Ever Widening Circles: It's Still An Amazing World

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  • Innovation
      • All Innovation
          • Image: Green door in the sandstone—an entrance to an underground home in Coober PedyHuman Ingenuity Never Fails: The Town Built Underground!What do you get when you combine resilient people, extreme weather conditions, and a former mining town?  In Coober Pedy, residents live, work, grocery shop, and do everything else... underground. This unique and fascinating lifestyle is a great look into how humans can learn to thrive, no matter the challenges we face. They give a whole new meaning to the term "down under"!
          • Image: Dry, dead tree in the middle of the sandy, desolate, Namib DesertCreating Water Out of Thin Air! The Desert Beetle Revolutionizing Our Water CrisisIn our fight to bring clean, fresh water to billions of people around the world, innovators now have a new source of inspiration from the middle of the... desert? A beetle with a unique ability to capture water out of thin air is inspiring a new generation of life-saving technologies! 
          • Image: close up image of a colorful squidWhen Squids Fly… Anything’s Possible!Squids? Flying? Oh, yeah! Across the top of our world's oceans, squid are taking flight for reasons that still remain to be known. Here's your nugget of delight for the day!
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      • Technology
          • Image: Person drinking coffee and looking intently at their laptopMeet the Hackers Who Are Saving Lives!Can hackers really be saving lives?! This group of hackers is combining their unique skills to do good! They've developed an extraordinary partnership that is quite literally saving lives.
          • Image: hermit crab on a colorful pile of bottle capsThese Bacteria Have Found a Way to Break Down Plastic!Could it be that single-celled organisms have found a solution to our plastic problem? It turns out that nature is far more adaptable than we may think—and we can use their skills to combat plastic pollution!
          • Image: Baby Yoda figurineGoodbye, Green Screen — Here’s the Tech That’s Changing Film Forever!Movies have a way of taking us on journeys we could not have gone on without them. Now, those journeys just got a whole lot more real! We’re traveling to a galaxy far far away and discovering an other-worldly way of storytelling for at-home audiences everywhere!
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      • Education
          • Image: solar mamas learning to become solar engineersWhy Grandmas Are Training to Be the Best Solar EngineersGrandmas around the world are learning a new skill! These “solar mamas” are learning to become solar engineers and bringing light back to their communities that once spent their nights in darkness.
          • Image: young kid very excited about a giant slice ofcake!Ever Wondered Why You Always Have Room for Dessert?Why is it that after even the biggest meal you still have room for dessert? You may not have two stomachs, but you do have an evolutionary trick that has helped to keep us alive for thousands of years!
          • Image: Sloth smilingMeet the Unexpected Monster of the Ancient AmericasThey were once the size of elephants and others lived at sea, so what happened to the massive number of fantastical sloths that once dotted the landscapes of the Americas?!
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      • Business
          • Image: Nataliz in a white gown smiling and playing the musical saw!When One Dream Ends, How Do We Find Another?Are you working towards a certain goal? Have you felt like your life has been thrown off track lately? The story of how Natalia Paruz became known as the "Saw Lady" will have you finding delightful inspiration in the most unusual places!
          • Image: decorated gingerbread houseHow to Make Your Next Holiday Tradition a Sweet One!From decorating gingerbread houses to hiding fake fruit, we’re celebrating the warm fuzzy feelings that accompany holiday traditions. Let’s unwrap the secret to spreading cheer!
          • Image: A loaf of bread being gently held out in a towelWhy Good Business is like Good Bread!Why do we love a good loaf of bread so much? For 130 years a little bakery in Ireland has stood the test of time, answering this question for generations. The answer is a lesson we can pass on to other corners of our life as well!
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      • Life Hacks
          • Image: Older gentleman stands in front of his barber shopWhen Is a Haircut More Than a Haircut?Where do you go where you're welcomed like a true friend? COVID-19 has made these places really stand out, like our salons, for instance. But even with closed doors, some of these barbers and hairdressers are finding ways to keep that connection going. Here's a fun look at why!
          • Image: Woman meditating by a mountain pond with a big sky before her.The Simplest Way to Train Your Brain! This routine has been shown to boost our memory, combat depression and anxiety, and reduce pain—all without expensive equipment, special skills, medications, or taking hours out of our day. But is meditation really a practical addition to our busy lives? One of our favorite creators puts it to the test. 
          • Image: people riding a roller coaster!Who Makes Roller Coasters?How does someone start making roller coasters?! If your life isn't turning out to be a positive and creative thrill yet, hang on to your hat. You could be just one interesting experience away from that if you have the courage to try some things you don't know much about! Check this out.
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  • Thought Leaders
      • All Thought Leaders
          • Image: Person raising their arms with joy to the morning sun at their windowForget Perfection, Here’s the Easiest Way to Form Any New Habit!Want to create a habit that you can actually keep? This thought leader has a trick that takes the pressure off!
          • person planting trees in a desolate areaHow #TeamTrees Proves the Internet Can Do Good 20. Million. NEW. Trees. You read that right! When fans of YouTuber MrBeast sparked a lofty goal of planting 20 million trees in 2019, the mission spread like wildfire, exploding to include thousands of content creators and hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Check this story out for proof that when people come together for good, there’s no end to their impact.
          • Image: child holding an adults hand, walking away from the camera into the woods towards the sunWhy Optimism Is Our Most Powerful Tool for ChangeAre we thinking about "optimism" all wrong? Could this frame of mind actually bring about a brighter future? In her fantastic TED Talk, diplomat Christiana Figueres shows us her trick to creating the realities that we want in life; something she calls, stubborn optimism!
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      • Conspiracy of Goodness
          • Source: Beautiful bison with the grassesThe 2,000-Pound Vegetarians Slowing Climate ChangeSome of our best environmental engineers when it comes to winning the race to slow climate change have turned out to be these natural (and very cute) prairie-preserving specialists! Here’s how bison are restoring a previously destroyed landscape and keeping tons of carbon out of our atmosphere along the way.
          • Image: Person drinking coffee and looking intently at their laptopMeet the Hackers Who Are Saving Lives!Can hackers really be saving lives?! This group of hackers is combining their unique skills to do good! They've developed an extraordinary partnership that is quite literally saving lives.
          • Image: Men walking with donkeys in front of a building in KimbuktuHow Everyday Heroes Have Protected This Treasure for Centuries!In the city of Timbuktu, generations of everyday heroes have risked their lives for a remarkable treasure! What kind of treasure could possibly be this important?
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      • TED Talks
          • Source: Three older women smiling walking in a neighborhood with GirlTrek. One is giving a thumbs up, the others are wavingDoes Walking Have the Power to Save Lives and Uplift Communities?Have you noticed that the first steps to solving our biggest problems are often right there in front of us, so clear that they're invisible? GirlTrek is turning the simple act of walking around the block into a revolutionary way to save lives and improve the safety of communities! Here's how. 
          • Image: Doctor sitting next to a hospital bed, wearing blue scrubs and a Mickey Mouse patterned head cap, interacting with a young girl who's sticking her tongue out. Feeling is joyful!The Inspiring Craft That’s Saving Doctors’ Lives! There is a "medicine" available to all of us that parents have been delivering in whispers to their children before they close their eyes at night. It's totally free, as old as human existence, and has proven time and time again to be what we're built on! Now, it's being used to save our healthcare workers' lives!
          • Image: Little Lady enjoying the sun!Why Is My Cat So Dang Weird?!The midnight racing, the pre-pounce butt-wiggle... these are just a small sampling of the odd things that cats do. But you don't need to be a crazy cat lady to appreciate these sometimes-ferocious little furballs! Let's start by nipping at the evolutionary excuses your cat has for being, well, the weirdest!
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      • Education Enrichment
          • Image: little boy inspecting a leafBecome an Instant Backyard Scientist with iNaturalist! What if you could go on a safari and get up close and personal with hundreds of plants animals, no plane ticket, no fancy guide, and no money required? Now, all of us can experience our own backyards with a little more wonder thanks to this amazing app!
          • Image: Stem with aphids on itWhat Are These Walking Jellybeans Doing on Your Plants?Most people would overlook these candy pooping, clone birthing, walking jellybeans, but you are not most people! These little gals will have you turning over more leaves, getting more excited about the world, and letting curiosity be your guide!
          • Image: Woman hugs large dog with a smile on his faceHow Dogs Are Helping Us Detect Cancer!A group of highly trained dogs is learning to smell some of the hardest to detect forms of cancer! So, what are we learning from these super-sniffers?
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      • Happiness & Hope
          • Image: Person raising their arms with joy to the morning sun at their windowForget Perfection, Here’s the Easiest Way to Form Any New Habit!Want to create a habit that you can actually keep? This thought leader has a trick that takes the pressure off!
          • Image: child holding an adults hand, walking away from the camera into the woods towards the sunWhy Optimism Is Our Most Powerful Tool for ChangeAre we thinking about "optimism" all wrong? Could this frame of mind actually bring about a brighter future? In her fantastic TED Talk, diplomat Christiana Figueres shows us her trick to creating the realities that we want in life; something she calls, stubborn optimism!
          • Picking up Gudetama with chopsticksHave You Met Gudetama? This Sad Egg Yolk is Bringing Big Smiles!Have you ever noticed that the fastest way to connect with someone is to show them your soft side? We’re hatching a new “normal” with help from a lazy little egg yolk that has captivated the hearts of people around the world. Find out why we are obsessed with Gudetama!
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      • Humor
          • Image: side by side shot of someone's pet with tongue hanging out and their funny portrait!Bad Drawings Bring Big Smiles: A Portrait of Paw-fect Imperfection!Can a drawing of a cross-eyed dog better the lives of those less fortunate? We’re embracing our flaws and finding humor within the wonderful work of pet-portrait artist, Hercule Van Wolfwinkle!
          • Image: Medical clowns playing music with a senior patient!Are Clowns Making Us Healthier?Could a clown actually improve your health? For thousands of people in hospitals around the globe, these funny characters are their ticket to success! With a surprising range of benefits, medical clowns are improving how we approach healthcare. Check it out! 
          • Image: Little Lady enjoying the sun!Why Is My Cat So Dang Weird?!The midnight racing, the pre-pounce butt-wiggle... these are just a small sampling of the odd things that cats do. But you don't need to be a crazy cat lady to appreciate these sometimes-ferocious little furballs! Let's start by nipping at the evolutionary excuses your cat has for being, well, the weirdest!
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      • Philosophy
          • Image: Sarah DiNardo's sculptureFind Calm at the Tip of Your Fingers!In the last few challenging months, have you noticed any activities that bring a sense of delight and wonder to your day? Something that quiets your mind and brings you joy? Here's a little inspiration to get you started from one artist and her unique craft!
          • Image: "Be Kind" written in chalk on a sidewalkLeon Logothetis is Proving the Kindness of Strangers is Alive and Well!Is it possible to travel the country only relying on the kindness of strangers? The person we're highlighting in this piece proves it is! Take a look at the impact this has on peoples lives and how we can all tap into the kindness all around us.
          • Image: Louisa on Chuck's chestMicro-Preemie Turns 21: A Success Story for Everyone!When life gets difficult there's always something we can learn and use for the rest of our lives. 21 years ago, Dr. Lynda (EWC's founder) gave birth to a 1 pound baby when she was just into the 5th month of her pregnancy. She picked up a few pearls of wisdom in the years that followed—here are 12.
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  • Nature
      • All Nature
          • Image: Stand of Orange Pore FungiYour World: Made Possible By Giant FungiWhat does a 420 million-year-old giant fungus have to do with life on Earth as we know it today? Much more than you might think! (You might have to thank its early cousins for making our lives possible!)
          • AlpacaYour Fuzzy Antidote to Sadness: Alpacas!In a time when there is so much division, comfort can still be found in the world around us. We’re pulling our favorite sweater over our heads and coming out to the other side to celebrate an animal who has been gifting us relief for centuries! With an alpaca's undeniably cute underbite and "super fiber" fleece, your hard day is about to become a little softer!
          • Image: Close up of a dog nose with eyes looking upYour Dog is Traveling Through Time… With Their Nose! From finding missing people, sniffing out bombs, and even detecting health problems, dogs' remarkable sense of smell continues to impress. But what's actually going on inside those beloved noses?
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      • Animals
          • Image: diver swimming with reef sharksHooked on Helping: The Diver Who Lets Sharks Nap in Her Lap!Can one of the world's most feared predators teach us to take a more gentle approach toward others? You’ll be hooked on this heartwarming story of Cristina Zenato, one of the first scuba divers in the world to get a shark to "nap" in her lap!
          • Image: view of a platypus in the water from the topNew Discovery! More Mammals Are Glowing in the Dark?Platypus are already known to be strange creatures, but there’s a new characteristic to add to these odd-balls: they GLOW! The thing is, scientists are finding that they actually aren't the weird ones when it comes to this. It turns out, glowing in the dark is a trait far more common in mammals than we've ever thought! Ready to test what you think is possible?
          • Image: close up image of a colorful squidWhen Squids Fly… Anything’s Possible!Squids? Flying? Oh, yeah! Across the top of our world's oceans, squid are taking flight for reasons that still remain to be known. Here's your nugget of delight for the day!
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      • Environment
          • Image: child holding an adults hand, walking away from the camera into the woods towards the sunWhy Optimism Is Our Most Powerful Tool for ChangeAre we thinking about "optimism" all wrong? Could this frame of mind actually bring about a brighter future? In her fantastic TED Talk, diplomat Christiana Figueres shows us her trick to creating the realities that we want in life; something she calls, stubborn optimism!
          • Image: Dry, dead tree in the middle of the sandy, desolate, Namib DesertCreating Water Out of Thin Air! The Desert Beetle Revolutionizing Our Water CrisisIn our fight to bring clean, fresh water to billions of people around the world, innovators now have a new source of inspiration from the middle of the... desert? A beetle with a unique ability to capture water out of thin air is inspiring a new generation of life-saving technologies! 
          • Source: Beautiful bison with the grassesThe 2,000-Pound Vegetarians Slowing Climate ChangeSome of our best environmental engineers when it comes to winning the race to slow climate change have turned out to be these natural (and very cute) prairie-preserving specialists! Here’s how bison are restoring a previously destroyed landscape and keeping tons of carbon out of our atmosphere along the way.
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      • Conservation & Sustainability
          • person planting trees in a desolate areaHow #TeamTrees Proves the Internet Can Do Good 20. Million. NEW. Trees. You read that right! When fans of YouTuber MrBeast sparked a lofty goal of planting 20 million trees in 2019, the mission spread like wildfire, exploding to include thousands of content creators and hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Check this story out for proof that when people come together for good, there’s no end to their impact.
          • Image: diver swimming with reef sharksHooked on Helping: The Diver Who Lets Sharks Nap in Her Lap!Can one of the world's most feared predators teach us to take a more gentle approach toward others? You’ll be hooked on this heartwarming story of Cristina Zenato, one of the first scuba divers in the world to get a shark to "nap" in her lap!
          • Source: Beautiful bison with the grassesThe 2,000-Pound Vegetarians Slowing Climate ChangeSome of our best environmental engineers when it comes to winning the race to slow climate change have turned out to be these natural (and very cute) prairie-preserving specialists! Here’s how bison are restoring a previously destroyed landscape and keeping tons of carbon out of our atmosphere along the way.
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  • Creativity
      • All Creativity
          • Image: David Zinn sitting on his front porch steps with his little creations gathered around himObstacles Can Be Inspiration—Just Look at This Chalk Artist! If you've ever felt stuck, held back, or like you just couldn't make sense of the task in front of you, here's an interesting place to start: your limitations. Using your obstacles for inspiration is just what chalk artist David Zinn does when he needs to break through his creative block. His story proves that perhaps, your roadblocks could be just what you need to create something amazing. 
          • Picking up Gudetama with chopsticksHave You Met Gudetama? This Sad Egg Yolk is Bringing Big Smiles!Have you ever noticed that the fastest way to connect with someone is to show them your soft side? We’re hatching a new “normal” with help from a lazy little egg yolk that has captivated the hearts of people around the world. Find out why we are obsessed with Gudetama!
          • Image: side by side shot of someone's pet with tongue hanging out and their funny portrait!Bad Drawings Bring Big Smiles: A Portrait of Paw-fect Imperfection!Can a drawing of a cross-eyed dog better the lives of those less fortunate? We’re embracing our flaws and finding humor within the wonderful work of pet-portrait artist, Hercule Van Wolfwinkle!
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      • Art
          • Image: David Zinn sitting on his front porch steps with his little creations gathered around himObstacles Can Be Inspiration—Just Look at This Chalk Artist! If you've ever felt stuck, held back, or like you just couldn't make sense of the task in front of you, here's an interesting place to start: your limitations. Using your obstacles for inspiration is just what chalk artist David Zinn does when he needs to break through his creative block. His story proves that perhaps, your roadblocks could be just what you need to create something amazing. 
          • Image: person standing infront of a large painting with their hands behind their backHow Nuclear Bombs Are Revealing Forgeries!What do priceless works of art and nuclear bombs have in common? Well, if you're trying to sniff out art forgeries, those bombs come in handy! It turns out art heists are a lot more high tech than you may expect.
          • Image: side by side shot of someone's pet with tongue hanging out and their funny portrait!Bad Drawings Bring Big Smiles: A Portrait of Paw-fect Imperfection!Can a drawing of a cross-eyed dog better the lives of those less fortunate? We’re embracing our flaws and finding humor within the wonderful work of pet-portrait artist, Hercule Van Wolfwinkle!
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      • Dance
          • Image: Six member of Hip Op-eration posingThe World’s Oldest Dance Troupe Will Steal Your Heart! The oldest hip hop dance troupe in the world has a few things to show us about what happens when we let ourselves live without limits. Artificial hips, memory loss, and all, we can feel like life every day is a great celebration!
          • Image: Shemika Charles shimmying under an SUVCelebrating Culture by Getting Down with the Limbo Queen!How low can you go? Many of us associate the limbo with a game played at children's birthday parties, but do you know where it actually came from? Let's uncover the history behind the limbo, and watch the world's reigning limbo champion shimmy her way to the top by scooting down mind-blowingly low!
          • Image: Shaheem Sanchez tuttingMeet the Dancer Combining Sign Language & Hip HopShaheem Sanchez lost his hearing as a child, but now as a professional dancer, teacher, and advocate he is on a mission to make ASL dance a movement. His work points to possibilities all around us, probably hiding in plain sight, if we can just eliminate our assumptions.
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      • Music
          • Image: Nataliz in a white gown smiling and playing the musical saw!When One Dream Ends, How Do We Find Another?Are you working towards a certain goal? Have you felt like your life has been thrown off track lately? The story of how Natalia Paruz became known as the "Saw Lady" will have you finding delightful inspiration in the most unusual places!
          • Image: Six member of Hip Op-eration posingThe World’s Oldest Dance Troupe Will Steal Your Heart! The oldest hip hop dance troupe in the world has a few things to show us about what happens when we let ourselves live without limits. Artificial hips, memory loss, and all, we can feel like life every day is a great celebration!
          • Image: Images of people singing in the virtual choirFeel the Magic That Happens When 17,000 People Sing Together!When we're forced to be apart from each other, remarkable ingenuity pops up to find that connection we crave. And nothing is more connected than a choir of voices singing together; let alone a choir of over 17,000 people! Here's something to make your heart sing again. 
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      • Design
          • Image: Baby Yoda figurineGoodbye, Green Screen — Here’s the Tech That’s Changing Film Forever!Movies have a way of taking us on journeys we could not have gone on without them. Now, those journeys just got a whole lot more real! We’re traveling to a galaxy far far away and discovering an other-worldly way of storytelling for at-home audiences everywhere!
          • Image: One of Hal's paintings: fall foliagePassion Knows No Age: The 97-Year-Old Artist Painting Pixel by Pixel! When we're faced with uncontrollable circumstances that make doing what we love difficult, the only thing left to do is get creative! For Hal Lasko, who began losing his sight from an incurable disease, that came in the form of painting intricate pieces of artwork in an unexpected way!
          • Image: Bread and Puppet PostersHow the Printing Press Can Help Us Live Better in the Digital Era!Why do people flock to a remote farm in Vermont to witness an art form that's centuries-old? Well, perhaps it has something to do with reminding us all to reconnect to the slow, meaningful moments in life! Pause for a moment and join us for this wonder. 
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      • Photography
          • Image: Young people together in schoolWhat if Mass Media was Used for Good?There’s more power in positive media than just making us feel good! Sharing stories that celebrate progress around the world has the ability to change lives. Check out this collective of creators redefining the way we tell the stories about some of our world’s biggest issues, and the people working to alleviate them.
          • ispyblackbackground“I SPY”: The Books that Still Catch Our Eye!Have you ever been captivated by the magic of an "I SPY" book? Let us introduce you to Walter Wick, the photographer behind these imaginative works of art!
          • Lewis HineCan the Photos You Share Really Make a Difference?Do your shares on social media really mean anything? We're taking a look in the history books to see how sharing photographs has changed the world before, and how you can have a hand in making a difference today!
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  • Science
      • All Science
          • Image: view of a platypus in the water from the topNew Discovery! More Mammals Are Glowing in the Dark?Platypus are already known to be strange creatures, but there’s a new characteristic to add to these odd-balls: they GLOW! The thing is, scientists are finding that they actually aren't the weird ones when it comes to this. It turns out, glowing in the dark is a trait far more common in mammals than we've ever thought! Ready to test what you think is possible?
          • Image: person standing infront of a large painting with their hands behind their backHow Nuclear Bombs Are Revealing Forgeries!What do priceless works of art and nuclear bombs have in common? Well, if you're trying to sniff out art forgeries, those bombs come in handy! It turns out art heists are a lot more high tech than you may expect.
          • Image: Birds flying in front of a full moonWeird Stories We Tell Ourselves: Do Birds Fly to the Moon Every Winter?Birds flying to the moon, sleeping at the bottom of lakes, or transforming into other animals? For centuries, bird migration evaded our understanding, and those wild theories were taken as true. Here's a look at how the hypothesis of bird migration was tested, and how hundreds of people helped prove it! 
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      • Space
          • Image: people looking up at the moonWe’re Going to the Moon Again! The Reasons Why Are AmazingNeed something awesome to look forward to? In 2024, you'll be able to look up at the moon and know that humans are on it! That's right, we're going to the moon again, and this historical mission is bringing us closer to a better shared future, for everyone. 
          • Image: Astronaut on a spacewalk outside of the international space station (ISS)What Astronauts Bring Back to Earth for Us!What can we learn from the people who have spent life OUTSIDE of our planet? The International Space Station is one of the most incredible feats of human engineering, and the secret to making it all possible is a lesson that could help us solve our biggest problems down here on Earth!
          • Image: Artist Representation of Kepler Space TelescopeHow to Become a Planet Hunter & Other Important Life LessonsHave you ever had a moment that changed the trajectory of your life? For Anne Datillo, a moment of curiosity took her from college student to Planet Hunter! Whether or not we're reaching for the stars, her story has some wisdom we can all learn from!
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      • Health
          • Image: Wooden sauna in the grasses with mountains in the backgroundThe Steamy Reasons Finland Is Obsessed with SaunasStep into the hot, steamy, world of… Finland? Yep! With over 2 million saunas throughout the country, the town of Lapland has piqued our curiosity. So, why is the entire town and country so obsessed with saunas? It's more than just the health benefits. Here's a look at community quirks that'll leave you feeling refreshed!
          • Image: a bunch of freshly washed asparagus in a strainerAsparagus: A New Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries?A feeling very familiar to most of us almost kept this life-changing treatment for spinal cord injuries from making it to testing! Here's how Andrew Pelling and his fellow researchers overcame self-doubt to create this breakthrough innovation.
          • Image: young kid very excited about a giant slice ofcake!Ever Wondered Why You Always Have Room for Dessert?Why is it that after even the biggest meal you still have room for dessert? You may not have two stomachs, but you do have an evolutionary trick that has helped to keep us alive for thousands of years!
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      • Psychology
          • Image: Person raising their arms with joy to the morning sun at their windowForget Perfection, Here’s the Easiest Way to Form Any New Habit!Want to create a habit that you can actually keep? This thought leader has a trick that takes the pressure off!
          • Image: kid smiling and running in sprinklersThe Key to Finding Happiness That LastsSure, you've heard about the "key to happiness" before, but you don't need to pay extra money or crush any big goals to achieve lasting happiness. Here's how you get off the pursuit of happiness treadmill and find happiness that truly lasts!
          • Image: 5 doors, four grey and 1 yellowThis Magic Trick Can Keep You from Being Manipulated!Do you know if the decisions you make are really your own? This magician has a few tricks up her sleeve to help you avoid being unknowingly influenced and take control of your decision making again!
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  • Culture
      • All Culture
          • Image: Wooden sauna in the grasses with mountains in the backgroundThe Steamy Reasons Finland Is Obsessed with SaunasStep into the hot, steamy, world of… Finland? Yep! With over 2 million saunas throughout the country, the town of Lapland has piqued our curiosity. So, why is the entire town and country so obsessed with saunas? It's more than just the health benefits. Here's a look at community quirks that'll leave you feeling refreshed!
          • Picking up Gudetama with chopsticksHave You Met Gudetama? This Sad Egg Yolk is Bringing Big Smiles!Have you ever noticed that the fastest way to connect with someone is to show them your soft side? We’re hatching a new “normal” with help from a lazy little egg yolk that has captivated the hearts of people around the world. Find out why we are obsessed with Gudetama!
          • Image: Person with large backpack on standing atop of a snow covered cliff, staring off into the distance.Warming Up to the Newbie in One of the World’s Iciest PlacesWhat if we treated every day like the first day on a remarkably challenging new job? Here’s what being the “new kid” on one of the world’s most unique climbing expeditions is like, and how we can better embrace this spirit of seeing our jobs, habits, and lives with fresh eyes!
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      • Saturdays Around the World
          • Image: Green door in the sandstone—an entrance to an underground home in Coober PedyHuman Ingenuity Never Fails: The Town Built Underground!What do you get when you combine resilient people, extreme weather conditions, and a former mining town?  In Coober Pedy, residents live, work, grocery shop, and do everything else... underground. This unique and fascinating lifestyle is a great look into how humans can learn to thrive, no matter the challenges we face. They give a whole new meaning to the term "down under"!
          • Image: Person with large backpack on standing atop of a snow covered cliff, staring off into the distance.Warming Up to the Newbie in One of the World’s Iciest PlacesWhat if we treated every day like the first day on a remarkably challenging new job? Here’s what being the “new kid” on one of the world’s most unique climbing expeditions is like, and how we can better embrace this spirit of seeing our jobs, habits, and lives with fresh eyes!
          • Image: close shot of an eelgrass sea hare!How Sea Bunnies and Otters Teamed Up to Save a SeashoreIs an ecosystem like a community? One beloved natural space was almost lost forever when it lost two of it's most important members, but here's how embracing their unique skills saved their home! 
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      • Travel
          • Image: Green door in the sandstone—an entrance to an underground home in Coober PedyHuman Ingenuity Never Fails: The Town Built Underground!What do you get when you combine resilient people, extreme weather conditions, and a former mining town?  In Coober Pedy, residents live, work, grocery shop, and do everything else... underground. This unique and fascinating lifestyle is a great look into how humans can learn to thrive, no matter the challenges we face. They give a whole new meaning to the term "down under"!
          • Image: older person working on a bike at the Fort Collins Bike ShopSwitching Gears: How You Can Start Leaving a Lasting Legacy Today!How do you ensure that you leave behind a positive legacy? Well, maybe it's about rethinking the ways we approach what we do next. Here's a new view on what it means to build a legacy for yourself that lasts—plus proof that it works! 
          • Image: Kazakh eagle hunter holding their eagle palWhat Do You Have in Common with a Nomadic Family in Mongolia?Every time we see how someone else lives, our own lives become a bit more fascinating! This special edition of Saturdays Around the World brings us to Mongolia, to meet nomadic Kazakh families and get a taste for their beautiful lifestyle.
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      • Sports
          • Image: Person with large backpack on standing atop of a snow covered cliff, staring off into the distance.Warming Up to the Newbie in One of the World’s Iciest PlacesWhat if we treated every day like the first day on a remarkably challenging new job? Here’s what being the “new kid” on one of the world’s most unique climbing expeditions is like, and how we can better embrace this spirit of seeing our jobs, habits, and lives with fresh eyes!
          • Image: Hazel Findley climbing up Concepcion in UtahA Rock Climber’s Perspective on Reaching New HeightsWhen a big problem towers over us, how do we come out on top? Let's join a renowned rock climber to see how she overcomes fear and intense pressure to accomplish her goals as she takes on one of her biggest challenges yet!
          • Image: Battambang Roses players laughing and playingNeed the Courage to Try Something New? Read This First!Have you ever found yourself not trying something new because you were scared of failing? This story of Cambodia's first women's wheelchair basketball team's journey is about to change that. 
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      • Food
          • Image: someone handing over a plate of oystersHeroes from Table Scraps: How Oysters Are Protecting NYC!New York Harbor is the cleanest it's been in over a century and it's thanks to a delicacy many of us love to slurp down...oysters! Using nature's knowhow, table scraps, and a little ingenuity, oysters are bringing life back to polluted waters and protecting one of America's most beloved cities!
          • Image: Two cans of Spam by the grill!Why Does the World Love Spam So Much?!What can Spam teach us about our shared humanity? Whether you think it's a delicacy or a mystery meat, Spam has been brought to new culinary heights by cultures around the globe! Join us in a celebration of this strange meaty wonder!
          • Image: decorated gingerbread houseHow to Make Your Next Holiday Tradition a Sweet One!From decorating gingerbread houses to hiding fake fruit, we’re celebrating the warm fuzzy feelings that accompany holiday traditions. Let’s unwrap the secret to spreading cheer!
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      • History
          • Image: person standing infront of a large painting with their hands behind their backHow Nuclear Bombs Are Revealing Forgeries!What do priceless works of art and nuclear bombs have in common? Well, if you're trying to sniff out art forgeries, those bombs come in handy! It turns out art heists are a lot more high tech than you may expect.
          • Image: Two cans of Spam by the grill!Why Does the World Love Spam So Much?!What can Spam teach us about our shared humanity? Whether you think it's a delicacy or a mystery meat, Spam has been brought to new culinary heights by cultures around the globe! Join us in a celebration of this strange meaty wonder!
          • Image: Large bonsaiA Bonsai Master’s Perspective on the Legacy You’re Leaving BehindThe ancient art of bonsai can teach you a lot about how to leave a legacy behind for generations to come. Whether or not you decide to take up your pruning sheers, bonsai master Chiako Yamamoto has some words of wisdom for you!
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          • Image: silhouette of bigfootMeet the People at the Festival Hollering Out for Bigfoot!Warm-up your bellowing lungs and get out your hiking boots, because we're going on an adventure to track down the elusive Sasquatch! With the help of a few communities dedicated to celebrating the Big Foot legend, fun and adventure are just around the corner.
          • image: Paper Cutout of the word loveHow Do You Find the Right Words for Your Love?Have you ever felt an emotion you didn't have the words for? This is where the beauty of other languages can step in. When it comes to love, there are a lot of feelings that English sometimes can't quite express, but other languages have captured that magic!
          • Image: People celebrating wildly throwing colorful things in the airWhat We’ve Learned from 5 Years of Curating the WebWant an antidote for the daily news, without completely abandoning ship? We're celebrating 5 years of publishing "the rest of the story" here at Ever Widening Circles! So join us as we point you to some of the amazing topics we've discovered while curating the web for the insights and innovations being missed by most.
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Liesl Ulrich-Verderber

CEO of Ever Widening Circles, Founder of EWCed

Since 2015, Liesl has been a writer, editor, and is now the CEO at Ever Widening Circles. She is a life-long camera-toting traveler, a global story seeker, and an aspiring—but more often root-tripping—outdoor enthusiast. She can be found on Instagram @Liesl.UV

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Lynda Ulrich

Founder

Dr. Lynda is a dentist, artist, global traveler, and philanthropist who looks for potential and shares it with the world. Hear her latest conversations with thought leaders on the Ever Widening Circles Podcast--new episodes every Thursday!

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Dr. Chuck Verderber

CFO

Dr. Chuck is our CFO--Chief Fun Officer--at Ever Widening Circles. He and Dr. Lynda are dentists in and practice together at Fiddlehead Dental in Northern Vermont.

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Abigayle Fugere

Abi is passionate about warm chocolate chip cookies with a glass of milk, analyzing numbers, and soaking up the sun on the beach.

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Thomas Begley

Outreach Coordinator

Thomas is a young and eager person who enjoys pottery, Vietnamese food, and spending time with his hip parents. A recent college graduate, he works as a waiter in St. Albans and loves to sing at anyone who will listen.

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Ellen Allerton

Sponsorship Coordinator

After graduating from St. Lawrence University in 2020 and returning home to Vermont, Ellen found that helping make the world a better place with the EWC team was just where she wanted to be. You can usually find her watching television while getting crafty, on the ice as a figure skating coach for 10-14 year old's, or in her inflatable kayak named Heidi. She’s quite the film nerd and quite the cook, and likes it best when those two things—movies and food—coincide.

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Renee Laroche-Rheaume

Outreach Coordinator

Renee is a graduate of FIDM, and has held jobs in several industries such as apparel manufacturing, retail, professional office work, and even hospitality! Her creative outlook, wide variety of experiences, and desire to notice the beauty around us make her a great addition to the EWC team!

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Sam Burns

Editor in Chief

Sam has written and edited hundreds of articles since joining the EWC team in 2016. She writes about topics from the wonders of nature to the organizations changing the world and the simple joys in life! Outside of the EWC office, she’s a part-time printmaker, collector of knick-knacks, and taster of cheeses.

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Boris Riabov

Guest Contributor

Boris is an independent filmmaker and Russian-American daydreamer extraordinaire: currently, the happiest of campers and guest writer for Ever Widening Circles. The French Press is his kind of morning news, he backpacks with the best of em’ and dies hard for his NY Knicks (scoring more socks into his own dryer). His lack of gardening skills qualify him to farm playlists on Spotify as he stomps his new grounds of Vancouver, B.C.—follow him on ze Instagrams @wordsmysteps.  

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Brittany Nugent

Guest Contributor

Brittany has been writing and creating stories since childhood! She graduated from Holy Family University with a degree in communications, is an avid world traveler (five of the seven continents!), lover of nature, and spends her days working to connect to the world in deeper ways. Have any questions about the awesome world of rocks and crystals? She's your gal.

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For the month of March, the Conspiracy of Goodness For the month of March, the Conspiracy of Goodness Network is hosting a daily gratitude challenge. It only takes a few minutes and it's a fantastic way to start the new week!⠀ .⠀ So, what are you grateful for today? Snap a photo and tag us in your post!
Can you guess what Renee's next article will be ab Can you guess what Renee's next article will be about based on this photograph from 1992?⠀ .⠀ Write your guesses in the comments! 👇
In this edition of "Saturdays Around the World", w In this edition of "Saturdays Around the World", we're headed waaaay down under—underground in Australia!⠀ .⠀ Click to learn why an Aussie community is building its homes underground. Our article may leave you digging deep below the surface to discover what other clever innovations are in store!⠀ .⠀ Special thanks to Great Big Story (@greatbigstory) and BBC Reel (@bbc_reel) for the wonder-filled videos in the article!⠀ .⠀ ___________________________⠀ Image source: Wikimedia
Create your next masterpiece with Blick Art Materi Create your next masterpiece with Blick Art Materials (@blickartmaterials)! 🎨⠀ We ❤ Blick because they recognize the value of giving back to the creative community by donating supplies to artists all throughout the US!⠀ .⠀ We are affiliates of Blick, so when you shop for their art supplies using the link in our bio, EWC gets a small commission. Thank you for your support! 🙏⠀ .⠀ Copy/paste this link for more info on what being an affiliate means: https://buff.ly/2IP7BSo
They're endless, aren't they? ⠀ ⠀ Save this p They're endless, aren't they? ⠀ ⠀ Save this post for inspiration later! 😍⠀ ⠀ #Quoteoftheday #EmilyDickinson⠀ ⠀ ** Image Description ** ⠀ Text on black background: "'I dwell in possibility.' —Emily Dickinson"
Trees can talk to each other. Want to know how? Li Trees can talk to each other. Want to know how? Listen to this week's EWC Podcast episode! 🎧⠀ .⠀ This week's guest is Michael Shields, host of Across the Margin: The Podcast (@acrossthemargin).⠀ .⠀ In this episode, we're talking about the power of active listening in looking for stories that are only waiting for us to be discovered. ⠀ We’re also discussing trees and how they communicate with one another. ⠀ Yes, you read that right! 🌳💭🌲⠀ .⠀ Tap the link in our bio to listen!
Ever been so exhausted by the thought of working t Ever been so exhausted by the thought of working toward a goal that you gave up before getting started?⠀ .⠀ You're not alone, dear friend. In fact, this is a very common part of the human experience!⠀ .⠀ Thankfully, the TED (@ted) Talk by Dr. Christine Carter (@christinecarterphd) in today's article clues us in on how being BAD at working toward a goal is actually the key to success!⠀ .⠀ Curious yet? Tap the link in our bio for the full story.⠀ .⠀ ________________________⠀ Image source: Pixabay
We need you, in all your uniqueness ❤️️⠀ ⠀ Save this post for inspiration later 😍⠀ ⠀ #Quoteoftheday #ViolaDavis⠀ ⠀ ** Image Description ** ⠀ Text on white background: "You can't be hesitant about who you are.' —Viola Davis"
Ready to meet another K-9 companion from the EWC u Ready to meet another K-9 companion from the EWC universe? This is Berlin! 😍⠀ .⠀ At 10 years old, Berlin is a sweet old man who according to our teammate Callie, is the "kind of dog that’s always scaring our mailmen into early retirement, but he’s also the most gentle, loving, loyal dog I’ve ever known.".⠀ .⠀ How have your pets helped you get through Covid life? Tell us about them in the comments!
Set your reminders friends, our very first Happy[n Set your reminders friends, our very first Happy[ness] Hour is tonight at 6:30 pm EST!⠀ .⠀ As members of the Conspiracy of Goodness Network, you won't want to miss this exclusive interactive session with CEO and bestselling author, Robert Glazer (@robertglazer_).⠀ .⠀ Join us for LIVE Q & A as Bob shares the importance of having core values, and introduces a method you can use to identify and clarify your own list!⠀ .⠀ RSVP here through the link in our bio.⠀ See you there!
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