Medical museum in Philadelphia overhauls policies on human remains to meet modern ethical standards
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- A medical museum in Philadelphia is redrawing its policies about collecting and displaying human remains. The Mutter Museum announced it is limiting its acceptance of additional specimens and working to follow "evolving modern medical ethical standards" in handling the 6,500 remains in its collection. Many are body parts and organs collected between about 1840 and 1940 during autopsies and surgery because they were considered helpful in medical education. The museum is also working to "de-anonymize" its collection by looking into the personal histories of the remains. The goal is to exhibit them in the context of medical history, bodily diversity and the tools and therapies used to treat them.
Tortoise hatchlings born of century-old parents come out of their shells at Philadelphia Zoo
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The Philadelphia Zoo is showing off 16 critically endangered western Santa Cruz tortoise hatchlings. The zoo gave the offspring the red carpet treatment on Wednesday with an event to show them off. The 16 were born in a series of hatches this year to Mommy and Abrazzo. The parents are both estimated to be about 100 years old. Mommy has been at the zoo since 1932, but this year's hatchlings are her first offspring. The youngsters are considered a win in the effort to preserve western Santa Cruz tortoises.
Deer hunter discovers rare subtropical wood stork in the wilds of Wisconsin
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A deer hunter has discovered a rare subtropical wood stork in the wilds of Wisconsin. Horicon Marsh Bird Club President Jeff Bahls says a hunter scouting for deer first sighted the bird Sunday in a remote section of the Mud Lake Wildlife Area in Columbia County, northeast of Madison. The hunter sent photos of the bird to Bahls, who verified the creature was indeed a wood stork. Wood storks are typically found around the Gulf of Mexico and in South America. It's listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. Bahls says the Wisconsin wood stork is a juvenile that likely became lost.
Library book returned after 82 years. Note says, 'Grandma won't be able to pay for it anymore'
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- A library book has been returned nearly 82 years after it was borrowed from the San Antonio Public Library. It came with a letter noting that "Grandma won't be able to pay for it anymore." The book is "Your Child, His Family, and Friends" by the psychologist Frances Bruce Strain. The person who returned it says the book was checked out in 1943 by their grandmother when their father was 11 years old. Overdue fines back then were three cents a day. Accounting for inflation, that would be more than $16,000 in today's money. Luckily, the library eliminated overdue fines in 2021.
A Michigan autoworker's wallet is found under a hood in Minnesota -- 151,000 miles later
PETERSBURG, Mich. (AP) -- A retired Michigan autoworker got a Facebook message this summer from a stranger: Did you lose your wallet? That message resolved a mystery that had lasted more than 10 years. Minnesota mechanic Chad Volk found Richard Guilford's wallet under the hood of a Ford Edge, tucked under the air filter box. It had fallen out of his shirt pocket in 2014 when he was working at a Ford factory in suburban Detroit. The wallet still had $15, Guilford's driver's license and gift cards. Volk mailed it to him. Guilford said this "restores your faith in humanity."
Rabbits with 'horns' in Colorado are being called 'Frankenstein bunnies.' Here's why
DENVER (AP) -- Some cottontail rabbits in Fort Collins, Colorado, have been drawing attention because they have wart-like growths on their faces that look like horns. The rabbits are infected with the relatively common Shope papillomavirus. The virus likely inspired the centuries-old jackalope myth. It also helped scientists learn about the connection between viruses and cancer, such as the human papillomavirus that causes cervical cancer. Experts say the virus cannot spread to other species. The growths don't harm rabbits unless they grow on their eyes or mouths and interfere with eating. Rabbits' immune systems are able to fight the virus. And once they do, the growths will disappear.
Scientists discover an ancient whale with a Pokémon face and a predator bite
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- Paleontologists have identified a new whale species from a 25-million-year-old fossil found on an Australian beach. Named Janjucetus dullardi, this creature had bulging eyes and fiendish teeth. It was an early ancestor of the baleen whale but only measured 3 meters (10 feet) in length. The fossil was discovered in 2019 on Jan Juc Beach in Victoria state. This species is only the fourth identified from the mammalodontids group, early whales from the Oligocene Epoch. Amateur fossil hunter Ross Dullard, who found the partial skull, says he will celebrate with a whale-themed party, marking the end of a six-year obsession.
Australian lawyer apologizes for AI-generated errors in murder case
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- A senior lawyer in Australia has apologized to a judge for using AI-generated fake quotes and nonexistent case judgments in a murder case. The blunder occurred in the Supreme Court of Victoria state and involved defense lawyer Rishi Nathwani. On Wednesday, Nathwani took full responsibility for the errors, according to court documents seen by The Associated Press on Friday. The blunder delayed the verdict by 24 hours. The judge ruled on Thursday that the defendant, a minor, was not guilty due to mental impairment. The fake submissions included fabricated quotes and case citations. The judge emphasized the importance of verifying AI-generated content. Similar incidents have occurred in the United States, highlighting ongoing challenges with AI in legal systems.
Milkshakes, malts, concretes, frappes and more: A (delicious) guide to frozen drinks
It's summer, the time for cold, creamy, brain-freezing frozen drinks. Frozen drinks look different depending on where you are. The most iconic is the milkshake. It's typically a smooth blend of ice cream and milk, sometimes with other flavorings or fruit thrown in. Malts are essentially milkshakes plus a scoop of malted milk powder. That gives the drink a nostalgic, toasted, almost nutty flavor. Or consider the frappe. In Massachusetts, it's what most of us would call a milkshake. And it's pronounced "frap." But there's another kind of frappe popularized by chains like Starbucks. Think icy, blended lattes, often topped with whipped cream. And those are pronounced "frap-pays."
A driver faces up to $110,000 in fines for speeding on a Swiss street. But he can afford it
GENEVA (AP) -- A wealthy driver caught for going way too fast on a Swiss city street is facing a fine of more than $110,000. That's because the speedster is one of Switzerland's wealthiest people. The Vaud canton issues fines based on income, fortune or family financial situation. Newspaper "24 Heures" first reported the case and said the man, who was unidentified, was a French citizen living in Switzerland with a fortune in the hundreds of millions of dollars.