Universal pre-K has been shown to prepare children for school, narrow the achievement gap, and help reduce child care costs.

Still, just as state-funded pre-K programs have taken off nationwide, with enrollment increasing during the 2022-23 school year, a shortage of early childhood educators has thwarted progress toward providing a high-...Read more

Hurricane Helene wrought devastation across the Southeast. The storm's high winds and flooding killed more than 230 people, and the damage to property, infrastructure, and other economic impacts is estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars.

But heavy rains and destructive winds weren't the only natural disasters out in force: The ...Read more

Over the past decade, researchers have made strides in understanding the link between two seemingly unrelated organs: the gut and the brain. Findings from microbiologists, neurologists, and nutritionists who study the gut-brain axis, or the interaction between these two essential organs, all point to the profound influence the gut has on the ...Read more

After decades of decline, syphilis cases are on the rise again, hitting their highest levels since the early 1960s. Though the vast majority of syphilis cases are preventable, rates surged nearly 80% between 2018 and 2022, rising among all age groups and including a spike in transmission at childbirth, according to data from the Centers for ...Read more

Americans pride themselves in living in the "land of opportunity." Rags-to-riches stories continue to appeal because they embody the idea that people can be free from social constraints and class systems. People hope that anyone—no matter where they're from—can achieve the American Dream through initiative and hard work.

However, great ...Read more

Navigating eco-friendly products isn't easy for the ethically minded consumer. Despite the best intentions, sustainable shopping often requires extra time, discretion, and research—and with the holidays around the corner, the pressure to buy is intense.

Shopping sustainability involves considering a product's entire life cycle. That ...Read more

The COVID-19 pandemic was the third leading cause of death globally in 2020 and the second in 2021, according to a recent World Health Organization report. The almost 13 million lives lost during those years opened peoples' eyes to the way viruses can mutate or change. Words such as 'variant,' 'subvariant,' and 'strain' became part of the ...Read more

Customer loyalty is declining—but ironically, some consumers are showing brand devotion by shelling out annual fees.

In the early days of retail, customer loyalty was secured the old-fashioned way: through high-quality products, reasonable prices, and brand recognition. But in 2024, consumers have a dizzying array of choices in a global, ...Read more

Trucking is an integral part of American culture. These drivers haul and deliver goods all over the country, and the occupation is one of the most common in the U.S.

Though normalized over the years, truckers are often perceived in pop culture as rebellious wanderers of the open road, akin to modern-day cowboys. It was the 1970s that saw a ...Read more

Behind the convenience and flashiness of fast fashion lie its unsustainable practices and ecological consequences, from the making of plastic-derived textiles to its disposal. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the textile industry sent 11.3 million tons of waste to landfills in 2018, making up about 7.7% of all municipal solid ...Read more

For the last 1.5 years since ChatGPT launched, workers and business leaders have been singing two different tunes about the advent of generative artificial intelligence.

From the C-suites, there is excitement and optimism about cost savings and improved productivity—but among the rank and file are rumblings of anxiety and fear. An ADP ...Read more

Going for an adventure outdoors is one of the best ways to spend time together as a family. Not only does it offer a chance to bond and create lasting memories, but it's also good for children's health. According to Harvard Health, outdoor activities can improve a child's creativity and executive function, and, of course, increase their ...Read more

From long working hours to emotionally draining situations, nursing has always been a demanding job. While the COVID-19 pandemic is in the rearview mirror, the situation has yet to improve for those on the front lines of health care.

When staffing company AMN Healthcare surveyed more than 1,000 nurses in 2024, only 1 in 5 predicted things ...Read more

Teams are the bedrock of many great achievements. For every trend and innovation in the marketplace, there is a cadre of people behind the scenes thinking through problems and working to make an idea a reality. But the task of building a great team and getting the most from them is a timeless challenge, made even more complicated in this era of...Read more

When you're a kid, going to school feels like a given—no matter how much you beg to play outside instead. But for school-aged children with disabilities, going to school wasn't always a guarantee. For decades, many states legally refused to properly support the educational needs of children with disabilities, often putting them in ...Read more

The arrival of fall and its milder temperatures—especially welcome this year after the fourth hottest summer on record in the U.S.—have many looking forward to the return of "sweater weather" and all things cozy—wraps, hoodies, loungewear, scarves, and scrunchy socks. The brutal heat of the past few months is gone; now closets and drawers...Read more

On Nov. 5, tens of millions of Americans will head to the ballot box to vote in one of the most consequential presidential elections in recent history. With so much on the line, anxious election-watchers naturally want clarity on the outcome.

But can any poll, no matter how precise, offer a reliable glimpse into where the cards will fall on ...Read more

This Halloween season, fur may overtake fear: American spending on pet costumes will reach $700 million in 2024, according to the most recent data from the National Retail Federation.

Americans really love dressing up their pets for Halloween. According to a 2022 PetSmart survey conducted by Wakefield, more than 3 in 4 (76%) pet owners dress...Read more

Marcus Hadden, a father of three from central New Jersey, texts and talks with his oldest son, a college sophomore, a few times a week. His 19-year-old son attends Rutgers University just a half-hour away, but Hadden said the easy communication has helped them feel closer. Occasionally, his son, a dedicated hiker, shares his phone's location ...Read more

Hydration equals health, we're often told—and it looks like that message is widespread. Hydration apps such as Waterllama can help you track how much water you drink in a day. Reusable water bottles from companies like Yeti and S'Well are now fixtures while walking around town. Cheeky, hyper-marketed waters with names like Liquid Death have ...Read more