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From Big Sable, Michigan, to Watch Hill, Rhode Island, to Turkey Point, Maryland, there are only about 800 lighthouses left in the United States — and photographer David Zapatka is on a mission to capture each and every one. So far, he has 193 under his belt, all photographed at night using an innovative 20-foot tripod that a friend made for him. “We’ve successfully shot about 15 lighthouses otherwise unachievable unless we had this fantastic tool,” Zapatka explained to PetaPixel. “It’s been a game-changer for the project, and although we look quite crazy putting together the behemoth tripod while launching it off boats, the results are pretty amazing.” See some of his stunning star-lit pictures here.
| Today’s News |
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| byrneck / iStock |
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Parts of the Great Barrier Reef Show Highest Coral Coverage in 36 Years
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| The Great Barrier Reef is bouncing back. Parts of the world’s largest coral reef system, found off the coast of Australia, are showing the highest coral coverage in 36 years, according to a new report from the Australian Institute of Marine Science. Though the area is still threatened by climate change and warming waters, this recovery is “good news for the overall state of the [Great Barrier Reef],” the report reads.
The institute, which surveyed about two-thirds of the reef, said that one reason for the increased coverage is low levels of “acute stress” over the past year. There have been no severe cyclones and fewer outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish — a species that preys on coral. And while higher water temperatures have led to some coral bleaching, it has not been hot enough to kill the coral. Overall, the Great Barrier Reef has proven to be resilient and able to recover after ecosystem disturbances, a sign that continued conservation and protection efforts are as necessary as ever. |
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| Nick Cammett / Diamond Images via Getty Images |
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NFL Aims to Prevent Head Injuries With Helmet Cap Mandate
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| If you catch any of the NFL preseason, you may notice that your favorite athletes are looking a bit different on the field. As more information comes to light on the effects of repeated concussions, the football organization has been working to find ways to prevent long-term brain damage. So this year, it has mandated that many players don Guardian Caps — cushioned helmet covers — between the start of the training camp contact period and the second preseason game, a time when there is typically a high concentration of head injuries.
Citing lab research, league officials said Guardian Caps will lead to a 10% reduction in severity of impact during collisions if one player is wearing it, and 20% if two players are. Though there has been some skepticism about the new rule, many players recognize the importance of protecting their heads. “I wouldn’t say they’re aesthetically pleasing, and I think we look a little goofy. But they’re there for good reason. They did studies with them. Anything to keep us safer, why not do it?” the Philadelphia Eagles’ Dallas Goedert told the Associated Press. “Obviously you only get one brain. May as well keep it as best you can.” |
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| ginosphotos / iStock |
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Family Reunites With Late Son’s 1989 Message in a Bottle
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| Though he died over a decade ago, Brian Dahl is still bringing people together. In 1989, when he was just 11, Brian put a message in a bottle in Mississippi’s Tallahatchie River for a school project. This year, Billy Mitchell, a salvage worker 200 miles away, spotted it floating above a barge and his team didn’t rest until they found the note’s author. Mitchell’s company posted a photo of the note on Facebook, and it eventually made its way to Brian’s parents, Eric and Melanie, and his brother Chris.
The Dahl family traveled to where the bottle was found — a special trip that Eric said was emblematic of the way Brian, who died in an accident at age 29, lived his life. “He was victorious in his life because of the relationships he established, the bonds with other people,” Eric told USA Today. “And he continues to inspire connections.” Mitchell, meanwhile, saw the bottle as a sign that Brian is with his family, no matter what. “He’s with them still,” he said. “I think that’s what the note meant when we found it. To let his parents know that he was watching over them as well.” |
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