Gen Xers in the United States grew up calling it a pound sign. Gen Z has always known it as a hashtag. The symbol that can be a shortcut for “number,” make a note sharp in music, and looks like a Tic-Tac-Toe board has multiple names and uses. It also has a surprising origin story that starts with the Ancient Romans. As language expert and content creator RobWords explains, the # symbol comes from an abbreviation of the word “libra,” which the Romans used for a pound of weight. Libra is what gave us the abbreviation for our own pound measurement (lb) as well as the currency symbol for the British pound (£). Fast-forward a bit to the time of the printing press, when it became a habit to put a line through the “lb,” signifying that it was an abbreviation. (So something akin to lb.) And that’s where a certain famous scientist influenced history in a non-scientific way. How Sir Isaac Newton helped create the modern # sign Writing “lb” by hand, scribes would often draw a line above the letters to indicate it was an abbreviation, sometimes elegantly connecting the rounded part of the “b” to the line above in one fluid movement. But not everyone wrote so neatly. When Newton scribbled it out, it looked like this: How Sir Isaac Newton wrote the pound sign by hand. Photo credit: Public domain “It is this scrawled attempt at the ‘lb’ pound symbol that is thought to be the origin of our hatched number sign,” said RobWords. In time, Newton’s scribble was simplified into two vertical and two horizontal lines. And thus, the # was born. The multiple names and uses for the # symbol Many a Gen X parent has encountered the question, “What does ‘press pound’ mean?” from their Gen Z kids while walking them through customer service calls. “Press hashtag” would actually mean something to them. But the # symbol is also called a number sign, a hash (especially in the United Kingdom), a sharp symbol, and an octothorpe. To be fair, you’ve probably never actually called it an octothorpe. But that is its technical name. “Octo” comes from the symbol’s eight points, formed by the ends of its four lines. The “thorpe” is a bit of a mystery. Some think it’s a tribute to Jim Thorpe, the first Native American to win an Olympic gold medal for the U.S. Others believe it goes back to the Old English word “thorp,” meaning “village,” because cartographers used the symbol to mark villages on maps. Still others think it’s simply meaningless. I just called # a pound sign instead of a hashtag and a group of teenagers appeared and started beating me up with skateboards and hammers— Alison Burke (@TiredActor) February 20, 2024 As for the sharp sign in music, it’s pure coincidence that it looks like the pound sign; it evolved completely independently. It has nothing to do with libras, pounds, numbers, or hashtags. (Fun fact: The # symbol isn’t actually called a hashtag in Internet usage. It’s simply called a “hash.” The “tag” is the word or phrase that follows it.) What about other common symbols? How did & and @ come to be? Ah, the classy ampersand, or &. Did you know it’s actually a word in and of itself? We know it means “and,” but the symbol is actually a ligature of the Latin word “et.” Once again, its story begins in Ancient Rome. However, it only came to be called the ampersand because of the English alphabet. The symbol was once included at the end of the alphabet, after the letter Z. When children recited the alphabet, they would tack on “and per se and” after saying all the letters. (“Per se” means “by itself” or “in itself” in Latin.) Over time, that phrase morphed into the word “ampersand.” The @ symbol had fallen into obscurity before email revived it. Photo credit: Canva The @ symbol may seem totally unnecessary. After all, a symbol is meant to save time, and the word “at” doesn’t really take any longer to write than @, does it? The origins of the symbol, as RobWords explains, are a bit uncertain. Originally, it was used in accounting to indicate a per-unit price. It had all but become obsolete until 1971, when the first email was sent using the @ symbol. Now, billions of email addresses around the world rely on it. Every symbol has its story RobWords also delves into the history of § and ¶, but there’s a story behind every symbol we use. Finding shortcuts is a very human thing to do, and our reliance on symbols to represent words and ideas reflects that. But symbols evolve over time, which raises an interesting question: Which ones might still morph and change? (Maybe we should start a petition to make @ stand for “approximately” instead of “at.” That would at least save us all some time.) You can follow RobWords on YouTube for more fun and fascinating linguistic content. The post The fascinating origin story of the hashtag, pound sign, or whatever you call the # symbol appeared first on Upworthy.

Vanesa McCaskell, a retired Army veteran from Virginia, had been keeping an extraordinary secret since December. When her episode of The Price Is Right finally aired on Mother’s Day weekend, everyone else found out what she’d known for five months: she had won the largest single pricing-game prize in the show’s 54-year history. McCaskell took home $240,150 in cash and prizes, breaking a record that had stood since 2016, when contestant Christen Freeman won $210,000 playing “Cliff Hangers,” as Fox News reported. The bulk of McCaskell’s haul was $227,500 in cash, plus a mother-daughter trip to Morocco valued at $12,650. She won it playing “The Lion’s Share,” a high-stakes game introduced in the show’s 54th season. Contestants guess grocery prices to earn up to five balls, then drop them into a wind-tunnel chamber where each ball reveals a hidden prize amount. After every reveal comes a choice: Walk away with what you’ve got, or keep going and risk drawing a “lose it all” ball. The maximum payout is $500,000. The maximum downside is everything. Vanesa McCaskell, a retired Army veteran, just gave the term "Mother’s Day gift" a whole new meaning by walking away with a record-shattering $240,150—the largest single-game win in The Price Is Right history.https://t.co/MJF4GJPAa4— Atlanta Black Star (@ATLBlackStar) May 10, 2026 McCaskell played aggressively. Her daughter, seated in the audience in a matching outfit, watched as her mother climbed from $2,500 to $25,000 and then into six figures. “The last two numbers are my daughter’s birthday,” she told host Drew Carey. “I have to go.” When another $100,000 ball came up, McCaskell put her hands to her head in disbelief as her daughter jumped up and down in the audience. Then Carey laid out the stakes plainly: “Vanesa, we’re almost up to a quarter-million dollars. One more ball to go.” McCaskell, trembling, trusted her gut. “I have to believe,” she said, and kept playing. The final ball revealed the trip to Morocco, and the record was hers. View this post on Instagram Then came the hard part: not telling anyone. The episode taped in December and didn’t air until May, leaving McCaskell to spend five months fielding questions from family and friends about how it went. “It was torture,” she told USA Today. “I was practicing my poker face so I didn’t crack when people asked me what happened. They’d say, ‘Did you win?’ and I’d say, ‘No.’ It was really, really tough to hold that.” In a statement, McCaskell described the whole experience as unreal. “From ‘Come on Down’ to playing ‘The Lion’s Share,’ it all felt so surreal, a dream moment that only kept getting bigger. I was nervous, excited and everything at once,” she said, according to Variety. As for the money, she has plans that sound like those of someone who has given it a lot of thought. “Winning over $200,000 is life changing,” she said. “I plan to invest wisely, enjoy a little, and treat my mom to a special surprise.” A Mother’s Day episode, a daughter cheering from the audience, and a mother about to get a very good surprise. The post An Army veteran risked it all on ‘The Price Is Right’ and won the biggest single-game prize in 54 years appeared first on Upworthy.

The word “childlike” is often used negatively to describe adults. It implies that a grown-up lacks focus or seriousness or behaves immaturely. There are, however, many advantages to viewing the world in a childlike way. Asking lots of questions or wanting to dig deeper—sure, it can be disruptive—but it’s also how problems get solved. According to psychologists, there are plenty of good reasons to hold onto that inner child. Traits like wonder, imagination, and creativity are often associated with high intelligence. The science of the youthful brain: Neoteny When we think about growing up, we typically view it as a linear path from school to career. But becoming a serious, structured adult doesn’t have to mean abandoning the curiosity you had as a kid. Evolutionary biologists and psychologists have suggested that some of the most brilliant minds tend to eschew rigid thinking. Instead, they remain eagerly open to new ways of receiving and processing information. @drrachelbarr Replying to @CurisoDiablo brain plasticity #neuroscience ♬ original sound – DrRachelBarr Neoteny is the retention of juvenile traits into adulthood. In psychological terms, it refers to the brain’s extended plasticity. A typical brain gradually loses some of its hyper-flexible, sponge-like quality with age, favoring efficiency over exploration. Some researchers have suggested that people with higher cognitive ability may retain aspects of this childlike mental flexibility for longer, allowing them to remain more open to new ideas and ways of thinking. This extended period of mental flexibility may allow highly intelligent people not only to better understand the world around them but also to explore it from multiple perspectives. To adapt, question, and grow. According to some experts, this slower shift away from cognitive flexibility may be an important factor in lifelong learning. Some scientists also believe neoteny played a key role in the evolution of human intelligence in the first place. Why ‘childish’ traits can fuel extraordinary creativity So, what does psychological neoteny look like in day-to-day life? It often manifests as traits that society mistakenly labels as immature—but we’re not talking about throwing temper tantrums when you don’t get your way. View this post on Instagram It’s more to do with how highly intelligent people approach learning and problem-solving, including: Unbounded curiosity: While many adults become goal-oriented and overlook the details they encounter along the way in order to focus on the end goal, highly intelligent people maintain a deep thirst for exploration. When they encounter new information, it often sparks side quests or prompts them to dive deeper into the subject. The drive to close a “knowledge gap” overrides the rigidity of staying on task. Unrestricted emotional expression: According to Cognition Today, highly intelligent people often display bold, unfiltered enthusiasm or a level of emotional honesty that resembles a child’s lack of social inhibition. High playfulness: Highly intelligent people aren’t just sitting in dark rooms calculating equations. To make breakthroughs, they often play with concepts, ideas, and even literal toys or games to spark new ways of thinking. The theory of relativity required breaking the mold When we think of a genius who colored outside the lines, we often think of Albert Einstein. The German-born theoretical physicist famously attributed his groundbreaking discoveries to his childlike perspective on the universe. In a 1955 interview with Life magazine, Einstein said, “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day.” @stephenpetro411 Einstein wasn’t great *because* of math — he was great because he *reframed* problems. Creative intelligence is not randomness — it’s structured novelty. Change the frame, shift the question, and unlock solutions nobody else sees. Try rewriting your challenge 3 new ways and watch your ideas evolve. #Intelligence #Creativity #Einstein #ProblemSolving #Innovation ♬ original sound – Stephen Petro So, the next time someone rolls their eyes because you’re too curious or a little too fascinated by something ordinary, take it as a compliment. Your willingness to see the world with fresh eyes isn’t a flaw. It’s your superpower. The post Have people ever called you childlike? Psychologists say it could mean you’re gifted. appeared first on Upworthy.

American culture is unlike any other in the world. From body language to the way people dress, the United States has a unique way of life that visitors from other countries are constantly clocking. Léa Martin, a French woman living in the United States, shared on Instagram one of the best things she’s experienced about American culture—something she says she never experiences in France. It’s a societal trait that most Americans probably overlook. According to Martin, there is one incredibly endearing thing Americans do: offer free compliments. View this post on Instagram Americans give free compliments In a video, Martin explained how she witnessed it happen between two women in a clothing store. “So something every American just happened, and I’m just in love with it,” she said. “I was in a shop and there was woman trying [on] a beautiful dress. And suddenly, there’s a woman who came out of nowhere—she was just on the street. She opened the door and she said, ‘Oh my God! You’re beautiful!'” Martin says she was blown away by the experience. “It was just a free compliment. Free kindness. And this is something so special in the U.S.—something you will never see in France,” she added. She goes on to explain how different things are in France. “If someone compliments you in France, you’re like, ‘What do you want? Do you want money? Do you want me to be your friend? It’s like, what?'” she said. “But here, it’s all the time like that. I mean very often. And I just love it so much.” View this post on Instagram The difference between French people and Americans Martin added more context in the video’s caption about the major cultural difference between French people and Americans. “Americans give compliments the way French people say ‘du coup’— in almost every sentence. Okay, I’m exaggerating…but not that much,” she wrote. “It’s genuinely common here for someone to compliment you, or at least say something kind, with no hidden intention.” She also explained the French approach to giving compliments. “In France, there’s more pudeur. Compliments can sometimes be perceived as a strategy—like you want something in return,” she wrote. “But I’ve never received this many compliments on the way I dress, my hair, or my appearance since I’ve been in the U.S.” Martin says seeing how freely Americans compliment others has inspired her to be more open and generous with her own compliments. “It costs absolutely nothing and it can genuinely change someone’s day. Sometimes even their life,” she wrote. “I’m trying to get better at it too. Giving compliments, even to myself. But after more than 20 years of French conditioning…well, it’s a work in progress.” View this post on Instagram Viewers respond In the comments, many Americans and Europeans shared their thoughts on Martin’s post: “Most Americans looooove making people feel good. She’s right! You’re beautiful!” “I’m so glad you are discovering the real USA.” “This is what I miss so much about the US as a US woman in France!!” “Lots of girl’s girls in America! Yes our country is a mess but the girls girls are holding strong and uplifting where we can!” “As a European, this was the best first impression I’ve had since day one. It happens every day, women complimenting women all the time. I love it.” “It’s very common in California. We even comment on the songs people are listening to while we’re all stuck in traffic. Yesterday, I asked a gal if I could Shazam the song she was listening to. ” “I’m an American and I moved to France 10 years ago. When I go back to the US every summer, I play a game with myself to see how long it will be before a stranger says something really nice to me. Last summer, I didn’t even make it out of the airport, before the girl at the car rental told me ‘I love your sweater!!!”’ gotta love it there!” The post ‘Just love it so much’: French woman in the U.S. says this wholesome habit sets Americans apart appeared first on Upworthy.

Jennifer Grey stole the hearts of millions in the 1987 coming-of-age film Dirty Dancing. But years before Johnny Castle said, Nobody put baby in the corner,” Jennifer was her mother Jo Wilder’s baby girl. She grew up in New York City, incredibly close to her mother. On July 8, 2026, Jennifer Grey shared the news of her mother’s passing in an endearing Instagram post. With photos of her childhood and loving words, Jennifer’s message touched the hearts of many. “My mother, Jo Wilder, passed away on July 4th at 94 — by her own choosing, on her own terms, exactly as she lived. A week earlier, she learned she had lung cancer. True to who she was, she chose grace over fear, understanding that leaving this world with dignity is an honor, not a tragedy,” she wrote. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jennifer Grey (@jennifergrey) Jennifer Grey Inherited He Talents from Her Mom Jennifer Grey explained that her mom wanted to be an actress in her youth but chose not me a mother instead. “If she’d chosen ambition over my brother and me, we never would have had the mother we had. Her passion found other outlets: she was a lifelong activist, fiercely attuned to right and wrong. And for years, many people discovered her extraordinary eye through Wilder Place, her store on Melrose. She was brave and deep.” Jennifer Grey’s family, friends, and fans shared loving words following her mom’s passing. “A beautiful tribute. I love you so much. Your mom was the best,” Leah Thompson wrote. Richard Marx also wrote a kind message. “Jennifer! How lucky you are to be able to write such a tribute to your obviously awesome AF mom. I’m sure she was so proud of the woman you are. Sending love,” he shared. “I love you, Mom. Thank you for showing me how to do it all, even this, with grace,” Jennifer Grey ended her post. This story’s featured image is by Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images