Preview: Johns Hopkins Magazine – Winter 2024/25

Cover of the Winter 2024 edition of Johns Hopkins Magazine

Johns Hopkins Magazine (December 6, 2024): Microplastics are among and in us; meet opera composer and hitmaker Kevin Puts; the science of seeing faces in nature; addressing the epidemic of eatings disorders in America, and more

Eating malfunction

Next to opioid use disorder, anorexia is the most deadly mental health illness. In all, 5% of patients will die within the first four years of diagnosis as a result of heart failure, organ shutdown, low blood sugar, or suicide. The Eating Disorders Coalition reports that every 52 minutes, at least one person loses their life as a direct result of an eating disorder.

A Teeny-Tiny Problem of Epic Proportions

Maya Dizack, BSPH ’24 (ScM), set out years ago on a journey down the Mississippi River to see how widespread microplastics were in this major body of water. Her findings were more alarming than expected. But just how concerned

Reviews: ‘The Week In Art’

The Week In Art Podcast (December 6, 2024): The Art Newspaper’s editor, Americas, Ben Sutton, and our art market editor, Kabir Jhala, are in Florida and report on the sales and the mood on the first VIP day at Art Basel Miami Beach.

On 8 December, the cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris will reopen, more than five years after the fire that partly destroyed it. Ben Luke talks to one of the architects responsible for its rise from the ashes, Pascal Prunet. And this episode’s Work of the Week is The Madonna and Child with Saints (1526-27) by Parmigianino, better known as The Vision of Saint Jerome.

The painting this week returned to public display for the first time in 10 years, in a new exhibition at the National Gallery in London, following conservation, and we talk to Maria Alambritis, the show’s co-curator.

Art Basel Miami Beach, until Sunday, 8 December.

Notre-Dame reopens on Sunday, 8 December.

Parmigianino: The Vision of Saint Jerome, National Gallery, London, until 9 March 2025

News: Syria Rebel Forces Target Damascus, South Korea’s Yoon Faces Recall

Monocle Radio Podcast (December 6, 2024): As France’s political crisis reverberates across Europe, Simon Bouvier and Florence Biedermann join Emma Nelson to discuss the options Macron has left.

Plus: Andrew Mueller on how not to stage a coup d’etat and Nordic news with Petri Burtsoff.

The New York Times — Friday, December 6, 2024

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Syrian Rebels Storm Another Major City

Opposition forces advanced on the city of Hama as their startling offensive moved quickly in the direction of the capital, Damascus.

Pete Hegseth’s Troubles at Work Raise Questions About Leadership

President-elect Donald J. Trump’s choice for defense secretary led two nonprofits into debt, and episodes of drinking continued into his days as a Fox News personality.

Images of Unmasked Suspect Emerge as the Police Track C.E.O.’s Killer

The man sought in the killing of Brian Thompson wore a hood and a smile in surveillance photos. Investigators visited a hostel on the Upper West Side as they mapped his movements.

Pam Bondi’s Journey From Traditional Republican to Warrior for Trump

The president-elect’s choice for attorney general is known for her charm and fealty to him.

Research Preview: Science Magazine-Dec. 6, 2024

Science issue cover

Science Magazine – November 29, 2024: The new issue features ‘Programmed T Cells’ – Targeting the brain and other tissues to treat cancer and inflammation…

Programming tissue-sensing T cells that deliver therapies to the brain

‘Brutal’ math test raises the bar for AI

Model-stumping benchmark shows human experts remain on top—for now

Beneath Antarctica’s ice, a fiery future may await

Researchers probe volcanoes’ response to a changing world

War-torn Ukraine is breeding drug-resistant bacterial strains

Urgent action underway to bolster treatments and prevent dangerous microbes from spilling across borders

Arts/Books: Times Literary Supplement – Dec. 6, 2024

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Times Literary Supplement (December 4, 2024): The latest issue features ‘HIs Other Country’ – The James Baldwin revival continues in the 100th anniversary year of his birth. A trickle of biographies has become a flood, and the causes for which he stood, racial equality and gay rights, speak to the times.

Knowing his name – Celebrating the centenary of James Baldwin’s birth

By Fred D’Aguiar

Bring back the big fish

Mississippi River levee, 1940

Record-label scouts chase ‘strange compositions’

By Harry Strawson

No sacred cows

Obelisco de Buenos Aires, Plaza de la República, 1997

A video game challenges the history of Argentina

By Mia Levitin

The Economist Magazine – December 7, 2024 Preview

The Economist Magazine (December 5, 2024): The latest issue features ‘America’s Gambling Frenzy’….

America’s gambling boom should be celebrated, not feared

The gambling frenzy is mostly about people being free to enjoy themselves

France steps into deep trouble

It has no government and no budget, and is politically gridlocked

Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea should resign, or be impeached

His coup attempt was foiled. But grave tests still remain for the country

Joe Biden abused a medieval power to pardon his son

The president’s reversal is understandable, hum

News: Political Chaos In France After Vote, Justice System Politicized In U.S.

Monocle Radio Podcast (December 5, 2024): Following a historic vote in France’s parliament, we get the latest from Paris on what’s next for the government.

Then: we look at what both Donald Trump and Joe Biden are describing as a politicised justice system and hear about Germany’s war preparedness plans. Plus: we meet the new director of Art Basel Miami Beach, Bridget Finn. Then: our team in Cannes for the International Luxury Travel Market sits down with Dan Ruff, the CEO of Belmond.

The New York Times — Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024

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As Hegseth Vows to Fight, Trump Considers DeSantis for Defense Secretary

The president-elect appeared to be having serious conversations about picking Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida as Pete Hegseth, the current selection, dismissed the allegations against him.

Manhunt Enters Second Day After Health Executive Is Gunned Down in Manhattan

Brian Thompson, the chief executive at UnitedHealthcare, was shot in the back in Midtown Manhattan by a killer who then walked coolly away.

Lawmakers Move to Impeach South Korean Leader After Failed Martial Law Bid

President Yoon Suk Yeol’s attempt to break a political deadlock by imposing military rule collapsed within hours, leaving him with few defenders. A vote to impeach him could come as soon as Friday.

Supreme Court Inclined to Uphold Tennessee Law on Transgender Care

The justices heard arguments on Wednesday over whether Tennessee can ban some medical treatments for transgender youth. More than 20 other states have similar laws.

Literary Arts Preview: n+1 Magazine – Winter 2025

@nplusonemag (December 4, 2024): The Winter 2025 issue of n+1, RERUN features:

Hannah Zeavin on psychoanalysis’s Palestine exception

Will Tavlin on Netflix’s assault on cinema

Mina Tavakoli attends a ventriloquism convention

Nicholas Dames reads books about parents reading books

Dawn Lundy Martin on falling in and out of love with the university

New fiction by Rachel KhongJill Crawford, and Claire Baglin

Bassem Saad on the afterlives of Mahdi Amel

Alan Dean on Radu Jude, Romania’s Godard

Mark Krotov on the return of Trump

Plus the intellectual situation: the editors on Fredric Jameson

News, Views and Reviews For The Intellectually Curious