Maximum Megalodon

The largest fish in history may have been much larger than anyone thought. The megalodon, a giant shark that roamed the oceans from the Miocene Epoch to the Pliocene Epoch, was believed to have grown as long as 58.7 feet (17.9 meters). But that may have been a gross underestimation, according to a new study that places the megalodon’s max length at closer to 80 feet (24 meters). And although it was thought that the megalodon was shaped like a great white, it may have had a sleeker form.
A video on the megalodon, a fossil shark and the largest known predator.
The Mysteries of the Megalodon
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Video on the Megalodon shark

Saluting the Girl Scouts

On this day in 1912 Juliette Gordon Low formed the first troop of American Girl Guides (later Girl Scouts), in Savannah, Georgia. Here’s more on the organization’s history and evolution.

Cookies!

The Girl Scouts of the United States of America sell their famous cookies every year from January through April to raise money for their local council and activities. They sell up to 12 varieties of cookies per year, including beloved favorites such as Thin Mints and Caramel deLites (also called Samoas).

International

The world’s first girl scouts organization was formed in Britain in 1910 by Agnes Baden-Powell and brother Robert Baden-Powell, who had formed the Boy Scouts two years earlier. After the Girl Scouts of America was formed in 1912, other countries subsequently adopted Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting programs, and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts was formed in 1928. In the 21st century there were more than 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts worldwide.

Juliette Gordon Low

Juliette Gordon Low (pictured below) spent some time in London and became friends with the Baden-Powell family. After forming a small troop of Girl Guides in Scotland and two in London, Low returned to the United States to found the first domestic troop. She established a headquarters in Washington, D.C., and the movement grew rapidly from there.

Crop of Juliette Gordon Low founder of the Girl Scouts of America. Girl Scout Troop no. 1, Washington, D.C., 1917. Juliette Low (founder - right), Elenore Putsske (center), Evaline Glance 2nd from right.
Harris & Ewing Collection/Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (LC-DIG-hec-09028)
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