Crooked Bough News Round-up

— Elephants in your midst: In Boston, an art exhibit tells the story of an Indian herd

 

at 8/9/26 3:00am

A touring art exhibit of life-size elephants is in Boston for the next month, aiming to connect with people and inspire understanding of the natural world.

— Iran issues list of new demands over Strait of Hormuz

 

at 8/8/26 1:46pm

Iran has issued dramatic new demands around any reopening of the waterway. Oman says talks to manage the strait between it and Iran are continuing.

— Gerbils in the classroom? Pets aren’t just fun, they help kids learn.

 

at 8/8/26 3:00am

Spending time with pets can help youth refine their social skills and learn how to handle emotions, according to recent studies. Bringing in a class pet can benefit students – if the animal receives proper care.

— Scrutiny of Rep. Max Miller adds to a trend in Congress

 

at 8/7/26 5:17pm

Lawmakers or candidates in both parties have faced allegations of sexual misconduct or domestic abuse. Some peers of Ohio’s Max Miller have called for him to resign his House seat.

— AI can tutor students – with a teacher’s help, says Khan Academy founder

 

at 8/7/26 4:38pm

Khan Academy founder Sal Khan sees the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in tutoring students, even though it’s been more challenging than he expected.

— Trump’s latest swing at birthright citizenship might send issue back to courts

 

at 8/7/26 3:28pm

President Donald Trump is again targeting constitutionally-guaranteed birthright citizenship with a pair of executive orders.

— The power of honesty in AI research

 

at 8/7/26 1:47pm

A giant Chinese firm, ByteDance, tells its AI researchers to not imitate American models, but rather rely on patient, long-term work to build the best product. Such rectitude might be a light for AI regulators.

— The US lost jobs in July. Here’s why unemployment didn’t rise.

 

at 8/7/26 1:28pm

One impact of Trump immigration policies is showing up in the labor force – which faces an unusual period of stagnation. For now, unemployment can hold steady even when jobs decline.

— Brazil’s economy is growing under Lula. Why don’t voters feel it?

 

at 8/7/26 11:15am

President Lula is running for a fourth term in October. But his legacy of poverty alleviation in the early 2000s may be working against him today, with economic expectations high.

— Education’s AI ‘gold rush’ comes with risks for students

 

at 8/7/26 10:15am

As Silicon Valley titans and startups cash in, educators and parents struggle to decide which artificial intelligence tools help – or harm.

— In Britain, a comedy candidate plays political spoiler

 

at 8/7/26 10:01am

The U.K. electoral system has long featured parody also-rans. But now, Britain’s foremost far-right leader could find himself upended by a man wearing a bin.

— The 1909 auto race that sealed Americans’ love of cars

 

at 8/7/26 9:42am

“The Hardest, Longest Race” takes readers on a wild jaunt across the country, on roads that could hardly live up to the name.

— The real lessons of ‘back to school’

 

at 8/7/26 9:05am

In our special back-to-school issue, we tackle some of the most-debated topics in education today, from artificial intelligence to college finances.

— In Utah canyons, a clash over federal lands – and the future of the West

 

at 8/7/26 3:00am

The U.S. government is slashing two revered national monuments in Utah. What happens next could determine how vast public lands in the western U.S. are managed – or exploited.

— Rescue at the library

 

at 8/7/26 1:00am

When the electronic kiosk proved useless, a chatty interaction at the help desk became a refreshing encounter.

— The Malawi women’s soccer team is on fire. What that means for Africa.

 

at 8/6/26 3:48pm

In a historic upset, Malawi is taking Africa’s premier soccer tournament by storm – and challenging ideas about who can be a soccer star.

— Legal aid for immigrant kids disrupted after Trump administration lets funding lapse

 

at 8/6/26 3:08pm

Advocates for immigrant kids are scrambling to find them legal services after the government changed providers.

— Money, politics, and the ‘beautiful game’: FIFA battles to win back trust

 

at 8/6/26 2:26pm

Dissent has kicked off over the future of the soccer World Cup, leading to calls for a change at FIFA.

— Helping wildlife roam, one safe path at a time

 

at 8/6/26 1:08pm

Around the world, governments are investing in infrastructure that’s extending habitat range and enabling freer movement for animals. These innovations benefit human safety, too, and affirm the intrinsic value of wildlife.

— Waist-deep in joy during a cleanup of Kashmir’s ‘500 springs’

 

at 8/6/26 10:32am

Residents turn out annually to clean a spring in Panzath, India, that feeds a government-run fish hatchery and to enjoy a fishing festival.

— Project 2025: As midterms near, Trump’s window for action might be closing

 

at 8/6/26 10:18am

The Trump administration has enacted many of Project 2025’s goals, but many await action ahead of midterms that could alter the balance of power in Washington.

As of 8/9/26 11:18am. Last new 8/9/26 3:21am.