Reading List
The most recent articles from a list of feeds I subscribe to.
How sitcoms explain the American dad
There is a real case of baby fever going around — and it’s coming from America’s young men. Fifty-seven percent of men 34 and under want to be parents now. Compare that to just 45 percent of women the same age who want to have a kid now, and it’s a stat that turns antiquated […]
One mystery, and two looming disasters, in the next Supreme Court term
Three issues dominate the Supreme Court term that begins next week, based on the cases the justices have agreed to hear so far. Realistically, however, there is little uncertainty about how this GOP-dominated Court will resolve two of them. The uncertain question is whether the Court will strike down President Donald Trump’s ever-shifting tariffs — […]
Welcome to the October issue of The Highlight
The Houston toad lacks the recognition of pandas or bald eagles, but this rare creature is still important for its ecosystem — and its population has been falling for decades. Now, the toad’s best hope for survival involves syringes, ultrasounds, and hormones. In this month’s Highlight cover story, Christine Peterson takes you inside the world […]
Think your AI chatbot has become conscious? Here’s what to do.
Your Mileage May Vary is an advice column offering you a unique framework for thinking through your moral dilemmas. It’s based on value pluralism — the idea that each of us has multiple values that are equally valid but that often conflict with each other. To submit a question, fill out this anonymous form. Here’s this week’s question from a […]
How America cut deadly city fires in half
My family lives in a heavily-trafficked part of Brooklyn, and most nights you’ll hear the occasional whine of fire engine sirens through our living room window. But the torrent of sirens early on the morning of September 17 was enough to briefly rouse me from bed. I found out later that day that a five-alarm fire […]