Family Finds Giant Shark Tooth

A child’s hand holds a shark tooth that is almost as large as the hand.

Family Finds Giant Shark Tooth

A child’s hand holds a shark tooth that is almost as large as the hand.

© ZUMA Press, Inc/Alamy

This tooth, from a different discovery, once belonged to a megalodon.

Eleven-year-old Bo Bowers and his dad, Mike, were looking for shells on a beach when they spotted something much more unusual—a giant shark tooth. 

The Bowers, who live in Pennsylvania, made the discovery while on vacation in New Jersey.

“As I pulled a shell out of the one rock, there was a hole in the rock,” Mike Bowers told WTAE in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. “I looked down, and I was just astonished, but I couldn’t fit my hand in there. So, of course, I’m screaming like a crazy man for my son Bo to come running over because of his small hand.”

“I was so excited,” Bo added. “I gave it to my dad and we almost fell to the ground.”

The family took the tooth to an expert from the Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center and learned that their suspicions were correct. This wasn’t just any shark tooth. It had belonged to a large, prehistoric shark called a megalodon. Megalodon existed from about 23 million to 2 million years ago. Scientists believe that at up to 58 feet (17 meters) long, it was larger than any modern shark. Unsurprisingly, its teeth were enormous.

Because sharks can shed tens of thousands of teeth during their lifetimes, many people have found megalodon teeth. But the tooth in the Bowers’ possession is unusually large and well preserved.

It’s also fairly rare to find a megalodon tooth so far north. Only a handful of them have been found in the state, including the one the Bowers found.

NEWS EXTRA

Fat Bear Week 2026

The bear called 32 Chunk stands on the shoreline of a river.

E. Johnston/U.S. National Park Service

The bear known as 32 Chunk won Fat Bear Week in 2025.

The bears of Katmai National Park & Preserve in Alaska are feasting on salmon to fatten up for the winter. During Fat Bear Week (September 22-29), Katmai celebrates these bulky bears by inviting the public to vote on its favorite. Last year’s winner, a bear known as 32 Chunk, is in the running again. But will he claim a second victory?

You can cast your votes at the explore.org website!

We’ll report on the winner on a future In the News page.

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Fun Fact!

A Greenland shark swims.

© dottedyeti/stock.adobe.com

Scientists believe that some Greenland sharks may live to be more than 500 years old!

What Big Teeth You Have!

At up to 6.9 inches (17.8) long, a megalodon’s teeth were enormous! Check out how they compare to some modern predators’ teeth.

Photos of a lion, a great white shark, a T. rex, an orca, and a megalodon are arranged next to a ruler according to the length of each animal’s teeth.

© prochym, Elosoblues,  atm2003, boxerx/stock.adobe.com, © Jay Bo/Shutterstock.com, © Daniel Knighton/Getty Images; Photo illustration Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

The Biggest Shark of All

A man stands in the fossilized jaw of a megalodon and gestures to the many teeth.

© Rick Meyer—Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

A megalodon’s jaws were wide enough for it to swallow a small car.

Imagine a fish that’s three times larger than a great white shark. That was the megalodon! Its serrated teeth were much larger than those of the great white.

You can learn more about this fearsome prehistoric beast at Britannica.

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serrated

Part of speech:

adjective

Definition:

: having a row of small points or teeth along the side like a saw

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In Case You Missed It

The world’s largest pop-up book is now on display at a library in California.
September 15, 2026
Actor and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda is inspired by the many cultures that shape the United States.
September 10, 2026
A pair of potatoes dating back to the Inca empire have lasted for 500 years.
September 6, 2026
Eleven-year-old Anderson Taylor is the founder and operator of his own museum.
August 31, 2026

How to Cite This Page

Here is how to cite this page using the MLA style. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some differences. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

In the News: Family Finds Giant Shark Tooth.” Britannica School, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 20 Sept. 2026. https://news.eb.com/level1/family-finds-giant-shark-tooth. Accessed 21 Sept. 2026 [Replace this date with today’s date.]

One Big Book!

A tree emerges from the pages of a large pop-up book, which is open inside a room with painted walls and ceilings.

One Big Book!

A tree emerges from the pages of a large pop-up book, which is open inside a room with painted walls and ceilings.

Courtesy of Joshua White

A page from Luceros y Penumbras, the giant pop-up book that is now on display at the Central Library in Los Angeles, California.

Some stories leap right off the pages of books. That’s especially true in a pop-up book, where the illustrations literally pop out as a page is revealed! A new pop-up book, now on display at the Central Library in Los Angeles, California, is the largest ever made. It’s so big that you could almost wander right into the pages.

The book, called Luceros y Penumbras (Spanish for “starlight and shadows”), was created in honor of the Central Library’s 100th birthday. It’s 31 feet (9 meters) wide, with pop-up images more than 11 feet (3 meters) tall.  

Luceros y Penumbras features the work of artist Daniel González. Matthew Reinhart, a paper engineer, figured out how to make Gonzalez’s illustrations three-dimensional.

A person points at a giant, open pop-up book as another person takes a photo.

Courtesy of Joshua White

Luceros y Penumbras is so large that people can almost step right into the pages.

González was asked to create an image-story about his childhood experiences at libraries. He remembered his local library as an exciting place to learn.

“[My local library] just gave me the opportunity to explore anything that I had an interest in,” González told LAist.com. González was also inspired by his grandmother’s stories, which he would listen to under the stars during childhood visits to his grandparents’ farm in Mexico. 

“ I looked at those stars … and the histories that my grandparents were sharing with me as these guiding lights,” González said. “Just like the library is a guiding light for many people.”

Courtesy of Gregory Swartz

It takes several people to turn the pages of this book!

Luceros y Penumbras honors the ability of libraries to spread knowledge and bring communities together. One page features a tree of wisdom that is fed by the many cultures of Los Angeles communities. Since this is a pop-up book, the tree rises right out of the page! 

The giant book is on display at the library through November 2026. There’s also an exhibit of the library’s collection of more than 2,000 pop-up and interactive books. Unlike Luceros y Penumbras, they are regular size. 

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Did You Know?

David A. Carter smiles and poses with a pop-up book he designed.

© Kevin German—Sacramento Bee/Alamy

Paper engineer David A. Carter poses with a pop-up book he designed.

Paper engineers design moving paper structures like pop-up books. Paper engineering is a combination of art and science.

Unfold a Video Game!

A wooden cabinet next to a full sized arcade machine

Courtesy of Swap Arcade (SwapArcade.com); Photo composite Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

The cabinet on the left unfolds to become the gaming machine on the right.

Imagine opening a cabinet in your living room to reveal a full-sized arcade machine! That’s the idea behind Swap Arcade, a gaming machine that folds into furniture.

Inventor Les Cookson was inspired by memories of the time he spent playing arcade games growing up. While those full-sized machines were a lot of fun, they were more likely to be found in a pizza parlor than in a home. Cookson wanted his kids to have their own arcade machine, but he didn’t want it to look out of place in his house—so he designed it to fold into a cabinet.

A Swap Arcade machine comes with 100 games and lets users connect their own Nintendo and PlayStation systems as well. Cookson is still raising money for production, but he hopes Swap Arcade will be available by December 2026.

Tell Me a Story!

An illustration from “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” shows a boy on a hill trying to protect sheep from an approaching wolf.

© Dave Rheaume Artist—iStock/Getty Images

This illustration shows a scene from the fable “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.”

Did you know there are different kinds of stories? Folktales are stories that are passed down from generation to generation. Fairy tales like “Cinderella” and fables like “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” are examples of folktales that have been told for hundreds of years.

You can learn more about folktales at Britannica. Maybe you’d like to try writing one of your own!

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marvel

Part of speech:

noun

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: someone or something that is extremely good, skillful, etc. : a wonderful or marvelous person or thing

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In Case You Missed It

The world’s largest pop-up book is now on display at a library in California.
September 15, 2026
Actor and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda is inspired by the many cultures that shape the United States.
September 10, 2026
A pair of potatoes dating back to the Inca empire have lasted for 500 years.
September 6, 2026
Eleven-year-old Anderson Taylor is the founder and operator of his own museum.
August 31, 2026

How to Cite This Page

Here is how to cite this page using the MLA style. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some differences. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

In the News: One Big Book!” Britannica School, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 16 Sept. 2026. https://news.eb.com/level1/one-big-book. Accessed 17 Sept. 2026 [Replace this date with today’s date.]

From Hamilton to Hollywood

Lin-Manuel Miranda poses with Mickey Mouse and holds a Disney Legends plaque in which he has put his handprints.

From Hamilton to Hollywood

Lin-Manuel Miranda poses with Mickey Mouse and holds a Disney Legends plaque in which he has put his handprints.

© Kevin Mazur—Disney/Getty Images

Lin-Manuel Miranda holds up his handprints and poses with Mickey Mouse after becoming a Disney legend in 2026.

Even if you don’t know Lin-Manuel Miranda’s name, you may know some of his work. Miranda is the brains behind the musical Hamilton and the soundtrack for the movie Moana. But Miranda’s journey began long before he became a star. 

Miranda was born in New York City in 1980. Both of his parents were from the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, and the family lived in a neighborhood filled with Spanish-speaking immigrants. Miranda was steeped in music, from the salsa and hip-hop music that played in his home to the musicals that lit up the Broadway stage. 

Before he had even finished college, Miranda wrote a musical called In the Heights. Inspired by Washington Heights, a New York City neighborhood near Miranda’s own, the show celebrates the city’s immigrant heritage through its story and musical soundtrack. In the Heights premiered on Broadway in 2008 and won several awards, including four Tony Awards, which are given for excellence in the theater.

Lin-Manuel Miranda and other cast members stand on a stage in costume and perform in the Hamilton musical.

© Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Lin-Manuel Miranda (center) played Alexander Hamilton in the musical Hamilton, which he wrote.

Miranda is best known as the creator and original star of Hamilton, a musical about founding father Alexander Hamilton. Born on a small Caribbean island, Hamilton eventually became the first U.S. secretary of the treasury. Miranda believes that Hamilton’s rise from humble beginnings is a classic American tale that mirrors the stories of many immigrants, as well as many rappers. His musical employs hip-hop and features a diverse cast. Hamilton opened in 2015 and soon became a massive hit, eventually winning 11 Tony Awards. 

Miranda then expanded his work into Hollywood. He wrote music for the Disney movies Moana and Encanto and played a lamplighter in the 2018 movie Mary Poppins Returns. In 2021, he directed his first movie, tick, tick…BOOM!

Lin-Manuel Miranda, Dwayne Johnson, and other Moana cast members pose in front of a Moana display.

© Rodin Eckenroth—Disney/Getty Images

Lin-Manuel Miranda (right) wrote new music for a 2026 live action version of the 2016 movie Moana.

Miranda was originally inspired by his parents’ Puerto Rican culture. Today, he finds inspiration in the varied cultures and experiences of the American people. 

“Our country has grown and changed and adapted in so many ways, and so many of the brilliant innovations that have benefitted this country are from immigrants,” he told NBC Nightly News. “And I believe that the people who come here from somewhere else to make a better life for themselves end up making a better country for us.”

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Did You Know?

Lin-Manuel Miranda stands on stage as Alexander Hamilton and a photo of the book cover of a Hamilton biography.

© Theo Wargo/Getty Images, © Patti McConville/Alamy; Photo composite Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Lin-Manuel Miranda was inspired to write the musical Hamilton after he read a book about Alexander Hamilton. He loved the story so much that he was sure someone had already made a musical about it. No one had!

Life-Changing Work

A man who uses a wheelchair operates equipment in a workshop.

© Jim West/Alamy

Gabriel Zepeda, a worker at ARSOBO, uses a metal-bending machine to make parts for a wheelchair.

Francisco “Kiko” Trujillo is changing lives. Trujillo, an industrial engineer from Mexico, helps provide wheelchairs and other devices for people with disabilities.

An industrial engineer is someone who creates systems to make sure goods and services get to the people who need them. In 2008, Trujillo received a call from Dr. Burris Duncan, who treated children with disabilities. Duncan, who lives in the U.S. state of Arizona, asked Trujillo if he would join him in a project to help provide all-terrain wheelchairs for people with disabilities.

Trujillo was interested. His brother was born without a left hand, and there had been no local services to help him. Duncan and Trujillo started an organization called Arizona Sonora Border Projects for Inclusion, or ARSOBO. ARSOBO provides wheelchairs, prosthetics (such as artificial limbs), hearing aids, and more to Mexicans and Americans who cannot afford them.

ARSOBO also provides jobs for people with disabilities.

“We hire folks with the same disability as the device they’re going to be building; the person who makes prosthesis, he wears a prosthesis,” Trujillo told CNN.

According to CNN, ARSOBO has helped almost 3,500 people.

“We’ve seen folks from 10 different states in Mexico, 97 different cities; we’ve helped kids from orphanages, from Central America, and we’ve helped folks living on the streets,” Trujillo said. “Nobody walks out of here without what they need.”

National Hispanic Heritage Month

A composite includes photos of Laurie Hernandez, Rita Moreno, Roberto Clemente, Selena, Dolores Huerta, Joan Baez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Franklin Chang-Diaz, Luis Alvarez, Sonia Sotomayor, Mario Molina, and Nina Otero-Warren.

George Grantham Bain Collection/Library of Congress; NASA; MediaPunch Inc./Alamy; © Rena Schild/Shutterstock.com; Rowland Scherman—U.S. Information Agency/NARA; Donald Cooksey/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Steve Petteway/Collection of the Supreme Court ; © Getty Images: Michael Ochs Archives—Moviepix, Focus on Sport, Harry How, Mat Hayward, Cathy Murphy—Hulton Archive/Getty Images; Photo composite Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

(Top row, from left) Gymnast Laurie Hernandez, actress Rita Moreno, baseball player Roberto Clemente, singer Selena, and activist Dolores Huerta. (Bottom row, from left) Singer Joan Baez, composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, business leader Franklin Chang-Diaz, scientist Luis Alvarez, Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor, scientist Mario Molina, and activist Nina Otero-Warren.

Between September 15 and October 15, Americans celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month. Hispanic Americans have family members and ancestors from Mexico, Central America, South America, and more. 

You can learn more about Hispanic Americans at Britannica!

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impact

Part of speech:

noun

Definition:

: a powerful or major influence or effect

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In Case You Missed It

The world’s largest pop-up book is now on display at a library in California.
September 15, 2026
Actor and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda is inspired by the many cultures that shape the United States.
September 10, 2026
A pair of potatoes dating back to the Inca empire have lasted for 500 years.
September 6, 2026
Eleven-year-old Anderson Taylor is the founder and operator of his own museum.
August 31, 2026

How to Cite This Page

Here is how to cite this page using the MLA style. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some differences. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

In the News: From Hamilton to Hollywood.Britannica School, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 13 Sept. 2026. https://news.eb.com/level1/from-hamilton-to-hollywood. Accessed 14 Sept. 2026 [Replace this date with today’s date.]

Perfectly Preserved Potatoes

Two potatoes are placed beside a tool showing their length.

Perfectly Preserved Potatoes

Two potatoes are placed beside a tool showing their length.

Courtesy of Lidio Valdez

These freeze-dried potatoes date back 500 years, to the Inca empire.

Scientists recently discovered a pair of 500-year-old potatoes on the coast of Peru. Remarkably, the spuds date back to the Inca empire, which once stretched across a large part of South America.

The potatoes, which were found in an ancient Inca storage room, survived for centuries because of the way they were preserved. The Inca people grew potatoes in the Andes Mountains. Then they exposed the potatoes to daytime sunlight and freezing nighttime mountain temperatures, over and over until they dried out. This technique, called freeze-drying, turned the potatoes into what is known as chuño.

Two people kneel and work with potatoes in a field that is covered with potatoes.

© Marvin Recinos—AFP/Getty Images

People in Bolivia prepare chuño using a technique developed by the Inca people hundreds of years before.

Chuño was far less likely to rot than fresh potatoes, which are mostly water. Removing water from potatoes and some other foods made it last a lot longer, enabling the Inca people to transport it hundreds of miles across the empire using llamas (animals related to camels). With food arriving from the mountain farms, people in other parts of the empire did not go hungry.

A llama stands in the mountains with Machu Picchu in the background.

© Pav-Pro Photography/stock.adobe.com

The ruins of an ancient Inca city called Machu Picchu are located high in the Andes Mountains.

Scientists believe the Inca may have discovered freeze-drying by accident. Someone may have left potatoes in the freezing air by accident and then realized the dried potatoes could still be eaten.

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Did You Know?

A hand is holding a piece of jerky over a pile of jerky.

© DD Images/stock.adobe.com

The Inca people also freeze-dried meat, calling the product ch’arki. Today, we call it “jerky.”

A Dog of Distinction

Jinny Lu the pug stands and faces the camera with her tongue hanging outside her mouth as people and other dogs stand in the background.

© Heather Diehl/Getty Images

Jinny Lu is ready for her closeup.

Not every dog wears a string of pearls, but Jinny Lu isn’t just any pup. The 6-year-old pug is this year’s winner of the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest.

The contest takes place each year at the Sonoma County Fair, just north of San Francisco, California. It’s meant to promote dog adoptions—many of the participants were adopted from shelters. The Sonoma-Marin Agricultural Association, which runs the contest, says the event “celebrates the imperfections that make all dogs special and unique.”

Michelle Grady wears sunglasses and holds her pug, Jinny Lu.

© Tayfun Coskun—Anadolu/Getty Images

Michelle Grady shows off her loveable pug, Jinny Lu.

Aside from her pearl necklace, what makes Jinny Lu special is her tongue. It’s usually hanging out of one side of her mouth. That’s just fine with Jinny Lu’s owner, Michelle Grady. She’s proud of the little dog’s differences and loves her friendly, inquisitive personality even more.

“She’s got her silly tongue, but I feel like it’s more the way she looks into people’s eyes,” Grady told the Orange County Register. “She genuinely wants to be held by people.”

The Inca Empire

Courtesy of Jeremy Spencer

Hundreds of years ago, the Inca people built cities, developed new ways of farming and preserving food, and more. Check out the slideshow, which features some Inca ruins as they look today. Then read more about this South American empire at Britannica!

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desiccated

Part of speech:

adjective

Definition:

: having had the water removed

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In Case You Missed It

The world’s largest pop-up book is now on display at a library in California.
September 15, 2026
Actor and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda is inspired by the many cultures that shape the United States.
September 10, 2026
A pair of potatoes dating back to the Inca empire have lasted for 500 years.
September 6, 2026
Eleven-year-old Anderson Taylor is the founder and operator of his own museum.
August 31, 2026

How to Cite This Page

Here is how to cite this page using the MLA style. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some differences. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

In the News: Perfectly Preserved Potatoes.Britannica School, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 9 Sept. 2026. https://news.eb.com/level1/perfectly-preserved-potatoes. Accessed 10 Sept. 2026 [Replace this date with today’s date.]

Welcome to My Museum!

Anderson Taylor stands behind display cases of fossils and other objects with posters of dinosaurs, moths, and butterflies in the background.

Welcome to My Museum!

Anderson Taylor stands behind display cases of fossils and other objects with posters of dinosaurs, moths, and butterflies in the background.

Courtesy of Miles Taylor 

At 11 years old, Anderson Taylor is the world’s youngest museum curator.

Anderson Taylor has loved fossils since he was 3 years old, so it may be no surprise that he now runs a fossil museum. What is a surprise is that Anderson is only 11. As the founder and operator of the Cambridge Natural History Museum in Cambridge, Illinois, he’s the youngest museum curator in the world.

When he was 3, Anderson found a fossil in his driveway—the first of many. 

“So the gravel that’s in our driveway is limestone, and limestone is legitimately just fossils. And that’s actually how my first fossil was found,” Anderson told National Public Radio (NPR). “It’s called a crinoid. They were very cool animals that looked like plants, surprisingly.”

Two shelves have labeled fossils on display in front of a sign that says Illinois Fossils.

Courtesy of Miles Taylor

Some of the fossils at Anderson Taylor’s museum were found in Illinois, where he lives.

The discovery sparked a fascination with fossils. Four years later, while hunting for dinosaur footprints on a beach in Scotland, Anderson learned that there was a dinosaur museum nearby. Although Anderson’s own fossil collection was smaller than what the museum had on display, he decided to start his own museum in his hometown of Cambridge.

Today, the museum has about 1,000 items. Some are fossils that Anderson found, while others have been donated. Anderson doesn’t just run the museum. He also gives presentations to school groups, educating them about fossils.

“I love that he brought this to our small community,” Cambridge resident Logan Meier told Smithsonian magazine. “It gives people something to look forward to when it’s open, something that can bring their kids to, to maybe learn a thing or two.”

Play the video to take a tour of the museum!

Courtesy of Miles Taylor

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Did You Know?

A composite shows a painting of Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna alongside the ruins of the museum she founded

© Tibbut Archive, Dynamoland/Alamy; Photo composite Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Babylonian princess Ennigaldi-Nanna (at left) and the ruins of the museum she founded (on the right).

The first known museum was founded about 2,500 years ago by a princess from the ancient kingdom of Babylon. It contained items dating back to about 2100 BCE.

Go Fossil Hunting!

A woman and a girl are using tools to look for fossils in a rocky outdoor area.

© Chris Ison—PA Images/Getty Images

This area of the United Kingdom is known as the “Jurassic Coast” because many prehistoric fossils have been found there.

Have you ever wanted to look for fossils? Here’s how to find them!

Where Do Fossils Hide?

Most fossils are in sedimentary rock, which contains layers of rocks and minerals that have built up over millions of years. Plant and animal remains can become trapped between the layers. 

Find a place where wind and water have eroded some of the rock, so that it is worn away into cliffs and bluffs. These rocky walls have exposed layers that could contain fossils. You may also find fossils in river valleys.

A cliff in Red Rock Canyon State Park shows layers of sedimentary rock.

© Chich/stock.adobe.com

Sedimentary rock often has layers that can be seen.

What Do Fossils Look Like?

Not sure what to look for? Check out some photos of different kinds of fossils.

© Wild Horizon—Universal Images Group/Getty Images, © mejn/stock.adobe.com, © Marli Miller/UCG—Universal Images Group/Getty Images, © Wild Horizon—Universal Images Group/Getty Images

You don’t need to be an expert to find fossils, but you do have to hunt responsibly. Here’s how.

  • Never go fossil hunting without an adult. 
  • Don’t hunt for fossils on private property.
  • If you are in a park, make sure you have permission to look for fossils.

Happy hunting!

Lives of the Past

A woman uses a tool to dig at an archaeological site.

© Jesus Hellin—Europa Press/Getty Images

Scientists called paleontologists study plants and animals that lived long ago. You can learn more about paleontology at Britannica!

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inquiry

Part of speech:

noun

Definition:

: a request for information

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In Case You Missed It

The world’s largest pop-up book is now on display at a library in California.
September 15, 2026
Actor and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda is inspired by the many cultures that shape the United States.
September 10, 2026
A pair of potatoes dating back to the Inca empire have lasted for 500 years.
September 6, 2026
Eleven-year-old Anderson Taylor is the founder and operator of his own museum.
August 31, 2026

How to Cite This Page

Here is how to cite this page using the MLA style. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some differences. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

In the News: Welcome to My Museum.Britannica School, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2 Sept. 2026. https://news.eb.com/level1/welcome-to-my-museum. Accessed 3 Sept. 2026 [Replace this date with today’s date.]

Not All Slime Is the Same

A snail on a mossy stone has left a trail of mucus.

Not All Slime Is the Same

A snail on a mossy stone has left a trail of mucus.

© Sylvia/stock.adobe.com

Slime is just slime, right? Not if you’re a snail. Scientists have found that snails produce different types of slime depending on their needs.

Why Snails Make Slime

If you’ve ever observed a snail in motion, you may have noticed that it leaves a trail of slime, or mucus, behind. A snail uses a single foot to move. The foot can produce slime to make it easier for the animal to glide its body along any surface.

But that’s just one purpose of a snail’s slime. 

“Snail slime…is fascinating—a natural work of art,” Mariella Gabler told National Public Radio (NPR). Gabler studies physical chemistry at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Germany.

Gabler and other researchers noticed that snails produce slime for different reasons. While slime can make it easier for snails to glide, it can also help them stick to surfaces. Sticky slime can stop snails’ predators in their tracks, too, as long as those predators are small enough.

Researchers also noticed that snail slime doesn’t always look the same. Sometimes it’s gooey, for example, while other times it’s like foam. The researchers wondered whether there are key differences between slime that’s used for one reason and slime that’s used for another.

Not All Slime Is the Same 

Gabler and a team of scientists studied what snail slime is made of. They found that all snail slime contains certain ingredients, including proteins and ions such as calcium. But each type of slime contains different amounts of these ingredients.

“The more collagen and calcium were present, the stiffer, more cohesive and sticky mucus became,” Gabler told NPR.

The findings could help researchers make their own slime for use in medicine. For example, sticky slime could be used to help close wounds.

Scientist Kausik Mukhopadhyay, who wasn’t involved in the snail study, is excited about the findings. 

“Nature is always smarter than us,” Mukhopadhyay told NPR.

NEWS BREAK

Dolly Parton Dies

A 1970s era Dolly Parton sings into a microphone on a stage.

© Andrew Putler—Redferns/Getty Images

Dolly Parton performs live on stage in 1976.

Country music legend Dolly Parton has died. She was 80.

Parton grew up in a log cabin in Tennessee as one of 12 children. She started singing in her grandfather’s church at an early age. At just 13 years old, she performed on a country music radio show called the Grand Ole Opry. Parton got a record deal in 1964, when she was 18. She soon became one of country music’s brightest stars.

Parton wrote many songs that have stood the test of time. They include “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and “Light of a Clear Blue Morning.” Her 1974 song “I Will Always Love You” became a hit a second time in 1992, when it was recorded by singer Whitney Houston.

In 1980, Parton took an acting role in the movie 9 to 5 and wrote a song of the same title for the movie soundtrack. Both the movie and the song became hits. Parton would go on to act in several other movies.

In 1986, Parton opened a theme park called Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, close to her hometown. Parton said it was her way of giving back to the people who helped make her dreams come true. Dollywood is not only a fun place to visit. It also brings tourists into the area and provides many jobs for Tennessee residents.

Dolly Parton sits in a chair and reads her picture book, Coat of Many Colors, to a group of children.

© Shannon Finney/Getty Images

Dolly Parton reads Coat of Many Colors, a book she wrote, to a group of children in 2018.

Parton’s generosity extended far beyond Tennessee. In 1995, she launched Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program that sends free books to young children. In 2020, when the virus that causes COVID-19 was spreading around the world, Parton donated $1 million to pay for research for a vaccine. She also donated millions to pay for medical research and to help kids go to college.

 Parton will be remembered as much for her generosity as for her contributions to music.

 “I’m just so proud to have been a part of anything that’s good and that’s making life a little better for people,” she told Good Morning America in 2021. 

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Did You Know?

A man positions a group of snails within concentric circles on a table as a child watches and a crowd gathers in the background.

© Ed Lawrence—PA Images/Getty Images

Snails prepare to compete at the 2025 Snail World Racing Championships.

Each year, about 200 snails compete in the Snail Racing World Championships. The fastest snail ever to compete took two minutes to travel the entire 13-inch (33-centimeter) racecourse.

Corgis Have Their Day

Seven corgis run on a green surface in front of a banner referencing a race as a crowd looks on.

© Yauhen Yerchak—Anadolu/Getty Images

Corgis take part in the 2026 Corgi Race Vilnius.

Corgis may not be the fastest dog breed, but that didn’t stop more than 100 corgis from nine countries from gathering in Vilnius, Lithuania, for this year’s Corgi Race Vilnius. 

The event centers on an 82-foot (25-meter) race between the short-legged dogs. This year’s winner, who traveled from the United States, was GG (short for Gustave the Girl Dog). Mr. Corgington of the United States and Moka of Lithuania took the second- and third-place spots.

Corgis and their families can also take part in other challenges, including the loudest bark competition and the “smartest nose” challenge, in which dogs look for hidden treats. 

A costume parade and contest brings out the best in fashion-conscious corgis. This year’s winner, Amigo, was dressed like a knight.

A woman in a costume guides a corgi in a knight costume as a boy in a knight costume walks alongside them.

© Yauhen Yerchak—Anadolu/Getty Images

The costume parade is one of the highlights of the Corgi Race Vilnius.

Why Are Sloths So Slow?

© ronnybas/stock.adobe.com

Sloths move super slowly because their leafy diet doesn’t provide much energy. You can learn more about these nearly motionless mammals at Britannica!

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verb

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: to move slowly with the body close to the ground

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Actor and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda is inspired by the many cultures that shape the United States.
September 10, 2026
A pair of potatoes dating back to the Inca empire have lasted for 500 years.
September 6, 2026
Eleven-year-old Anderson Taylor is the founder and operator of his own museum.
August 31, 2026

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In the News: Not All Slime Is the Same.Britannica School, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 30 Aug. 2026. https://news.eb.com/level1/not-all-slime-is-the-same. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026 [Replace this date with today’s date.]

The World’s Best Pet Pics

Closeup of a black and white dog’s face with the dog as an angel over one shoulder and the dog as a devil over the other.

The World’s Best Pet Pics

Closeup of a black and white dog’s face with the dog as an angel over one shoulder and the dog as a devil over the other.

© Copyright 2026 Callie Soden

This photo, called Temptation–2, was taken by Callie Soden, winner of the 2026 International Pet Photography Awards.

Dogs and cats can’t pose for a camera like we can. So why are their pictures always so adorable? Whatever the reason, pet photos are so popular that some professional photographers specialize in taking them. The International Pet Photography Awards honors the best pet photographers in the world, and this year’s winners are the cat’s meow.

Composite of an orange and white longhaired cat in various play poses seen through circular cutouts.

© Copyright 2026 Belinda Richards

Belinda Richards took these award-winning photos of her friend’s cat, Moosha. Richards put the photos together to showcase Moosha’s personality.

Each year, photographers from around the world are invited to send photographs fitting one or more of 12 categories, including “Action,” “Creative,” and “Pets and People.” Photo subjects include dogs, cats, horses, and a few birds and lizards. Photographers can send more than one photo; they’re not allowed to use artificial intelligence, or AI, to change their photos. Each photo gets a score, and the photographer with the highest total score is the winner. 

This year’s winner, Callie Soden of the United States, submitted five photos, all of dogs. One of her photos is featured at the top of this page. Check out another of Soden’s photos, plus some of the category winners!

© Copyright 2026 Linda Glomb, © Copyright 2026 Marc Vandijck, © Copyright 2026 Shandess Griffin, © Copyright 2026 Rebecca Williams, © Copyright 2026 Laura Brockhoff, © Copyright 2026 Andrea Zachrau, © Copyright 2026 Jennifer Chassagnol, © Copyright 2026 Sandra Ferwerda, © Copyright 2026 Christel Wellens, © Copyright 2026 Callie Soden

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Did You Know?

JiffPom the Pomeranian stands on his two back legs on a chair.

© Andrew Toth—Beverly Center/Getty Images

This 2019 photo shows JiffPom attending an event.

Who is the most photographed dog? 

It’s hard to say, but in 2019, Guinness World Records announced that JiffPom the Pomeranian had more Instagram followers than any other dog!

How to Get a Great Pet Pic

Two hands hold a phone to take a photo of a white dog, whose face can be seen on the screen.

© AlexPhotoStock/stock.adobe.com

It’s fun to take photos of a pet—but it’s not always easy. Just when you’re about to take the perfect photo, your dog or cat suddenly decides they’ve had enough! 

Here are some tips for improving your pet photography skills.

  • Use natural light. If you take a photo in a dark room, the flash on your camera might go off. This can make many pets nervous. So take your photos outdoors or in a bright room.
  • Talk sweetly to your pet. When you’re taking photos, using a sweet tone of voice will make your pet more likely to cooperate with you. Remember—be kind and gentle with pets at all times.
  • Use treats. Treats or toys can help get your pet’s attention. For example, if you want your dog to look at the camera, hold a treat right next to it. Your dog will stare at the treat, but it will look like the dog is gazing at you! Just be sure to reward your pet with that treat after you take the photo.
  • Have someone help you. You may need someone to hold that special treat or toy while you take the photo.
  • Try getting down to your pet’s level. Crouch down so you are at the same level as your pet’s eyes. A pet’s eyes can show its personality.
  • Take photos from different angles. Take a few photos so you have a better chance of capturing what you want.
  • Try taking candid photos. Candid photos aren’t posed. They simply capture whatever is happening in the moment, and pets have amazing moments all the time! Is your dog playing catch? Is your cat swatting at a toy? Is your hamster stuffing food into its cheeks? Some of the best pet photos are captured when pets are just living their best lives. So have your camera ready!

Happy DOGust!

A golden retriever is on its back on a lawn while holding a ball in its front paws.

© LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/stock.adobe.com

August is National Dog Month in the United States!

Check out Britannica to learn more about dog breeds, dog behavior, and why humans love dogs so much.

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devoted

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adjective

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: having strong love or loyalty for something or someone

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The world’s largest pop-up book is now on display at a library in California.
September 15, 2026
Actor and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda is inspired by the many cultures that shape the United States.
September 10, 2026
A pair of potatoes dating back to the Inca empire have lasted for 500 years.
September 6, 2026
Eleven-year-old Anderson Taylor is the founder and operator of his own museum.
August 31, 2026

How to Cite This Page

Here is how to cite this page using the MLA style. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some differences. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

In the News: The World’s Best Pet Pics.Britannica School, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026. https://news.eb.com/level1/the-worlds-best-pet-pics. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026 [Replace this date with today’s date.]

Big Changes for Breakfast

A closeup of brightly colored Froot Loops cereal in a bowl

Big Changes for Breakfast

A closeup of brightly colored Froot Loops cereal in a bowl

© Joe Raedle/Getty Images

If you’ve ever eaten a breakfast cereal that turned milk pink or blue, it may be because the cereal contained brightly colored food dye. That’s about to change. WH Kellogg says it will remove artificial food dyes from breakfast cereals sold in the United States by the end of 2026. 

It’s not that Kellogg cereals like Froot Loops and Apple Jacks will be colorless. The company says it will maintain the colors by replacing the artificial dyes with fruit juices. This is something Kellogg has already done with its cereals that are sold in Canada and some other countries, where there are rules on how and when certain food dyes can be used.

Many different Kellogg’s cereals are on shelves in a supermarket.

© Erin Clark—The Boston Globe/Getty Images

Consumers (people who buy products) and U.S. and state government officials have been urging Kellogg to remove the dyes. And earlier in 2026, the retail company Target said it would stop selling cereals with artificial dyes. This is because research suggests that these ingredients can contribute to hyperactivity and other health problems.

“More and more consumers are looking for foods made with simple, recognizable ingredients, and we are proud to meet those expectations,” Kellogg’s Chief Growth Officer Doug VandeVelde said in a statement.

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Did You Know?

A man pushes a shopping cart that is filled with boxes of cereal.

© irynaalex, Mykola Syvak, stockakia/stock.adobe.com; Photo illustration Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

More than two billion boxes of cereal are sold each year in the United States alone!

Where Cereal Got Its Start

A portrait of James Caleb Jackson has a speech bubble saying Yum and a bowl of granula.

The National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland; Photo illustration Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

James Caleb Jackson

Did you know that breakfast cereal was first intended as a health food? 

An American named James Caleb Jackson developed the first ready-to-eat breakfast cereal in 1863. Jackson, who was a doctor, believed that many sicknesses could be cured by eating a better diet. He focused on breakfast. 

At the time, many Americans started their day with eggs, bacon, chicken or beef, hot cereal, toast, butter, and jam. Jackson thought this was all too much for the digestive system to handle. 

He developed “granula,” a cereal that was ready-to-eat, meaning it didn’t need to be cooked. 

“He baked graham flour into brittle cakes, which he then crumbled and baked again,” according to The New York Times Magazine

Granula wasn’t too similar to the breakfast cereals we eat today. For one thing, it was so hard that it had to be soaked in milk overnight.

Not surprisingly, Jackson’s granula wasn’t very popular. But it inspired a man named John Harvey Kellogg to make his own ready-to-eat cereal in the 1870s or 1880s. Kellogg’s first cereal was made from wheat flour, oatmeal, and corn meal. He called it “granola.”  

People liked granola better than granula, and Kellogg decided to invent other cereals. Today, the Kellogg company is one of the most popular cereal makers in the United States.

Great Tastes

A child playfully sticks out her tongue.

© Mat Hayward/stock.adobe.com

Did you know that humans can sense five basic tastes? They are salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and a meat-like flavor called umami. We’re able to taste foods and drinks because of our tongues.

Learn more about the tongue at Britannica! 

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chowhound

Part of speech:

noun

Definition:

: a person who likes to eat

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The world’s largest pop-up book is now on display at a library in California.
September 15, 2026
Actor and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda is inspired by the many cultures that shape the United States.
September 10, 2026
A pair of potatoes dating back to the Inca empire have lasted for 500 years.
September 6, 2026
Eleven-year-old Anderson Taylor is the founder and operator of his own museum.
August 31, 2026

How to Cite This Page

Here is how to cite this page using the MLA style. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some differences. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

In the News: Big Changes for Breakfast.Britannica School, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 23 Aug. 2026. https://news.eb.com/level1/big-changes-for-breakfast. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026 [Replace this date with today’s date.]

Four-Legged Firefighters

A person pets a donkey in an outdoor space near some trees.

Four-Legged Firefighters

A person pets a donkey in an outdoor space near some trees.

© David Zorrakino—Europa Press/Getty Images

The Tivissa Donkeys Firefighters are used to clear vegetation in Spain. The donkey in this photo is part of another program called “Rucs al bosc,” or “Donkeys in the Forest.”

Wildfires can cause a massive amount of destruction. But in Spain, a group of four-legged firefighters are helping to keep the blazes under control.

An organization called Tivissa Donkeys Firefighters has been putting rescued donkeys to work since 2020. More than 30 of Tivissa’s donkeys eat dry grass in the Catalonia region of Spain, keeping it from getting overgrown. The donkeys also break up this vegetation just by walking on it, so wildfires don’t have a clear path. As a result, fires have less fuel and spread less easily.

It’s a job that could also be done by goats and sheep, which are herbivores (plant-eaters) like donkeys. But Joan Cedó Sans, who founded Tivissa, says donkeys are the most effective firefighters. 

“The work donkeys do, neither goats nor sheep can do,” Cedó told CNN. “[Donkeys] weigh more, so every time they tread [step on the ground], they tread harder, they eat more.” 

Tivissa isn’t just a firefighting organization. It’s also an animal rescue, taking in donkeys that have been mistreated in some way. Now the animals lead a peaceful life, doing what they would naturally do while unknowingly helping to prevent disasters. 

A group of donkeys grazes on vegetation in an open space.

© David Zorrakino—Europa Press/Getty Images

Donkeys from the “Rucs al bosc” program happily do their jobs.

The donkeys’ work is especially important right now. Many parts of Europe, including Spain, have been battling wildfires all through the hot, dry summer of 2026. Climate change has made the continent hotter and drier, so wildfires are more likely to break out and spread. The donkeys alone are not going to solve the problem, but they can help.

“It is difficult to guarantee that with livestock grazing there will be no fires,” Jordi Bartolomé Filella, a university professor who studies herbivores, told CNN. “But it can make them lower in intensity, and therefore easier to extinguish.” 

The donkeys are always willing to do their part.

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Did You Know?

A thought bubble containing a route from one place to another appears as a donkey’s thought.

© DragoNika, style67/stock.adobe.com; Photo illustration Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Donkeys have a good memory. They can remember how to get somewhere after one trip!

Wildfires 101

The silhouettes of evergreen trees on a slope are seen engulfed in the glow of a wildfire.

© milehightraveler—E+/Getty Images

You may have heard about wildfires in Europe, Australia, and North America. Wildfires are becoming more common. But why, and what can be done about it?

How Do Wildfires Start?

Wildfires are part of nature. They’re an important part of keeping forests healthy because they clear out old leaves and other vegetation and make way for new growth. Some wildfires have a natural cause, like when a bolt of lightning hits a tree. 

But most wildfires are started by people. For example, someone might leave a campfire without putting it out, or an engine that needs repair might produce sparks.

A yellow biplane drops a firefighting substance over a forest that is burning.

© Thibaut Durand/Hans Lucas—AFP/Getty Images

Firefighting aircraft can drop water or chemicals over a wildfire to help put it out.

Why Are Wildfires Becoming More Common?

Wildfires need fuel, heat, and oxygen to start and spread. You may know that it’s easier to start a fire if the fuel is dry. Hot, dry weather can dry out a forest, making it easier for fire to spread, using dry leaves and logs as fuel. Wind can spread the flames farther.

Climate change is making the world hotter and causing droughts (long periods of dry conditions) to happen more often. It’s a perfect recipe for wildfires.

A family of four sits on a sandy beach and roasts marshmallows over a campfire.

© FG Trade—E+/Getty Images

Campers can reduce wildfire risk by building fires away from leaves and plants.

How Can We Prevent Wildfires?

Here are a few tips!

  • Keep dry leaves and plants under control so that fires have less fuel. If you read today’s top story, you know about a herd of donkeys that is doing this in Spain.
  • Build campfires in areas that are not close to dry leaves and plants. Make sure campfires are put out completely before leaving a campsite.
  • Don’t start outdoor fires near buildings, especially when there has been a drought.
  • Keep cars and other machines in good repair to make sure they don’t make sparks that can start fires.
  • Help slow the effects of climate change by recycling, turning off lights, using less water, and unplugging chargers when they’re not being used. 

Acting Like Animals!

© BlackBoxGuild—Creatas Video+/Getty Images

This orangutan is using a branch as a tool.

Have you ever wondered why animals act the way they do? How do some birds know to fly south for the winter? How do some animals know to use tools, like sticks and branches? 

You can learn more about animal behavior at Britannica!

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combustible

Part of speech:

adjective

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: able to be burned easily

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The world’s largest pop-up book is now on display at a library in California.
September 15, 2026
Actor and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda is inspired by the many cultures that shape the United States.
September 10, 2026
A pair of potatoes dating back to the Inca empire have lasted for 500 years.
September 6, 2026
Eleven-year-old Anderson Taylor is the founder and operator of his own museum.
August 31, 2026

How to Cite This Page

Here is how to cite this page using the MLA style. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some differences. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

In the News: Four-Legged Firefighters.Britannica School, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 16 Aug. 2026. https://news.eb.com/level1/four-legged-firefighters. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026 [Replace this date with today’s date.]

Press a Button, Get Art!

A machine called the Art-O-Mat contains tiny pieces of art for sale.

Press a Button, Get Art!

A machine called the Art-O-Mat contains tiny pieces of art for sale.

© Sean Proctor—The Boston Globe/Getty Images

There are lots of art vending machines around the United States. This one is in Boston, Massachusetts.

It’s not easy to make a living as an artist. That’s why Lilyan Lauzon, an artist herself, wanted to find a way to make it easier for people to discover new art. She came up with a vending machine that sells tiny artworks.

A vending machine is a machine that sells something—usually food, but not always. A customer puts cash into the machine or scans a credit card. The customer then presses a button to select the item they want, and the machine releases the item.

Located inside Inkwell Booksellers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Lauzon’s vending machine is filled with “mini art” created by local artists. An artist can contact Lauzon to have their artwork placed in the machine for free. Each artist’s work is placed in its own row, where information about the artist is displayed. Artists receive all the money from the sale of their work.

“I just wanted it to be as easy as possible for artists to get into the vending machine,” Lauzon told Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. “That’s why I set it up the way I did. To make it…easy for any artist to get their art featured, but also easy for community members to…support a local artist and have some small little local art in their homes.”

Each piece of mini art is placed inside an envelope. Customers select an artist but don’t know what they’re buying until they’ve already paid for it. But the artwork is only one dollar. That means most people can afford to take a chance and possibly discover a new favorite artist.

Customers love it. More than 80 artists have been featured in the mini art machine so far. Together, they’ve made more than $3,000!

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Fun Fact

A child takes a capsule out of a vending machine that sells toys or stickers and is next to similar vending machines.

© Behrouz Mehri—AFP/Getty Images

Japan is the country with the most vending machines per capita, or per person. There’s one vending machine for every 25 to 30 people in Japan!

A Machine Dream

Three people look at the selections in some food vending machines that are among many in a long row.

Sean Kimmons/U.S. Army Garrison Japan Public Affairs

Visitors to Sagamihara Vending Machine Park check out the selections before choosing what they’d like to buy.

Japan is home to millions of vending machines that sell everything from toys to toothbrushes. There are even machines containing fresh fruits and vegetables!

But if you’re looking for a lot of vending machines in one spot, there’s no better place than Sagamihara Vending Machine Park. The park contains more than 100 vending machines, some of them dating back to the 1970s and 1980s. Want soba noodles? Put your money in, and you’ll get a bowl of hot broth with soft noodles and vegetables. How about a hamburger or freshly made popcorn? You’ll find all this and more at the vending machine park. The machines are stocked each day, so the food is fresh.

The vending machine park is located in an unlikely place—a tire shop. Shop owner Tatsuhiro Saito began putting old vending machines on his property to entertain customers while they waited for their tires. Today, the machines alone attract hundreds of people each week.

A man loads some bowls of noodle meals into a vending machine.

Sean Kimmons/U.S. Army Garrison Japan Public Affairs

A man restocks noodles into a vending machine at the park. The machine heats each bowl after it is purchased.

Art Everywhere!

A composite shows a man weaving, two bird hand puppets, the Mona Lisa, comic book covers, an outdoor wall mural, and two sculpted faces.

© Firdous Nazir—NurPhoto/Getty Images, © New Africa/stock.adobe.com, © Vlad Ghiea, Josefkubes/Dreamstime.com, © Cem Ozdel—Anadolu/Getty Images, © Wolfgang Kaehler—LightRocketGetty Images; Photo composite Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

The work of artists is all around us. It’s not only displayed in museums. It’s also on movie screens and inside the pages of comic books. You can learn more about art and artists at Britannica!

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automate

Part of speech:

verb

Definition:

: to run or operate (something, such as a factory or system) by using machines, computers, etc., instead of people to do the work

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In Case You Missed It

The world’s largest pop-up book is now on display at a library in California.
September 15, 2026
Actor and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda is inspired by the many cultures that shape the United States.
September 10, 2026
A pair of potatoes dating back to the Inca empire have lasted for 500 years.
September 6, 2026
Eleven-year-old Anderson Taylor is the founder and operator of his own museum.
August 31, 2026

How to Cite This Page

Here is how to cite this page using the MLA style. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some differences. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

In the News: Press a Button, Get Art!Britannica School, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2 Aug. 2026. https://news.eb.com/level1/press-a-button-get-art. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026 [Replace this date with today’s date.]