Empowering literacy, reading fluency and global awareness through current events and books.
Live Last read · last published · next check
A Tyrannosaurus rex (T. rex) skeleton named "Gus" sold for a record-breaking $50.1 million at a Sotheby's auction in New York on July 14, 2026. The winning sale came after a fierce 10-minute bidding war. The final price far exceeded the fossil's pre-sale estimate of $20 million to $30 million. It also broke the previous dinosaur fossil auction record of $44.6 million set by "Apex," the…
On August 10, 2026, a powerful earthquake shook western Colombia. The magnitude 7.4 tremor was the largest recorded in the country this century. It was felt across neighboring Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela.
NASA's Swift Observatory, which was launched in 2004, was designed to last just two years. Yet more than two decades later, the orbiting space telescope is still helping scientists study gamma-ray bursts. These powerful flashes of energy occur when stars die or collide. They help scientists learn about the history of the universe.
Tako, the piano-playing octopus, has retired. His owner, Swedish YouTuber Mattias Krantz, announced the news in March 2026. It marked the end of an extraordinary experiment that captured the attention of millions.
There are numerous meteor showers throughout the year. However, few are as popular, or as reliable, as the Perseids. The shower has been producing about a dozen meteors an hour since mid-July. But the best time to see them will be on the night of August 12 into the morning of August 13, 2026. That is when the number of meteors will increase sharply to between 50 and 100 an hour. This year, the…
A herd of rescued horses and donkeys at Redwings Horse Sanctuary in Norfolk, England, just received an unexpected wardrobe upgrade. The animals are now wearing bright red team socks from Arsenal FC, one of the world's most famous soccer clubs.
On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse will sweep across Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic Ocean, and narrow parts of northern Spain and Portugal. It will be the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe since 1999.
Thousands of firefighters across France and Spain are working to contain historic wildfires that have forced more than 300,000 people to evacuate. The blazes have been fueled by extreme heat, dry conditions, and powerful winds. They have burned hundreds of thousands of acres of forests and other vegetation across both nations.
On July 18, 2026, Scottish runner Josh Kerr shattered the men's mile world record at the London Diamond League, an elite track and field meet. He crossed the finish line in just 3 minutes and 42.66 seconds, beating the previous world record of 3 minutes and 43.13 seconds. That record had been held by Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj since 1999.
On July 4, 2026, the United States will celebrate its 250th birthday. To mark the occasion, officials will bury a time capsule in Philadelphia. The capsule is designed to give future Americans a glimpse of life in 2026. It will be opened on July 4, 2276, when the nation observes its 500th birthday.
