Information and Good Reads

Atlas Obscura looks at some of the most magnificent spiral staircases in the world. Now I really want one of my own!

A man joined the Army at age 39 so his wife will be covered by health insurance. She needs chemotherapy for ovarian cancer, but he won't be there when she gets the treatment.

Scientists have developed a robot that can shuss down the hills on skis. Of course, just like the Winter Olympics, it's much more fun to watch its sips and tumbles. (via Neatorama)

An Epidemic of Fear: How Panicked Parents Skipping Shots Endangers Us All. Diseases that were once made to be rare are now making comebacks because some skip the vaccines.

A time-lapse video of Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery creating a sand mandala over five days. Then they just sweep it up! (via Metafilter)

Seas that are rising twice as fast as expected are threatening cities like Shanghai, China, which is ten feet above sea level. They are already battling saltwater and drainage problems.

50 Kick-Ass Websites You Need to Know About. I know enough of these to think the rest are worth checking out. Yes, mental_floss is listed!

Good Night and Tough Luck. A surprising number of things can go wrong with getting a good night's sleep.