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How Inkpop went bust and inspired a community of would-be writers

Inkpop was supposed to crowdsource the next big thing in young-adult fiction. It failed, but along the way created something greater.

On May 15, 2016 by Tonya Riley

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Archivists of tragedy: Excavating the mystery of Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple

Nearly 40 years ago, more than 900 people died in a commune called Jonestown. Poring over thousands of documents, letters, and audiotapes, a husband-and-wife team try to understand why.

On May 8, 2016 by Rick Paulas

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The guerrilla archivists saving the Internet’s dying websites from oblivion

When websites fail, too often they’re lost forever, taking a little bit of Internet history with them. ArchiveTeam is a group of volunteers looking to change that.

On May 8, 2016 by Jesse Hicks

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Should it be against the law to share tragic images on social media?

Violent images online can spread quickly and have harmful consequences. Should we be using the law to fight that?

On May 8, 2016 by Chris Stokel-Walker

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The man who Kickstarted his way to 30 days in a haunted clown motel

Christopher Sebela thought even as a joke it was a terrible idea. His backers disagreed, to the tune of $10,666. Then things got really weird.

On May 1, 2016 by Jennifer Swann

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The forgotten Internet of Cyber.kdz

They were modern, ‘90s teens who used email to save NASA from cyberterrorists. Their neon-hued adventures remind us what the Internet used to be.

On May 1, 2016 by Mark Hill

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Sean Ironstag’s quixotic quest to build a society of plastic floating cities to clean up the ocean

The problem of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch has stymied scientists. One man thinks he has the radical solution.

On May 1, 2016 by Rosie Cima

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How Neeko Bonzini’s solar brands are transforming him

The artist uses sunlight and quartz to brand his clients, turning their bodies into works of art. In the process, he’s remaking himself and sending a message to his estranged daughter.

On Apr 24, 2016 by Cynthia McKelvey

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How the furry community rallied when Zarafa Giraffe lost his head

Putting on a fursuit transformed a 57-year-old veterinarian into a beloved furry. It also joined him to a community he’d never known anywhere else.

On Apr 24, 2016 by Whitney Kimball

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For his next act, viral video guru Patrice Wilson welcomes your hate

Five years ago, Patrice Wilson gave the world Rebecca Black and 'Friday.' Since then, he’s tried to repeat that flukey, viral success—to no avail. So what does he do next?

On Apr 24, 2016 by Audra Schroeder

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3mules.com and the long walk to save the world

John Sears has spent five years roaming California with his mules in tow, preaching his unique gospel of environmental conservation.

On Apr 17, 2016 by Rick Paulas

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The harsh truth about speed-reading

Spoiler alert: Despite a plethora of apps and techniques, it doesn’t work, as new research proves once again. So why do people continue to believe in it?

On Apr 13, 2016 by Simon Oxenham

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Why we’re living in an era of neuroscience hype

From “brain training” apps to concussion-preventing chocolate milk, we’re surrounded by dubious, pseudoscientific claims. What’s behind all this neurobunk?

On Apr 10, 2016 by Neuroskeptic

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The promise and peril of DIY electrical brain stimulation

While transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has shown some effectiveness in treating mood disorders, some manufacturers tout tDCS devices as cognitive cure-alls. That has scientists worried.

On Apr 10, 2016 by Anna Denejkina

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My so-called life as a wrestling fanatic

Wrestling has always appealed to outsiders, and thanks to the Internet, we have a way to find each other and stay connected.

On Apr 3, 2016 by Pilot Viruet