2026-09-26 -- control

#1 · news-in-context Feb 18, 2026

Citizen scientist volunteers can help identify invasive species in wilderness areas

Launched in 2005 by the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health at the University of Georgia, EDDMapS allows users can document invasive species sightings in the US and Canada in a web-based mapping system. As of February 2026, EDDMapS has over 8.6 million records, all freely available for querying.

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#2 · explainers Dec 21, 2022

Amazon rainforest facts, species, and threats

The World Wildlife Federation presents a brief overview of the Amazon rainforest, covering key facts like location, size, and importance. An overview of threats includes unsustainable resource extraction, climate change, and poorly planned construction projects.

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#3 · experiences Dec 20, 2022

Explore Amazon rainforest species in this interactive

Explore plant and animal species from different parts of the rainforest, including the canopy, forest floor, and river basin while learning some general facts specific to the Amazon rainforest.

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#4 · explainers Feb 3, 2026

A 2013 Supreme Court case weakened federal oversight of redistricting

In Shelby County v. Holder, the Supreme Court struck down the Voting Rights Act's preclearance formula, reducing federal oversight of voting laws—including redistricting—and allowing changes to take effect without prior approval.

itk Supreme Court lifts restrictions on expansive voter-screening tool. own · sim 0.51 · keep 0.14 · score -1

#5 · curiosity Jan 30, 2026

In 1984, a dying infant lived for three weeks with a baboon heart inside her chest.

Pediatric-sized hearts are very hard to find. They're about the size of a walnut and depend on a donation from a family that lost a young child.

When a premature baby girl was born with a fatal heart defect in 1984 her care team transplanted a 7-month-old baboon's heart into the patient.
The organ was not genetically modified, but still the infant lived for several weeks.
This roughly hour-long documentary from the medical institution involved in the work features the patient's mother, clinician, and others as they discuss the controversial procedure and its aftermath.

itk Daughter who gave her mother part of her liver learns her mother is in remission. sibling · sim 0.42 · keep 0.79 · score -3

#6 · curiosity Jan 13, 2026

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program provides free books to kids.

Parton launched the program in 1995 to benefit children in Tennessee by providing a free book every month.

It began expanding across the country in 2000 and was eventually adopted in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
The organization claims to provide over 1 million books to children every month.

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#7 · experiences Jun 26, 2023

The world's 10 best places to live

The Economist Intelligence Unit's Global Liveability Index ranked 173 cities based on stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. The report shows an overall increase in livability scores compared to previous...

etc Lisbon tops list of the world's happiest travel destinations. sibling · sim 0.47 · keep 0.55 · score -2

#8 · curiosity Jan 8, 2026

The story of the 'forgotten' US Mints

Some US Mint branches that are now inactive were established during gold rushes during times of great demand. These include mints in Dahlonega, Georgia, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Carson City, Nevada. This video dives into their respective stories.

etc A rare coin treasure hunt heads to four US cities. sibling · sim 0.44 · keep 0.70 · score -3

#9 · curiosity Dec 16, 2022

Where the world's most wanted pirate hid in the 1600s

Metal detectorists who discovered 500-year-old silver coins have helped support the theory that notorious 16th-century pirate Henry Every hid out in several American colonies.

etc A rare coin treasure hunt heads to four US cities. own · sim 0.41 · keep 0.39 · score -4

#10 · news-in-context Jul 27, 2023

Amazon fires: Causes, impact, and prevention strategies

This article explores the issue of rampant fires in the Amazon rainforest, detailing their root causes, devastating impacts, and potential prevention methods. The Amazon rainforest's unique biodiversity and climate conditions make it unsuitable for...

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#11 · explainers Dec 21, 2022

Indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest

Indigenous people have unrivalled knowledge of plants and animals and play a crucial role in conserving biodiversity. Protecting their rights preserves this unique knowledge.

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#12 · experiences Jun 30, 2026

NASA satellite data and sound recordings used to assess rainforest health

This two-minute video describes the work of scientists who are analyzing the impact of repeated forest fires in the Amazon by recording the unique sounds in degraded forests. The team is using acoustic sensors to record sounds of wildlife in the...

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#13 · explainers May 23, 2026

Because El Niño and La Niña affect the distribution of warm waters—a key ingredient in hurricane formation—they affect the intensity of the Atlantic and Pacific hurricane seasons.

During El Niño, trade winds can weaken and sometimes even reverse, causing warm waters across the Pacific to move toward northwest South America.

In the Atlantic basin, the resulting strengthening of wind shear—changes to vertical wind speed and direction—disrupts hurricane formation over the Atlantic Ocean.
Contrastingly, by reducing wind shear in the central and eastern Pacific basins, El Niño facilitates the formation of tropical cyclones.
As the opposite phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, La Niña has the opposite effect of El Niño on the intensity of hurricane seasons.

itk Hurricanes Nolo and Polo strengthen in the Pacific, bringing heavy rain. own · sim 0.45 · keep 0.31 · score -1

#14 · curiosity Apr 27, 2026

A solar-powered device with googly eyes is pulling trash from Baltimore's harbor

Mr. Trash Wheel uses a conveyor belt to scoop debris from the surface of Baltimore's Inner Harbor before it reaches the Chesapeake Bay, and it runs on a combination of water current and solar power.

itk Baltimore woman delivers free books to hundreds of children living in book deserts via a " sibling · sim 0.40 · keep 0.86 · score -2

#15 · curiosity Aug 6, 2025

Turning trash into music

In a town built on a landfill, a music teacher and young musicians created an orchestra using instruments made entirely from trash. From oil cans to bottle caps, they turned waste into music.

itk Chicago volunteers transform two formerly vacant lots into a public park; they've dubbed t sibling · sim 0.42 · keep 0.90 · score -1

#16 · experiences Dec 6, 2023

Finding delight through your five senses

Digging into your immediate senses is shown to benefit your overall psychological well-being, from the happy memories evoked by familiar scents or through the transformative power of birdsong. This episode from the Science of Happiness podcast highlights insights from Gretchen Rubin, an author who has written books on the importance of engaging your senses for a happy life.

etc The science of self-worth—and tips to boost yours. (w/audio) sibling · sim 0.41 · keep 0.50 · score -5

#17 · curiosity Nov 2, 2022

This year's highest-paid dead celebrities

Forbes unveiled the list of 13 highest-paid dead celebrities. For the first time ever, the top five people in Forbes 2022 list of highest paid dead celebrities, have made more than $100 million each

etc Ranking America's highest-paid CEOs. sibling · sim 0.55 · keep 0.23 · score -3

#18 · curiosity Mar 4, 2025

America’s richest families

You could probably name a few of America's richest people, like Elon Musk or Mark Zuckerberg, for instance. But could you name the richest families in America, like the Waltons or the Mars family? Explore the list of 2024's richest families in America—and find out how they made their money—here.

etc Ranking America's highest-paid CEOs. own · sim 0.49 · keep 0.58 · score -9

#19 · news-in-context Jul 22, 2026

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

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

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#20 · explainers Jul 27, 2023

Finance sector has power to help the Amazon rainforest

Read this article to uncover the potential role of the financial industry in addressing deforestation, climate change, and biodiversity loss in the Amazon rainforest. The finance sector can significantly contribute to conservation efforts by...

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#21 · experiences Jul 28, 2023

Infographic illustrates the diverse and fragile Amazon ecosystems

This infographic helps readers better understand the vast rivers, forests, plants, and animals that call the Amazon rainforest home. Home to the largest collection of plant and animal species in the world, the Amazon rainforest has 16 thousand known...

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#22 · explainers Feb 9, 2026

Watch this video letter (via Facebook) from a kidney recipient to his donor

A kidney recipient named Justin reads a letter he wrote to his deceased donor about how the person's generous kidney donation saved his parents from having to watch him suffer and his brother from having the pressure of perhaps being his only shot at a life-saving transplant.

itk Daughter who gave her mother part of her liver learns her mother is in remission. sibling · sim 0.45 · keep 0.70 · score -1

#23 · longform Jul 20, 2026

Read an excerpt from 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,' the story of the Black woman whose nonconsensually sampled cancerous cells underpin thousands of research papers and several Nobel Prize-winning works.

For author Rebecca Skloot, unraveling the story of Henrietta Lacks challenged everything she "knew about faith, science, journalism, and race." The book traced Lacks' life, but also that of her family, the legacy of the cells, and her family's struggle to understand and accept the existence of the cells and their place in science.

In the 1950s, when consent was not required for taking research samples from a patient, Henrietta Lacks was a 30-year-old Black woman who had a dime-sized tumor sample taken from her about eight months before she died from cancer.

itk Daughter who gave her mother part of her liver learns her mother is in remission. any_band · sim 0.42 · keep 0.55 · score -2

#24 · longform May 20, 2026

Explore the unexpected ways people use public libraries in this 'This American Life' episode

Libraries serve as far more than book repositories. This episode follows a family experiencing homelessness that spent months living in their local library, Iranian students reuniting with family across the US-Canada border because the library straddled both countries, and a Vermont man who built his own library to house unpublished manuscripts.

itk Baltimore woman delivers free books to hundreds of children living in book deserts via a " any_band · sim 0.40 · keep 0.65 · score -3

#25 · experiences Sep 7, 2022

America's most underrated places to visit

The United States is vast, with beautiful and fascinating cultural hubs, landmarks, and natural wonders to fill a lifetime of travel. These landmarks can be well-known and top everyone's bucket list, or they can fly under-the-radar. Here's a list of...

etc Best, worst, and most underrated cities in each state. sibling · sim 0.54 · keep 0.67 · score -2

#26 · curiosity May 24, 2022

The best restaurant tasting experiences in every state

Looking for the best tasting experiences that are a must-try in your home state or anywhere you may be traveling? Here are your options.

etc Best, worst, and most underrated cities in each state. sibling · sim 0.54 · keep 0.66 · score -1

#27 · curiosity Oct 24, 2024

The coolest ghost towns in every US state

Trying to avoid crowds? This list from Thrillist compiles various ghost towns across the United States, highlighting their unique characteristics and explaining why they were abandoned. Peruse this comprehensive list to learn more about why people left these areas and what's still there. If you're looking for additional creepiness, explore and find out which of these spots are particularly haunted!

etc Best, worst, and most underrated cities in each state. own · sim 0.48 · keep 0.76 · score -6

#28 · news-in-context Dec 21, 2022

The current state of Amazon rainforest deforestation

Scientists say the Amazon rainforest is approaching between 20%-25% deforestation, a critical tipping point at which the damage is irreversible. Demand for beef and soy are the main drivers.

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#29 · explainers Jul 27, 2023

Nonprofits strive to replant the Amazon and slow global warming

This article explores the efforts of nonprofit organizations like Rioterra in reforesting the Brazilian Amazon to mitigate climate change. Their goal is enormous: reforest an area twice the size of Germany, costing over 20 billion dollars. In order...

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#30 · experiences Aug 1, 2023

Take a virtual tour through the Amazon Basin

Thanks to Google Maps’ Street View feature, people can virtually explore the Amazon River basin and its surroundings—part of the Amazon rainforest that is under the protection of the Brazilian government with restricted access to the public. The...

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#31 · explainers May 19, 2026

67 US high school athletes died from exertional heatstroke between 1982 and 2022

Many of those deaths were from football specifically, where student athletes play in hot conditions while wearing heavy protective gear. Few states mandate heat guidelines for school athletes, and this article says that's of increasing concern with more high heat index days.

itk High school football players donate old youth sports jerseys to children in need. own · sim 0.40 · keep 0.20 · score -1

#32 · longform May 12, 2022

Good Samaritans help Florida driver experiencing medical emergency

When a driver experienced a medical episode and was drifting into an intersection, people around her sprang into action and saved everyone on the road from a potentially life-threatening crash.

itk Crossing guard puts herself between a speeding car and two children. any_band · sim 0.47 · keep 0.11 · score -1

#33 · explainers Apr 27, 2026

The Keep America Beautiful campaign shifted the blame for litter from manufacturers to individuals

This podcast examines how one organization reshaped the American public's relationship with recycling, asking why responsibility for a cleaner environment falls to individuals rather than to the companies that produce waste.

itk Chicago volunteers transform two formerly vacant lots into a public park; they've dubbed t any_band · sim 0.41 · keep 0.70 · score -2

#34 · experiences Jun 7, 2022

Evaluating the world’s 'smartest' cities

A ranking of "smart cities" analyzes cities by economical and technological aspects as well as quality of life, inclusiveness, and care to the environment.

etc Lisbon tops list of the world's happiest travel destinations. sibling · sim 0.42 · keep 0.56 · score -5

#35 · curiosity May 8, 2025

The origin of the sport's name is disputed

How pickleball got its name has been a point of contention for decades. The McCallums claim the family dog, Pickles, used to snatch the balls as they played and named it for him. Joan Pritchard, though, says Pickles didn’t join the family until after the game was invented.

etc How the funny bone got its name. sibling · sim 0.41 · keep 0.44 · score -1

#36 · curiosity Oct 25, 2024

The Forbes Midas List is an annual ranking of the world's top 100 venture capitalists

To qualify, investors are ranked by portfolio companies that have gone public or been acquired for at least $200M in the past five years, or that have at least doubled their private valuation to $400M or more over the same period.

etc Ranking America's highest-paid CEOs. sibling · sim 0.44 · keep 0.29 · score -15

#37 · news-in-context Aug 4, 2026

Explore a real-time map of fine particle pollution from wildfires and other sources provided by the US Forest Service, which includes overlays for topography, street views, and satellite imagery.

The Fire and Smoke Map provides data from permanent and temporary air quality monitors and details fire incidents, perimeters, and detections across the country.

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#38 · explainers Jan 9, 2023

Impact of Brazil's politics on the Amazon rainforest

In this seven-minute podcast, Andrew Limbong speaks with environmental researcher Erika Berenguer about Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s ambitions to save the Amazon Rainforest from deforestation.

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#39 · longform May 11, 2026

Interviews with loggers, tribespeople, environmentalists, ranchers, and scientists about Amazon rainforest deforestation.

Around for 10 million years, the Amazon Rainforest might completely disappear before the end of the century. This 10-minute read shares personal accounts from loggers to Indigenous people, with satellite images of the deforestation of a 134,000...

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#40 · explainers Feb 3, 2026

Thousands of state voting changes have been federally blocked since the Voting Rights Act

Since 1965, federal oversight has blocked thousands of state-level voting changes—including redistricting plans—by requiring approval for measures that could affect minority representation, a process scaled back by the Supreme Court in 2013.

itk Supreme Court lifts restrictions on expansive voter-screening tool. own · sim 0.50 · keep 0.19 · score -2

#41 · news-in-context Feb 3, 2026

Republicans launched a mid-decade redistricting push in 2025

Beginning in Texas, Republican-controlled legislatures in Missouri, Florida, Ohio, and North Carolina moved to redraw maps before 2030—an uncommon mid-decade effort aimed at securing additional congressional seats.

itk Separately, the Supreme Court rejected, for the third time, a Missouri congressional map b any_band · sim 0.49 · keep 0.08 · score -2

#42 · experiences Dec 7, 2023

The best places to visit in 2024

Stargaze from moonscape deserts, or absorb high-design in a rising city. Peruse Conde Nast's annual look forward to travel destinations and dream up your next big trip.

etc Lisbon tops list of the world's happiest travel destinations. sibling · sim 0.42 · keep 0.66 · score -6

#43 · curiosity Mar 6, 2026

LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault was among the world's 10 wealthiest people as of early 2026

With a reported net worth of about $190B, Arnault consistently ranks among the world's richest individuals. He held the number one spot on the list until early 2023, when Elon Musk overtook him.

etc Ranking America's highest-paid CEOs. sibling · sim 0.42 · keep 0.09 · score -18

#44 · curiosity Dec 18, 2023

America's best mountain towns

Thrillist compiled a list of the most well-rounded mountain towns in the US, from ski-friendly Park City, Utah, to austere desert hotspot Taos, New Mexico. Peruse this list for you next mountain adventure.

etc Best, worst, and most underrated cities in each state. sibling · sim 0.47 · keep 0.73 · score -10

#45 · news-in-context Jul 16, 2026

Learn about the plant and animal species in every US county that are federally protected under the US Endangered Species Act with this interactive map.

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#46 · explainers May 13, 2026

Despite privacy risks, scientists are using DNA in the air to assess ecosystem health

While DNA in soil and water samples has long been used for such analyses, airborne DNA is being incorporated into such efforts to monitor individual species abundance, detect invasive species, measure biodiversity, and determine the success of conservation actions. Future work may include detecting attacks from biological weapons.

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#47 · experiences Jul 7, 2022

Using AI to track plastic pollution in real time

Explore Global Plastic Watch, the first-ever, near-real-time, high-resolution map of plastic pollution. Global Plastic Watch uses advanced satellite data technology and machine learning to measure piles of plastic waste from space.

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#48 · explainers Apr 6, 2026

Meeting someone with common healthcare challenges can be life-changing

The understanding that comes from meeting others who have similar experiences can provide hope that life can get better, the solace of affirmation, and make navigating a new diagnosis or a rare illness, in particular, much easier.

itk Daughter who gave her mother part of her liver learns her mother is in remission. sibling · sim 0.41 · keep 0.65 · score -5

#49 · experiences Sep 12, 2023

Visit these offbeat attractions in each US state

Skip the lines, avoid the crowds, go against the grain: That's the spirit of this list of the 50 coolest offbeat attractions in every US state. From Alaska's museum of hammers to Wyoming's thermal pools, you can find somewhere a little different to...

etc Best, worst, and most underrated cities in each state. sibling · sim 0.47 · keep 0.81 · score -8

#50 · curiosity May 7, 2026

Browse a list of the most important invention from each state

From Alabama's electric hearing aid and Idaho's television to Washington's artificial heart and Wisconsin's space suit, this map highlights technological breakthroughs with outsized impacts from each US commonwealth. The District of Columbia is also featured as the state of origin for the telegraph and Morse code.

etc Best, worst, and most underrated cities in each state. sibling · sim 0.44 · keep 0.71 · score -12

#51 · curiosity Jul 14, 2026

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

etc Best, worst, and most underrated cities in each state. sibling · sim 0.43 · keep 0.78 · score -15

#52 · news-in-context Jul 27, 2023

Amazon deforestation down by a third in 2023

Read this article to understand how Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who started his term on January 1, 2023, has been successful in reducing deforestation in the Amazon region. Deforestation dropped by 33.6% in the first six months of...

lead The Amazon's Living Map own · sim 0.41 · keep 0.06 · score -25

#53 · curiosity Dec 21, 2022

These animals are only found in the Amazon rainforest.

The mighty Amazon River and its surrounding rainforest is home to millions of different species of animals, with new ones being discovered regularly.

lead The Amazon's Living Map any_band · sim 0.49 · keep 0.57 · score -7

#54 · experiences Apr 29, 2026

Explore and visualize AI-driven riverine and flash-flood forecasts across more than 150 countries to anticipate these natural disasters up to seven days in advance.

Google's "Flood Hub" tool integrates weather forecasts, satellite data, and other public data into hydrologic and inundation models to predict river discharge, areas at risk of flooding, and water depth in those areas.

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#55 · explainers Feb 9, 2026

Living donations most commonly involve a kidney or part of a liver

In 2023, more than 6,900 transplants were made possible thanks to living donors. Living donation is when a living person donates an organ or part of an organ—usually one of their two kidneys or part of the liver, since that organ can regenerate in a healthy person. Much more rarely, living donors donate other organs. Living donations often occur when someone wants to ensure a loved one has certainty that they will quickly receive a needed organ.

itk Daughter who gave her mother part of her liver learns her mother is in remission. sibling · sim 0.41 · keep 0.27 · score -6

#56 · longform Jul 20, 2026

See the trailer for the 2017 HBO movie 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks' starring Oprah Winfrey, who plays the daughter of the Black woman whose cancer cells were taken without her knowledge or permission, and now underpin numerous scientific discoveries.

The 2010 book 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks' sparked global bioethics discussions and reforms, a foundation for the Lacks family, a series of lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies that utilize HeLa cells, and eventually the HBO movie starring Oprah Winfrey.

The film was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie.

itk Daughter who gave her mother part of her liver learns her mother is in remission. any_band · sim 0.42 · keep 0.58 · score -4

#57 · experiences Apr 10, 2025

What its like to live in the world’s ‘smartest cities’

What’s it like to live in a smart city? The BBC interviewed residents of five of the world’s smartest, as determined by the International Institute for Management Development, to find out. (See previous resource for those rankings.) Common praises included ease of transportation, sustainability initiatives and proximity to nature.

etc Lisbon tops list of the world's happiest travel destinations. sibling · sim 0.40 · keep 0.25 · score -8

#58 · explainers Jun 30, 2026

Illinois rolled back its happy hour legislation in 2015, opting to cap reduced-price drink sales at 15 hours per week and prohibit them after 10 pm instead

In this episode of the podcast "The Right to Drink," alcohol expert and host Jarrett Dieterle explains why some states allow happy hour while others don't. The host also dives into the fight to change happy hour legislation across the US.

etc ... and the case for partying more. (w/audio) any_band · sim 0.41 · keep 0.27 · score -1

#59 · news-in-context Jun 19, 2023

The best beach in every US state

Not every state has coastline, but every state has a beach. This list highlights the best sandy shorelines in every US state, whether near the ocean, a lake, or a river.

etc Best, worst, and most underrated cities in each state. any_band · sim 0.50 · keep 0.75 · score -3

#60 · 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.

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Rainforest Radar, Voter Screening, and Parisian Butter