It is a common belief by many that coffee stunts growth. This is primarily the reason why kids are not allowed to drink coffee. But is it true?

Research suggests mostly no. There are a few health risks to caffeine that should be considered before drinking it. But in terms of height, there isn’t any real scientific evidence that coffee, or caffeine in general, has an actual adversarial effect.

So if scientific studies do not back up this claim, where did this belief come from? The answer goes back in the early 1900s, from the series of ads for Postum, a popular caffeine-free beverage.

Learn more about this over at Discover Magazine.

(Image Credit: pixel2013/ Pixabay)

Having obedient children is a good thing. They will listen to what you say, and they follow your advice, and sometimes they follow it literally, just like what this boy does when his dad told him to “keep [his] eye on the ball.”

(Image Credit: ViralHog/ YouTube)

This is Eddy Goldfarb. You might not have heard about him, but he’s the man behind the invention of the Yakity Yak Teeth, the game KerPlunk, and the bubble gun. Throughout his life, he has created over 800 toys, and today, at the age of 98, he still has more ideas to offer to the world.

Learn more about his life on this short documentary produced and directed by his daughter Lyn.

Via Laughing Squid

(Image Credit: The New Yorker/ YouTube)

Lân Nguyen, a photographer in the Netherlands, experiments with laying silhouettes over the sky and mixing the forms with the shapes suggested by the clouds and moon. The results are often amusing and heartwarming. His source material includes romantic images, as well as scenes from classic Disney films. You can see more on his Instagram page.

Barcodes, which you commonly see on the back of products you buy from the store, usually have a boring appearance. But it doesn’t mean that they have to be boring. Some packaging designers create barcode designs that are set apart from the rest, so keep a good eye out for them as you shop next time at your local store. For now, here are some clever barcode designs compiled by Sad and Useless.

(Image Credit: Sad and Useless)

With happy music in the background, and a cute hedgehog smiling as it faces the camera, try not to say “aww” on this video. A word of warning: it will be extremely difficult.

(Image Credit: Rapid Liquid/ YouTube)

Pets are adorable creatures when they are with humans, but you can’t say the same thing when they’re left on their own. That’s what Japanese user @muchi21067312 realized when he checked up on his cat Totoro and his two corgis, Chi and Mu.

The three animals had taken up positions on cushions arranged in a triangular pattern. In the foreground, Totoro and one of the corgis were perched almost completely motionless, with the steady curling back and forth of Totoro’s tail the only movement. Both animals were staring intently at the remaining corgi, who was spread-eagle on the third cushion, and as still as death. Watching the video, you start to think the only reason the cushions are arranged in a triangle is because there weren’t enough for a pentagram.

“They’re having some sort of strange ritual,” tweeted @muchi21067312 with the video. “Whatever they’re doing, it’s terrifying, so I’m just going to shut the door.”

What do you think were they doing?

(Image Credit: mu-chi/ Twitter)

We've often said the easiest way to find happiness is to help others. Now we see evidence that helping others may extend your happy life as well!

Studies show, for instance, that volunteering correlates with a 24% lower risk of early death – about the same as eating six or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day, according to some studies. What’s more, volunteers have a lower risk of high blood glucose, and a lower risk of the inflammation levels connected to heart disease. They also spend 38% fewer nights in hospitals than people who shy from involvement in charities.

And these health-boosting impacts of volunteering appear to be found in all corners of the world, from Spain and Egypt to Uganda and Jamaica, according to one study based on the data from the Gallup World Poll.

But it's not just volunteering for charitable work that has health benefits. The same benefits can come from donating money to good causes, performing random acts of kindness, and even taking care of children. Read about the research into doing good for others at BBC Future. -via Damn Interesting

Tim Smith of Williamsburg, Kentucky, may have agreed to make his route, despite rain, snow, heat, or gloom of night. But he never agreed to face down dogs with axes. Fox 19 News quotes him:

There’s a lot of reasons why your mailman might not deliver your packages, and this is one of them. I can handle a dog, but not a dog with an axe.

Yup. Keep driving. The customer can pick up his mail at the post office, if necessary.

-via Dave Barry | Photo: Tim Smith

A dramatic action film in miniature! This little guy goes the extra mile, but the prop master deserves  credit for bringing this story to life. It's amazing what quarantine boredom can accomplish. See more of Mr. Hamster's adventures.  -via Nag on the Lake

AsapSCIENCE doesn’t really need eight minutes to tell a joke, but this one requires some setup, because it’s SCIENCE! First, we get an explanation of the origins of humor, then the basic structure of a joke and what makes it funny. However, there is some humor along the way to the statistically funniest joke. Besides, you’ve heard that joke before.  -via Digg

If you've got a funnier joke, let's hear it.

To celebrate the Hubble Space Telescope’s 30 long years in operation (good for them, really), NASA has released stunning images taken by the telescope. The images of celestial bodies, such as stars in different numbers, groups, and galaxies will be added to NASA’s Caldwell catalog. The Caldwell catalog is an compilation of star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies: 

These images will be added to the Caldwell catalog which draws inspiration from 18th-century French astronomer Charles Messiers’ own record of the heavens.

From NASA’s description, “The Messier catalog, begun by astronomer Charles Messier in the 18th Century and revised over the years, includes some of the most fascinating astronomical objects that can be observed from Earth’s Northern Hemisphere. Among them are deep-sky objects that can be viewed in stunning detail using larger telescopes but are also bright enough to be seen through a small telescope. This characteristic makes Messier objects extremely popular targets for amateur astronomers possessing all levels of experience and equipment. They are so popular, in fact, that they have inspired a special award from the Astronomical League (an organization for amateur astronomers) given to observers who are able to spot each of these objects. Those who succeed receive a certificate and are given the distinction of being in the Messier Club.”

The Caldwell collection consists of 109 objects observable by a small telescope, Engadget reports. That website reports that the additional 30 pictures, the Hubble output consists of 87 of the 109 objects in that collection.

Image via Lighting Stalking

Newspapers.com presents a roundup of letters to Santa Claus from as far back as 1901. Most are pretty straightforward: I've been a good boy/girl, please bring me a GI Joe/dolly/pony, etc. But there was a letter dropped in a mailbox in 1992 that was reprinted across the country because it was so sad.  

“Dear Santa Clas, Please help my mom and dad this Christmas. My dad is not working anymore. We don’t get many food now. My mom gives us the food she would eat. Please help my mom an dad. I want to go to Heven too be with the angels. Can you bring me to Heven? My mom an dad woud not have too by things for me no more. That would make them happy. Plese bring my dad a job an some food. I live in my house like last year. We got candils. A city man took the lights a way. It looks like we don’t live heer no more. We do. I will wate for you too come in my room. I will not slep. Wen you give my dad a job and some food too my mom I will go with you and the rain deer. Merry Christmas too you Mrs. Clas too the elfs too. Thad.”

Readers donated a total of $17,000 for Thad and his family. Despite the efforts of many who tried to investigate, Thad was never identified, and the money was eventually given to the United Way. Read more letters to Santa from over the years at Fishwrap.  -via Strange Company 

(Image source: The Library of Congress)

Once again, mathematician Kokichi Sugihara of Meiji University has won first place in the Best Illusion of the Year contest. His "3D Schröder Staircase" can break your mind until you see how it's done... and then it may still break your mind. Another finalist that caught my eye shows an illusion you probably never thought about before.



"Subtitles Illusion" is from high school teacher Masashi Atarashi. See the top ten illusions of 2020 in this gallery.

PSA: I don't think masks ruined our pictures at all. I'm excited to look back on them and see what an insane time in life we were having - but that we made it through anyway. from r/weddingplanning

Almost half a billion people use reddit each month, so the activity on the site is a snapshot of what the world was doing in 2020. The site's year-end review takes a look at the subreddits that stood out this year, for participation, virality, and influence. 

Here, moderators of r/coronavirus, r/blacklivesmatter, r/weddingplanning, r/frugal, r/applyingtocollege, and r/amitheasshole share firsthand how online communities faced some of 2020’s most unprecedented moments:

You can read the report on trends with examples of influential or representative posts at redditblog.

Find out what the top posts of the year were here.