The idea of matter neither being created nor destroyed is nothing new, but the Capsula Mundi Project is taking it to a whole new level: As in, if you live in Italy, you might soon have the option to bury yourself or your loved ones (post-mortem, of course) in biodegradable capsules instead of coffins. And that's not all—the pods give back to the environment by using the corpses inside as nutrients for trees planted directly above them. That's ... Read More

Americans might see lowered gas prices as a cause for celebration, but our victory comes at a cost: Venezuela’s economy is seriously suffering, and its citizens are struggling to afford (and even track down) essential items like chicken, toilet paper, and condoms. In the past seven months, the rate the country receives for its exports has dropped by 60%, and its economy is expected to see a 7% shrink in 2015 alone. A fall in oil prices means ... Read More

  As a white,wealthy land and slave owner who played a large part in ruining the lives of thousands of American Indians during his presidency, why is Andrew Jackson still on our twenty-dollar bill?  We wish we had an answer for you that wasn't simply “patriarchal tradition,” but unfortunately we don't. On the bright side, though, it seems like things might be looking up, thanks to one smart lady: Barbara Oritz Howard, a previous canvasser for ... Read More

It’s hard not to imagine Mindy Kaling as anything other than her “delusionally confident, unapologetically selfish” character of Mindy Lahiri in “The Mindy Project." But at 19 she was just a lowly intern on Late Night with Conan O’Brien—although she says she was "less of a 'make copies' intern and more of a 'stalk Conan' intern." Okay, so that’s totally believable; but she’s come a long way from stalking Conan ... Read More

In what we wish was more shocking news, Virginia Senator Steve Martin is under fire for responding to a letter from pro-choicers with disturbing hostility—an attitude we are all too familiar with when it comes to many of our Republican politicians.  In what seems to us like a very reasonable argument for women’s rights, the Virginia Pro-Choice Coalition wrote: “All women deserve access to their full range of reproductive health ... Read More

Emily Lindin, like too many young girls, was bullied and shamed after being labeled the school “slut” during her preteen years. As an adult, she’d hear of the tragic stories of girls who’d committed suicide—Rehtaeh Parsons, Amanda Todd, Audrie Pott—after experiencing the same kind of suffering. So, in 2013, Lindin decided to do something to help: She wanted to show girls that though they may feel isolated or trapped, they are ... Read More

McDonald's is the 90th largest economy in the world, but don’t mistake them for having the ability (OK, decency) to pay fair wages. After announcing their decision to sponsor Austin’s South By South West festival with their own showcase, the company promised to improve the “experience for all” with their newest creation: a lo-fi DIY food truck equipped with wi-fi. We’re guessing the fries are going to be pretty bombin’, ... Read More

The books we read as children can have a huge impact on the weird humans we eventually become. Our beliefs, aspirations, and morals can all be attributed to the colorful pages we excitedly soaked in during our youth. So, whether you're buying a book for a friend's child, your own child, or for yourself (because why not? We would), make it a piece of literature that sustains and empowers women. Because, well, those little messages go a long way. Here are 12 ... Read More

Calling all cat lovers! One of Japan’s southern remote islands, Aoshima, is bustling with feline frenzy, eerily outnumbering the humans 6 to 1.  Originally used to curb the mice problem in the boats, the cats populated and eventually began to overrun the island.  Now Aoshima is swarming with over 120 cats.  It’s been named Cat Island (for obvious reasons) and is the island's main attraction. Since there are no hotels, restaurants, cars, ... Read More

Unlike any other show in the past two decades, Empire's ratings have been rising each week since its premiere. And for good reasoon: the show is incredible. We're always super excited to see what's going to happen next, and that's why we're pumped that today we get to share a sneak peek of tonight's episode, "Unto the Breach." Don't worry, we won't spoil it for you. We'll just give you one hint... BYE Felicia!  Image via ... Read More