Scientists are studying how some knots perform better than others, like this figure-eight knot tied using a special fiber that changes color under strain. Regions of high strain (green, yellow) can be easily distinguished from sections of the knot at low strain (red, orange). Joseph Sandt hide caption

from local story: "Sickle cell pain has a mind of its own," said Anesha Barnes, who's had the disease since she was a baby. She says the longer she stays in a pain crisis, the harder it is to break out of it. Johnathon Kelso hide caption

Destin Daniel Cretton co-wrote and directed the film adaptation of Bryan Stevenson's book Just Mercy. He's now working on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings — the first Marvel Studios movie centered on an Asian superhero. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP hide caption

During a vigil this month for people who died while homeless in Los Angeles in 2019, organizers floated candlelit lanterns on Echo Park Lake. Anna Scott/KCRW hide caption

Attendees cheer at a campaign rally for President Trump last month in Hershey, Pa. Matt Rourke/AP hide caption

Billboard chart analyst Chris Molanphy cites Taylor Swift as an artist who effectively differentiates between albums with the help of her video aesthetics. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images hide caption