1. Music fans become the main act

Remember when your music taste was your entire personality? James Mollison's photo series "The Disciples" captures that spirit perfectly. Back in 2005, this photographer decided to skip the rock stars and focus on the real stars of the show: us, the fans.

For four years, Mollison set up makeshift studios outside concert venues, coaxing fans to pose for portraits. It's like flipping through a yearbook of every clique you've ever been part of (or secretly wanted to join).

Beyond the surface-level "spot the stereotype" game, Mollison's work reveals something deeper. It shows how music doesn't just soundtrack our lives; it shapes our identities, our tribes, and sometimes even our history.

2. Nonna's worst nightmare

Look, I'm usually a purist when it comes to certain classics. Some things, like Margherita pizza or Bolognese sauce, just shouldn't be messed with. But clearly the people behind “Sorry Nonna” would disagree.

This new Australian brand is making nonnas everywhere clutch their pearls by mixing Korean fermented chili paste into Italian tomato sauce, or as they call it: Gochujang Arrabbiata. By playfully challenging tradition, they're not just selling sauce – they're selling an attitude (*cough* Liquid Death).

In a world where consumers crave both nostalgia and novelty, “Sorry Nonna” has found the sweet (and spicy) spot. It's a reminder that sometimes, a little irreverence can go a long way in building a memorable brand. Just don't tell Nonna I said that.

3. Borderlands 3’s science side quest

I just started playing Borderlands 3, despite the film adaptation totally flopping in theaters this month, and I came across a brilliant mini-game hidden within. Turns out, while I blast away digital baddies in the game, I'm also able to contributing to peer-reviewed scientific research.

Gearbox Software teamed up with actual scientists to create a mini-game that helps decode the mysteries of our gut microbiome. Over 4 million players have solved 135 million puzzles, providing data on over a million gut bacteria. The results were published in Nature, with "Borderlands science players" listed as contributors.

What's truly impressive here is how the developers found a way to make something as heady as microbial DNA research appeal to the masses. By wrapping it in an engaging game mechanic, they've turned complex science into an accessible, even addictive, experience.