Could a Democratic Mid-Term Win Upset the China-US Detente?
by Li Chenyao
If Washington is consumed by domestic politics, who is actually steering the relationship with China?
0:00 / 12:09 · Narrator Vindemiatrix
Daily edition
2026-08-15
Today's Crosscut
Discovering Hidden Species
Instead of digging up physical fossils, scientists are reading modern genetic code to uncover entirely new species, tracking down everything from unidentified insects buzzing around New York City to extinct ancestors hiding inside living humans.
Traces of Two Extinct 'Ghost' Ancestors Were Found Hiding in Modern Human DNA, Hinting at Our Extremely Complex Family Tree × We Think We Just Discovered Some New Species Living in New York City
0:00 / 9:00 · Narrator Sulafat/Charon/Vindemiatrix
Future-gazing →
For the curious →
How I Learned to Fear AI
by Megan Cummins
Why does the Vatican see the legacy of colonialism in the business of artificial intelligence?
0:00 / 29:04 · Narrator Sulafat
This Hamster Has a Strava and Runs More Than You. It’s Not as Cute as It Sounds.
by Kenny Torrella
If a caged hamster runs six miles every night, where is it trying to go?
0:00 / 7:55 · Narrator Charon
A New Book Shows How Aspiring Women Cricketers From India’s Hinterlands Are Changing the Sport
by Aayush Puthran
What does it cost a young woman in rural India just to play a game of cricket?
0:00 / 9:47 · Narrator Charon
Smart escape →
The Online Shopping Trend Where You Buy Nothing
by Itika Sharma Punit
If the thrill of shopping is filling the cart, does the package actually need to arrive?
0:00 / 5:05 · Narrator Gacrux
Our Versatile, Durable Pickup
by Witold Rybczynski
How did a truck built to haul hay become a luxury family car and a weapon of war?
0:00 / 15:28 · Narrator Algieba
Why You Grieve the End of Summer Before It’s Even Over
by Allie Volpe
Does bracing for the winter actually make the end of summer hurt any less?
0:00 / 6:54 · Narrator Sulafat