Emma Ayers

‘Genetic optimization’: Embryo ranking treats children as marketable goods, critics warn

An embryo-screening service is drawing sharp criticism from scientists, ethicists and faith leaders, who say the technology turns parents into shoppers and children into products.

June 19, 2025

Gen Z reshapes marketplace by aligning purchases, principles — and dodging brands that disagree

A new survey suggests that Generation Z is reshaping the marketplace by aligning purchases with personal principles -- and dodging brands that don't measure up.

June 18, 2025

U.K. lawmakers vote to decriminalize abortion, aiming to end prosecutions under 19th-century law

British lawmakers on Tuesday moved to scrap a centuries-old law that made abortion a crime, ushering in one of the most sweeping changes to reproductive rights in England and Wales since the 1960s.

June 18, 2025

‘Gas station heroin’ tied to spike in poisonings, health officials warn

Health officials are warning Americans about the dangers of tianeptine, a drug often sold in gas stations and smoke shops under names like "Zaza," "Tianaa" and "Neptune's Fix."

June 16, 2025

Nearly half of U.S. adults report ties to Catholicism, but few practice fully

Catholicism continues to cast a long shadow across American life, with 47% of U.S. adults saying they have some connection to the Church, according to a newly released Pew Research Center survey.

June 16, 2025

In-N-Out chosen America’s favorite fast-food fries, McDonald’s lands near the bottom

In-N-Out's fries may not be everyone's favorite, but according to tens of thousands of Yelp reviewers, they're the best in the country.

June 12, 2025

Marijuana use is high among seniors, new study finds

Marijuana use among older Americans is climbing at a record pace, with new research showing a nearly 46% increase in cannabis use among adults ages 65 and older between 2021 and 2023.

June 12, 2025

Americans think religion is making a big comeback: Gallup poll

A growing share of Americans say religion is gaining influence in American society, marking a notable shift in public opinion after more than a decade of steady decline.

June 11, 2025

Islam is the world’s fastest-growing faith, thanks to birthrates: Pew Research study

Islam is growing faster than any other religion on Earth, according to a new study from the Pew Research Center.

June 9, 2025

New York Senate passes bill legalizing assisted suicide amid mounting debate

New York's Democrat-led state Senate passed an assisted suicide bill Monday night, one that has renewed debate over the moral, ethical and religious implications of "death with dignity" legislation. The bill now goes to the desk of Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat who has not publicly stated whether she would sign it.

June 9, 2025

Newsboys denounce ex-lead singer Michael Tait amid sexual misconduct, drug abuse allegations

Christian rock group Newsboys is distancing itself from former lead singer Michael Tait following allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use, saying the band was "horrified, heartbroken and angry" over the revelations.

June 6, 2025

Washington Archdiocese to slash jobs, cut spending amid $10 million deficit

The Archdiocese of Washington will lay off roughly a quarter of its workforce and restructure its operations in a sweeping effort to close a persistent $10 million annual budget shortfall, according to a letter issued this week by Cardinal Robert McElroy.

June 6, 2025

TikTok kills #SkinnyTok in crackdown on extreme diet content

TikTok has blocked search results for #SkinnyTok, a hashtag tied to extreme dieting trends that critics say promote eating disorders and glorify thinness at any cost.

June 4, 2025

Young men shaving eyelashes to ‘look more masculine’ in latest TikTok fad

Young men are shaving off their eyelashes in viral TikTok videos, in attempts to appear more masculine that medical experts say could lead to serious eye problems.

June 3, 2025

Egypt takes control of land surrounding Sinai monastery, prompting Orthodox pushback

An Egyptian court has declared state ownership of the land surrounding St. Catherine's Monastery in Sinai, sparking backlash from Christian leaders who say the ruling threatens one of their oldest sacred sites.

June 3, 2025

No fluoride, big problem? New report predicts dental disaster

Pulling fluoride from U.S. drinking water could leave millions of children with cavities and saddle families with billions of dollars in dental costs, according to a new analysis.

May 30, 2025

Battalion of celebrities demand end to Britain’s ‘complicity’ in Gaza

Benedict Cumberbatch, Dua Lipa, Riz Ahmed and Annie Lennox are among more than 300 public figures who have signed an open letter urging U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer to "take immediate action to end the U.K.'s complicity in the horrors in Gaza."

May 30, 2025

Taylor Swift buys back her master recordings, ending years-long battle

Taylor Swift has officially regained ownership of her master recordings, ending a years-long dispute that reshaped the conversation about artists' rights.

May 30, 2025

Young women outpace male counterparts in binge drinking, study finds

Young women are now binge drinking at higher rates than young men, according to a new study from the Journal of the American Medical Association.

May 27, 2025

Google, Darren Aronofsky team up to explore AI’s role in the future of film

Feature filmmaker Darren Aronofsky's production company, Primordial Soup, is partnering with Google DeepMind to develop short films using artificial intelligence video tools.

May 25, 2025