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The Highlight

A digital magazine unpacking the big ideas changing our present and shaping our future.

The life of a dairy cow
Future Perfect

The surprising truth about milk is hiding in plain sight.

By Marina Bolotnikova
The life of a dairy cow
Future Perfect

The surprising truth about milk is hiding in plain sight.

By Marina Bolotnikova
The Trump revolution will be podcastedThe Trump revolution will be podcasted
Politics

The future of American politics is being hashed out on podcasts.

By Christian Paz
Why Americans are moving in with strangers twice their ageWhy Americans are moving in with strangers twice their age
Housing

Spare bedrooms are America’s next housing market.

By Rachel Cohen
The world has entered the third nuclear ageThe world has entered the third nuclear age
The Highlight

Nuclear guardrails are falling apart — and Donald Trump is about to retake the launch codes.

By Joshua Keating

The latest in The Highlight

Why are so many people into astrology?Why are so many people into astrology?
Explain It to Me

Astrology’s enormous appeal, explained for believers and skeptics.

By Alex Abad-Santos
When your garden fails, the magic happens
Even Better

Nothing will cure you of perfectionism faster than trying to grow living things.

By Natalie Pattillo
I’m doing good work in my government job. Should I quit anyway?I’m doing good work in my government job. Should I quit anyway?
Future Perfect

I want to believe I can make a positive impact from the inside, but maybe I’m deluding myself.

By Sigal Samuel
Plane crashes, pandemics, toxic spatulas. How do we live with so much risk?
Even Better

The world feels more menacing, even if it isn’t.

By Allie Volpe
Why does Gen Z smell like sugar?Why does Gen Z smell like sugar?
Culture

From Dunkin’ deodorant to Sabrina Carpenter perfume, smelling good isn’t enough — it’s all about smelling edible.

By Kyndall Cunningham
The hidden religious divide erupting into politicsThe hidden religious divide erupting into politics
Politics

The “cradle” vs. “convert” fight comes to Washington.

By Katherine Kelaidis
At the edge of the ocean, a dazzling ecosystem is changing fastAt the edge of the ocean, a dazzling ecosystem is changing fast
Down to Earth

California researchers grapple with losing a landscape they love in real time.

By Byrd Pinkerton
The Democrats’ Michelle Obama problemThe Democrats’ Michelle Obama problem
Politics

Democrats’ search for a savior is doomed. But that might be for the best.

By Christian Paz
Ask a Book Critic: I want a book that won’t stress me out before bedAsk a Book Critic: I want a book that won’t stress me out before bed
CultureThe Highlight

Tiny, lovely books for luxurious reading, and other recommendations.

By Constance Grady
Welcome to the April issue of The Highlight
The Highlight
By Vox Staff
Why it still takes days for banks to give you your moneyWhy it still takes days for banks to give you your money
The Highlight

It’s the 21st century — instant bank transfers should be the norm everywhere.

By Dylan Matthews
The harrowing lives of animal researchersThe harrowing lives of animal researchers
Future Perfect

Science depends on animal testing. But the work comes at a steep, hidden cost.

By Celia Ford
How to be less afraid of boredomHow to be less afraid of boredom
Even Better

Boredom can be a powerful force — if you know how to interpret it.

By Allie Volpe
Welcome to the March issue of The Highlight
The Highlight
By Vox Staff
Why do US politics affect the rest of the world?Why do US politics affect the rest of the world?
Explain It to Me

America is still the most influential country in the world, for better or worse.

By Zack Beauchamp
Gen Z doesn’t know how to act in barsGen Z doesn’t know how to act in bars
Culture

Why hasn’t anyone told America’s youngest adults about drinking etiquette?

By Alex Abad-Santos
Validate me, please!Validate me, please!
Even Better

Why other people’s approval is so intoxicating.

By Allie Volpe
The mysterious statisticians shaping how we think about fertilityThe mysterious statisticians shaping how we think about fertility
Future Perfect

Experts were wrong about overpopulation before. Could they be wrong about underpopulation now?

By Dylan Scott
Florida’s iconic corals aren’t having babies anymore. Scientists are alarmed.Florida’s iconic corals aren’t having babies anymore. Scientists are alarmed.
Down to Earth

A baby bust threatens the future of an already struggling reef.

By Benji Jones
The public domain keeps culture vibrant. Why is it shrinking?The public domain keeps culture vibrant. Why is it shrinking?
CultureThe Highlight

Use this article … 95 years after I’m dead.

By Jorge Just
How a major Supreme Court case is changing how police do their jobsHow a major Supreme Court case is changing how police do their jobs
Politics

The Bruen decision upended America’s gun laws. Years later, cops and courts are still trying to sort out the mess.

By Marin Cogan
“Protecting your peace” can kill your friendships“Protecting your peace” can kill your friendships
Even Better

Frictionless relationships are just a fantasy.

By Allie Volpe
Swashbuckling adventure novels to start your yearSwashbuckling adventure novels to start your year
Culture

Plus trippy detective novels for when you just miss Twin Peaks.

By Constance Grady
Lyman Stone on America’s falling birth rateLyman Stone on America’s falling birth rate
Podcast
The HighlightThe Highlight

The demographer is worried that we aren’t having as many babies as we used to — and says he knows how that could change.

By Miles Bryan
Welcome to the January issue of The Highlight
The Highlight
By Vox Staff
You can’t optimize your way to being a good person
The Highlight

I tried to make the perfect moral choice every time. It eroded my humanity.

By Sigal Samuel
LA thinks AI could help decide which homeless people get scarce housing — and which don’tLA thinks AI could help decide which homeless people get scarce housing — and which don’t
The Highlight

Without enough houses for its growing homeless population, the city is using machine learning to make its process fairer.

By Carly Stern
The uncomfortable question about “Latino” votersThe uncomfortable question about “Latino” voters
Politics

Is the group too diverse to think of with just one word?

By Christian Paz
Yes, you can fight climate change in your backyardYes, you can fight climate change in your backyard
The Highlight

One wildflower at a time.

By Cat Willett
How marijuana legalization played itselfHow marijuana legalization played itself
The Highlight

Pricey, legal weed is great news — for the black market.

By Lavanya Ramanathan
The world’s most mysterious psychedelic is already inside your brain
The Highlight

DMT, “the nuclear bomb of the psychedelic family,” explained.

By Oshan Jarow
Are drug expiration dates meaningless?Are drug expiration dates meaningless?
The Highlight

That Tylenol’s shelf life is longer than you think.

By Keren Landman, MD
What in the world is pink cocaine?What in the world is pink cocaine?
The Highlight

It’s not cocaine, but it can be just about anything else — except a good idea.

By Celia Ford
¿Por qué miles de personas viajan a un país para ver sus aves?
Down to Earth

Una industria inesperada está en auge en Colombia. Esto es lo que la hace tan positiva.

By Benji Jones
Weed is now America’s daily drug of choice. No one’s sure what that means.Weed is now America’s daily drug of choice. No one’s sure what that means.
The Highlight

Land of the free, home of the blazed.

By Marin Cogan
“I want a book that will give me hope that things will get better.”
CultureThe Highlight

Books to get you through the next four years.

By Constance Grady
Nostalgia won’t fix the loneliness epidemic