Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in FYI.
Hidden History
I think it's safe to say America likes to be forgetful, and to leave pertinent histories undisclosed. This has become increasingly apparent over the last year, with a plethora of information coming to light and mass movements gaining momentum to protect our waters and BIPOC. What I'm sharing today is part of a short research project I took on for an environmental studies class at my local community college, addressing some of these issues. For this report I was to use the National Inventory of Dams and other resources to identify and compare two dams of different sizes, listing their benefits and drawbacks, age, safety risks, whether or not they include a fish passage to travel upriver, the habitats they flood, recreation opportunities, etc. The two dams I chose are both significant to me, and both of which have caused much conflict with and heavily impact Native populations (human, animal, and plant life). And honestly the more I read about all this, the more it seems that this is not unique to these dams alone. This makes sense because life exists from and by water, and so of course the choices of American society and industry would violate the sacred grounds of many First Peoples.
By Lucy Whitesell5 years ago in FYI
Fruit for Thought
When I think of the words fun and facts usually what comes to mind for me is facts about fruit. Facts about fruit is something I’ve always had knowledge about since first grade when I had received my first iPod touch, and downloaded the country’s most popular app that year: Fruit Ninja. One of my favorite things about Fruit Ninja besides the game itself was the little “Sensei’s Fruit Facts” that would appear after you completed a game. Those facts stuck to me ever since and have found its way into my daily life along with becoming my best friend when it comes to times like these, a time when a challenge asks of you to go on a “fact-finding journey”.
By Summer Baldwin5 years ago in FYI
A Capitalist, a Murderer, a Gambling Bet, a Brain Injury, and an Earthquake
The cigar smoke in Leland Stanford’s parlor hung heavy in the air. The lucky men who attended Stanford’s elaborate dinner party in the spring of 1872 were brimming with privilege and money. Their wool vests barely buttoned around their swollen stomachs. Brandy in their hands, they discussed the current events of the day from the sweetness of Stanford's mansion in San Francisco.
By joy ellen sauter5 years ago in FYI
The Nampa Doll
I grew up in Nampa, Idaho. It was a small town, set in a wide desert valley. It was pretty quiet, arguably even boring. Crime was low, winters were cold and long, and sugar beets were the crop of choice. We had neither much to brag about, nor much to be ashamed about. But we did have the Nampa Doll, an object that threatened to alter the world’s perception of history, and make everyone from curious third graders to college professors, scratch their heads in wonder.
By Ron Dillon5 years ago in FYI
Possibly More Powerful Than The Universe
We all know that Earth is an enormous planet with the population of 7,874,965,825 people. Then, you have our galaxy. How big is our galaxy? We have eight known planets (including Earth) with Jupiter being the largest. We have the Sun. It has the radius of 696,342 kilometers (432,690 miles); that is the size of 109 Earth planets. It is also the biggest star in our solar system. Speaking of stars, you look at pictures of our solar system, and there are so many to count. It would be impossible to count every single star in our solar system and come up with an accurate number. However, after thorough research, scientists believe that there are about two trillion galaxies in the universe. They determine that there is an average of 100 million stars between galaxies, and the number of stars that our galaxy has could be as high as one trillion. So yes, that is a lot of stars.
By Leona Valentine5 years ago in FYI
Olga of Kiev
Ever wondered about Saints and how they gain a title that is known throughout history? Well, none will make you question canonization more than the story of Helga otherwise known as Saint Olga of Kiev. She was canonized as the Saint of Widows and Converts in 1547 as the first saint of the Russian Orthodox Church. Many might question why she was sainted in the first place, and why she is still honored as a saint if they knew her full story.
By Josh Mallernee5 years ago in FYI
Scientists Really Did Try to Extract DNA from Amber Like in ‘Jurassic Park’
Many people are enticed by the idea of a real life Jurassic Park, though perhaps without the mass casualties experienced in the movie “Jurassic Park.” Despite the death and dismemberment that occurred, the film nonetheless managed to capture viewers and reignite an interest—dare I say a love?—for those creatures that walked the Earth some 230 million years before us.
By Alyssa Gray5 years ago in FYI
