Issue Contents

Nov-Dec 2008: The New Einsteins

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Cover Story:

The New Einsteins

By Erik vance
The next generation of geniuses knows practically everything--except the meaning of the word "impossible." Meet nine visionaries who are discovering how to grow organs, peer into black holes, levitate food, cure plagues, and let blind men see.

Features:

comic superheroes who made a real-world difference

By mark juddery
If you think superheroes do amazing things in comic books, you won't believe what they can do off the page. For starters, Superman brought down the Ku Klux Klan, Donald Duck raised ships from the ocean floor, and Spider-Man transformed the American justice system.

the suprisingly cool history of ice

By linda rodriguez
What began as a joke at a family picnic turned into a multibillion-dollar industry. Here's how.

scatter_brained:

puppy love

This month, we're remembering the dog days of history, when Rin Tin Tin was the highest-paid actor in Hollywood and Pomeranians dominated Europe. We've also got the scoop on why Bob Barker is the most underpaid man in baseball and a timeline of yodeling facts that's sure to make you howl.

right_brain:

masterpiece #93: sylvia plath's the bell jar

By elizabeth lunday
Sylvia Plath pioneered the woman-on-the-edge novel. And while you can fault her for inspiring about 1,000 Lifetime movies, you should also discover why Plath's prose is as compelling as the tragic life she led.

left_brain:

what does organic mean?

By maggie koerth-baker
Do you know the difference between foods labeled "organic," "all-natural," and "chemical-free"? Neither did we. Check out our guide to understanding all the stickers in the grocery aisle.

50-Cent Tour

albania

By graeme wood
After half a century of isolationism, Albania is ready to come out and play. Take a joyride through a country where nearly everyone drives a Mercedes, pick-pocketing is the sport of kings, and feuds of honor lead to cross-dressing!