
Japan’s sumo association turns 100 – but the sport’s rituals have a much older role shaping ideas about the country
Sumo wrestlers Daieisho and Roga compete in a Grand Sumo Tournament bout at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Oct. 19, 2025.AP Ph...

Surrealism is better known for its strangeness than the radical politics and revolutionary ambitions of its creators
A visitor looks at 'Magnetic Mountain' by Kurt Seligmann at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Sandrine Marty/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty ...

Building a stable ‘abode of thought’: Kant’s rules for virtuous thinking
Virtuous thinking, Kant wrote, is like good carpentry: It builds strong ideas in harmony with one another. Jackyenjoyphotography/M...

Coal plants emitted more pollution during the last government shutdown, while regulators were furloughed
Coal-fired power plants emit both smoke and steam.Paul Souders/Stone via Getty ImagesWhen the U.S. government shut down in late 20...

Why your late teens and early 20s are crucial times for lifelong heart health
Many young adults don't realize that high cholesterol, obesity, high blood pressure and lack of physical activity are ea…

James Comey’s lawyers face an uphill battle to prove selective or vindictive prosecution in his high-profile case
Patrice Failor, wife of former FBI Director James Comey, departs the courthouse following Comey's arraignment hearing in…

1 in 3 US nonprofits that serve communities lost government funding in early 2025
The Trump administration's spending cuts have hit many nonprofits hard. michaelquirk/iStock via Getty Images PlusAbout o…
Here’s why a plan to turn private hospital giant Healthscope into a charity is stirring debate
Back in May, the parent companies of private hospital operator Healthscope fell into receivership, burdened by A$1.6 bil…
In her revenue era: the economics behind Taylor Swift’s 34 versions of The Life of a Showgirl
Taylor Swift’s latest studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, has just enjoyed a second week on top of the Billboard…

A flexible lens controlled by light-activated artificial muscles promises to let soft machines see
This rubbery disc is an artificial eye that could give soft robots vision.Corey Zheng/Georgia Institute of TechnologyIns…

COVID-19 mRNA vaccines could unlock the next revolution in cancer treatment – new research
With a little help, your immune cells can be potent tumor killers.Steve Gschmeissner/Science Photo Library via Getty Ima…

Office of Space Commerce faces an uncertain future amid budget cuts and new oversight
The OSC advocates for commercial activities in space, including commercial satellite launches. AP Photo/John RaouxWhen I…

Is it wrong to have too much money? Your answer may depend on deep-seated values – and your country’s economy
Demonstrators arrive for a protest ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 19, 2025. AP Photo/M…

The disgraceful history of erasing Black cemeteries in the United States
The Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground in Richmond, Va.CC BY-SA 4.0, CC BYThe burying ground looks like an abandoned lo…

College faculty are under pressure to say and do the right thing – the stress also trickles down to students
Professors and other faculty were under a lot of strain even before the Trump administration took office.Spiffy J/iStock…

Can AI keep students motivated, or does it do the opposite?
AI-based tools can be effective in motivating students but require proper design and thoughtful implementation.Associate…

What will happen to the Louvre jewellery after the heist? There are two likely scenarios
Zhang Weiguo/VCG via Getty ImagesThe spectacular heist of jewellery from the Louvre museum in Paris has many people wond…

Giant ground sloths’ fossilized teeth reveal their unique roles in the prehistoric ecosystem
Harlan's ground sloth fossil skeleton excavated and displayed at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles.Larisa DeSantisA tw…

