As Hurricane Helene’s devastation leaves behind a trail of destruction, with businesses, homes, and whole communities wiped out; hundreds of lives lost; and scores of […]
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 money came with an obvious purpose. Communities had been devastated by addiction and overdose deaths. The settlements were intended to help those communities respond to that devastation, including through treatment, prevention, recovery, and other programs designed to address the consequences of opioid addiction. But now an investigation into Louisiana's use of that money is raising a much bigger question. Who is making sure the money actually goes where it is supposed to go? A joint…
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…
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…
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…
Panic Buying Lessons from the Port Strike
In a striking replay of past behaviors, some consumers recently began panic-buying essential items like toilet paper, this time triggered by concerns over the United […]
Jimmy Carter: 100 Years of a Great Man
Yesterday, October 1, 2024, President Jimmy Carter became the first American president to reach the remarkable milestone of 100 years. His life, a story of […]
The Troubling Privacy Issues Surrounding 23andMe
In recent years, DNA testing has become mainstream, with companies like 23andMe offering consumers a window into their ancestry, health risks, and even potential family […]
Guilty Plea in Landmark Greenhouse Gas Case
A San Diego man, Michael Hart, has pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges in the first-ever prosecution for smuggling hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) into the U.S. These […]
Ozempic and the Global Drug Pricing Debate
As Novo Nordisk continues to dominate the pharmaceutical industry with its diabetes and obesity drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy, the company faces mounting scrutiny over its […]
Human Trafficking Isn’t Just a Celebrity Crime
The recent arrest of Sean “Diddy” Combs on federal sex-trafficking charges has shocked the public and the entertainment world. As one of hip-hop’s most influential […]
Is Facebook Marketplace Anti-Competitive?
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is once again under scrutiny as the European Union closes in on a potential fine for its alleged anti-competitive […]
Trump Gunman Was Reported to Homeland Security
In a recent news interview, a nurse from West Palm Beach, Florida, recounted her unsettling experience with Ryan Routh, the man accused of attempting to […]
Media Literacy Needed After Haitian Abuse Claims
The recent wave of bomb threats and violent incidents in Springfield, Ohio, has shone a glaring light on a growing issue in the United States: […]