/Top Stories/ Last Updated: Thu, Jul 4th, 2024 @ 6:15am EDT

Fast Company

The Conversation

This ancient black powder lead to thousands of variations of fireworks

To make a basic firework or firecracker, you just put this powder in a container, usually made of thick cardboard or paper.

For many people around the world, the very first moments of the new year will be filled with the sounds and colorful light shows of fireworks. From loud bangs to long whistles, bright reds to pale blues, there are thousands of variations of fireworks and an entire branch of chemistry that explores these fun explosions.

Fast Company

The Conversation

How this 2,500-year-old Hebrew psalm still resonates with the oppressed

For in the midst of all the injustices that confront us every time we check news headlines, remembering is as crucial as forgiving.

On the anniversary of America’s independence, the abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass made a biblical Psalm—Psalm 137—best known for its opening line, “By the rivers of Babylon,” a centerpiece of his most famous speech, “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”

Fast Company

Next Big Idea Club

‘We should tear down urban highways.’ The surprising social costs of American highways

Five key insights from Megan Kimble’s new book, ‘City Limits’: Infrastructure, Inequality, and the Future of America’s Highways.

Megan Kimble is an investigative journalist based in Austin, Texas, primarily covering housing and transportation. She writes narrative features for national and Texas publications, including the New York Times, Texas Monthly, and Bloomberg CityLab.

Fast Company

The Conversation

Kraft mac and cheese continues to thrive in today’s natural foods era

An internet search for macaroni and cheese recipes will turn up more than 5 million hits, but many still prefer to get theirs in a box.

In January 2015, food sales at restaurants overtook those at grocery stores for the first time. Most thought this marked a permanent shift in the American meal.

Fast Company

The Conversation

6 surprising facts about the Declaration of Independence

The nation’s founding document failed to achieve its most immediate goal, but in time abolitionists and feminists shifted its focus to human rights, transforming it into arguably the most consequential freedom document ever composed.

Editor’s note: Americans may think they know a lot about the Declaration of Independence, but many of those ideas are elitist and wrong, as historian Woody Holton explains.

BuzzFeed - Latest

27 Problem-Solving Products From Amazon Everyone Who Loves To Travel Probably Needs

Anything and everything to make the journey a little easier.

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The Verge

Jess Weatherbed

WhatsApp is developing an AI avatar generator

The upcoming feature will allow WhatsApp users to ‘imagine’ themselves in different settings. | Illustration: The Verge

Whatsapp appears to be working on a new generative AI feature that should allow users to make personalized avatars of themselves for use in any imagined setting. The in-development feature, spotted in the new WhatsApp Beta for Android 2.24.14.7 by WABetaInfo, will seemingly use a combination of user-supplied images, text prompts, and Meta’s AI Llama model to...

BuzzFeed - Latest

‘Tis The Season Of Sky-High AC Bills — These 14 Products Will Help You Save Money And Cut Back On Energy Usage

"I live in Florida so the AC is running 24/7 and after purchasing these, my electric bill went down about 25%" —just one reviewer's praise for their blackout curtains.

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SBNation.com

Mark Schofield

Oliver Bearman secures a spot at Haas for 2025 F1 season

Photo by Joe Portlock - Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images

Haas confirmed at the British Grand Prix that Oliver Bearman will be driving for the team in 2025

One more spot on the Formula 1 grid has been solidified for the 2025 season.

And the news guarantees that there will be at least one rookie on the grid next year.

As was widely anticipated, Haas announced that Oliver Bearman, a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy and an F1 super sub this season for Ferrari,...

BuzzFeed - Latest

Enjoy An Asian Buffet And We'll Reveal The Color Of Your Aura

Some of y'all are brat green and you know it! ????

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BuzzFeed - Latest

Backpack Across Japan And I'll Guess If You Have A Sweet Tooth Or Not

Some of y'all are savory people, and that's okay too!

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BuzzFeed - Latest

Go On A Roadtrip Throughout The US And I'll Guess Your Favorite Cereal

I hope you're not lactose intolerant... ????

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Mashable

Get MS Office on your PC for life for under £20

TL;DR: The 2019 version of Microsoft Office Professional Plus for Windows is on sale for just £19.60 (reg. £179.74).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft ...

BuzzFeed - Latest

Be The Envy Of Your Friends With These 30 Walmart Home Products

No need to gatekeep, though.

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BuzzFeed - Latest

Just 27 Cleaning Products With Jaw-Dropping Before And After Pics

All you need is an Angry Mama and a little Pink Stuff.

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Mashable

'Wordle' today: Here's the answer hints for July 4

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for June 29's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread...

Mashable

NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for July 4

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for July 1's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep...

BuzzFeed - Latest

40 Products That Are Basically Summer Life Hacks

No point in settling for plain old primer when you can get this cult-fave one that moisturizes *and* has SPF 60.

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NYT > Home Page

Adam Grant

There’s a Name for the Trap Joe Biden Faces

It’s always hard to walk away from power.

NYT > Home Page

Charles M. Blow

Forcing Biden Out Would Have Only One Beneficiary: Trump

Instead of clearing the way for victory, liberals may well be paving the way for defeat.

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