Vox: All Posts by Gina Bartonhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52517/voxv.png2018-11-21T14:50:04-05:00https://www.vox.com/authors/gina-barton/rss2018-11-21T14:50:04-05:002018-11-21T14:50:04-05:00Why your Netflix thumbnails don’t look like mine
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<p>A thumbnail is worth a thousand words.</p> <p id="AuBUiI">Netflix has a catalog of thousands of videos to watch, from shows like <em>The Office</em> to original series like <em>Stranger Things</em>. With so much content to choose from, it can be difficult to settle on even just one thing to watch. Netflix helps viewers whittle down those choices through personalization of the website. One particularly effective way the company does this is through <a href="https://medium.com/netflix-techblog/artwork-personalization-c589f074ad76">customized thumbnails</a>.</p>
<p id="JQqTmZ">Netflix doesn’t just use a film or show’s original art; it employs an algorithm with the daunting task of sourcing high-quality images from those videos. Then it does more testing to determine what individual subscribers are most likely to click on.</p>
<p id="azQITc">Netflix’s goal is to get viewers to stream its content for as long as possible, and customizing thumbnails is just one of the ways it does this. Check out the video above to learn about how Netflix regularly changes its cover art to suit your tastes.</p>
<p id="z0RlVD">You can find this video and all of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/voxdotcom/videos">Vox’s videos</a> on YouTube. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/voxdotcom?sub_confirmation=1">Subscribe</a> for the latest.</p>
https://www.vox.com/2018/11/21/18106394/why-your-netflix-thumbnail-coverart-changesGina Barton2018-10-04T17:20:01-04:002018-10-04T17:20:01-04:00The skincare acid craze, explained
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<img alt="Glycolic, lactic, hyaluronic, and salicylic are just some of the acids used in skincare products" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/U672h4LArKQjzLO2htzgqmLhs1c=/240x0:1680x1080/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61653787/CLEAN_VDC_GDS_003_skincareacids_thumb.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Louis Wesolowsky</figcaption>
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<p>What would you do to have clear skin?</p> <p id="6GZ1NK">The pursuit of beautiful skin has been deeply rooted in human culture. And while skincare acids have been used for decades, they’ve surged in popularity in recent years. </p>
<p id="7zVS0p">You see them advertised on products in stores and across the internet. Glycolic acid. Lactic acid. Hyaluronic acid. Salicylic acid. Even though they all have one word in common, they all serve different purposes in skincare regimens. Acids like glycolic and lactic acid are used for exfoliation, azelaic acid is known for fighting inflammation, and salicylic acid for treating acne-prone skin. </p>
<p id="noHYUr">With so many acids to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decipher what should be included in a skincare routine — no one wants to end up in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgpFKCVZmVU">Samantha Jones</a> situation. </p>
<p id="dK6VjO">Check out the video above to learn more about the acids used in skincare, and what they can or cannot do for you.</p>
<p id="Docjce">You can find this video and all of <a href="http://bit.ly/voxyoutube"><strong>Vox’s videos on YouTube</strong></a>. Subscribe for the latest.</p>
https://www.vox.com/2018/10/4/17937790/skincare-acid-craze-explainedGina Barton2018-08-27T08:30:02-04:002018-08-27T08:30:02-04:00Stop peeing in the pool. Chlorine doesn’t work like you think.
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<p>Pee-ple, taking bathroom breaks in pools is not cool.</p> <p id="zhwv8k">Have you ever peed in a pool? Not everyone will readily cop to it, though an anonymous 2012 survey found that <a href="https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1099&context=ijare">19 percent of adults</a> admitted they’d done it at least once. Sadly, there aren’t chemicals to turn the water a darker color to signal someone is peeing in the pool.</p>
<p id="FMcBLv">With more than 89 million people<a href="http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.503.5685&rep=rep1&type=pdf"> swimming in public pools</a> in the US each summer, there’s plenty of potential for urine and feces to make it into those waters. And these contain some of the nastiest bacteria and parasites, including norovirus, shigella, E. coli, and cryptosporidium. In even a well-maintained pool, chlorine and other disinfectants can’t immediately kill germs. Some of these pathogens still take more time than you think to be neutralized. </p>
<p id="Y6KWng">This means that peeing in pools isn’t just gross; it can also make you sick. Between 2000 and 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6719a3.htm?s_cid=mm6719a3_w">493 outbreaks</a> from treated recreational waters. Common symptoms included watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting, respiratory illness, and skin rashes. </p>
<p id="qlKzAJ">So how can you protect yourself from germs when going swimming? Not swallowing the water is one way; to learn about the others, watch the video above. And subscribe to our channel to catch up on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLXo7UDZvByw2ixzpQCufnA">Vox’s latest videos</a>.</p>
https://www.vox.com/2018/8/27/17770810/peeing-in-swimming-pools-because-chlorineGina Barton2018-07-13T09:30:02-04:002018-07-13T09:30:02-04:00How your split ends can help clean oil spills
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<p>Hair isn’t just for top knots; it can protect the ocean too.</p> <p id="ZZPzvc">The prevalent <a href="https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/oil-and-chemical-spills/oil-spills/spill-containment-methods.html">methods to clean up oil spills</a> rely on synthetic materials and dangerous chemicals. But there is a natural, environmentally sustainable alternative: human hair. </p>
<p id="7BdF2S">Hair is hydrophobic and biosorbent, which means it repels water and can collect heavy metals and other contaminants, like oil. It’s also an abundant, renewable resource. But the use of hair booms and hair mats for such a purpose hasn’t gone mainstream just yet, especially in the case of large-scale environmental disasters.</p>
<p id="TPheFy">The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/28/bp-deepwater-horizon-oil-spill-report">Deepwater Horizon oil spill</a> in 2010 was one of the worst offshore oil spills in US history. For 87 days, hundreds of millions of gallons of crude oil poured into the Gulf of Mexico, killing marine animals and plants, and greatly <a href="https://www.npr.org/2015/04/20/400374744/5-years-after-bp-oil-spill-effects-linger-and-recovery-is-slow">affecting shoreline communities</a>. The primary methods to contain that spill did not include hair booms. Instead state, local, and federal authorities and BP chose to <a href="http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/may/23/use-of-hair-booms-discouraged/">use</a> more conventional tools — methods that can be costly and just as <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/science/earth/25disperse.html">dangerous to environment</a> as the oil spill itself.</p>
<p id="mYdlc3">Watch this video to learn how discarded hair can go from trash to an oil-spill cleaning treasure. Check out the rest of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/voxdotcom">Vox’s videos</a> on YouTube. And subscribe to our channel to catch up on our latest videos.</p>
https://www.vox.com/2018/7/13/17559512/cleaning-oil-spills-with-hairGina Barton2018-05-18T14:00:01-04:002018-05-18T14:00:01-04:00Why it’s not a British royal wedding without fancy hats
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<p>Fantastical fascinators at royal weddings are part of the social fabric of British culture.</p> <p id="fV7VQa">When someone is invited to a wedding, they’ll need to dress for the occasion. But at a British royal wedding, there’s an important addition to their wardrobe that literally stands out above the crowd: the hats and fascinators adorning guests’ heads. </p>
<p id="khwGwx">Fancy hats, like the fascinator <a href="https://www.teenvogue.com/story/princess-beatrice-royal-wedding-hat-twitter">Princess Beatrice</a> wore to Prince William and Kate Middleton’s 2011 wedding, are a must at royal weddings. They are part tradition and part fashion show. As hat styles and other headdress accessories have come and gone in style throughout British history, hats have remained an essential part of the uniform for royal weddings, horse races, and other high-society events.</p>
<p id="SQJhRe">Watch the <a href="https://youtu.be/LzuDyq0-1LM">video</a> above to find out why fancy fascinators and other hats are so popular at royal weddings. You can find this video and all of Vox’s videos on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/voxdotcom">YouTube</a>. Subscribe and stay tuned for more.</p>
https://www.vox.com/2018/5/18/17366510/british-royal-wedding-hatsGina BartonRebecca Jennings2018-03-14T17:50:01-04:002018-03-14T17:50:01-04:00Is keto just another dieting fad?
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<p>New year, new me, new dieting craze</p> <p id="T5xqOm">The ketogenic diet is <a href="https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2018/2/21/16965122/keto-diet-reset">the latest</a> in US diet crazes, though it actually isn’t a new a diet at all. </p>
<p id="VVLgCG">Keto is different from other diets in the way it triggers your body how it gets energy. The human body is primarily fueled by glucose which comes from carbohydrates. On a ketogenic diet, carbs are drastically reduced to only 5 percent of daily calories and fat consumption goes up to 80 percent of calories. When the body runs out of glucose, the body can start to burn fat as an alternative source of energy. This fat burning state is called ketosis.</p>
<p id="rUodlH">Keto could help to treat epilepsy and Type 2 diabetes, but its usefulness as a diet for weight loss is still very much debated. </p>
<p id="kqOM6Y">Watch this video to learn more about why the ketogenic diet may or may not be an option you. Check out the rest of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLXo7UDZvByw2ixzpQCufnA">Vox’s videos</a> on YouTube. And subscribe to our channel to catch up on our latest videos.</p>
https://www.vox.com/videos/2018/3/14/17121872/keto-diet-fad-weight-lossGina Barton2018-02-01T15:20:02-05:002018-02-01T15:20:02-05:00What BMI doesn’t tell you about your health
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<p>The way we define obesity is flawed.</p> <p id="NA00NR">Body mass index, or BMI, is still one of the most commonly used indicators for obesity, a centuries-old formula that measures body fat based on height and weight. </p>
<p id="7atkro">But it wasn’t created by a doctor. A Belgian mathematician, Adolphe Quetelet, developed the index as a way to study the “normal man.” Health professionals have since adopted the formula because it is inexpensive, easy to calculate, and can be applied to all populations, but there are <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/31/health/31brod.html">significant drawbacks</a>. </p>
<p id="uhea9h">Watch the <a href="https://youtu.be/z_3S2_41_FE">video</a> above to see why the body mass index is an <a href="https://www.teenvogue.com/story/bmi-inaccurate-new-study-says">imperfect measurement</a> of obesity. </p>
<p id="oghCUo">You can find this video and all of Vox’s videos on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLXo7UDZvByw2ixzpQCufnA">YouTube</a>. Subscribe for more episodes.</p>
https://www.vox.com/videos/2018/2/1/16960404/bmi-flawed-studying-obesityGina Barton2017-11-14T13:30:01-05:002017-11-14T13:30:01-05:00How beauty brands failed women of color
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<p>But the industry is changing — and Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty isn’t the only brand laying the foundation for a more inclusive beauty industry.</p> <p id="E5Dyd9">In 2016, Rihanna signed an estimated <a href="http://wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/color-cosmetics/lvmh-rihanna-makeup-brand-10409670/">$10 million</a> deal with the multinational conglomerate brand LVMH to start a makeup line. Then, in September of this year, Rihanna debuted Fenty Beauty at New York Fashion Week. </p>
<p id="NEaQkX">The line boasts <a href="https://www.lvmh.com/news-documents/news/rihanna-launches-fenty-beauty-makeup-brand-with-sephora-exclusive/">91 products</a>, including shimmer skinsticks, lip gloss, blotting powder, and more. The item that has been receiving the most press is her range of Pro Filt’r Matte foundation shades. However, few other mainstream companies have such a diverse line of foundations.</p>
<p id="GWPGu9">There are several factors to consider when <a href="http://www.refinery29.com/how-to-choose-foundation">matching foundations</a> — like undertone, shade, and skin texture. All of these can vary person to person, and in particular, identifying the correct undertone is essential to choosing products that complement the skin. </p>
<p id="IT17sU">But while luxury brands have been able to make that leap, more accessible brands available at drugstore and discount department stores have fallen behind. Drugstore brands typically aren’t made for professional use, and don’t always have a large selection to begin with. But over the past few decades, mainstream beauty companies have been making strides in <a href="https://www.allure.com/story/maybelline-x-shayla-influencer-campaign-to-bring-shade-inclusivity-to-drugstores">developing wider ranges</a> of foundations that match darker people. </p>
<p id="0Rlj79">So, why has it taken the beauty industry so long to invest in a diverse range of colors for cosmetic products? </p>
<p id="7Tpbu6">You can find this <a href="https://youtu.be/v5e4gwDGrNk">video</a> and all of Vox's videos on YouTube. Subscribe for the latest.</p>
https://www.vox.com/videos/2017/11/14/16649180/rihanna-fenty-beauty-makeup-inclusivityGina Barton2017-07-15T09:40:02-04:002017-07-15T09:40:02-04:00Vincent van Gogh’s long, miserable road to fame
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<img alt="Self portrait of Vincent van Gogh in a museum.<br>" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/BLIFOTr3vOFMcqj0QO5Q5WWyg8o=/193x0:1858x1249/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55717443/XEX_501_VanGogh_CLEAN.0.png" />
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<p>Van Gogh's travels informed the works we revere today.</p> <p id="g83ZWQ">Famous for chopping off a piece of his ear in a fit and delivering it to a woman in a brothel, Vincent van Gogh had a life marked by <a href="https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/06/05/van-gogh-and-mental-illness/">ailing mental health</a> and the eye-catching paintings he created during that time.</p>
<p id="4F0Iic">Van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853, in the village of Zundert in the Netherlands. He created some of his most well-known paintings, such as <em>The Starry Night</em> and <em>Cafe at Night</em><em>,</em> within a two-year period before his death in July 1890. The fields he painted in <em>Wheat Field </em><em>W</em><em>ith Crows</em> in June were a depiction of the same location where he shot himself in the chest a month later. During his lifetime, his work had little to no value in the art world. But a century later, the first version of his <em>Portrait of Dr. Gachet</em><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1990/05/16/825-million-for-van-gogh/82375a1f-da49-4f49-8a15-4695d1ceac83/"> sold for $82.5 million</a> in 1990 (around $159 million today). </p>
<p id="Wy01Ue">Vincent van Gogh lived a short and destitute life, but he created some of the most revered paintings of our time. Watch the video above to find out more about his travels and the works he created along the way.</p>
https://www.vox.com/videos/2017/7/15/15973568/vincent-van-gogh-travelGina Barton2017-06-26T10:56:00-04:002017-06-26T10:56:00-04:00Harry Potter and the translator's nightmare
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<p>Translating the British wizarding world of Harry Potter was not for the faint of heart — or vocabulary.</p> <p>The Harry Potter books have sold more than <a target="_blank" href="http://harrypotter.scholastic.com/jk_rowling/">400 million copies worldwide</a> and been translated into more than 60 languages. The books are filled with a tricky mix of wordplay, invented words, songs, allusions, British cultural references, and more. Translators were tasked with adapting J.K. Rowling's devices to fit the language and culture of their target audience.</p>
<p>Translators weren't given a head-start — they had to wait until the English editions came out to begin the difficult and lengthy task of adapting the books. Working day and night, translators were racing against <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2007/jan/27/featuresreviews.guardianreview17">intense deadlines</a>. <i>Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix</i>, the <a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter_and_the_Order_of_the_Phoenix#Publication_and_release">longest book in the series</a> at 870 pages for the US edition, was originally published on June 21, 2003. Its first official translation appeared in Vietnamese on July 21, 2003. Not long after, the Serbian edition was released in early September 2003. <br><br>Still, groups of eager fans around the world, unwilling to wait for the official translations, took matters into <a target="_blank" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-potter-arrest-idUSL0808150920070808">their own hands</a> and translated the book themselves. And there are also complete <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/01/world/asia/01china.html?_r=0">rip-offs of the Harry Potter books</a>, including Harry Potter and the Half Blooded Relative Prince, Harry Potter and the Filler of Big, and Tanya Grotter and the Magical Double Bass, to name a few.</p>
<p>But how were translators able to bridge the gap between the English editions and their target readers? How do you translate Quidditch into Dutch?</p>
<p>Check out the video above to see some of the choices translators made while adapting this beloved series for readers around the world. You can <a style="background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 19.5px;" target="_blank" href="http://arts.ucalgary.ca/lrc/home/celebrating-multilingualism-through-harry-potter/harry-potter-editions">listen to snippets</a> of the <i>Harry Potter and Philosopher's Stone</i> in various languages from the University of Calgary's collection.</p>
https://www.vox.com/culture/2016/10/18/13316332/harry-potter-translationsGina Barton