The Entire Internet Is Reverting to Beta
The AI takeover is changing everything about the web—and not necessarily for the better.
Why Americans Suddenly Stopped Hanging Out
Too much aloneness is creating a crisis of social fitness.
Trump’s Two-Week Window for Diplomacy Was a Smoke Screen
Even as the president suggested that he was open to negotiations, he had already made up his mind.
Modern Dating, With a Lot of Talking, Talking, Talking
Materialists has much less to say about romance than it thinks it does.
Attacking Iran Without Congress’s Blessing Leaves Citizens With No Recourse
Americans deserve a vote on the war.
The Strength You Gain by Not Taking Offense
We all face uncivil behavior or insulting comments at times, but you can choose how to react.
The Myth of the Gen Z Red Wave
The best available evidence suggests that the youth-vote shift in 2024 was more a one-off event than an ideological realignment.
The Protein Madness Is Just Getting Started
Americans are taking their obsession with supplements to new extremes.
A Novel That Reimagines the Meaning of Outer Space
In Pip Adam’s extraordinary, humane book Audition, the stars are both a dystopian place and a site of uncharted possibility.
The Trojan Horse Will Come for Us Too
The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East offer Americans a glimpse into the battles of the future—and a warning.
DNA Tests Are Uncovering the True Prevalence of Incest
People are discovering the truth about their biological parents with DNA—and learning that incest is far more common than many think.
Your Professional Decline Is Coming (Much) Sooner Than You Think
Here’s how to make the most of it.
Why So Many People Are Unhappy in Retirement
Too often, we imagine life to be like the hero’s journey, and leave out its crucial last step: letting go.
The MAGA Coalition Has Turned on Itself
And Donald Trump is caught in the middle.
The Freedman’s Story
An escaped slave tells his story—including his account of his violent showdown with slave-catchers in Pennsylvania.
The Only Iran Hawk Is Trump
The president does what his predecessors would not.
What Iran Knows About Trump
The mullahs of Iran join the bet that Trump always chickens out.
An Extraordinarily Expensive Way to Fight ISIS
The tale of a bombing raid in the Libyan desert, pitting stealth bombers and 500-pound bombs against 70 ragtag fighters
‘Success Addicts’ Choose Being Special Over Being Happy
The pursuit of achievement distracts from the deeply ordinary activities and relationships that make life meaningful.
The True Cost of the Churchgoing Bust
Many Americans seem to have found no alternative method to build a sense of community.