Diogenes Turned a Slave Auction Into a Lesson About Who Needed a Master
An ancient account says Diogenes claimed he could govern people when sold to Xeniades. The story challenges assumptions about freedom and authority.
WFOT
27 stories · page 1 of 2
The 1925 Barbary Lion Photograph Preserves a Vanished Wild Population
A 1925 photograph is widely described as the last visual record of a wild Barbary lion. Its date is not the same as the population's extinction date.
England Recorded No Cervical Cancer Deaths Among Women Aged 20–24 in 2020–2024
Research reported no cervical cancer deaths among women aged 20–24 in England during 2020–2024, highlighting the impact of HPV vaccination.
Jack Platt and Gennady Vasilenko Became Friends Across the Cold War Divide
CIA officer Jack Platt and KGB officer Gennady Vasilenko failed to recruit each other. Their enduring friendship crossed a dangerous political divide.
Benjamin Lay Used Shocking Protests to Confront Slavery Among Quakers
Benjamin Lay challenged slaveholding with writing and dramatic protests in the 1700s. Historical accounts include a disturbing child-abduction episode.
Mexico's 346 Known Firefly Species Reveal a Richer World Than a Nighttime Light Show
UNAM researchers reported 39 newly described firefly species in 2026, bringing Mexico's documented total to 346 and highlighting hidden diversity.
The $5 Ice Cream Course Behind Ben & Jerry's First Shop
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield took a $5 correspondence course before opening their first ice cream shop in a Vermont gas station in 1978.
Sheep View: How Faroese Sheep Helped Bring Their Islands to Street View
In 2016, a Faroese campaign put cameras on sheep to attract Google's attention. Residents then helped map the islands with human-carried cameras.
Ajay Munot Marked His Daughter's Wedding With Homes for 90 Families
In Maharashtra in 2016, Ajay Munot linked his daughter's wedding to a housing gift for 90 families, turning a celebration into lasting support.
The Georgia Technician Who Falsified 1,289 Mammogram Results
Rachael Rapraeger pleaded guilty in 2014 after entering mammogram results without a radiologist's review, exposing a serious patient-safety failure.
AI Needs Data Centers. Their Location Matters for Water and Wildlife
Growing data-center demand raises questions about electricity, water and land. Planning can protect habitats while evaluating new infrastructure.
In Caracas, Prosthetic Care Shows Why Mobility Takes More Than Determination
Reporting from a Caracas prosthetics workshop shows how cost and access shape mobility after limb loss—and why determination needs practical support.
Appearance-Based Bullying Should Never Decide Someone's Worth
Being treated cruelly for looking different is never a child's fault. Self-acceptance matters, alongside adults and communities stopping the bullying.
Paulo Peregrino's CAR-T Remission Offered Hope After Years of Cancer Treatment
Paulo Peregrino entered complete remission after CAR-T treatment in Brazil in 2023. His case shows promise without proving a permanent cure.
Grandma Droniak's Internet Career Shows Humor Has No Age Limit
Lillian Droniak's videos with grandson Kevin grew into a huge online following. At 96, she continued challenging assumptions about older creators.
Omar Yaghi's Molecular Sponges Can Harvest Water From Dry Air
Omar Yaghi's work on porous materials helped make water harvesting from dry air possible. Scaling that chemistry into dependable supply is the next challenge.
Savannah River's 19 Cannons Turned Out to Be Older Than Archaeologists Expected
Dredging uncovered 19 cannons in the Savannah River. Their design and history pointed investigators toward the American Revolution, not the Civil War.
Marie Tharp Mapped the Ocean Floor and Helped Reveal a Moving Earth
Marie Tharp transformed ship measurements into maps that revealed the Atlantic's central rift and helped change how scientists understood Earth.
Shrek the Sheep Hid From Shearing for Six Years—and Grew a 27-Kilogram Fleece
Shrek the merino became famous in 2004 after six years away from shearing at Bendigo Station left him carrying about 27 kilograms of wool.
Gordon and Tana Ramsay's Sixth Baby Opened a New Family Chapter in 2023
Gordon and Tana Ramsay welcomed Jesse James in November 2023, adding a sixth child to a family whose eldest daughter was already 25.
A Frozen Saber-Toothed Kitten Reveals an Ice Age Predator's Real Appearance
A Homotherium cub preserved in Siberian permafrost gave scientists a rare view of an extinct cat's fur, face and paws.
Alwyn Cashe Went Back Into a Burning Vehicle for His Soldiers
Alwyn Cashe suffered fatal burns while rescuing soldiers in Iraq in 2005. His family received his posthumous Medal of Honor in 2021.
Georgia Bradley Returned to Crete for Pepper, the Stray Dog She Credited With Saving Her
After a frightening encounter in Crete in 2015, Georgia Bradley returned to adopt Pepper, the stray dog she said had come to her aid.
Can Beet Juice Make Winter Roads Safer for Nature? What the Evidence Shows
Beet-based road treatments exist, but viral claims of harmless edible Swedish de-icer go beyond the evidence. Here is what these blends can do.