On August 10, 2023, the usually pristine blue waters of the Chicago River turned yellow as thousands of rubber ducks plunged in for the Rubber Duck Derby. Celebrating its 18th year, the popular event helps raise much-needed funds for the Special Olympics Illinois.
The Hollywood writers strike marked its 100th day on August 9, 2023. The Writers Guild of America (WGA), representing 11,500 screenwriters, went on strike on May 2, 2023, after failing to reach an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). On July 13, 2023, the SAG-AFTRA, a union representing about 160,000 Hollywood actors, joined the writers on the picket lines in solidarity.
On June 25, 2023, four Americans began their 378-day stay on a simulated version of Mars at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The mission, dubbed CHAPEA, or Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog, is the first of three experiments planned by NASA. They are designed to test the mental and social challenges that astronauts will face when they get to Mars.
On June 21, 2023, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) granted its first-ever approval of cell-cultured meat. The assent is restricted to products made by GOOD Meat and Upside Foods. It was the final step the California-based startups needed to sell their lab-grown chicken in the US.
There are thousands of stunning waterfalls worldwide. However, none are as unique as Antarctica's Blood Falls. The aptly-named waterfall, which flows from the tip of the Taylor Glacier, spurts out bright red water. The existence of this five-story-tall waterfall has been known for over a century. But the reason behind its crimson waters has remained a mystery. Now, a team led by W. Berry Lyons of The Ohio State University may have finally found the answer.