From classics like Coke and A&W to cult favorites, we reveal which soda is worst for your belly. 70 Most Popular Sodas Ranked by How Toxic They Are Although we call them  beer bellies,  new science says we ought to call our bloated midsections what they really are: soda bellies. In a study of about 1,000 adults over the course of six years, people who drank soda or other sugar-sweetened beverages gained an extra 1.8 pounds of visceral fat the fat that sits inside your gut, damaging your internal organs and pushing your belly out into a King of the Hill style slouch. To put that in perspective, 1.8 pounds is about how much a fetus weighs at 24 weeks. This means you can go from your lean, slim self to looking like you re in your second trimester just by drinking a daily soda, sweetened iced tea, or fruit punch. (Talk about a punch to the gut!) But instead of carrying a bundle of joy, you re carrying a bundle of toxic fat; visceral fat has been shown to increase your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes, among other ills. Why is soda so good at making us look bad? It s the sugar. The USDA issued new guidelines in early 2016, recommending no more than 180 sugar calories per day for women (and 200 for men). This is the equivalent of approximately 45 grams of sugar an amount that many sodas and other sweetened beverages exceed in just one can. And if it s not sugar, then it s artificial sweetener, which is 180 times sweeter than sugar and just as damaging to your waistline. Here, we ve ranked the 70 most popular sodas: Category 1 has 34 regular (non-diet) sodas, and Category 2 has 36 diet sodas. Click through to see where your favorites fall and then find out what else is on the list of 50 Little Things Making You Fatter and Fatter . Category 1: Regular Sodas Ranked! Eat This, Not That! took the most popular sodas on the market into our Food Lab. First, we ordered them by calories, carbs, and sugar. Then, we examined each can's ingredients and gave demerits to sodas with more chemicals and additives than those that were nutritionally similar. We also did a major analysis of top diet sodas, which are in Category 2. Here in category 1 are regular sodas ranked from worst-to-best. (Although, "best" still doesn't mean healthy!) 34. Fanta Grape Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 180 calories, 48 g carbs, 48 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural Flavors, Tartaric Acid, Potassium Sorbate and Sodium Benzoate (to Protect Taste), Citric Acid, Red 40, Blue 1 Liquefy a bag of Skittles and you'd still have to add 6 grams of sugar to equal the sweetness of this can of corn syrup, citric acid and artificial colors. In fact, that bag of Skittles has the exact same ingredients, including Red 40, which Canadian researchers found to be contaminated with known carcinogens. Even without its unsettling origin story the Coca-Cola company created Fanta to profit in Germany when Nazis forbade the importation of USA-made Coke this would still be the absolute worst soda in America! 33. Stewart's Wishniak Black Cherry Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 180 calories, 44 g carbs, 43 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Sodium Benzoate, Caramel Color, Red 40, Blue 1 With more sugar than seven Chewy Chips Ahoy cookies, Stewart s Black Cherry would be a  Not That!  because of the sweetness alone it s the most caloric on this list. And, like many of the soda on this list, it also contains caramel coloring. This additive wouldn t be dangerous if you made it the old-fashioned way with water and sugar, on top of a stove. But the food industry follows a different recipe: they treat sugar with ammonia, which can produce some nasty carcinogens. A Center for Science in the Public Interest report asserted that the high levels of caramel color found in soda account for roughly 15,000 cancers in the U.S. annually. Instead, keep the soda sipping to a minimum and check out these 50 Best Weight Loss Tips ! 32. Dr. Brown's Black Cherry Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 180 calories, 45 g carbs, 45 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Cherry And Other Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), and Artificial Color (Red 40) With just two fewer grams of sugar than Stewart s Black Cherry, Dr. Brown s Black Cherry would horrify most doctors and not just because of the sugar. Like Stewart s and many of the colored sodas here this one has the artificial color Red 40, which is it ranks lower than our next entry, despite having less sugar. 31. A&W Cream Soda Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 170 calories, 46 g carbs, 45 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Caramel Color, Citric Acid, Yucca Extract, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Caffeine A&W traffics heavily in the nostalgia of the roadside restaurant the company created the nation s first chain of them in 1923. But their cream soda is a car crash of HFCS and artificial colors and flavors. This is not your grandparent s soda, in the worst way possible. 30. Mug Cream Soda Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 180 calories, 47 g carbs, 47 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness), Citric Acid, Caramel Color, Calcium Disodium EDTA (to protect flavor) Speaking of cream, you d have to down 12 servings of Redi-Whip to equal the calorie count of Mug Cream Soda (distributed by Pepsi) and would still need to eat 12 Hershey s Kisses on top of that to equal the sugar count. Put the can down and lose up to 14 pounds in 16 days with by avoiding these 30 Bad Habits That Lead to a Fat Belly ! 29. A&W Root Beer Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 170 calories, 47 g carbs, 45 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup and/or Sugar, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Natural and Artificial Flavors You gotta love that ingredients list: This American classic might have sugar and HFCS. Throw in two scoops of vanilla ice cream to make a Root Beer float and you have more than two day s worth of sugar in one chilled mug. 28. Mountain Dew Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 170 calories, 46 g carbs, 46 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Concentrated Orange Juice, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, Sodium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness), Caffeine, Sodium Citrate, Erythorbic Acid (Preserves Freshness), Gum Arabic, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Flavor), Brominated Vegetable Oil, Yellow 5 There s flame retardant in your Mountain Dew. That soda with the lime-green hue (and other citrus-flavored bubbly pops) won t keep your insides fireproof, but it does contain brominated vegetable oil, a patented flame retardant for plastics that has been banned in foods throughout Europe and in Japan. Brominated vegetable oil, or BVO, which acts as an emulsifier in citrus-flavored soda drinks, is found in about 10 percent of sodas sold in the U.S.  After a few extreme soda binges not too far from what many gamers regularly consume a few patients have needed medical attention for skin lesions, memory loss and nerve disorders, all symptoms of overexposure to bromine,  according to an article in Environmental News. 27. Mountain Dew Code Red Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 170 calories, 46 g carbs, 46 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Orange Juice Concentrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Sodium Benzoate, Natural Flavor, Caffeine, Sodium Citrate, Gum Arabic, Calcium Disodium EDTA, Red 40, Brominated Vegetable Oil, Yellow 5, Blue 1 As we said, Europe and Japan have already banned the flame retardant brominated vegetable oil (BVO) out of their bubbly beverages. Code Red! Dudes, to truly get a six-pack, don t do the Dew and instead scroll through this comprehensive list of 30 Foods That Uncover Your Abs ! 26. Dr. Brown's Cream Soda Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 180 calories, 44 g carbs, 44 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Citric Acid, Caramel Color With more calories than a Mountain Dew (though with less artificial colors, thus its better ranking), this Cream would make even Prince blush. 25. Dr. Brown's Root Beer Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 170 calories, 42 g carbs, 42 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Gum Acacia, Citric Acid, Caffeine Free You know when you add some Mentos to a two-liter Diet Coke and the whole thing explodes? (Don t try that at home.) That s thanks to the Gum Acacia in the candy, which also in this soda it s a natural emulsifier. Despite it s weird name, is probably this most natural ingredient in this sugar juice. 24. Surge Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 172 calories, 46.5 g carbs, 42 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Orange Juice Concentrate, Potassium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Potassium Citrate, Caffeine, Calcium Disodium Edta (To Protect Taste), Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Carob Bean Gum, Blue 1 It s not uncommon for  sodium and potassium benzoate are added to some diet soft drinks and fruit drinks,  Leslie Bonci, R.D. tells Eat This, Not That! Unfortunately especially because Surge contains OJ  they can form benzene, which is a carcinogen when combined with vitamin C, the ascorbic acid in juice or soda,  she says. Instead, get your surge and a flat belly from The 29 Best-Ever Proteins ! 23. Mello-Yello Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 170 calories, 47 g carbs, 47 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Concentrated Orange Juice, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Calcium Disodium Edta (To Protect Taste), Potassium Citrate, Caffeine, Yellow 5, Carob Bean Gum This soda is sweetened with inflammatory HFCS which makes for a shocking sugar count. It s also colored with Yellow 5, a food dye that s been linked to hyperactivity in children. Luckily, this soda used to contain the preservative sodium benzoate, a potentially cancer-causing substance, but has since been removed. 22. Sunkist Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 170 calories, 44 g carbs, 43 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Modified Corn Starch, Natural Flavors, Caffeine, Ester Gum, Yellow 6, Red 40 What do you get when you combine carbonated water with High Fructose Corn Syrup and a host of hard-to-pronounce chemicals? This citrus-inspired sip. It gets its alluring orange color from Yellow 5 and Red 40. A Journal of Pediatrics study linked Yellow 5 to hyperactivity in children and Canadian researchers found Red 40 to be contaminated with known carcinogens. And speaking of scary chemicals, be sure to avoid these 8 Ingredients You Never Want to See on Your Nutrition Label . 21. Barq's Root Beer Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 160 calories, 45 g carbs, 45 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Citric Acid, Caffeine, Artificial And Natural Flavors, Acacia Barq s Root Beer falls toward the middle of the pack regarding carbs, sugar and has a slightly less horrifying chemical profile than its competition. It s better than A+W Root Beer but slightly worse than Mug. 20. Fanta Orange Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 160 calories, 45 g carbs, 44 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Natural Flavors, Modified Food Starch, Sodium Polyphosphates, Glycerol Ester Of Rosin, Yellow 6, Red 40 I don t know about you, but after a long day of hard work and play, I like to sit back and relax and crack open a can of Glycerol Ester Of Rosin. The wood resin is added to many fruit sodas to help the fruit-flavored oils mix better with the water. While it s not necessarily harmful, let us repeat: you re drinking oil and water, sold to you by Coke. 19. Orange Crush Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 160 calories, 43 g carbs, 43 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Natural Flavors, Ester Gum, Yellow 6, Red 40 Orange Crush has the same nutritionals as our next soda, Mug s Root Beer, but we re docking it points for the Yellow 6, which, as we ve said, is crushing stuff. Instead, crush your workout and get the flay belly you deserve with these 20 Amazing Weight-Loss Tips From Shaun T ! 18. Mug's Root Beer Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 160 calories, 43 g carbs, 43 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate (preserves freshness), Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Modified Food Starch, Calcium Disodium EDTA (to protect flavor), Quillaia Extract Quillaia extract? The best (and worst) part of researching these sodas in the Eat This, Not That! Food Lab is coming across the weird ingredients soda manufacturers (in this case, Pepsi) add to their concoctions. Quillaia is another tree bark, and it helps your root beer foam up. Be more scared of the sugar here you re basically drinking four root beer-flavored Dum Dums mixed with additives. 17. Wild Cherry Pepsi Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 160 calories, 42 g carbs, 42 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Sugar, Phosphoric Acid, Natural Flavor, Caffeine, Citric Acid Nothing wild here just the same ingredients as most sodas, and as much sugar as more than three cups of cherries (without containing any cherries). 16. Crush Grapefruit Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 160 calories, 43 g carbs, 43 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Tartaric Acid, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Acacia Gum, Red 40, Blue 1 Our childhood nostalgia is crushed: This kid-favorite brand has no actual grapefruit. On the bright side, it has no BVO. Wanna snack instead? Fuel up fast with the muscle-building protein in these 50 Best Snacks for Weight Loss ! 15. Mist TWST (formerly Sierra Mist) Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 150 calories, 39 g carbs, 39 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Clarified Lemon Juice Concentrate, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, Potassium Sorbate and Potassium Benzoate (preserves freshness), Calcium Disodium EDTA (protect flavor) When it was called Sierra Mist, it was sweetened with sugar and stevia. Now, after being rebranded to Mist TWST, this soda is sweetened with high fructose corn syrup with no natural sugar in sight. This tacked on an additional 30 calories and 10 grams of sugar far from the pre beverage that we used to rank #1 on this list. 14. Stewart's Root Beer Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 150 calories, 38 g carbs, 38 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Caramel Color, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Citric Acid, Quillaia Extract, Gum Acacia, Yucca Extract If you wouldn t eat three and half bowls of Apple Jacks then you should stay away from this root beer. That s the sugar equivalent of what s in a 12-ounce can. 13. Cherry Coca-Cola Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 150 calories, 42 g carbs, 42 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Natural Flavors, Caffeine As we near the top ten, you ll notice the oils and artificial flavors disappearing and see some of the most popular sodas for what they really are: carbonated water, HFCS, some acids and little else. This classic once made with real cherry juice is, unfortunately, a variation on a common blend. It s like finding out your cool dad worked in accounting all along. 12. Pepsi-Cola Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 150 calories, 41 g carbs, 41 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Sugar, Phosphoric Acid, Caffeine, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor The perennial #2 in the cola wars carries 5 grams more sugar than a 3 Musketeers bar and 1 gram more carbs. Let that sink in: One of America s most popular sodas has that much sugar. Instead of drinking this, make a weight loss smoothie ! 11. Pepsi Real Sugar Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 150 calories, 40 g carbs, 40 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Sugar, Caramel Color, Phosphoric, Acid, Caffeine Natural Flavor Sugar is the master of disguise. Maltodextrin, brown rice syrup, dextrose, sucrose it s got more alter egos than the Avengers. But it s most well-known costume, as you know after reading this far, is High Fructose Corn Syrup. Pepsi s hoping you forget it s all the same sweet stuff, heavily marketing this new brand formulated with sugar and no HFCS. But in a 2014 review of five studies comparing the effects of sugar and HFCS, there was no difference found in changes in blood glucose levels, lipid levels, or appetite between table sugar consumption and HFCS consumption. In other words, your body can t tell one from the other they re both just sugar. 10. Pibb Xtra Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 140 calories, 39 g carbs, 39 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Sorbate And Potassium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Artificial And Natural Flavors, Caffeine, Monosodium Phosphate, Lactic Acid, Polyethylene Glycol A  spicy  cherry soda found mostly in the South or in Coke Freestyle machines Pibb Xtra contains propylene glycol, a preservative, thickening agent, and stabilizer, also used as antifreeze to de-ice airplanes, as a plasticizer to make polyester resins, and found in electronic cigarettes. The soda ranks well because of its calorie count, but we can t recommend you drink it! 9. 7Up Cherry Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 140 calories, 39 g carbs, 38 g sugar Ingredients: Citric Acid, Filtered Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural Flavors, Potassium Benzoate (preservative), Red 40 No caramel color ranking goes up! Red 40 ranking goes down. 8. Coca-Cola Classic Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 140 calories, 39 g carbs, 39 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Natural Flavors, Caffeine Eat This, Not That! has been after Coca-Cola since our inception, because the company itself is responsible for the HFCS-filled Sprite, Barq s, Fanta, Dr. Pepper, Fuze Tea, Powerade, Monster energy drinks and more not to mention the sugary  VitaminWater.  Yet the company s flagship drink is less harmful than most of the soda s on this list. That doesn t mean you should drink it. It means you shouldn t drink soda. For a healthier buzz without the preservatives, drink tea. 7. 7Up Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 140 calories, 39 g carbs, 38 g sugar Ingredients: Filtered Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Potassium Citrate, Natural Flavors, Calcium Disodium EDTA (to protect flavor) Best part of clear sodas: no caramel color. Worst part: They re still sodas, and otherwise contain the same ingredients as the rest. This classic, now distributed by the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, has lost market share since its 80s heyday, but remains a crisp drink that s not much better than a Coke. 6. Sprite Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 140 calories, 38 g carbs, 38 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste) Promoted by the coolest athletes, Sprite has the marketing down and a calorie count slightly lower than the other citric sodas on this list. But we can t imagine LeBron and friends guzzling a can of carbonated corn syrup before a game. For more invaluable advice, check out our exclusive 25 Best Nutrition Tips Ever . 5. Canada Dry Ginger Ale Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 140 calories, 36 g carbs, 35 g sugar Ingredients: *Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Natural Flavors, Caramel Color Our moms used to give this to us when we had a tummy ache. Now as adults, we get a tummy ache looking at it. Blame Canada. Their tagline is  Real Ginger, Real Taste  but the main ingredients here are carbonated water and HSFC. But with lower calories than the rest, it ranks well on this ignominious list. For Real Delicious Food, Real Weight Loss, read our special report: 14 Ways to Lose Your Belly in 14 Days ! 4. Dr. Brown's Cel Ray Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 140 calories, 34 g carbs, 34 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Extract of Celery Seed with other Natural Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative) and Caramel Color The healthiest-sounding soda on this list nearly is. But unfortunately for the fans of Jewish delis everywhere, Cel Ray blends actual celery seed extract with HFCS. 3. Schweppes Ginger Ale Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 120 calories, 33 g carbs, 32 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Natural Flavors, Natural Colors Despite being near the top of this list, this soda has as much HFCS-derived sugar as 10 croissants. At least there are any artificial flavors (nor ginger, unfortunately). 2. Seagram's Ginger Ale Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 100 calories, 26 g carbs, 26 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Potassium Sorbate (To Protect Taste), Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Ginger This is the #2 least-worst soda, with a big caveat: Lisa Moskovitz, R.D., founder of The NY Nutrition Group, says  …high fructose corn syrup, which has been shown to increase appetite and, over time, lead to health problems such as obesity and diabetes.  Yeah, yeah, you knew it was bad, but hear us again: HFCS is bad! Still, Seagram s Ginger Ale has a lower calorie count than most. And coming in at #1. Coca-Cola Life Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 90 calories, 24 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Caramel Color, Natural Flavors, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Caffeine, Stevia Leaf Extract Although Coke Life is sweetened with stevia, it s certainly not a  diet  beverage. A can of this still packs 24 grams of sugar and is 90 calories. Still, that s much less than other traditional colas on the market. And the ingredients are pretty simple, too sweetened with cane sugar and stevia, there s no HFCS, which is a bonus. At less than 100 calories a can, this is definitely the best of the regular sodas (although it that still doesn t make it healthy!) Category 2: Diet Sodas Ranked! Diet soda isn t really any better than regular because their artificial sweeteners are sweeter than sugar, resulting in a host of health issues (and weight gain). Diet sodas also harm the immune system because their acidity causes havoc with our gut bacteria. And the caramel coloring in many sodas contains an artificial form of phosphorous that s been shown to leach calcium from our bones. But while every diet soda is bad for you, some are clearly worse than others. The team at Eat This, Not That! took 36 brands into our Food Lab, and pored over the ingredients of the most popular diet sodas in America. Read on to discover where your favorite cola landed and discover our surprising #1 pick, which might become your new go-to. How we ranked them: First, we measured the amount of artificial sweetener in each soda, paying special attention to aspartame, the most pervasive sweetener. The low-calorie sugar alternative, made by joining two amino acids with an alcohol, is 180 times sweeter than sugar and the subject of controversy. Some researchers claim to have linked aspartame to brain tumors and lymphoma, but the FDA insists the sweetener is safe(ish) for humans. We gave demerits to diet sodas with high aspartame counts. We also docked points for high levels of ingredients you wouldn t expect in your beverage like vegetable oils and tree bark and gave high marks to new brands with more natural blends. These are the top 36 diet sodas ranked! from worst to best. 36. Diet Mountain Dew Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 10 calories, 85 mg sodium, less than 1 g carbs, less than 1 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Concentrated Orange Juice, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Citrus Pectin, Potassium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness), Aspartame, Potassium Citrate, Caffeine, Sodium Citrate, Acesulfame Potassium, Sucralose, Gum Arabic, Sodium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness), Calcium Disodium EDTA (to Protect Flavor), Brominated Vegetable Oil, Yellow 5 There s flame retardant in your Mountain Dew. That soda with the lime-green hue (and other citrus-flavored bubbly pops) won t keep your insides fireproof, but it does contain brominated vegetable oil, a patented flame retardant for plastics that has been banned in foods throughout Europe and in Japan. Brominated vegetable oil, or BVO, which acts as an emulsifier in citrus-flavored soda drinks, is found in about 10 percent of sodas sold in the U.S.  After a few extreme soda binges   not too far from what man gamers regularly consume   a few patients have needed medical attention for skin lesions, memory loss and nerve disorders, all symptoms of overexposure to bromine,  according to an article in Environmental News. Don t do the Dew: It s the Worst Diet Soda in the World! 35. Tab Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Caramel Color, Natural Flavors, Phosphoric Acid, Calcium Saccharin, Potassium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Caffeine, Aspartame Introduced in 1963 for people keeping  tabs  on their weight TaB was Coke s first calorie-free soda and the first to draw outcry because of its artificial sweetener. Between 1997 and 2000, the FDA mandated that saccharin-containing products carry a label warning consumers about the risk of cancer, due largely to the development of bladder tumors in saccharin-consuming rate. Saccharin still isn t in the clear. One recent study funded by Purdue and the National Institute of Health showed that rats with a saccharin-rich diet gained more weight than those with high-sugar diets. Eat This, Not That! s official stance? Avoid. By the way, sometimes, fat isn t bad: click here to discover the essential list of the 20 Best Full-Fat Foods for Weight Loss ! 34. Fresca Original Citrus Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Citric Acid, Concentrated Grapefruit Juice, Potassium Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Potassium Benzoate and EDTA (to Protect Taste), Aspartame, Acesulfame Potassium, Acacia Gum, Natural Flavors, Glycerol Ester of Rosin, Carob Bean Gum I don t know about you, but after a long day of hard work and play, I like to sit back and relax and crack open a can of Glycerol Ester Of Rosin. The wood resin is added to many fruit sodas to help the fruit-flavored oils mix better with the water. While it s not necessarily harmful, let us repeat: you re drinking oil and water, sold to you by Coke. 33. Pepsi True Nutrition 12 fl oz., 100 calories, 26 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Sugar, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Natural Flavor, Caffeine, Purified Stevia Leaf Extract Pepsi s answer to Coca-Cola Life also made with pure sugar and Stevia Leaf extract  says it s  all the fun you love about Pepsi with 30% less sugar than regular Pepsi.  They forgot to add it also has 100% more sugar than you should be drinking out of a can. Stay  true  to yourself and instead satisfy your craving with one of The 29 Best-Ever Proteins for Weight Loss ! 32. RC Ten Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 10 calories, 3 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Citrate, Aspartame, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Potassium Benzoate (protects Flavor), Caffeine, Citric Acid, Acesulfame Potassium, Acacia Gum, Sucralose Only the soda companies could blend two evils High Fructose Corn Syrup and artificial sweeteners and market it as a healthier choice. The Ten line does just that.  Both Ten and a zero-calorie brand are bad,  Isabel Smith, MS, RD, CDN, registered dietitian, tells Eat This, Not That!,  but for the sake of fewer bad ingredients, the zero-calorie is better.  Especially when it comes to RC: This one has more sugar than the other Tens and caramel color is the third ingredient. 31. Dr. Pepper Ten Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 10 calories, 2 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Aspartame, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Caffeine, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Acesulfame Potassium, Sodium Phosphate[/nutrinfo-black] Shocker: This soda may have just 10 calories but it s still made with high fructose corn syrup. To easily burn off any of these sodas without spending hours in the gym don t miss this list of the essential 55 Best-Ever Ways to Speed Up Your Metabolism Fast! 30. Sunkist Ten Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 10 calories, 2 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Malic Acid, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Aspartame, Modified Food Starch, Natural Flavors, Acesulfame Potassium, Caffeine, Ester Gum, Yellow 6, Red 40 The artificial colors alone sunk this Sunkist. But you re also drinking modified food starch a catch-all term describing starches (derived from corn, wheat, potato or rice) that are modified to change their response to heat or cold and improve their texture. The starches themselves appear safe, but the nondisclosure of the chemicals used in processing causes some nutritionists to question their effects on health. 29. A&W Ten Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 10 calories, 2 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Natural and Artificial Flavors, Aspartame, Acesulfame Potassium, Malic Acid, Quillaia Extract Quillaia extract? The best (and worst) part of researching these sodas in the Eat This, Not That! Food Lab is coming across the weird ingredients soda manufacturers (in this case, Pepsi) add to their concoctions. Quillaia is a tree bark, and it helps your root beer foam up. 28. Canada Dry Ten Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 10 calories, 2 g sugar Ingredients: Filtered Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Malic Acid, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Aspartame, Natural Flavors, Acesulfame Potassium, Caramel Color Our moms used to give us Canada Dry Ginger Ale when we had a tummy ache. Now as adults, we get a tummy ache looking at it. Blame Canada. Their tagline is  Real Ginger, Real Taste  but the main ingredients here are carbonated water and artificial sweeteners. 27. 7-Up Ten Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 10 calories, 2 g sugar Ingredients: Filtered Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Potassium Citrate, Potassium Benzoate (preservative), Natural Flavors, Aspartame, Acesulfame Potassium, Calcium Disodium EDTA (to protect flavor) Of the Tens, at least this one has no caramel color. But if you re sipping one, you re probably also missing some of these 25 Most Overlooked Ways to Lose Weight ! 26. Pepsi Zero Sugar (formerly Pepsi Max) Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Aspartame, Potassium Benzoate (preserves freshness), Caffeine, Natural Flavor, Acesulfame Potassium, Citric Acid, Calcium Disodium EDTA (to protect flavor), Panax Ginseng Root Extract Is your 7-11 sold out of Coke Zero, bro? Try this wannabe, which adds extra caffeine ginseng to fool dudes into thinking this is an all-natural energy drink. 25. Mello Yello Zero Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Citric Acid, Aspartame, Sodium Benzoate And EDTA (to Protect Taste), Acacia, Potassium Citrate, Acesulfame Potassium, Caffeine, Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate, Natural Flavors, Coconut Oil, Yellow 5 You know when you add some Mentos to a two-liter Diet Coke and the whole thing explodes? (Don t try that at home.) That s thanks to the Gum Acacia in the candy, which is also in this soda it s a natural emulsifier. Despite it s weird name, is probably this most natural ingredient in this artificially-colored Zero. 24. Fanta Zero Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Citric Acid, Potassium Citrate, Aspartame, Natural Flavors, Potassium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Modified Food Starch, Acesulfame Potassium, Yellow 6, Glycerol Ester Of Rosin, Coconut Oil, Red 40 Just like its full-calorie cousin, Fanta Zero is an unsavory blend of oils and artificial colors. Even without its unsettling origin story about Coca-Cola creating Fanta to profit in Germany when Nazis forbid USA-made Coke this would still be gross. (Speaking of sodas, don t miss our ultimate list of the Top 32 Regular Sodas Ranked !) 23. Diet Sunkist Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Aspartame, Malic Acid, Modified Food Starch, Natural Flavors, Caffeine, Ester Gum, Acesulfame Potassium, Yellow 6, Red 40 What do you get when you combine carbonated water with aspartame and a host of hard-to-pronounce chemicals? This citrus-inspired sip. It gets its alluring orange color from Yellow 6 and Red 40. A Journal of Pediatrics study linked Yellow 5 to hyperactivity in children and Canadian researchers found Red 40 to be contaminated with known carcinogens. 22. Pibb Zero Nutrition (per 12 fl oz):0 calories, 0 sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Aspartame, Potassium Sorbate and Potassium Benzoate (to protect taste), Artificial and Natural Flavors, Acesulfame Potassium, Caffeine, Monosodium Phosphate, Lactic Acid, Polyethylene Glycol A  spicy  cherry soda found mostly in the South or in Coke Freestyle machines Pibb Zero contains propylene glycol, a preservative, thickening agent, and stabilizer, also used as antifreeze to de-ice airplanes, as a plasticizer to make polyester resins, and found in electronic cigarettes. A nutritional zero. 21. Diet Barq's Root Beer Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Caramel Color, Potassium Sorbate And Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Aspartame, Citric Acid, Acesulfame Potassium, Artificial And Natural Flavors, Acacia, Potassium Chloride As with aspartame, Eat This, Not That! also recommends you limit Acesulfame Potassium aka Ace K a zero-calorie sweetener that often appears with sucralose or aspartame to create a flavor closer to sugar (it s 200 times sweeter). Although the FDA does not recognize it as a carcinogen, some experts disagree, and large doses have been shown to cause problems in the thyroid glands of rats, rabbits and dogs. It s used here to sweeten the root beer, but you ll also find it in Diet Pepsi, Fresca, and Coke s Zero line. For decadent fat-burners, without the guilt, don t miss this list of the 25 Best Carbs That Uncover Your Abs ! 20. Diet Mug Root Beer Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate (preserves freshness), Aspartame, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Quillaia Extract, Calcium Disodium EDTA (to protect flavor) As with the A&W root beer, the ingredient to worry about here is not the Quillaia tree bark, but rather the caramel color and aspartame. 19. Diet Dr. Pepper Cherry Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Caramel Color, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Aspartame, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Citric Acid, Phosphoric Acid, Caffeine, Malic Acid, Sodium Phosphate, Red 40 The Cherry version of Diet Dr. Pepper is worse than the original because of the artificial color Red 40, which Canadian researchers found to be contaminated with known carcinogens. 18. Diet Dr. Pepper Cherry Vanilla Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Caramel Color, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Aspartame, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Citric Acid, Phosphoric Acid, Caffeine, Malic Acid, Red 40 Like old school Cherry, the Vanilla also has Red 40 and no actual vanilla. 17. Dr. Brown's Diet Black Cherry Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cherry and Other Natural Flavors, Malic Acid, Aspartame, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate, Caramel Color and Artificial Color (red #40) Another  doctor  prescribing Red 40. If Dr. Brown had a diploma, it d be from the University of American Samoa. 16. Diet Dr. Pepper Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Caramel Color, Aspartame, Phosphoric Acid, Artificial and Natural Flavors, Sodium Benzoate, Caffeine Eat This, Not That! researchers found the aspartame count, in milligrams, of a Diet Dr. Pepper was 123 mg the highest of all major sodas outside of Diet Coke. We know it s likely your favorite guilty pleasure, but keep this Doctor away and instead don t miss these 33 Ways to Flatten Your Belly Fast! ! 15. Diet Mug Cream Soda Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Sodium Benzoate (preserves freshness), Aspartame, Citric Acid, Caramel Color, Yucca Mohave Extract, Calcium Disodium EDTA (to protect flavor) Don t worry too much about the Yucca Mohave Extract it just makes your artificially-sweetened carbonated water foamy. Instead, wonder: Where s the cream? 14. Coke Zero Sugar Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Aspartame, Potassium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Natural Flavors, Potassium Citrate, Acesulfame Potassium, Caffeine After years of growth, sales are flatlining for this once-cool new brand, originally marketed as a masculine alternative to girly Diet Coke. But the key to Coke s Zero Sugar s meteoric rise (formerly known as Coke Zero) wasn t dudes, it was the unique blend of aspartame (58 mg) and acesulfame potassium (31 mg). Suddenly, a diet drink tasted like real Coke! But it could make you fat like one, too.  Even though diet drinks are calorie-free, they cause insulin to be released in your gut because their artificial sweeteners are sweet like sugar, and that actually prevents weight loss,  says Miriam Jacobson, RD, CDN.  Insulin is your body s primary fat-storage hormone, so it will have the body hold on to any extra fat,  she explains, adding,  Trying to lose weight by trading a Coke for this is doing the body just as much harm, if not more, because of all the chemicals in the calorie-free version.  13. Diet Coke Cherry Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Benzoate (to protect taste), Aspartame, Natural Flavors, Acesulfame Potassium, Caffeine To make this even sweeter than old-school Diet Coke, they ve added acesulfame potassium to the mix. As for actual cherry…..nope. 12. Diet Coke with Lime Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Caramel Color, Natural Flavors, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Benzoate (to protect taste), Aspartame, Citric Acid, Acesulfame Potassium, Caffeine As with the Diet Coke with Cherry, this one s made sweeter with Ace-K and has citric acid, for the tang. Our question: Why not enjoy a Diet Coke with real lime? Health halos aren t the only tricks marketers pull; discover the ones making you fat by clicking on these 24 Weight-Loss Myths Busted ! 11. Diet Coke Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Caramel Color, Aspartame, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Benzoate (to protect taste), Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Caffeine The best-selling diet soda in the world has been losing market share to healthier alternatives, dropping from $4.4 billion in sales in 2005 to $3.2 last year. Meanwhile, tea sales are soaring. That s because a study published in the journal Nutrition and Metabolism showed that white tea can simultaneously boost lipolysis (the breakdown of fat) and block adipogenesis (the formation of fat cells). The tea s combination of caffeine and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) seems to set fat cells up for defeat. We at Eat This, Not That! love tea so much, we made it part of our bestselling new diet plan, The 7-Day Flat-Belly Tea Cleanse ! Check it out test panelists lost 10 pounds in one week! 10. Diet Coke with Splenda Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Caramel Color, Natural Flavors, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Benzoate (to protect taste), Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium, Caffeine, Citric Acid, Tartaric Acid After reviewing more than 110 animal and human studies, the FDA decided in 1999 to approve sucralose, aka Splenda, for use in all foods. Sucralose opponents argue that the amount of human research is inadequate, but even groups like the Center for Science in the Public Interest have deemed it safe. Too bad this one s a bit hard to find. 9. Diet Pepsi Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Benzoate (preserves freshness), Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium, Caffeine, Natural Flavor, Citric Acid The soda giant claimed consumer demand not science was behind its headline-making decision to remove aspartame from its classic cola earlier this year. They replaced it with sucralose, aka Splenda and acesulfame potassium, aka Ace K. We re applauding the move but with one hand only. The other s reaching for an all-natural beverage, like our #1 and #2 picks. (And we re not alone: Sales of Diet Pepsi dropped 35 percent in the last 10 years.) 8. Caffeine Free Diet Coke Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Caramel Color, Aspartame, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Benzoate (to protect taste), Natural Flavors, Citric Acid Although Eat This, Not That! isn t against caffeine it s proven to boost metabolism and aid weight loss excessive caffeine screws with your sleep schedule and suppresses functions of key immune agents. And insufficient sleep opens the door to colds, upper respiratory infections, and other ills. So if you re on your third can of DC for the day, switch to this, if you must. 7. Diet Rite Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Sucralose, Citric Acid, Potassium Benzoate (preservative), Acesulfame Potassium, Natural Flavors, Acacia Gum, Potassium Citrate The also-ran in the soda wars usually a few cents cheaper surprises us with this formula. It has zero aspartame (yay!) but also zero caffeine, which leaves us wondering, why would anyone drink this. Amirite? 6. Caffeine Free Diet Pepsi Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Benzoate (preserves freshness), Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium, Natural Flavor, Citric Acid As we ve said, we re into caffeine, as long as you don t overdo it. But why drink a can of chemicals if you re not even benefiting from the buzz? 5. Diet 7-Up Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 g sugar Ingredients: Filtered Carbonated Water, Citric Acid, Potassium Citrate, Potassium Benzoate (Preservative), Natural Flavors, Aspartame, Acesulfame Potassium, Calcium Disodium EDTA (to protect flavor) What separates this from all the rest? No artificial coloring. But it s still filled with artificial sweetener. Click here for the 20 Unhealthiest Foods on the Planet ! 4. Sprite Zero Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Citric Acid, Potassium Citrate, Natural Flavors, Potassium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Aspartame, Acesulfame Potassium As with the Diet 7-Up, the Sprite Zero has no artificial colors. But why settle for artificial flavors? 3. Zevia Ginger Root Beer Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 g sugar Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Stevia Leaf Extract, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid This small company, founded by soda-loving parents who wanted something healthier for their children, distributes a variety of classic flavors, from cola to ginger ale to grape, without using artificial sweeteners or artificial colors. Although the soda used to be flavored with sugar alcohols, it has ditched erythritol. Brilliantly, this root beer tastes like the real thing and is clear, because there s no caramel color. 2. Hint Kick Raspberry Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 0 calories, 0 g sugar Ingredients: Purified Water, Black Raspberry, Other Natural Flavors from non-GMO Plants and Natural Caffeine from Coffee Beans OK, we re totally cheating here. Hint Water isn t carbonated, cola-flavored or sold in 64-ounce Big Gulps. But these new flavored bottled waters do have 60 milligrams of caffeine, derived from coffee beans. That s more than you ll find in Diet Dr. Pepper (41 mg), Diet Coke (47 mg) or even Mountain Dew (54 mg). So you get all of the pop, with none of the calories and each flavor is sweetened not with aspartame, but with fruit juice or spice. Try the Lemon Cayenne Hint Kick (and don t overdo it, since caffeine can dehydrate you), and you ll never go back to Diet Coke again. And to blast even more fat, don t miss these 30 Skinny Secrets from the World s Sexiest Women !And the #1Diet Soda is… And the #1 Diet Soda is…Bai5 Bubbles Bolivia Black Cherry Nutrition (per 12 fl oz): 6 calories, 1 g sugar Ingredients: Filtered Carbonated Water, Bai® Proprietary Sweetener Blend™ (Erythritol, Stevia Extract), Natural Flavors, Cherry Juice Concentrate, Malic Acid, Citric Acid, Fruit and Vegetable Juice (for color), Coffeefruit Extract, White Tea Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Citrate Founded by coffee guru Ben Weiss in his Princeton basement, Bai5, a new line of all-natural fruity drinks with exotic flavors, is forecast to rack up $125 million in sales this year. We can see why: Their Bubbles line with flavors like Guatemala Guava, Jamaica Blood Orange and Bolivia Black Cherry are the definitive Drink This on this list of Not That!s. Sweetened with fruit juice, erythritol and stevia (not aspartame) and powered by 45 mg of caffeine, thanks to the tea and coffeefruit, they're delicious enjoyed straight-up or as a mixer. Interestingly, rather that beat Bai5, one soda titan joined them: the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, who once only distributed the product, bought a stake in the company this past April. Meet the Best Diet Soda in America!


The sight of Quito's Basílica Del Voto Nacional is as threatening as it is beautiful. The neo-gothic church can be seen from nearly any point in Ecuador's capital which sits high in the Andean mountains. From afar, its three pointed towers reach up towards the peaks of the surrounding volcanoes piercing clouds in the sky. At ground level, the structure looms over the city, appearing in clear sight in the gaping space at the end of el centro's Venezuela Street. Its harsh angles, towering height, and moody air make it an intimidating sight so much so that at any given time, hurried folks will pause to stare at the strapping structure for just a moment or two. Looking at this basilica from even a kilometer away, a tourist may feel a shiver creep up towards their scalp but if a gaze from a distance causes a shred of terror, know that there's more to be anticipated once inside its walls. Basílica Del Voto Nacional is Spanish for Basilica of the National Vow. This is a monument iconic not only in the capital of Ecuador but for the country as a whole. Its original intentions were to honor the sacred heart of Jesus (the notion that the heart of the resurrected son of God is the symbol of his love). In a nation of devout Catholics, that holds ground but local legend has given the basilica another purpose. Even during a short visit to Quito a traveler from abroad may hear whisperings that this basilica has the power to end the world. Want more Daily Beast travel stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter here! Wordly travelers may look at the Basílica Del Voto Nacional and think of Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral. They wouldn't be far off. When in 1883 priest Julio María Matovelle dreamt up the idea of a basilica in Quito, he commissioned architect Emilio Tarlier who took inspiration from the infamous French cathedral. After the plans were drawn, construction began in the late 1880's and over the next 100 years, Ecuadorians created a masterpiece complete with kaleidoscope windows, bronze artwork, carved stone Galapagos creatures in the place of traditional gargoyles, and 24 chapels representing each of Ecuador's provinces. In fact, the Basílica Del Voto Nacional is even the highest neo-gothic church in all of South America. The thing is, while the great basilica opened in the summer of 1988 (three years after it was blessed by Pope John Paul ll), for superstitious reasons, the construction has yet to halt. Most visitors to Quito will become aware of this religious Ecuadorian icon either through seeing it on a walk through the UNESCO world heritage site that is the old historic center or through exploring its interior for a two dollar entry fee. For the full experience, those with courage could (and should) embark on the cold-sweat inducing climb to the back tower. That excursion is a must-do while in Quito. The basilica stands at a height of 377 feet which makes for a lot of stairs to climb en route to the back tower. During that climb, winding steps bring curious wanderers past small, circular windows punched out of the walls offering a peek at stone carved sea turtles and birds from the Galapagos and then to the floor looking down on the long, narrow body of the building with rows upon rows of pews faced towards an altar outfitted with the burning candles, the sacred heart of Jesus, and the Ecuadorian flag. Rise some more and the stairs give way to the outdoors where a balcony opens up to sweeping views of Quito. Orange tiled roofs speckle the landscape, steeples of many churches poke above neighboring homes and shops and smack dab in the middle of this scene of Quito, the statue of Mary sits perched high on a hill. (As enticing and friendly as that walk may look, locals will caution tourists to never attempt walking the footpath up towards the tower as it's a popular spot for violent robberies.) Standing on this balcony, tourists ought to know that this here view is of the most well-preserved and barely altered city center in all of Latin America. (Hence the UNESCO world heritage site label.) At 9,350 feet, Quito is the second tallest capital in the world and was once an Incan city. When the Spanish founded it in 1535, they built Quito on the ruins of what was left. This means that for centuries, the mountains that can be seen from Basílica Del Voto Nacional's balcony have been keeping a watchful eye on those who call the bustling city home. For three decades, the basilica has been open to devout worshippers and tourists alike. It has been well over a century since Julio María Matovelle's workers first broke ground. Still, no matter when a curious passerby wanders inside its walls, they will see a group of Ecuadorians hard at work in some corner of the basilica. It may seem that perhaps a traveler arrived during a time when, say, one of the front towers was in need of fixing. This is not the case. If the recent work on one of the front towers created a bit of an eyesore unlucky for your Instagram feed, it's because construction will in fact never be finished. Local legend has it that once this basilica is completely done, the end of the world will come. The story goes that life as we know it could be doomed thanks to this eerie-looking building that stands close to the equator in the middle of the world. As such, no detail is overlooked. There's always work to be done, updates to be made, a spot to be fixed. This has been the case for 130 years and the people of Quito will continue to find excuses for the work to continue. Simply put: the gothic structure is never to be finished. That's a hair-raising tale enough to unsettle anyone visiting Ecuador on vacation and after peering down on this Andean city from the balcony, the remaining part of the basilica tour  the rickety wooden walkway and the climb to the tower at the top  does absolutely nothing to settle the nerves. Structurally, the bridge that leads to the first ladder seems… not quite right. In fact, your travel buddy may assume that this thin wooden walkway is out-of-bounds and not intended for public use when actually, you must walk across this dimly-lit zone in order to access the ladders that leads to one of the best views of Quito. Ignore the optics: the walkway will not break. Once across, the first ladder waits. Climb to the top and you're outdoors in daylight again. For those who aren't nervous with heights, the steep-angled outdoor iron ladder is the last flight up to the very top. To put it bluntly, this ladder with its spindly side bars looks better suited for an ornamental garden decoration, not a ladder taking lineups of eager visitors up to a tower. That said, enjoy the thrilling climb: it's one of the most unique ways to experience Quito and though it may seem shaky, the risks of falling are slim. The climb may have been, at times, unforgiving for tourists unsure of heights but the end reward is... awe-inspiring. The city below is somehow both relaxed and vibrant  as are the wonderful people of this country really. Looking closely, you might notice that the clocks display times hours apart. For those who know this South American nation's culture well, this may get a chuckle because people from here don't pay close attention to time: rainy weather means plans are probably cancelled, a twenty-minute time estimation might as well be one hour and it's pretty standard for plans to easily shift from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00. The fact that Quito's two prominent clock towers in front may both display the incorrect time is insignificant but seems somehow appropriate. On the tips of these two towers, two crucifixes are a reminder of the significance of the Catholic faith. Beyond the basilica, Mary the mother of Jesus keeps watch from just behind. In a God-fearing nation, this might be a consolation. At this high place in Quito, there's much to take in. The funniest thing about this view though, is that just off to the side, the Pichincha volcano stands in the straight line of vision. It's an active volcano and when it last erupted in 2002, even those residing in the city of Cuenca across the country awoke to thick layers of debris coating their cars. Knowing this, a foreigner may stand in that back tower puzzled by the fact that local legend has connected the end of the world with this man-made church when in its backdrop looms the menacing Pichincha volcano which, at 15,700 feet, dwarfs the basilica. From the Pichincha summit, the basilica wouldn't even have the dignity of a toy figurine because on a clear day, you can't even see it. Standing up in this tower, it's not lost on me that for every second that ticks by on these two clock faces, the volcano is brewing a hazardous mix in its crater, threatening to explode as Ecuadorians tinker away fixing their church in an effort to control their fate. Read more at The Daily Beast.


SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP)   House Democrats have advanced a measure to replace Illinois' abortion law with less restrictive language that gives people "a fundamental right" to make decisions about their reproductive health. The State Journal-Register reports a House committee approved the legislation late Sunday on a party-line vote, sending it to the House floor. All committee Republicans voted no. Among other provisions, the bill requires private health insurance companies that cover pregnancy-related benefits to cover abortion. Supporters say the measure is necessary to counter other states' action to restrict abortion procedures and the appointment of U.S. Supreme Court justices who oppose abortion. Republicans criticized Democrats, who control the Legislature and the governor's office, for holding the hearing on Sunday night of a holiday weekend and posting notice just one hour before the hearing. (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed).


There are 52 grouping for the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. But while the tournament is the most democratic in the game, all pairings are not equal. Here are the seven most intriguing tee times for the first two days at Pebble Beach. 7:18 a.m. / 1:03 p.m.   Scottie Scheffler, Dallas, Texas; (a) Matt Parziale, Brockton, Mass.; Nick Taylor, Canada The most popular firefighter in golf is back on one of its biggest stages. Former U.S. Mid-Am champ Parziale, who finished tied for low amateur honors at Shinnecock, earned a spot through the Purchase sectional. Though Parziale will be a gallery favorite, Scheffler is the one to watch. The former Longhorn standout has a win and two runner-ups on the Web.com Tour, leading the circuit in earnings. Scheffler already has two U.S. Open appearances under his belt, highlighted by a T-27 at the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills as a 20-year-old. Few in golf hit it as far as Scheffler, and this tournament could be his coming out party. 8:24 a.m. / 2:09 p.m.   Cameron Smith, Australia; Matthew Wallace, England; Xander Schauffele, San Diego, Calif. Remember how the USGA used to do themed threesomes? Though that ritual has been retired, you'd be excused for thinking this motif is underrated. Smith has one of the best short games in golf, Wallace has eight top-three finishes in the past calendar year and Schauffele's major performances are resembling a pre-Erin Hills Brooks Koepka, with six top-20 finishes in his last nine starts. Perhaps Xander's fame, or lack thereof, is underlined by Max Homa, who told us recently that, "Xander is one of my best friends on tour, and even I forget he's No. 10 in the world." 7:51 a.m. / 1:36 p.m.   Jon Rahm, Spain; Marc Leishman, Australia; Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland "Leishman plays great in the wind" is now a running cliche on par with "No one dominates wet courses like Rory." Nevertheless, for one who's never played this tournament well, Leishman coming off a T-5 at Memorial could be a sneaky pick should the forecasts call for gusts. And speaking of not playing tournaments well: since winning the tournament in 2011, McIlroy has just one top-20 finish at the U.S. Open. But entering with a tour-best 2.208 strokes gained/tee-to-green mark, Rory rightfully is listed as one of the Pebble favorites. As for Rahm, he's been feast or famine at majors three top 10s and three missed cuts in his past six starts. 8:13 a.m. / 1:58 p.m.   Dustin Johnson, Jupiter, Fla.; Phil Mickelson, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.; Graeme McDowell, Northern Ireland Well, there's the winner of this rodeo the last time it was played at Pebble, the player who blew a three-shot 54-hole lead with a Sunday 82 in 2010 (and is slowly coming to a career crossroads of sorts), and the man whose relationship with this event, while not the dominant element of his career story, is definitely in its first paragraph. Other than that, nothing to see here. RELATED: Why Pebble is Phil Mickelson's last shot at the U.S. Open 1:25 p.m. / 7:40 a.m.   Paul Casey, England; Patrick Cantlay, North Palm Beach, Fla.; Lucas Glover, Jupiter, Fla. Casey has a lone top 10 in 15 U.S. Open starts, but he did finish runner-up at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am this February, and his ball-striking coupled with Pebble's relatively simple green complexes should make him a factor. Ten years removed from his triumph at Bethpage, Glover is enjoying an under-the-radar bounce-back campaign with 12 top 25s in 17 starts, circling him as a dark horse pick. Cantlay's win at Muirfield Village garnered attention; just as important was his production leading up to Columbus, with a T-9 at the Masters and a pair of bronze medals at the RBC Heritage and PGA Championship. Boasting a 2.284 strokes gained mark (third on tour), Pebble could be Cantlay's platform to stardom. 1:47 p.m. / 8:02 a.m.   Francesco Molinari, Italy; (a) Viktor Hovland, Norway; Brooks Koepka, West Palm Beach, Fla. Molinari has three finishes of T-6 or better in majors the past year, and though he's been somewhat quiet since Augusta, Pebble's short confines should play to his strengths. Hovland, the OSU product making his final start as an amateur, earned entry as the reigning U.S. Amateur champion...a title he won at Pebble last August. Oh yeah, guess we should mention Koepka, the two-time defending champ and winner of three of the last five majors (with a runner-up thrown in for good measure). Just call him Global Warming: he continues to get hotter, he's destroying all in his path, and yet no one gives him the time of day. 2:09 p.m. / 8:24 a.m.   Jordan Spieth, Dallas, Texas; Justin Rose, England; Tiger Woods, Hobe Sound, Fla. You know it's a good group when a player ranked No. 1 in the world seven weeks ago is the third wheel. Spieth's recent rejuvenation, along with his past success at Pebble, have bestowed 16/1 odds. As long as he can keep his drives on the map, he should be a weekend factor. As for Woods...well, good luck tempering expectations for the cat returning to the site of the greatest performance in golf history. See the video.


Detroit will see a return of last week's warm temperatures over the next few days, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Temperatures will reach a high of 80 degrees on Saturday and Sunday. Also look for light rainfall later in the week. Monday's forecast shows the highest possibility of rain at 73 percent, with expected rainfall of 0.20 inches. Skies will be mostly cloudy today and partly cloudy tomorrow and Saturday. Winds will remain fairly calm over the course of the week, with the highest speeds on Saturday at just 11 mph. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


The Cubs' signing of Craig Kimbrel last month may have crossed one item off their trade deadline to-do list, but the NL Central division leaders aren't necessarily sitting back. Manager Joe Maddon spoke openly over the weekend about the manner in which the team is missing the "consistent" and "professional" at-bats brought to the table by Ben Zobrist ( link via Tom Musnick of the Chicago Sun-Times ), and Bruce Levine of CBS Chicago/670 The Score reports that the Cubs are in the market for a veteran hitter to whom they can entrust leadoff duties. Levine understandably pegs Kansas City's Whit Merrifield as the ideal fit for the Cubs' need but adds that the Royals have placed an enormous price on the 30-year-old, who signed an eminently affordable four-year, $16.25M extension this past winter. The Kansas City front office would seek as many as three controllable, big-league-ready players in any trade involving Merrifield, per Levine. It stands to reason that virtually any contending team in baseball would want to get its hand on Merrifield, who is hitting .309/.361/.500 and vying for a second consecutive season in which he paces the league in hits. However, that type of ask would be a significant impediment for interested parties, even with forthcoming salaries of $5M (2020), $6.75M (2021), $2.75MM (2022), a $6.75M club option (2023) and a luxury tax hit of just $4.0625MM. Chicago has already been tied to Arizona's David Peralta , but there's no guarantee that the Diamondbacks will even make him available due to the fact that he's controlled through 2020. Beyond that, as ESPN's Buster Olney briefly touched upon Sunday (subscription required), Peralta's injury history   five absences in the past three-and-a-half seasons, including two in 2019   could create some hesitancy for a team eyeing stability. While Olney writes that the Cubs are "open-minded" about possibilities to upgrade their lineup, he also more broadly examines the fact that this year's altered baseball and corresponding home run surge is making it difficult for teams to evaluate players. That reality becomes all the more apparent when looking through some of the bats available to the Cubs and other clubs on this summer's trade market. Sifting through our recent list of the market's top trade candidates , names like Freddy Galvis , Eric Sogard and Kole Calhoun all stand out as hitters who could be moved amid career-best power performances. None of that bunch would be the "consistent" bat the Cubs are reported to be seeking, however, and the Cubs (like other teams) are surely wondering about the sustainability of their respective power surges. Meanwhile, both Dee Gordon and Jonathan Villar are available, but both Gordon is enduring a poor season at the plate while Villar's year-to-year performance is full of peaks and valleys. Corey Dickerson could be moved , but the Bucs would probably prefer not to trade him to a division rival. Perhaps Detroit's Nicholas Castellanos would more aptly fit the "professional" hitter mold sought by the Cubs, but generally speaking, this year's market isn't exactly flooded with solid veteran bats   particularly not at positions the Cubs could easily accommodate. Levine also lists a left-handed reliever as an item on the Cubs' wishlist, though that's been known to be the case for quite some time. Beyond his speculation on San Francisco's Will Smith and Tony Watson , the market bears a few possibilities. The Royals' Jake Diekman would certainly be a fit, as would the even more-affordable (financially speaking) Roenis Elias in Seattle, whose trade candidacy was recently explored here at MLBTR . Were the D-backs to end up as sellers and make Andrew Chafin available, he'd surely hold interest as well. Payroll has been an ongoing issue for the Cubs, but any of Diekman ($2.75M), Elias ($910K) or Chafin ($1.95M) come with a more affordable rate than Smith ($4.25M and the highest prospect price tag) or Watson ( $10.5M in 2019 if he reaches all of his incentives , which seems likely). Notably, the Cubs' current luxury tax payments put them within about $4M of the top penalty bracket. Crossing that threshold would mean paying a 75% tax on every additional dollar spent and also dropping their top pick in next year's draft by 10 spots. The possible return of Zobrist could add some additional salary to the books, but the lack of certainty surrounding his status makes it difficult to forecast just how much salary he'd add onto the books.


Inner Sunset Housing costs got you down? Though apartment-hunting can be frustrating, there are deals to be had. So what does the low-end pricing on a rental in the Inner Sunset look like these days   and what might you get for your money? According to Walk Score's assessment, the Inner Sunset is a "walker's paradise," is very bikeable and has excellent transit. It also features median rents for a one-bedroom apartment that hover around $2,695, compared to a $3,390 one-bedroom median for San Francisco as a whole. A look at local listings for studios and one-bedroom apartments in the Inner Sunset via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide paints a picture of what budget-minded apartment seekers can expect to find in this San Francisco neighborhood. Take a look at the cheapest listings available right now, below. (Note: prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 1144 Irving St. Listed at $1,300/month, this studio apartment, located at 1144 Irving St., is 45.8% less than the $2,400/month median rent for a studio in the Inner Sunset. Amenities offered include a common outdoor space. Pet owners, inquire elsewhere: This spot doesn't allow cats or dogs. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee. (See the complete listing here .) 260 Carl St. This studio apartment, situated at 260 Carl St., is listed for $1,995/month. The unit comes with hardwood flooring, an eat-in kitchen and a deck. When it comes to building amenities, expect outdoor space and additional storage space. Pet owners, inquire elsewhere: This spot doesn't allow cats or dogs. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee. (See the complete listing here .) 310 Parnassus Ave. Here's a one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit at 310 Parnassus Ave., which is going for $2,500/month. The building features on-site laundry. You can also expect to find carpeted floors and a fireplace in the unit. Pet owners, inquire elsewhere: This spot doesn't allow cats or dogs. There's no leasing fee required for this rental. (See the full listing here .) This story was created automatically using local real estate data from Zumper and Apartment Guide , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


At last year's Worldwide Developer Conference, Apple announced the new app Siri Shortcuts which allows iOS users to create custom voice commands for their apps. Today, the company unveiled a series of updates to its Siri Shortcuts app to improve the experience for users and app developers alike. It also noted the app would now come pre-installed on iOS devices as of iOS 13 instead of being offered only as a download from the App Store. In today's version of Siri Shortcuts, users are prompted to record their own voice command to launch a favorite app or take a specific action. For example, "order my coffee" could trigger a mobile order placed in a coffee shop's ordering app. Developers have been able to place a button in their app to direct users to create a Shortcut as well as suggest a phrase as part of this process. However, users would have to actually go through the steps of pressing record and saying the command before they could use it. That may have impeded some users from adopting Siri shortcuts. Maybe they were confused about the process, or didn't want to perform the extra steps. Or maybe they tapped the "Add to Siri" button to see what it did, but weren't in a place where they wanted to record their voice command -- like in a public place, perhaps. With the updated Siri Shortcuts, developers can suggest a voice command as before, but instead of recording it, users can opt to use it with just a tap of a button. Apple is also responding to one of developers' biggest requests with the introduction of parameters in Shortcuts. This will make Shortcuts more conversational, Apple explains. For example, if a user wanted to find something to cook from their preferred recipes app they could launch it via a Shortcut to see a list of their favorite recipes. When they picked a recipe from the list, it would then take the user to that recipe and start playing the cooking instructions. This is made possible through Siri's new ability to ask follow-up questions. If you told Siri to order takeout, for example, the assistant may ask which order you wanted. Another new feature, also by popular request, is support for automation. This is available from a new Automations tab in the app and allows users to set when to run any Shortcut when creating a custom command in the Siri Shortcuts apps. For instance, you could configure a Shortcut to run based on time of day, when you start a workout on your Apple Watch, when you connect to CarPlay, and more. The editor in the updated Shortcuts app now enables full configuration of an app's actions, including the ability to pass information in or out of the action through parameters. This allows an app's actions to be combined with others for more robust, multi-step shortcuts. In practice, this would allow users to do something like run a Shortcut for a restaurant delivery app, choose their meals, place the order, then text the whole family what's for dinner and when it will arrive. Siri is also getting smarter about when to suggest a shortcut to the end user which could increase user adoption, says Apple. In iOS 13, Siri can detect events in your apps and create suggestions to add them to Calendar, reminders to check in with your app, or directions when needed. This learning takes place on the device, not in the cloud, in order to protect user privacy. The Shortcuts app itself will also have an improved gallery view in iOS 13 where you can see preconfigured shortcuts from your apps. All the Shortcuts work across Apple's platforms, including iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and HomePod. The changes to Shortcuts were announced this afternoon to developers attending Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference. Earlier in the day, Apple also announced a new more natural voice for Siri and the ability to respond to messages via Siri using AirPods. Google and Amazon today get a lot of attention for their voice platforms because of HomePod's niche share of the consumer smart speaker market. But Apple today reminded the audience of Siri's massive reach. Its intelligent assistant today has over 500 million monthly active devices making over 15 million requests, the company noted.


In a world dominated by spectacle, what are the auditory equivalents of the Eiffel Tower, Stonehenge, or the Grand Canyon? On vacation some years ago, I was leafing through a travel guide for sights to see and experiences to be had. It suddenly struck me that the book mentioned nothing about sound. It's easy to overlook how important what we hear is to our travels. After all, we have no "earlids" and so our brain is always listening to the soundscape. If your ears chose your next holiday destination, where would they go? Here are 15 places to visit for extraordinary sounds. Bang a rock gong in Tanzania A xylophone made from stone might seem an unusual musical instrument, more likely to produce a disappointing clunk than a sonorous bong, but certain stones can make beautiful notes if the microscopic structure of the rock is right. Strike the rock gongs in Tanzania 's Serengeti, and you get a wonderful metallic clang. These large boulders are covered in percussive marks from thousands of years of use. Such "rock music" provides some of the earliest evidence of sounds our ancestors made. Hear a pin drop in an ancient Greek theater Dating from the fourth century B.C., the ancient theater at Epidaurus is a Greek architectural masterpiece and one of the earliest structures that we know was designed with sound in mind. The steep banking and semicircular shape get the audience as close to the stage as possible, in order to hear the performers better. Tour guides delight in demonstrating the theater's "perfect" acoustics, astonishing visitors as a pin dropped on the stage is heard toward the back of the vast amphitheater of stone seats. Shout in India's whispering gallery The grand, 17th-century mausoleum of Gol Gumbaz is a testament to the power of Sultan Adil Shah, ruler of Bijapur, who is buried here in Vijayapura, India . With its slender octagonal turrets at each of its four corners and a circular dome above, the tomb is a majestic sight. But people travel here for the chance to shout in its famed whispering gallery. Make a sound near the inside walls of the dome, and it will hug the concave surface, repeating your voice over and over as the sound does laps around the roof. Sing in Norway's frescoed mausoleum Artist Emanuel Vigeland (1875-1948) originally built Tomba Emmanuelle in 1926 as a museum for his works in Oslo, Norway . But when he decided the building should also serve as his tomb, he transformed the soaring barrel vaulted main hall into a dimly lit space covered in frescoes depicting every aspect of life, from conception to death, including some extremely explicit images. The space is wonderfully responsive to sound. Sing a note, and it reverberates around the room and cascades gently from the arched roof. Revel in the acoustics of Boston's Symphony Hall Home to the Boston Symphony Orchestra , Symphony Hall is a mecca for someone like me who is fascinated by aural architecture. Completed in 1900, it was the first auditorium where modern science helped make a great-sounding venue. When I visited, I reveled in how the hall's acoustics enhanced the orchestra's music. As the 20th-century conductor Sir Adrian Boult put it, "The ideal concert hall is obviously that into which you make a not very pleasant sound, and the audience receives something that is quite beautiful." Savor the sounds of Croatia's sea organ Built into Zadar's promenade are 35 organ pipes that sound while waves lap against the shore; as you walk along Croatia 's seafront, the melody and harmonies change. The waves' movement pushes air in and out of the organ pipes to create the notes at random, but overall what is heard is surprisingly pleasing because the pipes have been tuned to harmonies used in local folk music. You can visit other wave organs in San Francisco , California, and Blackpool, England. Listen to ethereal tunes in an underground cavern Virginia's Luray Caverns has the most amazing stalactites and stalagmites. I went there to hear a sonic treasure, an organ that creates music by tapping the cave formations. Tunes take on an ethereal quality as the sound echoes around the large cavern. Created back in the 1950s, the Great Stalacpipe Organ was the brainchild of Leland W. Sprinkle. He spent three years armed with a small hammer and a tuning fork, searching for the right cave formations to make each note. Hoot and holler in England's 1940s railway tunnel Tunnels are lots of fun to shout in, as any toddler will readily demonstrate, but here is one whose sound is particularly unusual. The disused Thurgoland railway tunnel in Yorkshire now forms part of the U.K.'s National Cycle Network . Constructed in the 1940s, it has an unusual cross-section with bulging walls that form a horseshoe shape. Along with the very smooth and thick concrete walls, this creates an aural treat. Shout in the tunnel and you hear an extraordinary metallic flutter as the sound bounces around and slowly dies away. Spot the superb lyrebird in Australia's rainforest The superb lyrebird is one of the world's most skillful vocal impersonators. It can mimic the calls of about 20 other species it hears in southeast Australia 's rainforest, including whip birds and kookaburras. This strange amalgamation of sounds is sung to impress possible mates, with the male performing from a stage it builds on the rainforest floor. Even more remarkably, birds brought up in captivity impersonate man-made sounds, like car alarms, chainsaws, and the click of camera shutters. Create echoes inside Iran's striking mosque Constructed in the 17th century in Isfahan , the Imam (Shah) Mosque is stunning, with dazzling blue Islamic tiles. The huge domed roof is what creates this sonic wonder. Tour guides will stand underneath the dome and flick a piece of paper to create about seven quick-fire echoes: "clack, clack, clack..." Sound bounces back and forth between the floor and ceiling, with the curved dome focusing the echo, forcing it to keep moving up and down in a regimented fashion. Slide down singing sand dunes in Kazakhstan Marco Polo ascribed the boom of sand dunes to mischievous spirits creating music with the beat of drums and the clash of arms. When you slide down this dune in Kazakhstan 's Altyn-Emel National Park and create a sand avalanche, you'll feel the surface quaking beneath you as a loud drone fills the air. Only a few dunes have just the right type of sand, as thousands of grains synchronize their movements and sing in a coordinated choir. Drive down California's musical road This peculiar stretch of road in Lancaster, California , creates a rendition of Rossini's William Tell overture (used as the theme song for The Lone Ranger ). The musical notes are created by a set of grooves that vibrate the car wheels like a rumble strip. To get a melody, the Lancaster road has some grooves bunched close together to get high notes, and ones farther apart to get low ones. The fidelity might be poor and the melody out of tune, but I found it impossible not to smile while driving over it. Clap in front of a pyramid at Chichén Itzá The 79-foot Maya step pyramid Kukulkan, aka "El Castillo" (the castle), sits at the center of the archaeological site of Chichén Itzá , Mexico. If you stand at the bottom of the steps and clap your hands, you get this incredible chirping sound. Whether it was constructed deliberately to make this noise or the sound is an accidental sonic marvel remains a matter of debate. The regular pattern of sound bouncing off the treads of the staircase is responsible for the chirp. Sit in Salford's ultrasilent room In this ultrasilent room, sound does not reflect from the foam-studded walls. But you don't hear silence. Instead you often get the disconcerting experience of hearing body sounds like your blood pumping. It's an oppressive place in which some people last only a few minutes. The chamber at the University of Salford in England is open to the public a couple of days a year. Chambers can also be found in Minnesota and California. Listen to Norway's bearded seals with a hydrophone Listen to the call of a bearded seal, and it's hard to believe that this is natural. It sounds more like a sound effect from a sci-fi movie. In Svalbard, Norway , male bearded seals descend underwater in spirals, singing and releasing bubbles. They create long drawn-out whistling glissandi, with the pitch of the sound gradually dropping. It's thought that the longer the glissando, the more attractive the male is to females. To hear this sound, you need to use a hydrophone, an underwater microphone. Trevor Cox is a professor of acoustic engineering at the University of Salford, U.K., and author of The Sound Book . Follow him on Instagram . This story was published in the August/September 2019 issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine.


Collin Morikawa hasn't had time to truly appreciate what he has done since turning pro this summer, nor has he been able to reflect, let alone fully celebrate, his life-altering victory in last weekend's Barracuda Championship. Instead, he's focused on winning this week's Wyndham Championship and has his eyes set on making a splash in the FedExCup Playoffs. Others, however, have come to marvel at what the young kid from Cal has done in such a short time, and they realize what he could do in the long term. After Morikawa's victory Sunday in Reno, Nevada, in his sixth start as a pro, reigning U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland, major champion Justin Thomas and star Jon Rahm were among the many who texted congratulations. With his victory, Morikawa joined Tiger Woods as the only players to win a PGA Tour title and a Pac-12 tournament in the same year. That's heady company. The victory also moved Morikawa, 22, to No. 46 in the FedExCup standings, and with the playoffs starting next week, he's well within reach of being in the top 30 who make it to East Lake for the Tour Championship. He cracked the top 100 in the official world rankings, now standing at No. 90. He has won $1.67 million since graduating nearly two months ago. He is fully exempt through the 2021 season and has starts in the Sentry Tournament of Champions, the Players Championship and the PGA Championship awaiting him in 2020. But the four-time All-American isn't looking past Thursday's first round at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina. "For this week, it's just I've got to reset, I've got to focus on what I need to do to play well at this course," said Morikawa, who graduated from the prestigious Haas School of Business at Cal. "It's all about just focusing on this week, and I can't worry about the next couple of weeks." And to think, Morikawa nearly won his first Tour title three weeks prior to cracking his maiden. In the 3M Open the first week of July, Matthew Wolff became the youngest to win on the PGA Tour since Jordan Spieth when his eagle putt from off the green on the 72nd hole gave him a one-shot win over Morikawa and Bryson DeChambeau. It was Wolff's third start as a pro. Wolff, 20, joined Woods and Ben Crenshaw as the only players to win the NCAA individual title and a Tour title in the same year. And for the first time, two college players earned Tour cards in the same year without going through qualifying at Q-School or the Korn Ferry Tour finals. Morikawa and Wolff headline the Class of 2019 along with Viktor Hovland, 21, who turned pro after he tied for 12th in the U.S. Open, where he broke Jack Nicklaus' tournament record for the lowest 72-hole score by an amateur. Hovland, who also was the low am in the Masters, has made all four cuts since turning pro. The three are playing this week. Morikawa and Wolff are grouped together the first two rounds with Adam Long, another rookie who won this year. "We believe in ourselves," said Morikawa, who at 5-9, 170 isn't among the bomber set but clearly is one of the best ball-strikers in the game. While it appears the three have conquered the learning curve on the PGA Tour, Morikawa is the first to tell you differently. "I think there's still a learning curve for us every single week. For us, every single week we've got to learn the ropes, we've got to figure out where everything is. It's brand-new," he said. "When this year's over, I'm going to be able to really look at it all, kind of put this whole season together. Obviously it's going to be a lot of positives, but there are still going to be things I'm going to nitpick and focus on what I need to do for next year." https://compass.pressekompass.net/compasses/golfweek/does-sergio-garcia-deserve-to-get-banned MORE: Baker Mayfield's sassy response to Jets' trash talk won over the Browns offensive line Packers coach Matt LaFleur sidelines Josh Jones after practice fight Observations from Lions training camp, Day 6: Tracy Walker making noise 6 Saints players who are making the most of training camp Broncos QB Drew Lock will face a 'completely different' challenge against Falcons' defense


CHICAGO   The final 2 1/2 months of the season will be a referendum of sorts for the Cubs, a chance to prove to team President Theo Epstein they should stay together a little longer. The future of manager Joe Maddon and the guys who brought you that 2016 parade might depend on what happens the rest of way, making the stretch run an October-or-bust situation. "For me, that's not a good way to look at it from our perspective," Maddon said Saturday before a 10-4 rout of the Pirates at Wrigley Field. "If you're sitting in my seat or the players' seat on a daily basis, that would be very unhealthy. … To create more gravity about a moment, I don't think that necessarily ever works." BOX SCORE: CUBS 10, PIRATES 4 But there will be no escape from the daily reading of the Cubs' temperature, which started out ice cold in early April, sizzled through the start of June and dropped to lukewarm over the last month and a half. Rebooting to start the second half is the Cubs' main objective, and their effort Saturday was as good a way as any to hit the reset button. Jon Lester went 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBIs, and the Cubs jumped to a 7-0 lead in the first inning before 40,286 on a sweltering day at Wrigley Field. He wound up allowing three runs over 6 2/3 innings on a day when the ball was flying. It is their first series win since sweeping the Cardinals on June 7-9   when 90-plus wins seemed like a certainty. "I think the break can always do us some good," Lester said. "It was, what, 50 (games) out of 52 (days)? The break came at a good time for us. We know what's ahead of us. We know the end of this moth is going to be tough. We have to focus on the now. We can't worry about where we are in the standings, or anything like that. "Our guys have done a great job of that the last few days." Maddon said this is "the best version I've seen of Jon," and the truth is the Cubs will need him to be at his best with Cole Hamels sidelined and Kyle Hendricks coming back to full health. "I feel old," Lester said. "Yeah, that's high praise. I have to do a lot more navigating around some things. … Hopefully I can continue to ride that momentum as we go forward in the second half and pitch well down the stretch." Once one of the worst-hitting pitchers in the game, Lester started without a hit in his first 66 major league at-bats until he singled off his buddy, John Lackey, in a Cubs-Cardinals game July 7, 2015. It was the longest hitless streak to start a major league career. The offense showed up early Saturday, with Kyle Schwarber walking twice in the first and adding two hits. Jason Heyward added three hits, including a pair of doubles. Lester had a one-hopper off the left-field wall for a two-run single in the first, then connected for his third-career home run off reliever Chris Stratton in the third. Lester is hitting .250 with five RBIs this season. The Cubs looked like the Cubs again, though we won't know for sure until they learn to win consistently on the road. Fortunately they have a nine-game homestand to get their act together. The game already was all but decided in the bottom of the first after Willson Contreras' three-run homer when Javier Baez took offense to a high and tight fastball on an 0-2 pitch from reliever Chris Stratton. After venting in the direction of the Pirates dugout, Baez hit a run-scoring single up the middle to make it 7-0, then violently flung his bat toward their dugout as he ran to first. The bat flew about 60 feet, landing near the end of the brick wall, only a camera well away from where manager Clint Hurdle was standing. Lester's Shohei Ohtani impression stole the show, but Baez's bat toss left a lingering impression. The Cubs haven't shied from speaking out about Pirates pitchers throwing up-and-in, including strong words from Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant, not to mention Maddon's Fourth of July eruption aimed at Hurdle when the teams played at PNC Park. During the seven-run first Saturday, Bryant had to duck from a breaking ball starter Jordan Lyles delivered. Baez's message, however, was short, succinct and delivered without words. Whether it was received is a question only the Pirates can answer. With 10 games remaining between the teams this year, there's plenty of time to find out.     ©2019 Chicago Tribune Visit the Chicago Tribune at www.chicagotribune.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


Ferrari has admitted that it may have got its car concept wrong this year, in the wake of its Spanish Grand Prix defeat. The Italian outfit had hoped that an aerodynamic and engine upgrade introduced for Barcelona last weekend would help lift its form and allow it to beat Mercedes. But it endured another tough weekend as Mercedes was untouchable and it failed to finish on the podium after Max Verstappen grabbed third place for Red Bull. Watch our experts' verdict : Why things might get even worse for Ferrari in F1 title battle Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto said an investigation was now under way to get to the bottom of its struggles, as he says the team may have to concede that the concept it adopted this year was wrong. When the 2019 cars were launched, Mercedes and Ferrari took totally different paths with their front wing designs. Mercedes had opted for a high-downforce solution, while Ferrari had taken a route to better manage outwash and improve efficiency. But with Ferrari aware that it was slower on all corners in Barcelona, it now has to urgently address what has gone wrong. "We are losing a lot in each corner, not only in the last sector, it is each single corner we are slow," said Binotto. "[There is] quite a lot of understeer. Is that only downforce or is it more than that? That is something that we really need to analyse and understand. "Any conclusion today will be a wrong conclusion. It will take some days to really have a proper analysis and try to understand: is it a matter of balance, is it a matter of downforce, is it maybe even car concept? I don't know. I think we do not have the answer and I would like not to go through it." Earlier this year, when Mercedes appeared to be having difficulties in testing, the team said it would months to switch to another concept with his car. That timescale would dent Ferrari's hopes of a quick fightback, but Binotto believes that action can be taken this year. Asked if it would be a disaster if the team finds it got its concept wrong, he said: "I don't think it is a disaster by the time that you are improving as a team. And as I often say, we are a young team, we are learning on a learning phase. "I think that in terms of process and methodology there is still much to learn and I am pretty happy by the time the team is improving. If it is a concept design then it obviously depends what it is, but I think there are things that you may address within a season." Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff thinks that an explanation for the turnaround in form from testing to now may be explained by how the higher downforce concept allows room for more development without upsetting the car balance. "I think it's definitely an interesting thought, because when you see who was in the front in winter testing it's very different to the ones that are in the front today - even if you look at the fights in the midfield," he explained. "It was two different aerodynamic concepts and maybe there is a certain truth in it. But then there is never one question and one answer in Formula 1, or a silver bullet that justifies good or bad performance. I think it is about developing the car, keeping the development slope high."


Count Demetrious Cox among those Cincinanti Bengals players who are happy to have a new set of eyes and a new approach leading the way into the 2019 season. For a defensive back like Cox, the biggest refreshing change comes from new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, whose extensive experience with defensive backs is having a profound change already. "Coach Lou, Coach Livingston and Coach DJ have done a great job installing the new defense and allowing us to play fast," Cox said, according to Michael LaPlaca of Bengals.com. "They try to make it as easy as possible for us. I like the defense. I feel like it allows us to communicate and be ahead of the offense." On an individual level, Cox is an interesting depth piece with upside after joining the team in 2017 as an undrafted player. He's exactly the sort of player who gets a new coach leading the way and has the potential to blossom. Painting in broader strokes, Anarumo's past experience is huge. While detractors might point out the resume doesn't feature a ton of coordinator experience, his specialties could still have a big impact. Remember, a year ago the Bengals fired a coordinator in the middle of the season while budding stars like Williams Jackson struggled to play against their strengths. That isn't going to happen under Anarumo, who also might squeak the best out of Dre Kirkpatrick and others. Granted, this all has to unfold on the field. But past experiences for these coaches is something players continue to see translate already, which is a good sign in the summer months. MORE: Poker player loses brutal 31 million chip hand with pocket aces at 2019 WSOP Main Event Three Potential Landing Spots for Chris Paul News: Indefinite suspensions rule day for Cowboys, 18-game seasons WATCH: Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes throws football nearly out of Arrowhead Stadium The perfect storm: Andre Iguodala a possible return to the Warriors