Best of Reddit - Data is Beautiful

• new[OC] Population of India vs China (1960–2025)
  submitted by /u/omar_sedki [link] [comments]
  - 2 hours ago 13 May 26, 5:57pm -
• new[OC] Average height of NBA players. Is there miscounting happening or does something awesome happen at 6’4”
  submitted by /u/jeffrowl [link] [comments]
  - 2 hours ago 13 May 26, 5:37pm -
• newCDC autism identification rose from about 1 in 150 children in 2000 to 1 in 31 in 2022 [OC]
  Source: CDC Data and Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADDM Network combined estimates for 8-year-old children. Method: I charted CDC identified prevalence estimates from 2000 to 2022. The 4.8x figure is 32.2 per 1,000 children in 2022 di…
  - 4 hours ago 13 May 26, 4:01pm -
• new[OC] Number of Public Libraries in Italy
  Public municipal libraries by region in Italy Counts include only municipal public libraries with public access. Municipalities covered shows how many municipalities in the region have at least one library. Data sources: anagrafe.iccu.sbn.it/i…
  - 4 hours ago 13 May 26, 3:30pm -
• new[OC] Texas Public Water Systems Water Quality Over Time
  Texas requires nearly 15,000 water systems to send out water quality reports to customers. I grabbed the last ~15 years of them (~225,000 individual Word documents). I extracted and cleaned the data to create this interactive dashboard. Visuali…
  - 5 hours ago 13 May 26, 3:20pm -

• new[oc] The average person spends 8.3 years of their life scrolling
  submitted by /u/Plastic-Guest8485 [link] [comments]
  - 5 hours ago 13 May 26, 3:07pm -
• new[OC] Side Effects of Dose Escalation on Retatrutide
  submitted by /u/Sea-Ride4243 [link] [comments]
  - 6 hours ago 13 May 26, 2:08pm -
• new[OC] I turned "Journey to the West", a 500-year-old, 100-chapter epic into a storyline data visualization
  Journey to the West (西游记) is one of the greatest epics ever written and I wanted to see what the whole thing looked like as data. Every character, location, and story arc across all 100 chapters, explorable in one place. https://journey-t…
  - 8 hours ago 13 May 26, 11:35am -
• newWho Owns the Most Satellites?
  Who Owns the Most Satellites? submitted by /u/AeroNerd2012 [link] [comments]
  - 9 hours ago 13 May 26, 11:28am -
• newIncome vs. Carbon Per Capita (1990-2022) [OC]
  For reference, 2.3 tonnes per capita is needed to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels (Paris Agreement). Africa is the only continent currently below that. https://data.tablepage.ai/d/gdp-vs-co2-per-capita-by-countr…
  - 9 hours ago 13 May 26, 10:57am -
• new[OC] Increase in women’s representation in EU national parliaments since 1997
  Following up on last Monday's post about EU countries, here's another look at how women's share of seats in national parliaments increased across the European Union from 1997 to 2025. Key takeaway: The average share of seats held by women in EU…
  - 10 hours ago 13 May 26, 10:19am -
• new[OC] Mergers and acquisitions for 2026 show a 58% jump in total value despite a 6% drop in deal volume
  submitted by /u/highfives23 [link] [comments]
  - 10 hours ago 13 May 26, 10:16am -
• newElectricity in Africa [OC]
  submitted by /u/cavedave [link] [comments]
  - 17 hours ago 13 May 26, 2:50am -
• [OC] the 25 most common Asian-American first names from the 2020 US census (female & male)
  Jennifer is the most common first name among Asian-American women; Hong and Phuong are the only in the top 25 that are Asian-majority. Among men, Kevin stands out as over-represented, while Mohammad and Muhammad are the only Asian-majority name…
  - 1 day ago 12 May 26, 7:45pm -
• [OC] Proportionate flow of VISA Card Transactions across London based on consumers and merchant postcode districts (Q3 2023) from the Office for National Statistics
  Using ONS Consumer Card Spending Origin Destination data. This dataset looked at the proportion of money spent between postcodes based on where the spender lived and where the merchant was located. The white centroids on the map are scaled to s…
  - 1 day ago 12 May 26, 5:57pm -
• [OC] Share of clinic patients allergic to each food, by world region, 2025
  Source: Arasi S, Morais-Almeida M, Martin BL, et al. Food allergy severity across the world: A World Allergy Organization international survey. World Allergy Organization Journal 2025;18:101123. doi:10.1016/j.waojou.2025.101123. Tools: D3.js, r…
  - 1 day ago 12 May 26, 4:22pm -
• How Many Trees Could We Save if European Languages Were Spelled Phonetically? [OC]
  "For context: A 20% saving in English and French alone could prevent the cutting of approximately 100 million trees annually, as these are the world's most widely printed languages." submitted by /u/New_Drummer9910 [link] [comments]
  - 1 day ago 12 May 26, 3:06pm -
• [OC] U.S. recorded music revenue by physical format (vinyl, cassettes, CDs), 1973–2025 (feat. vinyl's comeback)
  Notes: Vinyl is the star here; I highlighted it on the graph. They came back from the dead! I put the spotlight on vinyl, but you can see how the mountain of CD sales that peaked in 2000 is many times bigger the other physical format peaks.…
  - 1 day ago 12 May 26, 9:33am -
• [OC] Who makes history? I analyzed 29,000 New York Times obituaries to find out.
  [Reposting with OC tag] Last month, I posted a dashboard for exploring 2.2 million New York Times articles going back to 2000. I’ve now added a way to explore all 29,000 obituaries the paper has published during that period, and it reveals a…
  - 1 day ago 12 May 26, 9:06am -
• [OC] Trends in french presidential election results and the influence of municipal size
  This graph illustrates at least two key points: The obvious one: the fall of traditional left and right parties leading to the rise of the center (Macron) and both "far" parties, left and right. The one that's a little more subtle: since 2017…
  - 2 days ago 12 May 26, 7:36am -
• [OC] It took gold 45 years to surpass its inflation-adjusted peak
  submitted by /u/Low_Ability4450 [link] [comments]
  - 2 days ago 12 May 26, 7:29am -
• The world is warming despite natural fluctuations from the El Niño cycle [OC]
  In 2025, the world was around 1.4 °C warmer than it was in pre-industrial times. But temperatures haven’t increased linearly; there have been spikes and dips along the way. Many of these spikes and dips are caused by the El Niño-Southern Os…
  - 2 days ago 12 May 26, 7:22am -
• [OC] Percentage of New Flats and New Houses Resold at a Loss Within 5 Years in England and Wales
  This analysis focuses only on properties that were originally sold as brand-new homes and later resold on the open market. Off-plan purchases are not included. For example, in 2025: - 41.2% of flats originally bought as new builds between 2020…
  - 2 days ago 12 May 26, 1:55am -
• Steep rise in virginity among teenagers and young adults
  A recent study by the German Federal Institute of Public Health found massive changes among young Germans regarding their first experience with sex and kissing within just 6 years. These numbers include males and females, but only heterosexual…
  - 2 days ago 11 May 26, 3:14pm -
• [Topic][Open] Open Discussion Thread — Anybody can post a general visualization question or start a fresh discussion!
  Anybody can post a question related to data visualization or discussion in the monthly topical threads. Meta questions are fine too, but if you want a more direct line to the mods, click here If you have a general question you need answered, or a dis…
  - 13 days ago 1 May 26, 7:00am -

The Mary Sue

• new‘I spent close to almost $1,000’: DFW woman orders wedding cake from H-E-B. Then they tell her a week before her wedding they can’t make it
  Weddings are inarguably one of the most stressful events in a person’s life. Between hoping guests RSVP, securing the venue, booking vendors, and searching for the perfect cake, the whole process can be overwhelming. As the big day approaches, any…
  - 59 mins ago 13 May 26, 7:00pm -
• newWoman lies to Las Vegas EMTs after chugging Buzzball. Then her friends realize they brought a ‘Pick Me’ on trip: ‘Faked being poisoned by a Sago Palm’
  A woman surprises her best friend with a trip to Las Vegas for her birthday. However, the trip quickly turns sour when she notices “pick me” behavior from her friend that becomes dangerous. In a video with over 1.7 million views, TikToker Sky (@s…
  - 5 hours ago 13 May 26, 3:00pm -
• newSpotify 20: What We Learned About the Internet
  Spotify 20 is taking over people’s social media this week. We have learned a lot about what the Internet used to look like from this roundup. As a part of the celebration of Spotify being 20 years old, they’ve collected users’ all-time hits int…
  - 7 hours ago 13 May 26, 12:50pm -
• newWoman’s neighbor cuts 20 trees down on her property without consent to build a “friendly fence.” She’s taking them to court instead
  Cutting a tree down is rarely ever beneficial, and Lillie (@Skootergorl) on TikTok was a proud owner of 20 trees. The decades-old foliage marked her property until she came back from a trip. Her neighbor set up a wooden fence, and rows of trees on he…
  - 7 hours ago 13 May 26, 12:47pm -
• newVirginia GOP rep’s ‘ditto’ to a racist radio rant just handed Democrats a weapon in the tightest House race of 2026
  Virginia GOP Rep. Jen Kiggans just handed Democrats a loaded weapon in what’s shaping up to be the tightest House race of 2026. After agreeing with a conservative radio host’s racist remark about House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Kiggans is…
  - 7 hours ago 13 May 26, 12:47pm -

• new‘We never stole a dollar’ say Miami cops suing Damon and Affleck as their Netflix movie sparks a reputation war
  Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are facing a defamation lawsuit from Miami police officers over their Netflix crime thriller The Rip. The film, which hit the streaming platform in January, has sparked a heated reputation battle after officers involved in…
  - 7 hours ago 13 May 26, 12:47pm -
• newKing Charles laughed when Rod Stewart roasted Trump as a ‘rat bag’ but the backstory behind the jab is wilder
  King Charles burst out laughing when Rod Stewart called Donald Trump a “little rat bag” during a charity event, but the backstory behind the jab makes the moment even more entertaining. According to Us Weekly, the legendary rocker, known for his…
  - 7 hours ago 13 May 26, 12:41pm -
• newKim Kardashian’s legal team just turned a guy’s ‘emotional distress’ lawsuit into a $167K bill
  Kim Kardashian just won a legal battle that left the guy who sued her on the hook for $167,000 in legal fees. The ruling came after a judge dismissed Ivan Cantu’s lawsuit, which claimed Kardashian caused him emotional distress by accidentally posti…
  - 7 hours ago 13 May 26, 12:41pm -
• newArizona jury hands down death penalty for vegan chef who slaughtered his kids just hours after filming a holiday singalong
  Anthony Milan Ross, a former vegan chef and motivational speaker, has been handed the death penalty for the 2017 Christmas Day murders of his estranged wife and two children. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office confirmed the sentence on May 7, 20…
  - 7 hours ago 13 May 26, 12:40pm -
• newThe DOJ’s new leak crackdown just put journalists on notice, and the president’s sticky-note tantrum is why
  The Department of Justice just fired a warning shot at journalists across the country, and the president’s sticky-note tantrums are responsible. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche made it crystal clear this week that reporters should brace for su…
  - 7 hours ago 13 May 26, 12:40pm -
• newLate-night hosts gang up on Jimmy Kimmel over his spat with Trump and Melania but one admission left the whole table stunned
  Late-night TV hosts just roasted Jimmy Kimmel over his very public spat with Donald and Melania Trump and one unexpected confession left the entire table in stitches. During a star-studded reunion on Stephen Colbert’s Late Show ahead of its final e…
  - 7 hours ago 13 May 26, 12:39pm -
• newEileen Wang’s guilty plea exposes how a small-town mayor became a propaganda tool for Beijing
  Eileen Wang’s guilty plea has sent shockwaves through Arcadia, California, exposing how a small-town mayor secretly worked as a propaganda tool for Beijing. The former mayor of the Los Angeles-area city resigned on May 11, 2026, after agreeing to p…
  - 7 hours ago 13 May 26, 12:39pm -
• newEric Clapton’s Madrid show cut short after a fan’s shocking mid-concert attack with a vinyl record
  Eric Clapton’s Madrid concert came to an abrupt end last week after a fan launched a vinyl record at him mid-performance, leaving the 81-year-old visibly shaken. The incident happened on May 7 at Movistar Arena, just as Clapton finished playing his…
  - 7 hours ago 13 May 26, 12:38pm -
• newOhio woman lived in a 101-year-old house. Whatever is in it does not want to be talked about.
  When asked to imagine a “historic” neighborhood, most people would think of a charming town lined with colonial revival homes. While it certainly might look beautiful, a woman from Ohio named Cae told Savana (@itssavanadarling on TikTok) her stra…
  - 9 hours ago 13 May 26, 11:03am -
• newJon Stewart dons a hazmat suit to mock cable news’ hantavirus frenzy then drops the one question they refused to answer
  Jon Stewart just called out cable news for its hantavirus panic-fest, and he did it in a partial hazmat suit. On the Monday (May 11, 2026), episode of The Daily Show, the late-night host tore into networks for turning a limited public health threat i…
  - 9 hours ago 13 May 26, 11:02am -
• newOne Manager’s Awful TV Take Has Us Stunned
  One truly horrific take about movies and TV shows has people up in arms. And, it’s got to do with everyone’s favorite fake controversy: “filler.” Adriana Verhagen probably didn’t think she would begin a daylong argument on the Internet with…
  - 9 hours ago 13 May 26, 11:02am -
• newWoman finds out boyfriend is cheating, so she takes him to Dairy Queen for a ‘cheater sundae.’ She didn’t expect the worker to help so willingly
  Most who’ve been in relationships know it’s all butterflies and smiles—that is, until you discover your partner is cheating. Regardless of how old you are or how long the relationship lasted, it shatters your heart. Although infidelity has been…
  - 9 hours ago 13 May 26, 11:00am -
• newMan proposes to girlfriend mid-chew at Texas Roadhouse, and now people are saying it’s a major red flag: ‘Madison Humphrey behind you’
  Many folks prefer a low-key proposal. However, proposing at Texas Roadhouse while actively chewing steak like it’s halftime at the Super Bowl? It seems the internet isn’t going to let that slide. In a TikTok that has viewers dissecting every deta…
  - 13 hours ago 13 May 26, 7:00am -
• newReinaldo Marcus Green Understands Fan Excitement Over Comic Characters in ‘Punisher: The Last Kill’ [EXCLUSIVE]
  'The Punisher: One Last Kill' is streaming now.
  - 23 hours ago 12 May 26, 8:43pm -
• new10 Queer Cult Classics that Deserve More Recognition
  Unsung heroes of queer cinema.
  - 23 hours ago 12 May 26, 8:30pm -

Neatorama

• newA Whole Little Free Library System
  Redditor /u/tylerthecreativemode shares photos of a little free library in Berkeley, California. Most little free libraries are single boxes, often shaped like buildings. But this is an entire little free library system with multiple branches. I coun…
  - 10 hours ago 13 May 26, 9:43am -
• Ideas Behind Their Time
  Some ideas, such as Leonardo da Vinci's helicopter, are ahead of their time in that it would not be possible for da Vinci to construct a functional model. But what ideas are behind their time? This is to ask: which technologies could have arrived ear…
  - 1 day ago 12 May 26, 9:11am -
• The Grandma Stand Is a Place to Chat with Old Women
  Mike Matthews founded Grandma Stand in 2012 to honor is grandmother, Eileen Wilkinson, who had a lot of wisdom to share. He built an outdoor stand and set it up in public places in New York City. There, Grandma Eileen listened and chatted with passer…
  - 2 days ago 11 May 26, 2:30pm -
• There Is a "Mollusk of the Year" Competition
  Is there a talent or swimsuit competition? I'm not sure, but we know that the competition is stiff from a hard calcium carbonate shell.CU Boulder Today, a publication of the University of Colorado at Boulder, reports that the Senckenberg Institutes i…
  - 2 days ago 11 May 26, 8:41am -
• How Did This Even Happen?
  It's like a scene straight out of the movies: a car crash in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, left a motorcycle dangling from a traffic light.Thankfully, the motorcyclist was taken to the hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries, and…
  - 2 days ago 11 May 26, 8:33am -

• Goldfish Dumplings
  Redditor /u/Candid-Acadia-2301 made these impressive dumplings that look just like goldfish. These beautiful treats are filled with minced chicken and molded by hand. They added orange food coloring to one batch of dough, then dotted white dough with…
  - 3 days ago 10 May 26, 3:19pm -
• A Surviving Example of Ancient Roman Nanotechnology
  This is the Lycurgus Cup, a glass vessel dating back to Roman Empire of the fourth century. It is made of intricately-carved glass with a strange property. Under normal light, it appears to be an opaque jade green. But lit from the back, it glows a t…
  - 4 days ago 9 May 26, 5:47pm -
• <i>Farewell</i> is the Bittersweet Story of Brothers Growing Up
  Two brothers play guitar while they pass the time watching their flock of sheep. The sheep appreciate the music, especially the littlest lamb. The older brother, Joseph, attributes his talent to his father's guitar instead of his years of practice. T…
  - 4 days ago 9 May 26, 5:16pm -
• Tusken Raiders in Tuscany
  Tusken Raiders in Tuscany, my acrylic painting pic.twitter.com/ooIWp1fjRF— Travis Chapman (@Travispaints) May 8, 2026Here at Neatorama, we lovethe works of Travis Chapman, a traditionally-trained painter who composes realistic images of pop culture…
  - 4 days ago 9 May 26, 2:05pm -
• Masters of the Universe Merchandise Includes a Sword You Can Drink out of
  Closer look at our Masters of the Universe merch coming soon to theatres! ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/FArmxHb5vd— Cinemark Theatres (@Cinemark) May 8, 2026Masters of the Universe, the latest film in the He-Man franchise, premiers on June 5.Movie theater…
  - 4 days ago 9 May 26, 1:59pm -
• Try Out Catfishing: The Wikipedia Guessing Game
  Catfishing is a term for nefarious scams involving false identities, but in this case, it's a word meaning fishing in categories. Articles on Wikipedia are categorized, and an article may appear in many different categories. Can you identify a Wik…
  - 5 days ago 9 May 26, 5:28am -
• The History of the Ingenious Design of the Screwdriver Handle
  The most mundane things can have a way more interesting history than you know. Consider the lowly screwdriver. They come in all shapes and sizes, but the one you grab the most has a handle that is comfortable and just plain works for whatever it is y…
  - 5 days ago 8 May 26, 8:57pm -
• Congenitally Blind People Appear to be Protected from Schizophrenia
  Sometimes clues to a disease come from the people who don't get it. A 1950 study of the psychological lives of blind people revealed that there are no cases of people who had been blind since birth developing schizophrenia. Double-checking through la…
  - 5 days ago 8 May 26, 6:01pm -
• The 11 Smallest Restaurants in the USA
  The Takeout has compiled a list of 11 tiny eateries in these United States, including the famous Squeeze-In in Sunbury, Pennsylvania.This hot dog joint has been in continous operation since 1945. You might want to order your dog for takeout because i…
  - 5 days ago 8 May 26, 3:53pm -
• Cosmetic Procedure: Fake Cauliflower Ear
  Boxers and other hand-to-hand fighters sometimes get "cauliflower ear", which is referred, medically speaking, as "auricular hematoma." It's a deformity that results most commonly from getting punched in the ear.So a guy with cauliflower ears looks l…
  - 5 days ago 8 May 26, 3:42pm -

Longform

• Longform Podcast #585: John Jeremiah Sullivan
  John Jeremiah Sullivan is a contributing writer at the New York Times Magazine and has written for Harper's, The New Yorker, and GQ. He is the author of Pulphead and the forthcoming The Prime Minister of Paradise: The True Story of a Lost American Hi…
  - 26 Jun 24, 10:19am -
• Longform Podcast #584: Ta-Nehisi Coates
  Ta-Nehisi Coates is an author and journalist. His next book is The Message.“I don’t think we have the luxury as journalists of avoiding things because people might say bad things about us. I don’t even think we have the luxury of avoiding thi…
  - 19 Jun 24, 6:53am -
• Longform Podcast #583: Jay Caspian Kang
  Jay Caspian Kang is a staff writer for The New Yorker and a co-host of Time to Say Goodbye.“At some point, you have to kick it out the door, and it’s never finished to the degree that you would finish a magazine piece. But it, in some ways, is m…
  - 12 Jun 24, 12:37pm -
• Longform Podcast #582: Joseph Cox
  Joseph Cox is a cybersecurity journalist and co-founder of 404 Media. His new book is Dark Wire: The Incredible True Story of the Largest Sting Operation Ever.“In the not too distant future, I will be a very old man, and maybe I won't be able to…
  - 5 Jun 24, 7:10am -
• Longform Podcast #581: Tavi Gevinson
  Tavi Gevinson is a writer, actor, and the founder of Rookie. Her new zine is Fan Fiction.“Stories are unstable, and memory is unstable, and identity is unstable. All of these things that I've tried to make permanent in writing, they're actually un…
  - 29 May 24, 7:18am -
• Longform Podcast #580: Rachel Khong
  Rachel Khong is a journalist and author whose latest novel is Real Americans.“It's about the ways in which we miss each other as human beings and can't fully communicate what it is like to be ourselves. … And I think that's what makes it so int…
  - 22 May 24, 8:45am -
• Longform Podcast #579: Kelsey McKinney
  Kelsey McKinney is a features writer and co-owner at Defector.com. She hosts the podcast Normal Gossip and is the author of the upcoming book You Didn't Hear This From Me: (Mostly) True Notes on Gossip.“I was always very interested in how you stra…
  - 15 May 24, 7:54am -

• Longform Podcast #578: Lissa Soep
  Lissa Soep is an audio producer, editor and author whose latest book is Other People’s Words: Friendship, Loss, and the Conversations That Never End.“I am so keenly aware of how much my own voice is a product of editing relationships and co-pro…
  - 8 May 24, 6:29am -
• Longform Podcast #577: PJ Vogt
  PJ Vogt is the host of Search Engine.“One of our tests editorially is if we think we’ve got something good, but we haven’t started reporting or recording on it, I’ll just try asking the question at dinner and stuff. If it derails conversatio…
  - 1 May 24, 7:57am -
• Longform Podcast #576: Lindsay Peoples
  Lindsay Peoples is the editor-in-chief of The Cut.“You see so many incredible people make one mistake and lose their job or they speak out about something and then the next day something blows up. And so I do think that I often feel like I have t…
  - 24 Apr 24, 7:25am -
• Polk Award Winners: Jason Motlagh
  Jason Motlagh, a journalist and filmmaker, is a contributing editor at Rolling Stone and the founder of Blackbeard Films. He won the Polk's Sydney Schanberg Prize for “This Will End in Blood and Ashes,” an account of the collapse of order in Hait…
  - 19 Apr 24, 7:00am -
• Polk Award Winners: Brian Howey
  Brian Howey is a freelance journalist who won the Polk Award for Justice Reporting after exposing a deceptive police tactic widely used in California. He began the project, which was eventually published by the Los Angeles Times and Reveal, as a grad…
  - 18 Apr 24, 7:01am -
• Polk Award Winners: Meribah Knight
  Meribah Knight is a reporter with Nashville Public Radio. She won the Polk Award for Podcasting for “The Kids of Rutherford County,” produced with ProPublica and Serial, which revealed a shocking approach to juvenile discipline in one Tennessee c…
  - 17 Apr 24, 8:43am -
• Polk Award Winners: Jesse Coburn
  Jesse Coburn is an investigative reporter at Streetsblog. He won the Polk Award for Local Reporting for "Ghost Tags," his series on the black market for temporary license plates.“You can imagine this having never become a problem, because it’s…
  - 16 Apr 24, 7:11am -
• Polk Award Winners: Amel Guettatfi and Julia Steers
  Amel Guettatfi and Julia Steers won this year's George Polk Award for Television Reporting for “Inside Wagner,” their Vice News investigation of Russian mercenaries on the Ukraine front and in the Central African Republic. “One of the best ta…
  - 15 Apr 24, 9:20am -
• Longform Podcast #575: Megan Kimble
  Megan Kimble is the former executive editor of The Texas Observer and has written for The New York Times, Texas Monthly, and The Guardian. Her new book is City Limits: Infrastructure, Inequality, and the Future of America’s Highways.“I have neve…
  - 3 Apr 24, 9:46am -
• Longform Podcast #574: Zach Harris
  Zach Harris is a journalist whose latest article for Rolling Stone is "Meet the Gen Z Hothead Burning Up Pro Bowling."“I'm not like a staff writer who has … status and access. But if I come up with something fun that you've never heard of that…
  - 27 Mar 24, 10:12am -
• Longform Podcast #573: Rozina Ali
  Rozina Ali is a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine and the winner of the 2023 National Magazine Award for Reporting. Her latest article is “Raised in the West Bank, Shot in Vermont.”“I think it’s very, very important to spea…
  - 20 Mar 24, 12:01pm -
• Longform Podcast #572: Derek Thompson
  Derek Thompson is a staff writer for The Atlantic and host of the podcast Plain English.“I am an inveterate dilettante. I lose interest in subjects all the time. Because what I find interesting about my job is the invitation to solve mysteries. A…
  - 13 Mar 24, 8:31am -
• Longform Podcast #571: Tessa Hulls
  Tessa Hulls is a writer and artist whose work has appeared in The Rumpus, The Washington Post, and The Capitol Hill Times. Her new book, a graphic memoir, is Feeding Ghosts.“This project is the thing I have spent my entire life running from. I wa…
  - 6 Mar 24, 6:44am -

Awkward Geeks

Mentalfloss

• new6 Regional Foods Outsiders Never Understand
  From surströmming to garbage plates, explore six regional foods that baffle outsiders—from pungent fermented fish to sweet sprinkles on bread.
  - 3 hours ago 13 May 26, 5:00pm -
• newThe World’s Most Beautiful Countries in 2026, Ranked
  See if your favorite travel destination made this year's list!
  - 5 hours ago 13 May 26, 3:00pm -
• newThe 10 Top Beatles Songs, Ranked By Streaming Numbers
  From "Here Comes the Sun" to "Come Together," these Beatles songs have done as well in the streaming era as they did in the Beatles' heyday.
  - 7 hours ago 13 May 26, 1:00pm -
• newWere Leonardo da Vinci's Last Words Really An Apology For Being a Failure?
  A popular legend claims that Leonardo da Vinci said he "offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have." But did he actually say this?
  - 9 hours ago 13 May 26, 11:00am -
• new5 Historical Figures That Led Double Lives
  From acclaimed aviators with secret families to Hollywood icons moonlighting as inventors, these five famous figures' real lives were even more fascinating than their public personas. 
  - 13 hours ago 13 May 26, 7:00am -

• The 5 Best Indian Restaurants in the U.S., According to Guy Fieri
  Guy Fieri shares his picks for the best Indian restaurants in the U.S., spotlighting five standout spots serving everything from lamb kebabs to chicken tikka masala.
  - 1 day ago 12 May 26, 7:34pm -
• Is Hotel Shampoo and Conditioner Safe to Use? Experts Explain
  You might want to think twice before reaching for refillable toiletries the next time you travel.
  - 1 day ago 12 May 26, 5:00pm -
• 6 Ways Medieval Life Is Misrepresented in Movies
  Think medieval Europe was all dirty peasants, witch burnings, and nonstop tavern brawls? Hollywood gets a lot wrong about life in the Middle Ages—from armor and language to feasts and sieges.
  - 1 day ago 12 May 26, 4:14pm -
• 7 Songs You May Not Know Neil Diamond Wrote
  Did you know Neil Diamond penned The Monkees' biggest hit, "I'm a Believer"? Here are seven songs you might not know were written by Neil Diamond.
  - 1 day ago 12 May 26, 2:00pm -
• The History of How Leprechauns Became Associated with Gold
  Folklore, literature, and archaeology all play into why leprechauns are often pictured with pots of gold.
  - 1 day ago 12 May 26, 1:00pm -
• Why Are Eggs Sold By the Dozen?
  Why do we buy eggs 12 at a time? The answer may trace back to old British currency.
  - 1 day ago 12 May 26, 11:00am -
• The Best and Worst U.S. Cities for Seniors Looking to Start Over
  If you're over 65 and looking for a fresh start, some cities might make that easier than others.
  - 2 days ago 12 May 26, 7:00am -
• Why Do Museums Make You So Tired?
  Museum fatigue is real—and science says it’s not just in your head. Here’s why wandering through galleries can leave your brain and body completely drained.
  - 2 days ago 11 May 26, 8:43pm -
• What Does "Unc" Mean? The Slang Term, Explained
  If you're wondering this, you probably are "unc"—but that may not be a bad thing.
  - 2 days ago 11 May 26, 5:00pm -
• 30 Quintessential Q-Words to Quirk Up Your Vocabulary
  From quaint curios to quietly useful terms, these 30 Q-words will help you quirk up your vocabulary and sound a little more…quintessentially interesting.
  - 2 days ago 11 May 26, 3:00pm -
• The 5 Wettest Places on Earth Where People Actually Live
  Residents of these five astonishingly rainy villages have unique ways of adapting to the weather.
  - 2 days ago 11 May 26, 1:00pm -
• Remember the Bell Charm Craze of the ’80s? Here’s What They’re Worth Now
  Bell charms were all the rage in the '80s, but they might cost a pretty penny if you want to acquire them today.
  - 2 days ago 11 May 26, 11:00am -
• 12 Famous Songs That Sampled Unexpected Sources
  From Britney Spears hits to Death Grips tracks, these songs use audio clips from some pretty random places.
  - 2 days ago 11 May 26, 8:24am -
• Quiz: Choose the Missing Word in These Disney Movie Titles—in 15 Seconds or Less
  How fast can you select the missing word from each Disney movie title? It’s harder than you might think.
  - 3 days ago 11 May 26, 7:00am -
• The Surprising Truth About What Outer Space Smells Like
  Astronauts report smelling one particular scent upon returning from space.
  - 3 days ago 10 May 26, 7:00pm -
• 7 Everyday Terms That Mean Totally Different Things Across Generations
  From “dead” to “viral,” see how common words have shifted meaning across generations thanks to the rise of internet and pop culture.
  - 3 days ago 10 May 26, 6:26pm -
• 8 Forgotten Dolls That Took Over the ‘90s
  These dolls were all the rage in the '90s, but have been somewhat forgotten over the years.
  - 3 days ago 10 May 26, 3:00pm -
• The 18th Century Genderless Preacher You've Never Heard Of
  The Public Universal friend rejected slavery and preached universal salvation.
  - 3 days ago 10 May 26, 1:00pm -
• 5 Mothers Behind Famous Inventions That Transformed Daily Life
  These five mothers created famous inventions that continue to shape modern everyday life, from home essentials to medical tools.
  - 3 days ago 10 May 26, 9:00am -
• Quiz: Can You Match the Sitcom Mom to the Show?
  Test your knowledge on some of the most famous moms this Mother’s Day.
  - 4 days ago 10 May 26, 7:00am -
• 6 Historical Figures With Powerful Mothers
  In honor of Mother’s Day, we’re looking back at powerful moms throughout history, from Mary Wollstonecraft to Sara Delano Roosevelt.
  - 4 days ago 9 May 26, 7:00pm -
• Quiz: How Fast Can You Match These Disney Songs to Their Movies?
  Think you know your Disney soundtracks? Test your memory by matching iconic songs to the films they belong to.
  - 4 days ago 9 May 26, 5:00pm -
• Meet the Muses: Who Are Greek Mythology's Nine Goddesses of the Arts?
  Artists and storytellers tend to seek out inspiration, frequently latching on to a person or idea as their muse. But who were the original Muses, the Greek Goddesses responsible for art and education?
  - 4 days ago 9 May 26, 3:00pm -
• The Best and Worst States to Be a Cop, Mapped
  WalletHub ranked all 50 states and D.C. on pay, safety, training, and job conditions to determine the best and worst places to be a police officer in the U.S.
  - 4 days ago 9 May 26, 1:00pm -
• 7 Real-Life Locations That Inspired Claude Monet’s Most Famous Paintings
  Step inside the enchanting landscapes, gardens, and cities that inspired some of Claude Monet’s most celebrated masterpieces.
  - 4 days ago 9 May 26, 11:00am -
• 6 Unique Mother's Day Traditions From Around the World
  From three-day festivals to mariachi bands at dawn, this is how cultures around the world celebrate Mother's Day.
  - 5 days ago 9 May 26, 7:00am -
• Why Do Restaurants Give Out Candies After the Meal?
  The little mint at the end of your meal might be doing more than freshening your breath.
  - 5 days ago 8 May 26, 7:00pm -
• 10 Songs You Didn’t Know Were Written By Andrew Lloyd Webber
  Andrew Lloyd Webber's name automatically brings to mind songs from shows like "Phantom of the Opera" and "Cats." But here are 10 you'd never guess he composed.
  - 5 days ago 8 May 26, 5:00pm -
• What Does the Slang Term "Canon Event" Mean?
  The slang term “canon event” exploded online after 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse'. Here’s what it means and why people relate to it.
  - 5 days ago 8 May 26, 3:00pm -
• Madonna’s Favorite (And Least Favorite) Madonna Songs
  Madonna has revealed her favorite songs from her catalog—and the hits she’s said she never wants to hear again, from “Holiday” to “Material Girl.”
  - 5 days ago 8 May 26, 12:00pm -
• 6 of the World's Dreamiest Hot Springs
  From Japanese onsens to steaming terraces in Tuscany, these hot springs are portals to ultimate relaxation—and might also have serious health benefits.
  - 5 days ago 8 May 26, 9:00am -
• Quiz: Match the ‘80s One-Hit Wonder to Their Lesser-Known Follow-Up
  While something is considered a one-hit wonder, it doesn't mean that the bands or singers didn't have other singles. How well do you know the follow-up songs?
  - 6 days ago 8 May 26, 7:40am -
• From Ashes to Urine: The Disturbing Truth About Toothpaste in Ancient Societies
  These ancient oral hygiene methods will have you singing praises to your toothpaste tube.
  - 6 days ago 7 May 26, 7:00pm -
• 7 Famous Movies Filmed in Less Than a Month
  Some of cinema’s most recognizable films were made in remarkably short production windows. From horror classics to Oscar winners, these movies prove tight schedules can still produce lasting impact.
  - 6 days ago 7 May 26, 5:00pm -
• 10 Biopics Of Popular People That Went Unnoticed After Release
  These biopics tell fascinating stories about everyone from John Lennon to Joan Jett, but they didn't end up generating much buzz.
  - 6 days ago 7 May 26, 3:00pm -
• Why Did Ozzy Osbourne Bite the Head Off a Bat? (And What Happened After)
  This wasn’t the first time Ozzy Osbourne bit the head off an animal, but it would be the last.
  - 6 days ago 7 May 26, 1:00pm -
• The Top 5 'Murder on the Orient Express' Adaptations, Ranked
  From the iconic 1974 film to modern remakes and audio dramas, here are the best adaptations of Agatha Christie’s 'Murder on the Orient Express.'
  - 6 days ago 7 May 26, 11:00am -
• 5 Joni Mitchell Songs You Didn’t Know Other Artists Released First
  Joni Mitchell actually wasn't the first to release "Both Sides Now."
  - 6 days ago 7 May 26, 9:00am -
• Quiz: Can You Guess the Eagles Hit From Just 5 Lyrics?
  Take it to the limit and see if you can name these iconic Eagles' tracks with only a few words.
  - 7 days ago 7 May 26, 7:00am -
• The Dark Real-Life Inspirations Behind 'Lord of the Flies'
  A blend of personal trauma and real-world tragedy created the conditions for William Golding's famously pessimistic novel to emerge.
  - 7 days ago 6 May 26, 7:00pm -
• What Does the Slang Term "Lore Drop" Mean?
  What does it mean to have "lore"? The phrase comes from the idea of "lore" as personal backstory and has taken on a new life in Gen Z internet culture.
  - 7 days ago 6 May 26, 5:00pm -
• Bluey's Camping Episode and 4 More Kids Shows to Inspire Outdoor Adventures
  From "The Magic School Bus" to "Molly of Denali," these shows encourage kids to put the electronics down and go play in the dirt.
  - 7 days ago 6 May 26, 3:00pm -
• Amelia Earhart’s Disappearance: 3 Enduring Theories Experts Still Can’t Explain
  Nearly a century after her vanished flight, Amelia Earhart’s fate remains one of aviation’s greatest mysteries.
  - 7 days ago 6 May 26, 1:00pm -
• The Story Behind Fleetwood Mac's Electrifying "Silver Springs" Performance
  The 1997 performance of 'Silver Springs' encapsulates Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham's lifetime of passion and heartbreak—and marked the resurrection of a song Nicks thought was lost.
  - 7 days ago 6 May 26, 11:00am -
• The 10 Best (and Worst) Entry-Level Jobs in 2026
  A new study ranks the best and worst entry-level jobs in 2026, factoring in salary, career growth, and job security to highlight where new graduates should look.
  - 7 days ago 6 May 26, 9:00am -
• Quiz: Can You Match the Snack to Its ‘90s Slogan?
  You remember the snacks from the '90s, but how well do you remember their slogans? Test your memory with our quiz.
  - 7 days ago 6 May 26, 8:01am -
• Why Do Escalators Have Brushes on the Sides?
  Escalator side brushes are one of those everyday details most people don’t think twice about. But they play a specific role in how escalators are designed and used safely.
  - 8 days ago 5 May 26, 7:00pm -
• 5 of the Hottest Places People Actually Live
  Extreme heat is a daily reality in these five cities where people have adapted to intense temperatures.
  - 8 days ago 5 May 26, 5:00pm -
• The Best 'Friends' Trivia Questions To Test Your Knowledge of the Popular Show
  From Central Perk to Monica’s apartment, see how well you remember "Friends" with trivia questions on episodes, quotes, and classic running jokes.
  - 8 days ago 5 May 26, 3:00pm -
• The Best and Worst States For Working Moms, Mapped
  A new data analysis weighed childcare costs, employment opportunities, and other factors to determine which states are best for moms on the job.
  - 8 days ago 5 May 26, 1:00pm -