Visual polish: animated hero, glowing timeline spine, badge/icon cards

Pure CSS/SVG upgrade (no generated images): animated gradient hero,
vertical timeline spine with glowing year-nodes for ripples, gradient
fork badges, hover lift, checkmark strengths, icon-led stat cards and
winners/losers. Makes results feel like a designed timeline, not plain text.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

app.py

@@ -215,6 +215,19 @@ def _list_items(items) -> str:
     return "".join(f"<li>{html.escape(str(i))}</li>" for i in items if str(i).strip())
 
 
+def _timeline_nodes(items) -> str:
+    """Render a list of strings as glowing timeline-spine nodes."""
+    return "".join(
+        f"<div class='rd-node'><p>{html.escape(str(i))}</p></div>"
+        for i in items if str(i).strip()
+    )
+
+
+def _check_items(items) -> str:
+    """Render a list of strings as checkmark list items."""
+    return "".join(f"<li>{html.escape(str(i))}</li>" for i in items if str(i).strip())
+
+
 def render_timeline_html(timeline: Dict, direction: str) -> str:
     """Render a personal counterfactual timeline as structured cards."""
     is_up = direction.lower() == "upward"
@@ -224,30 +237,31 @@ def render_timeline_html(timeline: Dict, direction: str) -> str:
     return f"""
 <div class="rd-stack">
   <div class="rd-card rd-fork">
-    <div class="rd-eyebrow">{arrow} {label}</div>
+    <div class="rd-badge">{arrow}</div>
+    <div class="rd-eyebrow">{label}</div>
     <h2 class="rd-title">{html.escape(timeline.get('title', 'Alternate Timeline'))}</h2>
     <p class="rd-lead">{html.escape(timeline.get('divergence', ''))}</p>
   </div>
   <div class="rd-card">
-    <div class="rd-eyebrow">Ripples through the years</div>
-    <ul class="rd-list">{_list_items(timeline.get('ripples', []))}</ul>
+    <div class="rd-eyebrow">⏳ Ripples through the years</div>
+    <div class="rd-timeline">{_timeline_nodes(timeline.get('ripples', []))}</div>
   </div>
   <div class="rd-card">
-    <div class="rd-eyebrow">Who you might have become</div>
+    <div class="rd-eyebrow">🌗 Who you might have become</div>
     <p>{html.escape(timeline.get('the_you', ''))}</p>
   </div>
   <div class="rd-card rd-return">
     <div class="rd-eyebrow">↩ Returning to your actual life</div>
     <p>{html.escape(ret.get('opening', ''))}</p>
     <div class="rd-sublabel">Strengths you actually built</div>
-    <ul class="rd-list">{_list_items(ret.get('strengths', []))}</ul>
+    <ul class="rd-checks">{_check_items(ret.get('strengths', []))}</ul>
     <p class="rd-lesson"><strong>Lesson:</strong> {html.escape(ret.get('lesson', ''))}</p>
   </div>
   <div class="rd-card rd-question">
-    <div class="rd-eyebrow">A question to sit with</div>
+    <div class="rd-eyebrow">💭 A question to sit with</div>
     <p class="rd-q">{html.escape(ret.get('reflection_question', ''))}</p>
   </div>
-  <blockquote class="rd-quote">“{html.escape(timeline.get('quote', ''))}”</blockquote>
+  <blockquote class="rd-quote">{html.escape(timeline.get('quote', ''))}</blockquote>
 </div>
 """
 
@@ -257,29 +271,30 @@ def render_world_html(world: Dict) -> str:
     return f"""
 <div class="rd-stack">
   <div class="rd-card rd-fork">
+    <div class="rd-badge">🌍</div>
     <div class="rd-eyebrow">Year {html.escape(str(world.get('year_divergence', '')))} · Point of divergence</div>
     <h2 class="rd-title">{html.escape(world.get('title', 'Alternate World'))}</h2>
     <p class="rd-lead">{html.escape(world.get('divergence_point', ''))}</p>
   </div>
   <div class="rd-card">
-    <div class="rd-eyebrow">Ripples</div>
-    <ul class="rd-list">{_list_items(world.get('ripples', []))}</ul>
+    <div class="rd-eyebrow">⏳ Ripples</div>
+    <div class="rd-timeline">{_timeline_nodes(world.get('ripples', []))}</div>
   </div>
   <div class="rd-card">
-    <div class="rd-eyebrow">How this world evolved</div>
+    <div class="rd-eyebrow">🌐 How this world evolved</div>
     <p>{html.escape(world.get('world_outcome', ''))}</p>
   </div>
   <div class="rd-grid">
-    <div class="rd-card"><div class="rd-sublabel">Economy</div><p>{html.escape(world.get('economy', ''))}</p></div>
-    <div class="rd-card"><div class="rd-sublabel">Culture</div><p>{html.escape(world.get('culture', ''))}</p></div>
-    <div class="rd-card"><div class="rd-sublabel">Technology</div><p>{html.escape(world.get('technology', ''))}</p></div>
+    <div class="rd-card rd-stat"><span class="rd-ico">💰</span><div class="rd-sublabel">Economy</div><p>{html.escape(world.get('economy', ''))}</p></div>
+    <div class="rd-card rd-stat"><span class="rd-ico">🎭</span><div class="rd-sublabel">Culture</div><p>{html.escape(world.get('culture', ''))}</p></div>
+    <div class="rd-card rd-stat"><span class="rd-ico">⚙️</span><div class="rd-sublabel">Technology</div><p>{html.escape(world.get('technology', ''))}</p></div>
   </div>
   <div class="rd-grid-2">
-    <div class="rd-card rd-winners"><div class="rd-sublabel">Who thrived</div><ul class="rd-list">{_list_items(world.get('winners', []))}</ul></div>
-    <div class="rd-card rd-losers"><div class="rd-sublabel">Who struggled</div><ul class="rd-list">{_list_items(world.get('losers', []))}</ul></div>
+    <div class="rd-card rd-winners"><span class="rd-ico">📈</span><div class="rd-sublabel">Who thrived</div><ul class="rd-list">{_list_items(world.get('winners', []))}</ul></div>
+    <div class="rd-card rd-losers"><span class="rd-ico">📉</span><div class="rd-sublabel">Who struggled</div><ul class="rd-list">{_list_items(world.get('losers', []))}</ul></div>
   </div>
   <div class="rd-card rd-question">
-    <div class="rd-eyebrow">What it teaches us</div>
+    <div class="rd-eyebrow">🧭 What it teaches us</div>
     <p class="rd-q">{html.escape(world.get('reflection', ''))}</p>
   </div>
 </div>
@@ -319,10 +334,18 @@ body, .gradio-container {
 .hero-title {
   font-size: 3.5rem;
   font-weight: 800;
-  background: linear-gradient(135deg, var(--accent-blue), var(--accent-purple));
+  background: linear-gradient(110deg, var(--accent-blue), var(--accent-purple), #F0ABFC, var(--accent-blue));
+  background-size: 250% auto;
   -webkit-background-clip: text;
+  background-clip: text;
   -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent;
   letter-spacing: -1px;
+  animation: rdHero 7s ease infinite;
+}
+@keyframes rdHero {
+  0% { background-position: 0% center; }
+  50% { background-position: 100% center; }
+  100% { background-position: 0% center; }
 }
 
 .hero-subtitle {
@@ -424,55 +447,107 @@ body, .gradio-container {
 }
 
 /* Structured result cards (timeline / world) */
-.rd-stack { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 1rem; margin-top: 0.5rem; }
+@keyframes rdFadeUp {
+  from { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(14px); }
+  to   { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(0); }
+}
+
+.rd-stack { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 1.1rem; margin-top: 0.5rem; }
 
 .rd-card {
-  background: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(17, 24, 39, 0.6), rgba(11, 16, 32, 0.35));
+  position: relative;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  background: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(17, 24, 39, 0.65), rgba(11, 16, 32, 0.4));
   border: 1px solid var(--border);
-  border-radius: 16px;
-  padding: 20px 24px;
+  border-radius: 18px;
+  padding: 22px 26px;
+  animation: rdFadeUp 0.5s ease both;
+  transition: border-color .25s ease, box-shadow .25s ease, transform .25s ease;
+}
+.rd-card:hover {
+  border-color: rgba(56, 189, 248, 0.55);
+  box-shadow: 0 10px 34px rgba(5, 8, 22, 0.6), 0 0 24px rgba(56, 189, 248, 0.12);
+  transform: translateY(-2px);
 }
 
-.rd-fork { border-left: 3px solid var(--accent-blue); }
-.rd-return { border-left: 3px solid var(--accent-purple); }
+.rd-fork {
+  border: 1px solid rgba(56, 189, 248, 0.35);
+  background:
+    radial-gradient(1100px 200px at 0% 0%, rgba(56, 189, 248, 0.13), transparent 60%),
+    linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(17, 24, 39, 0.72), rgba(11, 16, 32, 0.45));
+}
+.rd-fork::before, .rd-return::before {
+  content: ""; position: absolute; left: 0; top: 0; bottom: 0; width: 4px;
+  background: linear-gradient(180deg, var(--accent-blue), var(--accent-purple));
+}
 .rd-question {
-  border: 1px solid var(--accent-purple);
-  background: rgba(139, 92, 246, 0.08);
+  border: 1px solid rgba(139, 92, 246, 0.5);
+  background:
+    radial-gradient(800px 130px at 100% 0%, rgba(139, 92, 246, 0.18), transparent 70%),
+    rgba(139, 92, 246, 0.06);
+}
+
+.rd-badge {
+  display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;
+  width: 46px; height: 46px; border-radius: 50%;
+  font-size: 1.4rem; font-weight: 800; color: #fff;
+  background: linear-gradient(135deg, var(--accent-blue), var(--accent-purple));
+  box-shadow: 0 0 20px rgba(56, 189, 248, 0.5);
+  margin-bottom: 0.7rem;
 }
 
 .rd-eyebrow {
-  font-size: 0.8rem;
-  font-weight: 700;
-  letter-spacing: 0.05em;
-  text-transform: uppercase;
-  color: var(--accent-blue);
-  margin-bottom: 0.5rem;
+  font-size: 0.78rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0.08em;
+  text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--accent-blue); margin-bottom: 0.55rem;
 }
-.rd-sublabel {
-  font-size: 0.85rem;
-  font-weight: 600;
-  color: var(--text-secondary);
-  margin: 0.75rem 0 0.35rem;
+.rd-sublabel { font-size: 0.85rem; font-weight: 700; color: var(--text-secondary); margin: 0.9rem 0 0.4rem; letter-spacing: .03em; }
+.rd-title { font-size: 1.7rem; font-weight: 800; margin: 0.1rem 0 0.5rem; color: var(--text-primary); letter-spacing: -0.5px; }
+.rd-lead { color: var(--text-secondary); font-size: 1.08rem; line-height: 1.55; }
+.rd-card p { color: var(--text-primary); line-height: 1.65; margin: 0.25rem 0; }
+
+/* Timeline spine */
+.rd-timeline { position: relative; margin: 0.3rem 0 0; padding-left: 30px; }
+.rd-timeline::before {
+  content: ""; position: absolute; left: 7px; top: 6px; bottom: 6px; width: 2px;
+  background: linear-gradient(180deg, var(--accent-blue), var(--accent-purple));
+  opacity: 0.55;
 }
-.rd-title { font-size: 1.6rem; font-weight: 800; margin: 0.2rem 0 0.5rem; color: var(--text-primary); }
-.rd-lead { color: var(--text-secondary); font-size: 1.05rem; }
-.rd-card p { color: var(--text-primary); line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.25rem 0; }
+.rd-node { position: relative; padding-bottom: 1rem; }
+.rd-node:last-child { padding-bottom: 0; }
+.rd-node::before {
+  content: ""; position: absolute; left: -30px; top: 4px;
+  width: 14px; height: 14px; border-radius: 50%;
+  background: var(--accent-blue); border: 3px solid var(--bg-dark);
+  box-shadow: 0 0 12px rgba(56, 189, 248, 0.75);
+}
+.rd-node p { margin: 0; color: var(--text-primary); line-height: 1.6; }
+
+/* Strengths with check marks */
+.rd-checks { list-style: none; margin: 0.25rem 0 0; padding: 0; }
+.rd-checks li { position: relative; padding-left: 1.7rem; margin-bottom: 0.45rem; color: var(--text-primary); line-height: 1.55; }
+.rd-checks li::before { content: "✓"; position: absolute; left: 0; color: #34D399; font-weight: 800; }
+
 .rd-list { margin: 0.25rem 0 0; padding-left: 1.2rem; }
 .rd-list li { color: var(--text-primary); line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 0.35rem; }
-.rd-lesson { margin-top: 0.75rem; color: var(--text-secondary); }
-.rd-q { font-size: 1.1rem; font-style: italic; color: var(--text-primary); }
+.rd-lesson { margin-top: 0.8rem; color: var(--text-secondary); }
+.rd-q { font-size: 1.15rem; font-style: italic; color: var(--text-primary); line-height: 1.6; }
+
 .rd-quote {
-  border-left: 3px solid var(--accent-blue);
-  margin: 0.25rem 0 0;
-  padding: 0.5rem 0 0.5rem 1rem;
-  font-size: 1.2rem;
-  font-style: italic;
-  color: var(--text-primary);
+  position: relative; margin: 0.3rem 0 0; padding: 0.5rem 0 0.5rem 2.6rem;
+  font-size: 1.28rem; font-style: italic; color: var(--text-primary); line-height: 1.5;
+}
+.rd-quote::before {
+  content: "\201C"; position: absolute; left: 0; top: 0;
+  font-size: 3.4rem; line-height: 1; color: var(--accent-purple); font-family: Georgia, serif;
 }
+
+/* Stat + win/lose grids */
 .rd-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr); gap: 1rem; }
 .rd-grid-2 { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 1rem; }
+.rd-stat { border-top: 3px solid var(--accent-blue); }
 .rd-winners { border-left: 3px solid #34D399; }
 .rd-losers { border-left: 3px solid #F87171; }
+.rd-ico { display: block; font-size: 1.6rem; margin-bottom: 0.35rem; }
 
 @media (max-width: 1024px) {
   .rd-grid, .rd-grid-2 { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }