Daniel M. Davis on The Secret Body August 29, 2021 New science of the human body is changing our lives. In The Secret Body, leading scientist Daniel M. Davis looks across six frontiers—cells, the embryo, the body’s organs and tissues, the brain, the microbiome, and the human genome—where revolutionary new understanding is emerging. Read More
The three ages of India’s democracy August 26, 2021 The comparative study of democracies has long since determined that this type of regime warrants qualification. While liberal democracy remains an ideal form, many “hybrids” that blend this archetype with other political genres have long existed. Read More
Book Club Pick: Lost in Thought August 26, 2021 In an overloaded, superficial, technological world, in which almost everything and everybody is judged by its usefulness, where can we turn for escape, lasting pleasure, contemplation, or connection to others? Read More
Moving Up without Losing Your Way August 24, 2021 Upward mobility through higher education has been an article of faith for generations of working-class, low-income, and immigrant college students. While this path usually entails financial sacrifices and hard work, little attention has been paid to the personal compromises such students make as they enter worlds vastly different from their own. Read More
Listen in: The Secret Body August 24, 2021 Imagine knowing years in advance whether you are likely to get cancer or having a personalized understanding of your individual genes, organs, and cells. Imagine being able to monitor your body’s well-being, or have a diet tailored to your microbiome. Read More
In Pursuit of the Perfect Portfolio August 19, 2021 Is there an ideal portfolio of investment assets, one that perfectly balances risk and reward? In Pursuit of the Perfect Portfolio examines this question by profiling and interviewing ten of the most prominent figures in the finance world. Read More
Pandemic lessons to take to college August 19, 2021 What have you missed most during the isolation of the pandemic? For most of us, it’s being in the same room with real humans, visiting with friends and family, and meeting new people. Read More
Stephen Pruett‑Jones on Naturalized Parrots of the World August 17, 2021 There are more than 350 species of parrots in the world, and approximately 300 of these species have been transported to other countries through the caged pet trade. Whether through escaped captivity or purposeful release, many of these parrots are now breeding in new habitats. Read More
Finding mystery, truth, and beauty on mathematicians’ chalkboards August 13, 2021 I grew up in a house on the campus of a boarding school in Connecticut. My father taught history and coached the wrestling team, while my mother taught art. Our lives were totally immersed in this insular academic world—the school was our home and our playground. Read More
Listen in: The Profit Paradox August 12, 2021 In an era of technological progress and easy communication, it might seem reasonable to assume that the world’s working people have never had it so good. Read More
Why are no-excuses schools moving beyond no excuses? August 09, 2021 This past year has forced schools to make significant changes to their practices. It has also prompted teachers and administrators to reimagine education and to rearticulate a new vision for their schools—as I’ve seen at “no excuses” charter schools, which I have spent the last decade studying and observing. Read More
How washing dishes restored my intellectual life August 05, 2021 Midway through the journey of my life, I found myself in the woods of eastern Ontario, living in a remote Catholic religious community called Madonna House. Read More
A look inside Darkness by Design August 03, 2021 From New York to London, from Chicago to Tokyo, and from Frankfurt to Sydney, capital markets the world over have undergone revolutionary changes during the past two decades. Read More
The birth of biology July 29, 2021 It is impossible to pinpoint the precise moment when the first notions of our modern understanding of biology emerged. Our interest in the natural world is not a new phenomenon—a preoccupation with reproduction, birth, and the nature of disease, as well as descriptions of animal and plant species, can be traced back to ancient times. Read More
A look inside Very Important People July 28, 2021 A sociologist and former fashion model takes readers inside the elite global party circuit of “models and bottles” to reveal how beautiful young women are used to boost the status of men. Read More