DISCOVERY
Accidental Discoveries You Have Never Heard OF
The world can be full of wonderful surprises. I mean, just yesterday, I discovered a slice of pizza down the side of my couch, mm! But that's nothing compared to digging up an ancient rock, only to find a power plug built into it! Or discovering some super ancient relic on a very serious dig site. With that said, it's time to take a look at a few weird, accidental discoveries and the stories behind some everyday innovations, that you've probably never even heard of. In 1998, electrical engineer, John Williams went out hiking in the mountain wilderness in rural North America. He was hoping to simply enjoy the scenery, but instead, he discovered something, that took his breath away.
After digging up an oddly-shaped rock from the ground, Williams was shocked to see, that a 3-pin electrical connector was embedded in it. So was this mysterious object artificially manufactured?
Apparently not, Williams claimed that the rock wasn't found near any human settlements, although he also didn't disclose the exact location, apparently afraid the site might be plundered by artifact hunters. That led some skeptics to conclude, hat this accidental discovery was just a hoax.
However, researchers who've examined the strange device known as the Williams Enigmalith say otherwise. Apparently, the rock is composed of granite, quartz and feldspar and doesn't contain any binding agents ruling out the possibility, that it was artificially manufactured. Also, the metal-like material making up the pins is not, in fact, any kind of identifiable metal and according to Williams, the rock is at least 100,000 years old, meaning it can't have been created by humans, if our understanding of mankind's technological development is correct.
Offers of up to $500,000 have been made for the device, but Williams refused to sell. Crazy as that seems, it's because he believes the artifact belongs to an advanced ancient civilization or even an extraterrestrial race. Could it have been part of a UFO, or was it some sort of ancient, rock-shaped, plug-in diffuser, reckon it looks more like a secret civilization's rock-shaped air-purifier.
Miracle Medicine.
Now, a few hundred years before John Williams' freaky find, back in the 17th Century, a feverish man suffering from malaria was staggering
through the Andean forests of South America. The parasitic infection was a difficult one to endure and so desperate for a drink, he gulped from a pool of stagnant water at the base of a tree. Any survival expert will tell you drinking stagnant jungle water is a very bad idea, as it's a breeding ground for dangerous, waterborne pathogens.
Although he quenched his thirst, the man soon experienced a horrible, bitter taste in his mouth. He immediately feared that it had made his illness even worse, yet to his amazement, the malaria subsided and soon after, he was able to find his way home and share his miraculous story. Fictional as this may sound, it turns out that the bark of the quina-quina tree contains quinine, a compound that has anti-malarial properties, any guess where this tree's found?
That's right, only in the Andean forests of South America, clearly the tale spread. In the 1640s, the quina-quina bark was introduced to Europe for medical use, sounds like good news, right? Well, not for everyone, as the magical effects of quinine became more and more well-known, everyone was after some of the good stuff, whether it was King Louis XIV of France, King Charles II of England or even the countless number of soldiers from European countries, who were colonizing lands where malaria was rife.
And while quinine helped keep hundreds of thousands of Europeans alive, it meant that countries in Africa, Asia and South America became more easily colonized, yikes! To make matters even worse for the Andean people, it also resulted in the devastation of their quina-quina trees. Well, there's one discovery, that might have been better left undiscovered.
Mammal Mia.
Now, you might already know, that some deep-sea creatures, insects, algae and even fungi can glow in the dark thanks to a feature called bioluminescence. While they're all hypnotic to watch in action, you've probably never seen photos or footage of a glow in the dark mammal. It was believed all mammals simply lacked the ability to glow in any way until very recently. Back in 2017, Jon Martin, a Forestry Professor at Northland College, Wisconsin, was wandering around the woods at night, trying to find out whether certain lichens, fungi and plants would glow under an ultraviolet flashlight. Whilst foraging amongst the undergrowth, Martin heard a rustling above him, so he pointed his flashlight at it and was stunned to see a pink, glowing squirrel staring back at him.
In a supremely unexpected twist, Jon had discovered, that some mammals could be biofluorescent, but this fluky find led fellow professors at Northland College to do a bit of exploring themselves, what they saw left them gob smacked. They shone an ultraviolet flashlight on an old platypus specimen of theirs to see if that too glowed and shockingly it did, this time with a blue-ish green hue and that wasn't all!
Word soon spread to other zoos and museums, who went round all their exhibits and found that bats, Tasmanian devils, wombats and many more also glowed! So why do some mammals turn into shiny Pokémon under a UV light? Biofluorescent animals have fur or skin that absorbs the short wavelength ultraviolet light and re-emits it at a longer wavelength, making it visible to humans. It's still not entirely clear why some mammals have this fancy trait.
One theory is that their neon glow can help squirrels and platypus recognize each other in low-light situations, another is that the light emitted may be enough to scare off any predators lurking in the dark. Currently it's a mystery, but who knows, perhaps their true calling is to become living nightlights?
Backyard-asaurus.
If you dig up your backyard, you might discover some broken plant pots, or maybe if you're lucky, some old coins, however, one man from Pombal in Portugal found something slightly ah, bigger back in 2017. While doing some construction on his property, he noticed bone fragments poking out from the earth. But before you start getting too nervous, don't worry, he hadn't stumbled across some cursed, ancient burial site. It was actually the fossilized remains of a dinosaur! The skeleton was found in Upper Jurassic sedimentary rock, suggesting that it was a whopping 150 million years old. Excavators continued to unearth more remains with the size of the bones suggesting the dinosaur was around 40 feet high and 80 feet long!
Just for reference, that's around the same size as an adult blue whale, the largest living animal in the world. Paleontologists believe that this sizeable skeleton belongs to the brachiosaurid sauropod, a gigantic, herbivorous dinosaur with a wildly long neck and tail.
In fact, this yard fossil is so large, it's believed to be the biggest dinosaur found in Europe. Forget "Jurassic Park," this is Jurassic Yard!
Spring Break.
Anyone who struggles with sea sickness will tell you, that even the slightest rocking motion of a boat is enough to make them retch. But nausea isn't the only problem, that swaying ocean waves can cause.
In 1943, Richard James was working on finding a device, that could keep sensitive ship equipment steady at sea. He eventually came up with the idea of suspending the items with springs. But after James inadvertently dropped one of the springs on the floor, he stumbled across an even better idea. When the spring fell to the ground, it walked end-over-end, like a metal worm. Excitedly, James returned home and told his wife about his discovery. She scoured the dictionary, looking for the perfect name to call the new toy-like invention. In the end, the couple decided on a name you'll probably recognize, Slinky and it's safe to say, that their accidental discovery was a success, more than 360 million Slinky toys have been sold since they hit the shops in 1945. But apparently the benefits of this fluky find weren't enough for Richard, in 1960, he left the Slinky firm and his family to join a religious cult in Bolivia.
Guess you could say he slinked away.
Yeah, I'll see myself out.
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Bradley Mpofu
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By USA daily update 5 days ago in Earth
Top Business Leaders Issue Expletive-Laced Message on Green Backlash
In a move that has captured global attention, a coalition of top business leaders recently issued a sharp and expletive-laden statement responding to what they describe as growing “green backlash” against corporate sustainability initiatives. The statement, which circulated widely on social media and news outlets, reflects increasing tension between business interests and environmental advocacy. Executives from some of the world’s largest corporations—including energy, manufacturing, and technology sectors—warned that the backlash threatens progress on climate goals and risks undermining long-term economic and environmental stability. What the Statement Said While the exact wording contained strong language, the core message was clear: business leaders are frustrated with public criticism that, in their view, unfairly targets companies striving to reduce emissions, invest in renewable energy, and implement sustainable practices. According to excerpts released by major media outlets, the executives argued that: Sustainability efforts are essential for long-term business survival. Criticism from political groups, activists, and some consumers is often misinformed or oversimplified. Corporations cannot be held responsible for systemic environmental challenges alone. The expletive-laced tone surprised observers and sparked debates about corporate communication strategies and the limits of public discourse in environmental debates. Why Business Leaders Are Pushing Back Many companies have invested billions in green technologies, energy-efficient processes, and corporate social responsibility initiatives. Yet, they argue that despite these investments, they face increasing public scrutiny and sometimes hostile criticism: Activist campaigns often portray corporations as greenwashing, exaggerating sustainability claims. Politicians in some regions have launched legal or regulatory challenges against certain environmental strategies. Social media amplifies criticism rapidly, sometimes disproportionately. Business leaders warn that this backlash not only demoralizes corporate teams but can also slow down innovation in areas like renewable energy, sustainable packaging, and carbon-neutral logistics. The Green Backlash: What It Is The term “green backlash” refers to growing opposition to environmental initiatives, particularly when such initiatives are perceived as expensive, disruptive, or politically motivated. Analysts suggest the backlash stems from several sources: Economic concerns: Some voters fear green policies raise costs for consumers or hurt industries reliant on traditional energy. Political polarization: Environmental issues have become entangled with partisan debates in multiple countries. Misinformation: Social media often spreads misleading narratives about corporate green practices. Executives argue that a lack of understanding among the public contributes to misdirected criticism. Examples of Corporate Sustainability Initiatives The companies represented in the statement have launched a range of initiatives over the past decade: Transitioning to 100% renewable energy in certain operations. Developing electric vehicle fleets for logistics. Investing in carbon capture technologies. Promoting sustainable supply chains and sourcing practices. While these measures have tangible environmental benefits, some critics argue that companies could do more or that efforts are motivated primarily by public relations rather than genuine ecological concern. Public and Media Reaction The expletive-laden nature of the statement drew immediate attention. Responses have ranged from support to criticism: Supporters argue the message is a wake-up call, highlighting that corporations are actively addressing climate challenges despite unfair scrutiny. Critics say that the tone reflects arrogance and defensiveness, suggesting that executives may be out of touch with public concerns. Media outlets noted the unusual directness and language, emphasizing how rare it is for top executives to express frustration so bluntly. The controversy highlights the fine line companies must walk in communicating sustainability efforts while maintaining credibility and public trust. Implications for Corporate Environmental Policy Analysts suggest this incident could have lasting impacts on corporate environmental policy: Stronger Communication Strategies: Companies may invest more in explaining their initiatives clearly to the public. Policy Advocacy: Corporations could increase lobbying efforts to protect sustainability investments from backlash. Collaboration With Stakeholders: Building alliances with NGOs, governments, and communities may help mitigate criticism. Transparency and Reporting: Enhanced sustainability reporting could counter claims of greenwashing. Overall, the backlash may push companies to balance assertiveness with accountability, ensuring their green efforts are both visible and credible. Broader Context: Climate Action and Corporate Responsibility This statement comes amid a period of heightened focus on climate change and corporate responsibility. Governments around the world are implementing stricter emissions targets, and investors are increasingly prioritizing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics. At the same time, some sectors are experiencing pushback from consumers, employees, or regulators who feel that certain sustainability measures are too costly or disruptive. The tension between progressive climate goals and short-term economic or political pressures is likely to persist for years. Lessons From the Backlash Several takeaways emerge from this high-profile corporate statement: Companies must communicate proactively, not just implement policies. Strong language can grab attention, but it may also polarize stakeholders. Engagement with critics, rather than public confrontation, could yield better long-term results. The green backlash reflects a broader societal debate about the pace, cost, and responsibility of environmental action. The incident illustrates how corporate leadership and public opinion intersect in the era of climate change. Conclusion: Navigating the Green Debate The expletive-laden message from top business leaders underscores the frustration felt by corporations navigating environmental challenges in a polarized climate. While the tone may have raised eyebrows, the underlying message is clear: companies are committed to sustainability but are seeking understanding and support from the public. As environmental policies, corporate initiatives, and public expectations continue to evolve, the dialogue between business and society will remain critical. This episode may serve as a reminder that communication strategy is as important as action in achieving meaningful progress on climate change.
By Muhammad Hassan6 days ago in Earth
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did this really happen