The Cruelty of Kindness
Does the ‘no kill’ animal shelter movement create more suffering than it spares?
Roots and Genes
Nelson uses Alex Haley’s seminal 1976 book “Roots” as a backdrop to explore the quest for African American identity and the appeal of genetic ancestry testing.
The End of Walking
Are Americans sacrificing their right to walk? On the culture war against walkability, and what it says about our health, communities, and humanity.
Homes for the Homeless
An illustrated look at Utah’s approach to providing housing for the homeless with no strings attached. It’s turning out both cheaper and more effective than other solutions, but why haven’t other cities followed suit?
An Unlikely Trade
For five years, Michael Erard worked full-time as a metaphor designer at a D.C. think tank. Here he meditates on the nature of metaphors and how they can be designed.
Hotel Melancholia
A meditation on the particular sadness of faceless hotel rooms.
Will We Ever Understand the Beginning of the Universe?
A deep exploration of cosmology and the issues we face when it comes to understanding what we still don’t know: “Cosmology’s hot streak has stalled. Cosmologists have looked deep into time, almost all the way back to the Big Bang itself, but they don’t know what came before it.”
The Power of Story
How storytelling affects our brains and the way we interact with one another.
The Shame of Poor Teeth in a Rich World
An essay about growing up poor in America, and the role of teeth as a class signifier.
Elon Musk: How We’re Going to Colonize Mars
An in-depth interview with the SpaceX founder on how we could make it to Mars—and why it’s important for us to get there.