The aftermath of high-profile acts of violence often reveals as much about political priorities as it does about public safety. In the wake of the […]
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…
Inside the FBI’s Long History of Controversy
The latest controversy surrounding Kash Patel isn’t happening in a vacuum. As reported by ABC News, Patel has denied allegations published days earlier by The […]
The Rise, Fall, and Rise of American Monopolies
The history of monopolies in the United States is really the story of how the country learned to balance capitalism with control. From the late […]
Understanding the 25th Amendment
The 25th Amendment to the United States Constitution is one of the most consequential yet rarely used provisions in American constitutional law. It exists to […]
How ADHD Is Commonly Misunderstood
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, commonly known as ADHD, is one of the most widely discussed and frequently misunderstood neurodevelopmental conditions. Public awareness has increased significantly in recent […]
The Quiet Decline of Workers’ Rights
At the turn of the 21st century, many American workers still operated within a system shaped by decades of labor organizing, regulatory expansion, and employer-provided […]
The Hidden Barriers to Mental Healthcare
Mental health has become one of the defining public health issues of the modern era. Awareness has grown, stigma has declined in many communities, and […]
Why Presidents Don’t Control Gas Prices
Few economic issues affect daily life as directly as the price of gasoline. Drivers see the cost every time they fill their tanks, and sudden […]
The Evolution of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence has moved from a largely academic concept to a central force shaping modern technology. Today, AI systems influence how people search for information, […]
The Hidden Costs of “Buy Now, Pay Later”
Over the past few years, “buy now, pay later” services have rapidly transformed the way many consumers pay for everyday purchases. Companies such as Affirm, […]