2 galaxies merge as 1 in remarkable Hubble Telescope photo

You can ring in the new year with some celestial fireworks, courtesy of the iconic Hubble Space Telescope.
Hubble has taken a colorful photo of the galaxy NGC 6052, which lies about 230 million light-years away in the constellation Hercules — and is actually not a single galaxy at all.
“It would be reasonable to think of this as a single abnormal galaxy, and it was originally classified as such,” European Space Agency (ESA) officials wrote in a description of the image, which was released on Dec. 28. (Hubble is a joint mission involving NASA and ESA.)
“However, it is in fact a ‘new’ galaxy in the process of forming,” ESA officials added. “Two separate galaxies have been gradually drawn together, attracted by gravity, and have collided. We now see them merging into a single structure.” Read more…More about Space, Galaxy, Us World, Milky Way, and Hubble Telescope

Mashable http://feeds.mashable.com/~r/Mashable/~3/izXFbCfID0E/ Space.com

Original Source: Mashable >>

The 100 best food pairings ever

The 100 best food pairings everWhen it comes to flavor, combination is everything. Two straightforward ingredients can become an entirely new, eye-opening dish. (Think about the first time you had a chocolate-covered pretzel and realized salty and sweet was the greatest thing on the planet.)This list — a compilation of exotic fare and basic duos — represents the symbiosis of texture, aroma and, most importantly, taste. But this guide should act as a springboard, not an unyielding rulebook, for your own adventures in the kitchen this new year.Bon appétit!GLOBAL FAVORITESMango & chili powderRomano cheese & cracked black pepper Read more…More about Recipes, Recipe, New Year, Lifestyle, and Food

Mashable http://feeds.mashable.com/~r/Mashable/~3/tNOU_wNIm7w/ Sarah Spigelman Richter

Original Source: Mashable >>

Refugees' life jackets are transformed into message of peace on Greek island

A bright orange peace sign appeared on a hillside on the Greek island of Lesbos on New Year’s Day, transforming a growing pile of life jackets discarded by refugees arriving on the island into a message to the world.
Dozens of Greenpeace and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) volunteers and local supporters teamed up to create the massive peace sign Friday on a hillside overlooking the small strait between Greece and Turkey that has become a main passageway for those fleeing to Europe
Made up of more than 3,000 life jackets and built by dozens of volunteers, the sign is a way to honor those who have made the journey and to urge peace in the new year, according to Greenpeace. Read more…More about Greece, Us World, Refugees, Refugee Crisis, and Lesbos

Mashable http://feeds.mashable.com/~r/Mashable/~3/oDFpNDhRv0Q/ Megan Specia

Original Source: Mashable >>

7 simple meditation methods to help improve your daily life

It seems that the whole world is now meditating, which is wonderful news, as meditation does so much for us on all levels: body, mind and spirit.
On a physical level, meditation allows the body to stay stress-free. Mentally, it helps the mind feel peaceful and less attached to the outcome of each individual task we undertake. Spiritually, this practice takes us beyond the mind, where a whole inner universe is awaiting us. The possibilities are endless.
SEE ALSO: How small doses of meditation can improve your daily life

But with so many different meditation teachers and techniques out there, how would a beginner know which one to try? How would you know whether or not you’re practicing the right method for your own body and mind? Read more…More about Meditation, New Year S Resolutions, Lifestyle, Health Fitness, and Peace

Mashable http://feeds.mashable.com/~r/Mashable/~3/gf4xTH5jx9o/ Thrive Market

Original Source: Mashable >>

Despite a Warmer Winter, Annual Polar Bear Club Swim Still Chills

It looked like Coney Island on a particularly festive summer day, except that it was Jan. 1, when thousands of people flock to the seaside to start their year off the right way — with an unseasonal ocean swim.

NYTimes New Year's Eve http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/02/nyregion/despite-a-warmer-winter-annual-polar-bear-club-swim-still-chills.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Original Source: NY Times >>

19 kissers who should've stayed home on New Year's Eve

In an attempt to ring in the new year, many go for the age-old tradition of accompanying the transition with a kiss
But unfortunately, the world is filled with awkward people unable to take a hint, suck face properly or understand that they’re just not that into you
See also: 18 cringe-worthy Photoshop fails that should have never made it to the Internet
Here’s to 2016 — may all your awkward smooches be forgotten Read more…
More about Lists, Kiss, Funny, New Years Eve, and Gifs

Mashable http://feeds.mashable.com/~r/Mashable/~3/ivZCIFFQAK0/ Brian Koerber

Original Source: Mashable >>