Deb Roy is a researcher at MIT who wanted to understand how his infant son learned to speak. So, he wired his house with cameras and ultimately recorded more than 90,000 hours of video footage, within which existed over 7 million transcribed words from surrounding caregivers. By the end of two years, Roy had recorded his son as he learned 503 new words.
He then teased apart the patterns in the data and observed the influence of social environments on language acquisition. The resulting presentation is an astonishing reflection of his work.
Skip ahead to 4:56 to hear his son learning to convert “gaa” to “water.”
Roy’s research is not only remarkable in mapping out speech environments on a visual space-time continuum, but his experiment toward the end of the video, which tracks what he calls “word-scapes” in mass media, also sheds light on how much our speech continues to be shaped by the media that surround us.
The most important thing he learned, however, seems to be the way in which all three caregivers systematically restructured their language to meet his son at the simple birth of a word, and then escalated the complexity of their own speech to help him grow. So not only is the infant learning from his environment, but his environment is learning and responding from him. Thanks to technology, this amazing feedback loop can now be passed down to the boy’s kids, and so on.
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
A mansion and its reflection in the swimming poolCanva
Salzburg at nightCanva
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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.