Below are some important, interesting, or otherwise fun stories that moved 1440 staff in 2024. What was your favorite? Let us know here.
2024 total solar eclipse over North America.
"Witnessing this year's solar eclipse was especially memorable as I experienced it alongside my kids and saw their amazement firsthand." —Ashley L.
Why it's so hard to correctly predict the weather.
"Think I’m not alone in being occasionally frustrated by the weather forecast catching me either without my umbrella or leaving my sunglasses at home. I could never understand why the forecast could be so inaccurate sometimes! This was the perfect background explainer that left me feeling sympathy for my local weather team." —Mitchell K.
Boy born deaf can hear again thanks to novel gene therapy.
"There’s nothing sweeter to me in life than music and the voices of the people I love. So this incredible innovation bringing those gifts to this 11-year-old boy for the first time (and eventually, many others) made me happy and hopeful." —Teddy B.
100 small acts of love, told through stories by people in love.
"This heartwarming collection of stories showcases the beauty of everyday gestures and how love can be expressed in countless ways, reminding us that it's often the little things that make the biggest impact in our relationships." —Sony K.
Ohio twin sisters celebrate their 102nd birthday.
"I'm a sucker for our Humankind section, and as a mother of twins, I found this story to be so inspiring. It’s such a blessing that these twins have lived 102 years together and it brought me so much joy to see them share their celebration." —Kellie S.
10 funny vintage slang words people should start using again.
"I realized there’s no need to 'make fetch happen' when the vintage slang in this article already exists. I was grinning like a gigglemug thinking of these words coming out of my kids' sauce boxes. By the end, I felt arf’arf’an’arf from laughing so much." —Aaron E-L.
Do organ donors transfer memory?
"Such a refreshing read. Normally, I don’t always understand science-related articles but it was fascinating to think about the mini lives our organs hold and what that means for our souls." —Lauren R.
Wild orangutan self-treats wound.
"This story reminds us how much we still have to learn about the natural world and the incredible behaviors of the species we share it with. Rakus’ self-medicating act shows us that even in the modern age, nature continues to surprise us." —August M.
World's oldest cheese discovered.
"Sometimes you need to know how the stock market is doing, who won the election, and if we're putting people on Mars anytime soon. But sometimes you need to know about cheese. I loved the write-up on the 'World’s Oldest Cheese' being discovered in Xinjiang, China. Things like this can be endlessly fascinating." —Scott J.
Notre Dame Cathedral bells ring for first time since 2019 fire.
"Paris is one of my favorite cities, and seeing Notre Dame in 2018 was breathtaking. Knowing this historical cathedral was saved and restored makes me even more excited to visit again." —Erika B.
... and Paris hosts the 2024 Olympics.
"I was thrilled to attend my first Olympics in Paris, along with my parents. France did a fantastic job hosting the games, which saw Team USA lead all countries with 126 medals, including performances by some of my favorites like Simone Biles, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and Team USA men’s and women’s basketball." —Bobby A.
