2026-10-05 -- control

#1 · news-in-context Sep 28, 2026

As of 2025, the US has more Nobel laureates than any other nation and more than the next five nations combined.

About 34% of Nobel Prizes have gone to Americans, with prominent winners including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Ernest Hemingway, Richard Feynman, Paul Krugman, Linus Pauling, and President Jimmy Carter.

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#2 · explainers Jun 1, 2026

Young Brazilians protested their country's hosting of the 2014 World Cup

In 2013, the Confederations Cup in Brazil was marked with widespread protests in a period dubbed "Generation June." Many were angry about the looming 2014 World Cup, which they believed was an affront to the country's many pressing issues.

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#3 · experiences Oct 5, 2026

Take a quiz to learn about the women who have won the Nobel Prize through 2025.

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#4 · 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 semifinals tip off with the Atlanta Dream downing the New York Liberty, and the Golde sibling · sim 0.42 · keep 0.45 · score -5

#5 · curiosity Oct 2, 2026

Explore an illustrated history of the WNBA's first 30 years, analyzing how the league has quadrupled its attendance since 2021.

Before the WNBA's 1996 inaugural season, women's basketball players often went to Europe to play professionally after finishing their college careers.

The Golden State Valkyries were the first WNBA franchise to be valued at $1B.
The WNBA's attendance for the 2026 season is over four times what it was in 2021.
Sheryl Swoopes, the first player to sign with the WNBA, was also the first woman with a Nike signature shoe, the Air Swoopes.

itk WNBA semifinals tip off with the Atlanta Dream downing the New York Liberty, and the Golde sibling · sim 0.52 · keep 0.35 · score -1

#6 · curiosity Apr 13, 2026

Watch the inaugural WNBA game between Lisa Leslie's Los Angeles Sparks and Rebecca Lobo's New York Liberty.

On June 21, 1997, the Los Angeles Sparks and New York Liberty faced off in the inaugural WNBA game.

The matchup was a showdown between Olympic gold-medalists Lisa Leslie and Rebecca Lobo, who had become national stars following the 1996 Summer Games.
Sparks guard Penny Toler scored the game's first basket, the first in WNBA history.
The Liberty won the game, 67-57.

itk WNBA semifinals tip off with the Atlanta Dream downing the New York Liberty, and the Golde own · sim 0.52 · keep 0.62 · score -2

#7 · experiences Oct 5, 2026

Explore over 1,000 live webcams from around the world with this interactive map.

etc Click and watch livestream cameras from around the globe. own · sim 0.70 · keep 0.72 · score -1

#8 · curiosity Feb 6, 2026

See hilarious photos from the Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025

Napping frog princes, annoying lion husbands, and kung fu sea eagles are just some of the charming shots you'll find among the finalists for the award.

etc See finalists for the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. (w/photos) sibling · sim 0.72 · keep 0.69 · score -1

#9 · 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 See finalists for the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. (w/photos) sibling · sim 0.65 · keep 0.56 · score -2

#10 · 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...

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#11 · 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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#12 · experiences Sep 28, 2026

Explore a library of educational games and animated interactives based on Nobel Prize awarded achievements.

The Nobel Foundation's library includes interactives produced from 2001 to 2012 to make groundbreaking discoveries more accessible to the general public.

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#13 · explainers Jul 12, 2023

Visualizing the highest-grossing movie franchises from 1979 to 2019

A few dozen major movie franchises have dominated the box office in recent decades, including "Star Wars," "Harry Potter," "Lord of the Rings," and Marvel. This video shows the change from quarter to quarter in gross revenue for each movie franchise over the decades.

itk "Avengers: Endgame" retakes top spot as highest-grossing movie ever after theatrical rerel own · sim 0.41 · keep 0.70 · score -5

#14 · curiosity May 18, 2026

West Nile Virus has been detected in American alligators, and outbreaks have led to substantial economic losses on alligator farms.

Birds remain the main reservoir for the disease, but scientists have detected the virus across a wide range of species, including at least 48 mosquito species, over 320 bird species, more than 25 mammals, and at least two reptile species.

Pet dogs and cats can contract the virus if they are bitten by an infected mosquito. In lab testing, cats fed contaminated meat contracted the virus, but that type of disease transmission has never been observed in real-world settings.
There's no known incidence of humans becoming sickened from eating infected birds or other animals.

itk Dengue cases in Florida exceed 250 reports, likely the continental US' largest such outbre sibling · sim 0.46 · keep 0.22 · score -7

#15 · curiosity Mar 17, 2026

A malaria case in Maryland stumped doctors in 2023—leading to the wrong treatment and underscoring the challenge of physicians being mindful of tropical diseases in our interconnected world.

When the state had its first locally acquired malaria case in over 40 years, the patient was misdiagnosed with a more common tick-borne infection, leading to weeks-long treatment for the wrong infection.

The patient had symptoms that could occur with malaria or with babesiosis, a disease caused by Babesia parasites and transmitted by ticks in the US.
Malaria was considered eliminated from the US in 1951.

itk Dengue cases in Florida exceed 250 reports, likely the continental US' largest such outbre own · sim 0.45 · keep 0.13 · score -9

#16 · experiences Feb 5, 2026

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

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

etc See finalists for the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. (w/photos) own · sim 0.58 · keep 0.51 · score -3

#17 · curiosity Feb 6, 2026

In 1820, a sperm whale sank a ship from Nantucket, MA, events that would later inspire Herman Melville to write 'Moby-Dick.'

The Essex's crew hoped to capture sperm oil, a lucrative material found in the heads of sperm whales, but a whale charged and crashed into the ship.

Survivors of the attack drifted at sea for months, and many experienced starvation, dehydration, and cannibalism.
The ordeal inspired author a young Herman Melville, who read an account of the crew's journey written by its first mate, called "Narrative of the Most Extraordinary and Distressing Shipwreck of the Whale-Ship Essex."

etc Yachting crew rescued after sperm whale attack. own · sim 0.47 · keep 0.62 · score -2

#18 · curiosity Jan 8, 2023

Make these Aztec-inspired amaranth and honey skulls for Dia de los Muertos

On the Day of the Dead, ghosts enjoy earthly delights amid Mexican cemeteries. Baskets of sweet breads and tamales grace graves, while altars honoring the departed display hot chocolate and chicken legs. Hear from experts why this morbid day emphasizes the significance of offering foods loved by the dead. Intrigued? You can learn to make them yourself with recipes provided.

etc Hit Halloween candies from the year you were born. sibling · sim 0.42 · keep 0.67 · score -2

#19 · explainers Sep 26, 2026

Since 1901, the Nobel Prizes have honored major global achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and peace efforts.

Alfred Nobel—the inventor of dynamite—established the awards based on instructions in his third and final will, signed November 27, 1895, using the vast majority of his estate.

In 1968, Sweden's central bank established a sixth prize—the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences—to celebrate its 300th anniversary and in memory of Alfred Nobel.
Each Nobel Prize includes a gold medal, a Nobel Prize diploma, and a monetary award exceeding $1M.
Nobel Prize winners are chosen by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the humanities-focused Swedish Academy, the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet—a Swedish medical university—and the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

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#20 · explainers Sep 28, 2026

The Nobel Prizes are among the highest science honors, though they have long been criticized for their limited scope and representation of disciplines and minorities.

Thousands of university professors, scientists, and past Nobel laureates are invited each year to nominate individuals for the Nobel Prize, and the nomination information is kept confidential for 50 years.

According to the rules established when the awards began in 1901, Nobel Prizes in physics, chemistry, and physiology or medicine can each be awarded to no more than three individuals.
About half of the Nobel Prizes in the sciences have been awarded for discoveries in particle physics, atomic physics, cell biology, neuroscience, and molecular chemistry.
Many disciplines, including mathematics, computer science, climate science, oceanography, and geology, have historically been underrepresented in the Nobel Prizes.
Through 2024, only 26 of 650 unique individuals who received a Nobel Prize in the sciences were women, and no Black individual has won one during the same period.

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#21 · experiences Sep 16, 2026

See 2026's Ocean Photographer of the Year winners.

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

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

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#22 · 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 President Donald Trump announces formation of task force focusing on the risks and opportu own · sim 0.44 · keep 0.49 · score -1

#23 · curiosity Sep 1, 2026

Some corals absorb harmful ultraviolet radiation and re-emit it as visible light, thereby protecting symbiotic algae within their tissues and providing them with energy for photosynthesis.

Colorful algae called zooxanthellae reside within the cells of most shallow-water corals, where they absorb sunlight for the photosynthesis that provides corals with food.

itk Scientists discover covering coral with underwater shades reduces light exposure by 60%, p own · sim 0.56 · keep 0.75 · score -1

#24 · curiosity Nov 21, 2025

Los Angeles once suffered some of the worst smog on Earth

From the 1940s through the 1960s, Los Angeles was blanketed by dense, eye-burning smog so severe that drivers sometimes couldn't see traffic lights. The issue led to the nation's first local air pollution controls and inspired the passage of the 1970 Clean Air Act.

itk Parts of the US West Coast under severe heat warning through at least Thursday; downtown L sibling · sim 0.45 · keep 0.80 · score -2

#25 · experiences Sep 11, 2025

Watch a livestream of Earth from the International Space Station

The feed is made possible by the SpaceTV-1 camera system, which is live over 20 hours a day. Video replays are shown during routine loss of signal communications with the inter-satellite link relaying the video data.

etc Click and watch livestream cameras from around the globe. sibling · sim 0.56 · keep 0.75 · score -2

#26 · curiosity Jun 10, 2026

Phantom limb pain may often match the pain or contortion of the injury that led to the limb loss.

Neuroscientist V.S. Ramachandran helped patients remap their perception of their limb's orientation through his famous mirror box therapy—tricking patients' brains into thinking the intact limb they could see was the missing limb.

This work underscored that brain plasticity can be extremely rapid, as patients can achieve at least temporary pain relief within minutes.

etc Tapping on your shinbone may help heal the brain. own · sim 0.44 · keep 0.78 · score -1

#27 · curiosity Jun 30, 2026

Watch one of the greatest live TV shots ever

While James Burke was filming the 1978 docuseries "Connections" at the site of a rocket launch, he pulled off a perfectly-timed gesture without use of a green screen. Some say its the greatest live shot ever in TV history.

etc Click and watch livestream cameras from around the globe. sibling · sim 0.41 · keep 0.78 · score -18

#28 · explainers May 28, 2026

A trio of scientists won the Nobel in Physiology or Medicine that year, but they performed their award-worthy work beginning about two decades before winning the prize. This announcement includes details about the science and notes that the three scientists will equally share the 11 million Swedish kronor (almost $1.2M).

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#29 · explainers Sep 28, 2026

Various awards have been established to honor contributions in science, technology, and mathematics beyond the disciplines honored by the Nobel Prizes.

Established in 2002, the Abel Prize awards $750,000 to a mathematician for pioneering scientific achievements, while the $1M Turing Award honors contributions in computer science.

The Lasker Awards provide $250,000 to individuals in the categories of basic research, clinical research, and special achievement, as well as a public service award every other year.
Kavli Prizes, named after Norwegian American philanthropist Fred Kavli, provide $1M prizes to scientists in the fields of astrophysics, nanoscience, and neuroscience every other year since 2008.
Nicknamed the Nobel Prize for the environment, the Tyler Prize "recognizes scientists, ecologists, economists, policymakers, or organizations working to preserve and enhance the natural world."
The Vetlesen Prize honors researchers in earth science, while the Wolf Prizes for Sciences and the Arts are four awards that recognize "breakthroughs in physics, medicine, mathematics, chemistry, or agriculture."
The Kyoto Prizes recognize achievements in the three categories—advanced technology, basic sciences, and arts and philosophy—every year, with recipients getting 100M yen.
The Millennium Technology Prize honors innovations "that support a more sustainable, enhanced quality of life," while the Draper Prize honors an inventor whose work has "significantly improved quality of life."

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#30 · explainers Jan 22, 2026

BYD overcame Tesla via state backing, cheaper cars, and vertical integration

The one-time battery company eclipsed Tesla in total sales in 2024. The Chinese-backed manufacturer targets low- to mid-tier cars and builds 75% of its components in-house. Its cars typically retail at half the cost of similar Tesla models.

itk Ford narrowly retains third-place slot in US auto sales, despite sales dropping 6.6% in th sibling · sim 0.46 · keep 0.38 · score -2

#31 · curiosity Apr 1, 2025

How Los Angeles got its palm trees

Los Angeles is known for its warm weather and palm trees, but the latter haven't always been part of the landscape. As Hollywood's movie industry grew, so did the number of palm trees. As this article points out, most of the city's palm trees were planted in the 1930s through an unemployment relief program.

itk Parts of the US West Coast under severe heat warning through at least Thursday; downtown L sibling · sim 0.40 · keep 0.63 · score -5

#32 · curiosity Apr 6, 2026

Read what actions helped support grieving individuals during times of anguish

Concrete acts of kindness that buoyed New York Times readers after the deaths of loved ones varied widely. Examples include: friends sending emojis requiring no reply, coming over without asking to clean a grieving individual's bathroom, feeding them, taking them for periodic outdoor walks, and simply sitting with them so they weren't alone.

itk New York ice cream shop renames its mint ice cream in honor of a 38-year-old schoolteacher sibling · sim 0.43 · keep 0.53 · score -1

#33 · experiences Oct 1, 2021

A collection of the world's best live animal cams

What are the animals up to? If you're too busy to get to the zoo today, you can take a quick glance at this site, which aggregates dozens of live feeds of animals from around the world. See elephants, bald eagles, and puppies all in one place—but...

etc Click and watch livestream cameras from around the globe. own · sim 0.56 · keep 0.64 · score -3

#34 · curiosity Nov 6, 2023

See the winners of the 2023 dog photography awards

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

etc See finalists for the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. (w/photos) sibling · sim 0.57 · keep 0.53 · score -4

#35 · curiosity May 12, 2026

See the winning photos from a major European nature photography contest

Selected from nearly 9,000 submissions by 546 photographers across 15 countries, the honored images range from clashing Alpine ibexes to a wolf feeding on flower nectar, captured by the grand prize winner, 20-year-old Luca Lorenz.

etc See finalists for the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. (w/photos) sibling · sim 0.55 · keep 0.58 · score -5

#36 · curiosity Sep 28, 2026

The first Nobel Prize ceremony, which honored the discovery of X-rays and the cofounder of the Red Cross, occurred five years after Alfred Nobel's death.

The 1901 Nobel Prize in physics was awarded to Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen for his discovery of X-rays, which are used in various imaging technologies.

The 1901 Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to Jacobus H. van 't Hoff for developing mathematical laws governing chemical reaction rates and the pressure exerted by solvent movement.
The 1901 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine was awarded to Emil von Behring for developing a medical treatment for diphtheria using an antitoxin serum derived from previously infected animals.
The 1901 Nobel Prize in literature went to Sully Prudhomme, while the Nobel Peace Prize was shared by Henry Dunant—cofounder of the International Committee of the Red Cross—and Frédéric Passy.

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#37 · explainers Sep 28, 2026

Explore the full list of Nobel laureates, which spans about 1,000 individuals, and their accomplishments.

The Nobel Foundation's website also provides biographies of every winner, as well as interviews and videos with more recent winners.

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#38 · explainers Feb 19, 2026

Ukraine's pro-Russian President halted an EU deal in 2013, leading to a mass protest movement

In late 2013, President Viktor Yanukovych suspended preparations for a long-negotiated EU association agreement under Russian pressure, signaling a return to Moscow's influence and sparking mass Euromaidan protests across Ukraine.

itk German Chancellor Friedrich Merz makes surprise visit to Ukrainian capital of Kyiv amid Ru sibling · sim 0.46 · keep 0.07 · score -1

#39 · 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 semifinals tip off with the Atlanta Dream downing the New York Liberty, and the Golde sibling · sim 0.41 · keep 0.73 · score -9

#40 · curiosity Jan 15, 2025

In 2020, the league quarantined players in a 'wubble'

When the pandemic hit in 2020, the WNBA delayed the start of their season, choosing to play in a quarantine bubble for a 22-game season. Players choosing to opt in knew the decision wasn't just for them, but for their families. This TNT video explores what it was like for WNBA players to play, practice, and live together for nearly 100 days.

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#41 · experiences May 13, 2026

A resting rhino tops the best travel photos of the year

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

etc See finalists for the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. (w/photos) own · sim 0.55 · keep 0.27 · score -6

#42 · 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 Yachting crew rescued after sperm whale attack. own · sim 0.47 · keep 0.25 · score -3

#43 · curiosity Feb 27, 2023

National Geographic's 2022 Photo of the Year

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

etc See finalists for the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. (w/photos) sibling · sim 0.50 · keep 0.40 · score -8

#44 · curiosity Sep 28, 2026

Nominations for each Nobel Prize in science are submitted by an invitation-only group of thousands of people, which includes leading academics and former Nobel laureates.

From the nomination period to the awards ceremony, the Nobel Prize cycle lasts about 16 months.

Individuals invited to submit nominations for Nobel Prizes cannot nominate themselves, and their nominations are kept confidential for 50 years.
From the nominations received, each Nobel Committee creates a shortlist of finalists, which is evaluated and put to a vote before the new laureates are announced in October.
The committees for the Nobel Peace Prize and the Nobel Prize in literature welcome nominations from certain "qualified" individuals, such as directors of peace research institutes and presidents of national literary societies, respectively.
Swedish organizations select the winners of every Nobel Prize, except the Nobel Peace Prize, which is decided by a five-person committee chosen by the Norwegian Parliament, as Alfred Nobel specified.

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#45 · explainers May 7, 2026

Explore a list of Nobel Prize winners supported by National Science Foundation grants.

As of 2025, 274 Nobel laureates have received funding from the NSF at some point during their careers, including every prize winner in economic sciences since 1997.

NSF-funded Nobel laureates include 49 individuals in physiology or medicine, 82 in physics, 70 in chemistry, and 73 in economic sciences.

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#46 · explainers Jan 15, 2025

Documenting the first year of the WNBA

The WNBA was launched in 1997, providing a historic opportunity for women’s basketball. Two weeks after the WNBA kicked off its inaugural season, NBC aired this hourlong documentary, giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the league’s first games. The documentary also looks at the first pro league, the All-American Red Heads, and provides stories of the premier players in the WNBA.

itk WNBA semifinals tip off with the Atlanta Dream downing the New York Liberty, and the Golde sibling · sim 0.42 · keep 0.53 · score -6

#47 · curiosity Nov 7, 2025

'Harry Potter’ ranks among the highest-grossing film franchises in history

The eight Harry Potter films earned $7.7B worldwide, placing the series alongside Star Wars, Marvel and James Bond as one of the top-grossing movie franchises ever produced. Watch a comparison over time here.

itk "Avengers: Endgame" retakes top spot as highest-grossing movie ever after theatrical rerel sibling · sim 0.42 · keep 0.66 · score -4

#48 · curiosity Mar 13, 2026

Yellow fever sidelined more US troops than enemy fire during the Spanish-American War

The disease, transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, sickened more than 2,000 soldiers. Fewer than 400 American soldiers died in the 1898 war.

itk Dengue cases in Florida exceed 250 reports, likely the continental US' largest such outbre sibling · sim 0.45 · keep 0.63 · score -11

#49 · experiences Mar 12, 2026

Stream live radio from anywhere on Earth

Spin a 3D globe and tune into thousands of live radio stations by clicking any dot on the map. The project is seamless and acts as a reminder that somewhere, right now, someone is broadcasting music, news, or a call-in show in a language you've never heard.

etc Click and watch livestream cameras from around the globe. sibling · sim 0.55 · keep 0.81 · score -4

#50 · curiosity Dec 7, 2023

Photobombing bird nabs best wedding photo of the year

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

etc See finalists for the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. (w/photos) sibling · sim 0.49 · keep 0.54 · score -10

#51 · curiosity May 31, 2022

Stunning shots of a singing red-winged blackbird

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

etc See finalists for the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. (w/photos) sibling · sim 0.44 · keep 0.61 · score -14

#52 · curiosity Sep 4, 2026

The Ig Nobel Prize—a satirical version of the Nobel Prize—aims to engage broader audiences by spotlighting scientific achievements that make people laugh before they think.

While the Nobel Prize is named after Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite and founder of the awards, the Ig Nobel Prize is named after his fictional cousin, Ignatius Nobel.

The Ig Nobel Prizes were first awarded in 1991 at the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Massachusetts, after being established by the Annals of Improbable Research, a scientific humor magazine.
The IG Nobel Prize award ceremony honors work across 10 categories and features "24/7" lectures, in which scientists explain their work in 24 seconds and again with just 7 words.
Research that has received an Ig Nobel Prize includes studies on how the ability to hold one's urine affects self-control and the use of dog-training clickers to train surgeons.

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#53 · explainers Jul 15, 2026

Of the 736 Nobel Prizes in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, and economics awarded through 2023, more than 95% come from the same academic family, having been taught by a lineage of previous winners.

Research shows that 702 winners can trace their academic genealogy—who their teachers were, and who their teachers' teachers were, and so on—back to British physicist John W. Strutt.

John W. Strutt won the Nobel Prize in physics in 1904 for the discovery of argon and taught JJ Thomson, whose work led to the discovery of the electron.
The nearly all-encompassing cluster may result from Nobel Prize nominations being submitted by a group that includes previous winners, who may be more likely to nominate their academic descendants.
Past Nobel Prize winners may also be in favorable conditions for their work and draw in the most talented individuals to work with them, who also benefit from these conditions.
Besides having worked with a past winner, future Nobel Prize winners are statistically most likely to be men from or who have moved to North America.
Through 2023, more than half Nobel Prizes in the natural and medical sciences have gone to researchers who work in particle physics, cell biology, atomic physics, neuroscience, or molecular chemistry.

lead Nobel Prize Week sibling · sim 0.51 · keep 0.51 · score -11

#54 · explainers Jan 5, 2026

Wolbachia: the bacteria that could eliminate dengue fever

Dengue fever, transmitted by mosquitoes, kills more people annually than all types of natural disasters combined. However, mosquitoes that host Wolbachia bacterium have their ability to transmit the virus naturally suppressed, offering a route to eliminating nearly 25,000 deaths annually.

itk Dengue cases in Florida exceed 250 reports, likely the continental US' largest such outbre sibling · sim 0.49 · keep 0.63 · score -6

#55 · curiosity May 18, 2026

West Nile virus was detected in UK mosquitoes for the first time in 2023

Fragments of the virus were detected in mosquitoes that were being collected in Britain for the first time in 2023, but the UK government considers the overall risk to people to be low. As of spring 2026, there have never been detected locally-acquired cases of the disease.

itk Dengue cases in Florida exceed 250 reports, likely the continental US' largest such outbre own · sim 0.43 · keep 0.08 · score -15

#56 · curiosity Apr 1, 2026

Corals sacrifice their food source and expel colorful microorganisms to protect themselves during coral bleaching—a phenomenon that resembles an organism's immune system attacking itself.

Microorganisms called zooxanthellae are in a symbiotic relationship with coral polyps and provide them with food created through photosynthesis.

When ocean temperatures or sunlight exceed optimal levels, zooxanthellae release harmful chemicals that irritate coral cells, triggering their expulsion.
Without the coloration provided by zooxanthellae, corals become white.

itk Scientists discover covering coral with underwater shades reduces light exposure by 60%, p sibling · sim 0.54 · keep 0.76 · score -2

#57 · experiences Dec 19, 2025

Watch live cams of wild birds feeding

If you're curious to see what albatross, red-tailed hawks, and hummingbirds are up to this very minute, explore different live cams of them feeding. Occasionally, you'll catch a squirrel joining in on the meal.

etc Click and watch livestream cameras from around the globe. own · sim 0.51 · keep 0.67 · score -5

#58 · 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 See finalists for the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. (w/photos) sibling · sim 0.41 · keep 0.52 · score -18

#59 · longform Mar 12, 2026

Watch a North Carolina house collapse into the ocean

While the Outer Banks experiences beach erosion, rip currents and overwash from a nor’easter along the coast, a seaside house in Rodanthe collapsed Tuesday.

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#60 · explainers Sep 28, 2026

Nobel Prizes in science have favored male, North American, and European scientists from established academic institutions, with only 11 female winners in the 20th century.

The Nobel Prize nomination process is invitation-only, meaning previous winners are involved in selecting new laureates, which critics argue has contributed to the lack of diversity among Nobel laureates.

Some have argued that, beyond nomination rules, limited outreach has biased the Nobel Prize nomination process against researchers from developing nations.
As of 2024, seven of the world's top 10 science research institutions—ranked by contributions to natural and health sciences journals—are in China, but only 10 Chinese-born or Chinese-heritage scientists have won Nobel Prizes.

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