19th century, jack the baboon, james edwin white, railroad, south africa

A Monkey Working at a Train Station? Jack the Baboon Did Just That

There was once a signalman duo in South Africa comprising James Edwin White, a man who lost both his legs, and Jack, a baboon. Yes, a baboon, as in the animal. The two were tasked with keeping the trains on schedule in the 19th century.  Despite the unlikely pairing, Jack the baboon was so good ...

Viena Abdon

Jack the baboon and James White.

6 Best Places to Go Fossil Hunting in the World

Fossil hunting can be an exciting hobby or vacation activity for history buffs. It’s exciting because it’s a way to open a window to millions of years ago into the age of dinosaurs, megalodon sharks, and ancient plants.  There are some amazing places to go fossil hunting in the world, giving you the chance to ...

Nathan Machoka

Trilobite fossil found in stone.

Dean Schneider: Leaving Everything to Become a Wildlife Conservationist

I’m sure you’ve heard about people quitting their well-paying jobs to pursue their passion. Well, that’s the case with 30-year-old Swiss-born and raised Dean Schneider. Dean had a lucrative career in Dubendorf, Switzerland as a financial planner, but he quit and relocated to South Africa in 2017 to become a wildlife conservationist.  A mission to ...

Nathan Machoka

Dean Schneider with a lion.

Zayaan Khan, the Seed Librarian in South Africa Preserving Traditions

South Africa has a food system that is not in sync with what its land is capable of growing. However, efforts are on to restore the native and age-old horticulture. A skilled seed librarian named Zayaan Khan is among the pioneers spearheading this movement. She is also a talented horticulturist.  Located on the western coast ...

Armin Auctor

Zayaan Khan with a slice of horned cucumber in her mouth.

Omicron: What You Need to Know About the New Variant

A new Covid-19 variant labeled “Omicron” was first detected in South Africa on November 9. Since its detection in South Africa, the new variant Omicron has spread to more than two dozen countries, including Hong Kong, Israel, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Australia, the UK, Canada, Germany, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea. The United States has also ...

The Snapshot Channel

Omicron variant of the coronavirus.