Olympic Origins, the First President, and America's Most Generous

Are the Olympics really so ancient?

The Olympic Games are a multisport competition held every four years, where athletes from around the world compete at the highest level in their disciplines. Roughly 3,000 athletes are gathered in northern Italy for another week in the most geographically dispersed Olympics ever (see map). The first written mention of the Olympics dates back to 776 BCE in the Peloponnesus region of Greece. The Games then became a staple of Greek life for almost 12 centuries (scroll visual history guide). 

The Olympics were revived 1,500 years later when Pierre de Coubertin, considered the father of the modern Olympic movement, established the International Olympic Committee in 1894, with the first modern Games in Athens two years later. Since 1994, the Olympics have alternated every two years between the Summer Games, which include over 300 medal events in 32 sports, and the Winter Games, which include over 100 medal events in 16 sports (see modern list).

Millions of tickets are sold to watch the 16-day event in person, and billions view it on TV and online. Hosting the Olympics was once an honor; however, cost overruns, scandals, and local opposition have led to fewer bids in recent years (watch explainer). 

... Read what else we learned about the international games here.

Also, check out ... 

> Revisiting the fascinating, extinct events from Olympics past. (Read)

> Key storylines unfolding at this year's Olympics. (Read)

> What is "skimo," the newest sport that starts Thursday? (Read)

> The top 10 most unbreakable Winter Olympics records. (Watch)

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What made George Washington significant?

George Washington was the first president of the United States and central to America’s founding—both as the military leader who secured independence and as the political leader who stabilized the new republic. With limited formal education, he began working as a professional surveyor at age 17, mapping frontier lands in Virginia. That early experience led to a military career, including a key role in catalyzing the French and Indian War.

As commander in chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, Washington held together an underfunded, divided force against Great Britain, arguably the world’s most powerful empire at the time. He avoided decisive defeat, managed fragile alliances, enforced civilian control of the military, and endured years of setbacks until the colonies’ eventual victory. Washington later presided over the 1787 Constitutional Convention.

As the nation’s first president, Washington implemented a new constitutional framework, maintained neutrality during wars between Britain and France, and contained partisan infighting, regional tensions, and domestic rebellion. After serving two terms, Washington voluntarily stepped aside. Washington's legacy is complicated by his ownership of more than a hundred slaves during his lifetime. He emancipated all of the enslaved people he owned directly after his death, an uncommon act among the slave-owning Founders.

... Read our full explainer on George Washington here.

Also, check out ... 

> George Washington used his Farewell Address to warn the nation (Read)

> Many stories about George Washington are legends without evidence (Explore)

> Washington privately grew critical of slavery—while continuing to uphold it publicly (Read)

> Washington systematically introduced and popularized mule breeding in the US (Explore)

How the holiday started

Valentine's Day is an annual holiday celebrated on Feb. 14, associated with love and romantic relationships. Although the holiday was originally a Christian feast in honor of Saint Valentine, its actual namesake remains unclear. Some argue that the holiday was a Christian version of the Roman holiday of Lupercalia, but historians have cast doubt on that claim.

The modern form of the holiday, as a celebration of romantic love and an opportunity to find love, is believed to have been inspired by a 14th-century poem by Geoffrey Chaucer (it was about lovebirds). The holiday grew in popularity during the 19th century, especially in England and the United States, largely due to the nascent greeting card industry (read a 19th-century guide to writing valentines).

Today, the holiday is celebrated in various forms (and by various names) around the world (learn the traditions). In the United States, the holiday is particularly popular, with the average American spending $189 on it in 2025.

... Read our full write-up on the holiday here.

Also, check out ... 

> How a Boston pharmacist gave us "Kiss Me" candy hearts. (Read)

> See a collection of Valentine's Day cards from the last century. (View)

> The sprawling supply chains behind cut flowers. (Listen)
> "Singles' Day" was created as an alternative to Valentine's Day. (Read)

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Best of the Week

We added 393 resources this week to our knowledge collective—here are some of our favorites.

Who are the most generous philanthropists in the US? (Read)

There's no riding in a float at Mardi Gras in New Orleans without a decorative mask. (Read)

Florida's hidden gem, the "Coral Castle," was built from fossilized coral as a monument to unrequited love. (View)

To many competitors, if you're not using PEDs, "you're not trying." (Listen)

More Americans prioritize news accuracy as the most important news habit. (Visualize)

Mass-market paperbacks are going extinct after a century of dominance. (Watch)

Nearly one-third of pet owners spend more on their critters than on their own needs. (Read)

What makes "feels-like" temperature different from the actual temperature? (Read)

The NFL is so successful partly because it's especially suited for television. (Listen)

Try making ancient Rome's version of mac and cheese. (Read)

Unpacking the accuracy of lie detectors. (Watch)

How uncanny, liminal aesthetics represent the current moment. (Read)

Ping-pong was originally called "whiff-whaff." (Listen)

Coming Soon: 1440 Explores the Supreme Court

Historybook: Astronomer Galileo Galilei born (1564); Women's rights activist Susan B. Anthony born (1820); Musician Nat King Cole dies (1965); Soviet-Afghan War ends as all Soviet troops depart Afghanistan (1989); Actress Raquel Welch dies (2023).