| Name | Topics covered |
| Comp | Computers,computer science and the computer industry |
| Sci | The physical sciences and engineering |
| Humanities | Literature and the humanities |
| News | Discussion of USENET itself |
| Rec | Recreational activities, including sports and music |
| Misc | Everything that does not fit in somewhere else |
| Soc | Socializing and social issues |
| Talk | Diatribes, polemics, debates and arguments galore |
| Alt | Alternative tree covering virtually everything |