There’s already been at least one moment in history when the world looked to the sky in anticipation of falling space debris. In 1979, that […]
We Know How to Prevent Black Lung. So Why Are Workers Still Dying?
There was a time when black lung was considered an inevitable consequence of working in a coal mine. Miners spent decades underground breathing coal dust, and many eventually developed the respiratory disease that became one of the most recognizable occupational hazards in America. We know better now. Scientists have understood the connection between inhaling dust and developing serious lung disease for generations. Workplace regulations have been written specifically to limit those exposures. Monitoring programs exist. Protective equipment exists. Medical screening exists. And yet American workers are still developing severe, sometimes fatal lung diseases caused by what they breathe on the…
The 9/11 Victims We’re Still Learning About
Twenty-five years after the September 11th terrorist attacks, researchers are preparing to study a group of people whose experiences have received considerably less attention than those of the firefighters, police officers, and other adults who responded to the disaster. They were children. Some were old enough to remember the planes striking the World Trade Center. Others were infants. Some were still in the womb. Many lived in Lower Manhattan or attended school nearby and were exposed to the enormous cloud of dust and debris created when the towers collapsed. Now, a major federal research effort is being established to examine…
The Cost of Closing Forest Research
The U.S. Forest Service is closing 23 research and development facilities across more than a dozen states as part of a sweeping reorganization of the agency. The move has received considerably less attention than many of the administration's other changes to the federal government, but its implications reach far beyond the offices and employees directly affected. The Forest Service conducts research into some of the most fundamental questions facing America's forests. Its scientists study wildfires, invasive species, forest diseases, water resources, wildlife, and the ways forests respond to changing environmental conditions. The agency says the research itself is not being…
Where Is the Opioid Settlement Money Going?
When opioid manufacturers, distributors, and other companies agreed to pay billions of dollars to settle lawsuits over their role in the nation's opioid crisis, the…
America’s Historic Drop in Homicides Deserves More Attention
For years, Americans have been told that crime is one of the country's most pressing problems. Political campaigns have been built around fears of rising…
When AI Reads Your Medical Records
For years, artificial intelligence in health care was largely discussed as a future technology. Doctors might someday use AI to identify diseases, analyze medical images,…
The Growing Alarm Over Facial Recognition and ICE Detentions
For years, debates about facial recognition technology largely centered on local police departments, airport security, and private sector data collection. More recently, however, a different…
The Cost of Closing Forest Research
The U.S. Forest Service is closing 23 research and development facilities across more than a dozen states as part of a sweeping reorganization of the…
When Politics Enters the Science: The Fight Over What Judges Should Know
The courts routinely deal with questions that judges cannot answer through legal precedent alone. What caused an environmental disaster? How reliable is a particular scientific…
Why Financial Literacy Matters More Than Ever
For generations, financial literacy has been viewed as a personal skill that helps people budget wisely, save for retirement, and avoid unnecessary debt. Today, it…
How Speculators Move Gas Prices
For most Americans, the price of gasoline feels deeply personal. It determines commuting costs, shipping prices, airline tickets, and, indirectly, the cost of groceries and…
We Know How to Prevent Black Lung. So Why Are Workers Still Dying?
There was a time when black lung was considered an inevitable consequence of working in a coal mine. Miners spent decades underground breathing coal dust,…
The 9/11 Victims We’re Still Learning About
Twenty-five years after the September 11th terrorist attacks, researchers are preparing to study a group of people whose experiences have received considerably less attention than…
Crisis at the Border: India Strikes Pakistan
The already fragile relationship between India and Pakistan has taken another dangerous turn. In a highly coordinated operation, India launched missile and air strikes on […]
Digital SSNs: Convenience or Risk?
For generations of Americans, the Social Security number has served as a cornerstone of identity. Traditionally issued on a paper card shortly after birth, this […]
Massive Data Breach Hits 4 Million
VeriSource Services, a Houston-based employee benefits company, has confirmed that a data breach originally discovered in February 2024 has compromised the personal information of approximately […]
Why Temu Deals Are No Longer Cheap
Temu, a Chinese-based online retailer known for offering ultralow prices, is now charging U.S. customers significant import fees. This development illustrates a basic reality of […]
Viral Money Glitch Turns Legal Nightmare
What began as a viral trend on TikTok last summer has become a prolonged legal battle involving one of the largest banks in the United […]
The Humble Reformer Who Shunned Riches
The world has lost more than a pope. It has lost a man who tried, however imperfectly, to steer a 2,000-year-old institution toward something more […]
Fake Ozempic Floods U.S. Market
A new warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) underscores growing concerns about counterfeit medications entering the U.S. drug supply. This time, the focus […]
Windows 10’s Exit Fuels E-Waste Crisis
Microsoft’s announcement that Windows 10 will reach end-of-support on October 14, 2025, marks the end of an era for one of the most widely used […]
Trump Eyes Exile for U.S. Citizens
It might sound like something out of a dystopian novel or a half-remembered history lesson from a darker time, but President Donald Trump’s latest proposition […]