The Wall Street Journal
SpaceX Caught a Rocket With ‘Chopsticks.’ What Will Musk Try Next?
Nov 15, 2024
The next test flight for SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket is scheduled for Nov. 18. CEO Elon Musk wants Starship to revolutionize spaceflight and on Oct. 13, SpaceX made history in aerospace engineering when Starship’s booster was caught by two mechanical arms as it descended to the launch pad. From China and Russia, to NASA and Boeing, none of SpaceX’s competitors have been able to reuse rockets like SpaceX does. So what are SpaceX’s goals on its next test flight? WSJ explains the significance of Starships development and previews what to expect in its next mission.
Why America’s Biggest Companies Are Going Anti-’Woke’
Jan 7, 2025
Conservative activist Robby Starbuck has claimed success for pushing 15 public companies like Walmart, Toyota, Lowe’s and Harley-Davidson to change or abandon their DEI and LGBTQ policies. Starbuck’s politics are rooted in his family’s Cuban history and influence his campaigns to get public companies to denounce their DEI policies. His activism appears to the world in social media blitzes, but his campaigns are based on his own small team’s in-depth investigations. WSJ sits down with Starbuck to learn which companies are his newest targets and goes behind the scenes to learn how he and his team do their work.
What’s Inside Zyn Nicotine Pouches? We Tested Six Flavors.
Apr 10, 2024
landscape of the U.S. tobacco market. This remarkable growth has thrust Zyn into a culture war, with Sen. Chuck Schumer calling for a federal crackdown on the flavored pouches and Tucker Carlson becoming an unofficial Zyn spokesman. WSJ explores what we can learn about Zyn when we test it in a lab and how transformative the product could be for the tobacco industry.
Investors Bet Ketamine Treatment Will Revolutionize Mental-Health Care
Sep 12, 2022
Hundreds of clinics specializing in ketamine treatment for depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder have popped up in the U.S. in recent years. Some investors are even throwing hundreds of millions of dollars into ketamine startups. How big could the market for psychedelic treatment get? WSJ visits one clinic, Nushama, to learn why some entrepreneurs are betting that demand for ketamine will continue to rise.
Why Does the U.S. Support and Fund Israel So Much?
Feb. 1, 2024
Since WWII, the U.S. has provided more foreign aid to Israel than any other country, giving about $3.8 billion a year in economic and military aid. Given disagreement over the ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza, the future of this arrangement is now uncertain. Could vocal calls for pausing aid, mainly from the left wing of the Democratic Party like Sen Bernie Sanders, lead to a rejection of Biden’s security assistance package? WSJ explores why Israel still receives so much aid from the U.S. and examines the current fight over conditional aid.
Inside the U.S. Military’s New Drone Warfare Academy
Jan 2, 2024
Small, inexpensive “off the shelf” drones, like those Ukraine is using against Russia and Hamas is deploying against Israel, are transforming modern warfare. To train American soldiers to counter the threat of civilian drones modified with explosives, the U.S. military recently opened a specialized drone warfare school.
Retired General Explains Why Ukraine’s Counteroffensive Is So Behind
July 10, 2023
The recent turmoil in Russia in the wake of Wagner Group's mutiny led by Yevgeny Prigozhin could provide opportunity for Ukraine's battlefield troops in their counteroffensive, particularly near Bakhmut, Zaporizhzhia and Vuhledar, where the bulk of the fighting is happening. But why has there been little progress for Ukrainian soldiers breaking through the front lines? WSJ spoke to retired Brigadier Gen. Mark Kimmitt, who breaks down what’s happened so far with the Ukrainian counteroffensive
Retired General Breaks Down Four Ukrainian Counteroffensive Scenarios
May 23, 2023
Ukraine is on the brink of launching its counteroffensive against Russia. Russia now occupies 17% of Ukrainian territory, a stretch of landmass roughly equivalent to the size of Iceland with 900 miles of frontline. Ukrainian troops’ current offensives have been limited to the Donbas region. WSJ spoke to retired Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, who breaks down four likely scenarios that the Ukrainian forces might attempt to kick off their counteroffensive.
Why F-16s Could Be a Game Changer for Ukraine
June 16, 2023
Ukraine’s air force could soon have a new weapon to use against Russia in the skies: the F-16. The Biden administration’s decision to authorize the transfer of F-16 aircraft and provide pilot training to Ukraine could change the tide of the war by the year’s end. What could a stronger Ukrainian air force mean going forward?
An air force brigadier general and a Ukrainian air force spokesman describe what it will take to get Ukrainian pilots battle-ready.
How Arming Ukraine Exposed Cracks in the U.S. Defense Supply Chain
Feb 25, 2023
The inability of U.S. defense contractors to quickly replenish weaponry such as missiles and munitions for Ukraine has raised questions about the capability of America’s defense industry and led Pentagon officials to argue that industry consolidation has gone too far.
Theranos Founder Elizabeth Holmes on Trial: What to Expect
August 24, 2021
As the long-awaited trial of Theranos founder and former CEO Elizabeth Holmes gets underway, WSJ looks back at the scandal’s biggest milestones and speaks with legal reporter Sara Randazzo about what we can expect to see in the fraud trial.
The Science Behind the Massive Turkey-Syria Earthquakes
Feb 10, 2023
Powerful earthquakes hit Turkey and Syria, causing thousands of deaths in Turkey’s worst seismic event in decades. The many fault lines in the region make earthquakes common.
WSJ explains why the meeting of three tectonic plates under the region mean there may be more earthquakes along the fault lines.
How Robinhood Is Shaking Up Stock Trading
Aug 7, 2020
As millions of new traders sign up for the investment app Robinhood, the company is facing scrutiny for enabling some inexperienced users to make risky bets. WSJ spoke with a financial education professional and two Robinhood traders about how the app is shaking up the brokerage industry.
Is an NFT Worth $69 Million? Today’s Art Market Thinks So | Niche Markets
Feb 14, 2022
Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, have gone in the last year from a relatively obscure blockchain technology to a market valued at around $44 billion. WSJ explores how NFTs are transforming the art market and tells the story of who is behind the buzz.
Why Elon Musk’s Starbase is Meeting Resistance in Texas Border Town
May 7, 2021
Elon Musk’s proposed SpaceX expansion in South Texas is dividing Brownsville area residents. Some in the small border town believe the aerospace company could be the economically depressed region's ticket to development, jobs and education. Others say it's a threat to the community and the local environment.
Twitter, Facebook and the Rules of What Can Be Said on Social Media
Jan 22, 2021
Big Tech’s deplatforming of former President Donald Trump has sparked a debate about the future of content moderation on social media. WSJ speaks with a disinformation and moderation expert about what comes next.
SpinLaunch: A Rocket Startup That Wants to Catapult Satellites Into Space
Apr 7, 2022
Startup company SpinLaunch is developing new technology to launch rockets into space that reduces dependence on traditional fuels while significantly lowering the cost. WSJ visited SpinLaunch’s headquarters to see the technology in action and learn what its widespread adoption could mean for the emerging commercial space industry.
Why Investing in Sports Cards Is Taking Off | Niche Markets
Sep 23, 2021
Since the pandemic began, reports of former hobbyists digging up their old collections and discovering a windfall have not been uncommon.
What the Inflation of the 1970s Can Teach Us Today
Jun 25, 2021
Recently, the U.S. inflation rate reached a 13-year high, triggering a debate about whether the country is entering an inflationary period similar to the 1970s. WSJ’s Jon Hilsenrath looks at what consumers can expect next.
How the Pandemic Could Transform Higher Ed
How the Pandemic Could Transform Higher Ed
Jun 13, 2020
Will the coronavirus pandemic lead to long-term changes in higher education? To better understand the challenges facing U.S. colleges and universities, WSJ’s Alexander Hotz spoke with administrators, students, and a higher education futurist.