Editor's note

With electricity, phone service and internet still scarce in Puerto Rico, it’s been almost impossible for locals to recount their experiences of Hurricane Maria and life after the storm. But Evelyn Milagros Rodríguez, an intrepid librarian at the University of Puerto Rico - Humacao, took on the challenge. Her firsthand account of the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico is a tale of survival, struggle and resilience. (And we’re bringing it to you in Spanish, too.)

Many people are starting to worry about what will happen when artificial intelligence gets more capable and starts taking over more jobs than it already has. Kentaro Toyama, a scholar of technology and culture – and former AI researcher – from the University of Michigan, explains why the resulting social upheaval may be greater than in the past.

With allegations of sexual assault and harassment making headlines, three violence prevention scholars at Wayne State University explain that preventing such behavior has to start early with programs geared toward developing healthy norms for kids and young adults.

Finally, the White House on Thursday officially declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency. Our recent series explores the effects of the opioid epidemic and addiction on the U.S.

Catesby Holmes

Commissioning Editor

Top stories

Hurricane Maria denuded forests in Puerto Rico, revealing once-hidden homes and communities. A graffiti-sprayed saying is now popping up across the island, noting that “Behind the trees live people.” Lucas Jackson/Reuters

I'm a librarian in Puerto Rico, and this is my Hurricane Maria survival story

Evelyn Milagros Rodriguez, University of Puerto Rico - Humacao

A Puerto Rican librarian with a personal relationship to hurricanes describes the brutal reality of life on this Caribbean island more than a month after Maria and Irma left their mark. Leer en espaƱol.

When everyone’s out of a job, will workers unite? Inspiring/Shutterstock.com

Will the AI jobs revolution bring about human revolt, too?

Kentaro Toyama, University of Michigan

As artificial intelligence technology becomes more capable, it threatens more types of jobs – like lawyers, bureaucrats and managers. What social upheaval will happen if those people can't find work?

Sex education in some American high schools is evolving to include to curb sexual assaults. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

Want to prevent sexual harassment and assault? Start by teaching kids

Poco Kernsmith, Wayne State University; Joanne Smith-Darden, Wayne State University; Megan Hicks, Wayne State University

Incorporating lessons on healthy sexual behavior into sex ed classes and special prevention programs for youth could be key to reducing sexual violence, experts say.

Environment + Energy

  • Why were California's wine country fires so destructive?

    Jon Keeley, US Geological Survey

    Fire is part of the ecology in much of California, but recent wildfires have caused much more damage than past burns of similar size. A fire ecologist points to two key factors: winds and population growth.

Politics + Society

Economy + Business

  • Life after death: Americans are embracing new ways to leave their remains

    Tanya D. Marsh, Wake Forest University

    Although 'Game of Thrones' -style funeral pyres are still out of bounds, Americans are increasingly turning to cheaper, greener and more meaningful ways to dispose of their loved ones' bodies.

  • What works in workplace giving

    Genevieve Shaker, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis; Robert Christensen, Brigham Young University

    By some measures, Americans are giving less to charity through their jobs than they used to. But many companies say that increasing this kind of charity is a priority for them.

Arts + Culture

From our international editions

Today’s chart