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Archive

Archives for November 2014

archives
The government has special airplanes designed to spy on peoples’ cell phonesThe government has special airplanes designed to spy on peoples’ cell phones
archives

The airplanes carry fake cell phone towers that trick cell phones into connecting to them.

By Timothy B. Lee
Culture
How to Get Away with Murder has the hottest gay sex on television. That’s progress.How to Get Away with Murder has the hottest gay sex on television. That’s progress.
Culture

The sex Connor Walsh is having is as stylized and eroticized as everyone else’s romps — something we usually don’t see on television.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Police Violence
Grand jury expected to decide soon on charges for police officer who killed Michael BrownGrand jury expected to decide soon on charges for police officer who killed Michael Brown
Police Violence

Authorities are preparing for demonstrations and unrest following the decision.

By German Lopez
Education
College tuition prices aren’t skyrocketing. Hooray?College tuition prices aren’t skyrocketing. Hooray?
Education

Annual tuition increases for in-state students at public four-year colleges are below 3 percent for only the second time since 1975. Here’s why that’s only sort of good news.

By Libby Nelson
Syria
The alleged alliance between ISIS and al-Qaeda is terrifying. But is it real?The alleged alliance between ISIS and al-Qaeda is terrifying. But is it real?
Syria

A new report suggests that the two enemies have united against American-backed groups in Syria. Uh oh.

By Zack Beauchamp
Almanac
How Wikipedia page views could predict disease outbreaksHow Wikipedia page views could predict disease outbreaks
Almanac

The pages we visit might be more telling than we realize

By Joseph Stromberg
Philae’s historic comet landing, in photos
archives

This is the first spacecraft to ever land on a comet.

By Susannah Locke
Marijuana Legalization
How to get away with a marijuana conviction: be the governor’s sonHow to get away with a marijuana conviction: be the governor’s son
Marijuana Legalization

An outgoing governor plans to pardon his son for a felony conviction for possessing marijuana with intention to sell.

By German Lopez
Technology
Super Mario Bros., Bayonetta 2, and nine other games that explain #GamerGateSuper Mario Bros., Bayonetta 2, and nine other games that explain #GamerGate
Technology

Understand the issues and the controversy by playing some video games.

By Emily St. James
Climate
An expert on nuclear weapons explains the very basics of Iran’s nuclear programAn expert on nuclear weapons explains the very basics of Iran’s nuclear program
Climate

What is uranium enrichment? What are centrifuges? These, and other basic questions about Iran’s nuclear program, answered.

By Zack Beauchamp
42 maps that explain World War II
Technology

World War II was the biggest conflict in world history, and it profoundly shaped the modern world.

By Timothy B. Lee
Culture
Experiments show this is the best way to win campaigns. But is anyone actually doing it?Experiments show this is the best way to win campaigns. But is anyone actually doing it?
Culture

Going door to door works. So why do campaigns spend so little on it?

By David Broockman and Joshua Kalla
Immigration
Obama’s big immigration executive order could be as soon as next weekObama’s big immigration executive order could be as soon as next week
Immigration

It’s likely to protect millions of unauthorized immigrants from deportation.

By Dara Lind
Health Care
If Obamacare advocates meant to dupe the public, they did a terrible jobIf Obamacare advocates meant to dupe the public, they did a terrible job
Health Care

Most survey data we have suggests that the lack of awareness about Obamacare is hurting, not helping, the law’s popularity.

By Sarah Kliff
archives
9 questions about Amazon and Hachette9 questions about Amazon and Hachette
archives

Amazon’s war with Hachette has ended.

By Matthew Yglesias