The world is more interesting than you think.
Unexpected facts, big ideas, and little discoveries. Find something that sparks your curiosity today.
A little more wonder
Wildest travel experiences are often sold as escapes from modern stress, yet they can quietly be some of the riskiest choices you make.
Wildest travel experiences are often sold as escapes from modern stress, yet they can quietly be some of the riskiest choices you make. Before setting out,…
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The 'Russian flu' may have had a different virus behind it.
The 'Russian flu' may have had a different virus behind it. One hypothesis links the 1889 pandemic to the ancestor of a human coronavirus, OC43. Researchers…
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Some of Europe's most dramatic landscapes are in a country many travelers still confuse with a US state.
Some of Europe's most dramatic landscapes are in a country many travelers still confuse with a US state. Georgia lies between the Caucasus Mountains and the…
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Before Hollywood turned vampires into glamorous immortals, Balkan villagers had a far more disturbing version living next door.
Before Hollywood turned vampires into glamorous immortals, Balkan villagers had a far more disturbing version living next door. In parts of Serbia and…
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The City of London greets the monarch with a sword ceremony.
The City of London greets the monarch with a sword ceremony. The Lord Mayor presents the City's sword in a formal acknowledgment of royal authority. The…
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Medieval justice was often less brutal than our imagination — and more brutal in ways we ignore.
Medieval justice was often less brutal than our imagination — and more brutal in ways we ignore. A prison could hold someone until trial or payment, while…
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On a dating app, wanting someone's attention can become confused with liking the person.
On a dating app, wanting someone's attention can become confused with liking the person. A match who seems hard to win may feel more valuable precisely…
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It can be easier to notice a stranger's inconvenience than your own needs.
It can be easier to notice a stranger's inconvenience than your own needs. A blocked doorway or an impatient glance gives you an immediate social signal to…
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In parts of Japan, people whisper that some families are haunted not by ghosts, but by a starving dog spirit they created themselves.
In parts of Japan, people whisper that some families are haunted not by ghosts, but by a starving dog spirit they created themselves. The ritual leaves the…
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In old Russian tales, even the bathhouse has a spirit, and you do not want to anger him. During bathhouse divination, a gentle touch was said to promise good fortune, while a clawed grab foretold disaster.
In old Russian tales, even the bathhouse has a spirit, and you do not want to anger him. During bathhouse divination, a gentle touch was said to promise good…
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Avoided conversations do not disappear; they just relocate into your body and behavior.
Avoided conversations do not disappear; they just relocate into your body and behavior. When you keep swallowing a difficult sentence, the stress around it…
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You can almost script a celebrity apology video before it drops: soft lighting, casual clothes, a sigh, then a careful blend of sorrow and self defense.
You can almost script a celebrity apology video before it drops: soft lighting, casual clothes, a sigh, then a careful blend of sorrow and self defense. Teams…
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For most of human history, nobody expected minutes to matter.
For most of human history, nobody expected minutes to matter. In medieval Europe, the hours from sunrise to sunset were divided into 12 parts, so a winter…
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Spending a night in an airport sounds miserable, but seasoned budget travelers treat terminals like temporary campsites.
Spending a night in an airport sounds miserable, but seasoned budget travelers treat terminals like temporary campsites. Many airports close landside…
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A two hour refund window on a major PC platform sparked a strange dilemma for indie developers: what if players can finish your entire game before the timer runs out.
A two hour refund window on a major PC platform sparked a strange dilemma for indie developers: what if players can finish your entire game before the timer…
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Almost winning is more dangerous than losing badly.
Almost winning is more dangerous than losing badly. A bad loss says, “That didn’t work.” A near miss whispers, “You were close.” That feeling of being one…
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Quantum computers are not just faster versions of your laptop; they are more like fragile alien instruments that barely agree to work in our universe.
Quantum computers are not just faster versions of your laptop; they are more like fragile alien instruments that barely agree to work in our universe. A qubit…
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Centuries before modern standardized tests, imperial China ran an exam system so intense that it shaped entire lives and cities.
Centuries before modern standardized tests, imperial China ran an exam system so intense that it shaped entire lives and cities. Passing could open a path to…
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Your photo gallery has quietly become an external hard drive for your memory.
Your photo gallery has quietly become an external hard drive for your memory. When you photograph instead of paying attention, your brain may retain fewer…
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Cholula's enormous pyramid looks like a hill with a church on top.
Cholula's enormous pyramid looks like a hill with a church on top. Layers of construction made the Mexican pyramid wider at its base than the Great Pyramid at…
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Being a great conversationalist is less about being interesting and more about being genuinely curious.
Being a great conversationalist is less about being interesting and more about being genuinely curious. A curious listener gives the other person room to…
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Fire rules are lessons written after buildings burned.
Fire rules are lessons written after buildings burned. The Great Fire of London helped drive requirements for brick and stone construction instead of easily…
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Most powerful safety device for cyclists is not a helmet; it is a line of paint and concrete.
Most powerful safety device for cyclists is not a helmet; it is a line of paint and concrete. A curb-protected bike lane puts concrete between riders and…
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Money habits can begin before your first paycheck.
Money habits can begin before your first paycheck. Family messages teach whether spending is a treat, debt is shameful, or saving means safety. Those lessons…
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