Elements
An Encounter with the Giant Kangaroo Rat
By Ryan Bradley
An elusive animal hangs on in the drought-stricken grasslands of California.
Science & Tech
Elements
Hawaii’s Deepest Secret
By Marcia Bjornerud
A new geological study may elucidate how the island chain was formed.
Elements
Palm to Palm with an Ancient Human Relative
By Elif Batuman
How a recent discovery in South Africa could reshape our understanding of our species’ deep past.
Photo of the Day
Trevor Paglen Plumbs the Internet
By Tim Sohn
Exploring the aesthetics of the American surveillance state and the undersea-cable system.
Spotlight
Daily Comment
The New “Waterworld”
By Elizabeth Kolbert
A grim new report shows what would happen if we burned through all of the fossil-fuel resources known to exist.
A Critic at Large
A Beginner’s Guide to Invisibility
By Kathryn Schulz
The technology and psychology of being unseen.
Personal History
My Scientific Childhood
By Oliver Sacks
In his 1999 memoir, the author remembers his childhood years.
Elements
What Comes After Heirloom Seeds?
By Michael Tortorello
Reëxamining the legacy of the godfather of American horticulture.
Video
Retreat from the Water’s Edge
By Nate Lavey
Two years after Hurricane Sandy, New York began a “managed retreat” from some low-lying areas that are vulnerable to flooding and storm surges.
The Weekly Cartoon
