Say what you will about the internet, but it’s become a vital tool in virtually all our lives.

Not only does it help us to stay in touch with friends and family members like never before, but it also has more knowledge that ten thousand libraries combined. Not to mention the fact that said knowledge is only a few mouse clicks away.

Yep, gone are the days where you have to trawl through dozens of books or seek out an expert if you have a question regarding an obscure topic that you need answering. Today, the internet has a correct answer for… well, pretty much anything you might ask it.

If you’re a regular reader on our site, you’ll perhaps have come across articles that seek to explain certain oddities in the world around us. Take, for example, what it means if you see a giant star on the side of a barn, or what it might mean if you see a man with one painted fingernail. How about if you spot square waves forming on the surface of the ocean close to shore?

We’ve tried to answer all these questions and more. Which is why when we came across a mysterious picture online showing trees with their trunks painted white, we decided to do a little digging.

Now, there seems to be a lot going on in the world of trees. Last month we explained the possible reason behind bent trees that you might see in the forest, while paint splashed upon the bark of a tree seems to adhere to a color code that can tell you things about the tree, including its health and future.

Trees might have an orange dot painted on them if they’re to be cut down soon, while purple markings on a tree might reportedly indicate that the tree stands on private land.

But what about trees that are painted white?

Well, we’ll admit to not having a clue what this meant before we did some reading up on the subject (thanks, internet). As per reports, trees are actually painted white in winter to protect them from getting sunburned!

No, we’re not joking, it’s not just deathly pale middle-aged men who need to be wary of the sun’s rays as they lie outside the shade on a tropical beach with their headphones in. Trees do too, apparently.

Now, given that the overwhelming majority of trees are outside, they’re naturally subject to temperature changes. The sun can heat up a tree’s bark during the day, causing it to grow. When the temperature drops at night, however, the bark can cool down and rapidly shrink.

Such changes can end up splitting the bark, in turn damaging the tree’s trunk.

And this is where the aforementioned white paint comes in. When a layer is applied to a tree, it helps to reflect the sun’s rays, thus preventing the trunk from getting too hot during in the day.

Who knew? Not us! Had you heard of this process before? Let us know in the comments.

When 13-year-old Alfie Patten made headlines around the world after being labeled Britain’s youngest dad, it was a life-changing moment.

He and his family couldn’t go anywhere without being recognized and his parents were being accused of being the “U. K’s worst parents”.

But then, a DNA test revealed a stunning truth.

Who is Alfie Patten?

Alfie Patten, a baby-faced schoolboy from East Sussex, was reported to have fathered a child with family friend Chantelle Steadman, in 2009.

Chantelle Steadman gave birth to a daughter, Maisie Roxanne, in 2009, at Eastbourne Hospital in East Sussex, near Alfie’s and Chantelle’s hometown.

At the time the child was conceived, Chantelle was 15 and Alfie was just 12.

The story, originally published by the British tabloid The Sun, quickly gained worldwide attention. A major reason for the story’s massive spread was Alfie Patten’s youthful appearance, with his boyish looks and unbroken voice, which contrasted sharply with the serious responsibility of fatherhood.

The Sun proudly claimed that the story set a new record for online traffic – that says a lot about how huge the story was.

Hadn’t yet gone through puberty

Alfie first met Chantelle in 2008 when he was 12, while playing in the streets of Lower Dicker, a village in East Sussex where they both lived. His mother, believing their friendship was harmless, didn’t worry about them being alone together, especially since Alfie hadn’t yet gone through puberty.

The case also sparked protests about Britain’s ”under-educated” and ”over-sexualised” society, according to The Independent. The teenage pregnancy rate in England is still relatively high compared to other developed countries; the only Western nations with higher rates are the United States and New Zealand.

High-ranking politicians expressed their concern, with Nigel Waterson, Member of Parliament for Eastbourne, stating, ”This is a very sad story… which raises huge questions about sex education rather than relationship education in schools, and also about the sexualisation of our society.”

In a memorable YouTube interview, Alfie was asked if he could support his family financially. His response: “What’s financially?”

Surprising details

Looking back at how this story was reported a few years ago, there are some pretty surprising details that come to light. For instance, the couple didn’t even realize Chantelle was pregnant until she went to the doctor at 12 weeks. She claimed to have missed just one pill. They kept the pregnancy a secret for another six weeks, until Chantelle’s mother noticed her daughter’s swollen belly.

Alfie said, ”I thought it would be good to have a baby,” but admitted he had been too scared to tell his parents. According to Alfie’s father, his son was determined to be a devoted and responsible dad, and was eager to be the first to hold his daughter. ”He could’ve just shrugged it off and stayed home playing on his PlayStation. But he’s been at the hospital every day,” he said.

The daughter, Maisie Roxanne, was born in February 2009, weighing 7 pounds 3 ounces, and Alfie was suddenly thrust into the role of father.

The pictures of the 13-year-old and his baby looked almost comical – it seemed more like he had a new little sibling than a child of his own.

”It was a crazy time. Holding Maisie for the first time was amazing. I was too young to understand the consequences of being a dad but I liked holding her and immediately loved her,” Alfie said, according to Daily Mail.

Too unbelievable to be true?

The story seemed almost too unbelievable to be true, and soon enough, the truth would come crashing down. Just six weeks after ”his” daughter was born, Alfie received a bombshell revelation that would turn everything upside down.

A DNA test revealed that Alfie Patten was not the father of the baby. Instead, the true father was another boy and Alfie’s friend, 14-year-old Tyler Barker.

It was Alfie’s mother, Nicola, who started to suspect something was amiss, as she couldn’t believe her son was sexually active. And just like that, Alfie was no longer the youngest father in the UK.

Alfie shared that he cried for days upon learning the truth, and his heartbreak was deepened when Chantelle and her family moved away, leaving him unable to see the baby anymore.

After all the heartbreak and chaos in 2009, Alfie and his family hoped they could return to some sense of normality. Yet the headlines still followed him, and he was even mentioned in U.K. parliament; his name became a symbol of the unruly youth of the day.

The controversy

By now, we all know how huge the Alfie Patten case was, with the media coverage being relentless. But did you know that the UK’s Press Complaints Commission (PCC), the country’s press watchdog, also looked into the case?

The PCC, a voluntary regulatory body for British print newspapers and magazines, wanted to investigate whether the papers had paid Alfie Patten’s parents to share their story.

A spokesperson for The Sun commented on the matter: “We will be happy to fully cooperate with PCC’s inquiry into this story, which we absolutely believe to be in the public interest.”

What really went on behind the scenes may never fully be known. The PCC had to drop its investigation after legal restrictions prevented further inquiry into the case, and they were prohibited from contacting the Patten family. However, the PCC did issue a warning to the newspapers.

The press argued that their articles highlighted an important issue: the prevalence and impact of teenage pregnancy in British society. The newspapers claimed they were sparking a much-needed public debate by dramatizing and personalizing the issue.

The Sun also announced plans to set up a trust fund to help raise the baby, Maisie.

Back to normality

Speaking to The Mirror two years after Alfie was accused of fathering a child at 13, his mom Nicola said even after it was proven that Alfie wasn’t the father it still took time to get back to normality.

“Suddenly Alfie’s name was being thrown about in Parliament and on the 10 o’clock news. We were portrayed as a bad family from the wrong side of town,” she told The Mirror.

“Alfie’s a good boy and I was too scared to go out.”

In 2019, Alfie was convicted of criminal damage after smashing cars and property while drunk, The Mirror newspaper reported. According to the article, Alfie, who appeared at a court in the U.K. “narrowly avoided jail.”

The prosecution said officers intervened after Alfie kicked a van, damaged a Skoda (car) and broke a fence while intoxicated.

She said: “He was drunk, swearing and being aggressive.”

The court heard that Patten, still lives at home with his mom, doesn’t have a job and drinks alcohol most days, The Mirror reported.

Alfie’s defense said: “He wants to improve to become normal and seek peace rather than continue the destructive, chaotic behavior that is deeply dangerous to his health.”

Alfie Patten today

In 2021, Alfie and his mother, Nicola, made headlines once again.

British newspapers reported that they had been evicted from their terraced home in Hailsham, East Sussex, after it was revealed that the property was being used as a hub for a drug dealing operation.

District Judge Teresa Szagun commented, ”The premises were being used for drug dealing, and there was anti-social behavior spilling out onto the street, affecting the neighborhood.”

At the time, Alfie was unemployed and struggling with alcoholism. However, it was also reported that the now 28-year-old was actively seeking help for his problems.

It’s been several years since Alfie Patten made headlines, and we can only hope that he has found peace and stability in his life. A quick glance at his social media suggests that he is still living in Hailsham, East Sussex, leading a quieter, more private life away from the spotlight.

What do you think about the way his story was handled by the media, and how it affected him and his family? Share your thoughts with us — this is a conversation that’s far from over.

Expanding your family as a parent is always a sweet feeling especially if it is with someone you love and are on the same page with.

Alec Baldwin married his wife Hilaria in 2012 and the two of them have been expanding their family together ever since…

Alec Baldwin met his wife Hilaria Baldwin in 2011 and married her the subsequent year, 2012.

The couple wasted no time in starting a family, welcoming their first child in 2013. They then had four more children together before adding a sixth child via a surrogate.

In April 2021, they shared the news that they were expecting their seventh child together – people were ecstatic for the couple, and happy that they were continuing to grow their wonderful family.

Hilaria excitedly shared the news about her daughter’s arrival on her Instagram account. She posted a selection of pictures and videos to her page, along with the caption: “She’s here! We are so excited to introduce you to our tiny dream come true, ilaria catalina irena”.

Alec and Hilaria Baldwin faced backlash after having seventh child

This is Alec Baldwin’s eighth child in total, but his seventh child with current wife Hilaria. He shares his oldest daughter, Ireland Baldwin, with his ex-wife Kim Basinger.

In the aforementioned Instagram post, Hilaria offered some details about the latest addition to her and Alec’s family. She wrote that their daughter was born on September 22, 2022, weighing 6 lbs. and 13 ounces. She added: “Both she and I are happy and healthy.”

She then made another post expressing how excited the rest of her children are about the newest addition to their family, writing: “Her Baldwinito siblings are spending the day bonding and welcoming her into our home.”

She concluded the caption with: “Much love to you all. We are so happy to celebrate this wonderful news with you.”

The couple released an official birth announcement via People Magazine, reading: “How grateful we feel to welcome our newest little daughter into this world. Just as magical and filled with love as every other little person we have been blessed with.”

While the couple naturally adore their family, Hilaria Baldwin recently shared that not everyone understands their reasoning behind it being so… well, big. In a recent post she wrote: “7th baby: when people ask or comment, we often go to silly and very self-deprecating jokes on my part. I love to laugh at myself—so it’s all good…keeps me sane. All jokes aside, however, I am grateful for this experience.”

She explained her thinking further, stating: “I know too well the joys and the losses, the beauty and the heartache, that motherhood brings. I have learned to respect and embrace the wonderful, the hard, the uncomfortable, the magical, and the unknown of this incredible process I am so blessed to experience again and again.”

The couple is clearly happy with their family and are practically glowing at their latest addition – but not everyone congratulated them. In fact, certain individuals had a lot to say about their newborn’s name: Ilaria Catalina Irena Baldwin.

Hilaria and Alec Baldwin are known for selecting unique names for their children, often with Spanish origins. However, after the revelation that Hilaria isn’t of Spanish descent – and the accompanying controversy surrounding her alleged use of a fake Spanish accent and misrepresentation of her heritage in 2020 – people were taken aback by the name they gave to their seventh child.

“Her blatant trying to be Spanish is really quite irritating, why is it okay? Why does she keep trying? Have they really let it go to their heads that much,” someone wrote.

Another person wrote on Twitter: “Fake Spanish name from Boston-born mom,” while a second echoed: “Hilaria & Alec Baldwin had their 7th child. Not one American name, not even a middle name.”

A third said: “Alec Baldwin’s wife faking being Spanish is so crazy. Changing her name from Hillary to Hilaria, naming all 7 of their kids with those roots, pretending to forget the english word for ‘cucumber’, faking an accent. She should’ve changed her name to hilarious instead.”

However, some people pointed out that Ilaria is actually Italian for “Hilary.” It means cheerful, and was one of the more popular Italian girl names in 2006.

What do you think? Please share your thoughts in the comments: