Extreme sleep 😴

Which animal can 'sleep' for up to 3 years during extreme drought?

ANIMAL FOCUS

Gorillas 🦍

They have big personalities! Some gorillas are bold, some are shy, and some love to stir up trouble. Researchers can even recognize certain gorillas just by how they act! 🤡
They make new beds every night! Gorillas build leafy nests to stay comfy and avoid bugs. Even baby gorillas get their own tiny beds! 🛏️
They're gentle giants. Even though they’re incredibly strong, they usually stay calm. Most disagreements are settled with chest-beating and showing off instead of real fighting. 💪
They snack all day long. More than half their day is spent eating leaves, stems, fruit, and bamboo. They even know which plants to eat to help them feel better when they’re sick. 🍃
They hum when they’re happy! Gorillas sometimes make soft humming sounds while enjoying a tasty meal, and others may even join in. They use more than 20 different sounds to communicate! 📣

Want more? Visit our website for more facts and hear a gorilla laugh!

EVER WONDER?

How do vaccines work? 💉

Vaccines are like a study guide for your body. They show your immune system a safe version of a germ so your body can learn to recognize it. After studying it, your body makes antibodies, which help it remember that germ in the future.

If the real germ shows up later (the big test!), your immune system spots it fast and fights it off before you get very sick!

Your immune system has 3 layers of defense 🛡️

Level 1: Barriers 🎟️

Imagine going to an NBA game. Level 1 is like the fence around the arena that keeps people without tickets out.

Your body’s Level 1 defenses include:

Physical barriers - like skin, which blocks most germs
Biological and chemical barriers - like mucus that traps dust and bacteria, or stomach acid that kills harmful germs
Mechanical barriers - like coughing or vomiting to push out anything dangerous

Level 2: The Innate immune system 👮‍♂️

Inside the arena, security guards watch for trouble. They’re not looking for anyone specific, but they stop problems when they see them.

Your innate immune system works the same way. If something gets past Level 1 (like through a cut), these first-responder cells rush in to help.

Level 3: The Adaptive immune system 🔎

Now imagine the police or FBI inside the arena. They have a list of known troublemakers and “bad guys” and are scanning the crowd for them.

Your adaptive immune system remembers germs you’ve already met and attacks them quickly if they return. This is the part vaccines train.

PICKS OF THE WEEK

🗓️ The longest year in history
💧 What it’s like to be allergic to water
🦠 Can farts spread bacteria?
☁️ How to use clouds to predict the weather:

BRAIN TRIVIA

Logic Puzzle: The king gives you 12 identical-looking coins, but one is fake - it weighs either more or less than the others. You have a balance scale and can use it only 3 times. How do you find the fake coin?

See the solution

Tom Rae | Capture the Dark 2025

Thanks for reading! See you next week!

- Steve

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