Why do some online articles go viral and reach millions of readers around the world? Emotional engagement has a lot to do with it. Some tug on the heart, like this devastating photo of an emaciated polar bear that swept over social media in the past few months. Others inspire us to dream of a brighter future, like Dallas’ plans to create one of the largest urban nature parks in America. And others are just plain crazy – like Norway’s proposal for the world’s first floating underwater traffic tunnels and China’s smog-sucking vacuum tower (which may actually be working)! Here were the most viral Inhabitat stories of 2016 – vote for your favorite:

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