The muted response to Todd Haynes’s “Dark Waters” is depressingly similar to our culture’s muted response to climate change
Science & Nature
Longreads Best of 2019: Science and Nature
We asked writers and editors to choose some of their favorite stories of the year. Here is the best in science and nature.
All Hail the Rat King
From Martin Luther to The Nutcracker, Germany’s original national nightmare was a tangled knot of writhing rats.
Brazil’s Roads to Destruction
Every year, vehicles on Brazil’s ever-expending road network hit over 400 million Brazilian animals, causing series declines in some species — and Brazil isn’t the only country expanding its infrastructure.
The Octopus’ Branding Makeover: From Devil-Fish to Brilliant Invertebrate
“Each arm, with its own brain inside, moves completely independent of the others. So much so that arms have been known to steal food from each other.”
The Traffic Jam on Mount Everest that Cost 11 Lives
“The crowd seemed incredible—like a bag of Skittles had been scattered down the slope.”
Checking in on the Masculinity Crisis
If masculinity really is in crisis — and that’s a big if — we should at least be able to agree that it’s not women’s responsibility to fix it.
A Beautiful, Rugged Place: Erosion of the Body
The life-long writer, teacher, and activist believed she could save a piece of land or a species, but after her brother took his life, she questioned her optimism and how to grieve for him and the planet.
The Adaptation of Language Evolution
Language has always changed, but the introduction of technology means it is adapting in ways we have never experienced before.
Burning Out
Search and rescue teams train for the worst conditions. But the worst conditions are getting worse. Are they ready for the next big disaster?
