Wikipedia

As 2024 comes to a close, explore the topics that defined each month on Wikipedia. From major news events to pop culture, Wikipedia’s most-viewed articles provide a unique glimpse into shifting public interest and the moments that resonated worldwide. This month-by-month timeline highlights how users turned to Wikipedia in real time to learn about the world around them, whether it was a sudden event or an unexpected phenomenon that caught everyone’s attention. Learn more ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dQFsb_mM #WikipediaYearInReview

🤖 Ready to hack into the origins of cyberpunk? This subgenre of science fiction is set in a gritty, often dystopian future where advanced technology contrasts with social decay. Popularized by works like “Blade Runner” and “Neuromancer”, cyberpunk has influenced everything from fashion to architecture, with its visuals and ideas continuing to shape culture today. The Japanese cyberpunk subgenre has been especially impactful. It began in 1982 with the debut of Katsuhiro Otomo's manga series “Akira”. Its 1988 anime film adaptation popularized the style worldwide. Known for its iconic neon-lit cityscapes and anti-hero protagonists, cyberpunk explores themes of artificial intelligence, cybernetics, and corporate power. All while questioning humanity’s place in a hyperconnected world. Want to dive into this world of high-technology and cybernetic rebellion? Check out the history, style, and impact of cyberpunk ➡️ https://w.wiki/3kjr

⬛ What do you see when you stare into the Vantablack void? Vantablack is a groundbreaking material known for its ultra-black appearance, created by vertically aligned nanotube arrays that absorb up to 99.965% of visible light. Originally developed by an English company, Vantablack’s unique properties make it appear as a void space rather than a textured surface, a feature that has fascinated scientists, artists, and the public alike. Primarily used in aerospace and defense industries, Vantablack helps reduce stray light in optical instruments, allowing for clearer images in telescopes and cameras. However, its popularity extends beyond scientific use; artists and designers are drawn to its uncanny effect as well. Learn more about Vantablack, a material so dark it seems to defy reality ➡️ https://w.wiki/9YpS

☕🗺️ Want to have a hot coffee near the North Pole? Well, you would have to bring it yourself, but the cold climate on this Arctic island might make that hot beverage more appealing. Kaffeklubben Island, or “Coffee Club Island,” is a remote and rugged piece of land located just off the northern coast of Greenland. This uninhabited island holds the title of the northernmost undisputed landmass on Earth, lying farther north than any other permanent landmass. The island was first spotted in 1900 by US explorer Robert Peary, but wasn’t officially named until 1921 when Danish explorer Lauge Koch visited it and named it after a coffee club at the University of Copenhagen. It is difficult to fully verify the northernmost land on Earth. Since the island’s recognition as the northernmost point of land, several gravel banks have been found farther north. However, their relevance is debated since gravel banks are often temporary, shifting with ice and tides or submerging. A 2022 survey confirmed these banks are likely gravel on sea ice, supporting Kaffeklubben’s claim as the true northernmost land. Despite its unique status, Kaffeklubben Island never attracted much attention from travelers, likely due to its extreme Arctic environment and inaccessibility. The island remains a remarkable symbol of the farthest reaches of human exploration. Discover more about this remote location, where nature endures in one of the world’s harshest climates ➡️ https://w.wiki/B3qC

🔮 A day of misfortune or just another Friday? Friday the 13th is a well-known superstition in Western culture, linked to bad luck. Its roots trace back to a blend of historical and cultural beliefs, including the Norse myth of Loki as an unwelcome thirteenth guest and Christian traditions surrounding the Last Supper. It occurs when the 13th day of the month in the Gregorian calendar falls on a Friday, which happens at least once every year – but can occur up to three times in the same year. Interestingly, although Friday the 13th has sparked fears, cultural references, and even studies on accident rates, some research suggests it may be safer than other days as people are more cautious. Explore the history and psychology behind this day that continues to intrigue and unsettle ➡️ https://w.wiki/_H23

☢️ Did you know that some countries once planned to build canals, mine resources, and generate electricity with nuclear explosions? The concept of peaceful nuclear explosions took off in the late 1950s, with projects like the United States’ “Operation Plowshare” and the Soviet Union’s “Nuclear Explosions for the National Economy” program aiming to harness nuclear blasts for purposes outside of war. One particularly futuristic idea: using nuclear propulsion to power spacecraft on interplanetary journeys. According to Project Orion, nuclear bombs would be shot behind the spacecraft in order to move it forward. Though ambitious, these projects faced environmental and economic setbacks, and today, international treaties prohibit all nuclear explosions regardless of their intentions. Explore the history of proposals for peaceful nuclear explosions ➡️ https://w.wiki/HcN 

Each year, Wikipedia users worldwide reflect the state of the planet with their searches, highlighting the topics, events, and figures that sparked the most interest. Check out this year’s top 25 articles for a look back at what captured the world’s attention: 1. Deaths in 2024 (44,440,344 pageviews) 2. Kamala Harris (28,960,278) 3. 2024 United States presidential election (27,910,346) 4. Lyle and Erik Menendez (26,126,811) 5. Donald Trump (25,293,855) 6. Indian Premier League (24,560,689) 7. JD Vance (23,303,160) 8. Deadpool & Wolverine (22,362,102) 9. Project 2025 (19,741,623) 10. 2024 Indian general election (18,149,666) 11. Taylor Swift (17,089,827) 12. ChatGPT (16,595,350) 13. 2020 United States presidential election (16,351,730) 14. 2024 Summer Olympics (16,061,381) 15. UEFA Euro 2024 (15,680,913) 16. United States (15,657,243) 17. Elon Musk (15,535,053) 18. Kalki 2898 AD (14,588,383) 19. Joe Biden (14,536,522) 20. Cristiano Ronaldo (13,698,372) 21. Griselda Blanco (13,491,792) 22. Sean Combs (13,112,437) 23. Dune: Part Two (12,788,834) 24. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (12,375,410) 25. Liam Payne (12,087,141) Read more ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dkyZWHRh #WikipediaYearInReview

🎬 In filmmaking, an imaginary line can make all the difference. Audiences may not always realize it, but film directors rely on the 180-degree rule to keep conversations clear in movies and TV shows. This fundamental technique guides filmmakers and editors in positioning the camera on one side of an imaginary line, creating a consistent left-right orientation that keeps characters and actions clearly aligned on screen. By keeping all shots within the 180-degree arc on one side of this line, filmmakers establish the on-screen spatial relationship between the characters and maintain a consistent sense of left and right from the viewer’s perspective, so that the characters appear to face each other or move in the same direction from shot to shot. The illustration above shows the axis between two characters and the 180° arc. For filmmakers, it is a go-to tool to keep viewers grounded and immersed in the story. However, directors can also intentionally disregard it for a disorienting emotional effect. For example, when the French New Wave director Jean-Luc Godard broke the rule in the first five minutes of the movie “Breathless” by jumping between the front and back seats in the car scene, he started an “aesthetic rebellion” for which the New Wave film genre would become known. Learn more about how the technique works – and the scientific research on how much it really matters ➡️ https://w.wiki/ByTx

👑🏰 They were in line for the throne ... until they disappeared. The fate of the Princes in the Tower remains one of British royal history’s most chilling betrayals. In 1483, young King Edward V and his brother were locked away in the Tower of London by their uncle and England’s regent, Richard, Duke of Gloucester – who later became King Richard III. Soon after, the princes disappeared, sparking widespread belief that they had been murdered to secure Richard’s claim to the throne. Though commonly assumed to have met a tragic end, no conclusive evidence has ever confirmed their fate. It has been suggested that one or both princes may have escaped assassination. Years later, this mystery deepened as contenders to the throne surfaced, claiming to be one of the missing princes. In 1487, a young man named Lambert Simnel, who was purported to be the missing boy, was briefly crowned by rebels in Dublin as “King Edward.” Most famously, Perkin Warbeck, supported by several nobles, declared himself Richard, Duke of York, stirring political upheaval across the realm. These claims, though unsubstantiated, created waves of unrest and kept the princes’ story alive. In 1674, skeletons believed to belong to the princes were found beneath a staircase in the Tower of London. While widely assumed to confirm their deaths, these remains were never conclusively identified. Shakespeare himself later referenced their tale, portraying Richard III as their murderer and solidifying the princes’ fate as a captivating and tragic story in British royal history. Explore the theories and speculation ➡️ https://w.wiki/ByTv

🕯️ Did you know that there is a night when all of Colombia glows with candlelight? Day of the Little Candles (Día de las Velitas) is the country’s dazzling start to the holiday season. The holiday is celebrated each year on 7 December. Originally tied to the Catholic observance of the Immaculate Conception, the tradition began in 1854 when Colombians lit candles to honor this religious event. Today, families and communities decorate streets, balconies, and parks with candles and lanterns, creating a warm, festive glow across the country. In some regions, unique local customs have become part of these celebrations. In Quindío, the Christmas Panther – a symbol inspired by Indigenous beliefs – often appears alongside the candle displays, reflecting a variety of cultural and religious traditions. Read more about this celebration ➡️ https://w.wiki/9djF