The Top 5: Power grids, FAFSA, classical schooling, Haidt's new essay
Welcome to the latest edition of the Top 5 articles we’ve read this week. Each week, we read dozens of articles in the hope we find essays and reporting that speak to big ideas, trends, future looks, and incredible human stories. We hope you enjoy our list, and do always let us know if you have a suggestion or a recommendation!
The 2024 election is upon us, and we will be putting a lot of thought into our coverage and analysis. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber if this is one of those newsletters you open up all the time or look forward to each week. We couldn’t do this work without our paying subscribers and encourage you to make the switch from free to paid. We have a student/educator discount as well!
The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life is available now! If you’ve already read the book, access CCPL’s discussion guide here. Would you also consider writing a review on Amazon. Thank you for your support!
The Top 5 articles for your week:
“End the Phone-Based Childhood Now” (The Atlantic)
Because this comprehensive essay from Jonathan Haidt that looks at the ways in which electronic devices are interrupting standard childhood development. We discuss this essay in-depth on today’s episode of Wear We Are.
“Inside the Blunders That Plunged the College Admission Season Into Disarray” (NYT)
Because Erica L. Green and Zach Montague examine how the demand from Congress to make financial aid easier to obtain led to a very messy and frustrating roll-out of a new system by the Department of Education.
“Have the Liberal Arts Gone Conservative?” (The New Yorker)
Because Emma Green writes about the rise of classical schooling in this fascinating essay.
“A.I. Is Learning What It Means to Be Alive” (NYT)
Because Carl Zimmer reports on where computational biology is going.
Having a map of what’s possible and impossible to sustain life might also mean that scientists could actually create new cells that don’t yet exist in nature. The foundation model might be able to concoct chemical recipes that transform ordinary cells into new, extraordinary ones. Those new cells might devour plaque in blood vessels or explore a diseased organ to report back on its condition.
“Amid explosive demand, America is running out of power” (WaPo)
Because Evan Halper explores how expanding tech and data centers are putting more and more pressure on an already over-burdened United States power grid.
ICYMI on the podcast:
The Morning Five: March 11, 2024
The Morning Five: March 12, 2024
The Morning Five: March 13, 2024
The Morning Five: March 14, 2024
Episode 103: Smartphones, social media, childhood development, & societal consequences
Re: Sunday's podcast episode & Haidt, I have had one of these light phones for about 5 years: https://www.thelightphone.com. Sleek, simple communication tool without internet and social media. I strongly recommend it for anyone, especially for kids, even high school and 16+. (Working adults: no email, Slack, or Teams so it relieves you from 24/7 expectations unless the expectations are stated explicitly!)
Note: I never had a smartphone so I can't say much about the transition process. I do have a tablet, which I leave at home unless I have a very, very good reason to carry it, and an iPod, which I use only for music, podcasts, and mobile tickets (ugh grrr Ticketmaster).
p.s. don't listen to the reviewers who say it doesn't work well. That's a feature, not a bug. They're just saying "it isn't an iPhone" and that's the point.