A Nation in Decline, as Always
What does it really mean for a nation to be “in decline?” And why does it make for such appealing political rhetoric?
Good Housekeeping Treated Advertisers as Health Experts
Good Housekeeping set itself up as a source of authoritative advice, but included ads for “health” products known to be harmful.
Sour Grapes: The Pisco War
Peru and Chile both produce the grape brandy called pisco, and they both consider it their national drink.
New York City Bans Foie Gras
The practice of eating fatty goose livers dates back to at least 2500 BCE. Is there a humane way to produce it?
Video Game Streams Are Creating New Forms of Community
Khasino, a Marvel Strike Force streamer on Twitch, makes his living playing video games for an audience.
Why Are Random Trials So Common in Anti-Poverty Work?
Three economists who have devoted their careers to studying poverty alleviation won the Nobel Prize in economics. How did their methods catch on?
The End of the Country Road
When “good roads” first became a political issue, rural people were decidedly not the ones advocating for them.
Why Plastic Roads Lead to a Cleaner Ocean
To prevent several millions tons of plastic from flushing into the ocean every year, engineers are paving roads with it.
