Religion, retail therapy, a meat-free diet—the Internet is full of people trying to shill “cures” for depression with all the grace of a salesman hawking his last bottle of snake oil. Google “ways to be happy” and you’ll find a million lists reassuring you that all it takes to reach nirvana is a cup of green tea and plenty of fish. Aside from the fact that depression is far too complex to be treated with something as dumb as, say, getting a new pet, most of these so-called cures aren’t even cures at all. In fact, there’s a very real chance that they’re making things worse.

10 Having Lots Of Sex

Having a great sex life is supposed to be the high score bonus on the game of life. Not only are you obviously charming, attractive, and witty enough to be bedding a string of supermodels, you’re also having lots of really good sex. So let’s say you looked at the psychological makeup of a modern Casanova, what would you expect to find?

How about a seething mass of anxiety and depression? A recent study surveyed 3,900 college students about their mental well-being as well as their tendency to leap into bed with strangers. They found elevated levels of anxiety, social anxiety, and depression among those who frequently engaged in casual sex.

Before you all write in complaining we’ve ruined yet another pastime for you, we should point out that this is a bit of a “chicken and egg” scenario—the researchers didn’t determine whether sex caused depression or depression triggered a desire to lose yourself in sex. Whichever way around it is, it means there’s a very real possibility that Hugh Hefner is the most miserable man on Earth.

9 Being Filthy Rich

Right after “an incredible sex life,” the second thing most of us would probably wish for if we ever met a genie is to be absolutely, stinking rich. After all, money may not be able to buy happiness, but it sure makes misery a lot more comfortable, right?

Sorry, wrong again. We’ve all heard the horror stories about the lottery winners who wound up utterly miserable, but current research suggests even those who start out rich are prone to mental illness. Specifically, children of parents earning over $159,000 a year have been found dangerously prone to anxiety, depression, self-harm, and drug abuse. Only kids from the very poorest families were found to be more at risk than these real-life Richie Rich’s, so what’s going on?

It comes down to the sort of people who are likely to wind up earning over $150,000 a year—highly motivated, ruthlessly driven types with little time for failure in others. In other words, the exact sort of people who are likely to gift to their children a great big bag of neuroses from their first Little League game onward. All this pressure to do well and become a major stockbroker like Daddy manifests itself in a crippling fear of failure.

8 Being Vegetarian

While it may not quite rank up there with winning the lottery or being chased by crowds of screaming groupies, a vegetarian diet is thought of as shorthand for “wholesome and healthy.” By circumnavigating the excess fat and cancer-giving properties of meat, vegetarians seem to be in an ideal position to live long, happy lives making tie-dye shirts and voting Democrat and whatnot—except science suggests otherwise.

A recent German study analyzed the diets and mental health of 4,000 participants using people from all walks of life. The results were surprising, to say the least. Vegetarians were more likely to suffer from anxiety, hypochondria, depression, and even stuff like body dysmorphia than their meat-eating counterparts.

This wasn’t just a mild statistical anomaly, either—the study participants were twice as likely to be mentally ill as the general population, and three times more likely than the study control group. Again, no one’s sure if vegetarianism causes all this misery, or if miserable people are just more likely to ditch the meat, but if you’ve ever needed a scientifically-backed excuse to justify your five-steak-a-day habit, this is it.

7 Not Getting Drunk

Alcohol and depression go together like Glenn Beck and populist extremism. Aside from being a depressant, our favorite liquid drug is also highly addictive, incredibly damaging to the body, and more socially damaging than even crack or heroin. It makes sense to assume, then, that teetotalers will be free from the fog of guilt and misery that binge-drinkers are forced to wade through every Saturday morning. Well, prepare to be shocked.

A Norwegian study recently compared the mental health and drinking habits of an astonishing 38,000 people. Although the research team found that heavy drinking corresponded to high levels of anxiety, the opposite was true of depression. The respondents who exercised rigorous self-control were apparently less happy than those who woke up each morning in a pool of vomit.

The theory goes that those who never drink but live in “drinking cultures” are less likely to forge strong social bonds with people than those who are happy to relax a little with a beer. While we’d never recommend that anyone do a Nic Cage in Leaving Las Vegas, it does seem that total abstinence is a recipe for disaster.

6 Being Religious

We’re used to thinking of religion as a great comfort. After all, when little Timmy’s dog dies, is he gonna feel better hearing that he’s now in doggy heaven, or that he’s a cold and lifeless husk you’ll probably throw out with the trash? For all atheists like to find fault with all aspects of it, surely religion at least has a net effect on happiness.

It’s a nice thought, but that’s sadly all it is. A study published earlier this year followed 8,000 people from different religions, countries, and socioeconomic backgrounds for over six months and charted their vulnerability to depression. It found that the more strongly religious someone was, the more likely they were to experience major depression. At the same time, those whose beliefs changed during the course of the study were also assessed. The ones who dumped their religion to become atheists generally got happier, the ones who dumped their atheism to become religious generally got sadder. On almost every criteria, the devout were shown as being worse off than those who were either secular or “weakly” religious. In short, it seems that any faith claiming to be a path to happiness is unfortunately mistaken.

5 Playing Sports

Exercise is supposed to have a positive effect on the brain, and team sports are surely good for at least making friends and feeling part of a group. So what’s all this nonsense about sport causing depression?

Specifically, researchers looked into the mental health of current and former college athletes and found that those still “in the game” were up to twice as likely to be depressed as those who had graduated. In their hypothesis, the researchers stated that they expected to find former stars—now deprived of their teammates, coaches, and the thrill of the game—struggling with major depression. But their findings suggested the complete opposite.

Like the rich kids one above, it more than likely comes down to the insane pressure college athletes are under. Aside from having to deal with studying, they’ve also got to play their best, not let their team down, and try to reach the very top—all goals that can cause major stress if missed. In spite of what common sense may tell you, sport is no more a guaranteed key to happiness than, say—buying a new pair of Levi’s.

4 Going Shopping

You’ve probably heard of “retail therapy,” the idea that the best way to unwind from a stressful week is to go and splurge your paycheck on a really expensive pair of shoes. It’s a staple of consumerism, the driving force behind stuff like Christmas and 80 percent of all Sex and the City storylines—and according to science, it’s making you totally miserable.

A recent study in the Netherlands followed 2,500 people over six years to gauge their shopping habits and happiness. They found that materialistic people were more likely to be lonely, because shopping creates a “loop of loneliness” that makes them more depressed the more they do it.

The problem comes down to our culture of consumerism. Thanks to decades of advertising, we’re taught to associate certain values with certain products. When we’re unable to afford one of these items or have to spend more than we should to get it, we wind up feeling anxious, isolated from our peers, and miserable. It turns out that retail therapy is less cathartic and more systematically destroying any chance you have at happiness.

3 Listening To Music

It’s not uncommon to hear nostalgic music critics talking about the song or album “that saved their life.” It’s a feeling everyone can understand—that moment when you hear a snatch of song that somehow reminds you that things aren’t quite as crappy as they often seem. Therefore, it can come as a bit of a shock to learn listening to music can apparently make you prone to depression.

In 2011, a University of Pittsburgh study categorized teens by the amount of time they spent listening to music and compared it to their mental well-being. They found that for every increased level of listening, their risk of depression increased by 80 percent. This is almost the exact opposite effect that reading had, with teens becoming 50 percent less likely to be miserable with each level of increased reading time. In fact, music was found to be the pastime most linked with depression, beating out even TV in the sadness stakes.

Why would this be? Are all the teens in Pittsburgh listening to non-stop Radiohead or something? Well, that’s the thing—we don’t know. Perhaps modern music is just too consistently miserable, or perhaps depressed teenagers are simply more likely to try to escape through music. All we can say for sure is that the bouncy guy on the bus with happy hardcore blaring out his earphones is probably more depressed than the girl sat next to him reading the collected works of Franz Kafka.

2 Voting Democrat

According to The New York Times, conservatives are measurably happier than liberals and have been for years. A 2006 Pew study found self-professed conservatives were 68 percent more likely than left-leaning Democrats to say they were “very happy,” with single, childless liberals being the most miserable of all. A similar partisan happiness gap has been consistently reported for decades (LINK 16). In other words, the simple fact that you’d take Ronald Reagan over Bill Clinton means you’re less likely to be depressed.

So what causes all this liberal misery? Well, no one’s really sure. In 2008, Pew suggested it might be because Republicans are more likely to be rich and religious—a statement that flatly contradicts two items in our list so far. Others have claimed conservatives simply have a sunnier outlook, while yet others have noted that liberals are statistically less likely to get married.

However, before you GOP types start celebrating, you should be aware that there’s one type of liberal happier than you are. According to the same studies, people on the extreme left are happier than everyone except the craziest right-wing extremists, meaning that both the Tea Party and Occupy are enjoying life far more most of us in the middle.

1 Being Social On The Internet

Are you the type of person who will finish reading this, scroll down, and leave a comment? We’ve got some bad news—you’re objectively more likely to be lonely and miserable than the guy who just skims and moves on.

A recent study analyzed the Internet usage of a cohort of depressed and non-depressed people and found that unhappy people use the Internet differently from anyone else. Specifically, they were more likely to engage in peer-to-peer usage like sharing photos, music, and opinions through Facebook, chat rooms, and message boards. Healthy people, on the other hand, were less likely to obsessively check their email, spend time on social networks, and sit up late at night reading list-based articles.

This kind of goes against everything we think we know about the Internet. The whole social media interaction thing is supposed to make us less lonely and more connected—hence, everyone seeming to have more Facebook friends than there are people on the planet. However, a huge body of research suggests this view is outdated nonsense. So there you have it: The secret to happiness on the internet is to simply ignore all the angry idiots out there and get on with own thing. Who’d have thought it?

Everything in moderation, as the old adage goes. As it turns out, that couldn’t be more accurate, as research continues to shed light on how the modern world is damaging our health. We might be living longer today than our ancestors did, but the current era isn’t as health-friendly as we might think.

10Feeling Guilty Can Damage Your Health

Every January, people around the world resolve to leave their bad habits behind and embark on a journey of self-improvement as the new year begins. Then, a few weeks later, everyone starts to feel a little guilty for not following through.

But while a little guilt can encourage someone to make positive changes, too much guilt is a different story. Feeling guilty isn’t just unpleasant—it could be causing damage to your immune system. Researchers from Hull University found that people who felt guilty about their favorite activities had decreased levels of the antibody immunoglobulin A in their saliva. So if two people like to unwind with a box of wine and some trashy reality shows, but only one feels guilty about it, then the guilty person is more likely to catch viral and bacterial infections. That means your favorite “guilty pleasure” could be the reason you seem to catch colds more often than someone who just calls it “pleasure.”

9Light Pollution

According to astronomers, the majority of Americans under 40 have never experienced true darkness. Urban areas experience a phenomenon called “sky glow,” where artificial light is scattered by water droplets, creating a dome of light over the city. Even inside our own homes, the little lights on electronics like alarm clocks and televisions stay on 24/7—and our bodies just weren’t built to handle that. In fact, light pollution in the developed world is now so bad that it’s damaging our health. According to physicist Eric Vandernoot, the human body is hardwired for a cycle of light and darkness. Overuse of light in the evening is connected to a number of health problems, including increased risk of diabetes, obesity, depression, prostate cancer, and breast cancer.

Sleep disorders are another big problem. In fact, light pollution may have actually changed the entire way we experience sleep. Before the industrial revolution, it was common for people to sleep for two periods of around four hours each, separated by one to three hours “of quiet wakefulness.” Even today, studies have shown that people tend to revert back to this sleep pattern once light pollution is taken out of the equation.

And even if you buy blackout curtains and cover those flashing LEDs, you might still be in danger from excess light, since the streetlights are still on outside. Turning streetlights off has actually been found to drastically reduce crime (even criminals need to be able to see). Of course, that might not be much comfort to anyone trying to find their way home in the pitch dark, but at least they won’t get mugged.

8Added Sugar Is Worse Than You Realized

Sugar itself isn’t bad for you—glucose is essential to powering the body, especially the brain. The problem is that people are now consuming more sugar than ever, and you can definitely have too much of a good thing. And while our ancestors got most of their sugar from fruits and grains, these days most of our sugar is added to various processed foods—the average American eats 27.5 teaspoons of added sugar a day. It’s hard to cut back, too—the brain has a built-in trigger to let you know when you should stop eating and sugar consumption makes it less effective over time.

It’s only relatively recently that we’ve started to realize just how bad too much sugar can be for you. In the 1970s, when the public became concerned about fat in foods, manufacturers simply replaced fat with sugar. Since then, sugar consumption has shot up worldwide. Which is unfortunate, since sugar is now linked to high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, premature aging of the skin, dementia, brain damage, poor metabolism, and liver damage. Added sugar might even be damaging to our very DNA. In fact, some scientists now regard sugar as a problem potentially as damaging as alcohol and tobacco.

7Climate Change

We already know that global climate change is making Mother Earth sick, but it may also cause major health issues in humans. As our oceans get warmer, toxic algae blooms will increase in likelihood, area, and duration. Algae like Alexandrium catenella can contaminate seafood and cause everything from vomiting to death by paralysis.

Meanwhile, as the Earth gets drier, more dust will be blown into the ocean, spurring the growth of dangerous bacteria—poisoning caused by bacteria of the genus Vibrio in seafood is already up 85 percent since 1996. Rapid urban growth means that many sewer systems are already close to overflowing and contaminating our water sources—in Milwaukee, it currently only takes 4.3 centimeters (1.7 in) of rain a day for this to happen. As climate change makes flooding more likely, this could become a real problem. Between the flooding and the increased bacterial growth in the oceans, don’t be surprised if water-borne diseases make a comeback in the developed world.

6Lack Of Sleep

It might be a cliche, but in our fast-paced modern world many people just don’t get enough sleep. And researchers are increasingly concerned about just how dangerous that might be. In fact, men with chronic insomnia who sleep less than six hours per night are substantially more likely to die young than normal sleepers. In one study, 51.1 percent of male insomniacs were dead within 14 years, as opposed to just 9.1 percent of regular sleepers. Oddly, this only appears to affect men—women with chronic insomnia have only slightly higher mortality rates than average. That might be because men are more likely to suffer from severe insomnia than women, even though women are more likely to have insomnia overall.

While insomnia itself isn’t deadly, it will slowly wear a person down by not allowing enough sleep for the body to rest, recover, and revitalize, and long-term sleep loss is now known to cause irreversible brain damage by killing off neurons. Even just working night shifts can badly damage your health. There is also no such thing as being able to “catch up on sleep”—taking naps on the weekend won’t make up for lack of sleep during the week.

5Phones And Tablets

Of course, trouble sleeping isn’t helped by a smartphone buzzing through the night because you forgot to set it to silent—and that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Even if you seem to get enough sleep during the night, using bright electronics like phones, tablets, and e-readers right before bed can really mess with your body. Harvard Medical School conducted a study where people would read a real book before bed for five days and then use an iPad for the next five days. Reading on an iPad made it substantially more difficult for people to fall asleep. Once they did nod off, they experienced less REM sleep and were thus less alert in the morning.

On a cellular level, participants who used an iPad before bed were found to have delayed the release of the sleep hormone melatonin by around 90 minutes. The specific kind of light given off by electronic devices confuses our internal clock by affecting the circadian pacemakers in our brains. According to PEW Research, 61 percent of Americans aged 18–29 reported keeping their cell phones next to the bed in order not to miss updates, calls, or texts during the night. But if you really do need a tech bump before bed, put down the smartphone and opt for something like the original Kindle, which doesn’t emit light.

4Suppressing Anger

Being unwilling to engage in a constructive argument about something that’s bothering you can wreak havoc on your health. Holding in anger increases stress, which in turn shortens lifespans. There is such a thing as healthy anger and it can be an effective coping mechanism. Anger is also an adaptive trait that can encourage risk-taking. On the flip-side, chronic anger expressed in explosive bursts is linked to high blood pressure, a weak immune system, strokes, cancer, heart disease, and digestive issues. A study by the University of Michigan found that couples who suppressed their anger had a higher mortality rate than couples who argued their problems out.

Learning to manage anger and conflict effectively is vital to health, but many people don’t understand how to deal with their anger, repressing it and effectively punishing themselves for their feelings. Psychologists say that it is not uncommon for people to experience low self-esteem because they deal with anger ineffectively—which can in turn have disastrous consequences for relationships, work performance, and mental health.

3Antibiotics Can Kill Helpful Bacteria

The development of antibiotics in the 20th century was one of the most important breakthroughs in human history—but it came with some unintended side effects. Humans are far more dependent on bacteria than science realized until quite recently (there are 10 times more bacterial cells than human cells in your body) and antibiotics tend to kill off the good bacteria with the bad. For example, bacteria in the human gut helps to digest food and boosts the immune system. That’s why a course of antibiotics often results in diarrhea and other stomach problems.

Researchers from New York University have also found that giving antibiotics to newborn mice made them more likely to develop metabolic disorders later in life. At that age, their guts were still being colonized by bacteria and the antibiotics disrupted this process—with long-term implications. The study suggests that human babies who receive antibiotics might be more prone to obesity and diabetes once they grow up. Of course, in most cases, the potential consequences of using antibiotics are very mild compared to the alternatives. Used judiciously, antibiotics are still one of medicine’s most important tools.

2Noise Pollution

Obviously, a sudden loud noise could damage your hearing, but what about the constant hum of noise that surrounds us every day? Spinning hard drives, passing cars, sirens in the distance, whirling fans—it is almost impossible to escape noise pollution in the modern world. Every year, around 30 million Americans are exposed to dangerous levels of noise as part of their job. But even people who don’t experience occupational noise hazards suffer from secondhand noise pollution. Hearing loss can lead to communication issues, discrimination, poor performance at work and school, loneliness, and depression.

Low-frequency sounds, such as vibrations caused by passing traffic, can have a direct effect on health. People living in areas with elevated noise levels have correspondingly high levels of stress hormones, and the World Health Organization has warned that noise pollution is a risk factor in developing heart disease. Noise pollution can also cause high blood pressure, sleeplessness, breathing problems, cardiovascular issues, increased heart rates, and even brain changes. Studies have also shown that high levels of noise can badly impact young children, having a significant negative effect on cognitive performance.

1Retiring

The dream for many Americans is to work hard enough to be able to retire and relax, but health-wise it isn’t that simple. Working a job you hate can damage your mental and physical health, which is pretty worrying when you consider that only 13 percent of Americans report enjoying their work. Even if you’re one of the lucky 13 percent, working too hard can still seriously damage your health. The average work week is now around 47 hours and a Gallup poll showed that 21 percent of full-time workers put in 50–59 hours a week, while 18 percent worked more than 60 hours a week.

And while working hard for retirement might sound like a good tradeoff, retirement itself can cause a decline in mental and physical health. Compared to similarly aged people who are working, retired people are up to 40 percent more likely to suffer from clinical depression. They are also 60 percent more likely to have a diagnosed physical ailment, although it’s not clear if that’s because people with medical issues tend to retire earlier anyway. The lesson is that moderation is important and the healthiest choices involve a fair balance between rest and work.

Kristance is a freelance writer and travel addict currently living in Argentina. She’s always “that person” who will bore everyone by blurting out facts awkwardly at inappropriate moments. She sometimes writes about her travel adventures on diggingtoroam.com and constantly adds ridiculous posts to instalaugh.tumblr.com. The most exciting thing that happened to her in 2014 was when Jewel retweeted her. If you want to hop on that Twitter bandwagon check out Kristance’s account.

Products come and go, but some disappear for reasons that are as interesting as the items themselves. This list explores ten unique products manufacturers stopped making, shedding light on the intriguing stories behind their discontinuation.

Whether due to changing consumer tastes, technological advances, or marketing missteps, these products once held promise but ultimately couldn’t sustain their place in the market. Each of these items has a story to tell, from futuristic gadgets ahead of their time to quirky ideas that just didn’t catch on.

Let’s take a look at these ten fascinating products and find out why they were discontinued. Their stories offer a glimpse into the challenges of manufacturing and the ever-shifting landscape of consumer preferences.

Related: 10 Businesses Too Big to Fail That Totally Flopped

10 The Ford Edsel Fiasco

The Ford Edsel, launched in 1957, was intended to bridge the gap between Ford’s mid-range and luxury lines. However, it quickly became one of the most significant commercial flops in automotive history. The car’s unique styling, particularly its vertical grille, was polarizing and failed to resonate with a wide audience. Early quality control problems also led to a reputation for unreliability, further hindering its appeal.

The Edsel’s introduction during an economic recession exacerbated its struggles, as consumers were less inclined to purchase a new, unproven vehicle. Despite extensive marketing efforts, the car never achieved its sales targets. Production ended in 1960 after three model years, with less than half the projected sales figures reached.

The Edsel’s failure serves as a cautionary tale in the automotive industry, highlighting the importance of understanding consumer preferences and market trends. While often attributed to its design and reliability issues, it’s crucial to acknowledge that other factors, such as economic conditions and market timing, likely contributed to its lack of success. Today, the Edsel remains a collector’s item and a reminder of a time when bold ideas did not always translate into market success.^[1]

9 The Rise and Fall of Pepsi Blue

Pepsi Blue, introduced in 2002, was a berry-flavored cola intended to capture a younger demographic and stand out in the crowded soft drink market. The drink’s vibrant blue color, achieved using Blue 1 dye, and unique taste were meant to differentiate it from traditional cola flavors.

Despite a significant marketing campaign featuring endorsements from popular figures and prominent store placement, Pepsi Blue failed to achieve the desired sales figures. Consumer reception was mixed, with many finding the berry flavor artificial and unappealing. After two years on the market, PepsiCo discontinued Pepsi Blue in 2004. While it remains a notable product in PepsiCo’s history, it exemplifies how bold innovation does not always guarantee commercial success.^[2]

8 The Curious Case of Clairol Touch of Yogurt Shampoo

Clairol Touch of Yogurt Shampoo, launched in 1979, was an attempt by Clairol to capitalize on the growing trend of natural ingredients in personal care products. The shampoo aimed to appeal to health-conscious consumers by incorporating yogurt—yes, the same yogurt you eat for breakfast with granola—as a key ingredient.

However, the product faced significant challenges due to consumer confusion. The concept of using yogurt in a hair product was unfamiliar to many, and the packaging and marketing did not effectively communicate the product’s purpose. This led to some misunderstandings, including consumers mistakenly thinking the shampoo was edible, which ultimately limited its appeal.

Despite its initial novelty, Clairol Touch of Yogurt Shampoo did not achieve commercial success and was discontinued due to poor sales and safety concerns. While it remains a curious footnote in the history of hair care products, it is an example of the importance of clear marketing and consumer education when introducing unconventional products.^[3]

7 The McDonald’s McDLT: A Hot and Cold Failure

The McDonald’s McDLT, introduced in the 1980s, was an innovative burger concept designed to keep the hot and cold components separate until consumption. The packaging featured a two-compartment Styrofoam container, ensuring that the hot beef patty and melted cheese remained hot while the lettuce and tomato stayed cool and crisp. This clever design aimed to deliver a fresher, more appealing burger experience to customers.

However, the McDLT faced significant backlash due to its environmentally unfriendly packaging. The extensive use of Styrofoam at a time when environmental awareness was growing led to public outcry. Despite its innovative approach to burger assembly, the environmental concerns overshadowed its culinary novelty. The McDLT was eventually discontinued, remembered more for its contribution to environmental debates than its unique design.^[4]

6 Microsoft Zune: The Failed iPod Rival

The Microsoft Zune, launched in 2006, was Microsoft’s ambitious attempt to compete with Apple’s iPod in the portable media player market. With features like wireless syncing and a subscription service for unlimited music, the Zune aimed to carve out its niche. It boasted a sleek design and a unique interface, hoping to attract users away from the dominant iPod.

However, the Zune struggled to gain traction due to several factors. Apple’s strong brand loyalty, superior marketing, and extensive iTunes ecosystem overshadowed Microsoft’s offering. Additionally, the Zune’s initial release was marred by software issues and a lack of third-party support. Despite its innovative features, the Zune failed to capture a significant market share and was discontinued in October 2011.

The Zune’s story is a classic example of how even well-designed products can falter without robust ecosystem support and effective marketing. Digital content distribution continued until 2012, when it was replaced by Xbox Music and Xbox Video brands, marking the end of Zune’s era.^[5]

5 The Rise and Fall of Google Glass

Google Glass, announced in 2012 and released to developers in 2013, promised to revolutionize how we interact with technology. These lightweight glasses featured a tiny display above the right eye, offering hands-free access to information, navigation, and communication. The potential seemed endless, and early adopters were excited about the future of augmented reality.

However, the excitement quickly turned to concern. Privacy issues were at the forefront, as the glasses’ built-in camera made it easy to record people without their knowledge. This led to a significant public backlash and the unflattering nickname “Glasshole” for users. The high price tag and limited functionality also made it a tough sell for most consumers. Technical issues like short battery life and overheating didn’t help either.

By 2015, Google stopped selling the Explorer Edition, though development continued with Enterprise Editions for specific industries. The story of Google Glass is a reminder that even the most innovative technology can struggle if it doesn’t address practical and societal concerns.^[6]

4 Sony Aibo Robot Dog: A High-Tech Pet That Couldn’t Fetch Success

The Sony Aibo, introduced in 1999, was a series of robotic dogs designed to bring the joys of pet ownership into the digital age. Aibo could learn tricks, recognize faces, and respond to voice commands, offering a blend of companionship and cutting-edge technology. It quickly became a symbol of innovation, appealing to tech enthusiasts and pet lovers alike.

Despite its impressive features, Aibo faced several hurdles. The high price tag, starting at around $2,000, made it inaccessible to many potential buyers. Additionally, while Aibo was technologically advanced, it couldn’t replicate the warmth and unpredictability of a living pet. The market for robotic pets was still developing, and many consumers weren’t ready to invest in such a novel product.

Sony discontinued the Aibo in 2006, citing financial difficulties and a strategic shift towards other business areas. Support for the final ERS-7 model ended in 2013, with repairs ceasing in 2014. Despite its commercial challenges, Aibo remains a beloved collector’s item and a significant milestone in consumer robotics history.^[7]

3 Apple Newton: Ahead of Its Time, but Still a Flop

The Apple Newton, launched in 1993, was one of the first personal digital assistants (PDAs) and showcased Apple’s vision for the future of handheld computing. Equipped with features like handwriting recognition and a touch screen, the Newton was a groundbreaking device intended to revolutionize how people managed their personal and professional lives.

However, the Newton faced numerous challenges from the start. Its handwriting recognition software, although innovative, was notoriously inaccurate and often the subject of ridicule. Moreover, the device was bulky and expensive, making it less appealing to the average consumer. Combined with strong competition from other PDAs, the Newton struggled to gain a foothold in the market.

Apple discontinued the Newton in 1998 after only five years on the market. Despite its commercial failure, the Newton laid the groundwork for future innovations in mobile computing, influencing devices like the iPhone and iPad. Today, it remains a fascinating chapter in Apple’s history, remembered as a product that was ahead of its time but not quite ready for prime time.^[8]

2 Nintendo Virtual Boy: A Visionary Misstep

The Nintendo Virtual Boy, launched in 1995, was a bold attempt to bring virtual reality to the gaming world. With its unique red-and-black 3D graphics and a head-mounted display, it aimed to provide an immersive gaming experience unlike any other console at the time. However, the Virtual Boy quickly became one of Nintendo’s most infamous failures.

The device faced numerous issues, from its uncomfortable design and eye-strain-inducing display to a limited game library that failed to captivate gamers. Additionally, its high price point and the emergence of more advanced gaming systems made the Virtual Boy a hard sell. Sales were dismal, and within a year, Nintendo discontinued the product. Despite its failure, the Virtual Boy remains a notable chapter in gaming history, illustrating the risks and challenges of pioneering new technology.^[9]

1 Cab-Over Trucks: The Decline of an Iconic Design

Cab-over trucks, once a common sight on American highways, began to decline in popularity during the 1980s. These trucks featured a flat-front design with the cab positioned over the engine, offering better maneuverability and shorter overall length, which was advantageous for urban deliveries and meeting length regulations.

However, several factors contributed to their decline. Safety concerns were significant, as the design offered less protection in frontal collisions compared to conventional trucks. Additionally, advancements in aerodynamics made conventional trucks more fuel-efficient, and their increased cab space provided greater comfort for long-haul drivers. The combination of these factors diminished the appeal of cab-over trucks in the American market.

While their popularity waned, cab-over trucks did not completely disappear and continue to be used in niche applications today. The shift away from cab-over trucks reflects broader trends in vehicle design that prioritize safety, efficiency, and driver comfort, marking the end of an era for this iconic design.^[10]

With modern medicine, we often become overconfident, believing we can conquer any ailment. Recent outbreaks indicate that we are not as secure as we believe. Diseases once thought conquered are making a comeback.

Their spread is due to many factors: globalization, technology, and the anti-vaccine movement. These outbreaks are not just found in remote jungle corners. Deadly diseases are also popping up in developed countries—even the United States. These outbreaks indicate that no one is safe from disease.

10 Leptospirosis

In 2009, the Philippines were ravaged twice: once by tropical storm Ketsana and again by “rat fever.” Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease spread through contact with animal urine. The warm floodwaters of post-Ketsana Philippines made an ideal breeding ground.

Leptospirosis killed 157 people there. Symptoms include headaches, fever, kidney failure, and profuse bleeding from the lungs. The mortality rate is 5–10 percent, and things might be getting worse. A 2015 outbreak in Mumbai, India, had a mortality rate of 33 percent.

This is not just a disease of tropical floodwaters. Dogs in the United States are the latest victims. In 2015, there were canine leptospirosis outbreaks in both California and Colorado. In 2009, the disease devastated the sea lions on the Oregon coast. Raccoons are major carriers, and up to 90 percent of urban rats carry the bacteria.

How long before this spreads to the United States’ human population?

9 Syphilis

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas—unless it’s venereal disease. A recent spike in Sin City syphilis infections reveals a new vulnerability to this ancient disease. It is a complex, multistage bacterial disease.

In its early stages, syphilis can easily be treated with penicillin. However, if left untreated, the later stages include a horrific set of symptoms: inability to control muscles, dementia, rashes, blindness, and death.

Researchers blame the rise of syphilis on changing sex behavior. Smartphone-based hookup apps are making anonymous sex easier and more frequent. Due to effective HIV medication, condoms are also being used less often.

Most of the reported cases are coming from gay men. Currently, Vegas has the highest rate of syphilis infection in the western United States. Only Washington, DC, surpasses it nationwide.

8 Measles

In 2000, the United States declared that measles had been “eliminated.” However, in 2014, a massive outbreak started in California’s Disneyland. Eighty-four individuals in 14 states were infected.

As of late 2016, there were 22 confirmed cases in Arizona alone. This doubles the annual rate of infections in the US. This is a grave concern because the disease can lead to encephalitis, blindness, and death.

The comeback is due to two factors: infections from abroad and the anti-vaccine movement. Measles infects 22 million worldwide each year. Epidemiologists traced the epicenter of the latest outbreak to Eloy Detention Center in Arizona. They believe that Patient Zero was from outside US borders.

Beginning in the 1960s, the US effectively eliminated measles with a comprehensive vaccination program. However, many are now refusing this precaution. When infected individuals come into contact with an unvaccinated population, the results can be disastrous.

7 Diphtheria

In 2015, Spain had its first case of diphtheria in 28 years. The victim was an eight-year-old boy from Catalonia. Despite Spain’s free and widely available vaccine program, the parents had decided not to inoculate their son.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, diphtheria ravaged the Iberian Peninsula. One particularly bad outbreak was known as the “year of strangulations.”

Caused by Cornynebacterium diphtheriea, diphtheria typically targets young children and adults over 60. It claims the life of 1 in 10 patients infected with the disease.

The bacteria contain a toxin which kills human tissue. It leaves dead membranes that coat the throat, making it hard to breathe and swallow. The toxin can also enter the bloodstream and attack internal organs.

6 Typhoid Fever

Typhoid fever is a deadly bacterial disease related to foodborne salmonella. There are 16–30 million cases a year, resulting in 600,000 deaths. The disease is a particular threat in developing counties with a high population density and inadequate sanitation.

Typhoid fever is usually contracted from eating or drinking contaminated water. It symptoms are high fever, abdominal pain, headaches, and nausea. It is particularly virulent among children and has a high infant mortality rate. The disease can be treated with better sanitation, safe drinking water, and improved hygiene.

Typhoid is on the rise, even in the United States. Oklahoma recently saw an outbreak just north of the state capital. The epidemic was traced back to a single family. It was believed that they contracted the disease outside the United States. Florida has also seen a rapid increase in typhoid.

5 Polio

The Americas, Europe, the western Pacific, and Southeast Asia have all been declared polio free by the World Health Organization. This gives the illusion that polio is a thing of the past. It is not.

As the World Health Organization was on the verge of declaring Africa polio free, two cases emerged in Nigeria. The remote northern Borno State is under the control of Boko Haram, the radical Islamic militants. Health workers have limited windows to vaccinate the populace, usually after Boko Haram abandons a location. Afghanistan and Pakistan have also seen outbreaks of this “wild” polio.

Ukraine also had a recent polio outbreak. What differentiates their crisis is that it was contracted from the weakened polio strains in the vaccine. Given that only half of Ukraine’s population is immunized, this could have grave results.

4 Bubonic Plague

The bubonic plague is horrific. Symptoms include fever, abdominal pain, swollen lymph nodes, and nausea. It was responsible for the Black Death of the 13th century, which killed 60 percent of the European population. Another 19th-century epidemic killed an estimated 10 million.

One recent fatal case caused Chinese officials to quarantine the entire city of Yumen. Last year, an outbreak in Madagascar left 39 dead. Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico are also hotbeds for the disease. There is an average of seven cases per year in the United States. However, there were more than 15 cases in 2015.

Yersinia pestis, the bacteria that causes the disease, can be successfully treated by antibiotics. Early treatment reduces the mortality rate to 16 percent. However, if left untreated, the fatality rate can be as high as 93 percent. Antibiotic-resistant strains have been identified, causing great concern among epidemiologists.

3 Leprosy

Officially known as Hansen’s disease, leprosy can lead to disfigurement, blindness, and even death. Considered by many to be an ancient ailment, leprosy is alive and well. The United States has an average of 150 cases a year.

Most thought these were the result of exposure to the disease in remote corners of the globe, where leprosy lingers. However, recent studies have revealed that these are homegrown infections passed on by the most unlikely of sources: armadillos.

The high number of leprosy infections in southern states prompted epidemiologists to explore the possible link to the armored critters. Analysis revealed that infected armadillos and humans share a genetically similar strain. The unique strain was found in 25 human patients and 28 armadillos. Fortunately, the disease is treatable with antibiotics if caught early.

2 Dengue Fever

Dengue fever is ravaging the tropics. This mosquito-borne disease causes fever, joint pain, and possibly death. In late 2016, a 13-year-old girl in Karachi passed away from the disease. This makes her the fourth victim in Pakistan’s recent outbreak.

In 2015, there were 40 dengue fever deaths in Pakistan alone. Worldwide, the yearly death toll is near 20,000. The United States is not immune. In 2015, Hawaii saw the largest outbreak of the disease since it attained statehood, with 261 confirmed cases.

The dengue fever vaccine Dengvaxia recently hit the market after 20 years of development. Unfortunately, this vaccine might be as deadly as the disease. Dengue fever works by antibody-dependent enhancement. The antibodies developed from first exposure are not only useless, but they actually aid the virus the second time around.

People need to be careful as to how they administer the vaccine, or it could lead to more hospital visits. It is most effective when given to people who have already had the disease.

1 Cholera

Cholera is deadly diarrhea. Before 2010, Haiti had not experienced a rash of cholera in over 100 years. However, in 2010, infections sprang up along the Meille River. Over 400 UN peacekeepers were housed in this area. They were fresh from Nepal, which was in the midst of a cholera crisis. The base’s waste flowed into a part of the Meille.

The United Nation’s official apology came late for the 10,000 killed in the outbreak. The UN could have reduced the epidemic by 91 percent if they had treated the peacekeepers for cholera—at a cost of $1 per patient. The Haitian outbreak is still not under control.

But this disease is not limited to underdeveloped tropical backwaters. South Korea recently reported its first homegrown cholera infection in 15 years. During the 19th century, this disease ravaged the region. It killed 400,000—nearly half the population. South Korean officials do not believe the recent outbreak will lead to an epidemic. But no one can be certain.

+Further Reading

These diseases aren’t the only things making a come back! So are these lists from the archives:

10 Dreadful Symptoms Of Deadly Diseases
Top 10 Gruesome Disfiguring Diseases
Top 10 Odd Diseases With No Known Cause
10 Horrifying Diseases You Definitely Don’t Want To Catch

Abraham Rinquist is the Executive Director of the Winooski, Vermont, branch of the Helen Hartness Flanders Folklore Society. He is the coauthor of Codex Exotica and Song-Catcher: The Adventures of Blackwater Jukebox.

Trends are like the seasons. They come, and they go. Sometimes, trends become stronger than ever. Other times, we move to the next one quickly. Many things from the 20th century became obsolete as we moved into the digital era, when being equipped with a mobile phone gives you access to so much.

However, many seemingly old-fashioned things are making a big comeback in 2020 for some interesting reasons.

Top 10 Extremely Cool Retro Style Gifts

10 Record Players And Vinyls

For many years, records were the optimal way to listen to music. People brought up in the age of vinyl fondly remember their visits to record stores to check out the latest releases and add them to their growing collections.

But as the digital age approached and tapes and CDs changed the industry, vinyl became obsolete. Physical media itself became outdated in the 2000s when streaming and downloading became the number one way to listen to music.

In 2020, statistics say that record player sales are rising and that younger generations are collecting vinyls.^[1] It seems that having a physical copy of something—in some cases, records that are 40–50 years old—is better than just having a digital download.

Nowadays, special-edition vinyls are often released alongside digital albums, singles, and even film soundtracks. We see this as a reverse trend of what happened in the early digital age when everybody tossed their CDs. Some people now regret their decisions to throw away their vinyl records.

9 Classic Video Games

Over the last decade, many classic video games have made comebacks with mixed success. Few have really been blockbusters.

However, 2020 promises to be the year in which one of the most significant games of the 20th century is recreated. Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 7 is slated for release in April. This follows a trend over the past few years in which blockbuster games such as Crash Bandicoot and Spyro have been remastered or remade.^[2]

If Final Fantasy 7 becomes a commercial success, video game companies will likely follow the trend and remake games that were successful years ago. On top of this, many classic video games were rendered obsolete when older cables like SCART were switched to HDMI. Currently, these games can only be accessed by an emulator. But many are being made available on both iOS and Android so they can be enjoyed by new generations of gamers.

8 Mullets

The mullet—the hairstyle of the 1980s—is making a comeback. Just ask famous All Blacks rugby player Jack Goodhue. The hairstyle dubbed “business at the front, party at the back” was hugely popular in the 1980s and rivals the mustache as a symbol of the decade. Then came the 1990s, and many people had their mullets chopped off.

However, with the popular success of shows such as Stranger Things, the mullet is returning as an edgy and trendsetting hairstyle in the new decade. According to research from The Guardian, hairdressers in London are cutting at least “one or two” per week and the increase is noticeable.^[3]

The reemergence of the mullet has been linked to a more open and accepting society in which gender-neutral haircuts are in fashion. The mullet is one of the most gender-neutral haircuts possible. Perhaps this explains its newfound popularity.

7 Unions

During the 1950s and ’60s, the UK and the US had many people in their workforces represented by labor unions. In the US, about 35 percent of workers were said to be unionized in the 1950s.^[4]

That number now stands at just 10–11 percent. Some millennials and members of Generation Z simply don’t know what a labor union is. In today’s service-driven economy, workers have been unable to unionize as their manufacturing counterparts did decades ago.

However, in the last two years, the union movement has become “stronger than it has been in decades” according to Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO. In fact, the movement is in the beginning of a resurgence.

A 2015 Gallup poll found that 58 percent of Americans expressed a favorable opinion of unions. If this level of support can be harnessed into actual paying memberships, we could be looking at a revival of labor unions in the workplace.

6 Stephen King

Although his achievements stretch beyond a single genre, master horror novelist Stephen King hit his peak of popularity in the 1970s and ’80s with classic novels such as Carrie, The Shining, and It. During this period, many of his works were turned into blockbuster movies, most famously The Shining starring Jack Nicholson.

However, during the late 1990s and early 2000s, King spent a good deal of his time writing books for The Dark Tower series and his popularity arguably waned. Adaptations of his novels also slowed. As a result, many millennials grew up without being interested in or exposed to his writing.^[5]

However, the rise of streaming services like Netflix and Hulu and the immediate need to create content has caused a resurgence in the popularity of King’s novels and the film and TV adaptations of his work. In the last few years alone, King adaptations have included It and It Chapter Two, The Dark Tower, Pet Sematary, In the Tall Grass, and the hugely popular show Castle Rock. There have also been TV shows like 11.22.63 on Hulu and The Outsider on HBO.

It is truly remarkable how much content based on Stephen King’s fiction is currently being churned out. This has given his illustrious career a second wind in the modern era. If young people didn’t know Stephen King when they were growing up, they will surely know him now.

10 Memes And Trends That Are Secretly Centuries Old

5 Houseplants

During the 1950s and ’60s, many homeowners used houseplants to add an interesting decorative appeal to their rooms. This trend was largely gone by the 1990s as technology and flashier house decorations took over.

However, houseplants such as spider plants and snake plants are making a comeback. According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), average sales of houseplants skyrocketed by 60 percent in the second half of 2019—thanks largely to the rise of Instagram and the culture of proudly posting pictures of your house.^[6]

With a rising interest in veganism and the climate crisis, people seem to be ditching traditional ornaments and buying houseplants. Some individuals attribute this to the millennials’ wish to take care of something that’s real in a world that’s becoming more virtual by the day.

4 Shag Carpets

During the 1970s, the most popular form of interior design was the overuse of shag—those extra-thick, bouncy, and fluffy rugs or carpets you see in films such as Austin Powers or TV shows like Mad Men. At the Summer 1970 Home Furnishings Market, the story was shag in a variety of colors and forms. It was even used on walls.

By the 1990s, shag had been replaced with beige rugs and laminate flooring. However, shag may be set to make a dramatic comeback. According to online reports, shag rugs are becoming a trendy option to spruce up living areas and make them cozier.^[7]

Although the specific carpet designs of the ’70s are being left behind, modern fashions in shag have given it a new lease on life. This may be the beginning of a trend that recreates the styles of the 1970s as people seek more vibrancy and unique twists in their homes to promote through social media.

3 Social Boundaries

Before the days of social media, individuals had social boundaries. Other people did not know where you had been, whom you had been with, or what you had been doing. People also didn’t know what you were cooking or eating. Sometimes, they weren’t even aware of what you did for a living. If someone wanted to get in touch with you, there was no way to DM.

The boundaries in the old days were both limiting and liberating. Switch to the digital era, and all this information is widely available in the public domain. Many people share every aspect of their lives for the world to see, and the lack of boundaries in their private lives has never been more obvious.

However, it seems that a backlash is occurring in 2020. People are suddenly ditching social media and striving for more social boundaries. They are leaving Facebook as well as blocking and muting more individuals on other social media accounts. Celebrities and sports stars have been noticeably dropping social media after citing the pressure it brings.

More people are interested in living minimalist lifestyles that harken back to the pre-digital era. Privacy and the joy of missing out (JOMO) are slowly but surely replacing intrusion and the fear of missing out (FOMO).^[8]

2 Tea Strainers

Prior to the invention of the humble tea bag, people made tea with different types of infusers and strainers. These strainers contained loose leaves which were said to brew a stronger and more flavorful cup of tea.

However, in the early 20th century in the United States, small silken bags were used to package loose tea leaves and customers accidentally dipped these bags straight in the water. From then on, infusers and strainers were increasingly put on the back burner until it became common to brew tea with a tea bag.^[9]

However, in recent years, tea straining has been making a comeback as young people prefer the less processed option of loose leaf. As millennials and younger generations turn their backs on mass-produced items in favor of supporting locally produced, fresher options, it seems that changes are also heating up in the tea industry.

1 World Division And Mistrust

Unfortunately, not all trends on this list are positive. In 2020, it seems that the world is sliding back into Cold War mistrust and paranoia, largely driven by political factions that seek to gain power from it. In the past few years, some have cited the election examples of Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro while others look to Bernie Sanders and Nancy Pelosi as polarizing figures.

But these are simply a sign of the times in 2020.

The emergence of racial intolerance in various regions across the globe and the use of social media to spread this message has made it feel like the world has taken a step backward. The climate crisis is often belittled and not taken seriously (or not believed at all).

Countries like Russia are still using covert tactics to manipulate world politics and create mistrust. It is no wonder that the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has its Doomsday Clock currently sitting at 100 seconds to midnight. They describe the world as perilous and chaotic.^[10]

This is the closest that the Doomsday Clock has ever been to midnight. Let’s hope we follow the trend of the 20th century and eventually steer clear of nuclear disaster.

10 Modern Fashion Trends And Their Fascinating Histories

Researchers forecast that the international market for video games will grow at nearly 13% a year until, by 2030, it will be worth around $580 billion. With such an incredible amount of money at stake, game developers are constantly trying to find a game that will capture the public’s imagination and be the next big thing.

Ever-developing technology means that games are more and more sophisticated. Companies are spending huge sums in the hunt for success. Games appear and quickly disappear without leaving much of a mark. Yet, despite technological progress, some older games persist and become popular again.

We have recently seen board games (Monopoly is an example) surge in popularity. And some of the reasons why this is true of board games also apply to old video games. Nostalgia is one reason. People remember playing something years ago and want to take another look at it. Often, they are interested in something other than the latest version of an old favorite—they want to play the same game they played way back when. Familiarity is comforting.

Another motive connected to nostalgia is that players know what to expect. They remember the game and know how to play it. They don’t have to study a manual or watch videos on YouTube to learn how to play. A third reason is that these games are often simple and straightforward. The task is clear, and a player doesn’t get bogged down in complexity.

Our list contains games of various types, from challenges to role-plays. Some have never entirely disappeared, and some have made comebacks that seem surprising. Here are ten classic video games making a comeback.

Related: 10 Bizarre Video Games That Actually Exist

10 Pac Man

First released in 1980, Pac-Man became the iconic game of that decade. Because video games were a novelty, almost any game would find players. But Pac-Man’s simple but attractive graphics, loveable characters, and simple game plan turned players into addicts.

It might have been easy to play, but it was tough to master. A player could always try to get a higher score next time. And players spent an endless amount of quarters trying to outscore themselves and their friends. You could never win at Pac-Man because there was no end-point.

So far, Pac-Man has raked in over $14 billion and sold around 48 million copies. In 2005, Guinness World Records named it the most successful coin-operated game of all time.

Its popularity waned as more sophisticated games appeared, but constant tweaks and its wide availability drew in new generations of fans.

9 World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft came onto the market in 2004 and was an immediate hit. Critics and players loved it, and it quickly became the most successful multiplayer online role-playing game ever, with an astonishing 12 million subscribers in 2010.

The developer, Blizzard Entertainment, released World of Warcraft to build on the Warcraft franchise that had started with the release of Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994. This real-time strategy game reached a wide public, but the public turned away from these types of games in the early 2000s. World of Warcraft was the answer that reached a new audience and ensured that the world of Azeroth continued to draw people in.

Expansion packs keep the game fresh and ensure that having made one comeback, it won’t need another.

8 Doom

Doom is a phenomenon. Originally released in 1993, it’s had its ups and downs but remains popular. When Windows released the Windows 95 operating system, more computers had Doom loaded on them than Windows 95. Over the years, the creators have released new versions of the Doom franchise. But the original keeps coming back.

Other first-person shooter games came onto the market, but Doom was always the one they had to beat.

People still find the original Doom entertaining because it’s easy to navigate and not over-complicated.

7 Dragon Quest

It’s said that when a new edition of Dragon Quest appeared on the market in Japan, people would call in sick to get their hands on a copy before their friends. True or not, the tale shows how popular Dragon Quest was in its native country.

Dragon Quest first came out in 1986 and was very popular in Japan. This popularity didn’t spread to the United States, where sales were sluggish despite good reviews. In the States, the game was called Dragon Warrior until the release of Dragon Quest VIII in 2005. Then, Americans started looking at previous releases.

The developers claim that its popularity relies on the fact that anyone can play it at the level that suits them best. You don’t need to plow through a manual before you start playing; it’s intuitive and fun.

6 Myst

A game that gives a player little information, no clear reason to play, and no obvious enemies is destined for the scrap heap. But Myst was a surprise hit, and critics call it one of the best video games ever made.

Players must work out what they should do and explore Myst’s interactive world. There are puzzles that the player has to solve, but there is no shooting. Myst is a mind game that players love.

People loved its impressive graphics and the challenge, but other games came along and overshadowed Myst. But it keeps coming back. The original version is still a challenge and still fresh. Some people turn back to Myst for nostalgic reasons, and new generations of players have a look at it to see what all the fuss was about. But once in, they are hooked.

5 Chrono Trigger

Some reviewers have described Chrono Trigger as a masterpiece. Square, the developer, released the original in 1995 and clearly had invested a lot of time and love in creating what was an immediate success. This role-playing game has a team of adventurers traveling through time to prevent a catastrophe. Gamers loved it.

Despite its age, the graphics still look great today. The well-developed characters and the soundtrack keep the game fresh, and it still compares well with more modern games.

Chrono Trigger has remained popular through the years, but there are regular surges of new gamers discovering it for the first time.

4 EarthBound

Perhaps American gamers didn’t like being parodied in EarthBound. This Japanese role-playing game was set in Eagleland, a fictional parody of the United States. This 1994 game was a success in Japan—where it was known as Mother 2—but made little impact on American gamers. The developers changed the name in the United States because Mother 2 was the sequel to a game that never appeared on the American market.

The game was intentionally flaky and marketed in the U.S. under the slogan “This Game Stinks.” Americans took the creators at their word and didn’t buy it.

Or most Americans didn’t. It developed a small cult following and made its comeback largely through word of mouth. Critics, most of whom had originally panned the game, came to see it as interesting and different. Its popularity increased, and people are still playing it today.

3 Quake

Sinister and dark, Quake is a first-person shooter game developed by id Software. In the single-player mode, the gamer tries to stop an alien known as Quake. Quake has taken over a human-designed teleporter and is using the device to send kamikaze squads into our world to test our ability to fight back.

When it was originally released in 1996, critics praised Quake, which was immediately popular with gamers. Quake was the successor to Doom and did well for many years as new versions came out.

The original game looks dated, but people have been giving it another look even though it is unsophisticated by modern standards. Perhaps people turn back to it precisely because it’s dated and fairly simple. It’s video gaming’s answer to comfort food.

2 Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic the Hedgehog has scuttled from video consoles to appear in books, comics, and films. Add merchandise to these media, and you have a cultural icon. First released in 1991 by Sega, Sonic and his battles with the evil Doctor Eggman were, for many, their introduction to online gaming.

When it came out, Sonic was the obvious competitor to Mario and became just as popular. Later versions of Sonic have yet to be as well-received as the original. But Sonic has remained a favorite since the beginning.

A recent boost in popularity is perhaps because the first Sonic fans now have children of their own and are introducing them to Sonic’s world.

1 Tetris

The Tetris website modestly claims:

“Tetris is the addictive puzzle that started it all, embracing our universal desire to create order out of chaos.”

Originally designed by Soviet software engineer Alexey Pajitnov, Tetris has been frustrating players since 1984. Like Pac-Man, Tetris is a game you can’t win; it will always beat you. The best that a player can do is to better their previous score.

Tetris never went away, but it faded into the background. It was a game that everyone knew, but few played. This has changed. Its availability on virtually all platforms means you can play it anywhere, anytime, when you have a few moments to fill.

It’s simple and addictive. And this is the reason why it’s coming back.

When making donations, it can be hard to find the right charity. You want a charity that supports a worthwhile cause, but you also want your money to have the most impact. To help you in your search, we have compiled a list of ten little charities making big impacts on the world. (Be prepared to have your heartstrings tugged.)

So, whether you are making a large donation or a small one, choosing a charity carefully can help your money reach a good cause and go a long way. This list is in no particular order; these are all worthwhile charities that will continue to benefit others. Let’s get into it!

10 Acadia Center

The first organization on our list is based in Maine but has offices in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island too. Named for the national park, the Acadia Center is focused on research, advocacy, and generally planning to find ways to mitigate changes to the earth’s climate.

According to its website, this organization “Forms strategic alliances and engages all stakeholders—legislators, business and community leaders, advocacy and environmental justice groups—to press for next-generation solutions and ensure long-term results.”

The Acadia Center’s targets include:

• Replacing gas cars with electric cars
• Advancing environmentalist policies
• Pushing for a transition to non-traditional energy sources

They also state a specific goal with a specific deadline. Acadia Center’s overall goal is for the Northeast United States to cut carbon dioxide creation by half or more by 2030.

9 Puppies Behind Bars

Who doesn’t love puppies? The Puppies Behind Bars charity helps in several ways, but its adorable name references the gist of its mission. Puppies Behind Bars trains inmates to raise dogs for the following services:

1. Service dog for wounded veterans and first responders
2. Law enforcement dog to detect explosives
3. Therapy dogs for police departments

Inmates are provided with a puppy to train; at just eight weeks old, the puppy is taught basic skills and commands. At 24 months old, the puppy is returned to Puppies Behind Bars for further assessment and training and eventually is placed with its full-time handler.

Inmates can learn valuable skills from caring for a Puppies Behind Bars puppy, such as providing love and care to someone else. They also learn to provide something positive to their community rather than negative. The final benefit of Puppies Behind Bars includes the services the dog provides to their full-time handlers.

If you love dogs and their services to others, Puppies Behind Bars is a great organization to support.

8 Charity: Water

This charity, as it sounds, is focused on providing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing countries. Their founder, Scott Harrison, transitioned from a nightclub promoter to the founder of a non-profit after a life-changing experience near Liberia, where he saw the dangerous effects of dirty water.

Since Charity: Water was founded in 2006, they have funded over 90,000 projects, serving more than 14 million people across 29 countries. What we find refreshing is they are upfront about where their donations go and what they have achieved because of the donations.

7 To Write Love on Her Arms

The next charity on our list relates to something that affects almost every single one of us to some degree. Over the last decade or more, mental health has become a greater focus for our society. Many of the stigmas surrounding mental health have lessened or disappeared entirely. This organization, To Write Love on Her Arms, is a charity with mental health goals in mind.

Their website states that they aim to find help and present hope to people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. To Write Love on Her Arms was founded in 2007 by Jame Tworkowski and named for a story he wrote about his friend (who was struggling with mental illness) on the website MySpace. Since its small beginnings, To Write Love on Her Arms has donated over $2.5 million to treatment and recovery from mental illness, depression, addiction, and self-harm.

While the charity’s work is impressive, we know that they have more work to do. Mental health issues are something that many people struggle with daily, and this great organization aims to continue its work.

6 FSHD Society

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, “Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a rare genetic muscle disease that affects the muscles of your child’s face, shoulders, upper arms, and lower legs. These muscles weaken and shrink (atrophy).” Unfortunately, there is no cure for this condition.

Fortunately, however, the FSHD Society is there for patients and families to turn to. Since being founded in 1991 by two FSHD patients, Steve Jacobsen and Daniel Perez, this charity has grown a lot, investing more than 10 million dollars into determining the causes of FDHD.

According to the FSHD website, they have four main goals:

1. To solve the biological disease process
2. Build infrastructure to accelerate research
3. Improve nationwide patient care
4. Expedite treatment development

FSHD has already accomplished a great deal since its founding in 1991. However, there is still no cure for this disease, and this organization can always benefit from additional support and more people learning about its efforts.

5 India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF)

The next charity on our list is based in North Bethesda, Maryland. Despite its location, the organization focuses on India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. India Development and Relief Fund emphasize national empowerment in these areas. In their words, “Our method puts power, not charity, in the hands of the poor.”

Charity efforts often make more difference when they are locally supported and run. IDRF subscribes to this idea. In the countries of Sri Lanka, Nepal and India, the IDRF is fighting several issues. They are fighting poverty, lack of westernized education, lack of infrastructure, and more. This fantastic organization has won its fair share of awards for transparency and accountability.

4 Pencils of Promise

Pencils of Promise is an impactful organization with a great origin story. Their founder Adam Braun asked a young boy in India what he wanted most in the world, and the boy told him he wanted a pencil. The boy’s desire for a pencil inspired Braun, and he made it his life’s mission to help provide education and educational supplies for those in need.

Since then, Pencils of Promise has supported teachers, training more than 3,000 around the globe. Furthermore, they have helped to build or improve schools in poor areas. Having a clean workplace is vital for students to do their best.

Across Laos, Ghana, Nicaragua, and Guatemala, over 100,000 students are currently enrolled in their programs. From a simple pencil to providing many teachers and students with support! Despite being a little charity, Pencils of Promise has made a very big impact.

3 Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW)

Due to the huge wealth involved, many environmentalist charities exist these days, but the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide is unique. ELAW is focused on law. Boasting members across 80 countries, this organization truly is globalist.

ELAW was founded in 1989, making it one of the longest-running organizations on our list. They concentrate on their goals through the use of advocates, such as scientists and environmental lawyers. ELAW has over 300 advocates involved, including 13 who have won the prestigious Goldman Prize for grassroots environmentalists, dating back to 1990.

2 Oxfam International

Another international organization, Oxfam International, includes 17 organizations. These 17 organizations collaborate with local communities in more than 90 countries worldwide. Oxfam has shown a commitment to grassroots organizations that work to fight poverty.

Oxfam helps raise awareness, provides support, and responds to crises. Along with poverty, Oxfam International aims to take on all the latest things. With such a broad umbrella, it is no wonder that Oxfam International has been helping people since World War II. As they put it on their website, “We believe in equality. That’s it. Plain and simple.” I think that is a message that we can all get behind.

1 National Pediatric Cancer Foundation

The National Pediatric Cancer Foundation was founded in 1991 by two mothers, Melissa Helms and Risa Tramel. The two met in Florida under sad circumstances. At the time, both of their daughters were infants and undergoing treatment for cancer. Fortunately, their daughters both recovered, but the story does not end there. Because of this shared experience, Helms and Tramel recognized the need to fight pediatric cancer. So they formed the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation.

Years later, in 2005, they formed Project Sunshine, a program designed to identify top doctors and researchers and expedite a potential cure for pediatric cancer. Since Project Sunshine began in 2005, they have dedicated more than 30 million dollars to research for pediatric cancer and have funded four clinical trials. This is quite an impact for a charity that just started with two mothers in a crisis.

People sometimes talk about that eureka moment when something occurs to them, and a great discovery is made. And it’s called a moment because it seems like it happens instantly. But if you spend years working on something before that moment, did it really happen instantly? Or was it a discovery years in the making? History is full of examples of discoveries that took an incredibly long time, some might argue too long, to make. In some cases these discoveries took decades.

10. The Mystery of Bobby Dunbar

Bobby Dunbar disappeared in the summer of 1912 when he was just four-years-old. His family had gone camping in Louisiana and the boy wandered off in the night sometime. At first it was assumed he’d drowned in the lake, but his hat was later found much further away. Suddenly, the idea that he had been kidnapped came to mind. What started as a tragic tale soon became more and more bizarre.

Nearly a year later, a drifter traveling with a young boy in Mississippi was arrested. The boy was about Bobby’s age and the man’s story made no sense. He said he’d been traveling with the boy for a year but his mother, Julia Anderson, had given permission. Anderson agreed, but she said it had just been for a few days. The Dunbar family went to see the boy and accounts of whether the boy recognized them vary. But finally, Mrs. Dunbar identified the boy as Bobby based on some moles and a court agreed. The Dunbars took custody of the boy and returned home.  

Suspicious that things were hinky, a newspaper paid to bring Anderson to town. She was shown Bobby and four other boys of the same age. She couldn’t identify the one that was supposedly her son and none recognized her. The next day she was able to identify him but by then it was too late. She went home alone.

Bobby Dunbar was raised by his parents, became a man, had a family of his own, and died in 1966. Years later, the granddaughters of Dunbar and Anderson met up to put the story to rest. Through DNA testing they were able to confirm Bobby Dunbar was not actually Bobby Dunbar at all. He really had been the son of Julia Anderson and the real Bobby Dunbar had never been found. 

9. A Missing Ring Turned Up After 47 Years

Losing a ring is not all that uncommon an event. People probably lose jewelry all the time, and it has to be upsetting in the moment but you eventually get over it. Debra McKenna no doubt got over losing her class ring in a Maine department store back in 1973 when she’d taken it off to wash her hands and forgotten about it by mistake. Since it was just a class ring and not something like an engagement ring, though the man she eventually married gave it to her, she probably never thought about it again until 2020. 

The ring showed up in the mail in 2020 after it was found by a man named Marko Saarinen. Saarinen didn’t find it in that department store, however. Nor did he find it in Maine. He was using a metal detector in a forest near a town called Kaarina in southwest Finland. 

The man read the inscription, SM, and looked up the school’s alumni association. They tracked down the owner, and his wife, and got the ring back to its rightful owner. 

8. The Greatest Ball Game of All-Time

The 1960 World Series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Yankees has been called the greatest world series of all-time. The Yankees were seen as the dominant powerhouse team but the Pirates took them all the way to game seven when Bill Mazeroski of the Pirates hit a game winning home run in the 9th inning to take the series. It was the first time a series had been won with a home run; it was an incredible upset and it was down to the wire. It was everything sports fans love. And it seemed like it was lost. 

For years there were no tapes whatsoever of that final game. VCRs didn’t exist in 1960 so fans were not recording it at home. TV stations reused tapes back in the day so all old games from before the 1970s had been erased. Fortunately, no one had accounted for how big of a baseball fan Bing Crosby was.

Crosby, who was part owner of the Pirates, was afraid to watch the game live. He thought he’d jinx their chances. Instead, he went to Europe and had the game recorded so he could watch it later. Then he stored the tape in his wine cellar where the precise temperature and humidity perfectly preserved it until 2010 when it was discovered again. The game was restored and transferred to DVD and can now be watched by fans once more.

7. The De-Extinction of the Lord Howe Stick Insect

Species go extinct at an alarming rate with some estimates saying a few dozen species vanish every day. One of the species we came to terms with losing in 1983 was the Lord Howe Island stick insect.That was when it was officially declared extinct, though no one had seen one since about 1920.

The bugs were discovered in 1918 with a shipwreck on the very tiny, mostly desolate island. Rats from the ship are believed to have invaded and eventually killed off the native insect population and that, as they say, was that. 

Despite their apparent extinction, in 2001 some of the insects were rediscovered on a tiny little volcanic outcropping called Ball’s Pyramid, 23 km off the coast of the main island. The island has barely any vegetation on it at all but what it does have turned out to be a habitat for the bugs. They identified just 24 of the bugs. 

One breeding pair was rescued and taken to Australia. From them, 13,000 eggs were harvested and now a breeding program has been set up in zoos around the world.

6. Glass Sponge Reefs 

The world below the waves is still a mystery and every day we discover new creatures that live in the ocean’s depths. By that same token, we lose many species as well. One thing we thought was long since dead is the glass sponge. These sponges are known to build reefs, growing up to nearly 46 centimeters tall, and the reefs they create become habitats for all kinds of fish and other marine species. They use silica dissolved in the sea water to build delicate skeleton-like structures, which is where the glass name comes from.

Obviously this is a good thing for the ecosystem and the sponges are a species worthy of protection. That’s ironic, of course, because up until recently they were thought to be extinct. And not just a little extinct, either. It was believed they had died off about 100 million years ago. Their remains, called mummies, are well known and a 2,900-kilometer reef of ancient glass sponges stretches from Spain to Romania.

In 1987, off the coast of BC in Canada, new reefs of living glass sponges were discovered, proving the ancient species had not vanished as once thought, they were just deeper than anyone expected them to be.

5. Randy Bachman’s Missing Guitar

Randy Bachman was famous for his work in ’70s rock bands Bachman Turner Overdrive and The Guess Who. His most famous songs include “Takin’ Care of Business” and “American Woman.” He wrote that last one on a 1957 Gretsch guitar that he’d bought as a teen and was basically his signature instrument. He learned how to play guitar using it and he played it all the time. Until 1977 when someone stole it from a hotel room. 

Bachman said he was remarkably possessive of the instrument. He slept with it and he chained it to hotel toilets so no one could steal it. But it was the day that his road manager took it, just long enough to check out of their hotel and then pick up the band, that someone managed to steal it for real.

For decades Bachman lamented the loss and was hopeful he’d find it again one day. In 2020, a fan named William Long who’d heard about the loss in a YouTube video figured he could help out with his own skills as an investigator. Remarkably, after learning the guitar inside and out and scouring the internet for images, Long discovered the guitar in Japan where a musician named Takeshi had bought it in 2016. He had no idea it had been stolen but agreed to trade Bachman for another one.

In the summer of 2022 at the Canadian embassy in Japan, Bachman met with Takeshi and traded him another guitar for the stolen one. He went out of his way to find a nearly identical guitar, in fact, made the same week and with a nearly identical serial number. 

4. A Car Discovered After 20 Years

Imagine how frustrated and angry you’d feel if you discovered someone had stolen your car. That happened in 1997 to a man in Frankfurt, Germany. He parked in a garage, went about his day and came back to find the car missing. Twenty years went by and then the garage was set to be torn down but the owners had one small snag – there was a car parked in it still. It was that man’s car.

Turns out the man had forgotten where he parked. For 20 years his car hadn’t moved at all, and so he discovered it exactly where he’d left it all those years ago. By that time it was rusted out and immobile, but definitely not stolen.

3. The Glowing Wounds of Civil War Soldiers

A lot of crazy things can happen in war but you rarely expect to hear about wounds glowing blue and healing faster than normal, at least not outside of science fiction. But that happened at the Civil War Battle of Shiloh and for years it remained a mystery.

The massive battle saw 40,000 Confederate soldiers square off against the Union with as many as 16,000 casualties. As The wounded waited up to two days in the mud for treatment,some began to glow blue at night. It was noted that those who did glow had a better survival rate. 

It wasn’t until 2001 that a non-supernatural explanation was discovered. A bioluminescent bacterium called Photorhabdus luminescens that lives in soil, which inhibits pathogen growth by secreting an antibiotic compound, could have been growing in the wounds and inadvertently saving the lives of the soldiers. 

2. Twins Accidentally Swapped at Birth

About 1 in 250 natural pregnancies results in twins. Fraternal twins are more common than identical twins and about two-thirds of those pregnant with twins will have fraternal twins. So there’s not necessarily any reason to be shocked if you have twins and they don’t look alike. Certainly, in 1974 in the Canary Islands when twins Begona and Delia were born, their mother wouldn’t have been suspicious.

It would be 28 years before anyone realized that there was a third baby at the hospital that day. A girl named Beatriz was accidentally swapped for Delia and the two sisters, who were identical, were now believed to just be fraternal since of course Beatriz didn’t look like her sister. 

The women only found out when a friend of one of the twins met the other, got confused, and arranged a meeting. A DNA test soon followed, and the twins realized the truth of what happened. Despite that, they were reluctant to share the news. Their biological mother learned first but the mother who raised Delia wasn’t told for almost 9 years. She didn’t take it well. 

1. Relocating Bouvet Island

You may have heard that buying land is a good investment because no one makes it any more. That’s mostly true, but it doesn’t mean you can still discover land every once in a while. Sometimes it just gets lost and needs to be re-found, which is what happened to Bouvet Island.

Bouvet Island is the most remote place in the world and 1,750 kilometers from Antarctica, its closest neighbor, and an island no one would or should ever want to visit. It was discovered in 1739 and consists of rock and ice and a handful of penguins. Plus it’s where Alien vs Predator was set. Explorer Jean-Baptiste Bouvet de Lozier discovered it on an Antarctic exploration mission and then promptly mislabelled it on a map such that it went missing again for another 69 years because no one knew how to find it. 

When it finally was rediscovered, it was hundreds of kilometers from where Bouvet had recorded it so no one was even sure if it was the same place. It wasn’t until 1898 when it finally had a fixed location on maps.

Viruses are a particularly fearsome “germ.” Though viral infections may resemble bacterial infections, antibiotics are useless against viruses. There are very few dedicated antivirals to kill them off. But who even knows if ‘kill’ is the right word to use for something that stretches the definition of ‘alive’? Viruses: they’re like microscopically tiny zombie-robots, hijacking cells and turning them into factories for themselves. But humanity can exploit viruses’ supremely odd workings and sneaky ways for their own purposes.

10. Blue Eggs

If you’ve ever wanted to find some green eggs for some Dr. Seuss-style green eggs and ham, you’re in luck. Thanks to a virus, you don’t even need the eggs of some exotic wild bird.

Most chicken eggs are white or brown, but a few chickens lay eggs that are green or blue. These breeds include the Chilean Mapuche breed, its descendant breed, the Araucana, and the Chinese Dongxiang and Lushi breeds.

Two things are responsible for the colorful eggs: viral infections and blood. Long ago, a Mapuche fowl was infected by a retrovirus, a virus which can insert its genetic code into the host’s. The retrovirus’s effect was to trigger the buildup of biliverdin in the eggshell, a breakdown product from a part of hemoglobin that can cause a greenish tint to bruises.

The Dongxiang and Lushi breeds developed their colorful eggs independently, but from the same viral cause. According to historical evidence, the Dongxiang breed has had the bluish-greenish egg mutation since at least 500 years ago, and the Mapuche fowl since between 200 and 500 years ago. The trait is autosomal dominant, so chickens need only one parent with the mutation to lay the colorful eggs. However, those who have both copies of the gene variant lay darker-colored eggs.

9. Tulip-breaking virus

For the beauty of a virus-infected egg, one only has to pay a little more than usual. But for a beautiful virus-infected tulip in the Netherlands of the 17th century, one had to pay a lot more.

Back then, some tulips mysteriously had beautiful streaking and feathering patterns. These are called “broken” tulips. They were so expensive, they could leave their owners “broke” too, as well as the whole Dutch economy.

In 1623, some bulbs were sold for 1,000 florins, when the average annual income was 150 florins. Due to their high price, it cost less for some citizens to get still-life paintings of “broken” tulips than the tulips themselves.

Their beauty was short-lived, as the broken tulips’ bulbs shrank over successive generations. Eventually, it could no longer flower, and soon died. No one knew what caused tulips to break. People turned to all sorts of odd things, such as pigeon dung, to try to reproduce the pattern.

It was later discovered a virus called a potyvirus made the tulips break. The infection spread through aphids or by contact with an infected tulip.The virus worked by affecting the distribution of the pigment anthocyanin.

Today, such tulips are still costly, but for the damage potyvirus poses to gardens rather than their beauty. Potyvirus-infected tulips, once so valuable, are now carefully weeded out of gardens. Now there are specially-bred tulips that mimic the patterns of a “broken” tulip, without the virus.

8. Electricity-Making Virus

Computer viruses were named after their biological counterparts. Now, biological viruses lead back to electronics.

Some solids build electric charges when compressed. This is called the piezoelectric effect, and it’s most well-known in quartz watches. The piezoelectric effect has several applications, but materials used to make piezoelectric devices are toxic and difficult to work with. This limits the widespread use of the piezoelectric effect.

Berkeley Lab scientists could change that with a virus. They used the M13 phage virus, which targets bacteria and is harmless to humans. It’s useful for several reasons: it multiplies itself by the millions, naturally arranges itself into orderly films like chopsticks in a box, and is easy to genetically engineer. The ease in genetically engineering it helps scientists boost its voltage, and its self-arrangement helps with the goal of self-assembly in nanotechnology.

The Berkeley Lab scientists tested their approach by making a generator. The generator works by tapping a finger on a stamp-sized electrode patch coated with viruses. The viruses then turn the force of the tap into electricity, producing enough current to operate a liquid-crystal display (LCD).

With this technology, future devices could be charged from the vibrations of everyday tasks, such as climbing stairs or shutting doors.

7. Battery Virus

Some computer and smartphone owners worry about viruses that can overclock their devices’ batteries and leave them with a useless metal brick. But biological viruses could do the opposite: make batteries better.

In 2006, scientists at the University of Massachusetts (MIT) used a virus called M13 to make part of a battery. This part, the anode, is part of a pair of poles in the battery with opposite electrical charges. In 2009, the scientists completed the tricker task of making the anode’s counterpart, the cathode.

To make it work, the scientists had to tweak two of the virus’s genes. The first gene made proteins in the virus’s coat. The modifications allowed bits of iron phosphate to stick to it and bulge “like tiny fists all along the length of the virus,” in the words of study co-author Angela M. Belcher. The second gene let carbon nanotubes attach, forming a network of millions of electricity-conducting viruses.

To make similar technologies, extremely high temperatures of about 660 degrees Fahrenheit (350 degrees Celsius) were needed. However, the researchers could turn M13 into a battery-making tool at or below room temperature.

According to Belcher, a third of an ounce (10 grams) of the virus battery could power an iPod for 40 hours. However, she believes it is more suitable for large, high-power things like electric cars.

In 2013, progress was made on that goal. With viruses, lithium-air batteries of electric cars could be greatly improved. The M13 virus was used to make manganese-oxide nanowires for lithium-air batteries. Unlike typically-made nanowires of the metal, the virus-made wires had a rough, spiky surface, which greatly increased the wires’ surface area. The increase in surface area could be a big advantage in the batteries’ charging rate. The process has other benefits, too, such as increased electrode stability and less need for expensive metals like palladium for the batteries.

6. Cancer-Fighting Viruses

Herpes and cancer: two diseases people really don’t want to talk about. But using herpes to fight cancer is definitely worth discussing.

Imlygic is a new anti-cancer drug. On average, it extends melanoma patients’ lives by less than four and a half months. This is barely statistically significant, but Imlygic is special: it’s made using a virus. To be specific, it is a live, infectious, modified version of HSV-1, the herpesvirus variety that’s the usual cause of cold sores.

Though Imlygic is not especially effective by itself, its flu-like side effects are mild compared to chemotherapy. When cells turn cancerous, their virus-fighting machinery breaks down. Herpesvirus prefers to attack cancer cells. When it attacks, the debris of burst-open cells alerts the immune system, and the immune system then targets the cancer cells.However, it is unclear whether the immune system targets all the cancer cells of the body, or only those infected by the virus.

Though Imylgic is the first to get approval in the US as a cancer treatment, it is not the only one in development. Tumor-killing viruses are a popular topic among scientists, and the idea has been around for decades. More virus-based cancer treatments may join Imlygic in the future.

5. Orange Virus Vaccine

It’s tradition to treat colds (which are caused by a virus) with orange juice. But, using viruses, the orange trees themselves can fight off bugs spread by bugs.

Citrus greening (or huanglongbing, to use the Chinese name) is a deadly disease for citrus trees. It is caused by the bacterium C. liberibacter, which is spread by sap-sucking insects.

Before citrus greening came around, the most devastating orange virus was the citrus tristeza virus. (or CTV) The virus was named after tristeza, a Portuguese word meaning “sadness”, for the sadness that came from the virus’s arrival.

Now these two major citrus pests will be pitted against each other, with the fate of the USA’s orange juice hanging in the balance.

Bill Dawson, a plant pathologist from the University of Florida, modified a local strain of CTV. With this, anyone could insert new bits of DNA into the virus’s genome and make it a protein factory. One of the world’s largest orange juice manufacturers, Southern Gardens Citrus, licensed the viral vector from Dawson’s lab. With the virus as a needle, all Southern Gardens needed was something to inject. The company chose genes from spinach, which coded for antibacterial proteins called defensins.

Southern Gardens plans on infecting trees with a harmless strain of CTV. Branches from CTV-infected trees would then be grafted onto other trees to spread the virus. As the virus copies itself, it becomes a spinach defensin factory, and the defensins destroy C. liberibacter.

Since the biology of the tree is not modified, orange juice from these plants would not have to carry a genetically-modified label. This makes getting regulatory approval much easier, sidestepping the issue of distrust of genetically-modified plants.

4. Food Poisoning Protection

It’s terrible to hunch over a toilet, waiting to throw up, and idly wonder which of the things you ate was germ-filled. Intralytix, founded in 1998, has a plan to give germs a taste of their own medicine, so to speak: it uses viruses to infect (and kill) bacteria that cause food poisoning.

Each of its products has a mix of viruses that target the same bacteria species.The company’s first product, ListShield, was approved in 2006. It is aimed at Listeria bacteria, which cause listeriosis, a kind of food poisoning with a death rate of about 20%.  ListShield is meant to be applied to ready-to-eat meats, such as deli meats and hot dogs. To kill off Listeria, ListShield is sprayed on meat and the drains, floors and other surfaces of a food processing plant.

Intralytix’s second product, EcoShield, is for the O157:H7 strain of E.coli. EcoShield is sprayed on meat before it is ground into hamburger to kill E. coli. In studies with government investigators, Sulakvelidze showed the product killed 95-100% of the E.coli strain within 5 minutes.

The two treatments are odorless, tasteless, invisible and non-corrosive. The concentration of phages in the liquid spray is 0.001%, making the product as harmless as water to anything but target bacteria.

Later, another company, Micreos BV, made its own phage treatments, Listex (P100) and Salmonelex. Listex (P100) targets a Listeria species, while Salmonelex targets Salmonella.

3. Antibiotic Viruses

Bacteriophages (or “phages”) are the natural enemy of bacteria. They copy themselves inside bacteria, and the bacteria eventually burst open with viruses.

In the 1920s and 1930s, doctors treated a variety of infections with phages. However, phage therapy had some problems. Scientists at the time did not know phages had to be matched precisely with bacteria targets to work, which made phage treatments unreliable. In addition, people sometimes became sick from the treatments because they were not purified properly.

After World War II, antibiotics were mass-produced. They were more reliable than phages, so interest in phages declined. Though phages were mostly forgotten in the United States, they weren’t forgotten in the Soviet Union. Due to the Iron Curtain blocking access to some of the best antibiotics of the West, the Soviets made do with phages and made phage therapy more effective. In the modern day, phage therapy administered in several forms, such as tablets, liquids, and injections, and remains a standard treatment in Poland, Georgia and Russia.

Unlike antibiotics, phages are very precise and leave the “good” bacteria of the body alone. With the rise of antibiotic resistance, phages might make a comeback in the English-speaking world.

2. Viruses killing other viruses

Ever heard the expression “fighting fire with fire”? Well, in this case it works, if by “fire” one means HIV.

In 2011, scientists at the University of California-San Diego and UCLA made a harmless version of HIV that relies on HIV to reproduce. This virus was called a therapeutic interfering particle, or TIP. By slowing the replication of the HIV virus, TIPs might give someone five to ten extra years before AIDS sets in.

The TIP’s genetic code was stripped to one-third of its original size, and it lacks important pieces needed to copy itself. The TIP can only copy itself by sneaking into HIV’s genetic code and copying when it does. TIPs also contain HIV-inhibiting sequences and compete for the same proteins as HIV. Leor Weinberger, the leader of the team that made TIPs, likens it to a “virus of a virus.”

According to Weinberger, TIPs could help with HIV “superspreaders.” These people, such as drug users, are responsible for a disproportionately large amount of HIV infection.

In 2016, scientists orchestrated another virus-on-virus match, this time between reovirus and hepatitis C. During childhood, reovirus can cause colds, but by adulthood most have been exposed to it and are immune. It’s like an early-game enemy: inconvenient at first, but a piece of cake once one’s gotten stronger.

In comparison, hepatitis C is like a final boss, one some find unbeatable. Hepatitis C is a common cause of liver cancer, and cancers originating from the liver is the third-highest cause of cancer deaths worldwide.

When this early-game enemy is pitted against the final boss…well, it’s the player (or rather the patient) who wins. When introduced to the body, reovirus stimulates a signal protein called an interferon, which activates a kind of white blood cell called a Natural Killer cell. In experiments on human cancer samples and mice, the Natural Killer cells then kill the tumor and cells infected with hepatitis C. The reovirus therapy could also be used for other cancers associated with virus infections, like Epstein-Barr virus-associated lymphoma.

1. Humans Made by Viruses

In The Matrix, bad guy Agent Smith likens humanity to a virus, a disease of the planet. In real life, he’s right… to a degree.

More than 45 million years ago, a mammal was infected by a retrovirus. By turning their RNA-based code to DNA, retroviruses such as HIV can sneak their instructions into the host’s genome. Whenever the host’s cell copies itself, it also copies the virus. This ancient retrovirus happened to infect a germ line cell and so could be spread to the primate ancestor’s offspring.

17 years ago, in 2000, a team of Boston scientists discovered a strange gene in humans. This gene, called syncytin, coded for a protein made only by cells in the placenta.

The two events are related: syncytin comes from the virus.

While the virus used that gene to fuse with a host cell, a developing fetus uses the gene to fuse some placental cells into one single-celled layer. This layer is essential for the fetus to draw nutrients from its mother.

The syncytin protein comes in two varieties, the previously mentioned being syncytin 1. Reflecting its viral heritage, syncytin 2 tamps down the mother’s immune system and prevents the immune system from attacking the developing fetus.

HERV-K inserted itself as recently as 200,00 years ago, making it the newest of all retrovirus genes in humans. It activates important genes that help with embryo development, and its viral particles and proteins help protect very young embryos from infection by other viruses.

It is estimated that over 8% of human DNA came from viruses.