The best episodes of 2023

Silicon Valley Is Destroying the World

How Stanford University turned optimization into the global capitalist credo

The Great A.I. Hallucination

Is the hype (and doomsaying) around generative A.I. programs like ChatGPT obscuring what the technology actually does—and its genuine limitations and dangers?

Who Are You Calling a Fascist?

Historians and scholars can’t agree on a definition of fascism, much less whether today’s violent, authoritarian-curious GOP is an example of it.

The Return of the Cattle-Mutilation Conspiracy Theory

Tales of mysterious-sounding livestock deaths were widespread a few decades ago. Why have they suddenly reappeared—and why do they fascinate us?

The High Cost of Cheap E-Bikes

Electric bicycles are catching on—and their lithium-ion batteries are catching fire. Why is so little being done about it?

The Road to Nowhere

Why is it so difficult to rein in car culture?

Roald Dahl and the Children’s Book Factory

Recent “sensitivity” edits to the author’s beloved yet unabashedly disagreeable novels are all about maintaining a lucrative intellectual property. But what difference can a few changed words really make?

The End of Opposition Research?

George Santos’s election raises questions about what, if anything, is considered disqualifying for political office today.

The Fiery Gas Stove Wars

How a public health issue erupted into political performance art

In Pursuit of the Climate-Proof City

As extreme weather events drive more people from their homes, the idea of moving to “safe” places—even before disaster strikes—has assumed particular urgency.