Editor's note

Even if you don’t have kids, you probably know that teens are spending a lot of time with their smartphones. But how has this influenced their consumption of other media, from television to books? Using survey data gathered from over 1 million U.S. teens since 1976, psychologist Jean Twenge studied how their media habits have changed over time – and found one big loser.

As an international arms-control meeting approaches, a new report examines the moral and ethical implications of creating robots that can decide on their own whom to target and when to fire upon humans. The report’s lead author, Bonnie Docherty of the International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School, explains how the history of humanitarian law provides a way to evaluate new weapons technologies and what it suggests for the future.

A new grand jury report says at least 1,000 cases of sexual abuse by clergy in the Catholic Church were covered up by church leaders in Pennsylvania. Georgia State scholar Timothy D. Lytton writes that the full story of many cases across the country hasn’t been told because bishops hid the crimes. Civil lawsuits filed by victims could compel bishops to disclose additional information still hidden away in secret church archives, he says, but only if legislators change laws that in most states bar such suits.

Nick Lehr

Arts + Culture Editor

Top stories

SAT reading scores in 2016 were the lowest they’ve ever been. Aha-Soft/Shutterstock.com

Why it matters that teens are reading less

Jean Twenge, San Diego State University

In 1980, 60 percent of 12th graders said they read a book, newspaper or magazine every day for pleasure. By 2016, only 16 percent did.

The U.S. military is already testing a Modular Advanced Armed Robotic System. Lance Cpl. Julien Rodarte, U.S. Marine Corps

Ban ‘killer robots’ to protect fundamental moral and legal principles

Bonnie Docherty, Harvard University

A standard element of international humanitarian law since 1899 should guide countries as they consider banning lethal autonomous weapons systems.

Victims or their family members react to a Pennsylvania grand jury investigation that identified more than 1,000 child victims of clergy sexual abuse. AP/Matt Rourke

Civil lawsuits are the only way to hold bishops accountable for abuse cover-ups

Timothy D. Lytton, Georgia State University

In the wake of new revelations about clergy sex abuse and cover-up in Pennsylvania, civil lawsuits brought by abuse victims may be the only effective way to hold Catholic church officials accountable.

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Today’s quote

"Critiques of recycling are not new, and critiques of recycling plastic are many, but I still believe it makes sense to expand, not abandon, the system."

 

The plastic waste crisis is an opportunity for the US to get serious about recycling at home

 

Kate O'Neill

University of California, Berkeley

Kate O'Neill