Substance Use | Life & News

Sunday, August 2, 2026

The reported rate of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter may be the lowest since reliable national data began to be collected in 1960. Jeremy Hogan/Photodisc via Getty Images

culture

The US murder rate fell to historic lows in 2025 –...

Staff Writer - July 12, 2026

James Tuttle, University of Montana The murder rate in 2025 was the lowest in modern American history.

Alcohol is woven into the thread of American life, from work events to major holidays and everything in between. TravisLincoln/iStock via Getty Images Plus

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Alcohol is one of the most dangerous drugs, yet its presence...

Staff Writer - July 3, 2026

Emma Fenske, Oregon Health & Science University Few substances are as deeply woven into everyday life as alcohol. It...

Your memories are likely stored in ensembles of neurons that fire together. PASIEKA/Science Photo Library via Getty Images

culture

Memories of the good parts of using drugs can keep people...

Staff Writer - June 4, 2025

Ana Clara Bobadilla, Colorado State University Everyday human behavior is guided and shaped by the search for rewards. This...

EXPLORING NATURE

Life went on in the late 18th century, regardless of your everyday ailments. Archive Photos/Getty Images

culture

How did it feel to be an American colonist in 1776?...

Staff Writer - July 2, 2026

Katherine Ott, Smithsonian Institution Trade the tricorn hats, bonnets and homespun shirts for flip flops, sneakers and soccer jerseys,...

People are often concerned about environmental risks lurking near their homes. Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Research about global fishing shows value of detailed environmental data, which...

July 1, 2026

Leaving the pyrotechnics to the professionals is safer and more spectacular. YinYang/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Fireworks, heat and drought make this July 4th a recipe for wildfires

June 30, 2026

Rescue workers carry a person on a stretcher in Caracas following an earthquake in Venezuela on June 24, 2026. Juan Barreto/AFP via Getty Images

Aid is on the way after Venezuela’s earthquakes, but it’s not...

June 27, 2026

A June 24, 2026, earthquake shook buildings to the ground, trapping and killing people in Caracas, Venezuela, and nearby communities. Manaure Quintero/AFP via Getty Images

Venezuela’s deadly earthquakes happened on a fault similar to the San...

June 26, 2026