music This Volvo's door chime plays Toto's 'Africa' in 8 bit Rusty Blazenhoff

Science What near-death experiences can tell scientists about how the brain works David Pescovitz

mistakes Watch a locomotive tear down Vietnam's terrifying "train street" Rob Beschizza

weather Waterfall on a staircase Rob Beschizza

designer humans Could we accidentally bestow human-style awareness into a pig? Arwen Elys Dayton

music What Toto's "Africa" is really about David Pescovitz

africa Weezer fan convinced band to cover Toto's "Africa" Rusty Blazenhoff

fake news Melania humiliated, a JFK conspiracy bombshell, and beautiful people in this week’s dubious tabloids Peter Sheridan

music The story behind Toto's 'Africa' Rusty Blazenhoff

trump Only Mexico City has the cojones for the Trump/They Live Billboard! Mark Frauenfelder

fake news Celebrity cosmetic surgery, secret hookups, and a baby black market, all in this week’s tabloids Peter Sheridan

uk Happy Chilcot Day (A Fairy Story) Charlie Fletcher

picks Marijuana is kosher for Passover David Pescovitz

religion Christian assault rifles now available Mark Frauenfelder

Oliver Sacks, neurologist and author, dies at 82 Xeni Jardin

President Obama's tech-centered State of the Union: full text, and digital rights concerns Xeni Jardin

science fiction Describing the indescribable with Jeff Vandermeer Peter Mendelsund

Excerpts Dr. Mütter's Marvels: intrigue and innovation at the dawn of modern medicine Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz

books Jo Walton's "My Real Children" [book excerpt] Boing Boing