Arts Jun 01 The true story behind the ‘welfare queen’ stereotype In his new book "The Queen," author Josh Levin tells the story of Linda Taylor, a woman who became infamous as a welfare cheat. She was a woman who went by many names, was accused of many crimes, and whose…
Nation May 26 Amid drought, Phoenix plans for a future with less water As the Colorado River's flow declines mostly due to overuse and climate change, water supplies in seven states are imperiled by potential shortages. That includes Arizona, which recently passed legislation outlining steps it would take if water from the river…
Nation Apr 27 The enduring fascination with accused ax murderer Lizzie Borden The case of Lizzie Borden, accused of brutally murdering her father and step-mother with an ax, has remained a source of fascination for more than 125 years. A new book examines the trial of Lizzie Borden, the historical context of…
Arts Apr 20 ‘Midwinter’ combines music and art at Chicago museum For three nights in February, the Art Institute of Chicago in partnership with Pitchfork opened its doors for “Midwinter." The event is billed as an “unprecedented art and music experience," with more than 30 eclectic acts performing inside the museum.
World Apr 06 Scottish city looks to culture to reinvent its future The River Tay was once the lifeblood of Dundee, Scotland. But the nation's fourth-largest city is now in the middle of a reinvention. With $1.2 billion in investments, Dundee is hoping to draw tourists and business by becoming a center…
Science Mar 31 Climate change pushes Florida’s mangroves north Mangroves are prevalent in tropical south Florida, but the plants have been moving farther north as climate change makes freezing weather less common. Hari Sreenivasan reports on the plant's encroachment and what it means for the future of coastal ecosystems.
Science Mar 17 Uncovering the history of Earth’s climate To understand the history of climate change, researchers are digging underneath the ocean floor where organisms and plants have accumulated in sediment over millennia. Maureen Raymo studies this science of paleoclimatology using a vast collection of materials at Columbia University’s…
Nation Feb 23 New York moves to regulate a ‘likely human carcinogen’ in drinking water New York state is proposing the country’s first firm limit on a chemical found in drinking water in heavy concentrations in some Long Island, New York communities. 1,4-dioxane has been labeled a “likely human carcinogen” by the EPA, but is…
World Dec 09 Brexit may divert power from these ocean energy advances As Scotland moves ahead with bringing tidal energy from an emerging technology to a commercial reality, Brexit could shake up the ocean power industry. To end a two-part series on advances in this field, Hari Sreenivasan heads to an ocean…
World Dec 08 Scotland is betting on tidal energy As Scotland transitions from fossil fuels to renewable energy, it is investing in an unexpected source: tidal currents. Similar to wind turbines, which sit above ground, tidal turbines are one hundred feet below water and use tides instead of wind…