July 22, 2025

The Mighty Moth

Consider the humble moth. It doesn’t get the adoration of its butterfly counterparts in the insect order Lepidoptera, but its beauty is no less dazzling. Although they may fly under the radar, moths make up the vast majority of the 180,000 Lepidopteran species on Earth, not butterflies or skippers, and the entire group is in decline. This Moth Week, take a moment to learn about these surprisingly colorful and diverse pollinators.

What’s the Difference Between Moths and Butterflies?

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Moth insect. Macrocilix maia. This moth has two symmetrical patterns that resemble flies feeding on bird droppings

Who’s Who at the Moth Ball?

Uropyia meticulodina is a species of moth of the Notodontidae family. It is found in China and Taiwan. It's wings bend and curl inward to resemble a leaf.

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Moths, Butterflies and Skippers: The Lepidoptera Insect Order

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In Memoriam

Two entertainers, one known for singing and the other for acting, recently died.

Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne, the singer who fronted Black Sabbath and later went on to solo fame, has died at age 76. Osbourne, who earlier this month played his farewell concert, cofounded Black Sabbath (pictured below) in 1968. The band achieved worldwide fame with songs such as “Paranoid” and “Iron Man” and in the process helped to define the genre of heavy metal. After leaving Black Sabbath in 1979, Osbourne built upon his success with songs such as “Crazy Train” and “I Don’t Know.” In 2001 he (along with his family) was introduced to a new generation with the reality series The Osbournes.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who was known for his work on the hit television comedies The Cosby Show and Malcolm & Eddie, died Sunday at age 54. Warner first rose to prominence for his work on The Cosby Show’s eight-season run, during which he was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1986. He went on to star in the series Here and Now (1992–93) and Malcolm & Eddie (1996–2000), for which he directed 17 episodes. Warner also made regular appearances on hit shows such as Community, Sons of Anarchy, and Suits.

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Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) met with constituents one-on-one at a Safeway in Duval Mine Road and La Canada in Green Valley, AZ, May 22, 2010. Gabby Giffords assassination Jared Lee Loughner Congress on Your Corner Jan. 8, 2011. (see notes)

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In 21st-century America, the targets have included members of Congress, state legislators, and governors.

Asian elephant

The largest land mammal in Asia, these elephants have been classified as an endangered species since 1986.

AHMEDABAD, INDIA- JUNE 12, 2025: Members of the investigation team examine the site of the Air India flight crash on June 12, 2025, in Ahmedabad, India. An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating as Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London's Gatwick Airport crashed shortly after takeoff carrying 232 passengers and 10 crew members. The plane crashed on a resident doctors' hostel in Ahmedabad, which suffered major damage in the accident. India, Asia, Crash, Accident,

Air India Flight 171

This passenger airliner crashed on June 12 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, claiming the lives of 241 of the 242 people on board.

Greenland shark under ice (Somniosus microcephalus), Lancaster Sound, northern Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada.

The longest-living animal

On land that distinction goes to the tortoise. But in the water there’s an animal capable of living for 500 years.

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Take this quiz or you may regret it. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (left of centre) and Malcolm X (right) waiting for a press conference, 1964.

American Civil Rights Movement Quiz

Test your knowledge of Americans’ tumultuous fight to end racial segregation and discrimination.

Name That Thing: Tools

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You may have a sweet tooth, but how much do you know about baking and baked goods? Test your knowledge with this quiz.

(From left): First Ladies Barbara Bush, Nancy Reagan, Rosalynn Carter, Betty Ford, Pat Nixon, and Lady Bird Johnson at the Dedication of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Simi Valley, California; November 4, 1991. (first lady)

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