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At 5:00 p.m. on May 12, 2005, an 18-year-old college student named Simon sat in his bedroom in the New York City apartment he shared with his sister, Sharon. Simon was supposed to be doing homework, but instead, he was engaged in something he truly loved—blogging. Simon wrote on his blog almost every single day, […]
On a late winter afternoon in 1985, a Canadian border security guard stood at the checkpoint between New York State and Ontario, Canada. As he looked out at the dozens of cars lined up before him, he felt an enormous sense of responsibility. For him, working in border security wasn’t just about checking passports—it was
On the evening of March 27, 2013, a 45-year-old doctor named Marcelo Gaga dug through a supply cabinet in the clinic he owned in southeastern Spain. He grabbed an IV needle, anesthetic drugs, and a scalpel before walking into the operating room at the back of the clinic, where his patient was already lying on
On a spring afternoon in 1883, a young woman named Sarah was tidying up her farmhouse in the tiny settlement of Eagle Creek, Arizona. While Sarah cleaned, her sister Elizabeth took a bucket outside to fetch water from their outdoor spring. The two sisters lived together in this farmhouse along with their respective families. The
One afternoon in the spring of 1990, a young mother was tidying up her family’s living room in Pingyang Township, a small rural community in southern China. She was nearly finished when she suddenly heard her three-year-old twin daughters crying. This took her by surprise because, despite their age, her daughters—Shai and Shiung Wu—almost never
Squirrels are among the most fascinating mammals, widely recognized for their agility, speed, and adaptability. Their swift movements and ability to climb effortlessly make them a captivating sight in forests, parks, and urban landscapes. Among various squirrel species, tree squirrels stand out due to their incredible climbing skills and their significant role in maintaining ecological
On August 4, 2019, a 28-year-old Cambodian farmer named S. Umora embarked on a journey into the dense jungles surrounding his rural village. His goal was to climb Chakry Mountain, known for its intricate cave systems, to collect bat guano—valuable fertilizer and a key source of income for his family’s farm. Bat guano is a
On the evening of February 1, 2009, Luo Jinfa, a 32-year-old man, stood quietly in the doorway of his cramped apartment in Taiwan. His landlord was mid-lecture, berating Luo for being late on rent payments. Luo had moved into the small, air-conditioner-less apartment just two months earlier, in December. Despite its uncomfortable conditions, it was
At 11:30 a.m. on August 14, 2005, two Greek military fighter pilots soared high above Athens, Greece. Their mission was to investigate a distressing situation involving Helios Airways Flight 522, a Boeing 737 commercial airplane. This flight, which had departed from Cyprus at 9:00 a.m. with 121 people on board, was supposed to have landed
On November 21st, 2016, a violent thunderstorm erupted in Melbourne. 21-year-old Jodi Santoro, awakened by her four-month-old son’s cries, found herself in a house besieged by torrential rain, hailstones, and howling winds. Jodi’s eyes flew open to the harsh glare of her phone screen. She’d overslept. The day had been brutally hot, and caring for
