How to Not Love the National Parks to Death
More visitors than ever will head to national parks this summer. Here’s what we can do to keep the wild in wilderness—and set parks on a sustainable path for the next century.
Health & Happiness
I Was Supposed to Be Pretty, Feminine, Nice, and Straight
From a very early age, I had a sense of being gendered by the world. But I don’t feel like a woman or a man.
3 Maps Show Where Legal Abortions Are Hardest to Get—and Who Lives There
1 in 3 women will have an abortion by age 45.
What If Mental Health First Aid Were as Widespread as CPR? New York City’s Planning to Do It
One in every four Americans experiences mental illness, and lack of police understanding can lead to tragedy. Here’s what could happen if we were all trained to deal with depression and anxiety.
Baby Boxes Cut Infant Mortality in Finland—U.S. Cities and States Give Them a Try
Five reasons baby boxes are more than cutesy cardboard containers, from offering a safe place to sleep to giving an equal start in life.
Spending Money on Others Can Lower Your Blood Pressure
Research shows that giving money away may be as good for your blood pressure as exercise and a healthy diet.
One Boy’s Highly Illogical Behavior: A Twist on Mental Illness in Literature
In his new book, John Corey Whaley tackles the subject of mental illness and challenges stigmas that keep many teen boys from seeking help with depression and anxiety.
“They” and the Emotional Weight of Words
Even in the smallest of interactions—like how we use pronouns—we can create connections that allow us to challenge one another on our assumptions about gender.
Why You Should Watch an Uplifting Movie Tonight
Research shows meaningful films, in particular those that depict values of love, kindness, and connectedness, go a long way toward changing your worldview.
The Next Libyan Revolution Will Be Led by Women Wielding Words—Not Guns
“Soft power” gives communities words and tools to fight against violence, fear, and corruption and offers youth weapons of peace against an enemy that wants to drag them into war.
Happiness Inequality Is a Better Measure of Well-Being Than Income Inequality
Researchers say happiness reveals more about human welfare than standard indicators like wealth, education, health, or good government.
How a Health Clinic Made a Local Grocery Store Part of Its Prescription
A partnership between a Boston health clinic and a local grocery shows what economic development can do when it makes community health a priority.
The Science Behind Why Good Things Really Do Happen to People Who Wait
Religions and philosophers have long praised the virtue of patience; now researchers are starting to do so as well.
The Future of Libraries Is Bigger Than Books
Modern libraries are essential in underserved communities as places where everyone is welcome to gather, work, borrow materials, or just spend time.
Finally, the U.S. Steps Closer to Racial Healing With a National Truth and Reconciliation Commission
South Africa used truth and reconciliation to address its racist history. Now these organizers think it's time for the United States to do the same.
You Know What’s Really Gross? Not Periods, But Taxes on Periods
Class action lawsuits point out the irrationality of sales-tax exemptions for items such as Rogaine, foot powder, and Viagra—but not menstrual products.
Live Each Day Like It’s Your … First?
Five reasons “live each day like it’s your last” is the worst advice ever.
How an 1870 Suffragist’s Diary Helped a Modern Mormon Feminist Find Her Voice
Inspired by a 100-year-old diary, this founder of the Mormon feminist movement encourages everyone to keep journals and record their own history.
I Was a Fourth-Generation Coal Miner. Here’s Why I Quit
“I quit the mines, not entirely sure what I was going to do. I just knew that I could do something different.”
How America’s “Worst Walking City” Got Back on its Feet
When Oklahoma City was named the least walkable city in America, residents approved an $18 million sidewalk improvement project to help their community get moving.
Forget Nutraloaf—Prisoners Are Growing Their Own Food
From New York to California, prison gardening programs serve as cost-effective food sources and provide inmates with better nutrition.
5 Things Science Says Will Make You Happier
Happy people are healthier, make more money, and live longer. Thankfully researchers say it’s something we can cultivate with practice. Here’s how.
Poor Families and Blue-Collar Heroes: “The Confirmation” is Keeping Hollywood Real
“Nebraska” writer Bob Nelson on his new film and how economically depressed father and son characters are pulled from his own life story.
When Communities Decide They’ve Had Enough Violence
The new Nonviolent Cities project asks us to go beyond calls to end violence and instead create a pervasive culture of nonviolence.
5 Prisons Improving Life on the Inside
From canine cellmates to computer training, prisons across the country are finding small ways to make life behind bars better for inmates.
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