Nathan Machoka

China’s Receding Yangtze River Reveals Submerged Ancient Buddhist Statues

The summer of 2022 has seen record-breaking high temperatures across China. As a result, receding Yangtze River waters have revealed three Buddhist statues. As water levels of rivers and reservoirs go down, historical treasures and archaeological relics emerge. Amid this drought, the water levels of the Yangtze River have immensely dropped, and in the process, ...

Nathan Machoka

The Qinghai-Tibet Railway Bridge.

Toxic Positivity: How the Pursuit of Happiness Harms You

Toxic positivity is an issue Whitney Goodman explores in her book Toxic Positivity: Keeping It Real in a World Obsessed with Being Happy. The radical psychotherapist draws lessons from her research and experience as a Miami therapist. Modern media, therapy, and psychology are filled with messages of positivity and happiness. Always have a happy or ...

Nathan Machoka

A couple sharing big smiles.

Lauren Tischendorf: First Woman to Swim Shark-Infested Waters Around Lord Howe Island

The past decade has seen long-distance women swimmers achieve extraordinary feats. For example, Lauren Tischendorf was the first woman to swim the waters around the shark-infested Lord Howe Island.  Female swimmers in recent times have even outpaced their male counterparts, breaking world records and benefiting others with their achievements. In April 2021, Lauren Tischendorf swam ...

Nathan Machoka

Lauren Tischendorf swimming around Lord Howe Island.

Impact of High Energy Costs on Middle-Class Businesses

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are significant contributors to the global economy. But, with rising energy costs, many middle-class businesses are beginning to struggle.   In developing countries, SMEs make up about 90 percent of the private sector, creating about 50 percent of the jobs in their respective economies. For instance, about 80 percent of African jobs ...

Nathan Machoka

Electric power lines.

What India Is Doing to Reduce Man-Eating Tiger Attacks

The tiger, India’s national animal, is admired for its grace, power, and beauty. The man-eating tiger is less common, but it is still respected by the locals in India. As the human population increases in India and settlements are spreading, the number of clashes between tigers and humans increases too.  The infamous Champawat tiger was ...

Nathan Machoka

Closeup shot of a Bengal tiger.

Howard Storm’s Near-Death Experience: Surviving a Haunting Day in Hell

Most near-death experiences (NDEs) have a positive atmosphere. People walk toward a light, filled with peace and calm, or in the guiding presence of a deity or a loved one. But for Howard Storm, an atheist art professor, his NDE was all dark and hellish. His near-death experience in 1985 transformed his life, and today ...

Nathan Machoka

Bright lightning striking out of an apocalyptic red sky appears to hit the surface of a body of water and set it on fire.

The Causes of Teen Depression and How to Deal With It

Teen depression can affect your adolescent’s behavior and physical or emotional functions. Depression can occur at any stage of life, but teen depression symptoms differ from adult depression symptoms. This article will introduce teen depression, how it develops and what adults can do to help deal with it.  Teen depression Teen depression is a serious ...

Nathan Machoka

A depressed teenager.

The Key to Raising a Responsible Generation

To some people, being responsible means being able to provide for their family and contribute positively to society; to others, it means being accountable for their behavior.  Instilling a sense of responsibility in your children may seem like a tall order, but it’s worthwhile. Your children might also view this journey as a punishment, but ...

Nathan Machoka

A group of smiling children.

How Accurate Are Fitness Trackers Really?

According to a study conducted in 2018, mainstream fitness trackers are generally accurate. They do a reasonable job when it comes to monitoring the distance covered, the number of steps taken, pulse rate, and sleep duration of an individual. However, accurate evaluation of calories burned or energy consumed remains challenging due to a significant margin of ...

Nathan Machoka

A woman syncs her fitness tracker with her smartphone and reviews the data.

6 Obstacles Preventing You From Achieving Your Personal Goals

Everybody has personal goals. You may need more money, a promotion, better health, or a more stable relationship. Whatever your end goal, the path to success has many obstacles. When things don’t go your way, your first instinct may be to blame external obstacles holding you back: the economy, the government, partners, friends, etc. Of ...

Nathan Machoka

Small chalkboard with the words 'dream big, set goals, and take action.'