🦉 Owls from Around the World

Good morning. A Scottish sanctuary is drawing visitors for its breathtaking owls, and you may be able to own one.

In Southern California, scientists have found honeybees that can naturally resist a devastating parasite, which could be a big deal for pollinators.

And a music teacher in the UK is turning his toddler’s stories into catchy songs, and their family’s morning routine is now a hit online.

👉 P.S. If you enjoy this, there’s more waiting for you. You can unlock the full experience here.

—Stephanie S

If you need a moment of wonder this morning, take a look at the Scottish Owl Centre, where twelve stunning portraits capture the personalities of some of the world’s most remarkable owls. From Opia, the youngest ashy-faced owl, to Zeus, a majestic Eurasian eagle owl with a wingspan over six feet, each bird has a story and a presence that draws visitors in.

The Centre, just outside Glasgow, is home to over 150 hand-reared raptors, all trained for daily flying displays and cared for by a passionate team. Now, as the founders prepare for retirement, they’re seeking new owners who share their love of wildlife and education.

It’s not every day you see a place where conservation, community, and a bit of magic come together so naturally.

Here’s a bit of good news for bees and anyone who loves their morning fruit. Scientists in Southern California have discovered a unique population of honeybees that can naturally fend off deadly Varroa mites, a parasite that’s been devastating hives across the country.

These local bees have 68% fewer mites and need far less chemical help than typical commercial bees. The secret seems to start early, with larvae that are less attractive to the mites.

Curious how these bees are pulling it off and what it could mean for the future of pollinators? Take a look at the full story for a hopeful buzz.

A New York music teacher is turning his three-year-old daughter’s wild stories into viral pop songs, and the internet can’t get enough. Stephen Spencer takes her imaginative tales and spins them into catchy tunes that have racked up millions of plays and a huge following.

It all started as a playful family tradition, but now their songs are winning hearts everywhere.

If you need a smile, you’ll want to check out this dad-daughter duo’s latest hits.

If you need a reason to stay up late this month, the Lyrid meteor shower is about to put on a show. With the Moon out of the way, the night of April 22 into the 23rd is set for prime stargazing, offering up to 15 shooting stars an hour if you can get away from city lights.

These meteors are actually bits of comet Thatcher burning up in our atmosphere. Look for the constellation Lyra near the bright star Vega to spot the action.

If you’re up for a little adventure, a drive to a truly dark spot could even reveal the Milky Way’s galactic core. It’s a perfect excuse to reconnect with the night sky and maybe introduce someone to the wonder of the cosmos.

Catch the details and tips for the best view in the full story.

At age 82, legendary pianist Vladimir Horowitz returned to his Russian homeland for the first time in 61 years to perform in his hometown of Moscow. The concert was a momentous occasion, held during a period of improved communication and understanding between the USSR and the United States, making it significant both musically and politically. Horowitz delivered one of the most emotionally astonishing performances of his life, inspiring the audience with his virtuosity and deep connection to his native country.

The Moscow concert was subsequently released as a compact disc titled "Horowitz in Moscow," which topped Billboard's Classical music charts for over a year. The performance demonstrated that despite the pressure of the occasion, Horowitz remained ecstatically inspired to play for his fellow Moscovites, cementing this concert as one of the most significant musical events of the era.

Other notable April 20 events:

1865: The Secchi disk, created by Italian astronomer Angelo Secchi, was first demonstrated as an inexpensive method of measuring water clarity using a white disk with black and white quadrants.

1912: Fenway Park opened as the home of the Boston Red Sox baseball team.

1972: Apollo 16's lunar module landed on the moon.

1986: Professional basketball player Michael Jordan set an all-time record for points in an NBA playoff game with 63 against the Boston Celtics.

— Will Rogers

Every day brings amazing advances and uplifting moments that remind us just how wonderful the world can be. Here are five reasons why today is the best time ever to be alive:

✈️ Recycled Carbon Fiber: Carbon fiber recycling has cracked a problem that seemed insurmountable for decades, with new processes recovering fibers from old aircraft and wind turbine blades and returning them to production.

🦫 Beavers at Work: Rewilded beavers in the UK are naturally engineering flood control in rivers, reducing downstream flooding for communities at a fraction of the cost of conventional engineering.

📱 Unbanked No More: Mobile payment systems have brought financial services to 1.4 billion people who were previously unbanked.

🕷️ Spider Silk at Scale: Spider silk proteins, once impossibly difficult to produce at scale, are now being brewed by fermentation at commercial quantities.

🐺 The Wolves of Yellowstone: Gray wolves reintroduced to Yellowstone in 1995 have regenerated entire river valleys by changing where elk graze.

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