+
upworthy
Heroes

Some Folks Are Scared Of This Little Orphan Pup, But All He Wants Is A Little Pampering

Everything on this earth has its purpose. Some are just a little misunderstood.

Yep, they're called PUPS too. And there's a lot more to them than people realize.

Scroll down for more bat delight.


What an adorable way to learn something about our ecosystem.


Seed Dispersers: The rainforest is being destroyed, but guess who's helping to restore it? These hardworking little guys. They're so incredibly talented at dispersing seeds that it's garnered them the nickname "farmers of the tropics." OK, now I'm picturing them sipping on tropical cocktails on their days off. Piña colada anyone?


Pest Controllers: I'm not a fan of pesticides, but neither are farmers big fans of crop damage. Hmm, if only there were a flying creature that could help out with this problem. Wait, there is! Bats save the United States alone an estimated $3.7 billion a year by reducing crop damage and pesticide use. Can I get a high-five!? A high wing maybe? Don't leave me hanging. (Ya, pun intended.)


Pollinators: Save the bees! Hold on ... why are they getting all the credit? You can thank our furry, flying friends for bananas, peaches, and lots of other yummy goodness. When it comes to pollination, bats got game.

They won't replace the family dog, but they sure are cute.

*Did I just make up all that info above? Nope, I got if from Bat Conservation International. They have all sorts of interesting info on bats from around the world — just in case you're the curious type like me.*

I hope people can see these misunderstood creatures in a new light.

A pitbull stares at the window, looking for the mailman.


Dogs are naturally driven by a sense of purpose and a need for belonging, which are all part of their instinctual pack behavior. When a dog has a job to do, it taps into its needs for structure, purpose, and the feeling of contributing to its pack, which in a domestic setting translates to its human family.

But let’s be honest: In a traditional domestic setting, dogs have fewer chores they can do as they would on a farm or as part of a rescue unit. A doggy mom in Vancouver Island, Canada had fun with her dog’s purposeful uselessness by sharing the 5 “chores” her pitbull-Lab mix does around the house.

Keep ReadingShow less

An English doctor named Edward Jenner took incredible risks to try to rid his world of smallpox. Because of his efforts and the efforts of scientists like him, the only thing between deadly diseases like the ones below and extinction are people who refuse to vaccinate their kids. Don't be that parent.

Unfortunately, because of the misinformation from the anti-vaccination movement, some of these diseases have trended up in a really bad way over the past several years.

Keep ReadingShow less

A woman looking at her phone while sitting on the toilet.


One of the most popular health trends over the last few years has been staying as hydrated as possible, evidenced by the massive popularity of 40-oz Stanely Quencher cups. The theory among those who obsess over hydration is that, when you pee clear, you’ve removed all the waste in your body and are enjoying the incredible benefits of being 100% hydrated. Congratulations.

However, according to Dr. Sermed Mezher, an NHS doctor in the UK, peeing clear isn’t always a sign of being healthy.

Keep ReadingShow less
Innovation

A student accidentally created a rechargeable battery that could last 400 years

"This thing has been cycling 10,000 cycles and it’s still going." ⚡️⚡️

There's an old saying that luck happens when preparation meets opportunity.

There's no better example of that than a 2016 discovery at the University of California, Irvine, by doctoral student Mya Le Thai. After playing around in the lab, she made a discovery that could lead to a rechargeable battery that could last up to 400 years. That means longer-lasting laptops and smartphones and fewer lithium ion batteries piling up in landfills.

Keep ReadingShow less
via PamTina_/Twitter

Pam's little brother is so sweet.

Pam has a little brother, who recently learned that he is actually her half-brother.

Of course, half-siblings are still very much siblings, but Pam's brother doesn't quite grasp the concept yet and seems upset about having to part with 50% of his sister.

Keep ReadingShow less

Jennifer Garner's Ziploc care package.

Homelessness has been on the increase in America since 2016 and the numbers exploded in 2020. On a single night in January 2020, there were more than 580,000 individuals who were without a home.

There are many reasons for the increase in homelessness and one of the leading causes is a lack of affordable housing across the country. Housing prices have been on a steady increase and, according to PBS, we are about 7 million units short of affordable housing in the country.

So what can the average person do about this human tragedy taking place in America’s streets? Some people who would like to help don’t feel comfortable giving money to homeless people, although experts in the field say that most of the time it is OK.

Keep ReadingShow less