2026-09-25 -- control

#1 · news-in-context May 20, 2026

See who sat where at the US-China state dinner and why

This graphic maps the seating arrangements at the May 2026 dinner, showing how Chinese banquet etiquette shaped the placement of officials and executives from both delegations, along with details on the food served.

lead Trump-Xi Summit own · sim 0.40 · keep 0.24 · score -2

#2 · explainers Jul 27, 2026

Possessing trunks that contain about 40,000 individual muscles, African elephants act as keystone species by trampling and clearing trees, making pathways in forests, digging water holes, and spreading seeds.

As environmental engineers, African elephants promote biodiversity by reshaping their surroundings to support other species, while their waste enriches soil and feeds insects, which in turn provide food for birds.

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#3 · experiences Feb 5, 2026

A collection of fascinating facts about the planet and its creatures

You may have already heard that cheetahs are the fastest animals on land, but did you know that Savannah elephants are the strongest? This page on the World Wildlife Fund's UK website features a diverse range of articles on mammals, underwater creatures, birds, reptiles, insects, and landscapes. Discover captivating information about Earth and the creatures you share it with.

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#4 · explainers Jan 15, 2025

The economics of the WNBA

The 2024 WNBA season shattered attendance and viewership records, thanks in large part to rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. The league secured a record 11-year, $2.2B media rights deal. Yet players' salaries are low compared to the NBA. This CNBC video dives into the WNBA’s business model and explores why it may take years before the longest-running women’s sports league becomes profitable.

itk WNBA playoff bracket settles on final day of the regular season; top-seeded Minnesota Lynx sibling · sim 0.46 · keep 0.31 · score -2

#5 · curiosity Jun 18, 2026

Chicago Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong's mom starred in 'Little Big League,' a '90s baseball movie about a child who manages the Minnesota Twins.

Ashley Crow played the role of Jenny Heywood, the mother of Billy, a 12-year-old who winds up managing the Minnesota Twins.

The film came out in 1994, eight years before Pete Crow-Armstrong was born.
The Cubs player credits his mom, who played in a softball league for actors, with helping him develop his skills.

itk Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong becomes seventh player in MLB history to steal 40 bases sibling · sim 0.55 · keep 0.51 · score -1

#6 · curiosity Mar 25, 2026

Visualize how changes to lineups, driven by modern analytics, could have changed one of MLB's most iconic moments.

Amid the embrace of analytics, the game's best overall hitters were moved from the third spot to second, power bats were shifted out of the "cleanup" role, and speedsters—typically the leadoff batters—were pushed to the bottom half of the nine-player lineup.

Joe Carter, the hero of the '93 World Series, likely never hits his iconic walk-off from the cleanup spot in a modern lineup.

itk Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong becomes seventh player in MLB history to steal 40 bases own · sim 0.41 · keep 0.54 · score -5

#7 · experiences Jan 13, 2026

Essential pipes, sewers, and cables lie buried beneath New York City

The Department of Design and Construction offers a tour of its work sites, explaining the complex systems that exist underground. Gas, electrical, telecom pipes, and many others, sprawl out underneath the entire city, with dozens of maps that help workers know where they're placed. This layout is unusual compared to the rest of the country, where wires are often present and visible above ground.

etc Three more people pop out of NYC manholes. sibling · sim 0.45 · keep 0.76 · score -1

#8 · curiosity Feb 17, 2026

A super-sniffer smelled her husband's Parkinson's disease years ahead of symptoms.

She discovered she could smell diseases, including Parkinson's, tuberculosis, Alzheimer's, cancer, and diabetes.

Working with an analytic chemist, she's learned she can smell subtle changes in odor—ones that smell consistent across individuals with the same disorder—even before symptoms manifest.

etc Belly button smell could signal cognitive decline, Parkinson's. own · sim 0.52 · keep 0.78 · score -1

#9 · curiosity Oct 26, 2022

Possible globster sighted on the Oregon coast.

A man riding an ATV on the Oregon coast comes across a “sea monster", which is actually likely a decaying carcass of shark or whale.

etc Meet Casper, the 1 in 100 million ghost-white lobster. (w/photo) sibling · sim 0.46 · keep 0.09 · score -1

#10 · news-in-context Feb 18, 2026

Data center power demands have delayed the retirement of coal plants

US data center power consumption is expected to triple by 2035 to meet the growing infrastructure needs of AI platforms. Longer construction times and higher startup costs for renewable energy systems such as wind and solar have led to at least 15 coal power plant closures being postponed.

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#11 · explainers Jan 20, 2026

Donald Trump redefined presidential communication in the social media age

Trump used platforms like Twitter (now X) to bypass traditional media, announce policy, and confront opponents directly. His online presence reshaped political messaging, blurred the line between official and personal communication, and transformed how presidents engage the public.

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#12 · experiences Dec 21, 2022

Photos and descriptions of unique plants found in the Amazon rainforest

It’s the plants that provide homes for the incredible diversity of Amazon animals. Read about 29 of the most fascinating Amazon rainforest plants.

lead Elephants' Forest Pharmacy own · sim 0.41 · keep 0.57 · score -6

#13 · explainers Jan 15, 2025

Top 25 milestones in WNBA history

During the 2021 season, the WNBA celebrated its 25th anniversary, marking North America's longest-running women’s pro league. This ESPN interactive highlights 25 significant "firsts" and milestones that defined the WNBA's 25-year history.

itk WNBA playoff bracket settles on final day of the regular season; top-seeded Minnesota Lynx own · sim 0.45 · keep 0.45 · score -7

#14 · curiosity Aug 17, 2026

Taylor Swift's family encouraged her interest in music from a young age, and moved to Nashville before she reached high school so she could be close to the country music industry.

Swift says she was a performer as early as 3 years old, singing "Lion King" songs for families on the beach at the Jersey Shore.

Swift sang "America the Beautiful" at the 2002 US Open in New York; talent agent Dan Dymtrow, who was on Britney Spears' management team, signed Swift after hearing her performance.
At 14, Swift signed a songwriting contract with Sony ATV, making her the youngest songwriter to ever ink a deal with the company.
Swift's grandmother was a professional singer who performed opera and pop in clubs and hosted a TV show in the Caribbean, where she lived with Swift's grandfather, the CEO of an engineering company that had contracts in Cuba and Puerto Rico.

itk Taylor Swift releases four additional tracks to last year's "The Life of a Showgirl," whic own · sim 0.47 · keep 0.44 · score -15

#15 · 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 Meta unveils hand-held device that lets users interact with its personal AI agent, Muse, w own · sim 0.44 · keep 0.17 · score -5

#16 · experiences Dec 16, 2022

The science of dogs, from wolf origins to color-blindness

This under 10-minute podcast episode dives into the rich, fascinating science behind dogs: From their world-class sense of smell to their domestication from wolves.

etc Dogs focus on consonants, study finds—a first outside humans. sibling · sim 0.49 · keep 0.40 · score -2

#17 · curiosity Feb 13, 2025

Meet Cystisoma, the 7-inch crustacean with eyes for a head

In deep midwater, roughly 1,000 feet below the water's surface, completely transparent Cystisoma hide in plain sight from predators. Their retinas are splayed out thin across their disproportionately large eyes to avoid detection, and their entire bodies are transparent, difficult to see even as they are held in the palm of your hand. Learn more about the creatures here.

etc Meet Casper, the 1 in 100 million ghost-white lobster. (w/photo) own · sim 0.41 · keep 0.60 · score -2

#18 · curiosity Jun 5, 2025

Button boards may be the next step in human-canine communication

In a viral trend, dogs have been recorded using button boards to seemingly "talk" with humans. Researchers are divided on whether this means dogs have learned language or are engaging in sophisticated behavioral conditioning.

etc Dogs focus on consonants, study finds—a first outside humans. sibling · sim 0.50 · keep 0.54 · score -1

#19 · news-in-context May 13, 2026

Research suggests AI data centers may be creating microclimate heat islands

An analysis of satellite data from 2004 to 2024 showed that land surface temperatures in the areas surrounding AI data centers typically increase by an average of 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) after they begin running. Across the 6,000 global data centers analyzed by the study, temperatures increased by as much as 9.1 degrees Celsius (16.4 degrees Fahrenheit).

lead Data Center Headwinds sibling · sim 0.53 · keep 0.19 · score -2

#20 · news-in-context Mar 4, 2026

Data center companies are worsening housing undersupply in some regional markets.

With large capital to spend, technology giants have disrupted the real estate market.

Specifically, data centers have driven up prices by outbidding commercial and residential developers and intensifying competition for available land.
A property purchased over several years for $50M in Prince William County, Virginia, was sold to Amazon for $700M in 2025.

lead Data Center Headwinds any_band · sim 0.52 · keep 0.18 · score -3

#21 · curiosity Apr 6, 2026

Watch wild elephants 'mourn' their dead

Wild elephants in Samburu National Reserve in northern Kenya visited their dead matriarch's body weeks after her death and displayed behaviors that researchers are hesitant to call "mourning" though they do believe the animals are displaying a specific reaction in response to the death. The video shows elephants using their trunks to touch and explore the carcass while standing in place for extended periods, which is uncommon for the animals.

lead Elephants' Forest Pharmacy any_band · sim 0.49 · keep 0.81 · score -2

#22 · explainers Jun 30, 2026

Where do genes come from?

There are many more genes on Earth today than when microbial life first spawned on the planet about four billion years ago. Many of these newer genes grew from genetic mutations, misprints that slowly drift from the original blueprint via cellular division. If these mutations drift far enough, they can establish a new family of genes, though this process can take well over a million years.

itk "Jumping genes"—pieces of DNA that can move around within the genome—may have helped ant s own · sim 0.49 · keep 0.76 · score -1

#23 · curiosity Jan 27, 2026

Scientists seeking to understand how food aversions work traced the literal gut reactions linking gut distress signals to neural replays of what ill mice ate.

Princeton University researchers' 2025 findings analyzed how mice learn to associate certain foods or flavors with illness—even when there’s a time gap between eating something and feeling sick.

The food aversion work was performed with grape Kool-Aid and injections of a substance that made mice sick.

itk Biologists identify a cellular pathway colorectal cancer uses to metastasize in mice, poin own · sim 0.43 · keep 0.46 · score -11

#24 · curiosity Mar 16, 2026

The CEOs of the two top prediction markets have a fierce rivalry

Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour and Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan are both billionaire CEOs of the top two prediction markets—but they don't exactly get along. For instance, Mansour reportedly does not say the word "Polymarket" out loud, referring to it as the "non-American, unregulated platform."

itk New York sues Polymarket in state court, alleging the prediction market platform is runnin sibling · sim 0.51 · keep 0.14 · score -5

#25 · curiosity Feb 17, 2026

Efforts to create disease-sniffing capabilities for phones still can't match those of dogs.

In this video, a scientist explains why dogs remain leaders in olfactory capabilities, outpacing technology.

Scientists have attempted to create artificial "e-noses" for phones to detect early signs of disease, but so far they have not been successful.

etc Dogs focus on consonants, study finds—a first outside humans. any_band · sim 0.45 · keep 0.79 · score -3

#26 · curiosity Sep 2, 2026

Jim Henson and his creative team constructed several optical illusions to make the Muppets appear as though they walked through the real world.

"The Muppet Show," Henson's TV show starring the characters that debuted in 1976, used elaborate, elevated stages that hid the puppeteers, but Henson wanted the characters to venture into the real world for 1979's "The Muppet Movie," which required new creative techniques.

Henson's team began experimenting with practical, in-camera solutions to their problem with "Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas," a CBC special, including a scene that appeared to feature two puppets rowing themselves down a river.
They also created a device called a Waldo, which allowed Henson and others to remotely puppeteer.
Mirrors were sometimes used to create the illusion that the puppets could stand on their own.
A scene featuring Fozzie driving a car was made possible by a rewired Studebaker with a steering wheel and a driver located in the trunk.

etc ... and, if the Muppets' Gonzo were real, what animal would he be? own · sim 0.49 · keep 0.81 · score -1

#27 · curiosity Jan 7, 2026

Animals get SAD—especially those in zoos, like pandas

Giant pandas in locations outside their evolved latitudinal range (from southeast Asia to northern regions around Beijing) exhibit more sluggish behavior, even when they were born there. Researchers have observed that similar sensitivities to "photoperiods" (or time with light) impacts many animals, including birds, insects, and our pets. (Nautilus imposes a metered paywall.)

etc A red panda walks into a dentist's office... sibling · sim 0.40 · keep 0.56 · score -1

#28 · news-in-context Mar 4, 2026

By 2028, data center power consumption may equal 22% of US households

Date from 2023 suggests that data centers accounted for around 4.4% of US electricity consumption, with new facilities supporting the AI boom consuming more power than the state of New Hampshire annually. However, the energy impact of individual use varies widely depending on the prompt and AI model.

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#29 · news-in-context Mar 4, 2026

Noise from data centers may disrupt wildlife and local residents

Individuals living where local ordinances have allowed data centers to be built next to residential areas have reported that the constant humming and vibrations from cooling systems have prevented them from sleeping and exposed them to chronic noise, which the American Public Health Association says can lead to cardiovascular disease and increased stress.

lead Data Center Headwinds any_band · sim 0.49 · keep 0.53 · score -5

#30 · curiosity Feb 23, 2024

Some animals seem to live well on little sleep

African bush elephants typically sleep for about 2 hours per 24-hour day, coming in well under a human's recommended seven-hour minimum. Other animals also appear to skimp on sleep, by human standards, without the consequences humans associate with being sleep deprived. This academic article details the sleeping habits of animals that appear to thrive on fewer than 40 winks and explores whether their sleep processes are just built different.

lead Elephants' Forest Pharmacy any_band · sim 0.43 · keep 0.59 · score -3

#31 · explainers Apr 18, 2026

Prediction markets convinced regulators they're not gambling, but exchanging commodity futures contracts

Kalshi built a legal case that argues its yes/no bets on real-world events are futures contracts, and the relevant regulator—the Commodity Futures Trading Commission—agreed in 2020. Many states are now suing major prediction markets, arguing this legal case is faulty and obscures the true substance of the business: gambling.

itk New York sues Polymarket in state court, alleging the prediction market platform is runnin own · sim 0.65 · keep 0.23 · score -1

#32 · 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 Starbucks will close 250 stores across North America by the end of the week, its second wa own · sim 0.58 · keep 0.62 · score -1

#33 · curiosity Sep 21, 2026

Take a tour of the White House Press Corps, which has existed in the building since the early 1900s.

Early White House reporters used to wait outside on the grounds for news, but President Theodore Roosevelt later gave them a permanent indoor workspace.

The networks have offices in cramped basement spaces in the White House's West Wing.

itk CNN, MS NOW, and Politico journalists are allowed back in the White House hours after a fe sibling · sim 0.45 · keep 0.62 · score -1

#34 · curiosity Mar 24, 2026

Smell is a robust memory cue for individuals with Alzheimer's disease

Odor is more effective than both visual and verbal cues for triggering autobiographical recall in Alzheimer's disease, according to 2021 research.

etc Belly button smell could signal cognitive decline, Parkinson's. sibling · sim 0.49 · keep 0.56 · score -2

#35 · curiosity Feb 17, 2026

Typhoid smells like freshly baked brown bread

Certain ailments are associated with documented scents, including diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and typhoid. The skin of people with yellow fever, for example, can smell like a "butcher shop."

etc Belly button smell could signal cognitive decline, Parkinson's. own · sim 0.47 · keep 0.85 · score -4

#36 · news-in-context Mar 4, 2026

Cryptocurrency and data center growth are expected to increase greenhouse gas emissions

An analysis from the Open Energy Outlook Initiative estimates a 30% increase in emissions through 2030, as growing energy demands in regions where data centers are being built (20%-30%) far exceed the traditional growth rate of utilities in those areas (1%-2%). The emissions spike is expected to equal France's annual carbon output.

lead Data Center Headwinds sibling · sim 0.48 · keep 0.21 · score -6

#37 · news-in-context Mar 4, 2026

AI is estimated to drive most data center power demand growth through 2030

According to a report from the International Energy Agency, a typical AI data center in 2025 consumes as much electricity as 100,000 households, but the largest under construction are expected to consume 20 times as much. Global data center electricity consumption is expected to surpass Japan's total consumption by 2030.

lead Data Center Headwinds any_band · sim 0.48 · keep 0.25 · score -7

#38 · curiosity Jan 12, 2026

Zoo animals have developed allergies, too

Although scientists do not know if allergies manifest among wild animals—and if animals can survive with them—in a zoo setting, veterinarians have observed zoo animals with common allergy symptoms, including itchiness, crusty skin, and runny eyes. Veterinarians have identified Asian elephants with pollen allergies and at least one jaguar with an allergy to fleas.

lead Elephants' Forest Pharmacy any_band · sim 0.43 · keep 0.59 · score -5

#39 · explainers Apr 20, 2026

Nearly two decades before the WNBA began, there was the WBL, the first women's professional basketball league in the US.

The Women's Professional Basketball League was founded in 1978 and lasted three seasons, folding in 1981.

The league was home to nine future Olympians and 17 members of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Other athletes supported the league by attending games, including tennis stars Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King (who tossed ceremonial jump balls) and the Dallas Cowboys.
The league struggled to find an audience, with some teams drawing only hundreds of spectators to their games, though some franchises had more success, drawing up to 3,500 fans.

itk WNBA playoff bracket settles on final day of the regular season; top-seeded Minnesota Lynx sibling · sim 0.42 · keep 0.32 · score -9

#40 · curiosity Jan 9, 2026

Nor'easters can produce thundersnow—lightning in blizzard conditions

Although thunderstorms typically require warm air to rise in updrafts and collide with heavier soft hail, which creates charge separation and eventual electrical discharge, these cyclones can replicate these conditions by churning the atmosphere through strong winds. Rarely, especially warm lakes can similarly help generate thunderstorms during the winter.

itk Nor'easter expects to bring wind, rain to large swaths of the East Coast this weekend own · sim 0.42 · keep 0.85 · score -1

#41 · curiosity Apr 6, 2026

Grieving primate mothers will carry dead infant for long after death—and others will comfort her

An examination of infant corpse carrying practices among non-human primate mothers found that 40 species of primate mothers will carry around their dead infant for days, weeks, or even months. In some cases, a grieving primate's group members would provide grieving support—hugging or staying close to mothers who experienced a loss.

itk Speaking of elephants, a baby elephant whose mother died days after giving birth finds a s own · sim 0.46 · keep 0.60 · score -2

#42 · curiosity Feb 17, 2026

Dogs' disease-sniffing skills were first identified in 1989 when a dog reportedly detected cancer in a human handler.

The dog repeatedly focused on a spot on the owner's leg where a malignant melanoma lesion was later found, helping lead to an early diagnosis.

This capability was publicly documented in the medical journal The Lancet when two researchers wrote in about the incident, prompting further exploration into this potential olfactory skill.
Researchers hypothesized that the dog may have detected one or more chemical markers coming from the skin lesion’s surface.

etc Dogs focus on consonants, study finds—a first outside humans. sibling · sim 0.45 · keep 0.39 · score -4

#43 · curiosity May 6, 2026

Nine different studies exploring animals' relationship to music

Researchers have conducted multiple studies attempting to answer a certain question: do animals like human music? Across species, they observed different results and no clear pattern. Primates appear to prefer silence, and cockatoos appear to dance to funky beats.

etc Dogs focus on consonants, study finds—a first outside humans. sibling · sim 0.44 · keep 0.79 · score -5

#44 · news-in-context Aug 25, 2026

Despite accounting for less than 1% of the country's water consumption in 2023, US data centers' water use for cooling and electricity generation can increase water stress in drought-affected areas.

According to Google, "the median Gemini Apps text prompt uses 0.24 watt-hours (Wh) of energy, emits 0.03 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent (gCO₂e), and consumes 0.26 milliliters (or about five drops) of water."

Across billions of yearly prompts, research suggests US data centers may use as much water as New York City's drinking supply by 2030, though Amazon Web Services has set a goal of being water positive—returning more water than it uses in its data center operations—by that point.
Data center water consumption can be made more sustainable by employing more efficient cooling technologies and strategically siting facilities in water-abundant areas.

lead Data Center Headwinds sibling · sim 0.45 · keep 0.45 · score -8

#45 · news-in-context Mar 4, 2026

According to the International Energy Agency, hyperscale data centers consume about as much electricity annually as 400,000 electric vehicles to provide 24/7 access to online applications, services, and information.

Data centers can house thousands of vertical racks containing multiple types of hardware, including servers that store, process, and transmit data across the internet.

While facilities involved in training and operating AI models on enormous amounts of data are among the most energy-intensive, most data centers require complex cooling systems that consume substantial amounts of electricity and water to keep computing equipment from overheating.
Prompting an AI chatbot like ChatGPT for a response uses an estimated 10 times as much electricity as a traditional Google search.
Data center energy demands have driven investments in renewable energy facilities, such as nuclear plants and solar farms, while delaying the retirement of coal plants and other fossil fuel plants, which has compromised some nations' and tech companies' promises to address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

lead Data Center Headwinds any_band · sim 0.45 · keep 0.48 · score -9

#46 · explainers Jul 11, 2025

WNBA legend Sue Bird credits Title IX for her career

Few athletes are more decorated than Sue Bird, who’s won two NCAA championships, four WNBA titles, and five Olympic gold medals. In this interview, she explains how Title IX allowed her a successful career and why she believes the WNBA’s success is continuing to do the work that Title IX began.

itk WNBA playoff bracket settles on final day of the regular season; top-seeded Minnesota Lynx sibling · sim 0.42 · keep 0.45 · score -10

#47 · curiosity Sep 17, 2024

Some say baseball's drug problem goes back to the late 1800s

At age 32, pitcher James “Pud” Galvin was feeling tired and decided to take "the Brown-Séquard elixir," which contained a testicular fluid from dogs and guinea pigs, believed to invigorate tired bodies. It might've worked: Galvin pitched a two-hit shutout the next day.

itk Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong becomes seventh player in MLB history to steal 40 bases own · sim 0.41 · keep 0.49 · score -6

#48 · curiosity Feb 27, 2026

20 years of NCAA buzzers

The last few beats of the March Madness title game are among the most thrilling in sports. This video compilation collects the final five seconds of every women's championship from the first year of the tournament through 2022. The result is a fascinating document of celebrations, disappointments, and last-ditch efforts. It's also objective proof that basketball's style has evolved considerably over the decades.

itk WNBA playoff bracket settles on final day of the regular season; top-seeded Minnesota Lynx own · sim 0.46 · keep 0.73 · score -3

#49 · explainers Jun 30, 2026

The sewage of New York City

Residents of the five boroughs of New York produce 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater everyday. Seventy miles of sewer pipes, first built in the mid-1800s, feed the sewage to 14 wastewater treatment and recovery plants where the waste is treated back to viable, drinkable water. See what shouldn't go down the toilet here.

etc Three more people pop out of NYC manholes. any_band · sim 0.43 · keep 0.72 · score -2

#50 · curiosity Feb 17, 2026

Two dogs were able to detect prostate cancer in 98% of patients in one study.

In this small study published in 2015, two highly trained German Shepherd dogs sniffed hundreds of urine samples and accurately detected prostate cancer—sniffing out specific volatile organic compounds—in almost every case.

One dog was correct 98% of the time, and the other 100% of the time.

etc Dogs focus on consonants, study finds—a first outside humans. own · sim 0.43 · keep 0.64 · score -7

#51 · curiosity Sep 11, 2026

Cookie Monster evolved from the Wheel Stealer, a monster obsessed with a wheel-shaped cheese snack.

During the 1960s, Jim Henson and his Muppets were hired for a series of advertisements, including one ad for General Foods' snack foods.

In the 1966 ad, a Muppet steals an entire tray of Wheels, a crunchy cheese snack made by General Foods.
That character would undergo further iterations for other ads—including Arnold the Munching Monster, who gobbled an IBM computer—but would later find a home on "Sesame Street," where his teeth were removed and he was renamed Cookie Monster thanks to his unquenchable appetite for cookies.

etc ... and, if the Muppets' Gonzo were real, what animal would he be? own · sim 0.45 · keep 0.82 · score -2

#52 · news-in-context Mar 4, 2026

Since 2025, AI data center growth has created shortages and price hikes in graphics processing units and their supporting hardware, including high-speed memory.

The parallel processing needed to power large language models for AI chatbots and other tools drove demand for high-speed graphics processing units to spike in 2025, enabling capital-rich technology companies to price out consumers.

Similar demands for the computer memory used in storage drives are expected to keep shortages from easing through 2028, particularly as manufacturers shift production lines to focus on high-performance components, creating scarcity for less potent, traditionally more accessible parts.

lead Data Center Headwinds sibling · sim 0.44 · keep 0.12 · score -10

#53 · news-in-context Jan 28, 2026

Fracking rates may increase with the construction of new data centers

In Pennsylvania, plans to build at least five new facilities supported by gas-fired power plants are expected to escalate public health risks through surges in air and water pollution. Data center water demands are expected to further strain local resources.

lead Data Center Headwinds any_band · sim 0.44 · keep 0.14 · score -11

#54 · explainers Nov 13, 2024

In 2023 Taylor Swift made history having the most #1 albums of any female artist

Taylor Swift is as much a businesswoman and a marketer as she is a successful musician and performer, all of which has helped her become one of the biggest entertainment stars of the modern era.

itk Taylor Swift releases four additional tracks to last year's "The Life of a Showgirl," whic own · sim 0.56 · keep 0.14 · score -1

#55 · curiosity May 17, 2024

Hacking the body for a future that didn't happen

Journalist Adi Robertson experimented with one of the most accessible biohacks: magnets. Having a tiny magnet in their right ring finger meant they could sense magnetic fields, attract small metal objects, and more. But magnets weaken over time, eroding this new sense. Such implants do more than offer a new way of interacting with the world, they also pose new complications, such as the inability to get an MRI.

itk Meta unveils hand-held device that lets users interact with its personal AI agent, Muse, w own · sim 0.43 · keep 0.65 · score -8

#56 · curiosity Feb 23, 2026

Studies show the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs was from the outer asteroid belt

Isotopic evidence confirms the rock was a carbon-rich asteroid, likely born beyond Jupiter and later knocked into Earth's path after billions of years of orbital drift and gravitational nudges. Its path spanned over 4 billion years and ended in the extinction of 75% of life, including all nonavian dinosaurs.

itk "Jumping genes"—pieces of DNA that can move around within the genome—may have helped ant s own · sim 0.46 · keep 0.50 · score -4

#57 · curiosity Feb 17, 2026

'Old people' smell increases with age, and its chemistry and age-related incidence have been documented.

Analysis of body odors from individuals aged 26 to 75 confirmed that 2-nonenal, an unsaturated aldehyde with an unpleasant, greasy, and grassy odor, was detected only in subjects aged 40 and older.

The finding, published in 2001, also suggests that the smell may be linked to a change in the "monounsaturated fatty acid composition of skin surface lipids and the increase of lipid peroxides associated with aging."

etc Belly button smell could signal cognitive decline, Parkinson's. sibling · sim 0.46 · keep 0.28 · score -5

#58 · curiosity Jun 30, 2026

A history of belly buttons, from dinosaurs to modern dogs

Could dinosaurs have had belly buttons, just like you and me? Some researchers believe they've found evidence the ancient reptiles had the cute scar, a common feature among placental mammals (but which is also found in many more kinds of animals). Dive into their peculiar findings with this fascinating video.

etc Belly button smell could signal cognitive decline, Parkinson's. sibling · sim 0.43 · keep 0.87 · score -8

#59 · news-in-context Mar 4, 2026

AI's growing energy demands are driving tech companies to consider nuclear power

Big Tech has rebranded nuclear power as a green solution to address the strain on the grid from millions of people using power-hungry AI tools. As of mid-2025, generating one image uses as much electricity as charging the average smartphone, or leaving a household light bulb on for 87 consecutive days.

lead Data Center Headwinds sibling · sim 0.43 · keep 0.20 · score -13

#60 · curiosity Mar 4, 2026

Carbon-neutral data centers may be possible if built within wind turbines

Wind turbine towers are typically hollow, housing only cables and a ladder for maintenance access. The excess electricity a wind turbine collects could power a stack of server racks more than 100 meters (328 feet) high within its tower.

lead Data Center Headwinds any_band · sim 0.43 · keep 0.39 · score -12

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