Chicago Tribune • June 29, 2020

Amid coronavirus pandemic, those with pre-existing mental health conditions find it difficult to cope: ‘You can’t just turn it off’

In Chicago and across the country, the pandemic and the accompanying social isolation have spiked symptoms of mental illness for some.

Chicago Tribune • April 29, 2020

Here’s what you need to know about coronavirus testing in Chicago

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread through Chicago, here’s everything you need to know about coronavirus testing in the city.

Chicago Tribune • April 24, 2020

Looking for a job? Here’s a list of places that are hiring right now in Chicago

The coronavirus pandemic has caused a historic number of job losses, with 26 million people now unemployed in the United States in the five weeks since the outbreak began.

Medill Reports Chicago • November 8, 2019

Jeff Sessions prompts protests as he speaks at Northwestern

Huddled outside a performance hall on Northwestern University’s Evanston campus Nov. 5, a group of students banged on the glass panes of the wooden door at Lutkin Hall.

Medill Reports Chicago • October 30, 2019

Open House Chicago brings visitors inside Chicago's skyline icons

Tourists and locals alike enjoy the vista of Chicago’s skyline, often lauded as one of the most beautiful in the country. But for one weekend in fall, Open House Chicago lets people see the skyline from the inside out.

Medill Reports Chicago • October 25, 2019

Northwestern musician joins Baha'i bicentenary performances this month

Chaos spilled through the streets outside, but the corner of a modest apartment in Kampala, Uganda, sheltered a small pot of tea and a plate of cookies. Christopher LaMountain sat on a broken couch as the host passed out on cookies, a cup of tea, and a book of Baha’i prayers to every guest.

Chicago Tribune • June 25, 2019

Fight, flight and phones: How photos in my camera roll get me through panic attacks

My phone didn’t cure my panic attacks, and the method isn’t a substitute for seeking out the appropriate health care. But it did build some muscle memory in trusting in myself that I could take on the day.

Chicago Tribune • June 10, 2019

Grab your binoculars and head to the lake, Jupiter's moons will be visible this week

It’s been over 400 years since Galileo spotted the first moons beyond our own, and this week, you can see them too. The summer season means that Jupiter is visible to the naked eye, and with just a pair of binoculars, or a small telescope, its four largest moons may also be visible.

Chicago Tribune • June 3, 2019

How to find cheap flights from Chicago this summer

Looking to get away without busting your budget? We asked the experts for their tips on finding affordable airfare out of Chicago this summer.

Chicago Tribune • May 31, 2019

Wildfires in Canada bring hazy skies to Chicago area

Hazy skies Friday in Chicago were the result of smoke from wildfires in Canada, according to the National Weather Service.

Chicago Tribune • May 24, 2019

Should you give money to homeless people on the street? If you don't want to, how can you help?

You see a person on the sidewalk asking for money — should you donate some spare cash? Is this the best way to be helpful?

Chicago Tribune • May 3, 2019

Typically a show for the Southern Hemisphere, the Eta Aquariid meteor shower will be visible near Chicago this weekend

If you’re looking for something exciting to do this weekend, perhaps you should just look up.

Salon • August 7, 2018

Bizarre "rogue planet" found lurking in Earth's galactic neighborhood

It’s more than 12 times the size of the biggest planet in our solar system, Jupiter, has a magnetic field 200 times more powerful, and lives 20 light years outside of our solar system. Yet unlike Jupiter, it has no parent star around which it orbits.

Salon • August 2, 2018

Researchers suspect digital media may be spurring rise in ADHD

Despite all the research devoted to studying ADHD, precisely what spurs symptoms of ADHD in school-aged children is not known for certain. Now, a new study hints that ADHD may be related to something almost unavoidable: digital media.

Salon • July 31, 2018

What’s fueling the global rise in stimulant use? Experts have some theories

In the international community, the United States is often recognized for having one of the highest rates of non-prescription stimulant usage. Yet according to recent data, stimulant usage has risen globally in the past two years, especially in European countries.

Salon • July 28, 2018

How brain stimulation could be the future of rehab for violent criminals

In the past decade, there has been a shift in the popular understanding of crime as a social ill rather than the result of an innate “criminality” that criminals possess. That sociological shift has accompanied the rise of trends such as the restorative justice movement and the rethinking of drug addiction as a disease rather than a personal moral failing.

Salon • July 25, 2018

Juul, e-cig popular with teens, faces renewed scrutiny amid multiple lawsuits

It looks like a sleek USB drive, it charges via computer, and it is all the rage on social media. Oh, and it’s filled with nicotine salts, which means that each cartridge is loaded with as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes.

Salon • July 24, 2018

Why no one can agree if there's a limit to human lifespans

The desire to live forever is practically a cornerstone of human existence. Unfortunately, every 5 to 10 years, your chance of dying that year roughly doubles, according to the Social Security Agency’s actuarial life tables — meaning the longer you live, the more likely your chance is of dying.

Salon • July 19, 2018

New studies of the "Iceman" reveal what life was like in the Copper Age

In the 27 years since “Ötzi” the Iceman, a 5,300-year-old mummy, was found in the frosty mountains of South Tyrol, Italy, he’s been the subject of ever-growing public interest and ever-evolving scientific inquiry.

Salon • July 1, 2018

Employers could be key to helping employees quit smoking, study suggests

Smoking is one of the few vices that is unilaterally agreed to be bad for one’s health. Indeed, smoking is the leading cause of preventable death, and a majority of smokers say they wish they could quit.