What's the missing link in local journalism? That's today's big question, and my guest is Lyndsey Gilpin. Lyndsey is the... more

This week: This entire (short!) episode is a call to action. It's time to do this thing...do the thing, but... more

Is multisolving the future? Is it today? Should we do more? That's all today's big question and my guest... more

How do we make it easier for more Americans to reliably put food (in particular, hot food) on the table?... more

We first ran this episode in May 2023, but following back-to-back hurricanes in Florida this month, it remains as relevant... more

There’s no word for “conservation” in many Indigenous languages.Some come close, but mean something more like “taking care of” or... more

This week: You’d think that -- considering we just spent two years building our new What Can I Do? app -- that... more

It’s another big day in a very big month for us.Our extremely tiny team has been busting our asses for... more

What if we get it right? That's today's big question, and my returning guest is Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. Dr.... more

In this throwback episode from October 2020, Quinn & Brian discuss: Why state elections matter not just for your state but... more

This week: Next up in our series of “How to Eat More Plants”. Today’s topic? Beef!Here's What You Can Do:Read... more

This week: Please enjoy this hopeful ditty on how we have finally harnessed the sun ☀️ — and how we’re... more

This week: Today’s post is more of a macro introduction to the why and how of the “eat more plants (and consequently)... more

This week: We're running an updated version of a popular essay from last year.Tolkien described life (and often, his stories)... more

How did our planet come to life? Is it alive? And where are we as part of that? Those are... more

When is a cancer scare, a rejected mortgage loan, a false arrest, or predictive grading, more than a glitch in... more

How do we stop overfishing if we don't know who's doing the fishing? That's today's big question, and my guest... more

This week: We are occasionally asked why we link to scientific journals, news outlets, and sometimes even opinion pieces that... more

How do we tackle huge systemic intersectional environmental justice issues at the local level?That's today's big question, and my guest... more

Why is it so important that we share the science of fiction, and what do we do with it once... more

This week: Do you like cookies? What about olive oil cake? What about chocolate chip coffee cake? Listen on.Here's What... more

How do we take a huge chronic disease burden like Lyme disease or long COVID or even long flu and... more

This week: This week I wrote about a groundbreaking and essential new study that — thank christ — is not actually about... more

This week: In this essay, I will argue that Bridget Jones is the perfect climate-era hero, because she is all... more

Who is still covering Long COVID, and how much is the audience actually growing? That's today's big question, and my... more

This week: Let’s talk about the Information Era.Here's What You Can Do:Donate (and subscribe!) to the 19th, an independent, non-profit, kick-ass newsroom... more

What have we learned from millennia of water insecurity, of climate changes and disasters, of building along freshwater ways and... more

This week: Bernie decided March 15th is Long COVID Awareness Day, so I thought it was an appropriate moment to... more

You know you're stressed. You know you're anxious. Do you have depression? And do you need to know the latest... more

This week: There are few problems so simple that a single donation can fix them.Usually, to turn a problem into... more

The climate clock is ticking faster and faster. How can we use capitalism to undo the bad stuff that capitalism... more

This week: Are we in the hardest part of the climate transition?Here's What You Can Do:🌎️ Donate to 350.org, a global movement working... more

What are reverse coattails, and how might they slow climate change, prevent the next pandemic, and keep Nazis off of... more

This week: How are we supposed to navigate this energy transition, AI, and pandemics, if we cannot agree on the... more

This week: Today’s essay is a bit of a departure — I just wanted to make super clear where I... more

This week: Today’s essay is my version of a 2024 preview. Unlike other previews, though, it’s less, “This is what... more

This week: I’m back today to share my 2023 wrap-up. It’s a pretty stream-of-consciousness endeavor, but I think it sums... more

How will the universe end? That's today's big question, and my guest is Sarafina El-Badry Nance. Sarafina is an NSF... more

Why does it matter who reviews our video games? That's today's big question, and my guest is Swapna Krishna. Swapna... more

How do we get our attention back? That's today's big question. I think about it every day, and my guest... more

How's your mental health around climate change? That is today's big question, and my guest is Britt Wray. Britt and... more

Has there ever been a more important time, a more consequential time, to lead with ethics? That's today's big question,... more

What are the best holiday gifts that aren't privacy nightmares? That's today's big question, and my guest is Jen Caltrider.... more

This week: How the hell does the brain work? And what does it have to do with lemonade stands and... more

I think about time a lot. Some days I feel ancient, some days I can’t believe how old I am.I’ve... more

How did the female body drive 200 million years of human evolution? And why the hell are we just finding... more

This week: Will coffee survive climate change?Here's What You Can Do:Donate to support African farmers by increasing incomes and improving food... more

Can your gut composition predict Alzheimer's? That's today's big question and my returning guest is Gautam Dantas. Gautam heads up... more

This week: How I think about how to think about what’s nextHere's What You Can Do:Donate to help the BlueGreen Alliance unite labor... more

Content WarningWe're going to be talking about stress and anxiety, depression, suicide, and more today.If any of this could be... more

This week: Exactly why the youths are so pissed off.Here's What You Can Do:Donate to the Steve Fund to support the mental health... more

This week: It can be difficult as hell to understand when we don’t actually have a choice — and when... more

Every single one of us needs air, water, food, shelter, and energy. So why are the infrastructure that provides them,... more

This week: Why was this year so hot? Will it keep getting hotter, and for how long? It’s not an... more

This week: Tolkien described life (and often, his stories) as a "long defeat", where evil frequently, inevitably wins. But he... more

What are microplastics doing to us? And how do we stop putting them into our water, and our bloodstreams, and... more

This week: Are you ready for the next big test?Here's What You Can Do:Donate to Cooperation Humboldt, a worker-led, non-hierarchical non-profit that... more

This week: Because I am a sap, I have been thinking about my kids a lot lately. And kids in... more

Over the past few years, more and more voters have cited “action on climate” as a reason for voting the way they... more

Voluntary carbon credits are a lot like used cars: You really have no idea what their quality might be. Or... more

This Week:Telling better stories is a type of Compound Action.Here's What You Can Do:Check out the Good Energy Project's playbook... more

How can we provide better mental health support for pregnancy, postpartum, and loss around pregnancy? That's today's big question, and... more

How did we get here?That's today's big question, and today my guests are Roy Moger-Reischer, and our first three-time guest,... more

This week, we’re running an episode of Degrees: Real talk about planet-saving careers, from our friends at the Environmental Defense... more

This week: How to be excited about the future, explained.Plus, the news:🌊 The tipping point for the Atlantic Ocean👶 An RSV shot... more

This week, we want to tell you about Andrea Learned’s podcast: Living Change: A Quest for Climate Leadership. In season one, Andrea interviews local... more

This week: This week: Are car dealers the devil? And why?Plus, the news:🇨🇳 Can we build a green economy without China?🦆 Bird flu,... more

Sure, we've got to electrify everything, including 1 billion machines by 2050. But where are we now and how do... more

This week: How can we better protect farmworkers?Plus, the news:A free online summit for eco-anxiety from RITAA new era for... more

Why the hell is America's public transportation so terrible? That's today's big question, and my guest is Nicholas Dagen Bloom.... more

This week: Why don’t I eat animals?Plus, the news:Carbon capture is (mostly) BSNarcan vending machines save livesThe vertical farming boom... more

How can we live happier lives? That's today's big question, and my guest is Dr. Marc Schulz, the co-author with... more

This week: Texans have a huge opportunity to get even MORE liberty — from the sun.Plus: Diabetes is expected to... more

This week: Can Apple help improve mental health?Here's What You Can Do: ⚡️LGBTQ+ youth are 4x more likely to... more

This week: Is the future inevitable?Plus: A lack of OB-GYN’s in a post-Roe world, some new bills for agrivoltaics, the... more

This week: Got fired? Start over.Plus: More young people are getting cancer, the rise of solar power, new YouTube misinformation rules,... more

This week: Ask these questions before you click on ANYTHING.Plus: Gut inflammation news, California insurance gets harder to find, 750k... more

 What's in wildfire smoke and how can you protect yourself from it? Those are today's big questions, and my guest... more

This week: Things feel pretty out of control. Get used to it.Plus: The Canadian West is burning, Oregon bans PFAS,... more

Is healthcare a human right? That's today's big question, and it clearly shouldn't be a question, but here we are.... more

This week: COVID is over (as far as we know it). What did we learn, and what’s next?PLUS: Gay blood... more

How much food do you throw away every week? And do you have to? That's today's big question, and my... more

This week: Solutions to our biggest problems shouldn’t be so perplexing. On the other hand, washing our hands wasn’t obvious... more

You've got insurance, right? Are you sure? That's today's big question, and my guest is Washington Post reporter Brianna Sacks.... more

This week: Is what you’re working on important?Plus: The cleanest produce, a mosquito factory, lots of rooftop solar, autonomous GPT,... more

What can I do? The simple question is the underlying premise of everything we do here. It's often the easiest... more

This week: A very basic way to use a mental model, you’re welcome.PLUS: Mosquitoes, overseas abortion pills, healthy ice cream,... more

Why is it so dangerous to have Black babies in America?April 11-17th is Black Maternal Health Week, and so we... more

If you had all of the data in the world at your hands, what question would you ask first?That's today's... more

What if we just gave people money? That's today's big question and my guests are Caroline Teti and Michael Faye... more

We're going to keeping re-running this 2020 episode until America stops sacrificing children.---Here we are, yet again. We first ran... more

Where the hell did all of the electricians go? That's today's big question, and my guest is leading journalist Emily... more

This week: Fighting over ESG is stupid, risky, and bad business. Let’s move on.Plus: RSV vaccines, the E-BIKE Act, Skittles... more

What if you got the chance to dive to the bottom of the ocean? Would you go? And what would... more

This week: What we know — and more importantly, what we don’t — about what AI is capable of, and... more

What if I told you there was less oxygen in the ocean than there used to be? That's today's big... more

This week: In response to our ongoing and delightful home electrification series with our friends at Rewiring America, we have received a hell... more

This week: Can little-old-you really make a difference? Hell yes you can.Plus: cheaper insulin, cleaner camping gear, a new (lidless)... more

What can we learn from trees? That's today's big question, and my guest is Dr. Beronda Montgomery. Beronda's a transformative... more

How many nights have you spent up recently worried that AI is just gonna take your job? That's today's big... more

This week: Pulled in a million directions? Wondering what the hell you do with your days? Find your north stars... more

This week: The future of search and chatbots looks a lot like our ancient past. Why do we keep making... more

Imagine you’re in a sci-fi movie. The one where everything’s on the line. And while dinosaurs or aliens or a... more

This week: There are a default group of problems that exist in our society because of the basic needs required... more

This week: For the next few weeks, I’m rewriting and sharing a selection of essays I wrote in 2020 and... more

How does innovation actually work? That's today's big question, and my guest is Christopher Mims. Chris is a journalist for... more

This week: Everyone needs insurance. But what kind? And what does it mean to have it, or not?Well, there’s actual... more

How do we reimagine capitalism in a world on fire? That's today's big question, and my guest is Rebecca Henderson,... more

This week: What does it mean when people say “revolution”? For these purposes, which are pretty narrow and entirely of... more

How can I be a better ancestor? This question has haunted and inspired me since way back in 2019 when... more

Across the front of our website, in big bold letters, is our calling card: “Science for people who give a... more

We’re taking giving a shit quite literally this week! Our guest is Newsha Ghaeli, the president and co-founder at Biobot Analytics.... more

What’s one big change we can make that can make our food healthier, make farming more lucrative, draw down carbon... more

Aluminum. It’s everywhere!And we’re going to need a hell of a lot more of it in the future.Aluminum is a... more

This week: Global climate news roundup beyond COP27The human cost of vaccine inequityWater runs dryChatbots aren't your friendsCaveats to exciting... more

There’s nothing quite like breaking bread with family and friends, old or new. By mid-2020, we’d have all taken the... more

It’s always worth revisiting the inarguable fact that our country was designed to be inequitable.And while much progress has been... more

This week: Climate change in the curriculumIncreasingly divergent subvariantsCell-cultured meatRSV vaccines are comingGenerative AI (...didn't write this, but it might... more

Climate change is a touchy topic in farm country. But one third of greenhouse gas emissions come from food and... more

This week: $1 billion for electric school busesA potential "tripledemic" sandwich (not as delicious as it sounds!)One person's (treated) wastewater... more

Throughout history, kings, queens, governments, churches, and donors have funded contests and awarded prizes for solving the most difficult problems... more

This week: Plant-based meat stocksAnother COVID winter is comingA long-term plan for the baby formula shortageThe uncertain future of telehealthWillfully... more

Let's talk robots.But first: There’s a very particular bottleneck where groundbreaking science is more applicable than ever but inaccessible to... more

How lucky are we?How lucky are we that we live in a time of such great opportunity – when, yes,... more

This week: What climate change means for insurancePregnancy and the COVID vaccineFood insecurity in AmericaWhat wildfire smoke means for air... more

This week: It's hurricane seasonViral levels in wastewater spikingWhat the world might look like in 2050Results from the biggest-ever Alzheimer's... more

For decades Americans have relied on wood, oil, and gas to power, heat, and cool our homes, and the water... more

This week: The companies building a new clean economy (and the pretenders)The "I" in COVIDDefrauded pandemic funds for hungry kidsPreventing... more

Let’s say you get sick. Diabetes. Cancer. Heart disease. Long COVID. PTSD. MS. Depression. Alzheimer’sDespite the best efforts of your physician,... more

This week: What's happening with cars and micro-mobility in AmericaBrain fogA food system rundownThe corporations backing a national abortion banBorder... more

This week: Corporate clean energy purchases go down as temperatures go upThe current status of COVID-19 vaccinesMoving towards a healthier,... more

Curious about the climate? Then there’s a show I want to tell you about—A Matter of Degrees, where Dr. Leah... more

This week: The cost of electrificationThe end of free COVID testsThe water crisis in JacksonMinimizing cancer treatment side effectsThe companies... more

This week: Heat in China ramping up a clean economy arms raceHow to learn more about Long COVIDCleaning up after... more

This week: What IRA means for carsCentralizing data for the next pandemicA parched EarthBig Pharma is Big Mad about IRAFingers... more

“What can I do?” This is the question I get most often. It’s the question that early on pivoted our newsletter... more

This week: Ira’s here and ready to fund the futureIt’s back to school and the air’s still not cleanOur relationship... more

In a world where trust in institutions and in news is falling and the role of influencers is growing, finding... more

This week: A surprise for climate development that isn't terrifying?Facebook might relax their COVID misinformation policiesLess land, more riceAlzheimer's under... more

This week: How to beat the heat in your cityCOVID quackeryIntroducing "Explainers"!A blockbuster depression studyA new federal privacy bill is... more

This week: Manchin fuels more heat wavesCOVID reinforcements on the wayIndia and California fight plasticHow we fight monkeypoxWow Ring doorbells... more

We have ignored vaginas for so long. Hear me out.On the one hand, history and popular culture, from god-kings to... more

This week: What's a chief heat officer?Fixing schools in the time of COVIDWhy plant-based meat is a massive 80/20 move... more

I think about time a lot. Some days I feel ancient, some days I can’t believe how old I am.I’ve... more

This week: The SEC's coming for greenwashing in a real wayBA4: Endgame and BA5: Infinity War are here and immune... more

This week: Where do gas cars go when we buy electric?A bunch of COVID updatesThe Colorado River's next chapterWhat's next... more

This week: Biden's going it alone on electrificationModerna's got a new boosterWhy food is so expensiveAn unbelievable cancer resultApple's saying... more

Soup to nuts, I’m more concerned about COVID today than I’ve been at any point in the past year. I... more

We are all being pulled in so many different directions.The clock is ticking and we have a climate and virus... more

This week: SEC climate risk reporting gets closer to realityWhat's the Paxlovid rebound?How to make strawberries last weeks longerWhat the... more