Zig when they zag.
In China, protests over Covid lockdown restrictions intensify across multiple cities and universities. / BuzzFeed News
Related: With its anti-propaganda team now decimated, Twitter is being overwhelmed by spam in attempts to drown out coverage of the protests. / The Washington Post
Iran wants the US suspended from the World Cup over images of its flag—without the emblem of the Islamic Republic—posted in support of Iranian protestors. / Reuters
"It was a word looked up frequently every single day of the year." Merriam-Webster's word of the year is "gaslighting." / Associated Press
Scientists can finally explain why lightning zig-zags: When electrons detach after hitting oxygen molecules, they redistribute the electric field. / Phys.org
In a recent study, 53 species, many previously thought to be nonvocal, make sound, often for communication purposes. / NewScientist
Another crypto firm goes down, as BlockFi files for bankruptcy, citing its financial dealings with FTX. / The Verge
Accidental whale deaths and poor enforcement of government regulations drove a sustainability authority to red-list Gulf of Maine lobster. / Down East
A trip across America to chronicle the rituals that express faith in its many forms. / The New York Times
See also: From 2014, atheists and agnostics tell us how they're spending their secular holiday seasons. / The Morning News
To explain DALL-E 2's place in art history "requires a limited view of what art history is." / Hyperallergic
A remix of the Reading Rainbow theme. / Boing Boing
Food experiments from the early web—e.g., making sparks by microwaving a halved grape. / MetaFilter
"The scribal arts offered dramatic new ways to process knowledge, allowing for not only superior organization, but also superior thinking." On the origin of listicles. / Literary Hub
Taken from space two weeks ago, an image of Mont Saint-Michel resembles a painting more than a photo. / Atlas Obscura
An empty mall with "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" playing in the background. / Reddit
We appreciate you. Thank you for reading our newsletter. If you have a moment, please find out why we depend on your support and consider becoming a Sustaining Member or supporting via PayPal, crypto, or Venmo (open in app). Thank you!
✔️ Got a correction or a link we should consider? Email us or just reply to this newsletter.
Your headlines are sourced and written by Andrew Womack and Rosecrans Baldwin, Monday through Saturday. View this edition and the latest headlines at TMN.