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Data & Eggs

Volume 265

In this week’s edition: a map of places in the US with the same name, a four-day workweek calculator, and a 25-story Rubik’s Cube.

01

If somebody refers to the city of “Portland”, which do you think of first? Portland, Oregon? Portland, Maine? Or some other Portland altogether? The Pudding used data from a few different sources, including Wikipedia articles, to estimate the likelihood that somebody in a given U.S. county was referring to a specific place. As a fun exercise, try typing in the name of your hometown and prepare to be surprised.

A Map of Places in the US with the Same Name

Culture

If somebody refers to the city of “Portland”, which do you think of first? Portland, Oregon? Portland, Maine? Or some other Portland altogether? The Pudding used data from a few different sources, including Wikipedia articles, to estimate the likelihood that somebody in a given U.S. county was referring to a specific place. As a fun exercise, try typing in the name of your hometown and prepare to be surprised.

Read It

02

Back in 2013, a small village in southern Guinea called Meliandou became the likely epicenter for the worst Ebola outbreak in history. So why did it start there? Scientists think that specific types of deforestation around Meliandou — whereby humans and wild animals are more likely to come into contact — increase the risk of these sorts of outbreaks. And as forest loss escalates across Africa, researchers worry about the consequences.

How Forest Loss Can Unleash the Next Pandemic

Environment

Back in 2013, a small village in southern Guinea called Meliandou became the likely epicenter for the worst Ebola outbreak in history. So why did it start there? Scientists think that specific types of deforestation around Meliandou — whereby humans and wild animals are more likely to come into contact — increase the risk of these sorts of outbreaks. And as forest loss escalates across Africa, researchers worry about the consequences.

Read It

03

After a series of successful trials in the UK and US, the prospect of a four-day workweek doesn’t seem completely far-fetched. So how would you use an extra day of freedom each week? Using data from the American Time Use Survey, The Washington Post imagined how someone like you might split the time across things like sleeping, socializing, chores, and watching TV.

What would your four-day workweek look like? Use our calculator.

Culture $ (Possible Paywall)

After a series of successful trials in the UK and US, the prospect of a four-day workweek doesn’t seem completely far-fetched. So how would you use an extra day of freedom each week? Using data from the American Time Use Survey, The Washington Post imagined how someone like you might split the time across things like sleeping, socializing, chores, and watching TV.

Read It

04

In a post-pandemic world, major cities across the world are dealing with two simultaneous challenges: a glut of unused office space and a major shortage of residential housing. So why not just convert office buildings into apartments? It’s a compelling idea, but as this article from NYT’s The Upshot shows, it’s tougher than it sounds.

Here’s How to Solve a 25-Story Rubik’s Cube

Economy $

In a post-pandemic world, major cities across the world are dealing with two simultaneous challenges: a glut of unused office space and a major shortage of residential housing. So why not just convert office buildings into apartments? It’s a compelling idea, but as this article from NYT’s The Upshot shows, it’s tougher than it sounds.

Read It

05

In 1994, Iman launched Iman Cosmetics, becoming the first celebrity in the U.S. to launch her own beauty brand instead of just repping others. Fast forward to 2023, and Iman’s move is not nearly as daring; Bloomberg counted more than 50 celebrities, including Lady Gaga and Naomi Osaka, who have founded cosmetic, haircare, and skincare brands in the last three years. But as the broader economy wobbles, some of these brands are struggling to stay alive.

The Golden Era of Celebrity Beauty Brands Is Ending

Economy

In 1994, Iman launched Iman Cosmetics, becoming the first celebrity in the U.S. to launch her own beauty brand instead of just repping others. Fast forward to 2023, and Iman’s move is not nearly as daring; Bloomberg counted more than 50 celebrities, including Lady Gaga and Naomi Osaka, who have founded cosmetic, haircare, and skincare brands in the last three years. But as the broader economy wobbles, some of these brands are struggling to stay alive.

Read It

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