Happy New Year!

Environmental & Science Education
STEM
Astronomy
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Edward Hessler

For a growing part of the globe the new year has arrived.

Here, from the BBC, are some fireworks of celebrations that happened a few hours ago.

And perhaps you've wondered why January 1 is the day the new year starts when there are so many other dates available.

The BBC explains.

And finally, another from the BBC: the alternative news end-of-the-year winner and runner's up. One of the latter is our own St. Paul vertical wall climber, the wee racoon that could and did, informally dubbed #MPRracoon and Wally, naturally.