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Conservation

via Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards (used with permission)

A scared squirrel and a cheetah playing hide 'n seek.

For the past 9 years, the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards has made people laugh with its competition, highlighting great nature photography that's too funny to find itself in National Geographic. This year is no different. The photography contest has announced 40 standalone images that have made the cut to compete for the top prizes after over 9,000 entries from 98 countries.

The top prize winner will receive a one-week safari with Alex Walker's Serian in Masai Mara. Among the entries are a cheetah playing hide-and-seek behind a tree, a squirrel stuck in a tree trunk and a frog caught in a bubble of his own making. The photographs are a lot of fun, but they also promote the message of conservation.

"We are thrilled to unveil the finalists for the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards, showcasing the incredible talent and creativity of photographers from all around the world," Stefan Maier, Nikon Europe's Senior General Manager of Marketing, said in a statement. "These images capture not only the humor and charm of wildlife but also highlight the importance of conservation in a way that resonates with people of all ages and from all different walks of life."


Each year, the competition supports a sustainable conservation organization and this year, Comedy Wildlife is delighted to be working with Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN), a UK charity that supports conservation leaders working in their home countries across the Global South.

Upworthy looked at the 40 finalists and chose 18 of our favorites. Check out the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards website to see all 40 finalists and vote for the People's Choice Award.


1. "Holding on for a Ride" (brown bear) by Alexander Fine, U.S.A.

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsCubs riding a brown bear.© Alexander Fine/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"After a nap, the mother brown bear wanted to go for a walk, but the cubs wanted a ride." — Alexander Fine

2. "Alright Mate, Back Off, This is My Bird" by Andy Rouse (king penguin), Georgia

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsSome penguins getting into a fight.© Andy Rouse/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"This image was taken in South Georgia; it really does show a male king penguin trying to make a move on a female who has already paired up with her male. The body position and wing posture make the message clear, "Back off! This image was highly commended in the 2006 BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year." — Andy Rouse

3. "I'm Too Sexy for My Love" by Arthur Stankiewicz (hippopotamus), Zimbabwe

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsA hippo with a crown of flowers.© Arthur Stankiewicz /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"One of the 'lazy' mornings we have decided to stop by the pool with hippos while in Mana Pools NP. My idea was to try and catch fighting hippos, yet they all were quite peaceful. I have positioned on the bank, safely from the potential charge and waited. Some of them raised their heads in curiosity or when proximity to the other individuals was too close. Then I got this idea to catch the portrait with water plants decorating he head,It looked like the guy just got our of the hairdresser with a big smile on his face." — Arthur Stankiewicz

4. "The Contemplative Chimpanzee" by Arvind Mohandas (chimpanzee), Uganda

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsA chimp with something on his mind.© Arvind Mohandas /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"Shot in the jungles of Uganda, following a group of around 50 chimpanzees. This one was obviously contemplating an important issue, on a day of realization and reaffirmation of how close chimpanzees are to humans!" — Arvind Mohandas

5. "Otter Guru" by Charles Janson (sea otter), U.S.A

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsA sea otter's blessing.© Charles Janson /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"In a kayak with my camera balanced precariously on the gunnel, I stayed very still while floating by this resting Sea Otter. It stayed relaxed (you can tell because it is still floating on its back) and kept on grooming its fur. With its peaceful face and upturned paws, it reminded me of a Guru meditating." — Charles Janson

6. "Saying My Prayers" by Christine Haines (sea otter), U.S.A

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsA praying sea otter. © Christine Haines /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"I visited Lake Clark National Park to photograph bears. While there, I had an opportunity to travel to Duck Island, where I saw an otter floating next to the boat. Otters hold their food with their paws, making it appear like they are praying." — Christine Haines

7. "Whiskered Tern Crash Landing" by Damyan Petkov (whiskered tern)


A whiskered tern misses the landing.© Damyan Petkov /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"Whiskered tern head hit the rock when try to land." — Damyan Petkov

8. "Frog in a Balloon by Eberhard Ehmke (frog), Germany

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsA frog in a bubble.© Eberhard Ehmke /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"During a photo shoot at the pond, I discovered this frog with its head in a bubble. This resembles a tree bell." — Eberhard Ehmke

9. "Smiling Elephant Seal" by Gabriel Rojo (elephant seal), Argentina

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsAn elephant seal that appears to be smiling, but he isn't. © Gabriel Rojo /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"These multi-ton giants fight to keep their harem of females. In the instant of the photo, the animal seems to be smiling. But the reality of the situation is that its expression of astonishment and smile is at the moment of fleeing quickly, because the dominant male was on his way to a bloody fight. It is better to preserve physical integrity... I better go." — Gabriel Rojo

10. "Laughing Out Loud" by Ingo Haman (seal), Germany

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsA seal that appears to be luaghing.© Ingo Haman /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"This newborn seal seems to be laughing at a good joke." — Ingo Haman

11. "Where Do You Think You are Going" by Jörn Clausen (puffin), U.K.


comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsA puffin appears to be taking a bold step. © Jörn Clausen /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"This picture was taken in 2015 during my first visit to the Farne Islands (UK). The islands were full of puffins, kittywakes, shags, guillemots and razorbills, and I never before and since then have taken so many photos in such a short time. I think I really "saw" this image only later that day when I checked my haul." — Jörn Clausen

12. "Song of the Zeisel" by Kath Aggiss (European ground squirrel), Austria

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsA squirrel calling out to his family.© Kath Aggiss /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"Ground squirrel (local name Zeisel) is calling the family to say that he's found food." — Kath Aggiss

13. "Hide and Seek" by Leslie McLeod (cheetah and topi), Kenya

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsA cheetah hides to catch a topi.© Leslie McLeod /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"We were on safari in Kenya and happened upon this beautiful female who was looking for a mate. A group of topi were also keeping a pretty close eye her as she left messages for a potential partner on various trees. This shot makes me think that the cheetah is just about to shout out, "ready or not, here I come!" — Leslie McLeod

14. "Are You Kidding" by Marti Phillips (Cape Fur seals), Namibia

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsSeals laughing together.© Marti Phillips /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"Two Cape Fur seals having a laugh." — Marti Phillips

15. "Gecko Fashion Model" by Michaela Bordoli (gecko), Namibia


A smiling desert gecko.© Michaela Bordoli /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024

"

As we walked on the sands of the Namib Desert, a gecko suddenly appeared, emerging out of nowhere with a smile on its face. It positioned itself perfectly, posing for a portrait worthy of a National Geography cover. It seemed to say: 'Take my picture, I'm ready for my cover!'" — Michaela Bordoli

16. "Stuck Squirrel" by Milko Marchetti (squirrel), Italy


comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsA squrrel stuck in a tree.© Milko Marchetti /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"When the squirrel entered, he removed his feet from the trunk for a moment, and for the moment, it seemed as if he was blocked at the entrance to the burrow." — Milko Marchetti

17. "Wait, Which Zebra is in Front?" by Sarosh Lodhi (zebra), Kenya

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awards© Sarosh Lodhi /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"An image that causes optical illusion, making it difficult for the viewer to tell which zebra is in front. Shot in Kenya, I stayed focused on these two as they started coming towards each other. I was expecting them to interact, nozzle or maybe fight, but they coincidentally got aligned in a way to cause this beautiful optical illusion." — Sarosh Lodhi

Conservation

People are baffled to find out they've been burning candles wrong their whole lives

There's an art to avoiding the "memory ring" that makes a candle tunnel around the wick.

The "tunnel" that often forms around a wick isn't supposed to be there.

The evolution of candles from lighting necessity to scented ambience creator is kind of funny. For thousands of years, people relied on candles and oil lamps for light, but with the invention of the light bulb in 1879, fire was no longer needed for light. At that time, people were probably relieved to not have to set something on fire every time they wanted to see in the dark, and now here we are spending tons of money to do it just for funsies.

We love lighting candles for coziness and romance, relishing their warm, soft light as we shrink from the fluorescent bulb craze of the early 2000s. Many people use candles for adding scent to a room, and there are entire candle companies just for this purpose (Yankee Candles, anyone?). As of 2022, candles were an $11 billion business.

With their widespread use, you'd think we'd know a thing or two about candles, but as a thread on X makes clear, a whole bunch of us have been burning candles wrong our entire lives without knowing it.


A post from @kktweetshaha started the education session: "Just learned that my fiancé, who buys candles all the time and we literally always have candles burning, did not actually know how they work and blew out a medium first burn candle 30 minutes after I lit it when I wasn’t paying attention and ruined it."

Many people had no idea what she was talking about, so she explained.

"If a candle is not burned for long enough on first burn to melt edge to edge it will create a 'memory ring.' Once a candle has a memory ring, it will continue to tunnel and never burn all the way across."

"This is why you should not light a large candle at night, which is unlikely to burn all the way across before you need to blow out to go to bed. Allow at least one hour per inch of candle width," she went on.

So that's why candles always end up with a hole in the middle, making us think the candle companies are just running a scam to make us go through candles faster. Nope. It's user error, and many people were flabbergasted by this realization.

"This is the most useful information I’ve been given my entire adult life," wrote one person.

"This skill should be taught in schools," shared another. "The amount I’ve wasted on half burnt candles is outrageous, the amount of times I’ve used Algebra since leaving school = 0."

"When I worked at Pier 1 in the 90s I got to go to some candle workshop that taught us the correct way to use (and therefore sell) candles and that is probably some of the most useful knowledge I've carried in my head this long life," shared another.

Some people suggested wrapping aluminum foil around the rim of the candle to help recover a candle that's been tunneled or to speed the process of melting the wax across the entire candle. Other suggested melting the candle down in the oven to even it back out again. The original poster pointed out that sometimes candles aren't wicked properly. According to Lone Star Candle Supply, if a candle is more than 4 inches in diameter it may become necessary to have two wicks.

The candle posts also prompted a separate discussion about candles and indoor air quality and the volatile organic compounds that are released when they are burned. Some people equated burning candles with having a small engine running in your living room, though according to the Cleveland Clinic, there's scant evidence that the amount of toxins released by burning candles is actually hazardous to your health, especially if you use high quality candles in a well-ventilated area.

How do you know if a candle is "high quality"? First, check the wick for metal. Lead in wicks is not nearly as common as it used to be, but best not to risk it if you find metal in the wick. Second, choose soy, beeswax, palm or coconut wax candles instead of paraffin, which is petroleum-based product and more likely to put off soot and smoke particles. Everyone reacts differently to different amounts of particulates in the air, so if you find yourself getting headaches or respiratory symptoms when using candles, it's probably best to avoid them. But if you tolerate them, feel free to enjoy as recommended,—just make sure that first burn melts the wax all the way to the edges to avoid the dreaded tunneling.

This article originally appeared on 3.29.24

via NASA

Back in the late '80s, NASA was looking for ways to detoxify the air in its space stations. So it conducted a study to determine the most effective plants for filtering the air of toxic agents and converting carbon dioxide to oxygen.



In 1989, their results were published in a clean air study that provided a definitive list of the plants that are most effective at cleaning indoor air. The report also suggested having at least one plant per every hundred square feet of home or office space.


1. Dwarf Date Palm

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2. Boston Fern

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3. Kimberly Queen Fern

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4. Spider Plant

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5. Chinese Evergreen

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6. Bamboo Palm

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7. Weeping Fig

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8. Devil's Ivy

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9. Flamingo Lily

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11. Broadleaf Lady Palm

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12. Barberton Daisy

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13. Cornstalk Dracena

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14. English Ivy

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15. Varigated Snake Plant

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16. Red-Edged Dracaena

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17. Peace Lily

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18. Florist's Chrysanthemum

What's in our air?

Trichloroethylene – Found in printing inks, paints, lacquers, varnishes, adhesives, and paint removers. Symptoms associated with short-term exposure include: excitement, dizziness, headache, nausea, and vomiting followed by drowsiness and coma.

Formaldehyde – Found in paper bags, waxed papers, facial tissues, paper towels, plywood paneling, and synthetic fabrics. Symptoms associated with short-term exposure include: irritation to nose, mouth and throat, and in severe cases, swelling of the larynx and lungs.

Benzene – Used to make plastics, resins, lubricants, detergents, and drugs. Also found in tobacco smoke, glue, and furniture wax. Symptoms associated with short-term exposure include: irritation to eyes, drowsiness, dizziness, headache, increase in heart rate, headaches, confusion and in some cases can result in unconsciousness.

Xylene – Found in rubber, leather, tobacco smoke, and vehicle exhaust. Symptoms associated with short-term exposure include: irritation to mouth and throat, dizziness, headache, confusion, heart problems, liver and kidney damage and coma.

Ammonia – Found in window cleaners, floor waxes, smelling salts, and fertilizers. Symptoms associated with short-term exposure include: eye irritation, coughing, sore throat.

Please note: Some of these plants may be toxic for your pets, so please do your research to ensure your furry friends stay safe.


This article originally appeared on 08.13.21

True

Music’s biggest night took place Sunday, February 4 with the 66th Annual GRAMMY Awards. Now, fans have the opportunity to take home a piece of the famed event.

Longtime GRAMMY Awards partner Mastercard is using this year’s campaign to shine a light on the environment and the Priceless Planet Coalition (PPC), a forest restoration program with the goal of restoring 100 million trees. Music fans are 1.5 times more likely to take action to help the environment, making the GRAMMY Awards the perfect opportunity to raise awareness.

“Through our GRAMMY Awards campaign, we’ve created an opportunity for our brand, our partners and consumers to come together over shared values, to participate during a moment when we can celebrate our passion for music and our commitment to make meaningful investments to preserve the environment,” says Rustom Dastoor, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Communications, North America at Mastercard.

The campaign kicked off with an inspired self-guided multi-sensory tour at the GRAMMY House presented by Mastercard, where people journeyed through their passion of music and educational experience about Mastercard’s longstanding commitment to tree restoration. Then, this year’s most-nominated GRAMMY artist and a passionate voice for the environment, SZA, led the charge with the debut performance of her new song, Saturn.

Mastercard’s partners are also joining the mission by encouraging people all over the country to participate; Lyft and Sirius XM are both offering ways for consumers to get involved in the Priceless Planet Coalition. To learn more about how you can support these efforts, visit mastercard.com/forceofnature.

While fashion is always a highlight of any GRAMMY Awards event, SZA’s outfit worn during her performance of Saturn was designed to make a statement; made of tree seeds to help spread awareness. Fans can even comment ‘🌱’ and tag a friend on Mastercard’s designated post of SZA’s GRAMMY House performance for a chance to win a tree seed from the performance outfit*.

“SZA has a personal passion for sustainability – not just in forest restoration but in the clothes she wears and the platforms and partners she aligns herself with. It was important to us to partner with someone who is not only showing up big at the GRAMMY Awards – as the most GRAMMY-nominated artist this year – but also showing up big for the environment,” says Dastoor.


Due to factors like factory farming, logging, and urban growth, the Earth is losing trees at an alarming rate. According to Earth.org, approximately 10 million hectares of trees are lost each year.

Forests regulate the air we breathe and are highly effective in moderating greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, tropical forests provide up to 30% of the global action needed to stop climate change.

"Planting trees can help improve everything – from air quality to economic opportunity to mental health – and everybody deserves these benefits,” SZA said in a press release about her previous environmental activism.

Guided by Conservation International and World Resources Institute, the PPC employs science-based best practices for the selection, implementation, and long-term monitoring of their restoration efforts.

In addition to their goal to restore 100 million trees, the PPC also works to regrow forests in geographies that represent the greatest global need. This includes areas with the greatest potential for positive impacts on climate, with community and biodiversity goals being prioritized as they set out to restore forestland across the globe.

To learn more about the Priceless Planet Coalition or how you could get involved in forest restoration, visit mastercard.com/forceofnature.

* Additional Sweepstakes Details: No Purch. Nec. Void in Quebec and where prohibited. Mastercard cardholders before 2/4/24, who are U.S. & Canada res 18+ at time/date of entry. Ends 2/10/24. Winners/ARV: $30 USD each. Entry must include a “seedling” emoji and tag a friend. Canadian winners must answer a time-limited skill-testing math question. Odds of winning depend on the total number of entries received. Rules: priceless.com/forceofnature