Why Do Circus Elephants Get All the Sympathy?
Ringling Bros.' decision to retire its elephants has been met with near-universal approval. Why do far fewer people care about the animals being slaughtered on a daily basis?
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Environment
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What Voldemort and Climate Change Have in Common
At Hogwarts and in Florida, respectively, the threatening phenomena must not be named.
Covering the Apple Watch Launch as a Blind Apple Fan
"I think that, generally, people in the blind community are optimistic. That's even without knowing what's accessible."
Lord of the Tree Rings
Benjamin Cook looks at ancient trees to forecast future droughts. His latest findings are not good news for the West.
The Dancing Man Is an Example of Both Fat Shaming and the Internet’s Glory
A nasty viral photo prompted an unlikely invitation, and serves as a reminder of the Internet's power for good—and evil.
Why We Rage on the Roads—and How to Stop
A perfect combination of fear and overconfidence produces dangerous escalations of tiny incidents. The best course of action is to allow the guy flipping you the bird to drive right past.
Stop and Smell the Weeds
Even if you live in an urban environment, taking some time to correct for plant blindness can provide many benefits, both physical and psychological.
Pesticide Drift and the Politics of Scale in California’s Central Valley
Toxic chemicals are sweeping across our nation's most important agricultural region and officials are using time-tested tactics not to find solutions, but to make the problem seem small and localized.
Astronomers Found an Ancient Ocean on Mars
Now a cold, barren desert, Mars once had an ocean bigger than the Arctic.
The Government Is OK With a 75 Percent Chance of a Major Arctic Oil Spill. Are You?
The Department of the Interior says there’s a 75 percent chance of a major oil spill in the Arctic—and it’s willing to take that chance.