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Beltane, celebrated each year on May 1, marks the transition from winter’s cold and darkness to spring’s warmth and light. Rooted in ancient Gaelic traditions of fire, fertility and protection, the festival saw its popularity fade with the rise of Christianity. However, modern reinventions honor and reimagine some of its early customs. · Fire and Purification: The Rituals of Beltane · Celebrating the start of summer, Beltane is one of the four…

Although lumber does show promise as a renewable alternative to structural materials such as steel and concrete, it still tends to be a bit weaker than those substances. Scientists have now set about addressing that shortcoming, by strengthening wood with added iron. · Led by Asst. Prof. Vivian Merk, a team of researchers at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) started out with cubes of untreated red oak hardwood. Red oak – along with hardwoods…

We all know the many health effects that a diet high in saturated fat and refined sugar has on our bodies. Now, in the first study of its kind on humans, scientists find that it appears to also negatively impact a specific part of our brains. · Using a virtual reality (VR) system, scientists from the University of Sydney have shown a link between diets high in fat and sugar and impairment of spatial navigation and memory. This supports findings…

The sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic is widely regarded as one of the most tragic events of the 20th century. While the deaths of thousands of passengers and several animals, including dogs and chickens, have been extensively documented over the years, the story of Jenny, the ship’s cat, sadly remains a footnote in history. · Back in the day, ships used to keep cats as mousers. They also helped boost the morale of homesick sailors on long voyages.…

If you’ve been keeping an eye on electric motorcycles of late, you will surely have heard of Verge's hubless e-moto sporting a donut-shaped rear wheel. It divides opinions: most folk either love it or hate it. · But that eye-popping rear wheel might soon become a lot more common; Verge has just commercialized a lot of its electric technology for use by other bike manufacturers. · A new business-to-business division called Verge Next will…

A new international investigation by 104 journalists across 30 countries, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), has revealed the extent of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) transnational harassment – including targeting dissidents living in New Zealand. · Auckland-based human rights protester Jian Xing says his father remains detained in China after Xing posted a critical video online. The so-called crime was…

Wellington mayor Tory Whanau has abandoned her re-election bid, saying she did not want a “Green vs Labour narrative” after former Labour leader Andrew Little entered the race with official party backing. · However, she plans to run for the council’s Māori ward and campaign for Green candidates. · In an interview with NewstalkZB, Whanau rated her mayoral performance a 9 out of 10. · “Change isn’t easy and will always have its critics,” she…

On April 29th, 1881, the steamer Tararua, en route from Port Chalmers to Melbourne, struck a reef at Waipapa Point, Southland. Of the 151 passengers and crew on board, 131 were lost, including 12 women and 14 children. · The Tararua grounded only about a kilometre from shore, but would-be rescuers could not reach the stricken vessel because of high seas. Most of those who perished were washed overboard and drowned. The Court of Inquiry into…

Australians head to the polls on May 3, with early voting already breaking records. More than 650,000 New Zealanders living in Australia could be directly or indirectly affected by the outcome. · For Kiwis in Australia’s rental market or trades sector, both platforms offer different forms of relief. · The cost of living is a major election issue. Labor is pitching energy bill relief, tax cuts for middle incomes, and rent assistance, while the…

John McDonald, editor of CityWatch NZ, argues that proposed road pricing laws would not just add new charges for drivers but fundamentally change the balance of freedom and government control in New Zealand. · He warns that “governments will likely attempt to take away your rights and then sell them back to you as privileges,” turning the right to travel freely into a conditional, state-managed activity. · He describes congestion charging as a…