China claims large portions of the South China Sea, fueling political tensions. The trailer for Barbie showed a map alleging to show the claims, causing the movie to be banned in Vietnam.

The tardigrade, or "water bear", is a very weird creature that can survive for decades without water. They are microscopic and fascinate many.

Halden Prison in Norway is essentially a luxury maximum-security facility. The compound boasts recording studios, and treats inmates wonderfully. The prison is seen as the most humane, and also the most successful prison in the world.

The city of Chongqing in China is the largest in the world-if you measure by city proper population. The residents are spread across an incorporated area the size of Austria, with most of the inhabitants living in rural farmland. The origin of the city's size can be traced back to the Three Gorges Dam, a hydropower dam built by China. The dam's construction is a whole different fascinating and controversial issue.