“Deaths of Despair”: What’s Really Killing Americans
Why a large swath of middle-aged, middle-class white Americans, especially those with lower levels of education, are dying more "deaths of despair."
M-Dwarves and the Search for Life
In recent years, astronomers have broadened their search for habitable planets to include previously ignored stars like M-dwarves.
Our Spam Emails, Ourselves
More money, more hair, less belly fat, better health: our spam emails expose our worries and weaknesses.
Why Can’t We End Spam? Ask An Economist.
Law enforcement recently took out a bot network capable of sending 1.5 billion spam emails a day. So what are the economic incentives—and costs—of spam?
Are Some Solar Panels More Environmentally Friendly Than Others?
A new solar process utilizing nanoparticles has to potential to nearly double the energy output per unit area of solar panels.
The Unsolved Case of Ötzi the Iceman
Clues have emerged in a very cold case: the Copper Age killing of Ötzi the Iceman. What do we know about this well-preserved mummy?
Scientists Have Always Been Political
Science has always been political, with questions about who pays for research, and who gets to do it, influencing the type of work that gets done.
The Birth of Planned Obsolescence
Before WWII, American businesses began embracing “creative waste”—the idea that throwing things away and buying new ones could fuel a strong economy.
What if We Acknowledged That People Use Drugs Because They’re Fun?
In the modern Western world, drug use fits well into economies that divide our days into disciplined, production-oriented “clock time,” and leisure time.
Whole Body Vibration Isn’t Quite As Crazy As It Sounds
Is whole body vibration the latest weight-loss fad? Or a legitimate medical treatment with potential to help those who can't exercise?