In the volcanic valleys of Russia, a red fox lies alert amongst chossy boulders; in the treetops of Thailand, an owl precariously slumbers; and in the forests of Bangladesh, a venomous pit viper stalks its prey.

As unprecedented as 2020 has been, this year’s Wiki Loves Earth photography competition presents a stunning view of the world beyond our walls. Out of 106,240 submissions, this inspiring shot of two chestnut-tailed starlings fighting (and one seemingly in shock) clinched the first-place spot.

Each year, Wiki Loves Earth (WLE) calls for photography of local natural heritage, particularly in protected areas such as nature…

In one antiquated brain teaser, a boy and his father, both hurt in an accident, are taken to separate hospitals. The doctor tasked with treating the boy looks at him and says, “I can’t operate; this is my son.” How is this possible?

The answer is that the doctor is the boy’s mother. This scenario has puzzled listeners for too long because of deep-seated stereotypes about who does what in our societies. The truth is, we can learn more — and do better — when everyone contributes, without gender stereotypes as a limiting factor.

As the world comes together to…

Netherlands-based volunteer Vera de Kok has been a Wikimedian for almost a decade. Her participation started after hearing Jimmy Wales’ TED Talk about the birth of the online encyclopedia.

Vera participates in the Wikimedia movement in a variety of ways: With a background as a developer, she helps develop scripts and tools that improve Wikipedia’s functionality. She also has a passion for enhancing the visual aspects of Wikipedia — whether that’s transferring photo collections from Flickr, digging through archives for public domain works, or even going out to take photos herself to add to articles.

Photography is a powerful medium…

You might already know Dr. Jess Wade from one of her numerous speeches, media appearances, or even her Wikipedia page. The London-based physicist has been making waves since she started editing Wikipedia in 2017, becoming a high-profile voice for the representation of women in science online.

At times, it has felt like an uphill battle. Dr. Wade has faced backlash for some of her efforts to chronicle the accomplishments of women in science, such as when other editors deleted a biography she authored of American nuclear chemist Clarice Phelps. …

Rupika Sharma’s journey as a Wikimedia volunteer began in 2014, when a classmate told her that anyone could edit Wikipedia. When she went home, Rupika started writing an article for the Punjabi language edition of Wikipedia about Karva Chauth, an Indian festival that celebrates the love and longevity of married couples. From there, she expanded her topics to write about everything from linguistics to Indian cuisines and women’s biographies on Wikipedia.

“It felt like I had entered a new world where there was a chance to connect with a community of open-minded people who worked together for a cause, for…

Basak, a longtime Turkey-based Wikimedia volunteer, was sitting in a concert audience gathered to hear a performance of Tchaikovsky’s classic “Swan Lake” when she opened the program booklet and saw some familiar words. “I knew that it was simply copied and pasted from Wikipedia,” she said, “because I could easily recognize my own sentences.” She describes that moment — looking around and seeing people read the content of a Wikipedia article she’d edited — as unforgettable. It is one of many treasured moments Basak has experienced since she started editing Wikipedia in August 2005.

But things have not always been…

Wiki Loves Monuments isn’t your typical photography competition. For starters, it’s the world’s largest, as recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records. It’s also a platform for global collaboration in making beautiful, significant photos of monuments freely available to anyone, anywhere.

As part of the competition, photographers from around the world donate their images to Wikimedia Commons, the free repository that holds most of the images used on Wikipedia, to ensure that the world’s most visible cultural heritage is documented and held in trust for future generations.

This is a mission that only grows in importance each year, as…

You should see me in a crown
I’m gonna run this nothing town
Watch me make ’em bow
One by one by one

Billie Eilish, “You Should See Me In A Crown” (2019)

Billions of people visited Wikipedia over the course of a chaotic 2019, and we now have the data to say what they were most interested in. Let’s all kneel before Thanos, whose Avengers: Endgame ruled over all of us.

The film, the culmination of over a decade of storytelling across nearly two dozen films, is now the highest-grossing film of all time. …