2026-09-20 -- control

#1 · news-in-context Feb 20, 2026

Questions about the US' commitment to its allies may have sparked a new nuclear age

Some US allies—from Warsaw to Seoul—are reevaluating their security amid doubts over American nuclear commitment, signaling the possibility they may want to acquire their own weapons.

lead The US has deployed weapons in orbit sibling · sim 0.43 · keep 0.09 · score -6

#2 · explainers Apr 15, 2025

What are Treasury yields?

Treasury yields are the interest rates that the US government pays to borrow money for different lengths of time. Specifically, Treasury yields are interest rates on US government debt. They reflect economic outlooks and inflation expectations. Learn more about Treasury yields here.

lead Ten-year Treasury yields sibling · sim 0.60 · keep 0.18 · score -1

#3 · experiences May 16, 2025

Check out hurricane history where you live

The NOAA's historical hurricane tracker lets you explore over 150 years of data to see where hurricanes traveled and made landfall. The tool lets you search by location, name, or year; create maps and tables; and read NOAA storm reports.

lead See which states have experienced the most natural disasters since 1953. sibling · sim 0.45 · keep 0.70 · score -7

#4 · explainers Jun 30, 2026

Exciting US primary debate moments from history

Presidential debates in the US are highly-touted events viewed as the capstone of a campaign, but their impact on the overall polling is often undetectable. Nonetheless, the televised events can be really entertaining as candidates sweat under the pressure of a live mass audience, and most morning after news round-ups contain some of the event's notable—or cringey—moments. Here's a quick, three-minute video of highlights of some of the more fascinating moments from US primaries.

itk Watch a campaign ad from 2010 that is deemed one of the strangest on record. sibling · sim 0.43 · keep 0.62 · score -2

#5 · curiosity Jul 14, 2026

Check out the 50 weirdest roadside attractions in the US, from Alabama's Unclaimed Baggae Center to Wyoming's Elkhorn Arch.

itk Watch a campaign ad from 2010 that is deemed one of the strangest on record. own · sim 0.42 · keep 0.78 · score -4

#6 · curiosity Sep 2, 2026

Explore a critic's list of the most underappreciated TV shows of the 21st century, including cult hits like 'Detroiters,' 'The Corner,' and more.

itk Explore a critic's list of the most underappreciated TV shows of the 21st century. own · sim 0.83 · keep 0.73 · score -1

#7 · experiences Mar 26, 2026

Reimagining YouTube as cable TV, complete with channel-surfing

The site streams YouTube content as if it were broadcast television, providing the ability to flip through channels and enter videos mid-stream, and you also can't easily skip ahead. The product is designed in part to bring back serendipity to video discovery.

etc Apple, Spotify, YouTube sibling · sim 0.43 · keep 0.73 · score -2

#8 · curiosity Feb 27, 2026

Billie Jean King's victory at the 'Battle of the Sexes' drew over 90 million viewers

After Bobby Riggs trounced No. 2-ranked Margaret Court in the first Battle of the Sexes, he challenged superstar Billie Jean King to a match. King beat Bobby Riggs in a match at the Astrodome, which drew 90 million viewers worldwide, leading to the WTA's first TV deal in 1975. Using historic photos, this Sports Illustrated story dives into the spectacle surrounding the event, why King agreed this time, and the impact the match had on King, as well as the future of women's tennis as a whole.

etc American author Upton Sinclair born (1878); Legendary basketball coach Red Auerbach born ( own · sim 0.47 · keep 0.31 · score -1

#9 · curiosity Sep 17, 2026

Spotify's success turned Swedish entrepreneur Daniel Ek into a billionaire in his mid-30s.

Ek and his cofounder Martin Lorentzon envisioned Spotify as a legal version of Napster.

Securing licensing deals with major labels like Universal Music, Sony, and Warner Music gave Spotify access to a broad music catalog.
Its freemium model, offering both a free tier supported by ads and a paid ad-free tier, helped attract early adopters.
Customers loved the convenience of streaming songs rather than paying per download from services like iTunes.
At first exclusive to desktops, Spotify launched mobile apps for iOS and Android devices in 2009.
Rapid growth followed Spotify’s mobile expansion; the service had around 1 million users at the start of 2009, which grew to around 7 million by the end of that year.
Spotify entered the US in 2011, which helped its global user base expand to 20 million by 2012.

etc Apple, Spotify, YouTube own · sim 0.41 · keep 0.32 · score -6

#10 · news-in-context Feb 17, 2026

Vizualize global debt by country

Global debt reached $226T by the end of 2020—the biggest one-year jump since World War II. This graphic compares the debt-to-GDP ratio of various countries.

lead Ten-year Treasury yields own · sim 0.40 · keep 0.27 · score -13

#11 · explainers Sep 8, 2026

The environmental crises of the late 1960s led to the founding of the EPA

Disasters such as the Cuyahoga River fire and the Santa Barbara oil spill prompted Congress and President Nixon to establish the Environmental Protection Agency in December 1970, with the goal of unifying federal efforts to control pollution.

lead See which states have experienced the most natural disasters since 1953. sibling · sim 0.44 · keep 0.57 · score -9

#12 · longform May 26, 2026

See how a 2018 fire in Paradise, California, exposed the limits of emergency coordination

This Frontline documentary shows how the Camp Fire stretched and ultimately overwhelmed the complex web of agencies involved in emergency response, including fire suppression, 911 dispatch, law enforcement, and emergency management, with catastrophic results.

lead See which states have experienced the most natural disasters since 1953. own · sim 0.44 · keep 0.46 · score -10

#13 · explainers Jul 28, 2026

A major dopamine hit from social media use comes from unpredictability—not knowing if the content users post or share will get the 'like' from other users, triggering cycles of anticipation similar to those experienced with a slot machine.

Social media companies adopt at least three key strategies, including capitalizing on variable rewards, to entice audiences to use their products. Some research suggests these strategies result in an addictive state of "automated attachment" that overrides personal decision-making.

Another strategy, using tools like autoplay and infinite scroll, removes natural endpoints for users, which helps keep them on the platform.
The third social media strategy is the more intangible fear of missing out on time-sensitive posts and notifications, which leads to an addictive cycle of checking the platform.

itk Why it can feel like social media is rage-baiting you. own · sim 0.51 · keep 0.48 · score -1

#14 · curiosity Dec 29, 2025

Read Albert Camus' 'Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays'

Camus' most famous work of nonfiction is this collection of philosophical essays. Perhaps the most resonant entry is the title essay, which reimagines the Greek myth of a man condemned to roll a boulder for all eternity. Rather than presenting the story as a cautionary tale about defying the gods, as the original myth intended, Camus considered Sisyphus an "absurd hero" for his actions and imagined him smiling as he endlessly toiled at his repetitive punishment.

itk Read philosopher Bertrand Russell's 1932 case for laziness. sibling · sim 0.41 · keep 0.29 · score -3

#15 · curiosity Feb 27, 2026

Buford the Pyrenees showered with gifts after rescuing 2-year-old boy lost in the desert

The young boy wandered away from his family home and ended up spending the night alone in the Arizona wilderness. A search party of more than 40 people and a helicopter participated in looking for the boy. A dog named Buford eventually found the child and led him back to a ranch, allowing him to soon be reunited with his family. Once the story broke, Buford started receiving an influx of toys and treats from strangers.

itk Staff at a Sicilian hotel take a young girl's lost stuffed animal on an adventure before r sibling · sim 0.40 · keep 0.10 · score -1

#16 · experiences Sep 2, 2024

YouTube brought endless content—and endless culture wars

How did YouTube grow from a startup in 2005, to a media powerhouse with more than 2.5 billion monthly logged-in users who watch more than 1 billion hours of video every day? That’s what this podcast interview with Bloomberg tech reporter Mark Bergen on NPR’s Fresh Air explores.

etc Apple, Spotify, YouTube sibling · sim 0.43 · keep 0.29 · score -3

#17 · explainers Feb 27, 2026

Billie Jean King on playing tennis before Title IX

Before Title IX, tennis legend Billie Jean King not only had to deal with limited resources; she also had to deal with isolating experiences, like being excluded from team photos at Long Beach State and being told to "get lost" by male teammates.

etc American author Upton Sinclair born (1878); Legendary basketball coach Red Auerbach born ( any_band · sim 0.42 · keep 0.40 · score -2

#18 · news-in-context Sep 17, 2026

Read a user's review of the differences between Spotify and its closest rival, Apple Music.

When it comes to digital music streaming services, Spotify and Apple Music have solidified their place as the #1 and #2 services, respectively, based on their number of users.

Spotify’s closest rival in the US is Apple Music, which reportedly had more than 93 million paying users as of January 2025.
Spotify had about 300 million paying subscribers as of August 2026.

etc Apple, Spotify, YouTube any_band · sim 0.46 · keep 0.22 · score -1

#19 · news-in-context Sep 16, 2025

The X-37B is America's secretive long-duration space plane

The second iteration of the Space Race is already heating up between the US and China, with both countries working to develop technologies for space superiority. Among those, the X-37B has stoked fears in Beijing that the vehicle could one day deliver powerful weapons from space.

lead The US has deployed weapons in orbit sibling · sim 0.43 · keep 0.32 · score -9

#20 · explainers Sep 18, 2026

Rock 'n' roll's history in 60 seconds.

In the late 1940s, rock 'n' roll emerged from a mix of blues, country, gospel, and jazz. It gained traction through radio, rebellious icons, and evolving sound. This overview traces the genre's roots, rise, and lasting influence—from early pioneers to the British Invasion and beyond.

lead Twist and Shout own · sim 0.60 · keep 0.64 · score -1

#21 · experiences Jun 25, 2026

Explore an interactive map of volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis from 2150 BCE to the present.

The Natural Hazards Viewer includes advanced filters for various refinement methods, including volcano morphology, earthquake magnitude, tsunami height, deaths, and damage.

lead See which states have experienced the most natural disasters since 1953. sibling · sim 0.43 · keep 0.59 · score -11

#22 · explainers Jan 6, 2026

The US Constitution grants protection for satire

The First Amendment protects satire, though it does not protect defamation. The key distinction is that satire—evident by its hyperbolic language and comedic portraits—is not intended to be believed, even if it's being malicious.

itk Revisit when a comedian opened a store called "Dumb Starbucks," which was protected by US sibling · sim 0.42 · keep 0.39 · score -3

#23 · curiosity Sep 8, 2026

Comedian Nathan Fielder opened a store called 'Dumb Starbucks,' which was protected by US parody law.

The Los Angeles storefront was created for a 2014 episode of Fielder's Comedy Central show, "Nathan For You," itself a parody of reality shows that rehabilitate struggling small businesses.

In the episode, Fielder aids a coffee shop by rebranding it "Dumb Starbucks," believing that the name recognition (and the publicity surrounding such an audacious rebranding) would bring in new customers.
Fielder went to great lengths to have the decision vetted by lawyers, who said the move would be protected under the law, so long as he established himself as a parody artist, which he did.
Before Fielder was revealed as the person behind "Dumb Starbucks," there was speculation that it was a satirical bit of performance art conducted by notorious street artist Banksy.

itk Revisit when a comedian opened a store called "Dumb Starbucks," which was protected by US own · sim 0.74 · keep 0.74 · score -1

#24 · curiosity May 22, 2026

The creator of 'The Simpsons' made his characters yellow so they would contrast with everything else on TV.

"The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening said he found the skin tones of cartoon characters to be "freakish" and wanted his show to stand apart from the other characters viewers would see while flipping through the channels.

His colorist proposed making them yellow, which color theory suggests would make the characters pop off the screen.

itk The creator of "The Simpsons" made his characters yellow so they would contrast with every sibling · sim 0.86 · keep 0.82 · score -1

#25 · experiences Sep 17, 2026

Read about how Spotify creates niche genres, from 'Webcore' to 'Phonk.'

One of Spotify's most recognizable features is its playlists.

The provider offers an endless stream of strangely titled mixes with names like "Hyperpop" and "Lorem," which suggest uniform genres and scenes despite featuring seemingly random assortments of artists and songs.
By organizing its music in this way, some argue that the process erases organic movements that developed outside of the app.

etc Apple, Spotify, YouTube sibling · sim 0.42 · keep 0.56 · score -4

#26 · explainers Dec 31, 2025

Viral pop artists create systems of participation, not just music

Musicologist (and Swift expert) Paula Clare Harper weighs in on the factors that make music go viral. Tracks designed for shareability that feed well into content algorithms on streaming platforms are able to grow in popularity, with traditional human gatekeepers sidelined.

etc Apple, Spotify, YouTube any_band · sim 0.41 · keep 0.57 · score -5

#27 · news-in-context Sep 16, 2026

Israel is the largest cumulative recipient of US foreign assistance since World War II.

Since its founding in 1948, Israel has received over $300B from the US in total economic and military assistance, when adjusted for inflation.

A majority of the military aid is used to purchase weapons and systems from US defense manufacturers.
While Israel is not the largest importer of US arms (Saudi Arabia is), around 70% of its arms imports since 2000 have come from the United States.
Congress can use a "Joint Resolution of Disapproval" to stop a foreign arms sale, but it has never successfully blocked a sale over a presidential veto.

lead The Trump administration sibling · sim 0.54 · keep 0.28 · score -1

#28 · explainers Sep 14, 2026

Investors collectively owned $28T in US Treasury securities as of 2025.

Government bonds, often called Treasuries, help finance new infrastructure like highways.

Generally speaking, bonds are fixed-income investments that allow individuals to lend a specific amount of money to a large entity, like a government or corporation, for a set amount of time in return for interest that pays out over the life of the loan.
The 10-year Treasury yield—or how much investors are paid to invest in Treasuries for 10 years—is a central measure of the health of the economy.
It shapes how much the government pays on its debt, as well as the cost of borrowing for the private sector.

lead Ten-year Treasury yields own · sim 0.58 · keep 0.32 · score -2

#29 · experiences Apr 2, 2025

The history of coffee

From its likely origins in what is now Ethiopia to today's worldwide consumption, this video uses a map to show how coffee conquered the world. Follow along and see how pilgrimages and centuries of trade influenced the spread of the beverage we all know so well.

lead How Coffee Changed the World sibling · sim 0.65 · keep 0.69 · score -1

#30 · explainers Jan 6, 2026

Why cartoons are an ideal form for satire

For decades, TV shows like "The Simpsons" and "South Park" have satirized American culture and politics. Satire thrives on hyperbole, and cartoonists' ability to render the world in any way they choose allows for more elevated critiques.

itk The creator of "The Simpsons" made his characters yellow so they would contrast with every own · sim 0.46 · keep 0.78 · score -5

#31 · curiosity Sep 1, 2026

View a gallery of plants made to shine using ultraviolet-induced visible fluorescence photography, in which organisms re-emit the ultraviolet light they are exposed to in vibrant, glowing colors.

Unlike chlorophyll, carotenoids, and other pigments found in plants that provide coloration by reflecting and absorbing certain colors of visible light, biofluorescence occurs only when specialized biomolecules are exposed to a range of electromagnetic radiation and re-emit it, typically, as less energetic forms of light.

itk View a gallery of plants made to shine using ultraviolet-induced visible fluorescence phot sibling · sim 0.82 · keep 0.32 · score -1

#32 · curiosity May 31, 2022

Photographer captures glowing flowers in ultraviolet light

Debora Lombardi utilizes ultraviolet light to reveal unseen colors in flowers, re-shaping their natural beauty. Beginning during the lockdown of March 2020, Lombardi's experimentation evolved, culminating in a series recognized by the World Photography Organization. Her work highlights vibrant purples, blues, and yellows, transforming flowers into surreal, otherworldly specimens by exposing them to UV light in her Italy-based studio.

itk View a gallery of plants made to shine using ultraviolet-induced visible fluorescence phot own · sim 0.63 · keep 0.63 · score -2

#33 · news-in-context May 26, 2026

The Federal Emergency Management Agency leads the US response to disasters

Established in 1979, FEMA coordinates the government's response to hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and other disasters, providing funding, logistical support, and recovery assistance. In FY 2024, the agency spent $35.1B, nearly 40% of the Department of Homeland Security's total budget.

lead See which states have experienced the most natural disasters since 1953. own · sim 0.79 · keep 0.18 · score -1

#34 · explainers Jul 23, 2026

Understand distinctions between coffee types and other popular cafe beverages with this visual guide.

Espresso is the foundation of most coffee drinks, creating a basis for cappuccinos, Americanos, and lattes.

lead How Coffee Changed the World own · sim 0.43 · keep 0.39 · score -10

#35 · experiences Sep 9, 2026

Explore an interactive timeline of rock 'n' roll's origins in blues, swing, country, and other genres.

lead Twist and Shout own · sim 0.48 · keep 0.64 · score -7

#36 · explainers May 1, 2026

The best HBO shows of all time

In addition to establishing the blueprint for TV in the 21st century, HBO has also been responsible for excellent comedies ("Veep"), talk shows ("Last Week Tonight with John Oliver"), and historical dramas ("Chernobyl").

itk Explore a critic's list of the most underappreciated TV shows of the 21st century. sibling · sim 0.43 · keep 0.67 · score -5

#37 · curiosity Jan 30, 2026

See a ranking of the most iconic Super Bowl advertisements ever aired

The list highlights ads that reshaped Super Bowl advertising, including Snickers' Betty White spot, Budweiser's endlessly quoted "Whassup," and Wendy's "Where's the beef," showing how commercials became as memorable as the game itself.

itk Watch a campaign ad from 2010 that is deemed one of the strangest on record. sibling · sim 0.40 · keep 0.68 · score -6

#38 · curiosity May 23, 2026

The best cult TV shows

Before the streaming era, television shows lived and died by their weekly ratings. That led to early cancellations for several well-regarded shows, like "Freaks and Geeks," "Party Down," and "Veronica Mars." Thanks to DVD boxsets and streaming, the shows often became cult classics long after they were taken off the air.

itk Explore a critic's list of the most underappreciated TV shows of the 21st century. sibling · sim 0.49 · keep 0.68 · score -2

#39 · news-in-context Feb 9, 2026

Some scientists propose AI-powered satellites to monitor nuclear weapons in place of arms control treaties

With the New START treaty expired, researchers at the Federation of American Scientists have proposed using satellites and AI to remotely verify nuclear arsenals—replacing the onsite inspections that once built trust between the US and Russia during the Cold War.

lead The US has deployed weapons in orbit own · sim 0.42 · keep 0.14 · score -10

#40 · explainers Jun 24, 2026

Bond yields are the returns investors earn from a bond's interest—and they're a key economic barometer.

Bonds are fixed-income investments that allow individuals to lend a specific amount of money to a large entity, like a government or corporation, for a set amount of time in return for interest that pays out over the life of the loan.

Bonds can help these large entities finance projects and business ventures.
Bond yields are considered a major indicator of how the US and global economies are doing, and where they’re headed.
When bond yields increase, this tends to mean the cost to borrow money is also increasing.

lead Ten-year Treasury yields sibling · sim 0.50 · keep 0.48 · score -3

#41 · explainers Aug 21, 2026

For everyday Americans, a relatively high national debt can lead to higher interest rates on financial products such as mortgages.

In the US, a relatively high national debt can put upward pressure on the interest rates it pays on Treasury bonds (a key way the government borrows money).

Specifically, financing that debt requires issuing a large supply of Treasury bonds, and offering a higher interest rate is often necessary to make the investments enticing enough to attract sufficient buyers.
Interest rates on consumer financial products, such as mortgages, often track alongside the 10-year Treasury yield.
A rising national debt can also pressure lawmakers to raise taxes or change federal benefits.

lead Ten-year Treasury yields any_band · sim 0.46 · keep 0.30 · score -4

#42 · explainers May 20, 2026

See this ranking of the top 10 medical shows on television

The Hollywood Reporter created this 2025 ranking of 10 television shows from around the world that focus on medicine. Candidates included "Grey's Anatomy," "The Pitt," "New Amsterdam," "ER," and more. The publication warns that its ranking is a living document that may change with time—and that its explanations include show spoilers.

itk Explore a critic's list of the most underappreciated TV shows of the 21st century. own · sim 0.40 · keep 0.61 · score -9

#43 · curiosity Mar 24, 2026

How one trial tested the limits of satirical music

The rapper Afroman, who earned jokey hits in the '90s with songs like "Because I Got High," was taken into court by police officers by police officers in Adams County, Ohio, who alleged that he'd defamed them in his songs. The music in question was recorded after those officers raided his house and satirized the situation, often in graphic terms. The rapper beat the case, but not before his satirical songs were analyzed in court.

itk Revisit when a comedian opened a store called "Dumb Starbucks," which was protected by US sibling · sim 0.43 · keep 0.24 · score -2

#44 · curiosity Jan 2, 2025

Starbucks operates more than 38,000 stores on six continents

The brand started with a single Seattle cafe and grew into an international sensation, thanks to former CEO Howard Schulz’s bold move toward “reigniting the emotional attachment with customers” rather than focusing on expansion.

itk Revisit when a comedian opened a store called "Dumb Starbucks," which was protected by US sibling · sim 0.40 · keep 0.62 · score -4

#45 · news-in-context Jan 22, 2026

In 2024, the US committed about $82.3B to foreign aid.

That year, 67.2% of foreign aid was for economic purposes, and the remaining 32.8% was for military purposes. Israel received more US foreign aid than any other country in 2024.

lead The Trump administration own · sim 0.41 · keep 0.17 · score -2

#46 · explainers May 16, 2025

A list of common questions and answers about hurricanes from NOAA

This FAQ answers many questions hurricane researchers at NOAA have received, sorted by category. The answers provide insights into hurricane classification and naming, forecasting their movement and growth, and tips for preparing ahead of landfall.

lead See which states have experienced the most natural disasters since 1953. own · sim 0.41 · keep 0.37 · score -13

#47 · curiosity Sep 16, 2026

As coffee became popular in Europe, colonial powers began to spread the drink around the globe.

The drink is believed to have originated in Ethiopia and became popular in the Middle East before making its way to European cultural hubs like London and Paris in the 1600s.

European colonization created channels for large-scale coffee exports with (often enslaved) workforces based in Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Trade routes throughout the Middle East and the rest of the world carried the drink to new shores and changed the agricultural and economic landscapes of the countries in the Bean Belt.
By 1906, Brazil was exporting over 80% of the world's coffee.

lead How Coffee Changed the World any_band · sim 0.58 · keep 0.76 · score -2

#48 · explainers Sep 10, 2026

Philosopher Bertrand Russell's 1932 case for laziness: with modern machinery, society could work four hours a day and still produce just as much.

Russell called the belief that work is inherently virtuous "the morality of slaves," tracing it to eras when ruling classes needed to extract labor from everyone else.

He used a pin-factory example: if new machinery let workers make twice as many pins in the same time, the sensible response was a four-hour workday, not layoffs.
He pointed to wartime economies, where pulling huge numbers of workers into the military still left everyone else better off, as evidence that only a fraction of the workforce is needed to meet real needs.

itk Read philosopher Bertrand Russell's 1932 case for laziness. own · sim 0.71 · keep 0.62 · score -1

#49 · curiosity May 22, 2026

A comprehensive history of 'The Simpsons'

James L Brooks was a successful Hollywood producer, known for work on shows like "Taxi," before he asked Matt Groening to create sketches for "The Tracey Ullman Show."

Matt Groening said he found skin tones of cartoon characters to be "freakish" looking, inspiring the show's colorist to use yellow to distinguish them from other cartoons on the air.
Tensions between Matt Groening and showrunner Sam Simon led to Simon's departure from the show in 1993, which some fans credit with the show's artistic decline.

itk The creator of "The Simpsons" made his characters yellow so they would contrast with every sibling · sim 0.56 · keep 0.59 · score -2

#50 · curiosity May 22, 2026

One man provides temporary vocals for nearly every character on 'The Simpsons.'

Early in the production process, voice actor Chris Edgerly voices hundreds of characters so animators can create preliminary sketches. In this interview, he explains how he learned to mimic the characters' unique voice and tics.

itk The creator of "The Simpsons" made his characters yellow so they would contrast with every sibling · sim 0.47 · keep 0.70 · score -3

#51 · news-in-context Sep 16, 2026

Texas experienced the most natural disasters of any US state, with 372 natural disaster declarations from 1953 to 2025.

California is a close second, with 370 natural disaster declarations in the same time period.

This analysis includes coastal storms, major earthquakes, fires, floods, freezing, mud/landslides, severe storms, snowstorms, and other natural events.
The natural disasters cost the state of Texas an estimated $300B-$440B from 1980 to 2025.

lead See which states have experienced the most natural disasters since 1953. sibling · sim 0.56 · keep 0.39 · score -2

#52 · explainers Aug 14, 2025

An inverted yield curve has preceded every recession that’s occurred in the last 50 years

Prolonged yield curve inversions can predict recessions, but even brief inversions can cause investors to react with knee-jerk reactions.

lead Ten-year Treasury yields sibling · sim 0.45 · keep 0.45 · score -5

#53 · curiosity Sep 16, 2026

Blur, Oasis, Pulp, and Suede are widely considered the four defining bands of the 1990s Britpop genre.

Britpop emerged in the 1990s as an alternative rock genre heavily influenced by British pop, punk rock, and 1980s indie music. The sound drew inspiration from earlier British bands like the Kinks and the Beatles, while rebelling against the grunge sound popular in America at the time.

Popular songs include Oasis' "Champagne Supernova," Blur's "Girls & Boys," Pulp's "Common People," and Suede's "Beautiful Ones."
The Britpop sound heavily influenced later bands like Coldplay.

lead Iconic Britpop band Oasis any_band · sim 0.55 · keep 0.27 · score -1

#54 · explainers Aug 24, 2026

Anxiety is one of the world's most common mental health disorders, causing persistent excessive fear and worry that interferes with daily activities.

Anxiety is known to cause symptoms including an increased heart rate, tightening of muscles, and a panicky feeling.

Anxiety can include multiple disorders and is typically diagnosed through physical and mental health exams and lab tests.
Women are more commonly diagnosed with anxiety than men.
Anxiety may be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy, which can teach someone with anxiety coping skills, including through exposure therapy. Medications and lifestyle changes to manage stress may also help.

itk Map how anxiety disorder rates vary across over 200 countries. own · sim 0.48 · keep 0.42 · score -2

#55 · curiosity May 22, 2026

2 'Simpsons' producers break down the show's turning points

The show's couch gags are often written by a separate team of writers and placed in episodes depending on the needed length.

itk The creator of "The Simpsons" made his characters yellow so they would contrast with every own · sim 0.46 · keep 0.73 · score -4

#56 · curiosity Sep 1, 2026

View a gallery of biofluorescent animals, which contain cells that emit various colors when exposed to ultraviolet light.

Unlike the pigments in skin, fur, and feathers that have a coloration corresponding to the visible light that they reflect, biofluorescence only occurs when specialized biomolecules are exposed to a range of electromagnetic radiation, which is typically then re-emitted as less-energetic forms of light.

itk View a gallery of plants made to shine using ultraviolet-induced visible fluorescence phot sibling · sim 0.59 · keep 0.47 · score -3

#57 · news-in-context Sep 17, 2026

FEMA informally uses data from Waffle House to assess the scale of a disaster.

Former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate came up with the idea when he visited Florida in 2004 to survey the destruction of Hurricane Charley.

Furgate and his team found that a Waffle House was the only restaurant open in the area, though it had a reduced menu.
His team devised what they called "The Waffle House Index," a color-coded map showing whether Waffle Houses in an area were fully open, partially open, or closed, which served as a good proxy for the level of damage in the area.
Furgate was later appointed as the head of FEMA in 2009 and brought the Waffle House Index with him.

lead See which states have experienced the most natural disasters since 1953. sibling · sim 0.54 · keep 0.59 · score -3

#58 · explainers Aug 24, 2026

Available data suggest that while hurricane frequency has not increased over the past century, average hurricane intensity has, a trend scientists attribute to rising air and ocean temperatures.

Despite limited data before 1980 in some regions, from 1920 to 2020, the total number of tropical cyclones globally each year has not significantly shifted, but a greater proportion of them are major, defined as category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

Hurricanes form and strengthen through the rise of warm, moist air, which is more abundant at higher atmospheric temperatures because warmer air can hold more moisture.
Warmer temperatures in oceans, which absorb about 90% of the thermal energy trapped by greenhouse gases, provide greater energy toward the development of stronger winds in extreme weather events.
Higher atmospheric and ocean temperatures cause more melting of glaciers and ice sheets, and this is compounded by rising sea levels as water expands with warming, exacerbating storm surges and coastal flooding from hurricanes.

lead See which states have experienced the most natural disasters since 1953. sibling · sim 0.41 · keep 0.22 · score -15

#59 · news-in-context Jul 22, 2026

Track active wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters across the US in real-time with this interactive map.

The Watch Duty map also details instances of controlled fires, hazardous containment (such as toxic chemical spills), power outages, and evacuation zones related to extreme weather.

lead See which states have experienced the most natural disasters since 1953. any_band · sim 0.51 · keep 0.56 · score -4

#60 · explainers Sep 12, 2025

Bioluminescent reaction enzymes are often used in biomedical research

Near-infrared luciferase systems allow researchers to image and analyze cellular activity in living animals because they penetrate tissue more deeply than visible light. This provides a means of studying gene expression and protein interactions without harming the animals.

itk View a gallery of plants made to shine using ultraviolet-induced visible fluorescence phot own · sim 0.40 · keep 0.15 · score -26

Rock 'N' Roll, Weapons in Orbit, and the Weirdest Campaign Ad