
Five times sea creatures captivated an audience. See the ‘phenomenal' sightings
A days-old orca calf was spotted near San Juan Island, closely shadowing its mother as researchers monitored their health. A peachy-colored orca calf, J-62, showed playful energy while socializing with her J pod family in the Salish Sea. In Ireland, a rare sighting of a sperm whale navigating a shallow estuary ended safely, easing conservationists' fears.
Read the stories below.
File photo. An endangered baby whale was born recently. It has been spotted off San Juan Island. James Beheshti via Unsplash
NO. 1: DAYS-OLD ENDANGERED SEA CREATURE SWIMS WITH MOM NEAR WASHINGTON ISLAND. SEE THE PAIR
'What a tiny miracle.' | Published September 18, 2024 | Read Full Story by Helena Wegner
Two pairs of female North American right whales and calves were spotted near north Florida Dec. 30, the FWC said. Getty Images/iStockphoto
NO. 2: ENDANGERED WHALES — ONE A FIRST-TIME MOM — SPOTTED WITH CALVES OFF FLORIDA. SEE THEM
Fewer than 400 remain in the wild, biologists estimate. | Published January 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Olivia Lloyd
The calf was first spotted New Year's Eve. James Beheshti via Unsplash
NO. 3: BABY KILLER WHALE WITH PEACHY COLORING SEEN BONDING WITH FAMILY OFF WA. 'PHENOMENAL'
A video shows the endangered sea creature rolling and splashing. | Published March 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Helena Wegner
In a 'rare' sighting, a sperm whale was observed swimming into the mouth of a river in Ireland. Just a few dozen sperm whale sightings have been made off the coast of Ireland since 1990, according to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group. Photo from IWDG, Facebook
NO. 4: DEEP WATER WHALE SEEN SWIMMING UP SHALLOW RIVER IN IRELAND, PHOTOS SHOW. 'RARE EVENT'
The species has only been documented off the Emerald Isle about two dozen times since 1990. | Published March 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brendan Rascius
The whales, named Koala and Curlew, 'appear to be in good health,' officials says. However, they face dangers from potentially deadly boat strikes due to being close to shore at a tourism hot spot, experts say. NOAA Fisheries photo
NO. 5: TWO ENDANGERED WHALES MYSTERIOUSLY POP UP OFF UNEXPECTED US COASTLINE, NOAA SAYS
The pair are 'out-of-habitat,' experts say. | Published April 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Mark Price
The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Shroud of Turin didn't wrap Jesus' crucified body — it was just art, new research claims
This holy linen's origins remain shrouded in mystery. Contrary to popular belief, the sacred Shroud of Turin was not used to cover Jesus' post-crucifixion and was actually a recreation created by artists, per a study published in the journal Archaeometry. 'The Shroud's image is more consistent with an artistic low-relief representation than with the direct imprint of a real human body,' Brazilian 3D digital designer Cicero Moraes, who used modeling software wrote in the paper, per the Daily Mail. Advertisement The legendary linen, which measures 14.5 feet by 3.7 feet, is one of the world's most iconic religious relics. The artifact is emblazoned with the visage of a crucified man, which penitents and religious scholars believe was formed when the shroud was used to wrap the Messiah's bloody body after he was taken off the cross 2,000 years ago. 4 Moraes various 3D simulation tools to digitally drape both bodies, before comparing the virtual fabric to photos of the Shroud snapped in 1931 — a forensic 'wrap' battle of sorts. Cicero Moraes However, skeptics have disputed the theory, citing a carbon dating analysis that placed the shroud's creation between 1260 to 1390 — a time when low-relief sculptures of religious figures were prevalent, especially on tombstones according to PBS. Advertisement But was the shroud Jesus' actual post-crucifixion cloth or a Medieval hoax? Moraes has seemingly settled the longstanding debate after using the aforementioned tech to scientifically prove that the Shroud of Turin couldn't have been used to swaddle JC. 4 'The Shroud's image is more consistent with an artistic low-relief representation than with the direct imprint of a real human body,' said Moraes while discussing the Shroud Of Turin (pictured). Getty Images To determine whether the cloth skewed more form or religious function, the virtual wizard devised two digital models: a 3D human body and a low-relief representation of the human form, Livescience reported. Advertisement He then used various 3D simulation tools to digitally drape both bodies, before comparing the virtual fabric to photos of the Shroud snapped in 1931 — a forensic 'wrap' battle of sorts. The virtual forensicist was reportedly building on a previous experiment where he just virtually covered a 3D body double without the low relief version. 4 The archbishop of Turin Severino Poletto attends the Solemn Exposition Of The Holy Shroud on April 10, 2010 in Turin, Italy. Getty Images Through this digital game of dressup, Moraes discovered that the low-relief recreation was an exact match for the pictures, while the 3D iteration was far from form-fitting. In the latter, the fabric deformed around the body in a phenomenon he analogized to the 'Agammemnon Mask Effect,' named after the preternaturally wide gold death face covering that was exhumed from a tomb in Greece. Advertisement 4 An archive negative image of the Shroud of Turin (L) is shown next to one recreated by an Italian scientist and released in Pavia October 5, 2009. REUTERS One can think of the phenomenon like painting one's face and pressing it into a piece of cloth. The resultant imprint is distorted and warped and looks almost nothing like a person's real countenance, making it unlikely that the immaculate Jesus image on the Shroud was his actual face print. Therefore, Moraes theorized that the shroud was not the genuine artifact used to clothe Jesus but was rather approximated via a shallow carving. 'The image on the Shroud of Turin is more consistent with a low-relief matrix,' he told Livescience. 'Such a matrix could have been made of wood, stone or metal and pigmented — or even heated — only in the areas of contact, producing the observed pattern.' Although he hinted at the remote possibility that the work was an 'imprint of a three-dimensional human body.' Much like the Jesus gravestone reliefs popular in the Middle Ages, Moraes believed that the Shroud was a funerary work, making it 'a masterpiece of Christian art.' Nonetheless, plenty of researchers maintain that the Shroud's image was formed by the actual body, er, face of Christ. Advertisement University of Padua professor Giulio Fanti asserted in a study that the Shroud of Turin offered legitimate proof of Jesus Christ's crucifixion wounds due to the blood stain patterns. Fanti posited that 'the different directions of blood flow from the side wound are discussed, the probable presence of pulmonary fluid,' and 'some bloodstains' point to trauma suffered by the Savior.


Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Forever chemicals' like PFAS found in eco-friendly branded menstrual products: new study
The results of a new study are disappointing for those choosing to be eco-friendly when it comes to their menstrual products. The study found 'forever chemicals,' also known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), were observed in some reusable menstrual pads and panties. According to researchers with Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs and the University of Notre Dame, 59 reusable personal hygiene products from North America, South America and Europe were tested. It included pads, liners, underwear and incontinence underwear from North American companies like Knix, Jockey, Diva Cup, Aisle, Bambody, Cariona, MeLuna, Thinx, Uniqlo and more. Nearly 30 per cent of the samples were positive for PFAS, researchers found. 'Since reusable products are on the rise due to their increased sustainability compared to single-use products, it's important to ensure that these products are safe,' associate professor Marta Venier said in a press release . 'This is crucial, especially for adolescents and young women, who are more vulnerable to potential negative health effects. 'Feminine hygiene products stay in contact with the skin for extended periods of time, and the risks from the dermal absorption of PFAS, especially neutral PFAS, are not well understood.' As part of the study, 22 one-time use products were also included from various countries, with pads, panty liners and incontinence products tested from brand names like The Honest Company, Always, Kotex, O.B., Equate, Depend, TENA and Stayfree. In some cases, the products advertise they are 'natural,' 'organic,' 'non-toxic,' 'sustainable' or made using 'no harmful chemicals.' The authors chose not to identify PFAS concentrations by brand, but said more research is needed. This isn't the first time menstrual products have been under the PFAS microscope. A 2023 study has already shared PFAS chemicals are in some one-time use products like tampons, along with reuseable period underwear. 'Most surprising to the researchers was the presence of total fluorine in the wrappers for numerous pads and some tampons, as well as the outer layers of some of the period underwear,' the 2023 study noted. Researchers speculated PFAS was used in wrappers to keep the tampons dry prior to use, and they were in the outer layer of the period underwear to prevent leaks. 'Of course, you're concerned for the wearer, but we're also concerned about the ecological impact because PFAS are 'forever chemicals,'' principal investigator Dr. Graham Peaslee said in a press release . 'Once these products are thrown away, they go to landfills and decay, releasing PFAS into groundwater. And we, or later generations, could end up inadvertently ingesting them.' PFAS are made up of over 12,000 compounds that have stick, stain and water-resistant properties, the American Chemical Society said in the 2023 study. These forever chemicals are often found in many household products, including some food and food packaging and containers, non-stick pans, household cleaning products, some cosmetics and shampoo, and in fire extinguisher foam and carpets. PFAS are linked to serious health risks, Venier said. But not every product tested had the 'forever chemicals.' 'While further studies are needed to define the risk of PFAS exposure to human skin, the study's finding that at least one sample per category showed no intentional presence of these chemicals suggests that safer and healthier alternatives can be manufactured without them,' Vernier added. More people experiencing periods today are choosing eco-friendly products 'to combat the environmental impact of disposable products,' this study has found. Yet eventually, even reusable products will likely end up in landfills. 'Consumers should know that not everything that is in a product is listed on the package,' Venier said. 'Increased transparency from manufacturers would help consumers make informed decisions about what they're purchasing for themselves and their families.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .


Forbes
a day ago
- Forbes
A Six-Planet Parade Is Coming — When To See It
planets of the Solar System abstract background, texture maps courtesy of NASA ( getty August is set to be a superb month for stargazers. The whole world may not go dark on Aug. 2 as the viral posts on social media would have it, but with the Perseid meteor shower and the full sturgeon moon, it's set to be a great month to be outside at night. However, the highlight will likely be a 'planet parade' (also called a 'planetary alignment') — six planets in the night sky at the same time, but only for those who get their timing spot on. Although the timings are not precise — with your location making a big difference to whether you'll see tiny Mercury or not — the highlights will be bright Venus, Jupiter and a brightening Saturn. Here's everything you need to know about the "planet parade" in August 2025. This planet parade — following on from one in the evening sky in February — will take place in the morning sky. That means you'll need to get up early to see it. The dates will vary depending on where you live, but this planet parade will take place between Aug. 10-20 in the eastern sky about an hour before sunrise. The planets Jupiter (L), Venus (C) and Mercury (R) are seen in an unusual conjunction setting over the Wupatki pueblo ruin on May 24, 2013 at Wupatki National Monument north of Flagstaff, Arizona. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images During the first week, from Aug. 10-17, six planets will reside in the night sky, though only four will be visible — and only three will be easy targets. Venus and Jupiter will shine very close to each other above due east, with Mercury becoming visible beneath them closer to sunrise. On the morning of Aug. 12, Venus and Jupiter will be in conjunction, appearing 0.9 degrees apart. Saturn will be high in the south, with Neptune just above it (though not visible). Uranus will be high in the southeast (also not visible). From Aug. 17-20, the waning crescent moon will move past the planets, getting slimmer each day, with the highlight on Aug. 20 when a 9%-lit crescent moon will appear next to Venus. Observing Tips You don't need anything but your naked eyes to see this 'planet parade.' A large telescope is required to see Uranus and Neptune. However, since Mercury will be rising in the east, it will likely be harder to see in the haze of the horizon, so a pair of binoculars may make it easier (it will appear as a reddish dot). However, do be sure to stop using binoculars before sunrise because pointing them at the sun is very dangerous. Milky way arch over the Monument Valley, USA getty August is a perfect month for stargazing, with warm evenings and more hours of darkness than July. The highlight is the Perseid meteor shower on Aug. 12-13, though its rates of meteors will dip significantly this year because of a bright moon. The best time in August to go stargazing will be between Aug. 16-26, when bright moonlight won't be a factor. That's the best time to see August's true sky highlight — the Milky Way. You'll need to be in a dark sky destination — by using a light pollution map or staying overnight in an International Dark Sky Place . Look southeast as soon as it gets dark; the Milky Way streams through the Summer Triangle stars down to the galactic core near the constellations Scorpius and Sagittarius in the south. For exact timings, use a sunrise and sunset calculator for where you are, Stellarium Web for a sky chart and Night Sky Tonight: Visible Planets at Your Location for positions and rise/set times for planets. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.