Hawk Tuah Wasn’t What It Seemed
What the meme of the year tells us about the state of online culture
Star Trek’s Cold War
While America was fighting on the ground, the Federation was fighting in space.
New Yorkers Won’t Stop Complaining About Dogs
In such a densely packed city, space can feel zero-sum.
The Joy of Reading Books in High School
Atlantic staffers and readers share.
The Big Thing to Know About Pain
Trying to avoid suffering can paradoxically make it worse. You can train your mind to find a better way.
The Agony of Indulging in Squid Game Again
The Netflix hit’s second season can’t quite break out of its own vicious cycle.
Bob Dylan Broke Rules. A Complete Unknown Follows Them.
The biopic turns its subject’s independence and idiosyncrasies into the stuff of bland summary.
The Most Distant Known Galaxy
Day 25 of the 2024 Space Telescope Advent Calendar
What ‘Silent Night’ Misunderstands About Christmas
Depictions of a quiet, peaceful manger scene miss the point.
The Darkest Movie of the Year
Even the camera seems to fear the grunting, shadowy demon in Nosferatu.
The Most Haunting—And Most Inspiring—Moment in A Christmas Carol
This year, forgo despair and listen to Jacob Marley.
Why Are My Neighbors Screaming at Me?
Everyone seems so on edge.
An Energetic Stellar Nursery
Day 24 of the 2024 Space Telescope Advent Calendar
How to Not Fight With Your Family About Politics
This holiday, ask questions like a reporter.
You Are Drinking the Wrong Eggnog
Coquito has all of the holiday spirit—and none of the salmonella.
Trapped—And Lavishly Rewarded—For Playing a Part
The protagonists of Babygirl and Black Doves are stuck in their “perfect” lives—and find illicit fulfillment outside them.
The Walmart Effect
New research suggests that the company makes the communities it operates in poorer—even taking into account its famous low prices.
The 20 Best Podcasts of 2024
The shows that kept listeners refreshing their apps this year
Are Young Men Really Becoming More Sexist?
What the research says about the gender divide across the world
Joe Biden’s Moral Wisdom
The president has commuted the sentences of 37 men on federal death row to life without parole, a historic move.