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    We loved living in the DC area but moved to the Pittsburgh suburbs so we could finally save money and buy a house
    My husband and I lived in the DC metro area for nearly 20 years before we left.We grew up in Pennsylvania and moved to Pittsburgh so we could save for and buy a house.Although the DC metro area was great, we're happy being homeowners in the Pittsburgh suburbs.Although we grew up in Pennsylvania, my husband and I spent nearly 20 years building our lives in the Washington, DC, area.We loved it and thought we'd live there forever, but our plans changed when we got married in 2021 and started looking to buy our first home.We soon realized we couldn't afford much in Rockville, Maryland, where we'd lived for eight years, or any other part of the DC metro area.After pricing some homes, it dawned on us that we'd be about halfway to my hometown in Pittsburgh before we could even think about affording a decent house.At that point, we thought, why not go back to our roots? So in 2022, after two decades in the DC area, we packed up our apartment and moved four hours north to Pittsburgh.It was hard to save for a home when we lived in a high-cost-of-living area Washington, DC, is quite walkable and has numerous public-transit options. Richard T. Nowitz/Getty Images Although we loved living in a big city with plenty of choices for everything from grocery stores to transportation to museums and theaters, we struggled to save for a down payment while living in the DC area.After all, those perks and walkability came with a fairly high cost of living. DC is one of the most expensive cities to live in in the US. Rockville was no bargain, either, with the cost of living there estimated to be 37% higher than the national average, according to Paycale.Even ordering food or going on a dinner date was pricey we couldn't have a night out without spending at leastOn the other hand, Pittsburgh has long been considered one of themost affordable citiesto live in and buy a home in.When we left the DC area, we lived in an apartment in Pittsburgh for a year and a half and were actually able to save money while house hunting.We also found way more houses within our budget here. According to Realtor.com, themedian home price in Pittsburghis about $259,000, compared to $619,000 in Rockville.We're now in our first home in a Pittsburgh suburb, and we love itEventually, we found a ranch home in a cozy neighborhood about 20 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh.Although there's not as much to do here as there was in Rockville, Pittsburgh has continued to win us over.Our neighborhood is made up of a series of cul-de-sacs, and we were pleasantly surprised to see how close the neighbors on our street are.We were welcomed with open arms and have enjoyed getting to know the friendly couples, sweet pets, and adorable children who live nearby.Plus, it's been great to live closer to more family members and attend more birthday parties and holiday gatherings without having to travel far.
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    Ukraine says its unusual missile-armed sea drones have scored hits on multiple Russian helicopters in the Black Sea
    Ukraine's naval drones fired missiles at and hit three Russian helicopters earlier this week.The first-of-its-kind combat engagement occurred off the coast of Crimea.It's the latest achievement for Kyiv's naval drones, which have been modified to carry missiles.Ukrainian naval drones armed with heat-seeking missiles shot down two Russian helicopters and damaged a third above the Black Sea earlier this week, Kyiv said on Thursday.The unusual combat engagement marked the first known instance of a naval drone firing on and striking an aircraft. The Ukrainian military previously reconfigured its uncrewed boats for sea-based air defense.The milestone combat operation unfolded on Tuesday off the western coast of the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula. Ukrainian naval drones equipped with missile launchers fired at three helicopters, destroying two of them and damaging a third.The crews of the destroyed helicopters, identified as Mi-8s, were killed, Ukraine's military intelligence agency, also known as the HUR, said on Thursday. The damaged helicopter managed to land.The HUR credited the operation to a special forces unit called "Group 13," which fields the Magura V5, one of several naval drones in service with the Ukrainian military.Earlier this week, the HUR said that a Magura V5 drone took down a single Mi-8 with R-73 air-to-air missiles. The R-73 is a decades-old, short-range missile that uses infrared homing technology. Two days later, Ukraine revealed that a second helicopter was destroyed and a third damaged.The HUR published a radio intercept purportedly containing audio from one of the Mi-8 pilots after the Russian helicopter was hit. "There was a water launch," the pilot says in the recording, describing how a missile exploded near the aircraft. Business Insider could not independently verify any of the details of the operation.This week's incident is not the first time that Ukrainian naval drones have engaged Russian helicopters in a firefight; last month, Kyiv shared footage showing a similar engagement on the other side of Crimea involving a drone outfitted with a machine gun. However, the downing of an aircraft marks a new chapter in naval drone warfare. Ukraine's multi-purpose Magura V5 naval drone during a demonstration in April. Photo by Pavlo Bahmut/Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images Kyiv's domestically produced naval drones have played a key role in its Black Sea operations. In addition to the Magura V5, Ukraine also fields other sea drones, like the Sea Baby platform in service with the Security Service of Ukraine.Ukraine lacks a traditional navy, so it has relied on these naval drones to wage a successful campaign against Russian interests across the Black Sea, using them in attacks against Moscow's warships, aircraft, and infrastructure, like bridges and oil platforms.Through this asymmetrical campaign, Ukraine's drones have effectively driven Moscow's Black Sea Fleet away from its long-held headquarters in Crimea and forced it to relocate across the region to the port of Novorossiysk in southwestern Russia.Ukraine has innovated with its naval drones through various modifications that make them more threatening, like adding missile launchers to give them air-defense capabilities. Some of the drones have also been outfitted with rocket launchers, guns, and even other drones.
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    Apple Agrees to $95 Million Settlement in Siri Eavesdropping Lawsuit
    By Todd Feathers Published January 2, 2025 | Comments (0) | Plaintiffs sued Apple in 2019 alleging Siri violated their privacy. Sebastien Bozon/Getty Images Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a long-running class action lawsuit that accused the company of illegally intercepting customers conversations through its Siri virtual assistant and sharing snippets of those conversations with human reviewers. The suit was originally filed in 2019 after a whistleblower told The Guardian that third-party contractors Apple hired to review Siris responses sometimes heard private interactions, ranging from patients talking to doctors to people having sex or buying drugs. While Apple claimed that Siri only activated its listening mode after detecting its wake wordHey SiriThe Guardian reported that the assistant mistakenly turned itself on and began recording conversations in response to similar words and even the sound of zippers. The lead plaintiff in the class action lawsuit, Fumiko Lopez, alleged that Apple devices improperly recorded their daughter, who was a minor, mentioning brand names like Olive Garden and Air Jordans and then served her advertisements for those brands on Apples Safari browser. Other named plaintiffs alleged that their Siri-enabled devices entered listening mode without them saying Hey Siri while they were having intimate conversations in their bedrooms or were talking with their doctors. In their suit, the plaintiffs characterized the privacy invasions as particularly egregious given that a core component of Apples marketing strategy in recent years has been to frame its devices as privacy-friendly. For example, an Apple billboard at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show read What happens on your iPhone, stays on your iPhone, according to the lawsuit.The proposed settlement, filed in California federal district court on Tuesday, covers people who owned Siri-enabled devices from September 17, 2014 to December 31, 2024 and whose private communications were recorded by an unintended Siri activation. Payout amounts will be determined by how many Apple devices a class member owned that improperly activated a listening session. Apple also agreed to confirm that it has permanently deleted recordings collected by Siri before October 2019 and to publish a web page that explains how customers can opt-in to its Improve Siri feature, which allows the company to share and listen to audio recordings for quality control.Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Shortly after The Guardians report, Apple temporarily suspended all human grading of Siri responses and acknowledged that we havent been fully living up to our high ideals. The company said it would resume human grading after releasing software updates and that going forward, graders would be given computer-generated transcripts of conversations, rather than the audio itself, and that only Apple employees, and not third-party contractors, would conduct the grading.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Kyle Barr Published December 27, 2024 Gizmodo Staff Published December 25, 2024 Florence Ion, Kyle Barr Published December 23, 2024 By Kyle Barr Published December 20, 2024 By AJ Dellinger Published December 18, 2024 By Matthew Gault Published December 17, 2024
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    Unidentified Rocket Fragment Crashes in Kenyan Village
    By Passant Rabie Published January 2, 2025 | Comments (1) | An illustration of space debris surrounding Earth. Credit: ESA A large metallic ring fell from the sky and crashed onto a village in Kenya. Early assessments of the fallen space debris suggested that it may have originated from a rocket, with the debris surviving reentry through Earths atmosphere. The Kenya Space Agency is investigating an incident involving fragments of metal that fell onto Mukuku Village in Makueni County on Monday at 7 a.m. ET, according to a statement. There are no reported injuries, but the incident raises concern over the growing threat of space debris landing in populated areas. Kenyan officials and the Kenya Space Agency (KSA) are investigating a metallic ring, believed to be part of a rocket, that crashed into Mukuku village in Makueni County on December 30. The object, measuring 2.5 meters in diameter and weighing 500 kilograms, is thought to be a pic.twitter.com/kVbpHiCEdT Volcaholic (@volcaholic1) January 1, 2025 The metallic ring is around 8 feet (2.5 meters) wide, and weighs about 1,100 pounds (500 kilograms), according to the Kenyan space agency.The object is believed to be a separation ring, a component used to connect payloads to rockets during launch, ensuring they are placed in orbit before the ring falls back to Earth.Separation rings are generally designed to burn up upon reentry through Earths atmosphere. This one, however, seemed to have survived the heat.The type of rocket has yet to be identified. Kenyas space agency secured the area and retrieved the metallic ring, which is now in the agencys custody for further investigation. We want to assure the public that the object poses no immediate threat to safety, the Kenya Space Agency wrote. Our experts will analyze the object, use existing framework to identify the owner, and keep the public informed of the next steps and outcomes. The incident in Kenya is the latest in a series of space debris crashes on populated areas. In March 2023, a two-pound cylinder-shaped object crashed through the roof of a home in Florida. The object was identified as a fallen piece of a massive pallet of old batteries that NASA had tossed from the International Space Station in March 2021, sending it flying through Earths atmosphere.The risk of falling space debris is an indication of the growing space industry, as access to orbit becomes more available to space agencies and private companies. A2022 studypredicted a 10% chance of one or more casualties from falling rocket parts in the next decade. Regulatory bodies currently lack enforcement mechanisms for proper disposal of rocket parts and defunct spacecraft through controlled reentry, which could guide space debris to remote areas. The recent incident highlights the need for stricter orbital traffic laws to protect people and property on the ground.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Passant Rabie Published December 28, 2024 By Passant Rabie Published December 26, 2024 By Passant Rabie Published December 18, 2024 By AJ Dellinger Published December 13, 2024 By Passant Rabie Published December 4, 2024 By Passant Rabie Published November 26, 2024
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    My New Years Resolution Is a Clean Home With This 50% Off iRobot Roomba Robot Vacuum and Mop
    Remember when keeping your floors clean meant juggling multiple devices and still never quite achieving that perfect result? The iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ represents a dramatic shift in home cleaning technology its not just another robot vacuum, but a sophisticated cleaning companion that both vacuums and mops with equal expertise.See at AmazonAnd right now, this dual-function cleaning powerhouse is available at a price that might make you do a double-take. iRobot has reduced the price from $730 to $399 an impressive 45% discount that saves you $331. If you have floors that need some serious TLC, nows the time to take advantage of this deal. And even if you dont, well, you probably will again in the future.Your intelligent carpet-cleaning companionBuilt on the foundation of the Roomba j7+ that came before it, this combo unit brings something revolutionary to the table: the ability to transform from a powerful vacuum to a precise mopping system with a simple bin switch. Its like having two professional cleaning services in one package, each ready to tackle your floors at a moments notice.The 4-Stage Cleaning System means the robot vacuum doesnt just pass over your floors, either, so its more useful than you just running a vacuum passively when you deem it time to do so. This Roomba iRobot vacuum actively hunts down dirt using proprietary Dirt Detect Technology. With PrecisionVision Navigation, it creates real-time maps of your home, intelligently avoiding obstacles from charging cords to pet accidents (backed by iRobots P.O.O.P. guarantee yes, thats really what they call it).But heres whats the most impressive about this robot vacuum: its truly autonomous. Yes, it can do just about everything on its own for itself. Think about that. The self-emptying base holds up to 60 days of debris, meaning you could potentially go two full months without thinking about vacuum maintenance. Whether youre tackling daily dirt or weekly deep cleans, the j5+ adapts to your needs with both vacuum and mop functions ready at your command.At $399, this isnt just a purchase. Its a way to go about reclaiming your time and maintaining clean floors without the constant attention traditional cleaning requires. For anyone tired of the manual labor of floor maintenance or looking to upgrade their existing robot vacuum, this 45% discount makes the decision significantly easier. Because the only thing better than a smart cleaning robot is one thats both brilliant and budget-friendly. And you know were here to help you save some serious money.See at Amazon
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    Pego House / Madeiguincho
    Pego House / MadeiguinchoSave this picture! Joo CarrancaArchitects: MadeiguinchoAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:17 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2023 More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. This tiny house on wheels, designed for two artists, is nestled in the countryside of Alentejo. The house features an upper sleeping loft situated above a well-appointed bathroom, which includes a unique large door in the shower, allowing the experience of showering as if in the open air.Save this picture!The bathroom interior is finished with thermowood, ensuring durability and a warm, natural aesthetic. The living area cleverly combines the kitchen, equipped with all necessary appliances, and a cozy sofa that transforms into a pull-out bed for guests. Upper windows in the living area maximize natural light, while large windows above the sofa seamlessly connect the indoor space to the surrounding landscape. A wood stove adds a touch of rustic charm and warmth for the colder winter days.Save this picture!Save this picture!The interior of the house is crafted entirely from birch plywood, with elegant touches of French oak and Portuguese pine flooring, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The exterior cladding is made from Japanese cedar treated with brown oil, complementing the thermowood-framed windows and blending harmoniously with the natural surroundings.Save this picture!This tiny house is designed to be completely off-grid, featuring solar panels and batteries for electricity, as well as a rainwater collection system integrated into the house. This sustainable setup ensures that the artists can live comfortably and independently, fully immersed in the tranquil beauty of Alentejos countryside.Save this picture!Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeMadeiguinchoOfficePublished on January 02, 2025Cite: "Pego House / Madeiguincho" [Casa Pego / Madeiguincho] 02 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025061/pego-house-madeiguincho&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream
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    10 of the Most Important Neanderthal Fossil Discoveries
    When most people think of Neanderthals, they picture a classic caveman caricature brutish and backward, a relic of the distant past. But this image doesnt tell the whole story.These Ice Age inhabitants of Europe and parts of Asia were skilled hunters, toolmakers, and caregivers. And their legacy persists not just in the archaeological record, but in our very genes. Some modern-day people have 2 percent Neanderthal DNA, according to Prof. Chris Stringer, a leading human evolution researcher at the British Natural History Museum.Over the past century and a half, fossil discoveries have helped rewrite the story of Neanderthals, revealing them not just as survivors but a species with social bonds, adaptability, and ingenuity. These are some of the most famous finds that have transformed our understanding of these ancient relatives.1. The First Neanderthal FossilsIn 1856, workers in Germanys Neander Valley unearthed a skullcap and scattered bones that defied expectations. The remains were clearly human-like, yet strikingly different from anything researchers had seen before.This discovery, later named for the valley, became a turning point in our understanding of human origins. It challenged long-held beliefs about humanitys uniqueness and sparked debates about evolution that would shape the emerging field of paleoanthropology.(Credit: Marla_Sela/Shutterstock)2. Evidence of Care in Shanidar CaveHigh in Iraqs Zagros Mountains, Shanidar Cave revealed a tender side of Neanderthal life. The burial of Shanidar 4, a male skeleton found surrounded by wildflower pollen, sparked theories about symbolic rituals. While debated, the find hints that Neanderthals may have buried their dead with intention.Another skeleton from the cave shows healed injuries, suggesting long-term care for the injured. These discoveries challenged stereotypes, and revealed a species capable of deep social bonds.3. Aging in La Chapelle-aux-SaintsWhen archaeologists in France uncovered a nearly complete skeleton of an elderly Neanderthal male in 1908, they were confronted with new questions about the species. The individual, crippled by arthritis and tooth loss, had survived well beyond the years he could fend for himself.This discovery forced scientists to rethink their assumptions: Neanderthals didnt abandon their sick or elderly. Instead, they likely lived in supportive communities that cared for vulnerable members, reshaping the image of Neanderthals as cold, solitary figures.(Credit: Puwadol Jaturawutthichai/Shutterstock)4. Family Life at La FerrassieExcavations at La Ferrassie in France uncovered an array of Neanderthal skeletons, including children and an infant buried in what appeared to be a shallow grave. These remains offer a rare glimpse into Neanderthal social structure and burial practices.This site is among the most complete records of Neanderthal skeletons, providing insights into their social structure, life stages, and possible burial practices. It offers a poignant reminder that these ancient humans may have honored their dead in ways not so different from our own.The reconstruction of Altamura Man by Dutch artists Adrie and Alfons Kennis. (Credit: Roberto Montanari/Shutterstock)5. Altamura Mans Frozen LegacyDeep in an Italian cave, researchers discovered Altamura Man, a Neanderthal fossil encased in limestone for over 130,000 years. This remarkable find is one of the most intact Neanderthal skeletons ever unearthed.While the limestone that preserved him made analysis difficult, scientists successfully extracted DNA, unlocking novel insights into Neanderthal evolution and genetic diversity. 6. The Tragedy of El SidrnIn Spains El Sidrn Cave, archaeologists uncovered the remains of 12 Neanderthals, likely a closely related family group. Evidence of cannibalism, including cut marks and fractured bones, suggested they died in a catastrophic event and were later scavenged.Genetic analysis revealed parent-child relationships and close familial ties, shedding light on how Neanderthals organized their social groups and supported one another, even in dire circumstances.7. Gibraltars Last HoldoutsThe caves of Gibraltar house some of the last-known Neanderthal populations. Fossils and artifacts show that these Neanderthals adapted to isolation, surviving thousands of years longer than their counterparts in the rest of Europe.Their story underscores their resilience and offers clues about the environmental pressures that shaped their final days.(Credit: Nzch/Shutterstock)8. Vindija Cave and the DNA Revolution Vindija Cave in Croatia yielded fossils that revolutionized the study of ancient genetics. By extracting and sequencing Neanderthal DNA, scientists unlocked unprecedented insights into their biology and behavior. The analysis confirmed that Neanderthals interbred with early modern humans, which marked a turning point in understanding ancient human interactions.This breakthrough not only showcased the potential of genetic research but also shed light on traits and adaptations shared between Neanderthals and their modern relatives. 9. Expanded Horizons in Teshik-TashThe discovery of a young Neanderthal in Teshik-Tash Cave, Uzbekistan, challenged long-held views about the range of Neanderthal habitation. This find, located far from their better-known European strongholds, revealed that Neanderthals had adapted to and thrived in Central Asias diverse environments.The burial itself offers intriguing clues about Neanderthal behavior. The remains were surrounded by goat horns, which some researchers interpret as evidence of symbolic or ritualistic practices. This discovery not only broadens our understanding of where Neanderthals lived but also deepens the mystery of their cultural and behavioral complexity.The entrance to Denisova cave in Siberias Altai Mountains. (Credit: Igor Boshin/Shutterstock)10. Denisova Caves Hybrid DiscoveryA fragment of bone found in Siberias Denisova Cave revealed that a child born 90,000 years ago had a Neanderthal mother and a Denisovan father. Denisovans, an extinct group of archaic humans closely related to Neanderthals, are known from only a few fossil remains, primarily from this cave.This hybrid discovery underscores the complex interactions between ancient human species, showing that Neanderthals were not isolated but part of a dynamic web of migration and interbreeding. Neandertals and Denisovans may not have had many opportunities to meet, said Svante Pbo of the Max Planck Institute in a press release, but when they did, they must have mated frequently much more so than we previously thought.The discovery serves as one of many reminders of the interconnection between ancient human species. Neanderthals were not just a relic of the past; their lives, migrations, and relationships shaped the evolutionary paths that led to us. Each new fossil continues to reveal not only who they were but also how we came to be.Article Sources:Our writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Natural History Museum. Who were the Neanderthals?Journal of Quaternary Science. Worldwide research trends on NeanderthalsCambridge University Press. New Neanderthal remains associated with the flower burial at Shanidar CaveSmithsonian Natural History Museum. La Chapelle-aux-SaintsJournal of Human Evolution. La Ferrassie 1: New perspectives on a classic NeandertalJournal of Human Evolution. The Neanderthal in the karst: First dating, morphometric, and paleogenetic data on the fossil skeleton from Altamura (Italy)National Library of Medicine. Late survival of Neanderthals at the southernmost extreme of EuropeScience. A Draft Sequence of the Neanderthal GenomeMax Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. Neandertal mother, Denisovan father!
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    Celebrate #MuseumSelfieDay on January 15!
    #MuseumSelfie Day has received international engagement and coverage, from news outlets including the Guardian, CNN, and more. (Credit: Mar Dixon)NewsletterSign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news#MuseumSelfie Day is the perfect blend of art, culture, historyand selfies! Mark your calendars now for January 15, 2025.Mar Dixon, a leader in social media and the cultural sector, created #MuseumSelfie Day in 2014 as part of her quest to make museums fun for everyone thus changing the image of museums from stodgy and boring institutions, to places that anyone can enjoy. This simple concept taking a fun selfie in a museum has become a global movement, with people, museums, news outlets, and organizations from around the world getting in on the action. #MuseumSelfie Day has received international engagement and coverage, from news outlets including the Guardian, CNN, and more. (Credit: Mar Dixon)Visitors and staff at museums still participate each year by sharing their #MuseumSelfie photos on platforms including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Bluesky, and Instagram. From ancient artifacts to modern masterpieces, every museum offers a unique opportunity for a selfie moment.Who knows who will get involved in this years #MuseumSelfie Daythough itll be hard to top the Cookie Monsters playful participation! (Credit: Cookie Monster)Mar Dixon, who passed away in 2024, leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of making museums more accessible and interactive through campaigns like this. Her vision transformed how cultural institutions engage with the public, and her influence continues to be felt worldwide.How to participate in #MuseumSelfieDayGet ready for January 15, 2025 (always the third Wednesday in January)! Heres how to join the fun:Visit a Museum: Head to any museum, gallery, or cultural institution.Find a Feature You Love: Choose an exhibit or piece that inspires you.Take a Selfie: Snap a picture with the exhibit or feature in the background.Post Your Photo: Share it on X, Bluesky, Instagram, or Facebook using #MuseumSelfieDay or #MuseumSelfie. Dont forget to tag the museum and add a caption describing the exhibit or your experience!Get Creative: Use filters, props, or poses to make your post stand out. Have fun with it!Whether youre an art enthusiast, a history buff, or just looking for a fun day out, #MuseumSelfie Day is a fantastic way to explore culture while sharing your journey with the world.Join the movement this January and help keep Mar Dixons vision alive by celebrating museums as vibrant, welcoming spaces for everyone.Mar Dixon and her friends visited the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery in the United Kingdom on #MuseumSelfieDay in 2018. (Credit: Mar Dixon)Get creative! Its meant to be fun!culture
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    Endangered baby monkey found clinging to driver of speeding Rolls Royce
    Around 8PM on December 30th, California Highway Patrol pulled over a driver for speeding his Rolls Royce Ghost down Highway 99. According to a CHP Madera Countys Facebook post, the driver was found to be under the influence and placed under arrest for DUI. Inside the roughly $400,000 luxury car, authorities found an unexpected passenger.The driver had a baby monkey attachedor clenchedon his person, CHP officer Sergio Moreno told local news outlet KSEE on Tuesday. Thats something you dont see every day.More specifically, the primate was a one-month-old spider monkey in a onesie. While the exact species isnt clear (the genus includes seven types), they are all considered threatened or critically endangered. Apart from their conservation status, its illegal to own the exotic animal in multiple states across the US.Definitely cant have them here in California, added Madera County Animal Services director Amy Toler.Spider monkeys are native to the upper layers and canopies of Central and South American rainforests. They are some of the largest monkeys known to exist in the Americas, with black-headed spider monkey males weighing as much as 24 lbs. Their common name is derived from their prehensile tails, some as long as three feet, which the animals use along with their disproportionately lanky limbs to grasp branches and other objects. Although they live in groups as large as 35 individuals, spider monkeys generally roam large areas of forest during the day while scouring for fruit, plants, and small insects to eat.Dwindling population numbers are due to a combination of factors, most notably deforestation from logging and land clearing. The exoticand often illegalpet trade also contributes to disrupting ongoing conservation efforts. In California, a misdemeanor conviction for owning a prohibited animal can include up to six months of jail time along with as much as $10,000 in fines.According to CHP Maderas Facebook post, authorities quickly transported the Rolls Royce passenger to local Animal Services for an overnight stay and a snack of mashed bananas. As cute as it may sound, however, Toler stressed the importance of sticking with more traditional pets.Since we dont have what the monkey needed for feeding, we went with the next best thing, Toler said on Tuesday. This is not where they should be. You know, we should not be caring for these animals. They need to be in the wild with nature, with their own species.After his brief stay in Madera County, California Department of Fish and Wildlife assumed responsibility for the spider monkey baby. According to authorities, the tiny monkey will soon arrive at the Oakland Zoo for additional care.The post Endangered baby monkey found clinging to driver of speeding Rolls Royce appeared first on Popular Science.
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