Amanda Smith is a freelance journalist and writer. She reports on culture, society, human interest and technology. Her stories hold a mirror to society, reflecting both its malaise and its beauty.

A viral trend called Project Pan, in which influencers and laypeople alike show off their well-used skin care products and makeup, is exploding on TikTok. The challenge is to “hit pan” — to reach the ...

A decade ago, then-fledgling breakfast and brunch concept First Watch was undergoing a major menu revamp. At the time, CMO (now CEO) Chris Tomasso told company chef Shane Schaibly to take a look at ...

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How does a cow scratch an itch on its back? An Austrian cow named Veronika has a solution that could change how we view livestock. For the past decade, Veronika has been observed by her owner ...

Controlling a lunar lander using a 1980s home computer is not for the faint of heart, and this project shows how one intrepid ...

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters. At Vox, our mission is to help you make sense of the world — and that work has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own. We ...

Veronika, a cow living in an idyllic mountain village in the Austrian countryside, has spent years perfecting the art of scratching herself with sticks, rakes, and deck brushes. Now that scientists ...

Rachel is a freelancer based in Echo Park, Los Angeles and has been writing and producing content for nearly two decades on subjects ranging from tech to fashion, health and lifestyle to entertainment ...

Around ten years ago, an organic farmer and baker in a small Austrian town noticed that his pet cow would use sticks to scratch herself. The cow, named Veronika, also appeared to refine her technique ...