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Suborbital space tourism finally arrives | FCC prepares to run public C-band auction | The big four in the U.S. launch industry — United Launch Alliance, SpaceX, Blue Origin and Northrop Grumman — hope to be one of two providers that will receive five-year contracts later this year to launch national security payloads starting in 2022. | China’s launch rate stays high | The International Space Station is the largest ever crewed object in space.

 
Mark Twain Stump in Tulare County, California
Sequoias are a marvel of nature. They’re some of the largest living beings on the planet, towering above every other type of tree. (A giant sequoia nicknamed General Sherman holds the title of the largest tree in the world by volume). Because these trees take millennia to grow, and only do so in very specific climates, many were skeptical that they even existed. One specific tree was chosen to aid with that in 1891. It was a 300-foot (91-meter) giant...

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The 'Mushroom Color Atlas' Captures the Palette...
In Trout Lake, a small community in southwest Washington, the peaks of nearby volcanoes and canopies of old-growth forests draw the eyes up. But when Julie Beeler sets out into the surrounding woods, her gaze points downward. Beeler, an artist, describes her home as a “fungal paradise.” Here, mushrooms are her muse. Hundreds of species of fungi grow throughout the Pacific Northwest, feeding upon the consistent rain of the damp forests. Each fall, the prime season for the edible...

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Long Seen as Omens, Comets Do Tell...
In April of 1066, a streak of cool fire appeared in the heavens. The comet, called a “bearded star” back then, had appeared before. There are mentions of it around the world dating as far back as the fifth century B.C. It’s now called Halley’s Comet, for the 18th-century scientist who first calculated its return. But in the spring of 1066, the people of England saw this particular comet as a bad omen. Across the English Channel, Duke William...

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11 Niche Gifts for Your Unconventional Loved...
Looking for more ideas? Check out our recommendations from past years. Maybe this year, you beat the holiday frenzy with gifts unlike the rest. Maybe you finally floor that one person no one knows how to shop for. Maybe you treat yourself to a shirt covered in isopods, pop a bag of citrus rinds, and just chill. Complete with gifts for animal lovers, armchair travelers, fashionistas, and people who desperately need to crush something, this assortment is sure to...

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Chester L. Krause Legacy Park in Iola,...
At first glance, tiny Iola, Wisconsin, does not look like the seat of a publishing empire, but maybe it was just a flip of a coin that led to its success. For Iola was the home of Chester L. “Chet” Krause, one of the world’s most famous numismatists, and in 2023, a park was dedicated to celebrate his legacy. Much like fellow Wisconsinite Gary Gygax, Krause would turn his hobbies and collections into a business that would come to...

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Wat Sutthi Wararam in Bangkok, Thailand
The metropolitan area of Bangkok is estimated to be home to at least 400 Buddhist temples (wats), with only about 100 of them no longer operational. The most common sect of Buddhism in Thailand is Theravāda, which places a great value on its monastic orders. As such, most temples in Bangkok will actually home and educate monks, depending on donations for their food, clothing, and other needs. Since a large percentage of the male population will think of becoming a...

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Grave of Hambone Jr. in Alresford, England
Hambone Jr. was the beloved canine companion of the U.S. Army’s 47th Infantry Regiment, 9th Division during World War II. The “scruffy little terrier” brought delight and distraction for the American soldiers stationed in Alresford in 1944 as they prepared for the D-Day Landings. Tragically, as the troops who so adored him were preparing to depart for Normandy via Southampton and Portsmouth, Hambone Jr. was struck by a military vehicle and died. Moved by the heartwarming story of companionship...

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Roman Relief on Rue du Saint-Esprit in...
Luxembourg may not be the first country to come to your mind when thinking of Roman heritage, but there are quite a number of ruins and sites across the grand duchy, even in its capital city. For instance, there is an unassuming house standing in a corner on Rue du Saint-Esprit at No. 12, with an ancient Roman relief preserved as is on the exterior walls. It depicts a row of people working on the upper half and some...

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Art Detective Arthur Brand Is Like Indiana...
The walls of Arthur Brand’s Amsterdam apartment have been graced with masterpieces by Picasso and Van Gogh. Once, he briefly displayed the blood of Jesus Christ on his counter. And for a little while, his finger donned a ring previously owned by Oscar Wilde. These treasures come to Brand just for a night or two, as he plays middleman between the world of fine art and Europe’s criminal underbelly. For nearly 15 years, Brand has made his reputation as...

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Fontana dei Dodici Mesi in Turin, Italy
Located on the southern end of Turin’s Valentino Park, the Fontana dei Dodici Mesi (Fountain of the Twelve Months) is a monument sure to catch the eye of anyone interested in architecture, art, and mythology. Two water jets spring from a decorated basin fed by a waterfall. Surrounding the basin are 12 statues of graceful female figures that personify each month of the year. The personalities of each month shine through, especially in how they interact with the elements...

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Lascaris War Rooms in Valletta, Malta
At the start of World War II, the Allied forces immediately recognized that the islands of Malta would be strategically important. Located in the center of the Mediterranean Sea just south of Italy, the islands could be used both to control shipping and to command landing forces in Southern Europe. Hence, in 1940, the U.K. military secretly excavated a set of tunnels 150 feet under Valletta, which are now called the Lascaris War Rooms. This complex housed the British...

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Doña Aurora Street Art in Angono, Philippines
Angono is known as the “art capital of the Philippines.” The town is home to several museums and art galleries, and is known for being the birthplace of several nationally known artists. Its most celebrated son is Carlos “Botong” Francisco. Botong’s obra maestro is the mural History of Manila, popularly known as the “The Filipino Struggles through History.” It measures nearly nine feet tall and 260 feet long and is displayed at the National Museum of the Philippines. In honor...

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How to Lead with Data: Transforming Hotel...
Data is the backbone of modern hospitality and relying on outdated, fragmented systems can be a recipe for disaster, especially in managing group and meeting bookings. If your hotel is not harnessing the full potential of integrated data management, you are jeopardizing the guest experience. Disjointed platforms can lead to miscommunications, missed opportunities and operational The post How to Lead with Data: Transforming Hotel Group and Meeting Bookings through Analytics appeared first on Revfine.com.

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Collaborative Success for eCommerce and Revenue Management...
Question for Our Revenue Management Expert Panel: What are the best practices for building and maintaining successful collaboration and communication between hotel eCommerce and Revenue Management teams? (Question by Aida Muñoz) Our Revenue Management Expert Panel Tamie Matthews – Sales & Marketing Consultant, RevenYou Connor Vanderholm – CEO, The post Collaborative Success for eCommerce and Revenue Management Teams appeared first on Revfine.com.

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Peak District Lead Mining Museum in Matlock...
Along a clean, modern street in Derbyshire, walking through the right door can take you back in time, and down a mine. At the Peak District Lead Mining Museum, visitors can explore models of mines and shafts to see how lead miners did their jobs in this town for generations. Across the street, take a tour of Temple Mine, a real 1920s fluorite mine. Lead ore, called galena, has been mined in the Peak District since Roman times. Mining supported...

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