Two Black technologists collaborate on a program together. One day, Allison Bland, a media specialist from Princeton University, was driving  through Brooklyn when Google Maps told her to “turn right on Malcolm Ten Boulevard.” It was  a clear error on behalf of the technology, which erroneously interpreted the “X” in the street name as the Roman numeral for ten instead of the street’s actual reference to the African-American revolutionary, Malcolm X. It is a mundane error tha

The McGraw Clocktower at Cornell University . In the dining hall, most Cornellians are not concerned about where their food comes from, let alone if it is safe to eat. However, over the past few years, studies have shown that microplastics, PFAS, heavy metals, and even radioactive compounds have the potential to threaten our food supply. As these contaminants continue to infiltrate American agriculture, it’s clear that federal research funding and policy have not kept pace wi

Traffic congestion continues to plague major cities, including Seattle, as shown above. For years, policymakers have sold  electric vehicles (EVs) as a keystone solution in the battle to combat climate change. EV sales have surged  globally—today, one in every four vehicles sold worldwide is electric. Yet, while EVs are helping  cut tailpipe emissions substantially, they are quietly eroding a key pillar of transportation finance: the gas tax. Numerous states fund  their roads

A photo of a server room inside a data center. Artificial intelligence (AI) companies promise that they are driving us into a new age, but their impact may not be what you think. AI data centers are pushing everyday Americans to the brink and contributing to the ongoing, extreme rise in the cost of living. According to recent polling, 63% of Americans report  that utility bills are adding to their financial stress. For Americans earning  under $50,000, that number jumps up to