Skip to main content
JulyHighlight_LandingPageCrop_JoeGough
JulyHighlight_LandingPageCrop_JoeGough

Welcome to the July issue of The Highlight

For all the talk of the glamour and ritz of big-city living, the United States is (and will remain) a nation of suburbs. Yet suburbs, too, are increasingly unable to build enough housing, affected by the same slowdown as their denser counterparts. The old suburban frontier is closing — but that means we have an opportunity to take another look at this often-maligned model of American life and develop a new and better vision.

Also in this issue, you’ll find the “intellectual vibe shift” that could lead to an era of liberal flourishing and a feature on the path to a less painful IUD procedure. Plus: Can AI stop bioweapons? And are microwaves actually bad for your health?


The old suburban frontier is closing. Here’s what the new one could look like.

By Marina Bolotnikova


The spiritual life calls out to me. But is it self-indulgent?

By Sigal Samuel


Will we know if the next plague is human-made?

By Joshua Keating


The end of the anti-liberal moment

By Zack Beauchamp


What if IUD insertion didn’t have to be so painful?

By Allie Volpe


Microwaves produce radiation. Is that bad for me?

By Dylan Scott

See More:
The Highlight
What twins can teach us about friendshipWhat twins can teach us about friendship
The Highlight

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

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

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

By Sara Radin
The Highlight
What haunts America’s animal shelter workersWhat haunts America’s animal shelter workers
The Highlight

“It’s draining, heartbreaking, and maddening.”

By Kenny Torrella
The Highlight
Renewable energy just broke a 100-year-old streakRenewable energy just broke a 100-year-old streak
The Highlight

Coal’s century at the top of the world’s power mix is over.

By Bryan Walsh
The Highlight
MAHA wellness culture is coming for teens. Grown-ups aren’t ready.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
The Highlight
Welcome to the May issue of The HighlightWelcome to the May issue of The Highlight
The Highlight
By Vox Staff