To shrink wealth disparity in America, we need to raise the minimum wage
While there’s much to debate when it comes to the federal minimum wage in America, there’s one fact that is not up for debate: In nearly a decade, the current rate of $7.25 per hour hasn’t changed. And adjusted for inflation, that’s worth less than what the minimum wage delivered people in Read More...
Meet the ‘night minister’ who helps those who need it most in San Francisco
For decades, the Tenderloin has been known as San Francisco’s primary harbor of destitution. More than 4,000 people sleep unsheltered around the area, far more than anywhere else in the city. It’s common to encounter open-air narcotic exchanges, human feces on the sidewalk, and desperate Read More...
How to survive in a room full of strangers
For some of us, there is nothing more intimidating than walking into a room and realizing you don’t know a single soul (we’re looking at you, introverts). For others (hey, extroverts!), this kind of unfamiliarity paired with the opportunity to meet new people is refreshing — even Read More...
Why social media has been a boon for the science community
The field of science communication -- the practice of informing and educating people about science-related topics -- arose just after the start of the Enlightenment when Francesco Algarotti published his first edition of Newtonianism for the Ladies in 1737. While that bit of 18th-century Read More...
World’s first hybrid cruiser sets sail to Alaska
While gas-powered cars are rightfully criticized for their environmental footprint, they don’t even come close to the amount of pollution emitted by cruise liners. Indeed, while cars receive the brunt of the criticism, a recent study found that the world’s largest luxury cruise operator Read More...
Women are bringing clean energy to hundreds of Indian households
There are more than 200 million people in India without access to power. And while the government is working on connecting them to the grid, it also wants to ensure that the energy comes from renewable sources. A company in one of the country’s western states is helping to achieve both of Read More...
Researchers just managed to remove HIV from a living animal for the first time
The most advanced drugs for HIV available today stop the virus from replicating, which prevents patients from developing AIDS. With that said, there is no actual cure for HIV. Now, a team of scientists has managed to clear HIV from infected mice using the CRISPR gene-editing technology in what Read More...
Leonardo DiCaprio co-founds new environmental initiative Earth Alliance
Leonardo DiCaprio has recently stepped up his climate activism game by partnering with billionaire investors and philanthropists to create a new non-profit with the main target of battling climate change. Called the Earth Alliance, the organization is essentially joining the resources of the Read More...
Scientists in Zurich are turning light and air into carbon-neutral fuel
Until our transportation systems run entirely on battery-powered engines or hydrogen fuel, cleaner ways of producing fuel are absolutely necessary. In Zurich, scientists have developed a solar plant that produces synthetic fuels that release as much carbon dioxide during their combustion as Read More...
How cities are finally dealing with the emissions that come with consumption
Climate optimists argue that it is possible to reduce our production emissions without substantially changing our lifestyles. (Electric cars are just as good!) But what if those lifestyles — in which consumption is perpetually rising — are driving increases in production emissions elsewhere? Read More...