The most surprising thing I learned from reading this article is that manhole covers aren’t just for sewers and subway access—they also serve as gateways for telecom companies like Verizon and AT&T. I’ve walked around New York countless times without giving a second thought to these manhole covers, but now I realize they’re part of the infrastructure connecting my apartment to the internet. It might be worth paying closer attention to the markings on them next time!

This article also reminds me of the cables inside my apartment. Before setting up my own network, I’d never dealt with network equipment and just assumed that once I plugged in a router, the internet would magically “show up.” But when I moved out on my own and had to install everything myself, I got my first real look at the maze of cables hidden in the walls. It took me several hours of effort to identify each cable, follow a tutorial, and finally get everything connected properly. It was a lesson in just how much work goes into the things we usually take for granted. Behind every “virtual” experience lies a complex network of physical infrastructure—and a lot of effort to make it all work.