Ever wish you could live in a small rural town specifically tailored to support the search for alien life, à la Jodie Foster’s Contact? No? Just me?
Meet the small West Virginian town dubbed “The Quietest Place in America.” It contains 13,000 square miles of cellphone-free airwaves and restricted Wi-Fi access. Created in 1958 to protect telescopes from potentially harmful electromagnetic waves, this area is known as the U.S. National Radio Quiet Zone— and it is both the coolest and the eeriest place in the United States.
Almost like a time capsule, the city itself is home to the Green Bank Telescope, the world’s largest steerable radio telescope, standing 450 feet tall with a surface area of 328 by 360 feet (that’s two football fields). Until 2021, the telescope will be part of the biggest scientific search ever for proof of extraterrestrial life, scanning 85 percent of the celestial sphere.
Aside from pioneering the search for remote space activity, the Quietest Place in America is also a haven for people who suffer from electromagnetic hypersensitivity. If you’re a fan of Breaking Bad and its spin-off, Better Call Saul, you’ll recognize this term from the character Chuck McGill, who claims to suffer from the condition.
Either way, this small town is simultaneously a unique portal into pre-industrial times and a potential launchpad into a very advanced future:
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.