What’s Different About The Draconid Meteor Shower Peak: What To Know

The Draconid, Orionid and Taurid meteor showers are all underway, and a comet not seen in 80,000 years is flying by Earth.

Northern Lights May Dance Over A Third Of U.S. After Huge Solar Flares

Already enhanced chances to see the aurora borealis into the nation’s midsection increased with the stongest flare of Solar Cycle 25.

5 Things To Know About Giant ‘Flying’ Joro Spiders In A Dozen States

Joro spiders may capture the public’s fascination for “the weird and fantastic and potentially dangerous,” but they’re harmless. Really.

This Is The Last Chance To See ‘Comet Of Century’ For 80,000 Years

Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas flies ever closer to Earth and our sun, it could be brighter than the stars, Jupiter and even Venus,

Be Cordial To Neighbors Who Bug You? Or ‘Go Lower’? [Block Talk]

One reader wants her neighbors to complain that the upkeep of her property bugs them, thereby shaming her husband into getting off his bum.

What Do You Do About Neighbor’s Bright Lights? [Block Talk Survey]

A Patch reader wonders if it’s really necessary for her neighbor to keep their intrusively bright LED and halogen lights burning all night.

October Skygazing Guide: Meteor Showers Return, 3rd Of 4 Supermoons

The fall meteor showers star in October, with the Draconids and Orionids seeing their peaks and the Taurids rambling along all month.

Fall Boating in 2024

NJ Boaters! Fall is still a great time to be out on the water!

‘Flying’ Spiders Expanding Presence In U.S. [Weird News & Oddities]

Passel of opossums, fentanyl found in illegally parked car; Taylor Swift is everywhere in a corn maze; robbery attempt goes horribly wrong.

As Sun Nears Solar Maximum Peak, More Northern Lights Displays Likely

As Solar Cycle 25 nears its peak — between November and March 2026 — the aurora borealis could dip far south of its Arctic range more often.

Full Harvest Supermoon And Lunar Eclipse: What To Know

A partial lunar eclipse of the supermoon, the second of four consecutive, will be visible in the Americas, Europe and Asia on Wednesday.

How Do You Talk To Neighbors About What Bugs You? [Block Talk Survey]

Most of us want to have cordial relationships with our neighbors. But when they do things that bug you, how do you talk to them about it?

America’s Butterflies Are Vanishing

Eastern regal fritillary butterfly habitat has shrunk to a single location in Pennsylvania. The species faces a peril similar to monarchs’.

Hotdish Isn't Odd In Nation That Eats Pasties, Bot Boi, Juicy Lucies

Bot boi and pasties aren’t what you may think, and why isn’t the strawberry pretzel Jell-O and whipped topping dessert called a salad?

Surgeon Removes Man’s Liver By Mistake [Weird News & Oddities]

Reptile hitchhiking “most Florida thing ever”; oh my darling, Clementine is free; little piggy goes to Hollywood; “The Shark” foiled again.

Annoying Neighbors: Let Us Count The Ways, Readers Say [Block Talk]

From neighbors who have barking, snarling dogs to “basement tenants from hell” to smokers, tokers and fire stokers, readers dish.

Loud Fish Sex; Granny’s Ashes At Disney: Best Of Weird News & Oddities

It was so hot a tourist melted his feet; “rooftop ninja” lived in a sign for a year; dude has eaten 34,000 Big Macs since 1973; much more.

6 Of 7 Planets Now Visible In The Pre-Dawn Sky: Which One Is Missing?

Jupiter, Mars, Saturn and Mercury should be easy to spot in the pre-dawn parade of planets, but two other dim planets are more elusive.

Entitled, Rude Parents Ruin School Drop-Off For Everyone [Block Talk]

Readers said getting the kids out of the car without delay is the code, but another pointed out “there are challenges you cannot see.”

Did ‘Doomsday Fish’ Predict Recent Earthquake? [Weird News & Oddities]

Another Pennsylvania groundhog gains fame as a live prize in claw machine; celery that wasn’t celery and candy that wasn’t candy.

Annoying Neighbors: What Ticks You Off? [Block Talk Survey]

Do your neighbors party and play loud music all night, let their dogs bark, or have zero cares to give about the upkeep of their property?

Minnesota Has The ‘Hotdish’; What’s Your State Famous For? [Survey]

After Harris and Walz dished on the hotdish, we wondered ​what food tradition in your state might confuse people who live somewhere else.

One Of These Is Not Like The Other: Weird Grocery Order Substitutions

Ginger wins the prize among readers who answered Patch’s informal survey. She ordered cereal but got a hammer and hacksaw blade instead.

The Rare Blue Supermoon Is Just The Start Of Big And Bright Lunar Fun

Monday’s full moon is a true blue moon. It is also the first of four consecutive supermoons — full moons that appear bigger and brighter.

Older Americans Prepare For World Altered By Artificial Intelligence

Older adults who lived through the advent of refrigeration, the transition from radio to TV and the invention of the internet tackle AI.

Community Facebook Page Etiquette: The Good, Bad And Ugly [Block Talk]

Bullies, conspiracy theories and politicizing everything can suck the fun out of interacting on community social media forums, readers said.

1-Ton Asphalt Roller Joyride; RFK Jr.’s Bear [Weird News & Oddities]

Dragonfly swarms terrify, delight beachgoers; stay in Polly Pocket’s compact house; auction price as eye-popping as Princess Leia’s bikini.

Does The School Drop-Off Lane Have To Be Torture? [Block Talk Survey]

The school drop-off and pick-up lane is torture because of some parents. Does it have to be this painful? What constitutes proper etiquette?

Extreme Heat Has Many Americans Sweating Their Electricity Bills: Poll

Around 7 in 10 Americans say in the last year extreme heat has had an impact on their electricity bills, ranging from minor to major.

Perseid Meteor Shower 2024 Peaks This Weekend: When To See Fireballs

Up to 100 shooting stars an hour may be seen as the fireball-rich Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak. Is a meteor storm predicted?

Let’s Talk Weird Online Grocery Order Substitutions [Patch Survey]

Pay attention to text messages while the order is being filled or you may end up with 48 boiled eggs or pool floatie-sized pork roast.

Delta Aquariids, Alpha Capricornids Share Peak Dates: When To Look Up

The sky is expected to be alive this week as two meteor showers peak at the same time the northern lights could dip far south.

Northern Lights Could Dip Far South This Week Due To 'Cannibal CME'

Earth-directed geomagnetic storms intensify, creating ideal conditions for aurora borealis displays in places that usually don’t see them.

Not Your Package? Will You Keep It Or Be A Decent Human? [Block Talk]

Just who are these people, readers wondered, and do you really want to know them if they’d keep packages delivered to them by mistake?

Whale Tips Boat; Hot Sand Melts Tourist’s Skin [Weird News & Oddities]

An Amazon delivery contained a dirty diaper; it stinks for the third-party sellers, too. A giant inflatable IUD tours the country.

Zucchini-pocalypse: Sneak It Onto Neighbor’s Porch, Into Recipes, More

National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day is approaching as the summer produce gives and gives and gives.

What’s The Etiquette For Community Facebook Pages? [Block Talk Survey]

Your community’s social media page may bring out the best in your neighbors. Or the worst. What’s the best way to keep discussions civil?

Is July’s Full Buck Moon Part Of Parade Of 4 Supermoons? What To Know

The buck moon this weekend is the last regular full moon before a string of supermoons, incuding August’s true blue moon.

Surprise Yellowstone Geyser Eruption Highlights Little Known Hazard

The hydrothermal explosion Tuesday in Biscuit Basin sent rocks, steam, water and dirt high into the air as tourists scrambled for safety.

Costco Is Selling Doomsday Food Buckets: Is The Apocalypse Near?

Probably not, but the jokes are better with the assumption the buckets are an end times survival kit rather than one to ride out a storm.