Ethan Chiel

Global warming is disastrous, global warming without (or at least with far fewer) clouds would be much worse. Natalie Wolchover speaks to scientists who are studying periods of cloudless warming in the Earth’s past, and simulating what a future where the clouds were to vanish once again would be like.

You probably haven’t read Jay Wright Forrester’s dubious ideas on how cities work (and why they die), but if you played SimCity you’ve had more firsthand experience with them than you realize. Historian of science Kevin T. Baker explains why.

“People don’t necessarily revolt when things are bad, but they might when things aren’t getting better, or are getting demonstrably worse.”

In 2014 Ipek Irgit’s bikinis took Instagram by storm. Several years, and lawsuits, later it’s not so clear they’re hers.

Through personal history, the history of a company, and the history of games writ large, Chris Randle explores the enduring appeal of Magic: The Gathering, the trading card game which has persisted in comic shops, convention centers, and basement rumpus rooms for twenty-five years.

In a brief and beautiful essay, Anders Nilsen remembers his friend, the late cartoonist and musician Geneviève Castrée, and describes the difficult process of helping finish her final work.

Anna Wiener explores what 13 years of the data she’s given Facebook can give back to her.

Has the time come for Westphalian sovereignty to coexist with web failson sovereignty?