Belarusian Journalist Svetlana Alexievich Wins the Nobel Prize for Literature

After a remarkable career spent reporting on the Soviet Union, Belarusian journalist Svetlana Alexievich has been awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. Through a combination of literature and journalism, Alexievich expertly highlighted the lives of female Russian soldiers in World War II, the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster and the Soviet-Afghan War—among other critical events. The Nobel Prize committee acknowledges her for her “polyphonic …

Amazon Takes on Etsy With its New “Handmade” Section

Known for selling almost anything and everything, Amazon is now hoping to tackle the handcrafted market with a newly launched section of its website called “Handmade at Amazon.” The new venture hopes to cut into the dominance of other sites like Etsy, which operates by retailing goods from local artisans. Now up and running, customers can browse products that Amazon has certified have not been …

The World’s Saddest-Sounding Spots

Funny new Instagram account @SadTopographies offers daily Google Maps snapshots of “some where to go, when you’re feeling low.” The two-week-old account is the brainchild of Australian artist Damien Rudd, who came up with the idea after stumbling upon Mount Hopeless in Australia. Since then he’s uncovered Tragedy Pool, Despair Island, Unfortunate Cove and Cape Disappointment—to name a few. So if you’re feeling a little …