This Tiny Fish Can Withstand Almost Anything
In Virginia’s Elizabeth River, the unremarkable-looking mummichog has survived decades of industrial pollution—but the price it has paid has worrying implications for human health.
Features
American Special Ops Forces Are Everywhere
They’ve become a major military player—and maybe a substitute for strategic thinking.
Private Schools Have Become Truly Obscene
Elite schools breed entitlement, entrench inequality—and then pretend to be engines of social change.
Becoming a Parent During the Pandemic Was the Hardest Thing I’ve Ever Done
This completely different person I’ve become since I gave birth is someone virtually no one knows.
How to Put Out Democracy’s Dumpster Fire
Our democratic habits have been killed off by an internet kleptocracy that profits from disinformation, polarization, and rage. Here’s how to fix that.
Unlocking the Mysteries of Long COVID
A growing number of clinicians are on an urgent quest to find treatments for a frighteningly pervasive problem. They’ve had surprising early success.
‘I’m the Doctor Who Is Here to Help You Die’
Why do so many patients have to wait until they’re suffering terribly before they can get relief?
American Cynicism Has Reached a Breaking Point
The nation’s politics is in dire need of earnestness. Can its culture meet the moment?
America’s Political Roots Are in Eutaw, Alabama
When I think about the 1870 riot, I remember how the country rejected the opportunity it had.
The Mediterranean’s Red Gold Is Running Out
For centuries, red coral was traded all over the world. Now it’s disappearing.