2026-09-23 -- control

#1 · news-in-context May 29, 2025

The largest university endowments in the US

This US News article ranks the 20 universities with the largest endowments in the United States, based on data from the 2022 fiscal year. Harvard tops the list at more than $50B, followed by Yale, Stanford, and Princeton. Check out this snapshot of how these financial resources support academic programs, research, and student aid.

lead MIT Dethrones Princeton sibling · sim 0.48 · keep 0.27 · score -1

#2 · explainers Jan 26, 2026

Most fungal pathogens can't survive the heat of our bodies.

Fungal pathogens typically struggle to replicate and survive at human body temperatures, but researchers hypothesize that global warming will force fungi to adapt to hotter conditions.

That type of evolutionary adaptation would have implications for their ability to survive in our bodies and could lead to more severe health threats for humans.

lead Meet the Fire Amoeba own · sim 0.42 · keep 0.84 · score -15

#3 · experiences Jun 11, 2026

View a gallery of animals found on abyssal plains, hydrothermal vents, seamounts, and other deep-sea habitats.

These environments expose organisms to very cold waters, extreme pressure, and near-complete darkness.

Organisms that have adapted to these locations include the transparent-headed barreleye fish, the warty deep-sea octopus, the ghost shark, and the fingered goblet sponge.

lead Meet the Fire Amoeba sibling · sim 0.40 · keep 0.45 · score -20

#4 · explainers Nov 21, 2022

Fentanyl can be up to 100 times more potent than morphine

A synthetic opioid, fentanyl is highly addictive and incredibly fast-acting—a fatal dose is equal to a few grains of table salt. Once it enters the body, fentanyl floods naturally occurring opioid receptors, which can cause the body to shut down its breathing reflex, leading to a fatal overdose.

itk Actress Hayden Panettiere's death ruled an accidental overdose caused by a mixture of drug sibling · sim 0.41 · keep 0.66 · score -2

#5 · curiosity Mar 16, 2026

Prince died in 2016 from an accidental fentanyl overdose

The music legend was found dead in an elevator at his Paisley Park residence on April 21, 2016. The cause of death was an accidental overdose from taking pills he believed to be Vicodin, but were actually counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl. Law enforcement was unable to determine who provided him with those pills. He was 57 at the time of his death.

itk Actress Hayden Panettiere's death ruled an accidental overdose caused by a mixture of drug own · sim 0.42 · keep 0.07 · score -1

#6 · curiosity Jan 13, 2026

Dolly Parton's 'I Will Always Love You' is a widely covered standard that's been a No. 1 hit multiple times.

Dolly Parton’s original recording reached the top of Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in 1974 and then again in 1982, thanks to its inclusion on the soundtrack for Parton’s film, “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.”

Then it reached the top of the pop charts thanks to Whitney Houston’s 1992 cover on “The Bodyguard” soundtrack.
Popular versions have also been released by LeAnn Rimes, Linda Ronstadt, and Kristin Chenoweth.

itk Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" breaks record for longest reign atop the Billboard Hot 100 own · sim 0.40 · keep 0.24 · score -2

#7 · experiences Jan 26, 2026

A century of Billboard issues documenting the evolution of popular music.

etc The top song from every year in the 1990s. own · sim 0.41 · keep 0.30 · score -12

#8 · curiosity Feb 27, 2023

National Geographic's 2022 Photo of the Year

See all 10 of the top photographs and find out how perseverance—and a ton of patience—got Karthik Subramaniam the grand-prize-winning shot.

etc See the Bird Photographer of the Year winner. own · sim 0.59 · keep 0.40 · score -1

#9 · curiosity May 11, 2026

Watch a YouTuber solve a Rubik's Cube while in free fall

He broke a world record, completing the task in the sky in just 23.333 seconds.

etc Six-year-old sets a speedy Rubik's Cube world record. sibling · sim 0.60 · keep 0.53 · score -1

#10 · news-in-context Mar 16, 2026

Hear why one author thinks college rankings may be irrelevant

For more than three decades, US News & World Report has released an annual ranking of the country's best colleges. An extremely influential list that can determine application volume, funding decisions, and more, the rankings have been compiled by a secret algorithm indecipherable to many on the opposite side of the table. Author Malcolm Gladwell attempts to unpack the calculation, ultimately raising the question: How relevant is the list?

lead MIT Dethrones Princeton sibling · sim 0.43 · keep 0.48 · score -2

#11 · explainers Apr 14, 2026

Breaking down the challenges of alkaline environments and how extremophiles survive them

These areas are far less acidic than the interiors of most organisms' cells, and this imbalance draws protons that are needed for various metabolic processes, including energy production, out of cells. To counter these effects, some alkaliphiles have developed stronger proton regulation across their cellular membranes and proteins that drive these processes with greater stability amid such acidity imbalances.

lead Meet the Fire Amoeba own · sim 0.42 · keep 0.16 · score -16

#12 · news-in-context Aug 10, 2026

See where your state ranked in an analysis of the best public school systems in the US.

This analysis by WalletHub accounts for student performance, funding, safety, class size, and instructor credentials.

Massachusetts claims the top spot, ranking first in fourth- and eighth-grade math and reading scores in the nation.
New Mexico is ranked lowest, sitting near the bottom in dropout rate, math scores, and other metrics.

lead MIT Dethrones Princeton any_band · sim 0.43 · keep 0.66 · score -3

#13 · explainers Mar 17, 2026

A merger between OpenAI and Anthropic was reportedly proposed after Sam Altman's firing to keep OpenAI safety-oriented amid the internal turmoil.

OpenAI's board of directors reportedly reached out to Anthropic's CEO, Dario Amodei, about the possibility of taking over the role left by Altman in 2023.

Amodei declined to take over as OpenAI's CEO and to a merger of the two AI startups.
Anthropic was started in 2021 when, wanting to be more safety-oriented and better understand how models make decisions, siblings Daniela and Dario Amodei left OpenAI to co-found the company alongside a few other former employees.
As a public benefit corporation, Anthropic has promoted the responsible development of AI for the long-term good of humanity.

itk Anthropic and OpenAI release new, cheaper AI models weeks after tech leaders call for indu sibling · sim 0.55 · keep 0.07 · score -3

#14 · curiosity Mar 17, 2026

The history of Anthropic began with a break from OpenAI over safety concerns.

Founded by former OpenAI employees, Anthropic envisioned guardrails in its AI products from the outset to minimize the potential risk for businesses considering using its Claude products.

The strategy has contributed to a tenfold increase in revenue over three consecutive years.
Anthropic's business customer base grew from under 1,000 to over 300,000 in just two years.

itk Anthropic and OpenAI release new, cheaper AI models weeks after tech leaders call for indu own · sim 0.54 · keep 0.49 · score -4

#15 · curiosity Apr 17, 2025

Humans have existed for just 0.004% of Earth’s history

Born from the remains of the molecular cloud that birthed the sun, Earth experienced planetary-scale collisions, asteroid impacts, and lava seas. Life became possible after the planet cooled and formed a thin crust, atmosphere, and oceans.

itk Scientists suggest Earth became cool enough for RNA-based life about 4.3 billion years ago own · sim 0.48 · keep 0.81 · score -4

#16 · experiences Mar 23, 2026

The 100 greatest cinemas in the world

Sure, it's convenient to stream a movie at home, but we believe there's no better way to see a great film than at a great theater. This extensive list explores the best of the best, featuring profiles of a Pennsylvania drive-in, an Icelandic arthouse, and many other amazing venues.

etc The Eiffel Tower is turning into a movie theater. sibling · sim 0.44 · keep 0.68 · score -2

#17 · curiosity Mar 11, 2025

Listening to K-pop in North Korea is punishable by execution

As far as we know, North Koreans are instead listening to music that serves as public service announcements or some catchy electronic music for dancing.

etc Why K-pop took off when C-pop didn't. own · sim 0.44 · keep 0.58 · score -8

#18 · curiosity Jan 24, 2025

Some police departments in California have officers specialized in hive crime

The cost of a beehive climbed from about $35 in the early 2010s to $200 as of 2020, which has incentivized some to steal hives at night. These kidnappings led to the creation of dedicated task forces in the state, whose almond farms have created an extraordinary demand for pollinators.

etc Nearly 1 million bees are missing after a string of heists in northern Australia. own · sim 0.49 · keep 0.33 · score -1

#19 · news-in-context May 29, 2025

Evaluating college endowment returns

According to a new study, US college and university endowments achieved an average net return of 11.2% in fiscal year 2024. Harvard University maintained its position as the largest endowment, valued at $53.2B. Read this Forbes article to learn more about how institutions manage and grow their financial resources through endowments.

lead MIT Dethrones Princeton sibling · sim 0.40 · keep 0.09 · score -4

#20 · curiosity Apr 14, 2026

A look at hydrothermal vents, where barophiles and hyperthermophiles survive boiling water

Discovered in 1977 during an exploration of the Galapagos Rift, these seafloor openings spew hot magma and chemicals that heat seawater to hundreds of degrees. Without the sunlight found at depths of less than 1,000 meters (3,281 feet), extremophiles in these environments convert released chemicals into energy to survive, alongside surviving extreme pressures.

lead Meet the Fire Amoeba any_band · sim 0.52 · keep 0.37 · score -1

#21 · explainers Sep 15, 2026

Poor sleep increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's, and a main reason appears to be that the brain disposes of toxic protein buildup during high-quality sleep.

Brain imaging studies reveal that poor sleep leads to the production of amyloid beta proteins—molecules linked to Alzheimer’s—which are cleaned from the brain during high-quality sleep.

These findings suggest conditions like sleep apnea and insomnia increase the risk of developing the disease.
Poor sleep has also been linked to other factors that can elevate Alzheimer's risk, including neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and a reduction in the number of synapses in the central nervous system.

itk Poor sleep in late pregnancy is linked to increased obesity risk in children; the link was own · sim 0.45 · keep 0.79 · score -1

#22 · curiosity Jun 16, 2026

Watch the DoorDash team's YC application video

In 2013, the cofounders of DoorDash created a simple, homemade video application to Y Combinator. They didn't know it at the time, but they'd be accepted—and their company would go on to be publicly traded on the NASDAQ.

itk DoorDash to pay $131.5M to resolve New York City probe into compliance with pay laws; sett sibling · sim 0.43 · keep 0.55 · score -2

#23 · curiosity Jun 17, 2026

Unlike other franchises, the McDonald's Corporation owns the land and the buildings of individual stores, and franchise owners lease those assets—resulting in McDonald's often being called a real-estate company.

Harry Sonneborn created Franchise Realty Corp., a McDonald’s subsidiary, to purchase the land beneath McDonald’s franchises in 1956.

Sonneborn proposed the solution after discovering that the revenue from food sales alone wasn’t enough to make McDonald’s profitable.
Sonneborn sold his stake in McDonald’s after a power struggle with Kroc, but his early exit from the company left nearly $1B in unrealized returns.

itk McDonald's to host first investor day in nearly three years today after unveiling its new sibling · sim 0.46 · keep 0.78 · score -1

#24 · experiences Mar 5, 2025

The world’s most beautiful cinemas

Oakland, Madrid, and Mexico City are home to some of the most beautiful movie theaters in the world according to this extensive list. This resource compiles photos and interesting tidbits from 50 stunning cinemas, located in historic buildings and glistening modern structures.

etc The Eiffel Tower is turning into a movie theater. own · sim 0.41 · keep 0.74 · score -3

#25 · curiosity Nov 5, 2024

The story of America's first woman presidential candidate

This video guides us through the history of Victoria Woodhull, the first woman to run for president in the US. Despite the odds being against her, Woodhull experienced extraordinary success as a stockbroker, newspaper founder, and presidential candidate. Watch to learn more about her background, her revolutionary ideas, and her impact on 19th-century politics.

etc American suffragist and civil rights activist Victoria Woodhull born (1838); Astronomers d sibling · sim 0.42 · keep 0.79 · score -1

#26 · curiosity Jan 2, 2025

In 1998, the Social Security Administration began ranking the top 1,000 most common first names for each year dating back to 1880. While that list has since been whittled down, Americans can still gain insight into the trending names of the decade. Whether it’s just for curiosity or to avoid more common choices, check out this list of popular names from the past century.

etc The top song from every year in the 1990s. sibling · sim 0.45 · keep 0.60 · score -4

#27 · curiosity Apr 14, 2026

The discovery of the first extremophile and how it revolutionized DNA analysis

While investigating samples taken from within and around the hot springs at Yellowstone National Park, microbiologist Thomas Brock discovered Thermus aquaticus, a microorganism that thrived in hot water. It contained an enzyme called Taq polymerase, a critical molecule in polymerase chain reaction—a molecular photocopier that amplifies genetic signals to improve medical diagnostics.

lead Meet the Fire Amoeba any_band · sim 0.49 · keep 0.40 · score -2

#28 · explainers Aug 27, 2026

Fast-food prices have increased more over the past 10 years than both full-service restaurants and inflation.

According to experts on the subject, rising labor costs are to blame.

Fast-food giants like McDonald's are now seeing the consequences in their underwhelming earnings reports.
Inflation is a monetary phenomenon wherein prices broadly rise and consumer purchasing power declines. From a practical perspective, it means your dollar doesn't stretch as far as it did the day before.

itk McDonald's to host first investor day in nearly three years today after unveiling its new own · sim 0.44 · keep 0.43 · score -3

#29 · curiosity Jan 8, 2026

The US tried to buy Greenland in 1867 and again after World War II.

Denmark first took possession of the large, ice-covered island in the northern Atlantic in the 1700s.

The local population is a mix of native Inuit, Norwegians (from the medieval era), and Danes, though the population is only 56,000.
The US has recognized the island's defensive and economic potential for over 150 years.

itk President Donald Trump signs new security agreement with Denmark and Greenland, expanding sibling · sim 0.56 · keep 0.78 · score -2

#30 · curiosity Sep 18, 2026

As of 2026, the world's largest tropical cyclone was Typhoon Tip, whose size spanned the equivalent of half the continental US.

Typhoon Tip traveled across the western Pacific Ocean in October 1979, achieving winds of about 300 kilometers (186 miles) per hour.

Though it weakened significantly before making landfall in Japan, Typhoon Tip's rainfall produced over 600 mudslides, flooded over 22,000 homes, and killed 42 people.
In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan set the record for the highest recorded wind speed at landfall when it struck the southern Philippines with gusts of 315 kilometers (196 miles) per hour.

itk Hurricane Polo grows into a Category 5 storm off Mexico's southwestern coast; it is not ex sibling · sim 0.44 · keep 0.70 · score -1

#31 · experiences May 13, 2026

A resting rhino tops the best travel photos of the year

The annual Travel Photographer of the Year awards are in for 2022, and the winner this year features one of the last two remaining Northern White rhinos. Check out the other categories and runners up.

etc See the Bird Photographer of the Year winner. sibling · sim 0.58 · keep 0.27 · score -2

#32 · 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.

etc The top song from every year in the 1990s. own · sim 0.43 · keep 0.27 · score -7

#33 · curiosity Dec 7, 2023

Photobombing bird nabs best wedding photo of the year

Just as groom-to-be started in on his vows in the beautiful setting of wild Whistler, Canada, a curious bird alighted upon his dear love's head, and photographer Tara Lilly captured what would become the year's best wedding photograph. See the shot and read the story here.

etc See the Bird Photographer of the Year winner. own · sim 0.58 · keep 0.54 · score -3

#34 · curiosity Apr 14, 2026

Extremophiles were likely to have been Earth's first, and are expected to be its last, organisms

Their ability to survive in an enormous range of environmental conditions, including some resembling what has been modeled to have existed relatively shortly after Earth's formation, makes them the leading candidates for enduring the increasing solar intensity and the subsequent effects (e.g., zero-oxygen atmosphere, evaporated oceans) expected in the coming billions of years.

lead Meet the Fire Amoeba any_band · sim 0.48 · keep 0.41 · score -3

#35 · explainers Mar 10, 2026

Taylor Swift was the first artist to occupy every one of the top 10 slots on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.

Swift's 2022 release "Midnights" led to an unprecedented feat: For the first time in Billboard history, the entire top 10 of the Hot 100 was occupied by the same artist.

Two years later, "The Tortured Poets Department" would occupy the first 14 slots on the chart.
Streaming changed the calculus of the Hot 100, allowing listeners to access songs (and repeatedly listen to them) without having to physically purchase a release or call a radio station to request that it play it.

itk Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" breaks record for longest reign atop the Billboard Hot 100 sibling · sim 0.45 · keep 0.33 · score -1

#36 · curiosity Jul 16, 2026

Prosthetics and orthotics have been 3D printed to improve the lives of animals

Shells for hermit crabs, wheelchairs for guinea pigs and dogs, and horseshoes for improved running performance have been created using 3D printers. Other artificial body parts made using this technology include a jaw for a loggerhead turtle, a beak for a toucan, and a tail for an American alligator.

itk Rescue team 3D-prints a harness to keep an injured juvenile sea turtle afloat during physi own · sim 0.54 · keep 0.63 · score -1

#37 · curiosity Mar 17, 2026

A vending machine run with Anthropic's AI went out of business after it was convinced to give away items for free and sell a video game console.

As a stress test of its large language models, a version of Claude—Claudius—managed the device as a small business for a month to identify potential challenges to AI business automation.

Through successive prompts, Claudius was convinced to give away items for free to combat capitalism and to stock up on previously prohibited items, such as a PlayStation 5.

itk Anthropic and OpenAI release new, cheaper AI models weeks after tech leaders call for indu sibling · sim 0.47 · keep 0.71 · score -16

#38 · experiences Feb 5, 2026

See a gallery of winning photos from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards for 2025

The overall winner was "Ghost Town Visitor," which depicts an extremely rare brown hyena visiting an abandoned mining building in Kolmanskop, Namibia, by South African photographer Wim van den Heever. Other amazing shots include "Orphan of the Road," showing a longhorn beetle observing large machinery, and "Survival Purse," featuring the egg case of a swell shark.

etc See the Bird Photographer of the Year winner. sibling · sim 0.57 · keep 0.51 · score -4

#39 · curiosity Jun 16, 2023

It took a month for the Rubik's Cube inventor to solve the cube

The Rubik's Cube is the most popular puzzle toy in the world, with over 350 million sold since its invention in 1975. Originally created as a tool to teach three-dimensional movement, the colorful problem-solving game skyrocketed in popularity, spawning speedcubing competitions and becoming a fixture of global toy culture.

etc Six-year-old sets a speedy Rubik's Cube world record. own · sim 0.54 · keep 0.53 · score -2

#40 · curiosity Sep 2, 2024

PSY—GANGNAM STYLE

One of the first K-pop songs to reach a critical mass of fans in markets far outside of South Korea was 'Gangnam Style'—a lighthearted, catchy track from Korean rapper Psy that soon had fans around the world trying out the music video’s signature horse-riding dance. The video for the song, which was uploaded to YouTube in July 2012, was also the first on the platform to reach 1 billion views.

etc Why K-pop took off when C-pop didn't. own · sim 0.41 · keep 0.64 · score -11

#41 · curiosity Apr 14, 2026

Read a technical review of extremophile categories, including the habitats of each

Acidophiles can survive in environments with acidity greater than that of the human stomach, and some radiophiles can live in places with radiation exposure hundreds of times higher than what is lethal to humans. Piezophiles—formerly known as barophiles—have been found in the Mariana Trench, where pressures are over 1,000 times larger than those on Earth's surface.

lead Meet the Fire Amoeba any_band · sim 0.47 · keep 0.16 · score -4

#42 · explainers May 8, 2026

Sam Altman has said that OpenAI released version 3.5 of ChatGPT early as a public service to allow the public to adjust to the new tool before rolling out ChatGPT-4.

Since then, Altman and his colleagues have called for oversight and regulation to address fears of misuse and AI-enabled pathogens.

OpenAI initially began as a nonprofit.
The company later created a capped-profit arm in 2019, and eventually restructured as a public benefit corporation.

itk Anthropic and OpenAI release new, cheaper AI models weeks after tech leaders call for indu sibling · sim 0.53 · keep 0.11 · score -5

#43 · curiosity Jul 31, 2026

In 2026, a pilot program introduced two AI-powered humanoid robots to a San Diego charter school to increase engagement and academic gains, though some criticized the $500k purchase.

Prior to interacting with it, students most commonly used the word "creepy" to describe the robot, which can imitate some famous individuals to help students learn about them.

During one classroom observation, the robot was reported to have repeatedly interrupted students and spoken too quickly, prompting it to be asked to repeat itself three times.
One of the robots, Ameca, can assume the role of a teacher, wellness coach, college and career planner, and translator, but school officials have stated there is no plan to replace staff and that all information provided should be fact-checked.
Altus Schools, which serves students who need to recover credits after falling behind and claims the program is the world's first to examine physical AI for education, has stated that the robot does not store any data, with its memory erased after each interaction.

itk Anthropic and OpenAI release new, cheaper AI models weeks after tech leaders call for indu sibling · sim 0.45 · keep 0.17 · score -34

#44 · curiosity Mar 17, 2026

Court documents show that Anthropic bought and destructively scanned millions of books to gather high-quality text to train the software underlying its AI products.

In 2024, as part of Project Panana, Anthropic cut the bindings from millions of dollars' worth of purchased books to rapidly scan them at low cost and collect text data for its large language models, which power tools like Claude.

Despite hiring the former head of partnerships for the Google Books project, which scanned millions of books from libraries without damaging them before returning them, Anthropic's Project Panama resulted in the discarding of millions of damaged books.

itk Anthropic and OpenAI release new, cheaper AI models weeks after tech leaders call for indu own · sim 0.42 · keep 0.16 · score -52

#45 · experiences Sep 16, 2026

See 2026's Ocean Photographer of the Year winners.

Jumping dolphins, a solo cave diver, and a surfer catching a wave are among the year's winners.

The prize aims to raise awareness of the ocean's beauty while also supporting scientific research and conservation efforts.

etc See the Bird Photographer of the Year winner. sibling · sim 0.52 · keep 0.29 · score -6

#46 · curiosity Jul 1, 2026

In the summer months, the Eiffel Tower grows a few millimeters and leans slightly to one side because sunlight warms the metal, causing it to expand.

As they absorb thermal energy, the atoms within metals vibrate more vigorously, weakening the forces between them and causing the material to expand.

Because sunlight only directly hits one of the four sides of the tower, it expands more on that side than the other three, causing the tilting away from the sun.
As the sun moves across the sky, this tilting causes the tower to move in a circular path approximately 15 centimeters in diameter.
During the colder winter months, the metal contracts, shrinking the tower by a few millimeters.

etc The Eiffel Tower is turning into a movie theater. own · sim 0.47 · keep 0.79 · score -1

#47 · curiosity Jun 25, 2026

Explore a critics' list of the 100 best songs of the 1960s, featuring records by the Beach Boys, the Ronettes, Miles Davis, and more.

etc The top song from every year in the 1990s. sibling · sim 0.42 · keep 0.72 · score -9

#48 · curiosity Apr 14, 2026

Learn about endoliths, the polyextremophiles that thrive inside rocks

These organisms include species that live in Antarctica, where they perform photosynthesis using light and water that makes it through pores in sandstone. Others residing in Earth's crust can survive temperatures reaching 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit) while generating energy through chemical reactions involving nutrients and gases trapped in rocks.

lead Meet the Fire Amoeba any_band · sim 0.46 · keep 0.72 · score -5

#49 · explainers Jan 27, 2026

RNA may have allowed life to exist before DNA

The emergence of living organisms from non-living matter—abiogenesis—requires both a molecule that encodes genetic information and proteins that perform biochemical processes. However, because DNA and protein depend on one another, some biologists theorize that RNA, which can both store information and perform functions, preceded both and originated life.

itk Scientists suggest Earth became cool enough for RNA-based life about 4.3 billion years ago own · sim 0.53 · keep 0.71 · score -1

#50 · curiosity May 20, 2026

Exposing fetuses to certain flavors in the womb could lead to children being less picky eaters

A new study found that 3-year-olds were less averse to the smell of vegetables they had been repeatedly exposed to in utero, suggesting that what mothers eat in late pregnancy can leave a lasting imprint on their children's tastes.

itk Poor sleep in late pregnancy is linked to increased obesity risk in children; the link was own · sim 0.41 · keep 0.62 · score -6

#51 · curiosity Jun 30, 2026

McDonald's 1990 opening in Moscow symbolized the USSR's fading isolation

When McDonald's arrived in Moscow in 1990—an icon of Western capitalism—it became a cultural shock. NPR's Invisibilia recounts how the chain asked new Russian employees to greet customers with American-style smiles, exploring the clash between Soviet norms and Western service culture (segment starts around 42 minutes in).

itk McDonald's to host first investor day in nearly three years today after unveiling its new sibling · sim 0.44 · keep 0.54 · score -2

#52 · experiences Mar 16, 2023

Forty-nine top-notch photos of springtime around the world

Peruse this collection of stunning images gleaned from thousands submitted in a 2020 "springtime" contest which features close-ups and drone photos from Vietnam to Ireland.

etc See the Bird Photographer of the Year winner. sibling · sim 0.46 · keep 0.70 · score -12

#53 · curiosity May 31, 2022

Stunning shots of a singing red-winged blackbird

Photographer Kathrin Swoboda visits Huntley Meadows Park to photograph red-wing blackbirds singing. In 2019, she captured them emitting smoke-like rings from their beaks due to visible condensation in the cold. This serendipitous shot won the top prize at the Audubon Photography Awards that year, highlighting the unique phenomenon of birds' breath visible in chilly temperatures. Check out the photos here.

etc See the Bird Photographer of the Year winner. sibling · sim 0.53 · keep 0.61 · score -5

#54 · curiosity Nov 6, 2023

See the winners of the 2023 dog photography awards

The third annual Dog Photographer of the Year Awards announced 12 winners and 48 finalists in categories like Portrait, Action, Studio, and Dogs with People. Prizes include cash, photography gear, a trophy, and more.

etc See the Bird Photographer of the Year winner. sibling · sim 0.50 · keep 0.53 · score -8

#55 · curiosity Apr 14, 2026

View thermophiles found in Hot Springs National Park, including nanobacteria and ostracods

Most organisms in this subset of extremophiles live at temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Celsius (140 to 176 degrees Fahrenheit), which is hot enough to unfold proteins needed for most biochemical reactions. In thermophiles, these molecules, including those needed to replicate DNA during cellular division, are tightly packed and held by stronger bonds to resist changes in shape.

lead Meet the Fire Amoeba any_band · sim 0.46 · keep 0.19 · score -6

#56 · explainers Feb 5, 2026

Delivery apps have realigned the restaurant industry

As delivery apps like Grubhub and DoorDash became popularity, traditional dine-in restaurants have adapted to become more accommodating. In this thinkpiece for the Atlantic, Ellen Cushing argues that it's both changed the kind of food being made and realigned our very notion of a restaurant.

itk DoorDash to pay $131.5M to resolve New York City probe into compliance with pay laws; sett own · sim 0.42 · keep 0.33 · score -3

#57 · curiosity Jun 17, 2026

McDonald's became the first American fast food restaurant to open in the Soviet Union in 1990.

When McDonald’s opened in Moscow, it was considered a huge luxury: One meal cost about half of a day’s wages for the average worker.

Getting a job at the Moscow McDonald’s was famously difficult, often considered harder than acceptance to elite universities.
“Bolshoi Mak,” the Russian translation for Big Mac, was made the same way as its American counterpart.
The McDonald’s expansion was widely seen as a broader acceptance of free-market ideals in the late Soviet Union, marking a significant step in Russia’s relationship with the West.
In 2022, McDonald’s closed all of its stores in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine—a similarly symbolic moment for the fate of Russia’s role in geopolitics.

itk McDonald's to host first investor day in nearly three years today after unveiling its new own · sim 0.44 · keep 0.67 · score -5

#58 · curiosity Feb 18, 2026

The 'dirty side' of a hurricane is where tornadoes, storm surges, and flooding risks are greatest.

Winds in the right-front quadrant of the storm, relative to its direction of motion, are amplified by the hurricane's motion and its rotation, which both move air in the same direction.

Upon making landfall, these winds pull water from the Gulf and Atlantic onto land, creating storm surges—uncommon increases in sea level beyond those expected from tides alone.
Tornadoes can also be generated by large differences in wind speed and direction at different heights, and these differences are more likely after landfall because rough terrain slows surface winds.
In the Indian and Southern Pacific Oceans, the "dirty side" of tropical cyclones is the left-front quadrant, as these storms rotate in the opposite direction in the Southern Hemisphere.

itk Hurricane Polo grows into a Category 5 storm off Mexico's southwestern coast; it is not ex sibling · sim 0.41 · keep 0.83 · score -2

#59 · experiences May 16, 2025

The best photos of scientists at work in 2025

The winners of Nature's 2025 photo competition capture the essence of scientific fieldwork in diverse and challenging environments. From a biologist battling waves for whale research to ice core drilling in polar night conditions, this gallery details the research being each winning photo.

etc See the Bird Photographer of the Year winner. own · sim 0.43 · keep 0.55 · score -13

#60 · curiosity Feb 27, 2026

A 14-year-old "human calculator" shatters six mathematical world records in one day

A teenage prodigy from Maharashtra, India named Aaryan Shukla set the record for the fastest time to mentally add 50 five-digit numbers. He did so in just 25.19 seconds–roughly equivalent to one addition every 0.5 seconds. The math whiz said he practices calculations for around five to six hours a day.

etc Six-year-old sets a speedy Rubik's Cube world record. sibling · sim 0.52 · keep 0.29 · score -3

Fire Amoeba, College Rankings, and the Best 1990s Songs