Wikipedia:April Fools' Main Page/Did you know
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Please use this page for discussions surrounding the creation of "Did You Know" items for April Fools' Day 2027
Areas of work needed to complete the front page are:
- Wikipedia:April Fool's Main Page/Featured Articles
- Wikipedia:April Fool's Main Page/Today's Featured Picture
- Wikipedia:April Fool's Main Page/Featured List
- Wikipedia:April Fool's Main Page/On This Day
- Wikipedia:April Fool's Main Page/In The News
- Wikipedia:April Fool's Main Page/Did You Know
Ground rules for this activity along with a list of participants may be found on the Main talk page.
Rules
[edit]April Fools Did You Know items should present some trivia that can be presented in a manner that is possibly unbelievable to the reader. This can be done through words or names that mean two different things, shortened names, unbelievable facts, unrelated facts, etc. The normal written and unwritten rules for Did You Know (DYK) are followed, with these exceptions...
- April Fools DYKs are subject to the usual exclusions regarding prior Main Page appearance, but the normal rules for special occasions do not apply: the article need only have been created/expanded/brought to GA in the year immediately preceding the April 1 on which it will appear.
- Proper capitalization, title formatting, and linking standards may be disregarded only if adhering to them will tend to give away the joke. This should be done as little as possible. (example from 2009: "... that Caviar, Chardonnay, and Hot Cocoa compete for the love of Ray J? ")
All other Wikipedia rules and guidelines still apply. Pay special attention to Wikipedia's Biographies of living persons guidelines if your hook relates to a living person.
Remember, we are trying to confuse and mislead Wikipedians and visitors, not lie to them. Keep all hooks and articles completely truthful, but outrageous. (examples from 2010: A hook claiming Dmitry Medvedev died in 2005 is ok, saying Mikheil Saakashvili died is not.)
How to review a nomination
[edit]Any editor who was not involved in writing/expanding or nominating an article may review it by checking to see that the article meets the DYK criteria except, per above, the normal new enough rule (long enough, no serious editorial or content issues) and the hook is cited. Editors may also alter the suggested hook to improve it, suggest new hooks, or even lend a hand and make edits to the article which the hook applies so that the hook is supported and accurate. For a more detailed discussion of the DYK rules and review process see the guidelines.
If you want to confirm that an article is ready to be placed on a later update, or note that there is an issue with the article or hook, please use the following symbols to point the issues out:
| Symbol | Code | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| {{subst:DYKtick}} {{subst:DYKyes}} |
Approved | No problems, ready for DYK | |
| {{subst:DYK?}} | Query | DYK eligibility requires that an issue be addressed. Notify nominator with {{subst:DYKproblem|Article|header=yes|sig=yes}}
| |
| {{subst:DYK?no}} | Maybe | DYK eligibility requires additional work. Notify nominator with {{subst:DYKproblem|Article|header=yes|sig=yes}}
| |
| {{subst:DYKno}} | Rejected | Article is either completely ineligible or otherwise requires an insurmountable amount of work before becoming eligible. | |
| {{subst:DYK?again}} | New review | Requesting a second opinion or fresh review |
An article cannot be officially promoted until a reviewer has given approval (
) to at least one of the article's hooks.
Nominations
[edit]Awaiting verification
[edit]Note: Nominations for April 1 should be added to Template talk:Did you know in the usual way, as well as below.
Verified hooks
[edit]Wombat feces
- ... that wombat feces (pictured) are cube-shaped?
- ALT1: ... that scientists won ten trillion dollars for discovering why wombat feces (pictured) are cube-shaped?
- Reviewed: Template:Did you know nominations/Konstanty Wasyl Ostrogski
- Comment: ALT1 is intended for WP:DYKAPRIL.
Launchballer 19:41, 5 April 2026 (UTC).
I couldn't resist reviewing this in return. The article is long enough, new enough and well-written. QPQ is done and the pic has an appropriate licence tag. The hook is supported by reliable inline citations. Is the hook good? No, it's magnificent. Good to go. Yakikaki (talk) 21:13, 5 April 2026 (UTC)
- I've moved this to Wikipedia:April Fools' Main Page/Did you know. TarnishedPathtalk 09:42, 10 April 2026 (UTC)
Courtesan election
- ... that Chinese prostitutes were elected?
- Source: * Hershatter, Gail (1999). Dangerous Pleasures: Prostitution and Modernity in Twentieth-Century Shanghai. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 165–169. ISBN 978-0-520-20439-3.
- ALT1: ... that one winner of a courtesan election became the "milk president"? Source: * Hershatter, Gail (1999). Dangerous Pleasures: Prostitution and Modernity in Twentieth-Century Shanghai. Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 198. ISBN 978-0-520-20439-3.
The winning courtesans received elegant sets of Western-style furniture; the first-place winner was thenceforth known throughout Shanghai as the "milk president," after the main ingredient in the sponsor's product.
- ALT2: ... that patrons reportedly bought thousands of ballots so their favourite courtesans could be elected? Source: * He, Qiliang (2018). Newspapers and the Journalistic Public in Republican China: 1917 as a Significant Year for Journalism. New York, London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-429-79669-2.
In one report in the Eastern Times, for example, a certain Mr. Yuan, the fourth son of Yuan Shuxun (1847–1915), intendant of Shanghai from 1891 to 1892, was said to have created a sensation in the courtesan circles for buying over 20,000 voting slips for his beloved courtesan, Judi. ... In a separate report regarding two male patrons' subscriptions, one of 10,000 and the other of 3,000 pieces of newspapers, to acquire the voting slips,
- ALT3: ... that the winners of courtesan elections could see their value increase tenfold? Source: Henriot, Christian (2001). Prostitution and Sexuality in Shanghai: A Social History, 1849–1949. Translated by Castelino, Noel. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-57165-4.
Wang Tao says that being ranked had the effect of making a girl immediately famous and of increasing her value tenfold. Conversely, those who were not selected saw it as a form of disgrace or discredit.
- Reviewed: Template:Did you know nominations/Else Went
- Comment: ALT0 is suggested as an April Fools hook.
— Chris Woodrich (talk) 23:29, 15 April 2026 (UTC).
| General: Article is new enough and long enough |
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| Policy: Article is sourced, neutral, and free of copyright problems |
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| Hook: Hook has been verified by provided inline citation |
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| QPQ: Done. |
Overall:
All look good. For an ordinary hook, I approve ALT2 as it appears the more interesting of them all. If chosen for April's fools hook, then ALT0 is also good. A.Cython(talk) 00:19, 18 April 2026 (UTC)
- Alright, I've BOLDLY moved it to Wikipedia:April Fools' Main Page/Did you know. — Chris Woodrich (talk) 03:01, 18 April 2026 (UTC)
Samuel A. Shelton
- ... that Samuel A. Shelton (pictured) knows better than to stick his head against a buzz-saw?
- ALT1: ... that Samuel A. Shelton (pictured) knows better than to run up against a stone wall? Source: https://www.newspapers.com/image/129267725/?match=1&terms=Samuel%20A.%20Shelton
- ALT2: ... that Samuel A. Shelton (pictured) began attending school at age 29? Source: https://www.newspapers.com/image/587793609/?match=1&terms=Samuel%20A.%20Shelton
- Reviewed: Template:Did you know nominations/Irish War News
- Comment: ALT0 and AL1 are meant for DYKAPRIL, so I naturally prefer them (I prefer ALT0 to ALT1). 5x expansion calculation: 2195/409 = 5.3.
Roast (talk) 05:46, 25 March 2026 (UTC).
| General: Article is new enough and long enough |
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| Policy: Article is sourced, neutral, and free of copyright problems |
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| Hook: Hook has been verified by provided inline citation |
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| QPQ: Done. |
Overall:
Nice work on the expansion. All hooks are interesting, but if ALT0/1 are used, I would put quotes around "knows better than to stick his head against a buzz-saw" and "...to run up against a stone wall" if it doesn't run on April 1. Epicgenius (talk) 15:38, 26 March 2026 (UTC)
- Yeah I'm okay with using quotes for it. Roast (talk) 15:47, 26 March 2026 (UTC)
Alejandro Moral Antón
- ... that Alejandro Moral Antón succeeded Pope Leo XIV?
- Source: NY Times
Thriley (talk) 00:00, 26 April 2026 (UTC).
| General: Article is new enough and long enough |
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| Policy: Article is sourced, neutral, and free of copyright problems |
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| Hook: Hook has been verified by provided inline citation |
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| QPQ: Done. |
Overall:
Bordering on the line of newness, but I think it's close enough. Correct me if the 7-day period is absolutely strict and doesn't have wiggle room. Long enough, every paragraph has a source, neutral, passes Earwig, QPQ done. Hook verified. As it is right now, I think it would work great for an April Fools hook, but I would suggest ALT1 for a non-April Fools hook.
- ALT1 ... that Alejandro Moral Antón succeeded the future Pope Leo XIV as prior general of the Order of Saint Augustine? PizzaKing13 (¡Hablame!) 🍕👑 23:56, 26 April 2026 (UTC)
- Boldly moving this nomination to the April Fool's section as ALT0 is far superior and an excellent AFD hook. Dclemens1971 (talk) 20:36, 14 May 2026 (UTC)
See the Old Lady Decently
- ... that B. S. Johnson never completed The Matrix trilogy?
- Source: Coe, Jonathan (4 June 2004). Like a Fiery Elephant: The Story of B S Johnson. Picador (imprint). p. 29-32.
- ALT1: ... that novelist B. S. Johnson planned to write a trilogy whose titles would read as: "See the old lady decently buried although amongst those left are you"? Source: [Source 1: https://www.ndbooks.com/author/b.-s.-johnson/]. Source 2: Coe, Jonathan (4 June 2004). Like a Fiery Elephant: The Story of B S Johnson. Picador (imprint). p. 29-32.
- Reviewed: Template:Did you know nominations/Airplane film
- Comment: First hook might be considered for April Fools?
ISD (talk) 08:00, 3 April 2026 (UTC).
| General: Article is new enough and long enough |
|---|
Policy compliance:
- Adequate sourcing:
- The end of the "Publication" section is not cited. - Neutral:

- Free of copyright violations, plagiarism, and close paraphrasing:

| Hook: Hook has been verified by provided inline citation |
|---|
|
| QPQ: Done. |
Overall:
@ISD: Sorry that you had to wait so long for a review. Looks good except for just one concern that needs to be resolved above. Epicgenius (talk) 13:46, 6 May 2026 (UTC)
- User:Epicgenius I've now added that missing reference (it is mentioned in the print Jonathan Coe source I used, but on an earlier page so I've expanded that reference to include that page). ISD (talk) 14:38, 6 May 2026 (UTC)
Looks good. Epicgenius (talk) 14:45, 6 May 2026 (UTC)
- Epicgenius Thanks very much. ISD (talk) 14:48, 6 May 2026 (UTC)
- Comment: I think ALT0 is terrific for April Fool's Day and have moved this nomination to that section. Dclemens1971 (talk) 00:08, 15 May 2026 (UTC)
- OK, while I have no problem with this going up on April Fools, I just want to make sure the hook doesn't cause too much offensive, in that the reason why Johnson never completed his Matrix Trilogy of books is because he took his own life. I don't want anyone to get into trouble if this is an issue. ISD (talk) 07:26, 15 May 2026 (UTC)
- User:Epicgenius I've now added that missing reference (it is mentioned in the print Jonathan Coe source I used, but on an earlier page so I've expanded that reference to include that page). ISD (talk) 14:38, 6 May 2026 (UTC)
Idris elba (wasp)
- ... that Idris Elba's parasitism of stink-bug eggs was described as “absolutely baffling”?
- ALT1: ... that Idris Elba parasitizes stink-bug eggs? Source: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/tiny-parasitic-wasp-named-after-idris-elba-hijacks-stink-bug-eggs-180973617/
- ALT2: ... that Idris Elba is a parasitic wasp? Source: https://jhr.pensoft.net/article/38025
- ALT3: ... that Idris Elba may be a natural alternative to pesticides? Source: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/tiny-parasitic-wasp-named-after-idris-elba-hijacks-stink-bug-eggs-180973617/ https://news.mongabay.com/2019/11/meet-the-new-parasitic-wasp-species-named-idris-elba/
- Reviewed:
- Comment: Proposing as an April Fools hook (so not subject to time limit), though I could write a regular one. Idris elba is a species of wasps, named after the actor. Needs to be a piped link to hide the disambiguator.
EmergentAnarchy (talk) 15:51, 9 June 2026 (UTC).
- I've taken the liberty of tweaking the hooks to comply with WP:DYKAPRIL.--Launchballer 16:07, 9 June 2026 (UTC)
New enough, long enough, sourced, neutral, and clean on an Earwig check (I added a pair of quotes). ALT1 is verified and interesting, not sure about the other three but won't address those in this review. No QPQ needed, no image provided. Good for April Fools' Day only – nice work! theleekycauldron (talk • she/her) 23:32, 10 June 2026 (UTC)
Also approving ALT2 and ALT3 for WP:DYKAPRIL.--Launchballer 21:05, 20 June 2026 (UTC)
Bread (1930 film)
- ... that the film Bread was banned by Soviet censors in 1930 and was not re-released until 2013?
- Source: "Коло Дзиґи. Хліб feat Port Mone" [Around the Dzyga. Bread feat Port Mone]. National Oleksandr Dovzhenko Film Centre (in Ukrainian). 13 September 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-09-27.
- ALT1: ... that bread was banned in the Soviet Union? Source: "Коло Дзиґи. Хліб feat Port Mone" [Around the Dzyga. Bread feat Port Mone]. National Oleksandr Dovzhenko Film Centre (in Ukrainian). 13 September 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-09-27.
- Reviewed: Template:Did you know nominations/YouTuber film and Template:Did you know nominations/Alice H. Lichtenstein (2nd nomination)
- Comment: ALT1 is intended as an April Fools' Day hook.
Grnrchst (talk) 14:00, 17 June 2026 (UTC).
New enough, long enough at 3440 characters. Two QPQs done. Sources are all in Ukrainian, as a random spot check, could you provide the quote and source that supports "while also criticising it for its trivial plot"? The lead states that the film was acquired from the Russian State Film Fund, but the body does not make this connection. The Cast section does not have a source. Some parts of the infobox are not in the body and without a source, including the writer, the director's editing credit, the release dates, the mention of the All-Ukrainian Photo Cinema Administration, and the run time. Ideally these would all be present and sourced in the body.Both hooks seem supported, as far as I can tell. Tempted to agree ALT1 could work for the April Fools set. No other issues identified, so with some source work this should be fine. CMD (talk) 16:05, 21 June 2026 (UTC)
- @Chipmunkdavis: I checked the source, and it seems the bit about the "trivial plot" was more of a statement than a criticism, so I cut this. That it was "acquired" from the Russian Film Fund seemed obvious to me, seeing as that was where it was held and rediscovered, but I've rewritten just in case. Per the Manual of Style on films, the cast list and the production information in the infobox is taken directly from the opening credits of the film, so it doesn't need to cite a separate source. Added premiere date to prose. Let me know if there's anything else I can do. --Grnrchst (talk) 16:36, 21 June 2026 (UTC)
- The only exception I'm reading in MOSFILMCAST is about Plot ("basic descriptions of their plots do not need references to an outside source"), also surprised the runtime is in the opening credits but I have not seen this film. The use of acquired is not an issue in itself (source [4] seems to heavily imply it), it's the presence of the information in the lead but not in the body which I raised. CMD (talk) 02:04, 22 June 2026 (UTC)
- @Chipmunkdavis: It seems like overkill to me, for information that is all verified by the film itself, but I've loaded the infobox and cast list up with citations now. Are there any further issues I need to fix? --Grnrchst (talk) 08:50, 22 June 2026 (UTC)
I think that covers everything I raised. Regarding the film itself, I was wondering what its copyright status might be given a 1930 publishing date, but it may still be protected under Ukrainian law. I will add this to the April Fools' Day list once the bot shifts it to approved. CMD (talk) 09:09, 22 June 2026 (UTC)
- @Chipmunkdavis: The Soviet Union had a life+25 copyright term, which as Shpykovskyi died in 1977, should have made it public domain in 2002; however, Ukraine joined the Bern convention in 1996 and retroactively extended copyright terms to life+70 in 2001, so it seems this film won't be PD until 2047. Shame. --Grnrchst (talk) 09:22, 22 June 2026 (UTC)
- @Chipmunkdavis: It seems like overkill to me, for information that is all verified by the film itself, but I've loaded the infobox and cast list up with citations now. Are there any further issues I need to fix? --Grnrchst (talk) 08:50, 22 June 2026 (UTC)
- The only exception I'm reading in MOSFILMCAST is about Plot ("basic descriptions of their plots do not need references to an outside source"), also surprised the runtime is in the opening credits but I have not seen this film. The use of acquired is not an issue in itself (source [4] seems to heavily imply it), it's the presence of the information in the lead but not in the body which I raised. CMD (talk) 02:04, 22 June 2026 (UTC)
- @Chipmunkdavis: I checked the source, and it seems the bit about the "trivial plot" was more of a statement than a criticism, so I cut this. That it was "acquired" from the Russian Film Fund seemed obvious to me, seeing as that was where it was held and rediscovered, but I've rewritten just in case. Per the Manual of Style on films, the cast list and the production information in the infobox is taken directly from the opening credits of the film, so it doesn't need to cite a separate source. Added premiere date to prose. Let me know if there's anything else I can do. --Grnrchst (talk) 16:36, 21 June 2026 (UTC)
Desis Rising Up and Moving
- ... that when he ran to become Mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani got an early endorsement from an immigrant rights organization with whom he had participated in a hunger strike?
- Reviewed:
Sumana Harihareswara 17:45, 27 June 2026 (UTC).
- I will review this one. CoryGlee 20:01, 27 June 2026 (UTC)
- ... that a drum fought to be heard? Maybe for WP:DYKAPRIL...
Bremps... 01:18, 28 June 2026 (UTC)
– Moved to main space on 26 June. The sources are okay, although not many citations are known publications or newspapers, at least outside the US. But they are reliable anyway. Earwig shows normal levels of copyvio issues, and no QPQ was required for the nominator. The hook is interesting and within the hook range (it is 178 characters long). I am approving of both hooks; I guess that you Bremps and Sumanah will have to decide because that day is way too far in time, Bremps, LOL. Oh, small detail, can you please unbold that word in the first header? Thx. CoryGlee 02:25, 28 June 2026 (UTC)
- Note for promoter: If ALT1 is used, it will have to be reserved for DYKAPRIL, as the hook is otherwise misleading (the subject's abbreviation is capitalized). Epicgenius (talk) 14:06, 28 June 2026 (UTC)
- I apologize for not being clear. Both are okay and yes of course that the second one is clickbait. But can I approve two hooks still? Reserving the second one to next year? CoryGlee 17:12, 28 June 2026 (UTC)
- Moved to WP:DYKAPRIL. ~~ AirshipJungleman29 (talk) 22:57, 28 June 2026 (UTC)
- @CoryGlee:, per WP:DYKCRIT, "An article is ineligible for DYK if it has in the past five years appeared on the Main Page as a bold link at DYK." Since hooks can't be reserved for more than six weeks except for April Fool's noms (which run on the following April Fool's Day), this would unfortunately preclude running both at DYK. Epicgenius (talk) 15:57, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
- @Epicgenius:, thanks for that, I didn't know about it. Okay, do I need to decide it myself as reviewer? Can I leave it up to Bremps and Sumanah? CoryGlee 16:09, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
- @CoryGlee: I'd leave it up to the promoter. Per AirshipJungleman29's comment above, it looks like he's moved it to the DYKAPRIL section. However, whoever promotes this nomination will choose whether to accept the April Fool's hook, or whether to accept ALT0 instead and move it to a regular prep area. Epicgenius (talk) 16:33, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
- @Epicgenius:, thanks for that, I didn't know about it. Okay, do I need to decide it myself as reviewer? Can I leave it up to Bremps and Sumanah? CoryGlee 16:09, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
- I apologize for not being clear. Both are okay and yes of course that the second one is clickbait. But can I approve two hooks still? Reserving the second one to next year? CoryGlee 17:12, 28 June 2026 (UTC)
- Note for promoter: If ALT1 is used, it will have to be reserved for DYKAPRIL, as the hook is otherwise misleading (the subject's abbreviation is capitalized). Epicgenius (talk) 14:06, 28 June 2026 (UTC)
Wednesday Addams (Wednesday)
- ... that Wednesday has been criticized for not being deadly enough?
- Reviewed: Template:Did you know nominations/Lucky Avianto
- Comment: Driveby nom per tipoff at Talk:Enid Sinclair, courtesy ping also to @M.Billoo2000:. Hook is intended for WP:DYKAPRIL; there may be others in the article.
Launchballer 23:01, 18 June 2026 (UTC).
Under review, thank you! M. Billoo 05:45, 19 June 2026 (UTC)
- @HalfHazard98 and Launchballer:
Hi. I now see no major problems in the article, would appreciate if this also be a GAN candidate. Long and new enough, well-written and well-sourced. Earwig comes green. QPQ presented. Images in the article are licensed. Hook is verified by this source and should work for the DYKAPRIL (however, it is more than 9 months away). Thank you and all the best. M. Billoo 13:30, 25 June 2026 (UTC)
- @M.Billoo2000: Thanks, Billoo! Pleasure working with you again! Do you actually want me to nominate the Enid and Wednesday articles for GA? Would you be willing to review them if I did? -HalfHazard
- @HalfHazard98 and Launchballer:
Beer O'Clock Hill
- ... that Beer O'Clock Hill is "one of the toughest industry tests for off-road vehicles"?
- ALT1: ... that off-road vehicles are tested on Beer O'Clock Hill? Source: https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-news/video-off-road-battle-for-beer-oclock-hill-has-automakers-scrambling
- ALT2: ... that off-road vehicles are tested at Beer O'Clock? Source: https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-news/video-off-road-battle-for-beer-oclock-hill-has-automakers-scrambling
- Reviewed:
- Comment: ALT2 is a more interesting variation on ALT1, unsure if the more deceptive wording is allowed.
Not stuart60 (talk) 07:27, 9 June 2026 (UTC).
New enough, long enough, sourced (mostly minor and a few marginal publications but eh), neutral, and clean on an Earwig check. ALTs 0 and 1 are verified and interesting; I'll let someone else review ALT2, though. No image provided, no QPQ needed. Nice work! (Maybe explain what "rutted" means in this context?) theleekycauldron (talk • she/her) 23:25, 10 June 2026 (UTC)
- Also approving ALT2 for WP:DYKAPRIL.--Launchballer 21:03, 20 June 2026 (UTC)
- @Not stuart60: do you have a preference for WP:DYKAPRIL or would you rather take something sooner if possible? TarnishedPathtalk 10:11, 16 July 2026 (UTC)
- @Launchballer: I do not have a preference for when it is ran, either option is fine. Not stuart60 (talk) 20:37, 16 July 2026 (UTC)
- OK, moved to WP:DYKAPRIL for ALT2. TarnishedPathtalk 08:49, 18 July 2026 (UTC)
- @Launchballer: I do not have a preference for when it is ran, either option is fine. Not stuart60 (talk) 20:37, 16 July 2026 (UTC)
- @Not stuart60: do you have a preference for WP:DYKAPRIL or would you rather take something sooner if possible? TarnishedPathtalk 10:11, 16 July 2026 (UTC)
- Also approving ALT2 for WP:DYKAPRIL.--Launchballer 21:03, 20 June 2026 (UTC)