Every December, as I think back on the wines I most enjoyed over the course of the year, I wrestle with the word “best.” What does it even mean? The best tend to be the most memorable, wines that not only offer great pleasure but perfectly fit the circumstances of their consumption. With that in…
More than two decades ago, Congress declared that victims of government-caused nuclear contamination who developed cancer and other serious illnesses — including uranium miners and those exposed to radiation from Manhattan Project-era atomic tests — should receive federal compensation. “The health of the individuals who were unwitting participants in these tests was put at risk…
After she and her husband had a brutal argument, Maggie Smith logged into their joint savings account to discover that he had withdrawn half of their savings. In that moment, she realized two things: Her marriage was over, and she would never be financially dependent on a romantic partner again. Ms. Smith’s essay “Never Rely…
Why do we grow old and die? In the 19th century, the German biologist August Weismann argued that the machinery of life inevitably wore out with time. Death had evolved “for the need of the species,” he declared. It cleared away weak, old individuals so they wouldn’t compete with young ones. That explanation never made…
On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first gene editing therapy ever to be used in humans, a debilitating blood disorder caused by a single mutated gene. The agency also approved a second treatment using conventional gene therapy for sickle cell that does not use gene editing. For the 100,000 Americans with the…
Good morning. Hanukkah got underway last night; Christmas is looming and Kwanzaa’s right on its heels. In less than a month we’ll be in 2024. It’s the season of holiday parties. Be in good cheer. The celebrations come for you at the office, if you work in an office: beers and jalapeño poppers at Seamus…
Manchester is a city of glory and grit. Set among the damp northwest hills of England, it’s the rain-spattered home of Northern soul and legendary bands like Joy Division, New Order and Oasis; two world famous soccer clubs; the cradle of the industrial revolution; and one of the most vibrant nightlife scenes on the planet.…
Los Angeles gets a lot of attention for its blue-chip galleries, and in recent years some of New York’s most influential art dealers have opened spaces here, including David Zwirner, Marian Goodman, Lisson and Sean Kelly. But with considerably less fanfare a number of smaller L.A. galleries, often in less obvious neighborhoods — including Residency…
The Whoop is the ultimate gift for any fitness lover or wellness guy. It’s a comfortable tracking device that monitors physiological data like heart rate, respiratory rate, resting heart rate, heart rate variability, skin temperature, blood oxygen levels, daily activity, sleep, and more. It has a far lower profile than your average smartwatch and feels…
There is a cheese that may stand alone. In proud fetidness, that is. Rory Stone, a 59-year-old cheesemaker at Highland Fine Cheeses in Scotland, has been overrun with orders for a washed-rind cheese called the Minger, which he is billing as the most putrid-smelling cheese in the world. “Everybody is still asking for samples, and…