Skip to main content

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now

Archive

Archives for December 2014

Culture
Taylor Swift says the media is #thirsty — here’s what she meansTaylor Swift says the media is #thirsty — here’s what she means
Culture

Here’s what #thirsty means. .

By Kelsey McKinney
archives
How Americans die on the job, in one chilling chartHow Americans die on the job, in one chilling chart
archives

This chart explains how work is most likely to kill people in your industry

By Danielle Kurtzleben
archives
The shrinking of America’s veteran population, in one mapThe shrinking of America’s veteran population, in one map
archives

A smaller and smaller percentage of Americans are fighting the country’s wars.

By Zack Beauchamp
Culture
No one was actually Eaten Alive on Discovery Channel last nightNo one was actually Eaten Alive on Discovery Channel last night
Play
Culture

Paul Rosolie is just a simple man with a dream. A dream to feed himself to an anaconda.

By Alex Abad-Santos and Kelsey McKinney
Politics
A third party won’t fix what’s broken in American politicsA third party won’t fix what’s broken in American politics
Politics

In fact, it could break it further.

By Ezra Klein
Video
Why gas prices are so low right now, explained in 2 minutesWhy gas prices are so low right now, explained in 2 minutes
Play
Video

If you’re feeling a little richer this winter, here’s why.

By Brad Plumer
Culture
One week before it ends for all time, The Newsroom trots out its worst episode yetOne week before it ends for all time, The Newsroom trots out its worst episode yet
Culture

Aaron Sorkin compares a woman naming her rapist to revenge porn. Yes, really.

By Emily St. James
Criminal Justice
9 stories that show how badly colleges handle sexual assault on campus9 stories that show how badly colleges handle sexual assault on campus
Criminal Justice

No matter what happened at UVA, a wealth of anecdotes show colleges haven’t been able to protect their students from sexual assault.

By Libby Nelson
Culture
Watch these 10 shows and feel good about the future of cable comedyWatch these 10 shows and feel good about the future of cable comedy
Culture

This was a great year for new comedies on cable and streaming. Here are the 10 best.

By Emily St. James
Climate
How the ISIS war looks from BaghdadHow the ISIS war looks from Baghdad
Climate

Iraq, according to an expert who came back from Baghdad, is “a place that looks worse than it is.”

By Zack Beauchamp
Science
Scientists scammed at least 110 academic papers into publication using fake peer reviewsScientists scammed at least 110 academic papers into publication using fake peer reviews
Science

Researchers have been using fake email addresses to pose as independent reviewers of their own papers

By Susannah Locke
Science
A paper by Maggie Simpson and Edna Krabappel was accepted by two scientific journalsA paper by Maggie Simpson and Edna Krabappel was accepted by two scientific journals
Science

It’s pretty funny. But it’s also a sign of a bigger problem.

By Joseph Stromberg
Syria
Al-Qaeda murders American hostage during US special forces rescue attemptAl-Qaeda murders American hostage during US special forces rescue attempt
Syria

Al-Qaeda is escalating its war on American hostages. It’s only going to get worse.

By Max Fisher
Culture
Black Mirror is some of the most imaginative TV out there — and now it’s on NetflixBlack Mirror is some of the most imaginative TV out there — and now it’s on Netflix
Culture

Plus: we offer our definitive ranking of all six episodes.

By Emily St. James
Criminal Justice
5% of New York cops turn in 40% of “resisting arrest” cases5% of New York cops turn in 40% of “resisting arrest” cases
Criminal Justice

It matters because some cops might be using it as a cover-up for excessive force.

By Dara Lind