Annals of Higher Education
The End of the English Major
by Nathan Heller

Enrollment in the humanities is in free fall at colleges around the country. What happened?

Annals of Sound
What Should a Nine-Thousand-Pound Electric Vehicle Sound Like?
by John Seabrook

E.V.s are virtually silent, so acoustic designers are creating alerts for them. A symphony—or a cacophony—of car noise could be coming to city streets.

What Happens When an Élite Public School Becomes Open to All?
by Nathan Heller

After the legendarily competitive Lowell High School dropped selective admissions, new challenges—and new opportunities—arose.

The Afghans America Left Behind
by Eliza Griswold

The U.S. promised protection to the locals it relied on during the war. When it withdrew, it abandoned thousands to the Taliban.

How the World’s Foremost Maze-Maker Leads People Astray
by Nicola Twilley

Adrian Fisher has devoted the past four decades to bringing back mazes, long regarded as historical curiosities. He has created more than seven hundred—including one on a skyscraper in Dubai and another that’s now reproduced on Britain’s five-pound note.

When a Witness Recants
by Jennifer Gonnerman

At fourteen, Ron Bishop helped convict three innocent boys of murder. They’ve all lived with the consequences.

Lyubov Sobol’s Hope for Russia
by Masha Gessen

With Alexey Navalny in prison, one of his closest aides is carrying on the lonely work of the opposition.

How to Negotiate with Ransomware Hackers
by Rachel Monroe

Kurtis Minder finds the cat-and-mouse energy of outsmarting criminal syndicates deeply satisfying.

Are U.S. Officials Under Silent Attack?
by Adam Entous

The Havana Syndrome first affected spies and diplomats in Cuba. Now it has spread to the White House.

The Collapse of Puerto Rico’s Iconic Telescope
by Daniel Alarcón

The uncertain future of the Arecibo Observatory, and the end of an era in space science.