Magazine Posts

"The Food and Drug Administration’s ability to approve the chemical filters in sunscreens that are sold in countries such as Japan, South Korea, and France is hamstrung by a 1938 U.S. law that requires sunscreens to be tested on animals and classified as drugs, rather than as cosmetics as they are in much of the world. So Americans are not likely to get those better sunscreens — which block the ultraviolet rays that can cause skin cancer and lead to wrinkles — in time for this summer, or even the next." More at KFF Health News ➜

"In the U.S., 350 slices are eaten every second, while 40% of Americans eat pizza at least once a week.
There’s a reason why pizza is so popular. Humans are drawn to foods that are fatty and sweet and rich and complex. Pizza has all of these components. Cheese is fatty, meat toppings tend to be rich, and the sauce is sweet". More at The Conversation ➜

Decades ago, Kris Hansen showed 3M that its PFAS chemicals were in people’s bodies. Her bosses halted her work. As the EPA now forces the removal of the chemicals from drinking water, she wrestles with the secrets that 3M kept from her and the world. More at ProPublica ➜

"...Roughly 1 in 5 U.S. adults report binge drinking at least once a week, with an average of seven drinks per binge episode. This is well over the amount of alcohol thought to produce legal intoxication, commonly defined as a blood alcohol concentration over 0.08% – on average, four drinks in two hours for women, five drinks in two hours for men. More at The Conversation ➜

"In March 2023, the Japanese medical authorities announced that the new weight loss drug Wegovy—which was in staggering demand across the world, causing shortages everywhere—had been approved to treat obesity in their country......But industry outlet the Pharma Letter explained that this would not in fact turn out to be much of a boost........ for a simple reason: there is almost no obesity there. Some 42% of Americans are obese, compared with just 4.5% of Japanese people."  More at TIME ➜

The sharp increase in political polarization in America over the past 50 years has been driven in part by how different generations think about politics. But the rise of younger generations to political power may actually erase the deep social divisions associated with polarization. More at The Conversation ➜

"As Tucson gets hotter and hotter, creating more shade in its most vulnerable neighborhoods is making a vital difference ...In 2020 Tucson set a lofty goal to plant one million trees by the decade’s end...More at Reasons to be Cheerful ➜

Why is persuasion so hard, even when you have facts on your side? More at The Conversation ➜ 

May stands at the crossroads of exploration, conflict, and discovery. Charles Lindbergh completes the first solo flight across the Atlantic. Allied forces evacuate Dunkirk. Climbers reach the summit of Mount Everest for the first time. Earlier centuries bring the First Council of Nicaea, the founding of Jamestown, and Johannes Kepler’s third law of planetary motion.

Across centuries, events in May reflect periods of rapid change. New ideas emerge, conflicts reshape nations, and discoveries push human understanding forward. These moments span continents and eras, connecting ancient history with the modern world.

Explore the full collection of Today in History events that occurred in May, or jump directly to a specific day—from May 1 through May 31—to see what happened on this day in history.

Browse the timeline to research a specific date or explore the defining events that give May its place in history.

Bernie Sanders Instagram post. Click to View

French President Emmanuel Macron, in a speech delivered at the Sorbonne University in Paris, urged Europe to find its own path and warned "That the European Union needs to take bold action to tackle U.S. and Chinese protectionism, and be vigilant of the geopolitical threats from authoritarian regimes or face the death of Europe as a real possibility..."  More at Euronews ➜ 

Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22 since 1970. It is a time to demonstrate support for environmental protection and an important reminder that we all have a role to play in protecting the planet. For Earth Day 2024 on April 22nd, EARTHDAY.ORG is reinstating its unwavering commitment to end plastics for the sake of human and planetary health, demanding a 60% reduction in the production of ALL plastics by 2040

 Credit for the Earth Day idea goes to Gaylord Nelson, an American politician from Wisconsin and leading figure in the fight against environmental degradation and social injustice. Rachel Carson, a marine biologist and best-selling author provided the spark for this movement with the 1962 publication of her book, "Silent Spring" which showed the devastating effects of modern pesticides on the natural world.