been my job. I’m bitter, and I want to force them to pick up some of the slack.

Plus, I want to live in a city that actually has stuff to do – not BFE where no one wants to be and everything shuts down at 4:30 pm.”

2. I can’t wait!

“My husband’s 40th birthday is next week. I’ve got tons of surprises planned — concert tickets, football game tickets, surprise party, lots of great gifts— but best of all— his entire family is coming into town to celebrate. I can’t wait! Shhh.”

1. Worst part of it all.

“There was a fly on our large (like $2000+) living room window, and my 3 year old daughter informed me of this. From my natural reflexes, I went to go smack it dead.

It must be noted I got married a few short weeks before this, and wearing a wedding ring was still new to me. Also, I picked a tungsten carbide ring. Yes, one of the heavy beasts.

The initial sound of the metal on glass was enough to realize I fucked up bad. I left a small dent in that glass, not as bad as it could have been. Enough for me to notice, but not too noticeable unless you look for it.

Worst part of it all, I didn’t kill the fly.”

Got any secrets you want to get off your chest? That’s what the comments section is for. Don’t worry, we won’t share it with anybody else.

The post 15 People Confess to the Deepest, Darkest Secrets They’re Hiding Right Now appeared first on UberFacts.

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15 Memes That Will Look Familiar If You Have Brothers

If you grew up with brothers in your family, you know that things got ROUGH and that your parents were not prepared. Ever.

Thankfully, we have memes that will make all that pain seem like something far, far away…

1. Does this look familiar?

2. Not my problem

3. NOW I want it

4. Run!

5. Not quite…

6. This is all you’re getting

7. How could you?!?!

8. Treated like a king

9. I barely touched you!

10. The way it goes

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❤❤

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11. That’s not happening

12. Well, technically…

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heyyyy

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13. We weren’t fighting

14. The answer is NO

15. Power struggle

So… does this bring back good memories or bad ones?

Let us know in the comments! We love reading about people’s pain… good or bad!

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Ryan Reynolds Called His Children ‘Thankless A**Holes’ and That’s Just the Start

Can all celebrities just be like Ryan Reynolds?

He’s handsome (naturally), but he also has one of the best senses of humor I’ve ever seen. And it’s because of that keen intellect and sharp wit that he was able to will the anti-hero Deadpool into box office success.

It’s in that spirit that Reynolds posted this hilarious series of shots from a recent photoshoot for Aviation Gin… and tore his kids a new one in the process.

Just in case you didn’t catch that caption…

Photo Credit: Ryan Reynolds/Instagram

Oh yeah, and The Rock tried to get in on the fun…

Photo Credit: Ryan Reynolds/Instagram

No ROCK! NO! You’re NOT funny. Go home!

But this is nothing new for Reynolds, who trolls his kids and his wife as only an expert smart ass can…

His daughter is gonna be FUNNY when she grows up…

Because, honestly, there’s nobody funnier in the game right now…

He nails it EVERY SINGLE TIME!

And, as mentioned, his wife is the target of his “take no prisoners” humor…

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Happy Birthday, @blakelively.

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We salute you Ryan! Not because you’re funny. Everybody knew that. But because you take the piss out of your family on the regular.

They’re rich. They can handle it.

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