The Signal (Page 4)

May. 09, 2025 | SGNL

Veritatis splendor

Member’s despatch, Week XIX: ‘We have a pope.’ India, Pakistan, and all-out war. & Thinking about the beauty of art helps thinking abstractly. + Is Donald Trump making China more popular? How to have humane labor in an age of automated work? Music from Tenor Saw. What is dancehall reggae? &c.

18 minute read

May. 08, 2025 | SGNL

As Greeks to the Romans

Week XIX, letter II: India‘s attack on Pakistan. Germany‘s uncertain new government. & Captive-born axolotls make it back to the wild in the wetlands around the Mexico City. + Why is the U.K. so dependent on the U.S.? & New music from A Sagittariun.

5 minute read

May. 07, 2025 | Gustav Jönsson & Lucy Suchman

Terminators

What are the risks of “killer robots” to civilians? Lucy Suchman on the automation of modern warfare.

10 minute read

May. 06, 2025 | SGNL

Roads to Damascus

Week XIX, letter I: An election surprise in Australia. Tremors in Gaza. & More than a million want to run in London. + Who’s winning the struggle for power and influence in Syria? & New music from Maria Somerville.

5 minute read

May. 05, 2025 | Allison Braden & Glynn Tonsor

American carnivores

Why are people in the United States eating record amounts of meat? Glynn Tonsor on a mysterious outlier trend in the Western world.

7 minute read

May. 02, 2025 | SGNL

Second chances

Member’s despatch, Week XVIII: Ukraine and the U.S. make a deal. Things don’t look good between India and Pakistan. Canada’s ruling party keeps ruling. &c.

16 minute read

May. 01, 2025 | SGNL

‘We’re losing it’

Week XVIII, letter II: The U.S. economy is shrinking. Clampdown in Türkiye. & A Soviet landing module from 1972 is coming back to Earth—fast. + Can elected officials ever really control U.S. national security? & new music from Deradoorian.

4 minute read

Apr. 30, 2025 | Gustav Jönsson & Gloria Mark

Addled

Why are people’s cognitive skills declining? Gloria Mark on how consumer technology is making us more error-prone, more stressed, and less productive.

12 minute read