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
Some Pimp My Ride upgrades disappeared after filming
Participants reported that certain showpiece features were removed after the reveal because of safety or legal concerns. A spectacular television prop and a…
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WinRAR's trial keeps going after 40 days
WinRAR asks users to buy a license after 40 days, but the program keeps working if they don't. The reminder doesn't lock you out.
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The venomous bite of a Komodo dragon
Komodo dragons deliver venom with their bite, and proteins in it can cause shock. The combination can leave prey badly injured and vulnerable after an attack.
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Why Thailand’s islands look like stone walls
The Phi Phi Islands rise in steep rock cliffs straight from turquoise water, rather than sloping gently into sandy beaches.
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Green chest vortexes for affection
In chakra traditions, the heart chakra is associated with compassion and the color green; practitioners may describe it as blocked or unbalanced.
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Olympic track cycling once put two riders on one racing bike
The men's tandem sprint had two cyclists sharing a long frame and one race strategy. The event remained on the Olympic program through Munich in 1972. The…
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The Olympics once awarded a medal for floating the farthest
At the 1904 Games, plunge-for-distance competitors dived in, then coasted without swimming. Distance was measured when the head surfaced or the time limit…
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Niobium pairs with titanium to create powerful magnets
An MRI’s niobium-titanium coil is chilled until it can carry current with almost no electrical resistance. The current keeps circulating after the coil is…
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Simon Cowell never planned to be on TV
Simon Cowell originally wanted to work behind the scenes releasing novelty records, but his blunt insults made him a television star.
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Nickelback keeps selling out despite the hate
The band has drawn millions of fans to arena shows even as online jokes have made it a punching bag for decades.
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Holmium boasts the highest magnetic strength of all
Holmium atoms have strong magnetic moments, but at room temperature they are jostled in too many directions to line up as a permanent magnet. Cool the metal,…
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Radiohead made playing Creep feel like a surprise
The band's breakthrough single has appeared irregularly in later live sets rather than as a guaranteed finale. At Primavera in 2016, it arrived as an…
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Uncharted 4 lets Nathan Drake lose at Crash Bandicoot
At home with Elena, Drake picks up a controller and plays a level of Naughty Dog's old PlayStation platformer. You control his attempt while the couple talks…
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Heavy taxation quietly destroys optimal resource exchanges
If a tax makes a buyer and seller walk away from a deal both wanted, the government collects no revenue from that exchange. The value they would have gained…
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Power grids charge massive premiums during late evenings
A hot evening can put many air conditioners on at once, pushing electricity demand up. Higher peak-period prices are meant to spread use out and ease pressure…
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Thulium is so scarce it remains commercially useless
Thulium can power specialized lasers and portable X-ray devices, but it costs a lot to separate and purify. If a cheaper, more abundant element does the same…
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Mexico's crystal caves can kill you without cooling gear
The giant gypsum crystals at Naica formed in a hot, water-rich environment. Extreme heat combined with near-saturated humidity makes sweat evaporation…
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Why cockpit voice recorders keep only two hours
The recorder keeps overwriting its own oldest audio, preserving just the latest two hours. That window focuses on the part investigators need most: the run-up…
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Why forced positivity can make problems worse
Telling yourself to be positive can turn pain into a second problem: now you’re upset, and you feel you’re failing at being upbeat. Pushing unpleasant…
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Pregnancy can leave a lasting change in the shape of a foot
A University of Iowa study measured women early in pregnancy and again about five months after childbirth. Many had lower arches and increased foot length…
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Vivaldi was a priest before writing The Four Seasons
Although ordained as a priest, Vivaldi soon stopped saying Mass and devoted himself to music. He is best known for The Four Seasons.
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How a backyard shed became London's top restaurant
A writer flooded a review platform with fabricated praise and made a nonexistent backyard shed London's top-rated restaurant, exposing how easily crowdsourced…
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The Real World made strangers living together the show
MTV put seven unfamiliar people in a New York loft and filmed their interactions for the 1992 series. Conflict did not need a scripted plot when…
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Kidneys release hormones to stimulate red blood production
When the kidneys sense that the blood is carrying too little oxygen, they release a hormone that tells the bone marrow to make more red blood cells. Those…
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