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Dad suffering from broken heart syndrome, tells others to watch out for stress during the pandemic. 

Richard Watkins is a family man first and businessman second who lives with a family in Ohio. As the executive of a large car manufacturing firm, stress is already something Richard is quite familiar with. 

The COVID-19 pandemic, which hard last March in the United States, however, has made his stress rise to entirely new levels. Due to shutdowns and decreasing consumer demands, many jobs had to lay off or fire many workers as nearly 52% of small businesses have shut down for good. 

In the face of mass layoffs, which left nearly 30 million Americans out of work and no jobs to turn to, Richard found himself in the position of having to lay off many workers as well. 

The company simply couldn’t afford to keep paying worker wages while taking in no revenue since their manufacturing had all but stopped. 

The result was an unfortunate but necessary layoff where Richard had to tell hundreds of workers the company could no longer pay them and had to lay them off for the time being. 

In the midst of that incredibly stressful time, Richards’s father, who was 91 years old, also passed away. 

On the day of Richards’s father’s funeral, Richard remarked to his wife that he’s back felt unusually tight, and his arms both went numb. 

Richard then laid his head down on the kitchen table and closed his eyes. Initially, his wife didn’t react as Richard just seemed to be bowing his head down. 

However, after nearly a minute of silence, Richard began to turn blue and did not respond to his wife’s frantic calls to him. Richard’s heart had stopped beating. 

Richards’s wife immediately called 911, and paramedics were able to resuscitate Richard and get his heart back up and running. 

Doctors at first believed Richard had suffered from a heart attack. However, this wasn’t the case. Richards’s heart and arteries did not have any blockages, and we’re seemingly healthy. 

Instead, Richard says that immense stress had caused his stress to stop beating. Although rare, this phenomenon has been documented in the past. 

Now Ricard has taken to social media to warn people about the dangers of stress. Richard says that reducing stress and dealing with it head-on is extremely important for your health. In fact, stress can even cause other issues like chronic inflammation, poor sleep, depression, and more.

Richard says he found many ways to reduce stress, which may or may not work for other people. One popular and scientifically proven way to reduce stress is through meditation. That doesn’t necessarily mean sitting silently for hours at a time. 

Some people meditate for just five to ten minutes at a time. While others may “actively meditate” by silently walking and paying attention to their thoughts as they walk. Other people find other coping mechanisms like reducing obligations in their schedlues and taking more “me time” for themsleves. 

Other experts urge people to take mental health days, and spend more time and money foucsing on their happiness other than pleasing work bosses or appeasing other unhealthy work ethics. All in all, the key seems to be making your life more simple and getting outside more often. 

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Volunteers and Camels Team Up to Restore Mojave Desert’s Joshua Trees

Kevin Wells

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The Mojave Desert, with its vast, arid landscape, is home to the iconic Joshua tree. These unique trees have a fascinating history, once coexisting with Giant Ground Sloths during the ice age and now relying on rodents for their slow dispersal. However, a devastating wildfire in 2020 burned a significant portion of the desert, including many Joshua trees, posing a challenge for their restoration.

“Joshua trees seeds don’t spread very quickly,” explained Debra Hughson, deputy superintendent at the Mojave National Preserve. “They don’t move very fast or they don’t move very far with just small mammals around.” Despite these challenges, scientists were determined to help the Joshua trees recover, especially in areas like Cima Dome, where their survival could be crucial in the face of climate change.

To accelerate the recovery process, Hughson and her colleagues decided to plant Joshua tree seedlings in a more spaced-out pattern in the Dome’s burn scar. This approach aimed to distribute seed sources and promote the recovery of the entire area. However, the rugged terrain made it difficult for volunteers to reach the designated planting spots, requiring hours of hiking.

To address this challenge, the team came up with a unique solution — using camels to transport the seedlings and water into the wilderness. “Prehistoric camels were in the Mojave Desert, and the camels came through in 1857,” explained one of the volunteers, highlighting the historical connection between camels and the region. The camels, led by Herbie, Sully, and Chico, have been instrumental in carrying out these restoration efforts since 2021.

“Our goal is to protect natural systems and natural ecosystems — all the plants, all the animals, but then some animals and some plants wind up being just a little bit more ‘charismatic’ than other ones,” said Hughson, emphasizing the importance of charismatic species like the Joshua tree in garnering support for conservation efforts.

Through the dedication of volunteers and the help of these remarkable camels, the Mojave Desert’s Joshua trees are slowly making a comeback, offering hope for their future in this challenging environment.

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Apes’ Playful Teasing Behavior Mirrors Human Playfulness

Kelly Taylor

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Did you know that apes like to tease and prank each other, just like humans do? Researchers have found that chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans engage in playful teasing behavior, such as poking, tickling, body slamming, hair pulling, and waving objects in front of faces. This behavior is usually one-sided, with one ape trying to get a reaction from another.

In a study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, researchers analyzed 75 hours of video footage of apes at the San Diego Zoo in California and the Leipzig Zoo in Germany. The apes studied were between the ages of 3 and 5. The researchers observed 284 instances of teasing behavior, with 129 meeting the criteria for playful and provocative behavior. They identified 18 different teasing behaviors.

Professor Erica Cartmill of UCLA, who led the study, said that teasers often waved or swung body parts or objects in front of the other ape, hit or poked them, stared closely at their face, disrupted their movements, pulled their hair, or performed other behaviors that were hard to ignore.

The researchers believe that playful teasing and joking may have evolved in human ancestors around 13 million years ago. This behavior has implications for the study of emotion, humor, and pretense, and the researchers hope that their study will inspire further research into playful teasing in other species to better understand its evolution.

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Ancient Rainforest Rising: How 100,000 Trees Will Breathe Life Back into Devon

Kevin Wells

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Imagine stepping into a world shrouded in mist, where towering trees, draped in green moss, reach towards the sun. Sunlight filters through the dense canopy, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor, alive with ferns, wildflowers, and scurrying creatures. This isn’t a scene from a fantasy novel; it’s the magic of a temperate rainforest, and soon, a piece of this ancient wonder will be reborn in Devon, UK.

Temperate rainforests aren’t like their tropical cousins. Found along the west coasts of continents in cooler climates, they’re like emerald jewels nestled between the ocean and rolling hills. They’re a treasure trove of biodiversity, bursting with unique plants and animals that have adapted to life in a world of constant drizzle and mild temperatures.

In the UK, these rainforests have a character all their own. Picture gnarled oaks and majestic ash trees, their branches intertwined like leafy arms. Underneath, carpets of mosses and ferns cushion the damp earth, while sunlight dances on the shimmering leaves of holly, hazel, and rowan. The air is alive with the buzz of insects, the flitting wings of butterflies, and the calls of birds like the evocative song thrush and the shy woodcock.

But these precious ecosystems are under threat. Centuries of land use have shrunk their footprints, leaving only scattered fragments of their former glory. Now, in a project to reclaim this lost magic, the National Trust is embarking on a grand mission: planting 100,000 trees across Devon.

From the rolling hills of Exmoor to the windswept cliffs of Woolacombe and Hartland, these saplings will breathe life back into the land. They’ll create new pockets of rainforest, stitch together existing fragments, and weave a vibrant tapestry of green across the landscape.

And it’s not just about beauty. These trees are nature’s silent heroes. They act as carbon sinks, trapping the harmful gas carbon dioxide in their leaves and wood, helping to combat climate change. They filter air and water, creating a haven for wildlife and providing a natural shield against soil erosion.

For the people of Devon, this project is a chance to reconnect with their natural heritage. It’s about creating spaces for quiet contemplation, for family adventures, and for rediscovering the magic of the ancient rainforests.

So, the next time you find yourself in Devon, keep your eyes peeled for a glimpse of this green revival. As the saplings rise towards the sun, they whisper a promise of a richer, wilder future, where nature reclaims its throne and the spirit of the ancient rainforest once again fills the air.

This is just the beginning. With more planting planned in the coming years, the future of Devon’s rainforests is looking brighter than ever. Let’s hope that this story inspires other communities to follow suit and work towards restoring and protecting these irreplaceable treasures of our planet.

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Unearthing the Secrets of the Amazon: A Lost Ancient City Revealed

Kelly Taylor

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In the heart of the Amazon, hidden beneath lush greenery, archaeologists have uncovered a monumental discovery: an ancient city in the Upano area of eastern Ecuador. This discovery is not just a chapter in history but a rewriting of what we knew about ancient civilizations in the Amazon.

The city, believed to be about 2,500 years old, challenges our understanding of Amazonian history. Before this, many thought of the Amazon as a place of small, scattered groups. But this city, with its complex network of roads, canals, houses, and plazas, tells a different story.

What’s striking is the city’s sophisticated design. “The road network is incredibly advanced, connecting everything with right angles, which is a remarkable feat,” explains co-author Antoine Dorison. This kind of urban planning suggests a highly organized society, far from the primitive image often associated with ancient Amazonian cultures.

Lying near a volcano, the city benefited from rich soils, aiding in agriculture, which was likely the backbone of their economy. The Kilamope and Upano people probably grew maize and sweet potatoes and brewed chicha, a sweet beer. But this proximity to a volcano might also have led to their downfall.

“This discovery forces us to rethink our Eurocentric view of civilization,” says Prof Stephen Rostain, who led the research. It’s a reminder that great societies flourished outside the well-known realms of Europe and Asia. “We’re looking at a civilization as significant as the Maya, but with its unique architectural and cultural traits,” adds José Iriarte, a professor of archaeology.

Estimates suggest that tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people lived here. This vast urban center was thriving for up to 1,000 years, a testament to the capabilities of the ancient Amazonians.

Prof Rostain recalls being discouraged from researching ancient Amazonian civilizations. “But I’m stubborn,” he says with a smile. “And now, this discovery justifies that persistence.”

This lost city in the Amazon is more than a historical curiosity; it’s a beacon illuminating the rich and complex tapestry of human civilization. It challenges our perceptions and underscores the importance of looking beyond established narratives to understand our diverse and intricate past.

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Small Acts, Big Smiles: A Heartwarming Tale of Kindness at the Local Marketplace

Kelly Taylor

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In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, small acts of kindness can illuminate our days, bringing joy and warmth to those in unexpected ways. Recently, at a local marketplace, a simple and thoughtful gesture created ripples of happiness among the elder community. An elderly couple, facing a small predicament with their order, experienced the magic of kindness when a stranger stepped in to make their day brighter.

The story began when an elderly couple, looking forward to a relaxing moment at the local marketplace, found themselves a little short on change. Craving a comforting cup of medium coffee, they only had enough coins for a small one. The prospect of enjoying their desired treat seemed out of reach until a kind soul in line behind them noticed their dilemma.

Without hesitation, the person in line behind the elderly couple decided to turn their day around. Instead of just getting a small coffee, this generous individual pitched in to cover the cost of two medium coffees, along with some delightful donuts and savory sausage rolls. The elderly couple, initially facing a small hurdle, were now greeted with an unexpected display of kindness that brightened their entire experience.

Acts of kindness, no matter how small, have the power to create profound impacts. In this instance, a simple gesture not only provided the elderly couple with their desired treats but also showcased the beauty of human connection. It serves as a reminder that our actions, no matter how seemingly insignificant, can make a significant difference in the lives of others.

While many seniors lead independent lives, it’s important to recognize that they, too, sometimes face challenges that may go unnoticed. In this instance, the elderly couple may have hesitated to ask for assistance due to pride or a desire not to inconvenience others. The story highlights the importance of being attuned to the needs of our elders, offering help when necessary, and fostering a sense of community that transcends age.

As we celebrate this heartening tale, let it inspire us to be more attuned to the needs of our elderly community members. Simple acts, such as offering assistance with a door, helping with groceries, or even just sharing a friendly conversation, can go a long way in brightening their days. By extending our kindness, we contribute to creating a supportive and compassionate community where everyone, regardless of age, feels valued and cared for.

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