We’re still busy here at CIW keeping up with the news—and viral videos—of the week.  Here’s what took the Internet by storm this week.

THE ROBOT APOCALYPSE IS NIGH
In yet more robotic bug news, Harvard researchers have designed robots whose ability to collaborate to build objects is modeled after termites.  The researchers believe that future versions of these robots may be able to assist in disaster response work.  No word on when the scientists believe the robots will collaborate to take over the world.

I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU NOT
In the early 20th century, people knew what to do when love soured: Send a “vinegar valentine.”  Also, why don’t Valentine’s hearts look like real hearts? 

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT…OR IS IT?
Ken Murphy set up a time-lapsed camera to take pictures of the sky every ten seconds for a year.  The resulting video is out of this world.

CELEBRATE MICHAEL SAM, CELEBRATE OUR DIFFERENCES
NFL prospect Michael Sam “turned his life into a very public debate” when he came out as gay this week. Dallas sportscaster Dale Hansen has had the most eloquent response to date to a so-called “issue” that seems to us should be a non-issue, concluding “When I listen to Michael Sam, I do think it’s time to celebrate him now.” 

MEN CAN BE FEMINIST ROLE MODELS, TOO
Anna Nordberg shares touching stories about her feminist dad and urges feminists to leave a spot at the table—and even the lean-in circle—for men.

THEY TAKE SELFIES, DON’T THEY?
What do 100-year-olds think of today’s culture?  Steve Harvey asked Irene and Alice, two women who have been friends for 94 years, their opinions on selfies, twerking and Justin Bieber.  And their answers are just as delightful as you’d expect.

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ARE JUST THAT—DRUGS
As reported heroin use has increased, so too has prescription painkiller addiction.  And now scientists are claiming it’s more than correlation; it’s causation.  (Oh, and now that we’re on the topic of drugs: Have you voted for your favorite CIW 2014 Talk yet?)

WHEN ACADEMICS MEET POLITICS
What happens when an academic tries to go into politics?  David Brooks explores the differences between academia and politics.  We’re not sure we agree, but his discussion of the “false modesty” of professors and the “fables” presented by politicians sure got us thinking.

TUMBLR-ING: THE NEWEST OLYMPIC SPORT
When Tumblr meets the Olympics, figure skating routines get set to classic 90s tunes and Girls‘s Shoshanna competes in the Shoshi Games.

This list was compiled by Brooke Scheyer, the Director of Programming for CIW.