Curiosity is lighting up Google Trends today with stories that push the boundaries of imagination and reality. Imagine buying sunlight—yes, you read that right. Reflect Orbital is pioneering a concept to sell sunlight, even after sunset, thanks to space mirrors. Meanwhile, Tracy Otto’s remarkable transformation from a brutal accident survivor to becoming a Paralympic is capturing hearts worldwide. In the world of cricket, Jay Shah is making headlines as the youngest-ever ICC Chairman, taking the reins in December. And in a chilling twist, the so-called “Deadpool killer” sentencing has grabbed attention worldwide. From futuristic innovations to personal triumphs and unsettling crimes, today’s trending stories offer a captivating mix of wonder, inspiration, and shock. Dive in for a whirlwind of the day’s most intriguing searches on Google Trends.
bf bf (Tracy Otto)
Tracy Otto became one of the most searched topics on Google Trends as the news of her Paralympic qualification spread on social media. But it isn’t just the fact that she qualified for the Paralympics, but her backstory which is grabbing everyone’s attention, and which is why the search query is termed as ‘bf bf’. The 28-year-old archer was once a victim of a brutal attack by her ex-boyfriend that almost drove her to death. The attacker inflicted severe injuries before turning himself in to the authorities. The assailant first struck Otto repeatedly, then shot her partner, Ricky Riessle, twice in the face and stabbed him in the back, causing a life-threatening lung injury. Following the assault on Riessle, the attacker targeted Otto, shooting her in the left eye and stabbing her in the back of the neck, resulting in permanent paralysis. The attacker then sexually assaulted Otto before calling the police to report his own crimes. In January 2023, Otto’s ex-boyfriend was convicted on multiple charges, including two counts of burglary with assault, two counts of first-degree attempted murder, one count of sexual battery, and two counts of aggravated bodily harm. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison. After suffering from a life-changing incident like this, Otto’s journey towards becoming a Paralympian is nothing short of extraordinary.
Reflect Orbital
A new startup, Reflect Orbital, has captured attention online with its plan to sell sunlight, even after sunset. The company is developing space mirrors designed to reflect sunlight onto solar panels during nighttime hours, aiming to boost the efficiency of solar farms. Interestingly, their website also offers individuals the chance to reserve a personal spot of light.
While the first satellite is still under development, Reflect Orbital successfully conducted an experiment using a large mirror attached to a hot-air balloon. The company expects to deliver sunlight after dark by the fourth quarter of next year. They’re achieving this by sending a large mirror into space, mounted on a satellite, which can be positioned to reflect sunlight onto a specific location on Earth. The service will be available for a brief period of four minutes, illuminating an area with a diameter of about three miles.
In a video shared by Nowack on X, he demonstrates how this technology could function in real life. He uses an app to select a location on a map, and as soon as he confirms it, the area where he’s standing lights up. The camera then pans upward, revealing a light source shining down from above.
Wade Wilson
Wade Wilson, popularly named as the ‘Deadpool Killer’, was sentenced to death on Tuesday for the horrific murders of two Florida women, Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz, in 2019. The 30-year-old tattooed killer, who showed no visible emotion, received his capital punishment after being found guilty of killing the women without apparent motive. Wilson shares his name with Marvel anti-hero Ryan Reynold’s character Deadpool.
The court heard how Wilson first strangled Melton after a drug-induced sexual encounter at her home. Following the attack, he stole Melton’s car and used her phone to call his girlfriend, 41-year-old Melissa Montanez. When Montanez refused to get into the car, Wilson assaulted her. Wilson then encountered Ruiz, who was asking for directions in Cape Coral. He invited her into the car, only to strangle her and dispose of her body. Witnesses testified that Wilson later returned to the scene and ran over Ruiz multiple times, causing severe injuries.
Throughout his five years in prison, Wilson received numerous explicit photos and love letters, a phenomenon seen with other notorious criminals like Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer. Some letters to the judge urged leniency, suggesting Wilson might be different while on medication. His attorneys argued that his drug addiction had caused brain damage and that he struggled with abandonment issues due to being adopted.
Jay Shah
Another search query that is dominating the trends is Jay Shah. What is interesting is that Shah was on Tuesday elected as the youngest-ever Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), unopposed! He is set to assume the role in December and succeed Greg Barclay. While it is common for leaders from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to ascend to the ICC presidency—following in the footsteps of Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N. Srinivasan, and Shashank Manohar – Shah has distinguished himself in his own right. Initially known as the son of Home Minister Amit Shah, Jay Shah has established his reputation by advancing Indian cricket’s dominance on the global stage.
