Commentary |

Children Thrive When Teachers and Parents Act Like Allies

When a frustrated parent took to social media to complain about an unreturned email from her child’s teacher, something surprising happened — the internet didn’t pile on. Instead, parents filled the comments with empathy and perspective, reminding everyone how chaotic the first[...]

Curio |

The Zipper Is Getting Its First Major Upgrade in 100 Years

For more than a hundred years, the zipper has gone largely unchanged—until now. YKK, the Japanese company behind roughly half the world’s zippers, has introduced the AiryString, a new design that eliminates the fabric tape flanking the teeth. The result is lighter,[...]

Commentary |

Port: Our problem is the kids have been watching

A troubling pattern is repeating itself. Two years after reports exposed a North Dakota political chat filled with slurs and hate speech, similar stories are emerging nationally — this time involving Young Republicans from several states. As columnist Rob Port notes, the[...]

News |

Cancer Vaccine Blocks Multiple Tumors in Mice For 250 Days

A cancer vaccine that prevents tumors before they form — that’s the breakthrough researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst are chasing. In early mouse studies, their experimental vaccine trained the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells, preventing multiple types[...]

News |

Winning with misinformation: New research identifies link between endorsing easily disproven claims and prioritizing symbolic strength

Some people reject facts not because they’re misinformed—but because it makes them feel powerful. New research in The Journal of Social Psychology explores how, for a certain subset of people, clinging to obvious falsehoods is less about truth and more about symbolism.[...]

Curio |

Prairie Fare: Snacking tips for sports fans

Imagine yourself watching your favorite sport, whether at home in your favorite chair or at the game in the stands. What snack might you be enjoying? How about a beverage choice? As the game proceeds, you may have discovered your bag is[...]

Curio |

The art of asking questions

Kids are natural question-askers — but somewhere between preschool and adulthood, that instinct fades. In the workplace especially, curiosity often gets mistaken for weakness or defiance, leaving leaders reluctant to ask or entertain questions. Author Warren Berger argues the opposite: that good[...]