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Why people trust influencers more than brands – and what that means for the future of marketing
Why people trust influencers more than brands – and what that means for the future of marketing Influencer marketing has become a powerful force in both commerce and culture, with the global market expected to surpass $32 billion by the end of 2025. People trust influencers more than brands due to the “parasocial relationship” they […]
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Who wins and who loses as the US retires the penny
Who wins and who loses as the US retires the penny The US government will save tens of millions of dollars each year by retiring the penny, which costs around 4 cents to make. Large retailers and banks are likely to benefit from the change, as they can reduce labor and equipment costs associated with […]
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Shocker: Elon Musk spends a lot of time on X posting bad political takes
Shocker: Elon Musk spends a lot of time on X posting bad political takes Elon Musk spent an average of over 55 posts per day on X from September 17th to October 17th, totaling 1,716 posts. 49% of his posts were about politics, often focusing on fringe topics and making comments about the race of […]
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Retailers are quietly changing their return policies – here’s why you should be on the lookout this Black Friday
Retailers are quietly changing their return policies – here’s why you should be on the lookout this Black Friday Many retailers have quietly tightened their return policies in recent years, reflecting the growing trend of online shopping and the resulting increase in returns. The National Retail Federation estimates that returns cost US$890 billion each year, […]
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Renewable energy is cheaper and healthier – so why isn’t it replacing fossil fuels faster?
Renewable energy is cheaper and healthier – so why isn’t it replacing fossil fuels faster? Renewable energy is now cheaper than fossil fuels for utility-scale electricity generation in most areas, with solar and wind power saving US$467 billion in avoided fuel costs in 2024 alone. The health benefits of transitioning to renewable energy are significant, […]
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Orthodox Judaism is making space for women’s religious leadership – even without traditional ordination
Orthodox Judaism is making space for women’s religious leadership – even without traditional ordination Orthodox Judaism is slowly making space for women’s religious leadership, even without traditional ordination. Women are increasingly being recognized as qualified for rabbinic jobs and are taking on roles such as Jewish education and halakha guides. In July 2025, Israel’s High […]
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NASA’s Scott Tingle to Serve as Agency’s Chief Astronaut
NASA’s Scott Tingle to Serve as Agency’s Chief Astronaut NASA has named astronaut Scott Tingle as the new Chief Astronaut, effective November 10. Tingle will be responsible for managing astronaut resources and operations, developing flight crew operations, and making crew assignments for future human spaceflight missions, including Artemis missions to the Moon. As a decorated […]
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NASA’s Quesst Mission Marks X-59’s Historic First Flight
NASA’s Quesst Mission Marks X-59’s Historic First Flight NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft successfully completed its historic first flight on October 28, 2025, from Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California. The one-of-a-kind aircraft flew for 67 minutes at an altitude of about 12,000 feet and a top speed of approximately 230 mph, as […]
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NASA Awards Liquid Hydrogen Supply Contracts
NASA Awards Liquid Hydrogen Supply Contracts NASA has awarded contracts to two companies, Plug Power, Inc. and Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., to supply liquid hydrogen for use at various agency facilities. The total value of the combined awards is approximately $147.2 million, with the contracts set to begin on December 1, 2025, and extend […]
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How pecans went from ignored trees to a holiday staple – the 8,000-year history of America’s only native major nut crop
How pecans went from ignored trees to a holiday staple – the 8,000-year history of America’s only native major nut crop Pecans have a rich history in the United States, dating back to around 8,000 years ago when Native Americans used them for food, medicine, and trade. The pecan tree was first intentionally planted in […]
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How climate finance to help poor countries became a global shell game – donors have counted fossil fuel projects, airports and even ice cream shops
How climate finance to help poor countries became a global shell game – donors have counted fossil fuel projects, airports and even ice cream shops Climate finance, intended to help poor countries adapt to climate change and recover from disasters like Hurricane Melissa, has become a global shell game where donors count fossil fuel projects, […]
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From ‘mail-order brides’ to ‘passport bros,’ the international dating industry often sells traditional gender roles
From ‘mail-order brides’ to ‘passport bros,’ the international dating industry often sells traditional gender roles The international dating industry has evolved from selling traditional gender roles, with “mail-order brides” to “passport bros,” reflecting changing attitudes towards love, intimacy, and global mobility. The modern international matchmaking industry emerged in the 1970s, catering to American men seeking […]
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Florida’s new open carry ruling combines with ‘stand your ground’ to create new freedoms – and new dangers
Florida’s new open carry ruling combines with ‘stand your ground’ to create new freedoms – and new dangers Florida’s new open carry ruling, combined with its “stand your ground” law, has created a permissive environment for gun ownership and use, leading to concerns about increased violence and deaths. The expansion of stand your ground laws, […]
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Colorado is pumping the brakes on first-of-its-kind AI regulation to find a practical path forward
Colorado is pumping the brakes on first-of-its-kind AI regulation to find a practical path forward Colorado has delayed the enactment of its comprehensive AI legislation to June 2026, citing pressure from the tech industry and concerns over implementation costs. The state’s AI Act was the first of its kind in the US, aiming to govern […]
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Black student unions are under pressure – here’s what they do and how they help Black students find community
Black student unions are under pressure – here’s what they do and how they help Black students find community Black student unions are under pressure due to anti-diversity laws and funding cuts from universities, which have led to their loss of institutional support, campus space, and funding. These unions were established over 60 years ago […]
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Black families pay more to keep their houses warm than average American families
Black families pay more to keep their houses warm than average American families Black families in the US pay significantly more to keep their homes warm than average American families, with a household energy burden of 5.1% compared to 3.2% for all households. The high energy burden on Black families is not just due to […]
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American employee well-being hit a new low in 2024
American employee well-being hit a new low in 2024 American employee well-being has hit a new low in 2024, with employees reporting the lowest well-being scores on record since 2020. The decline in employee well-being is attributed to factors such as reduced flexibility for flexible hours or remote work, and challenges related to economic shifts […]
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YouTube TV, ESPN, and Disney: the latest on the blackout that’s now over
YouTube TV, ESPN, and Disney: the latest on the blackout that’s now over Disney and YouTube have reached an agreement to bring back ESPN and over 20 other Disney-owned channels on YouTube TV, ending a two-week blackout. Google had accused Disney of trying to raise prices for its customers to boost its own Hulu + […]
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Why the chemtrail conspiracy theory lingers and grows – and why Tucker Carlson is talking about it
Why the chemtrail conspiracy theory lingers and grows – and why Tucker Carlson is talking about it The chemtrail conspiracy theory has been circulating since 1996, despite being thoroughly debunked by experts, and continues to gain traction on social media and conservative news outlets. The theory posits that contrails are actually chemtrails, clouds of chemical […]
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What is Fusarium graminearum, the fungus a Chinese scientist pleaded guilty to smuggling into the US?
What is Fusarium graminearum, the fungus a Chinese scientist pleaded guilty to smuggling into the US? Fusarium graminearum is a common fungal plant pathogen that causes Fusarium head blight (scab) in barley and wheat, as well as damage to rice and corn ears and stalks. The fungus produces a mycotoxin called vomitoxin, which can harm […]
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Under Ron DeSantis’ leadership, Florida leads the nation in executions in 2025
Under Ron DeSantis’ leadership, Florida leads the nation in executions in 2025 Florida has executed 15 prisoners so far in 2025, leading the nation in executions for the year, with two more scheduled for November. The state’s death penalty system has a complex history, including the use of the electric chair and the denial of […]
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Trump’s proposed cuts to work study threaten to upend a widely supported program that helps students offset college costs
Trump’s proposed cuts to work study threaten to upend a widely supported program that helps students offset college costs Trump’s proposed cuts to work-study programs could significantly impact nearly 700,000 college students who rely on the program to offset college costs. The Trump administration has proposed cutting $980 million from work-study programs, which would leave […]
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The ‘supercenter’ effect: How massive, one-stop retailers fuel overconsumption − and waste
The ‘supercenter’ effect: How massive, one-stop retailers fuel overconsumption − and waste Big-box supercenters like Walmart, Target, and Costco can contribute to overconsumption and waste among consumers, leading to a significant increase in consumer waste. A recent study found that the presence of supercenters results in an increase in consumer waste of up to 7%, […]
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The UN is reinventing peacekeeping – Haiti is the testing ground
The UN is reinventing peacekeeping – Haiti is the testing ground The United Nations has approved an expanded international military force for Haiti, doubling its previous presence to over 5,000 troops and police, as part of a new Gang Suppression Force. The UN’s approach marks a shift in how it exerts authority, from direct command […]
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The shutdown has ended – but this economist isn’t rejoicing quite yet
The shutdown has ended – but this economist isn’t rejoicing quite yet The US government shutdown has ended after 43 days, but its economic impact will be felt for some time. The short-term effects of the shutdown include a decline in consumer spending, reduced tourism activity, and a hit to retailers, particularly in Washington D.C. […]
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Supply-chain delays, rising equipment prices threaten electricity grid
Supply-chain delays, rising equipment prices threaten electricity grid The US power grid is facing a crisis due to supply-chain delays, rising equipment prices, and limited materials, which threaten reliability and increase costs. The shortage of high-voltage transformers, circuit breakers, transmission cables, and other critical equipment is causing delays in construction projects, with lead times reaching […]
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Students of color are at greater risk for reading difficulties – even in kindergarten
Students of color are at greater risk for reading difficulties – even in kindergarten Students of color are at greater risk for reading difficulties even in kindergarten, with Black, Hispanic, and Native American students more likely to struggle than white or Asian students. The achievement gap for young readers is stark, with about 15% of […]
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Space debris struck a Chinese spacecraft – how the incident could be a wake-up call for international collaboration
Space debris struck a Chinese spacecraft – how the incident could be a wake-up call for international collaboration China’s Shenzhou-20 spacecraft was struck by space debris while on its way back from a mission to China’s Tiangong space station, highlighting the growing risks posed by space debris and the need for international collaboration. The incident […]
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No time to recover: Hurricane Melissa and the Caribbean’s compounding disaster trap as the storms keep coming
No time to recover: Hurricane Melissa and the Caribbean’s compounding disaster trap as the storms keep coming The Caribbean’s compounding disaster trap is a result of frequent hurricanes hitting islands that are still recovering from previous disasters. The time between major storms is now shorter than the time required for a full recovery, pulling islands […]
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NASA, European Partners Set to Launch Sentinel-6B Earth Satellite
NASA, European Partners Set to Launch Sentinel-6B Earth Satellite Sentinel-6B, an ocean-tracking satellite jointly developed by NASA and ESA (European Space Agency), is set to launch on November 16, 2025, at 12:21 a.m. EST from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The satellite will track sea levels across more than 90% of Earth’s ocean, providing […]
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