The Present
All Stories
Gender equality paradox: Does biology explain why men and women choose stereotypical jobs?
Iceland consistently ranks as the most gender-equal nation. It is also the nation where men and women are most likely to pursue sex-typical jobs.
Beavers offer lessons about managing water in a changing climate, whether the challenge is drought or floods
Letting nature's expert engineers lead the way.
How Russian is Ukraine? Not as much as Putin insists
Since Ukraine originally meant “borderland,” the territory was already a target for several kingdoms.
The history of the end of poverty has just begun
The decline of global poverty is one of the most important achievements in history, but the end of poverty is still very far away.
The trouble with fact-checking
The problems that Americans face are often too complex for fact-checking alone.
Havana syndrome: CIA casts doubt on whether directed-energy attacks are causing strange illnesses
Some U.S. intelligence operatives have suggested foreign adversaries may be using "directed-energy" weapons against Americans.
How cybercriminals turn paper checks stolen from mailboxes into bitcoin
Someone breaks into a mailbox that stores letters waiting to be sent and grabs some of them in hopes they’ll contain a check that’s been filled in. That's just the start.
Habitat for Humanity builds 3D-printed house in 28 hours
Made from concrete, it cost 15% less per square foot to construct than a typical house.
World economy in 2022: the big factors to watch closely
Is 2022 the year the economy recovers?
The past and future of energy
Every power source involves trade-offs. Given the challenges of increasing demand and climate change, what is the future of energy?
Get ready for a new Roaring Twenties
Unlike the first Roaring Twenties, these won’t end with a Great Depression.
Here’s why immigrants to the U.S. are “job makers” more often than “job takers”
The results of a recent study counter some common claims found in anti-immigration narratives.
Can’t find “The One”? Blame easy dating apps
Dating apps have made it easier than ever to find a partner. Paradoxically, the ease of finding matches means some remain perpetually single.
Six big digital trends to watch in 2022
Hybrid working, robot fast food workers, and the rapid acceleration of NFTs are just the beginning.
200 years ago, everyone lacked democratic rights. Now, billions of people have them
The majority of countries are democracies. But how many people enjoy democratic rights?
Why apocalyptic fantasies appeal to us psychologically
Just don't expect the apocalypse to look like it does in the movies.
These are the world’s cheapest and most expensive cities
Israel’s buoyant currency, coupled with increased costs for transport and groceries, saw Tel Aviv jump five places from last year.
Why is inflation so high? Is it bad? An economist answers 3 questions about soaring consumer prices
In the most extreme cases, spiraling prices can lead to a collapse in a currency’s value.
En-ROADS: A powerful, interactive climate model for predicting temperature rise
Driving Teslas and planting trees are nice, but methane reduction, industrial efficiency, carbon removal, and a moderate carbon tax are the most efficient ways to fight climate change.
There never was a “population bomb”
Society incorrectly blamed a "population bomb” for problems that had other causes. A wrong diagnosis produces ineffective solutions.
How vulnerable is your personal information? 4 essential reads
“Think defensively about how you can protect yourself from an almost inevitable attack, rather than assuming you’ll avoid harm.”
Passing the Turing Test: AI creates human-like text
GPT-3, which features 175 billion parameters, just might fool you in a conversation.
The subtle tricks artists can use to bridge the uncanny valley
The most technically impressive feats of animation often strike us as eerie instead of impressive, and it’s all thanks to the uncanny valley.
Amazon’s “economic flywheel” built Seattle. Can your city build one?
Why does Seattle continue to be a place that nurtures the development of breakthrough technologies but not Minneapolis, Memphis, or Minsk?
Are big cities bad for our mental health?
Cities overstimulate our senses and are full of people we don't know. Maybe humans were meant for this.
NASA launches DART probe to crash into an asteroid
In 2022, the probe will crash into an asteroid while a nearby satellite captures it on camera.
The case for universal basic income
Universal basic income can secure basic independence for citizens, something which modern states have failed to do, argues author Louise Haagh.
“Woke Racism”: Does modern antiracism operate as a dogmatic religion?
The modern antiracist movement is harming the very people it claims to help, according to the linguist John McWhorter.