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Drones fired ‘seed missiles’ into the dirt. A year later, the trees are already 20 inches tall.

10 drones can plant 400,000 trees in a day — enough to combat climate change in real time.

Drones fired ‘seed missiles’ into the dirt. A year later, the trees are already 20 inches tall.

Photo: courtesy BioCarbon Engineering/WikiCommons

Technology is the single greatest contributor to climate change but it may also soon be used to offset the damage we've done to our planet since the Industrial Age began.

In September 2018, a project in Myanmar used drones to fire "seed missiles" into remote areas of the country where trees were not growing. Less than a year later, thousands of those seed missiles have sprouted into 20-inch mangrove saplings that could literally be a case study in how technology can be used to innovate our way out of the climate change crisis.

"We now have a case confirmed of what species we can plant and in what conditions," Irina Fedorenko, co-founder of Biocarbon Engineering, told Fast Company. "We are now ready to scale up our planting and replicate this success."

According to Fedoranko, just two operators could send out a mini-fleet of seed missile planting drones that could plant 400,000 trees a day -- a number that quite possibly could make massive headway in combating the effects of manmade climate change.

The drones were designed by an ex-NASA engineer. And with a pressing need to reseed an area in Myanmar equal to the size of Rhode Island, the challenge is massive but suddenly within reach. Bremley Lyngdoh, founder and CEO of World Impact, says reseeding that area could theoretically house as many as 1 billion new trees.

"Obviously, planting a billion trees will take a long time without the help of drones," Lyngdoh told Fast Company.

But they've now got a powerful new ally in their corner. For context, it took the Worldview Foundation 7 years to plant 6 million trees in Myanmar. Now, with the help of the drones, they hope to plant another 4 million before the end of 2019.

Myanmar is a great case study for the project. In addition to the available land for the drone project, the nation has been particularly hit by the early effects of climate change in recent years. Rising sea levels are having a measurable impact on the population. In addition to their ability to clear CO2 from the atmosphere, healthy trees can also help solidify the soil, which can reduce the kind of soil erosion that has been affecting local populations in Myanmar.

Going forward, technologies like seed-planting drones could help stem the tide of catastrophic climate change while our governments and societies work to change the habits of consumers and corporations that are driving the problem. Our endless hunger for new technology may be the driving force behind climate change and deforestation but it could also end up being the solution to a problem.

This article originally appeared on 4.17.19

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Verizon Business

Verizon Business

An entrepreneurial Ph.D candidate sheds light on how technology helps her grow her small business

https://www.pitasplanters.com

Pita and David in front of their mobile plant shop

True

If there is a positive connection between mental health and caring for plants, Lupita Ríos is determined to make it her life’s work to share it with the world.

Ríos owns Dallas-based Pita’s Planters, a small business offering handmade planters, vases, art, bouquet preservation. Her love of vegetation can be traced back to where she spent her childhood—in the jungles of Guatemala—but it wasn’t until Ríos began struggling with panic attacks after college that she realized how healing plants can be.

During a particularly anxious period in her life, the only thing that brought her comfort was a plant she’d inherited from a co-worker. “Every day I would come into work and see some new growth or a new little leaf, and I would just feel so excited … it was like this little seed of light for me during a time when I was not feeling much joy,” said Ríos.

Pita in her plant shop https://www.pitasplanters.com

So she did what made sense: she kept growing plants, eventually learning how to create pots from recycled materials. During the pandemic, she and her husband opened a mobile plant store, which allowed her to share her passion with people in the community. What began as a meditative hobby quickly turned into a booming business, and Ríos, who is also working towards a Ph.D in Neuroscience, found herself overwhelmed with the things that come with being a small business owner (like keeping up with voice messages!).

“I learn as I go,” said Ríos, mentioning that one of the rookie decisions she made as a first-time business owner was to list her cell phone number under the business as the official contact number. “I quickly learned that was not a good idea! I got calls from customers left and right because the business grew so quickly.”

A friend suggested leveraging technology to keep Ríos’ sanity intact. She enrolled in Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, a free online program that offers small businesses nationwide access to over 50 expert courses and grant funding opportunities. The program includes resources created by small business owners for small business owners, covering topics such as marketing, financial planning, social media management, and more. For Ríos, this was the answer to juggling school and business without dropping any balls while the business continues to grow.

Taking control of her mobile plan was the first step in streamlining—and leveling up!—the business. Verizon’s My Biz Plan allowed her select and pay for only what she needed the One Talk App allowed her to reclaim her cell phone for personal use, and Verizon Business Assistant, a GenAI-powered text messaging solution , has been an enormous time-saver. Verizon Business’ 2025 State of Small Business Survey revealed 38% of SMBs are currently using AI–Lupita is one of many using it to help. Instead of spending precious time replying to every DM inquiring about the hours of her shop or troubleshooting a repotted plant’s wilting leaves, business owners like Ríos can set up, customize, and train a virtual assistant to field these questions.

“I didn't even realize I needed this in my life, but Verizon was like, we work with a lot of small businesses and we have a lot of tools that help set your business up so that I can focus on the products, on the marketing, on everything else. And I know that Verizon's got me covered in other ways where I don't have to think about it so much. It is so nice to have someone looking out for you and saying, ‘Yeah, you're busy. We got you covered here. We can take care of this."’

Verizon is committed to reaching one million small businesses with the resources they need to be successful by 2030—with over 450,000 small businesses like Pita’s Planters already using Digital Ready to help their businesses thrive.

Pita and David at their brick and mortar shophttps://www.pitasplanters.com

As for Ríos’ plans for after she receives her doctorate in Neuroscience? She wants to become a professor and continue growing her plant business.“Honestly, there’s nothing quite like having someone walk in who says they’ve never owned a plant before,” said Ríos. “Let me start your plant journey…within a few weeks, you’ll have a jungle in your house.”

Do you own a small business? Verizon offers over $1M in small business grants every year! Complete an application for the Verizon Small Business Digital Readyportal between May 1, 2025, and 11:59 pm PT on June 30, 2025, to be eligible for the application process for a $10,000 grant consideration.

Crows are incredibly smart. Here’s how to make friends with one in four easy steps.

"They are loyal friends and have brought much joy into my life."

via Krari The Crow/YouTube

How to befriend a crow.

When it comes to keeping birds as pets, people usually think about parrots or canaries. Nobody ever considers having a crow. But research has shown that crows are incredibly clever, curious, and self-aware. They recognize the faces of people they like or don’t like, have the ability to use tools, and can even mimic human speech. Looking to experience the magic of crows yourself? A YouTube user named Alexandra from Germany made a video on how you can befriend the crows in your neighborhood in four easy steps. All it takes is “some food and some patience."

Over eight years ago, Alexandra made friends with a crow named Krari. Krari and her friends visit her regularly and are considered part of the family. They also bring their "little ones" to Alexandra's house to chill as well. "They come here to get food, to play, or just hang out with me and relax," Alexandra says in an introductory video on her YouTube page.

How to make friends with a crow in four steps

1. Find a pair of crows

Crows tend to live in areas populated by humans, so chances are there are crows in your neighborhood. The best place to start is to find a pair with a fixed territory that you see on a regular basis. That way, you're cultivating a relationship with the same animal day after day, and you can "slowly get to know each other."

2. Offer food

Crows will eat just about anything, from insects to invertebrates to meat. They also enjoy nuts, worms, and vegetables. If you offer the food in the same place at the same time of day, you'll establish a routine. Then, the crow may come by regularly to see if you have anything tasty to eat.

3. Be mindful

When interacting with the crow, make sure they aren't anxious or displaying signs that they are prepared to fly away at any moment. Approach the birds with an open, indirect gaze so as not to cause alarm. Sit quietly while you wait for the bird to approach and avoid quick movements.

4. Let the birds come to you

This requires patience. The crow will be shy at first, but they know you better than you think. They will remember your face and your kindness. Give them a chance to observe you and earn your trust.

A the end of the video, Alexandra reminds everyone that while we should make friends with crows, they are supposed to live free in the skies and not be stuck in a cage. "I hope this helps you build a relationship with these fascinating birds," Alexandra concludes her video. "They are loyal friends and have brought much joy into my life. Please let birds have their freedom. They do not belong in homes or other forms of captivity. Thank you."

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

If you succeeded in befriending a feathered genius, tell your new crow friend we say hi!

This article originally appeared three years ago.

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This TikTok account is trying to save our national parks by making them sexy. Literally.

Thirst traps + stunning nature footage = strange but effective way of bringing attention to a dire issue

Canva Photos

Can beefy hunks save America's national parks?

Two thousand and twenty-five has bombarded us with news. Every day, there's a new crisis. American citizens being deported, the tariff rollercoaster, the open antagonization of one of our top allies in Canada, the end of the Department of Education. It's hard to know where to look at any given time, or where to put your concern and support. And that's exactly the point.

It leaves important causes fighting and scrapping for public attention, which is fleeting even during normal times. It's just hard to get people to care about any one thing with so many things going on at once.

So, one TikTok user had an idea to break through the noise and bring attention to the crisis facing our National Parks.

Here's the idea:

Step one: Attract eyeballs with steamy thirst traps on TikTok.

Step two: Show beautiful footage of America's national parks, along with some informative facts

Step three: Save the parks!

For those not in the know, a "thirst trap" is a post on social media that's inherently designed to attract sexual interest. A normal selfie wouldn't be considered a thirst trap unless it shows some extra skin or features a provocative pose. The creator has to know that people are going to be "turned on," for lack of a better phrase, by the video or photo.

And here's the thing about the Internet: People truly can not help themselves. They can't stop themselves from clicking on breasts, abs, butts, or bulging biceps. Therein lies the beauty of this strategy.

Just see an example for yourself:

@visit.yellowstone
Within Yellowstone's 2.2 million acres, visitors have unparalleled opportunities to observe wildlife in an intact ecosystem, and explore geothermal areas @Thoren Bradley #stitch #booktok #darkromance #masktok #fantasy #momsover30 #fyp

The TikTok account is working better than anyone could have possibly imagined; already, it has over 1.1 million followers.

In fact, the @visit.yellowstone fan account often gets confused for the official Yellowstone!

Users are devouring the content. Who's to say whether it's the rippling muscles or the beautiful nature shots that are so pleasing to the algorithm? But does it really matter? Here are a few of the best comments from a recent clip:

"Babe?! I think we should honeymoon in Yellowstone!"

"Have I been to Yellowstone? No. It's it my favorite national park? Absolutely"

"The National Parks are unhinged and I'm here for it."

"This is how to market a National Park right here!!"

"It’s working bc now I want to go to Yellowstone"

The parody/activist account even got a shoutout from Stephen Colbert (starting around 1:33):

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

Following Visit.Yellowstone's lead, other users began making spicy parody accounts for other national parks and landmarks. There's now sexy Appalachian Mountain, sexy Mount Rainier, and even sexy Crater Lake.

Just a warning: These accounts can get EXTREMELY NSFW. It's not all burly lumberjacks chopping wood with their abs out. A lot of the content lays the sexual innuendo on pretty thick.

And that's exactly why people find them so entertaining. All of the accounts popping up have 50k, 100k, or more followers with top videos racking up millions of views.

@visit.yellowstone
Mammoth Hot Springs is a large complex of hot springs on a hill of travertine in Yellowstone National Park adjacent to Fort Yellowstone @Johnathon Caine #stitch #booktok #darkromance #masktok #fantasy #momsover30

National parks staff are being laid off and budgets are being slashed. But that's only the beginning.

Regulations are also being rolled back that keep private industries from drilling on or otherwise decimating protected land. History is being rewritten with the removal of landmarks and monuments that don't fit the desired narrative. Museums are closing down, costing both kids and adults crucial opportunities to learn more about our country.

The situation is dire. Will all the viral interest in Yellowstone and other national parks on TikTok equate to real world change? It's too soon to tell. But the success of the activism campaign shows that people do love the parks and aren't willing to let them go away without a fight.

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He made a tiny house for his stray cat visitor, and it turned into an adorable kitty village

Talk about heartwarming kindness.

Representative Photo credit: Canva and Rumeysa Yilmaz|Pexels

A sweet story of the cat distribution system at work.

Tiny houses are still a popular choice for people trying to downsize but tiny houses for cats are springing up in one man's backyard.

Back in 2024, Barna thought he was doing a good deed for a stray cat that decided that he kinda liked hanging out in this human's backyard. At first, the cat would show up but wouldn't eat the food set out for him. That didn't stop Barna.

The man continued to set food out for the cat. Taking note of the changing weather, Barna decided to take one of his hobbies and build the cat, now named Domino a cozy little house. Building things is a hobby for him, so he made sure to equip Domino's tiny abode with a heating pad, light and camera.

Before too long the situation turned into a version of the famous children's book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Another cat showed up (because of course Domino had a bestie) but it didn't stop there.

Barna built a tiny two story condo for the two cats to hang out in while still keeping Domino's original tiny house. The backyard looks like it was made to host furry tenants in a makeshift cat community because more cats indeed showed up. Soon the tuxedo cat had several neighbors to hang out with and thanks to Barna, none of the cats looked like they were missing any meals.

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

"We have about four or five cats who will go in and sleep in the houses," Barna told The Dodo. "One night one of the biggest storms of the year hit, I saw that two kittens actually took shelter in the house. That was one of the sweetest things ever."

Barna had cameras set up inside and outside of the itty bitty kitty community so he can keep an eye on his feline neighbors. The cats' landlord expressed that he feels gratification seeing his little houses be used by furry tenants. Having a group of cats around probably isn't too terrible for keeping pests away either, so it's a win for all involved.

Down in the comments, people applauded Barna for taking such good care of his feline friends.

"If you build it, they will come. what a kind and thoughtful gentleman to take care of these babies during the hard weather."

"This man has such a good heart."

"How a man treats animals reveals who the man is. This is a good man."

"Just imagine how good the inside of those little houses feel to a kitty after he or she has been outdoors in all kinds of weather for who knows how long. They would finally be able to relax and get a good sleep. Kudos for being so kind and handy."

"There is most definitely a special place in heaven for the animal rescuers. I love you."

"This world NEEDS more people like this gentleman.""Indeed, the world could definitely use a few more Barnas. Best of luck to him and his kitty companions.

This article originally appeared last year.

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best of humanity

Gen X mom shares explicit 90s songs with her teen daughter, and the reactions are priceless

She was absolutely "mortified."

@90smusicmomma/TikTok

"The parental advisory sticker meant the album was gonna be 🔥"

Kids today might think the lyrics to some of their songs would make anyone blush, but we all know there are some 90s bops that make Cardi B's "WAP" seem like it belongs on a children’s show. After all, the era—thanks in no small part to our shifting societal views about how openly we talk about sex—brought a steady rise to sexually explicit language, certainly more than the 50s, 60s, and 70s. According to the data siteLottie, even the 80s had considerably less sexual content in music…even with Madonna!

All that said, it’s what makes this series of videos created by a Gen X mom so enjoyable, if not a little validating for us older folks.

Jennifer McCormick (@90smusicmomma), 42, from Cincinnati, Ohio has captured her teen daughter Scarlett's reactions to countless tunes from her teen years. Let’s just say the secondhand embarrassment is palpable.

Below, McCormick introduces Scarlett to that timeless classic: "Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None)" by Snoop Dogg as a text overlay reads: "My 16 year old was mortified to find out I was listening to this at 14."

Reader beware: lots of naughty language below. But, boy, it takes you right back to 90’s Los Angeles, doesn't it?

@90smusicmomma #parentsoftiktok #snoop #snoopdog #natedogg #90s ♬ Ain’t No Fun (If The Homies Can’t Have None) - Snoop Dogg

Understandably, fellow 90’s kids rallied in the comments.

“Our kids think we're old and boring .If they only knew what we did in the 90s,” one person wrote.

“They have no idea we were cooler than them,” another replied.

Upon a request, McCormick also played “The Bad Touch” by Bloodhound Gang. You might remember it as “the Discovery Channel song.”

@90smusicmomma Replying to @Monty Nemo #90s #throwback ♬ The Bad Touch - Bloodhound Gang

Ah, the look of confusion, then shock, then trying to play along, ultimately followed by utter disgust.

“Too bad she doesn’t know what the Discovery Channel used to be. That line doesn’t hit now,” one person joked. Ouch. Too true.

Still, once again, folks of a certain age came to defend this anthem of our formative years. Or, at the very least, it stirred up some nostalgia.

“Inapproate? Maybe. Catchy AF? Damn straight."

“The song is one thing, the video is another ahahaha. The monkey suits are embedded in my brain.”

“Sometimes I forget how much of a fever dream trip growing up was during our childhood.”

From Digital Underground’s “The Humpty Dance,” to 50 Cents’ “Candy Shop,” to Color Me Badd’s “I Wanna Sex You Up,” Scarlett’s reactions are freakin’ priceless.

@90smusicmomma Replying to @Jenny Talia #throwback #90smusic #90s #momanddaughter ♬ The Humpty Dance - Album Version Edit - Digital Underground

@90smusicmomma Replying to @Becky She thinks “it’s fine” and so does Nacho #throwback #2000s #50cent #momanddaughter ♬ Candy Shop - 50 Cent

@90smusicmomma Replying to @Micki Lee she thought we already did that one and then said they all sound the same now 😂##90s #throwback #90smusic ♬ I Wanna Sex You Up (Single Mix) - Color Me Badd

On the bright side, Scarlett seemed to recognize and appreciate the Sisqó masterpiece that is “The Thong Song.”

@90smusicmomma Replying to @Tony she knows that one! #throwback #momanddaughter #90s #90smusic ♬ Thong Song - Sisqo

All in all, taking her daughter down a musical memory lane has been a “fun way for her to see what we listened to,” McCormick shared in an interview withNewsweek.

“It [also] makes me question my own parents because I was much younger than her listening to most of the songs!" she added.

A major reason we have the 90s to thank for our awareness of “explicit” music in the first place comes from Tipper Gore (Al Gore’s wife), whose pearls became so clutched after listening to Prince’s “Darling Nikki” that she formed the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) to advocate for a music rating system that would inform parents about explicit content. This would later result in the "Explicit Lyrics: Parental Advisory" label for album considered obscene.

That tactic backfired in many ways, since, like all things taboo, it only made teens more intrigued.

As one viewer put it, "the parental advisory sticker meant the album was gonna be 🔥"

Basically, while the flavor might differ from generation to generation, teens are always going be drawn to that which appears taboo. That, and no matter how cool you were in your formative years, you’ll inevitably always elicit the same repulsion you got from looking at your predecessors. Circle of life, and all that.

Of course, the “Thong Song” will never not slap.

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John Mulaney's Bone Thugs-N-Harmony booking fail is a masterclass in comedic storytelling

The group's “manager” drove a hard bargain.

via Still Watching Netflix/YouTube and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony press kit

John Mulaney and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

Comedian John Mulaney, host of Everybody’s Live on Netflix, recently shared an epic tale in his opening monologue that reminds you to be skeptical of things you read online. It all started when he wanted to do a bit on his show where his co-host Richard Kind’s fake tortoise, died. This would lead to a surprise performance by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony of their 1996 megahit “Tha Crossroads.” But booking the rap group would be much more difficult than he first thought.

“If you’re not familiar with ‘Tha Crossroads,’ it was an enormous hit,” Mulaney said, adding, “I cannot overstate how hugely popular it was with horned-up junior high kids at Catholic schools to grind with each other during the Clinton administration.” "The Crossroads" was a tribute to the band's fallen friends, including rapper Eazy-E.

eazy-e, bone thugs-n-harmony, tha crossorads, hip-hop, 1996 Rapper Eazy-E in "Tha Crossroads." via media1.giphy.com

To book the rap group, Mulaney and his team contacted a man they found online who claimed to manage the group, and they set up a Zoom call with him. The band members weren’t on the call, but “their manager assures us that they’re really into the idea and want to do it,” Mulaney said. The one drawback was that only four of the five Bone members would be available for the performance.

Bizzy Bone was, uh, busy. Layzie Bone, mind you, was available.

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

Things began to get strange when the show's staff had to ensure that the band wore pants that could hold a microphone, and the manager said producers needed to buy the pants themselves. A week before the scheduled performance, the manager demanded that the band get $2800 in cash for "just running around money." For reasons he didn’t explain, Mulaney had to come up with the money himself—which was tricky, since his history with substance abuse made large bank withdrawals a major red flag.

Before the band signed a contract, the manager raised the amount for the performance from $15,000 to $100,000, and half the money would have to come upfront. Mulaney claimed he was "disrespected," and the manager pulled the band out of the appearance last minute. After some investigating, Mulaney realized that the man he was talking to probably wasn't the manager for Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.

bone thugs, bone in concert, sxsw, bone thungs-n-harmony, rap concert Bone Thugs N Harmony at Levis Fort- SXSW '10via Bone Thugs-N-Harmony/Wikimedia Commons

“Now, I didn’t tell you all this just to air the dirty laundry of what it’s like behind the scenes of a show,” Mulaney said. “Many guests have shaken me down for a couple of thousand dollars and canceled last minute. It happens all the time. I’m telling you about it because I’m genuinely worried. After a little investigating, I have come to believe that the man I was talking to was not the manager of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. In fact, several sites list a different person.”

Feeling no ill will toward Bone's actual members, Mulaney asked them to please contact him to clear things up. He added that he may check out their their upcoming performance at the KIA Forum in Inglewood and didn’t “want things to be awkward.”

In the end, even though Mulaney was scammed by a man claiming to be Bone’s manager, he had to give him some respect for the clever ruse. “And to him, whomever I was dealing with,” Mulaney concluded the segment, “Sir, first off, credit where credit is due. I do indeed look like someone you could hustle over a booking for Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.”

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