Breakthroughs and everyday innovations from the year.
HEADLINES ON October 11, 2014
Full News Archive
- Headline: Nielsen TV Ratings Error Investigation. Impact: If only Nielsen had accurately measured TV ratings, we might have avoided the rise of reality TV. Instead, we were doomed to watch countless seasons of people eating bugs for a chance at fame. Thanks, Nielsen!. Fact: Did you know Nielsen once measured TV ratings by having people keep a diary? Imagine if they applied that method to social media; we'd have a lot more 'likes' for cat videos!.
- Headline: Landon Donovan's Emotional Farewell Match. Impact: Landon Donovan's farewell match may have inspired a global trend of athletes retiring just to come back for a dramatic comeback, leading to a world where sports is just one big soap opera.. Fact: Did you know that soccer players have a higher chance of making a dramatic return than a character in a telenovela? At least their comebacks are usually less melodramatic!.
- Headline: Officials Admit a ‘Defeat’ by Ebola in Sierra Leone. Impact: Admitting defeat to Ebola might have led to a more rapid development of public health strategies, which could have prevented a future pandemic from taking over the world. But hey, hindsight is 20/20!. Fact: Did you know that Ebola has a 50% fatality rate? That's not just a statistic; that's a serious reason to wash your hands!.
- Headline: At Florida State, Football Clouds Justice. Impact: The scandal at Florida State could have inspired a generation of sports fans to demand justice, which ultimately led to the rise of online petitions and hashtags. Now we can tweet about justice while we watch the game!. Fact: Did you know that the only thing more powerful than a football team is a Twitter hashtag? Because justice can wait, but the next game can't!.