If Plants Could Talk
Some scientists are starting to reopen a provocative debate: Are plants intelligent?
America’s IVF Failure
One out of every 50 babies born in the U.S. was conceived via IVF. Why is the industry so poorly regulated?
Why a Bit of Restraint Can Do You a Lot of Good
An uninhibited quest for authenticity sounds great. But if that just means acting out, you’re unlikely to be so happy.
What If He Actually Did It?
I argued that Jens Söring was wrongfully convicted of a double murder, and in 2019, he was released on parole after three decades in prison. Then I started having doubts about the case.
The Complicated Ethics of Rare-Book Collecting
Literary treasures are too often hidden away from the public—but the world of private collecting isn’t all bad.
America’s Colleges Are Reaping What They Sowed
Universities spent years saying that activism is not just welcome but encouraged on their campuses. Students took them at their word.
The 1968 Hangover
Like Nixon before him, Trump could use campus protests to further stoke an already polarized electorate.
Every Tech Company Wants to Be Like Boston Dynamics
America’s favorite robot company has perfected the art of freaking people out.
Biden’s Electoral College Challenge
How demographic change is scrambling the geography of the 2024 presidential race
The Diminishing Returns of Having Good Taste
The internet makes most information instantly available. What if that’s why mass culture is so boring?
When Poetry Could Define a Life
The close passing of the poetry critics Marjorie Perloff and Helen Vendler is a moment to recognize the end of an era.
Will Biden Have a Gaza Problem in November’s Poll?
Foreign policy does not usually swing national elections, but this time could be different.
Democrats Defang the House’s Far Right
By pledging to support Mike Johnson, Democrats have freed the House from the grip of GOP hard-liners.
Is Iran a Country or a Cause?
The ideologues are winning a decades-long battle over Tehran’s foreign policy.
The Danger of a Small Act of Cowardice
I resigned from the Ford presidential foundation over its refusal to honor Liz Cheney. But my decision was bigger than that.
The Mysteries of Plant ‘Intelligence’
Scientists are debating whether concepts such as memory, consciousness, and communication can be applied beyond the animal kingdom.
‘We Want All of It’
The Columbia protesters backed themselves into a corner.
I Am Building an Archive to Prove That Palestine Exists
For me and my family, this work is an act of hope.
What Florida’s Abortion Ban Means Beyond Florida
A new ban has providers there scrambling—and clinics in other states preparing for a crush of new patients.
America’s Infectious-Disease Barometer Is Off
Somehow, the U.S. is both over- and under-reacting to bird flu and other pressing infectious threats.