Day 21 of the 2024 Space Telescope Advent Calendar: Inside a Chaotic Nebula
Day 21 of the 2024 Space Telescope Advent Calendar
The Strange Challenge of Small Talk
Unlike some other life skills, it doesn’t seem to get easier the more you practice.
Every Woman on This Show Is Loathsome. That’s By Design.
Dune: Prophecy allows its female leads to play both hero and villain.
The Price of Humiliating Nicolás Maduro
A new kind of repression is gripping Venezuela, and its logic is menacingly opaque.
The Limits of the GOP Trifecta
A conversation with Russell Berman about Congress’s chaotic week
The Potential Backlash to Trump Unbound
A returning president who expects to govern without constraints leaves his opponents hoping to benefit from...
ChatGPT Won’t Say His Name
Why do certain words immediately short-circuit the program?
The Art Monster Under the Bed
Ella Baxter’s new novel reminds us that mediocrity is far more common than genius.
Day 20 of the 2024 Space Telescope Advent Calendar: A Galactic Chain
Day 20 of the 2024 Space Telescope Advent Calendar
South Korea’s Crisis Is Nowhere Near Over
Ongoing political chaos will entrench the country’s economic and social problems—and leave Seoul woefully unprepared for...
Even Barry Jenkins Can Only Do So Much
Mufasa: The Lion King, from the Moonlight director, doesn’t transcend its cynical origins as a Disney...
The GOP Is Treating Musk Like He’s in Charge
This week, the world’s richest person solidified his influence over American politics.
America’s Bird-Flu Luck Has Officially Run Out
Bird flu has spread so widely that it was always going to make someone seriously sick.
A Nonreligious Holiday Ritual
The winter solstice is a pristine time for the simple act of noticing.
Musk Makes a Mess of Congress
The billionaire may have just tanked a bipartisan bill to fund the government. All he needed...
Day 19 of the 2024 Space Telescope Advent Calendar: A Beacon in the Clouds
Day 19 of the 2024 Space Telescope Advent Calendar
An Autistic Teenager Fell Hard for a Chatbot
My godson was especially vulnerable to AI companions, and he is not alone.
The Cost of Lawlessness on the West Bank
Settler violence against Palestinians is rising, and Israel seems unwilling to stop it.
A Biting Satire of the Art World’s Monstrousness
Ella Baxter’s new novel explores why creative genius so often seems to be at odds with...
The Luxury Makeover of the Worst Pastry on Earth
How panettone, the once-reviled Italian Christmas treat, became a high-end commodity
In Praise of Mercy
Clemency is a tool for correcting the vengeful tendency to punish rather than forgive.
How Liberal America Came to Its Senses
The period of left-wing illiberalism that began about a decade ago seems to have drawn to...
A Mysterious Health Wave Is Breaking Out Across the U.S.
America is suddenly getting healthier. No one knows why.
Why Online Returns Are a Hassle Now
Getting your money back is not as simple as it used to be.
Trump Has Found the Media’s Biggest Vulnerability
Most major media properties are tied to larger business interests that can benefit from government policy—or...
A Gala for Right-Wing Revenge
The mood that dominated an annual soiree for the New York Young Republicans: gleeful promises of...
A Visit From Krampus—Saint Nick’s Dark Companion
Recent images of people dressed in frightening Krampus costumes, parading in front of crowds and chasing...
Gas Will Be the First Big Climate Fight of the Trump Era
The Biden administration just made the case against increasing natural-gas exports.
Ukraine’s Hardest Winter
Weary soldiers and citizens express fatalistic optimism while preparing for the loss of U.S. military support.
Day 18 of the 2024 Space Telescope Advent Calendar: An Energetic Protostar
Day 18 of the 2024 Space Telescope Advent Calendar
The Outrage Over 100 Men Only Goes So Far
What an OnlyFans stunt reveals about modern morals and internet fame
You Are Cordially Invited to an Event That Could Ruin Your Life
How could any woman resist Senator Lindsey Graham’s generous summons to speak publicly about her claim...
The Pro-Eating-Disorder Internet Is Back
One of the thorniest content-moderation problems grows out of control on X.
Why Can’t Robots Stay Robots?
A hit animated film is the latest work to imbue machines with the primacy of human...
Why Do Big Families Get Such a Bad Rap?
I have many siblings. And in so many ways, my life is richer for it.
Trump to Russia’s Rescue
After a year of misfortune, Putin is about to have a friend in the White House.
Hyundai Is Becoming the New Tesla
Even in a Trump presidency, America’s EV future may not run through Elon Musk.
The Crumbling Foundation of America’s Military
The U.S. failed to produce weapons and ammunition fast enough to supply Ukraine. Could it equip...
Day 17 of the 2024 Space Telescope Advent Calendar: A Gathering of Ancient Stars
Day 17 of the 2024 Space Telescope Advent Calendar
RIP, the Axis of Resistance
Iran’s revolutionary project for the Middle East sowed misery and won’t be missed.
Bogotá’s Water Rationing Is a Preview
More places should practice going without crucial resources.
The 10 Best Albums of 2024
This year’s most exciting artists rejected consensus and did things their way.
The Commons: Washington’s Nightmare
Readers respond to our November 2024 cover story and more.
Bob Dylan’s Carnival Act
His identity was a performance. His writing was sleight of hand. He bamboozled his own audience.
