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The chaotic new world of abortion access
If you are in need of an abortion in the United States, you might have to travel cross the country to get one. Or a clinic could be just blocks away.
We trust that medical implants are safe
I had five screws implanted in my back at age 13. Then I learned of devices implanted without proper tests. Can we know if medical procedures are safe?
Decoder: The West looks on as Putin pals with Xi Jinping
The relationship between China and Russia seems to grow closer as the U.S. and China look at each other with hostile eyes. Should the world worry?
With an economy in crisis, Sri Lankans migrate out for jobs
An historic number of workers are seeking work in other countries, many of them professionals. Should a nation depend on the export of its human capital?
Keeping abandoned animals alive
It isn’t difficult to find a caring home for one cat or dog. But millions roam the world and there aren’t enough shelters. What do we do with them all?
Alumni in the Spotlight: Li Keira Yin
Equestrian, artist and writer Li Keira Yin is finding her footing in Boston after graduating from News Decoder partner school The Thacher School.
Kenya tries again to digitally register all residents
If a government agency stores the DNA and fingerprints of its residents can it serve them more efficiently or control them more effectively?
In pursuit of environmental justice at the second Ecologues discussion
The second of six monthly climate conversations, the event brought together three voices from education, activism and storytelling.
On maps, borders pop out. Up above, lines get fuzzy.
Many of the more than five thousand satellites orbiting the earth are capable of producing high-resolution images. International agreements aren’t as clear.
In food deserts, residents thirst for healthy eats
People of lesser means have few food buying choices where they live, while supermarkets seem to crop up where markets already thrive. Can we change that?
Decoder: Confronting the consequence of slavery
The legacy of slavery still haunts the descendants of both perpetrators and victims. Some say reparations are long overdue. Protester calls for reparations for slavery at a rally...
Decoder: War in Ukraine should have come as no surprise
It was naive to think Russia’s long history as an empire would end peaceably in just two decades. One year after the invasion, our correspondent looks back.
One year into a seemingly endless war, we decode the conflict.
Our correspondents and youth voices tackled many facets of this complicated conflict. We give out the breadth of our Ukraine coverage to help you sort it out.
Students curious about sex find few answers in class
Few countries have policies on sex education. In the United States, policies vary from state to state and might depend on whether a school is public or private.
When the lights black out, the night sky turns on
Light pollution interferes with the breeding patterns of animals and insects. How can we look to the stars if we can’t even see them?
Participating in sports by remote control
There are health benefits to an active lifestyle. But if you like to sit in the stands or watch from the sofa, perhaps a different kind of workout takes place.
Climate change is stressing us out. Can good come of that?
Anxiety about the fate of the planet is harming the mental health of young people. Can we help them funnel their frustration into a force for change?
Girls helping girls across the world
Though girls in different countries wear different cloths and follow different customs, in many ways they share the same thoughts and speak the same language.
Schools waking to the idea that teens need more sleep
With classes, homework, sports and other extracurricular activities, some students have difficulty fitting sleep into their hectic schedule.
Decoder: When protecting the environment makes more cents
The planet’s largest coral reef system isn’t just an endangered world wonder. For Australia, it is a key to the country’s economic growth.
Baguette me not: Energy costs endanger beloved boulangeries
The Ukraine war has caused energy prices to skyrocket across Europe. In France, if costs don’t go down soon, some bakers might have to shut their doors.
Back in classes, teachers find post-Covid exhaustion lingers
In-person classes have resumed at most schools. Covid infections have leveled off. But teachers are exhausted and increasing numbers are heading out.
Decoder: The most effective tool bolstering Ukrainian unity
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine ends its first year, the Kremlin might like to reflect on what this has done for Ukrainian national identity .
First Ecologues webinar asks, “what is the climate crisis?”
Three experts discuss solutions to climate issues from the perspective of education, activism and journalism.
The United Nations vows: “never forget, distort or deny”
A yearly gathering of the UN General Assembly commemorates millions of victims of the Holocaust and reminds us that we must work harder to keep hatred at bay.
Alumni in the Spotlight: Emma Bapt
Her professional experiences run the gamut from working in refugee camps to international think tanks. News Decoder’s first summer intern has traversed the globe since her time on staff.
You know who you are. Are biometrics enough to prove it?
New mobile devices accept your face or fingerprint as proof of ID, but many governments require an official card. For many people that’s a problem.
Thousands of years of history in one steaming cup of tea
Becoming a tea sommelier means confronting a history of imperialism and oppression — and enjoying a beverage that unites the world.
France juggles migration hot potato
One correspondent’s quest to procure French nationality and the maroon and gold passport that proclaims one a citizen of Europe.
War in Ukraine: Where religion and politics mix and clash
Orthodox Christians find themselves in a tug of war in Ukraine. When you celebrate Christmas is political and the language of prayer belies national loyalties.
Reporting on trauma can be traumatic for those reporting on it
Reporters who shine the light on war crimes from the world’s trouble spots often keep their own troubles to themselves. Who will tell their stories?
When nations go deep in debt, it’s one giant I.O.U.
If you owe too much money and can’t repay it, you could lose your car or home. Can a nation owe too much money? What happens then?
It’s too early to close the crypt on cryptocurrency
The collapse of several big players last year raised questions about the survival of cryptocurrency. But let’s not dig the grave yet on digital currency.
Decoder: Investing in water isn’t money down the drain
Turn on the tap, and the world’s most valuable commodity pours out. To fight climate change maybe we need to invest in water like we invest in stocks.
Decoder: The United Nations struggles to be the world’s peacekeeper
Where diplomacy balances demagoguery should one nation be able to veto the votes of 192 others? Giving peace a chance might just be too much to ask.
For 2023 let’s agree. We need a new climate change narrative
Climate change anxiety is manifesting in teen mental health. They know our planet is in serious trouble. Let’s help them spot some solutions.
Where has News Decoder taken you in 2022?
News Decoder correspondents help us understand what happens across the globe. Let’s test your knowledge from the stories they reported this past year.
Selling what we search: How SEO puts products on your pages
Algorithms that track the terms we plug into search engines determine what appears on the pages we pull up. Why does that feel so creepy?
Decoder Podcast: A conversation with student Luna Lee
For one student at Miss Porter’s School in the United States, writing is a way to tell the world about education in China.
Here are lessons I’ve learned from News Decoder
News Decoder has been a return to roots for me — a startup with slim financial returns that belie both its social worth and the joy of working with youth.
Decoder: On a warming Earth, some look to space for Planet B
Oh Tang! If our seas rise too high there’s exoplanets to settle. But hope you like freeze-dried food, because it’s a long trip out there.
When you teach climate change, the Writing’s on the Wall
News Decoder has launched a series of projects, funded by the European Union, to help teachers integrate climate change into the classroom.
Bags o’ tea & speech that’s free: Our story contest winners
Two articles, a podcast and a personal essay — the winners of our latest Storytelling Contest come from three schools on three continents.
Can we prevent social media from harming our mental health?
Social media can harm a young person’s mental health. Can youth be taught to use the platforms responsibly and avoid excessive consumption?
I want to be a ‘winner’ who leaves the world a better place
I often wondered what it means to be a ‘winner.’ Now I know a winner sees a problem and, with teamwork, finds solutions.
Story competition challenges teens to profile people saving the planet
Winners of a worldwide competition will get cash prizes as well as coaching from News Decoder and publication on the News Decoder site.
Home away from home in Spain, my clandestine paradise
It’s the serenity and commotion that I love about Spain. I must seize the day because I will never again be 17 running around a Spanish city I love.
I draw to be far from worries, to release my imagination
Delord Herwane has drawn pictures since he was a child. “It’s a kind of evasion for me — to be far from worries or when there are some family issues.”
Could an Oscar prove there is more to Africa than “Wakanda”?
Outside of Africa, audiences and streaming services generally spurn the thousands of films made in Africa each year. But that could change.
When the going gets tough, don’t hesitate to seek help
When the language of instruction in Rwanda shifted from French to English, I stumbled academically. My father taught me to ask for help when in a jam.