2026-09-24 -- control

#1 · news-in-context Apr 8, 2025

US cancer mortality rates have been falling for 25 years

The American Cancer Society's "Cancer Facts & Figures 2025" report provides comprehensive statistics on cancer incidence, mortality, and survival rates in the United States. Cancer rates in the US continued a long-running downward trend, driven primarily by a steep drop in lung cancers (mostly from a decrease in habitual smoking) and better preventative monitoring. This site leads to incredibly in-depth reports and slides on the current state of the fight against cancer.

lead Cancer Detection Test sibling · sim 0.42 · keep 0.19 · score -8

#2 · explainers May 22, 2025

Trials ongoing for a 99% accurate, AI-powered blood test

The UK's National Health Service has launched a trial for a blood test that can detect a dozen types of cancers with just ten drops of blood. An AI tool looks for genetic material known to be released by tumors, allowing for cancer detection before tumors are large enough to be imaged.

lead Cancer Detection Test own · sim 0.58 · keep 0.13 · score -1

#3 · experiences Feb 20, 2026

Explore a database of ancient graffiti

Take a look at thousands of pieces of graffiti from the walls of Herculaneum and Pompeii, including name tags, crude jokes, and crude drawings. The database, maintained by classical scholars, allows you to explore maps of the cities and images of the original inscriptions.

lead The Heart of Ancient Paris own · sim 0.48 · keep 0.60 · score -1

#4 · explainers Mar 3, 2026

A Tennessee children's hospital changed its name to Dolly Parton Children's Hospital.

In late February 2026, East Tennessee Children's Hospital in Knoxville changed its name to Dolly Parton Children's Hospital.

Parton said her interest in working with the hospital was inspired by her childhood in the mountains of East Tennessee, where she learned about the importance of “love, faith, music and taking care of one another.”
Parton had previously donated money to help advance healthcare, famously donating $1M to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 202 to help develop Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine.

itk Dolly Parton's manager requests restraining order against her nephew Bryan Seaver, allegin sibling · sim 0.44 · keep 0.11 · score -4

#5 · curiosity Jan 13, 2026

A young Dolly Parton felt confined by her partnership with country star and TV host Porter Wagoner.

Wagoner was already an established country star when Parton became his cohost on “The Porter Wagoner Show.”

According to Parton, the two often disagreed about the direction of Parton’s career.
Ultimately, she decided to leave the show and their partnership in pursuit of her own career.

itk Dolly Parton's manager requests restraining order against her nephew Bryan Seaver, allegin sibling · sim 0.46 · keep 0.22 · score -1

#6 · curiosity Jan 13, 2026

Dolly Parton consistently declined opportunities to align herself with politicians.

Unlike some of her contemporaries, Parton refrained from expressing her political opinions publicly or endorsing political candidates.

President Donald Trump offered her the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice, but she declined both times.
After Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D) used Parton's song “9 to 5” at a campaign event, Parton’s team requested that Warren stop using it.

itk Dolly Parton's manager requests restraining order against her nephew Bryan Seaver, allegin own · sim 0.45 · keep 0.26 · score -2

#7 · experiences Oct 11, 2023

Charting 4,000 years of human history

Care to hang all of human history on your wall? This data visualization charts 4,000 years of humanity.

This "histomap" was originally published in 1931 and sold for $1 per copy of the 5-foot-long chart.
It was said to detail the course of...

etc What a 3,400-year-old peace treaty looks like. sibling · sim 0.41 · keep 0.63 · score -1

#8 · curiosity Sep 20, 2024

The 1621 Pilgrim-Wampanoag peace treaty was the first of its kind

The Wampanoag people, weakened by disease, were at risk of being forcefully subsumed by the neighboring Narragansett tribe. Recognizing an opportunity, the Wampanoag offered the settlers necessary survival skills in exchange for protection through the settlers’ firearms. The treaty remained in place for more than 40 years.

etc What a 3,400-year-old peace treaty looks like. own · sim 0.41 · keep 0.43 · score -2

#9 · curiosity Sep 18, 2025

The 'Sign Post Forest' in Canada's Yukon collects roadsigns from across the globe

The unique roadside attraction is a common stop for those traveling along the Alaska Highway, allowing visitors to browse over 100,000 signs. The collection is believed to have been started in 1942 by a homesick American soldier.

etc How pedestrian signs look around the world. sibling · sim 0.45 · keep 0.87 · score -1

#10 · explainers Mar 5, 2026

The Iranian Revolution relied largely on nonviolent tactics

Despite thousands of unarmed protesters killed by the Shah's forces, the revolution relied overwhelmingly on nonviolent tactics, including strikes, demonstrations, and civil disobedience, with up to 9 million Iranians peacefully taking to the streets, making it one of history's largest protest movements by population percentage.

lead Iran in New York any_band · sim 0.41 · keep 0.29 · score -1

#11 · explainers Mar 31, 2026

US regulators have approved an at-home genetic test looking for BRCA gene mutations

The direct-to-consumer genetic test, approved by US regulators in 2018, examines 3 out of the more than 1,000 known breast cancer-linked genetic mutations. It looks for genetic variations that can increase risk for breast, ovarian, and other cancers. These mutations are most commonly found among Jewish people with Eastern European ancestry.

lead Cancer Detection Test own · sim 0.47 · keep 0.09 · score -2

#12 · experiences May 22, 2026

Explore the archaeological treasures of Pompeii, the city buried under volcanic ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 CE.

Pompeii was preserved so remarkably because the pyroclastic surges from Mount Vesuvius, cascades of scorching ash and superheated toxic gases, essentially entombed the city, freezing everyday Roman life in place.

Researchers have used CAT scans to make surprising discoveries about Pompeii's victims, including revealing that the famous "Two Maidens" locked in an embrace were likely young males, not women.
A $140M conservation project launched in 2012 has transformed Pompeii's excavation, deploying a team of over 200 experts using tools ranging from drone videography to DNA analysis.
Laser scanning of remains has shown that Pompeiians had remarkably healthy teeth, likely due to a fiber-rich, low-sugar diet.
One-third of Pompeii's 170 acres remains unexcavated, meaning a significant portion of the ancient city's secrets have yet to be uncovered by modern researchers.

lead The Heart of Ancient Paris own · sim 0.46 · keep 0.46 · score -3

#13 · explainers Sep 18, 2026

Artificial superintelligence is the final frontier of artificial intelligence, surpassing human intelligence in every domain and capable of acquiring knowledge and skills without human intervention.

As of 2026, most AI systems, from chess-playing bots to ChatGPT, are considered artificial narrow intelligence, capable of performing specific tasks based on preprogrammed algorithms and the data provided.

Despite their speed, ANIs require human input to operate, cannot learn new skills or information outside their domain on their own, and can be surpassed by humans in some areas.
Artificial general intelligence systems would resemble humans and be capable of learning, problem-solving, understanding context, and adapting across a wide range of domains and new situations.
While AGI matches human capabilities, ASI exceeds them and is thought to require a system that improves its performance while spontaneously accumulating more multisensory data over time.
ASIs are likely to require neuromorphic computing—an engineering approach that resembles how the human brain processes information—as well as evolutionary computing—a suite of algorithm-based optimization methods inspired by biological evolution.
ASIs may solve the most complex problems across industries through superior creativity in agents that make the best possible decisions, though they may also become self-aware and pursue humanity-risking goals.

itk Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) introduces legislation to ban artificial superintelligence and sibling · sim 0.50 · keep 0.45 · score -1

#14 · curiosity Apr 8, 2026

Rising sea levels due to climate change may be slowing Earth's rotation

A 2024 PNAS study found that from 2000 to 2020, the length of a day increased at a rate of 1.33 milliseconds per century, an unprecedented amount in the 3.6 million years of day-length changes reconstructed from an analysis of benthic foraminifera fossils. Researchers suggest the slowing comes from changing ice sheets redistributing planetary mass.

itk Earth's rotation changes every few decades due to gravitational, electromagnetic, and topo sibling · sim 0.62 · keep 0.46 · score -1

#15 · curiosity Apr 30, 2026

Earth's core is about 2.5 years younger than its surface according to relativity

Due to differences in where objects are located within gravitational fields, time will run at different rates, which has major impacts on technology that relies on synchronization. For example, GPS satellites run about 38 microseconds faster every day than clocks on Earth's surface, resulting in GPS discrepancies of about six miles, were it not for software corrections.

itk Earth's rotation changes every few decades due to gravitational, electromagnetic, and topo own · sim 0.60 · keep 0.80 · score -2

#16 · experiences Apr 22, 2026

Explore the animals that populate the depths of the ocean, from fish and coral in the first few hundred feet, all the way down to the bottom of the Mariana Trench.

etc ... and see otters furiously chuck their own oysters. sibling · sim 0.41 · keep 0.78 · score -6

#17 · 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 America's most popular cat names. own · sim 0.53 · keep 0.60 · score -1

#18 · curiosity May 8, 2025

Why cows are loving their new robot caretakers

Autonomous robots are transforming dairy farming by letting cows choose when to be milked or cleaned. Dairy robot manufacturer Lely says this ability to decide reduces a cow's stress and increases milk production. The robot systems are costly, but are marketed as increasing efficiency for dairy farmers. And the cows appear to love them.

etc Watch a cow get the helicopter ride of its life. own · sim 0.42 · keep 0.58 · score -1

#19 · explainers Mar 5, 2026

The UN found that the Islamic Republic of Iran used genocidal tactics after the revolution

A 2024 report classified Iran's mass executions of political prisoners in the 1980s as genocide and crimes against humanity, finding that thousands were arbitrarily killed under Khomeini's orders by "death committees" targeting perceived religious and political enemies.

lead Iran in New York any_band · sim 0.40 · keep 0.10 · score -2

#20 · explainers Apr 23, 2026

There are two FDA-approved blood tests that may detect early Alzheimer's disease, but people can only use them when they already have symptoms of memory loss.

False positives are a concern with these new tests, which detect biomarkers that may indicate the presence of brain proteins linked to the disease.

Reporter Charles Piller found that 11 of 16 FDA medical examiners who worked on drug approvals later joined or consulted for the companies they had regulated.
Cassava Sciences agreed to pay the SEC $40M over claims it misled investors about simufilam, an Alzheimer's drug that later showed no benefit over a placebo.

lead Cancer Detection Test own · sim 0.44 · keep 0.20 · score -3

#21 · experiences Oct 18, 2023

Pompeii's buried secrets are still being revealed

Despite digging for decades, archaeologists are still uncovering new insights into life before the blast that buried Pompeii. Follow a journalist's footsteps as they explore the ruins of Pompeii in this article. The ruins were discovered in the 1700s, and formal excavations throughout the 19th and 20th centuries revealed temples, mansions, and entire streets, while a third of the city remains to be excavated.

lead The Heart of Ancient Paris own · sim 0.46 · keep 0.22 · score -4

#22 · explainers Apr 24, 2026

It can take 10 to 15 years and more than $1B to develop a new antibiotic.

Why don't we just develop new antibiotics? In part, it's a complex scientific challenge, but market incentives also play a significant role. It can be time consuming, expensive, and most notably, we should use as little as possible to avoid driving further antibiotic resistance.

itk Scientists develop enzyme-based, more cost-effective method to produce next-generation ant own · sim 0.52 · keep 0.37 · score -1

#23 · 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 Pilgrim, a startup building hardware to detect airborne viruses, draws investments from An sibling · sim 0.53 · keep 0.49 · score -1

#24 · curiosity May 8, 2026

Read about Palantir's early days—from a Stanford University dorm to an investment from the CIA

Palantir was originally founded after the 9/11 attacks as a private-sector solution to the government's growing need for advanced intelligence. One of its earliest investors was In-Q-Tel, the CIA's non-profit venture capital firm.

itk Pilgrim, a startup building hardware to detect airborne viruses, draws investments from An sibling · sim 0.44 · keep 0.46 · score -21

#25 · experiences Jun 30, 2026

The 10 most amazing deep sea creatures

In this video, researchers from the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium discuss the most fascinating deep sea creatures, and how they developed some of their strangest features.

etc The dolphin that bullies fish into vomiting. (w/video) sibling · sim 0.42 · keep 0.84 · score -4

#26 · curiosity Aug 7, 2025

The Sears catalog sold some weird products before it folded, including drugs

At various times in its existence, the Sears catalog sold everything from heroin to tombstones. But by the 2000s, the catalog was no longer in publication.

etc The bizarre pillows Kleenex sold in 1967. own · sim 0.41 · keep 0.67 · score -1

#27 · curiosity May 31, 2022

River dolphins manhandle an unlucky anaconda

The natural world around us is endlessly inspiring, and fascinating, and often very odd too: like when researchers snapped a photo of Bolivian river dolphins swimming around with a Beni anaconda snake in their mouths, for example.

etc The dolphin that bullies fish into vomiting. (w/video) own · sim 0.47 · keep 0.66 · score -1

#28 · explainers Mar 31, 2026

Genetic blood test offers an estimated clock on when Alzheimer's symptoms may appear

The 2026 research finding from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis—if validated in broader populations—suggests that an already available blood test could estimate when Alzheimer's symptoms may begin within a margin of several years. The test detects a protein called p-tau217 found in blood plasma and the researchers incorporated the findings from that blood test into a statistical model to come up with the symptom timeline predictions.

lead Cancer Detection Test own · sim 0.43 · keep 0.17 · score -5

#29 · experiences Dec 5, 2022

A collection of ancient graffiti from Pompeii, Herculaneum

From cavemen to marker-wielding children, humans have always wanted to leave their mark. Read some of the graffiti left by ancient Romans here. The cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum feature exquisite levels of preservation due to the nature of their demise. Viewers can see the surviving graffiti by clicking through the site's featured collections, which include topics such as poetry and love.

lead The Heart of Ancient Paris own · sim 0.45 · keep 0.61 · score -5

#30 · explainers May 8, 2026

Listen to Palantir CEO Alex Karp's outlook for how AI will change the economy.

Palantir was an early leader in developing and implementing AI into its technology and is often seen as a pioneer in innovation efforts.

When asked about the potential risks of AI (like the threat many say it poses to so-called "knowledge workers"), Karp has said that specialized knowledge or skills will inevitably become more valuable.

itk Pilgrim, a startup building hardware to detect airborne viruses, draws investments from An own · sim 0.50 · keep 0.49 · score -2

#31 · curiosity Jan 13, 2026

Elvis Presley wanted to record 'I Will Always Love You,' but Dolly Parton refused.

After scoring a hit with her own recording of the song, Presley made plans to record his own version.

Presley's plans, however, stipulated that Parton would need to grant him 50% of the publishing rights—perhaps the most valuable asset for a songwriter.
Parton politely refused the offer.

itk Dolly Parton's manager requests restraining order against her nephew Bryan Seaver, allegin sibling · sim 0.45 · keep 0.84 · score -3

#32 · curiosity Jan 13, 2026

Dolly Parton initially declined her nomination for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, though the Hall inducted her anyways.

The country icon was nominated in 2022 but bowed out, saying, “I don’t feel I have earned that right” and that she didn’t want votes split because of her inclusion on the ballot.

The Hall of Fame inducted her in 2022 anyway.
Parton mentioned that the nomination motivated her to release a rock ‘n’ roll record in the future.
She released “Rockstar,” a double-album featuring several duets and covers of popular rock songs, in 2023.

itk Dolly Parton's manager requests restraining order against her nephew Bryan Seaver, allegin sibling · sim 0.42 · keep 0.28 · score -5

#33 · experiences Apr 29, 2026

Explore over 30,000 Olympiad-level math problems from around the world.

Users can browse questions from 47 countries and 17 languages, sorted by topic across categories that include algebra, geometry, discrete mathematics, and number theory.

Each problem is accompanied by at least one solution, both authored in LaTeX that can be copied over to other platforms.

etc See where the US ranks in global math scores. sibling · sim 0.45 · keep 0.33 · score -6

#34 · curiosity Jul 28, 2022

The funniest pet photos of 2022

Chess-playing cats, water-loving dogs, and happy horses are among the finalists of the 2022 Comedy Pet Photography Awards.

etc America's most popular cat names. sibling · sim 0.42 · keep 0.56 · score -3

#35 · curiosity Aug 3, 2023

A gallery of New York cats alongside their feline reflections

Comedian Jim Tews began capturing photos of cats from the Big Apple in 2014 as a joke mimicking the highly popular site "Humans of New York," which captured random New Yorkers accompanied by their quotes. The site grew in popularity and Tews...

etc America's most popular cat names. sibling · sim 0.42 · keep 0.52 · score -4

#36 · explainers Apr 8, 2025

A snapshot of progress in cancer treatments

The American Association for Cancer Research's "Snapshot of a Year of Progress" offers an overview of significant advancements in cancer research and treatment over the past year. Take a quick look at the rapid pace of scientific discovery and the translation of research findings into clinical practice. In 2024 alone, health regulators approved 15 new anticancer therapies alone.

lead Cancer Detection Test own · sim 0.43 · keep 0.15 · score -6

#37 · experiences Sep 12, 2023

What do the Lascaux cave paintings look like?

The Lascaux cave paintings, initially discovered in 1940, hold a special place in the hearts of archaeologists and art historians alike. Examine the Paleolithic art in this virtual tour that takes users through the different segments of the cave and...

lead The Heart of Ancient Paris own · sim 0.41 · keep 0.59 · score -9

#38 · explainers Nov 13, 2024

Taylor Swift's feud with executive Scooter Braun

Braun, whom Swift said had a personal vendetta against her, purchased the rights to Swift's early music throguh his company.

itk Dolly Parton's manager requests restraining order against her nephew Bryan Seaver, allegin sibling · sim 0.41 · keep 0.12 · score -6

#39 · curiosity Feb 19, 2026

Changes in Earth's orbital cycles influence the timing of ice ages

These cycles include changes in Earth's orbit shape, tilt, and wobble, all of which alter how much solar energy different parts of Earth receive over time. Due to orbital eccentricity, summers in the Northern Hemisphere last about 4.5 days longer than winters.

itk Earth's rotation changes every few decades due to gravitational, electromagnetic, and topo sibling · sim 0.55 · keep 0.30 · score -3

#40 · curiosity Apr 15, 2026

Why the sun's equator rotates once every 24.5 days, but the poles take over 34 days

Just like the Earth, linear speeds on the surface of the sun decrease from the equator to the poles. However, rotation time also appears to vary with depth, with the radiative zone beneath the convection zone rotating about once every 26.6 days. Measurement uncertainty has prevented measurement of the rotation of the solar core.

itk Earth's rotation changes every few decades due to gravitational, electromagnetic, and topo sibling · sim 0.51 · keep 0.42 · score -4

#41 · experiences Mar 17, 2023

Guess US city populations via bracket-style game

The US Census Bureau's data visualization team created a game—laid out like a March Madness basketball bracket—where you try to decide which metro area of two has the greater population. Test your knowledge of relative city populations and see...

etc See where the US ranks in global math scores. sibling · sim 0.41 · keep 0.73 · score -12

#42 · curiosity Jan 20, 2026

See a ranking of the most memorable presidential pets in history

This list highlights famous White House animals—from Abraham Lincoln's goats, Nanny and Nanko, to Joe Biden's German shepherds, Champ and Major—showing how pets have long been part of presidential life.

etc America's most popular cat names. own · sim 0.41 · keep 0.75 · score -5

#43 · curiosity Jul 27, 2026

As part of the up to 15 pounds of seafood they consume daily, sea otters eat urchins that feed on kelp forests—helping preserve a source of shelter and food to over 800 species.

Despite being an endangered species due to their small populations, sea otters have a disproportionately large impact on ecosystems by keeping urchin populations in check, benefiting hundreds of other species.

Kelp forests are underwater ecosystems made from fast-growing brown algae that can span over 30 meters (100 feet) and have existed on coastlines for over 30 million years.

etc ... and see otters furiously chuck their own oysters. sibling · sim 0.51 · keep 0.75 · score -1

#44 · explainers Apr 8, 2025

About 40% of cancer cases are linked to preventable risk factors

Maintaining a healthy weight, engaging in regular physical activity, and consuming a balanced diet can lower cancer risk. Research indicates that about 40% of US cancer cases are linked to preventable factors, including poor diet and inactivity. Understanding these mechanisms empowers individuals to adopt healthier lifestyles for cancer prevention.

lead Cancer Detection Test own · sim 0.42 · keep 0.41 · score -7

#45 · experiences Nov 13, 2022

Examine a 3D model of the Rosetta Stone

One of the most famous archaeological finds of all time, the 1799 discovery of the Rosetta Stone helped unlock the secrets of ancient Egypt. Inscribed on the granite slab was the same passage in three languages: hieroglyphics, Old Egyptian, and Greek, which enabled scholars to decode the ancient language. Take an up-close look with this 3D model made up of more than 200 composite photos.

lead The Heart of Ancient Paris own · sim 0.41 · keep 0.68 · score -10

#46 · explainers May 21, 2024

Warren Buffett has worried that AI might end up being as consequential as the development of the nuclear bomb

Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren Buffett is one of the many people who’ve come face-to-face with the downside effects of AI, and in particular, deepfakes. He was recently shown a deepfake of himself in a video, which caused him to worry about how bad actors will take advantage of the technology.

itk Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) introduces legislation to ban artificial superintelligence and sibling · sim 0.48 · keep 0.18 · score -3

#47 · curiosity Jun 29, 2026

If the Earth stopped spinning, about 85% of the world's population would experience supersonic winds.

The planet's surface moves about 470 meters per second—over 1,000 miles per hour—at the equator, which is about the same speed as air near the surface.

If the surface suddenly stopped moving, the air's continued motion would fling debris fast enough to destroy nearly all human-made structures and likely form worldwide thunderstorms and tsunami-like storm surges.
Every location on Earth would experience a 12-month-long day if the planet did not spin, though the moon's gravity and atmospheric drag would gradually increase the planet's rotation.

itk Earth's rotation changes every few decades due to gravitational, electromagnetic, and topo sibling · sim 0.48 · keep 0.87 · score -6

#48 · curiosity Aug 27, 2026

The Foucault pendulum is direct evidence that the Earth rotates, as the apparent change in the plane of its swing results from the ground beneath the pendulum rotating over several hours.

Designed by French physicist Léon Foucault and shown to the public in 1851, the Foucault pendulum consists of a pendulum with a free joint, thereby allowing it to swing in any plane it is released in.

The Foucault pendulum swings through space in whatever swing plane it is released in, which cannot change because of the pendulum's inertia, or tendency to maintain its motion through space.
Because an observer will see the swing plane of the Foucault pendulum change over time, which is impossible, it can be concluded that it is the observer, and therefore the Earth, that is rotating instead, with the rotation fastest at the poles and zero at the equator.
In many science museums, Foucault pendulums are surrounded by small pegs or similar markers that are knocked over by the pendulum throughout the day to demonstrate how much the Earth has rotated since the pendulum was released.

itk Earth's rotation changes every few decades due to gravitational, electromagnetic, and topo sibling · sim 0.48 · keep 0.68 · score -7

#49 · curiosity Sep 3, 2026

To prevent floating away from others while sleeping, sea otters may wrap themselves in kelp or hold paws, using physical contact to form groups known as 'rafts.'

By floating together in groups, which are usually segregated by sex and contain about 50 organisms, sea otters protect one another from predators and conserve energy.

The physical contact of "rafts" helps sea otters stay warm, as they lack the blubber layer found in many marine animals.
While awake, sea otters eat up to 25% of their own body weight daily and burn these calories to help maintain their body temperature.

etc ... and see otters furiously chuck their own oysters. any_band · sim 0.46 · keep 0.69 · score -2

#50 · curiosity Jul 8, 2025

The 1980s brought luxury items into the bathroom

Companies produced items like waterproof radios and targeted them at people under 30, marketing the devices as hip ways to stay clean.

etc The bizarre pillows Kleenex sold in 1967. own · sim 0.41 · keep 0.58 · score -2

#51 · curiosity Jun 30, 2026

Watch this octopus win every single Escape Room challenge

Octopuses are famously intelligent, solitary creatures covered in hundreds of chemical-sensing suckers. They're also pretty fascinating pets, and even enjoy playing. The crew at OctoLab put one of its more playful mollusks into four different Escape Room-like cages to see how long it would take for it to escape. Watch this video to see the brilliant, if a bit unsettling, methods the animal uses.

etc The dolphin that bullies fish into vomiting. (w/video) own · sim 0.42 · keep 0.90 · score -2

#52 · explainers Sep 22, 2026

The FDA has approved 9 cancer drugs that target specific mutations, regardless of which organs harbor the tumors—a growing trend that will require insurers to revise their treatment approval processes.

Cancers are currently defined based on where the cancerous cells are located, leading to definitions such as breast, lung, colon, and brain cancers.

Genome sequencing has enabled a more personalized form of care, with more clinical trials lumping patients together based on cancer mutations rather than the organ with the tumor.
This approach could change the landscape for how cancers are defined and how insurers reimburse treatments.
Currently, about a quarter of all US cancers are categorized as "rare" because they differ enough from known tumors, and as a result, there can be lacking FDA-approved treatment options, which means insurance may not cover desired treatments.

lead Cancer Detection Test own · sim 0.42 · keep 0.12 · score -9

#53 · experiences Mar 30, 2023

What can we learn from archaeology?

By revealing buried civilizations and dating objects of antiquity, archaeology turns hard data into human stories. But what's the use of knowing these stories? Find out for yourself in this interactive resource that can take you to and through historic sites around the globe.

lead The Heart of Ancient Paris own · sim 0.40 · keep 0.58 · score -11

#54 · explainers Jan 16, 2026

Earth's smooth, continuous motion as it orbits the sun prevents detectable motion

Although humans are sensitive to acceleration, Earth's nearly circular orbit around the sun and its slow spin relative to its size produce negligibly small, minimally changing accelerations. However, the changing seasons and the day-night cycle are evidence of Earth's movement through space, as verified by satellites and telescopes.

itk Earth's rotation changes every few decades due to gravitational, electromagnetic, and topo own · sim 0.48 · keep 0.49 · score -5

#55 · curiosity Jan 3, 2026

Women's wartime suit features silk dyed with CRISPR-modified bacteria

Anna Dumitriu's bioart piece was created to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the first use of penicillin in a human patient and intends to raise awareness about the rapid development of antibiotic-resistant pathogens by using bacteria that have essentially been transformed into their pre-antibiotic era state.

itk Scientists develop enzyme-based, more cost-effective method to produce next-generation ant own · sim 0.42 · keep 0.36 · score -11

#56 · curiosity May 8, 2026

Watch a rare early interview with Palantir CEO Alex Karp

Prior to Palantir's public listing in 2020, CEO Alex Karp did not give many interviews. In a rare interview from 2009, Karp discussed the dominance of American technology, his academic background, and the founding idea of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs as key players in aiding the fight against terrorism.

itk Pilgrim, a startup building hardware to detect airborne viruses, draws investments from An sibling · sim 0.43 · keep 0.51 · score -24

#57 · news-in-context Nov 10, 2022

The worst election polling fails in US history

Presidential pollsters in the US have had some embarrassing failures. Here’s a catalog of those miscalls, from the scholar who literally wrote the book on them.

etc Socialism hits a new high in US polling. any_band · sim 0.44 · keep 0.49 · score -1

#58 · curiosity Feb 6, 2026

In recent years, orcas have begun sinking boats and other orcas are following in their footsteps

For just over five years, killer whales have been ramming (and occasionally sinking) expensive yachts, sailboats, and fishing boats in waters near European coasts. Scientists believe these incidents are the result of play rather than aggressive attacks.

etc ... and see otters furiously chuck their own oysters. sibling · sim 0.42 · keep 0.25 · score -4

#59 · curiosity Feb 23, 2024

Light pollution is giving oysters insomnia

Oysters, bivalve mollusks that have light-detecting cells along their skin, can't sleep with all this artificial light. According to a 2022 study, oysters' sleep cycles are disturbed by light dimmer than that provided by the full moon. As with humans, it's possible that these bouts of insomnia could have adverse health effects and contribute to the development of disease over time.

etc ... and see otters furiously chuck their own oysters. sibling · sim 0.41 · keep 0.69 · score -5

#60 · explainers Apr 8, 2025

Cancer rates are on the rise among GenXers and Millennials

Cancer rates are rising among Gen X and Millennials, with more cancer diagnoses being made in their 30s and 40s than previous generations. Factors such as prenatal exposures, environmental toxins, and lifestyle choices may contribute to this trend. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center's experts discuss these issues, exploring how these insights could reshape cancer risk understanding.

lead Cancer Detection Test own · sim 0.40 · keep 0.24 · score -10

Iran UN Speech, Cancer Test, and Vomiting Fish