Grasshopper metamorphosis change caught on footage

Nov 3 2022

Birdlife Malta took to social media to showcase a rather unusual sight which we very rarely get to see play out in real time.

The footage shows a grasshopper that has just changed from its nymph form to its adult insect form. The insect perfectly camouflaged itself with the surrounding greenery as it got ready to begin a new stage in its life.

‘The old shell, or exoskeleton, can be seen discarded below the grasshopper’ the NGO explained in the caption.

‘From a distance, you would think there was a butterfly in the bush, but no, it is the grasshopper, pumping body fluids into its new wings to stretch them to full size.’

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You can now pay $8 per month for a verified Twitter account

Nov 3 2022

After taking over the social media platform, richest man in the world Elon Musk revealed that people will be charged on a monthly basis for the blue tick verification on Twitter.

The platform’s new owner has already instilled various changes in the company, and has outlined how his new blue tick system will work.

The billionaire wrote, in the typical Musk fashion, that ‘Twitter’s current lords and peasants system for who has or doesn’t have a blue checkmark is b******t.’

He went on to announce that the blue checkmark will now cost $8/month and that the ‘price is adjusted by country proportionate to purchasing power.’ However, there are some other perks.

Anyone willing to pay will get priority in replies, mentions and search, which are ‘essential to defeat spam/scam’. They will also have the ability to post long video and audio, half as many ads and paywall bypass for publishers willing to work with Twitter.

The system is designed to help users identify authentic and influential users on the platform. Yet, this comes as many celebrities seem to be leaving Twitter in disagreement with many of Musk’s directions for the company.

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Europe’s temperatures rose twice global average over 30 years

Nov 2 2022

According to the United Nations, temperatures in Europe increased at more than twice the global average over these past three decades.

This was the fastest rise of any continent on Earth, the UN’s World Meteorological Organisation revealed. The region saw an average rise of 0.5°C each decade since 1991.

A joint report with the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that Alpine glaciers lost 30 metres in ice thickness between 1997 and 2021.

Greenland experienced melting and first-ever rainfall at its highest point, with the ice sheet swiftly melting and accelerating sea level rise.

WMO chief Peteteri Taalas stated that ‘Europe presents a live picture of a warming world and reminds us that even-well prepared societies are not safe from impacts of extreme weather events.’

The new report was released ahead of the UN’s 27th conference on climate which is set to open in Egypt on Sunday. It found that in 2021, intense weather events left many dead and affected more than half a million people.

Despite the humane and economic impact, the report also highlights the success of many European countries in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These decreased by nearly a third between 1990 and 2020 across the EU, with a 55% reduction target for 2030 being aimed for.

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The first Wednesday of every November is Stress Awareness Day!

Nov 2 2022

Here are some signs of stress:

Feeling overwhelmed.
Disinterest.
Being anxious, nervous or afraid.
High irritability.
Anger and impatience.
Loss of sense of humour.
Racing thoughts.
Avoiding loved ones.
Difficulty eating.

Some tips on how to deal with stress:

Speak up with loved ones.

Don’t close yourself off from people who love you. Despite being difficult to open up about your troubles, putting them into words makes them all the more tangible to deal with instead of letting them clutter in mental fog. And a big hug from someone you love will always feel good once you actually do it!

Dedicate time to unwind.

If you’re having long work days or chasing chores around your calendar, try and dedicate a day off and set your personal boundaries. Engage in what you love doing most – passions, hobbies or even try out a new school. Being able to stop and refuse things for your well-being is not egoistic. Quite the opposite in fact!

Take breaks from news and social media.

Keeping up to date is important. But if the news and the media are flooded with horrific things happening around you, you might want to switch off your devices for a couple of hours. If you want to take it a step further, a gentle reminder on social media apps about your mini break can help people understand not to bother you.

Engage your body.

Exercising won’t make all the problems go away, but getting physically active has been proven countless times to help in managing stressful situations and gaining a new perspective. It doesn’t have to be anything highly intense – you can go for a jog or try out some yoga. It’s a good pause-replay to reassemble what needs reassembling.

Breathing exercises.

There are countless breathing exercises you can engage in. Some are offered by licensed therapists and others are promoted by mindfulness-centred approaches. Whatever they may be, you might want to research and try a couple out. Chances are one will stick. But even if not, its okay! You’re trying!

Seek professional help if necessary.

Things don’t have to get really bad for you to seek out professional help. If you have the means or a financially helping hand, going to a professional for assistance is a sign that you intend to help yourself. It is far from a sign of weakness. You can also learn more professionally approved coping mechanisms and skills. So give it a go!

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