The Philosopher and the Lab Mice (Nautilus)
by Eva Meijer
Biologists use mice as convenient models for learning lessons that may also apply to humans. But what about considering the mice on their own terms? A philosopher investigates what they want for themselves and how they relate to each other.

The Return of Psychosurgery? (Undark)
by Frieda Klotz
The idea of using brain surgery to address psychiatric symptoms calls to mind the dark history of lobotomies. Modern psychosurgeries are far more precise, but there are still big questions about the risks and benefits.

Thinking About Political Philosophy in Vietnam (Aeon)
by Kevin D. Pham
Vietnamese revolutionaries and intellectuals have had to contend with centuries of domination by outside powers—and Vietnamese domination of other peoples. Political philosophy looks different in places wrestling with the shame of colonization.

Did Scientists Really Find Life in Space? (NPR)
by Nell Greenfieldboyce
Chemical signatures found on a distant planet could be the first sign of life beyond the Earth—or maybe not. But the enormous amount of information arriving from the James Webb Space Telescope is certainly giving scientists a lot more to think about regarding what aliens might be like.

Wrestling with Trains’ Holocaust Legacy (The Conversation)
Sarah Federman
Railroads were a crucial part of the infrastructure of the Holocaust. Today survivors, governments, and the railway companies themselves are still figuring out how to confront what happened.

Got a hot tip about a well-researched story that belongs on this list? Email us here.