Skip to main content

Life

Understanding the world isn’t just about explaining the news. Vox’s coverage examining religion, love, family, careers, and how we live.

How old am I supposed to look?
Life

When bodies and appearances are malleable, what does that mean for the person underneath?

By Allie Volpe
How old am I supposed to look?
Life

When bodies and appearances are malleable, what does that mean for the person underneath?

By Allie Volpe
Explain It to Me
Is your makeup making you sick?Is your makeup making you sick?
Podcast
Explain It to Me

How to find cosmetics that are better for you, explained.

By Jonquilyn Hill
Advice
Help! My friend is replacing me with AI.Help! My friend is replacing me with AI.
Advice

What to do if your friends are confiding in ChatGPT instead of you.

By Allie Volpe
Life
Why banning kids from AI isn’t the answerWhy banning kids from AI isn’t the answer
Life

What kids really need in the age of artificial intelligence.

By Anna North

The latest in Life

Health
Falling birth rates don’t have to be a crisisFalling birth rates don’t have to be a crisis
Health

Here’s how America can age gracefully.

By Elliot Haspel
Today, Explained newsletter
Every airline is Spirit Airlines nowEvery airline is Spirit Airlines now
Today, Explained newsletter

How Spirit changed the way we travel.

By Caitlin Dewey
Podcasts
Inside the $600 billion “sleep tourism” industryInside the $600 billion “sleep tourism” industry
Podcast
Podcasts

I went to a $2,000 hotel and all I got was this really good night of sleep.

By Peter Balonon-Rosen and Noel King
Politics
What the Supreme Court still has left to decide this termWhat the Supreme Court still has left to decide this term
Politics

Democracy and Donald Trump dominate the Court’s remaining docket.

By Ian Millhiser
Explain It to Me
How weddings got (even more) expensiveHow weddings got (even more) expensive
Podcast
Explain It to Me

Getting married in a social media age.

By Jonquilyn Hill
What twins can teach us about friendship
The Highlight

They grow up together, but are twins destined to share a social network?

By Allie Volpe
Why “neighborism” is having a moment
The Highlight

After decades of social isolation, people are realizing proximity is a resource.

By Sara Radin
Politics
The Voting Rights Act is all but dead. Prepare for maximum gerrymandering.The Voting Rights Act is all but dead. Prepare for maximum gerrymandering.
Politics

The Republican justices just abolished 40 years worth of law protecting against rigged maps.

By Ian Millhiser
Culture
The sad, ugly debate behind the new Michael Jackson biopicThe sad, ugly debate behind the new Michael Jackson biopic
Culture

The controversy pits two disenfranchised groups against each other.

By Constance Grady
MAHA wellness culture is coming for teens. Grown-ups aren’t ready.
The Highlight

A new generation of influencers is changing the face of the movement.

By Anna North
Culture
The great 2028 Olympic ticket crashout, explainedThe great 2028 Olympic ticket crashout, explained
Culture

Organizers promised LA 2028 tickets would be accessible and affordable. It didn’t feel that way when I tried to buy them.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Explain It to Me
Caregiving has a burnout problemCaregiving has a burnout problem
Podcast
Explain It to Me

How to handle secondhand stress, financial strain, and more.

By Jonquilyn Hill
Advice
You might not be as good of a friend as you think you areYou might not be as good of a friend as you think you are
Advice

Most people say friendship is important to them, but often act in ways that contradict that sentiment.

By Allie Volpe
The Highlight
Yes, you need “me time.” Here’s how to do it right.Yes, you need “me time.” Here’s how to do it right.
The Highlight

Even when you’re physically alone, you might not be getting the restorative solitude you need.

By Allie Volpe
Culture
What happens when a tradwife has to put her money where her mouth isWhat happens when a tradwife has to put her money where her mouth is
Culture

The buzzy new novel Yesteryear offers a sadistic influencer comeuppance fantasy.

By Constance Grady
The Highlight
The fight for paid parental leave is more winnable than you thinkThe fight for paid parental leave is more winnable than you think
The Highlight

The playbook has been hiding in plain sight.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
The diabolical, millennial obsession with chicken Caesar wraps
Culture

Can a CCW and a Diet Coke really heal millennial ennui?

By Alex Abad-Santos
The Highlight
Is it wrong to send your kid to private school?Is it wrong to send your kid to private school?
The Highlight

How to think about what’s best for your child — and for all the other children, too.

By Sigal Samuel
The Highlight
What do we lose when we erase ugliness?What do we lose when we erase ugliness?
The Highlight

Beyond the beauty binary.

By Constance Grady
Future Perfect
Why it feels like there’s never enough time for your relationshipsWhy it feels like there’s never enough time for your relationships
Future Perfect

The problem is not the number of hours. It’s “time confetti.”

By Sigal Samuel
Advice
How to make unemployment suck a little lessHow to make unemployment suck a little less
Advice

Losing a job can feel like losing your identity. Here’s how to find yourself again.

By Julia Sullivan
Podcasts
Pete Hegseth’s spiritual leader explains his radical faithPete Hegseth’s spiritual leader explains his radical faith
Podcast
Podcasts

The Christian nationalist pastor swaying the Trump administration discusses Trump, Iran, and the pope.

By Jolie Myers and Noel King
Explain It to Me
What to do about burnout at workWhat to do about burnout at work
Podcast
Explain It to Me

Listless? Exhausted? Feeling useless? You might be burnt out.

By Jonquilyn Hill
America, Actually
Rubén Gallego on why he defended Eric Swalwell — and why he regrets it nowRubén Gallego on why he defended Eric Swalwell — and why he regrets it now
America, Actually

An interview with the senator Swalwell called his “best friend.”

By Astead Herndon
Advice
How to ask for help when you’re really going through itHow to ask for help when you’re really going through it
Advice

Whether you’re really struggling or just need a small favor, there’s no shame in seeking support.

By Julia Ries Wexler
Politics
Donald Trump messed with the wrong popeDonald Trump messed with the wrong pope
Politics

Trump fought with Pope Francis before. He’s finding Pope Leo XIV to be a tougher foil.

By Christian Paz
Advice
8 ways to zone out and relax that don’t involve being on your phone8 ways to zone out and relax that don’t involve being on your phone
Advice

It is possible to shut your brain off without falling into the mindless scrolling trap.

By Julia Ries Wexler
Advice
What trainers actually think about the 12-3-30 workoutWhat trainers actually think about the 12-3-30 workout
Advice

Have we finally unlocked exercise’s biggest secret? Or is this yet another lie perpetrated Big Treadmill?

By Alex Abad-Santos
Politics
Donald Trump’s pivot to blasphemyDonald Trump’s pivot to blasphemy
Politics

Attacking the pope and posing as Jesus — even religious conservatives are mad this time.

By Christian Paz
Explain It to Me
Hope vs. optimism, explainedHope vs. optimism, explained
Podcast
Explain It to Me

A psychology professor makes the case for hope.

By Jonquilyn Hill
Future Perfect
I don’t feel rich enough to have a kid. Should I do it anyway?I don’t feel rich enough to have a kid. Should I do it anyway?
Future Perfect

How society convinced us that childbearing without a huge budget is morally wrong.

By Sigal Samuel
Politics
Did the Trump administration threaten the pope?Did the Trump administration threaten the pope?
Politics

Avignon-gate, the scandal blowing up MAGA-Catholic relations, explained.

By Christian Paz
Advice
Are the therapy sessions where I have nothing to say really…doing anything?Are the therapy sessions where I have nothing to say really…doing anything?
Advice

Toughing out that awkward silence can help deeper issues come to the surface.

By Julia Ries Wexler
Life
My partner and I don’t share many interests. Should we break up?My partner and I don’t share many interests. Should we break up?
Life

I like camping. My partner doesn’t. How will we make it work?

By Allie Volpe
Culture
Why Easter never became a big secular holiday like ChristmasWhy Easter never became a big secular holiday like Christmas
Culture

Hint: The Puritans were involved.

By Tara Isabella Burton
Advice
What to say to relatives who love to needle you about politicsWhat to say to relatives who love to needle you about politics
Advice

If you’re about 30 seconds away from completely losing your cool with a family member, read this.

By Julia Ries Wexler
Life
How a capybara took over the Scholastic Book FairHow a capybara took over the Scholastic Book Fair
Life

What this furry favorite can teach us about kids’ reading and writing.

By Anna North
Health
Why the new GLP-1 pill is such a big dealWhy the new GLP-1 pill is such a big deal
Health

The FDA just approved Foundayo. Here’s what it can and can’t do.

By Dylan Scott
Politics
Why an 8-1 Supreme Court just ruled in favor of anti-LGBTQ+ “conversion therapy”Why an 8-1 Supreme Court just ruled in favor of anti-LGBTQ+ “conversion therapy”
Politics

Sadly, the Court’s decision in Chiles v. Salazar is correct.

By Ian Millhiser
Explain It to Me
Why some American accents have endured — while others have faded awayWhy some American accents have endured — while others have faded away
Podcast
Explain It to Me

The history of how we talk mirrors the history of the country.

By Jonquilyn Hill