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The US spacecrafts Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 were launched 16 days apart in August and September of 1977. Both the missions took advantage of a once-in-175-year alignment of planets that allowed between them to visit all the gaseous planets of the solar system. PBS last month released a documentary to commemorate the 40th anniversary […]

The emotional impact of serious trauma tends to ripple across family and friendship groups. Those directly affected (the person who’s seriously ill or caught up in a natural disaster, for example), their loved ones, and closest friends, all experience suffering. And when an entire social network of consumed by misery, it can be difficult to […]

For many in the US, the end of summer means the start of the American football season. Along with the usual cookouts, beach outings, and pool parties, some will be celebrating this Labor Day weekend hosting draft parties for their fantasy football leagues. Fantasy football—in which grown men and women pretend to be the owners […]

In the 40 years since publishing my first research on hazing in collegiate groups, I’ve often been reminded of the adage that every good thing is accompanied by trouble. On the one hand, fraternities, bands, and team sports provide a welcoming atmosphere for students who value the support and mentorship of older peers. They contribute […]

The Iron Throne in Game of Thrones is forged from 200 swords. It resembles a spiky—and spooky—peacock. It looks distinctly uncomfortable. But then, comfort is not the point of a throne, which is a symbol of power and only incidentally a seat. A ruler is said to “ascend to the throne” “usurp the throne,” or […]Read More

It’s easy to drive past Columbus, Indiana. Judging from the road signs along the interstate, the town’s chief claim to fame is that it’s the birthplace of race-car driver Tony Stewart and US vice president Mike Pence. But for years, in-the-know design fans have at least heard of this town in the remote midwestern US […]Read More

An army of volunteers is using monster trucks, jet skis, and private boats to carry out remarkable rescues a week after Hurricane Harvey first hit Texan cities. A fleet of monster trucks joined the rescue efforts in Houston, where a paralyzing storm has killed at least 47 people and damaged more than 100,000 homes. In […]

It’s been two years since a photo of a drowned Syrian boy—Alan Kurdi—shocked the world. The image of Kurdi’s death brought the horrific reality of the refugee crisis to the forefront of the world’s news, and even led to some governments to soften their stance toward refugees. But the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) insists not […]Read More

Here’s a brutal truth about applying to college: On paper, most teenagers are not very unique. Some three million high school graduates send applications into universities every single year, and that’s just within the United States. Seasoned admissions officers—particularly at elite schools—know how to spot cookie-cutter applicants and toss them into the reject pile in […]Read More

North Korea’s sixth—and most powerful—nuclear test to date has sparked widespread condemnation from world leaders. US president Donald Trump slammed North Korea’s hostile “words and actions” in a series of tweets following the nuclear test. Trump went on to accuse South Korea of favoring a policy of “appeasement,” insisting that approach “with North Korea will […]Read More

On Inauguration Day 2017, Barack Obama left a handwritten letter for Donald Trump in the Oval Office. In it, he calls on the new president to leave democratic institutions and traditions in the strong, stable state he found them in. In the nearly 300-word letter, obtained by CNN, Obama offers some apt reflections of his […]

The Kenyan government is waging a war against online hate mongers with what would appear to be a zero-tolerance policy. In an unprecedented move two chat group administrators have been arrested. They were charged with sharing hate messages on WhatsApp that threatened national security and face an additional charge of spreading alarming propaganda on social […]