The Knowledge
Google Reclaims No. 1 in Kellogg’s 2026 Super Bowl Ad Review
Google’s “New Home” ad topped the Kellogg School’s Super Bowl Advertising Review, praised for its emotional storytelling and clear product value. It marks Google’s fourth win. Other notable performers included Anthropic and Novartis. In contrast, Coinbase and ai.com struggled due to unclear brand connections. AI and health advertising trends emerged prominently in 2026.
Google is back on top in one of the most-watched postgame scorecards in marketing.
The Kellogg School of Management announced that Google Gemini earned the No. 1 ranking in the 22nd Kellogg School Super Bowl Advertising Review, thanks to its emotional “New Home” spot—an ad built around the idea that AI can support life transitions through creativity and human connection. Kellogg says this marks the fourth time Google has taken the top spot in the panel’s rankings.
Not every advertiser had a good night. Kellogg’s review also called out Coinbase and ai.com for low grades, with panelists criticizing unclear brand linkage and fuzzy value propositions.
Why Google’s “New Home” ad won
According to Kellogg, Google’s top-ranked spot stood out for balancing two things that are hard to pull off in a Super Bowl window:
- Emotional storytelling that feels human
- A clear demonstration of product value
“This ad captures what Google has historically done best: pairing genuine emotional storytelling with a clear illustration of how the product fits naturally into people’s lives,” said Tim Calkins, clinical professor of marketing and co-lead of the Kellogg School Super Bowl Advertising Review. Co-lead Derek Rucker added that it feels like a modern evolution of that approach rather than a departure.
The review also notes the ad echoed the spirit of Google’s iconic “Parisian Love” spot from 2009—offering a nostalgic reminder of what has long defined the brand while updating it for a new era of AI-powered tools.
Other top performers (and why they landed)
Kellogg’s panel also gave strong marks to:
- Anthropic’s Claude for “Can I get a six pack quickly?”
- Novartis for “Relax Your Tight End”
Rucker highlighted Anthropic’s advantage in a crowded AI category: the message was simple and clearly differentiated, which made it easier for viewers to understand what the brand is and why it matters.
The ads that fumbled: Coinbase and ai.com
On the other side of the rankings were ads that grabbed attention but didn’t connect the dots.
Kellogg said Coinbase aired a spot built around a karaoke-style use of a Backstreet Boys song, but the creative failed to establish a clear connection to the brand or its value proposition, resulting in a low rating from the panel.
ai.com also received a low grade, with panelists left unclear on what the product actually offered. “When you’re advertising new technologies, there’s a lot to learn from classic brand building,” Calkins said, adding that ai.com is a good example of what can go wrong when viewers are still wondering what the product is after the ad ends.
The bigger trend: AI wasn’t just a theme—it was the stage
Kellogg’s review makes it clear that artificial intelligence dominated Super Bowl advertising in 2026, both as a subject of brand storytelling and as a creative tool.
Brands including Microsoft, Amazon, and Genspark used the Super Bowl stage to define how their technologies fit into everyday life, ranging from emotional narratives to more functional demonstrations of performance and productivity. Meta returned with two spots highlighting its AI-powered eyewear, emphasizing the product’s “athletic intelligence.”
AI also played a role behind the scenes: Svedka said its spot featuring dancing robots was primarily created using AI.
Celebrity + nostalgia still work—if the brand is clear
As has become tradition, celebrity power was on full display, with brands stacking household names to break through the clutter. Kellogg also noted that nostalgia continued to be a reliable creative lever, with several brands tapping into 1990s pop culture to connect with millennial audiences.
“Many advertisers appeared to be playing it safe this year. Nostalgia and well-liked celebrities are two of the most reliable ways to do that,” Calkins said. The catch: familiar faces and throwback references can be a shortcut to attention, but they still need to be paired with a clear brand message to be truly effective.
Health advertising surged (including GLP-1 debuts)
Another shift Kellogg highlighted: a remarkable number of health-focused Super Bowl spots, covering everything from hydration and fiber intake to caffeine consumption and access to care.
Weight-loss medications were especially prominent, with Novo Nordisk (Wegovy), Ro, and Eli Lilly (Zepbound) all spotlighting their GLP-1 offerings. Rucker said Super Bowl ads have to entertain and educate at the same time—and he credited Novartis with striking that balance particularly well.
How Kellogg grades the ads: ADPLAN
The Kellogg School Super Bowl Advertising Review uses an academic framework known as ADPLAN to evaluate the strategic effectiveness of Super Bowl spots. The acronym helps viewers grade ads based on:
- Attention
- Distinction
- Positioning
- Linkage
- Amplification
- Net Equity
A full list of the rankings is available through Kellogg. To learn more, visit https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/news-events/super-bowl.aspx.
Source: PRNewswire
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Last Updated on March 11, 2026 by Daily News Staff
“From Public Access to Social Media.” Image: AI
Before there were influencers, viral videos, and billion-view platforms, there was something raw, real, and radically democratic: public access television.
Born in the 1970s, public access TV was one of the first true experiments in community-driven media. And while it may seem like a relic of the analog past, its legacy is alive and well every time someone hits “post” on YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram.
🎤 What Was Public Access Television?
Public access television was part of the “PEG” system—Public, Educational, and Government access channels—mandated by the FCC and local cable providers to serve community needs. The public access arm gave everyday people a platform to create and share their own content, often with free or low-cost equipment provided by local studios.
There were no ads, no executives, and no creative restrictions (aside from legal limitations). Programming ranged from the bizarre to the brilliant—local news, activist messages, drag performances, punk rock shows, religious rants, DIY cooking series, and more. If you had something to say and the courage to get in front of a camera, you could be on the air.
Scrappy, campy and unabashedly queer, public access TV series of the 1980s and 1990s offered a rare glimpse into LGBTQ+ life
🧪 Experimental, Inclusive, and Sometimes Outrageous
Public access TV wasn’t polished. It wasn’t corporate. It wasn’t predictable. And that was exactly the point.
It empowered:
Marginalized voices who couldn’t get airtime elsewhere. Aspiring creatives looking to test out new formats. Communities wanting to share local culture, ideas, and events.
In many ways, it was an open sandbox where media could be weird, wild, and wonderfully honest.
🌐 The Bridge to Social Media
Today, anyone with a smartphone can start a channel, build an audience, or go viral. But the foundation was laid decades earlier by public access.
Public Access TV
Modern Social Media
Community studios
Smartphones, apps, home setups
Broadcast on local cable channels
Global reach via internet
No advertising
Monetized, ad-supported
Free expression, limited censorship
Still a battleground for free speech
Niche, quirky content
Same—just with algorithms
The spirit of user-generated content—amateur, authentic, and accessible—is deeply rooted in the public access ethos. Creators like early YouTubers and digital activists have often cited public access as an inspiration.
🔄 A Full Circle Moment
Today’s digital platforms have expanded the reach and speed of content creation, but they also reintroduce challenges public access once bypassed—like algorithmic bias, platform censorship, and commercialization.
Ironically, as tech giants dominate digital communication, the original values of public access—local control, equal access, and creative freedom—are more relevant than ever.
🧠 Final Thought
Public access television may have existed before likes, shares, or subscribers—but it’s the ancestor of everything we now take for granted in social media. It showed us that the best stories don’t always come from studios, and the most important voices don’t always have a microphone—until they make one.
So next time you scroll through a creator’s feed or stumble on a strange but delightful video, remember:
📼 Public access walked so the internet could run
Related Links:
Public Access Television (Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public-access_television
Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984 (Wikipedia) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable_Communications_Policy_Act_of_1984
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The Knowledge
How Water Towers Work: The Simple System That Keeps Water Flowing in American Cities
Learn how water towers work in the United States, why they are so tall, and how gravity helps cities maintain water pressure and emergency water supplies.
How Water Towers Work
Water towers are one of the most recognizable pieces of infrastructure across the United States. Rising above towns, suburbs, and cities, these elevated tanks quietly perform a vital function every day: maintaining water pressure and storing emergency water for local communities.
Although they may look simple, water towers are an essential part of modern municipal water systems and remain one of the most reliable ways to deliver water to homes and businesses.
The Basic Science Behind Water Towers
Water towers work using a simple principle of physics: gravity.
Water from treatment plants or underground wells is pumped into a storage tank located high above the ground—typically between 100 and 200 feet tall. Because the tank is elevated, gravity naturally pushes the water downward through the city’s pipeline network.
This gravitational force creates the water pressure needed to supply homes, businesses, irrigation systems, and fire hydrants throughout the community.
Most residential plumbing systems in the United States operate best at 40 to 60 PSI (pounds per square inch), which water towers can easily provide through elevation alone.
Why Water Towers Are Built So Tall
The height of a water tower determines how much pressure it can create. Engineers use a common rule:
For example, a water tower standing 120 feet tall can generate roughly 50 PSI of pressure—perfect for delivering water throughout a residential neighborhood.
Why Cities Still Use Water Towers
While modern pumping systems could theoretically move water through pipes continuously, water towers provide several major advantages that make them a preferred design in many municipal systems.
- Stable Water Pressure – Water towers maintain consistent pressure even during peak usage times.
- Energy Efficiency – Pumps can refill towers overnight when electricity demand is lower.
- Emergency Water Supply – If power fails, gravity can continue delivering water.
- Fire Protection – Fire hydrants depend on strong, immediate water pressure.
The Daily Fill-and-Use Cycle
Water towers typically operate on a daily cycle based on community demand.
- Night: Pumps refill the tower while water demand is low.
- Morning: Water levels drop as residents shower and prepare for the day.
- Daytime: Businesses and homes continue drawing water from the tower.
- Evening: The system begins refilling the tank for the next day.
How Much Water Can a Tower Store?
Water towers come in many sizes depending on the population they serve.
- Small towns: 50,000–300,000 gallons
- Suburban communities: 500,000–1 million gallons
- Larger urban systems: up to 2 million gallons or more
Even a single tower holding one million gallons can supply thousands of homes for several hours during peak demand or emergencies.
Modern Technology Inside Water Towers
Today’s water towers are equipped with advanced monitoring systems that help utilities maintain safe and reliable water supplies.
- Digital water level sensors
- Automated pump controls
- Water quality monitoring
- Protective interior coatings
- Regular inspections and maintenance
Landmarks in the American Skyline
Many cities turn their water towers into local landmarks by painting them with city names, mascots, or community slogans. Some towns even design towers shaped like giant objects such as fruit, coffee cups, or sports balls.
Despite their distinctive appearance, water towers remain one of the simplest and most reliable engineering solutions for delivering clean water to millions of Americans every day.
Next time you see a water tower rising above a town skyline, remember: it’s not just a landmark—it’s the gravity-powered system that keeps water flowing.
Related External Coverage
For more information about how water towers and municipal water systems work, explore the following resources:
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Drinking Water Regulations
- American Water Works Association – Water Storage and Water Towers
- HowStuffWorks – How Water Distribution Systems Work
- U.S. Geological Survey – Drinking Water and Groundwater Basics
- U.S. Department of Energy – How Water Towers Work
Dive into “The Knowledge,” where curiosity meets clarity. This playlist, in collaboration with STMDailyNews.com, is designed for viewers who value historical accuracy and insightful learning. Our short videos, ranging from 30 seconds to a minute and a half, make complex subjects easy to grasp in no time. Covering everything from historical events to contemporary processes and entertainment, “The Knowledge” bridges the past with the present. In a world where information is abundant yet often misused, our series aims to guide you through the noise, preserving vital knowledge and truths that shape our lives today. Perfect for curious minds eager to discover the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of everything around us. Subscribe and join in as we explore the facts that matter. https://stmdailynews.com/the-knowledge/
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unknown
The Unfavorable Semicircle Mystery: The YouTube Channel That Uploaded Tens of Thousands of Cryptic Videos
In 2015, the YouTube channel Unfavorable Semicircle gained attention for its enigmatic and abundant video uploads, totaling over 70,000 before its deletion in 2016. Theories about its purpose vary, from automated content generation to digital art experimentation, leaving its intent unresolved.
In the vast digital landscape of the internet, strange phenomena occasionally emerge that leave investigators, tech enthusiasts, and everyday viewers scratching their heads. One of the most puzzling cases appeared in 2015, when a mysterious YouTube channel called Unfavorable Semicircle began uploading an astonishing number of cryptic videos.
Within months, the channel had published tens of thousands of bizarre clips, many of which seemed random, incomprehensible, and visually chaotic. But as internet detectives began analyzing the content more closely, they discovered that these videos might not have been random at all.
The Sudden Appearance of an Internet Mystery
The Unfavorable Semicircle channel reportedly appeared in March 2015, with its first uploads arriving in early April.
Almost immediately, the channel began publishing videos at an incredible pace. Observers estimated that the account uploaded thousands of videos per week, sometimes multiple videos per minute. By the time the channel disappeared in early 2016, researchers believed it had uploaded well over 70,000 videos, possibly far more.
The scale alone made the project seem impossible for a human to manage manually.
Strange Visuals and Cryptic Titles
Most of the videos shared similar characteristics:
- Extremely short or very long runtime
- Abstract visuals such as flashing colors, static, or distorted imagery
- Little or no audio, or heavily distorted sounds
- Titles made of random characters, symbols, or numbers
To casual viewers, the videos looked like pure digital noise. However, online investigators suspected something more deliberate was happening.
Hidden Images Discovered
The mystery deepened when researchers began extracting individual frames from some videos.
When thousands of frames from certain clips were stitched together, the results sometimes formed coherent images. One of the most famous examples involved a video titled “LOCK.” While the footage appeared chaotic at first, combining the frames revealed a recognizable composite image.
This discovery suggested the videos were carefully constructed rather than random uploads.
Theories About the Channel’s Purpose
Because the creator never explained the project, several theories emerged across Reddit, YouTube, and internet forums.
Automated Experiment
Many believe the channel was created using automated software that generated and uploaded content at scale.
Alternate Reality Game (ARG)
Some viewers suspected the channel might be part of a hidden puzzle or digital scavenger hunt.
Encrypted Communication
Others compared the channel to Cold War “numbers stations,” suggesting the videos could contain coded messages.
Digital Art Project
Another theory suggests the channel was an experimental art project exploring algorithms, data, and visual noise.
Despite years of investigation, no single explanation has been confirmed.
Why the Channel Disappeared
In February 2016, YouTube removed the channel, reportedly due to spam or automated activity violations.
By that time, the channel had already become a minor internet legend. Fortunately, some researchers managed to archive a large portion of the videos before they disappeared.
Even today, archived clips continue to circulate online as investigators attempt to decode them.
Other Mysterious YouTube Channels
The Unfavorable Semicircle mystery is not the only strange case on YouTube.
One well-known example is Webdriver Torso, a channel that uploaded hundreds of thousands of videos showing red and blue rectangles with simple beeping sounds. Internet speculation ran wild before Google eventually confirmed it was an internal YouTube testing account.
Another example is AETBX, which posts distorted visuals and unusual audio that some viewers believe contain hidden patterns or encoded information.
These cases highlight how automation, experimentation, and creativity can sometimes blur the line between technology and mystery.
A Digital Mystery That Remains Unsolved
Nearly a decade later, the true purpose behind Unfavorable Semicircle remains unknown.
Was it a sophisticated experiment? A piece of algorithmic art? Or simply an automated test that accidentally captured the internet’s imagination?
Whatever the explanation, the channel stands as a reminder that even in a world filled with billions of videos and endless information, the internet can still produce mysteries that challenge our understanding of technology.
Why Internet Mysteries Still Fascinate Us
Stories like Unfavorable Semicircle capture attention because they combine technology, creativity, and the unknown. They invite people from around the world to collaborate, analyze patterns, and search for meaning hidden in the noise.
And sometimes, the most intriguing part of the mystery is that the answer may never fully be known.
Related Coverage & Further Reading
- Atlas Obscura – The Unsettling Mystery of the Creepiest Channel on YouTube
- Her Campus – Top 5 Most Obscure Internet Mysteries
- Medium – Unfavorable Semicircle: The YouTube Mystery No One Can Solve
- Gazette Review – Top 10 Strangest YouTube Channels Ever
- Decoding the Unknown – Unfavorable Semicircle YouTube Mystery Archive
- Wikipedia – Unfavorable Semicircle
Dive into “The Knowledge,” where curiosity meets clarity. This playlist, in collaboration with STMDailyNews.com, is designed for viewers who value historical accuracy and insightful learning. Our short videos, ranging from 30 seconds to a minute and a half, make complex subjects easy to grasp in no time. Covering everything from historical events to contemporary processes and entertainment, “The Knowledge” bridges the past with the present. In a world where information is abundant yet often misused, our series aims to guide you through the noise, preserving vital knowledge and truths that shape our lives today. Perfect for curious minds eager to discover the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of everything around us. Subscribe and join in as we explore the facts that matter. https://stmdailynews.com/the-knowledge/
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