Sunscreen doesn’t cause skin cancer — despite what social media shows you
A false claim about sunscreen is making the rounds on social media, and it’s all based on a study some people have misinterpreted. You may have seen the posts on X or Facebook, saying that a study shows that sunscreen is linked to a higher risk of skin cancer. They commonly cite a study published […]
Dayslong funeral begins for Iran’s late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Iran on Saturday began funeral proceedings for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes in February. A spokesperson for the funeral preparations said in a statement that ceremonies commenced four months after Khamenei’s death because of “war conditions,” as well as “the brutal U.S. invasion,” NPR reported. The […]
America buries a message for its future self: A look inside the capsule
A time capsule meant to carry the United States’ 250th-birthday story to 2276 was lowered into the ground Saturday outside Independence Hall. The “America’s Time Capsule” ceremony at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia marked the semiquincentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Organizers said the capsule includes contributions from all three branches […]
A changing climate makes disasters worse. Can Americans count on their government to help?
As the United States marks its 250th birthday, Straight Arrow is taking a fresh look at the institutions, systems and social contracts that shaped modern America — and the pressures now testing them. As the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, the very ground upon which the nation sits is fundamentally shifting under the weight […]
What happens when the water dries up? Much of the American West is close to finding out
As the United States marks its 250th birthday, Straight Arrow is taking a fresh look at the institutions, systems and social contracts that shaped modern America — and the pressures now testing them. John Wesley Powell led the first expedition through the Colorado River Basin in 1869, filling in the last blank spot on the […]
Going out for Fourth of July festivities? Bring the bug spray, says the CDC
Whether you’re going outside to grill, see fireworks, or cheer at a parade this Fourth of July, remember to watch out for mosquitoes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week said it’s seeing the earliest start to the West Nile virus season in the United States — along with the highest number of human […]
Pope Leo urges US to renew commitment to freedom, dignity on 250th anniversary
Pope Leo XIV congratulated Americans on the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, using a letter to urge renewed commitment to religious freedom, human dignity, care for immigrants and the common good. In the message for the nation’s semiquincentennial, the pope said July 4, 1776, gave “enduring voice” to the ideals […]
Signers of the Declaration of Independence: Pennsylvania
From a self-taught surveyor to a pioneering physician, learn how Pennsylvania signers John Morton, George Ross and Dr. Benjamin Rush helped shape American independence.
Dangerous heat shuts down the Great American State Fair
On the day the federal government observed the Independence Day holiday, organizers of the capital’s main attraction, the Great American State Fair, were forced to shut down the festivities over the heat in Washington, D.C. The Freedom 250 social media page announced around 1 p.m. local time that the event is postponed until 5 p.m. […]
