OTC birth control pill, Opill, will broaden access

Curing America’s loneliness epidemic would make us healthier, fitter and less likely to abuse drugs

Clay Marsh, West Virginia University

At least half of surveyed US adults experienced loneliness and social isolation.

Corals are starting to bleach as global ocean temperatures hit record highs

Ian Enochs, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Water temperatures in the 90s off Florida in July are alarming, a NOAA coral scientist writes. Scientists in several North American countries have already spotted coral bleaching off their coasts.

Is the US being hypocritical in taking years to destroy its chemical weapons, while condemning other nations for their own chemical weapons programs? A political philosopher weighs in

Michael Blake, University of Washington

When it comes to chemical weapons, American condemnation, even if hypocritical, is still valuable.

Drugs and religion have been a potent combination for millennia, from cannabis at ancient funerary sites to psychedelic retreats today

Gary Laderman, Emory University

A scholar of religion who is writing a book on sacred drugs explains how today’s ‘psychedelic renaissance’ reflects a millennia-long history of using intoxicants to seek insight and connection.

Empty office spaces can be converted to residential buildings – but it won’t be affordable

Jenny Baker, Iowa State University; Leah Mo, Iowa State University

With many employers switching to remote work, two engineering experts explain the feasibility of converting office buildings to residential spaces.

Why Trump’s prosecution for keeping secret documents is lawful, constitutional, precedented, nonpartisan and merited

Dakota Rudesill, The Ohio State University

A former national security staffer, now a scholar of secrecy law, says criticisms of Trump’s federal indictment for hoarding classified documents are unfounded.

A US-Russia prisoner swap for reporter Evan Gershkovich could be tricky: 3 essential reads on the recent history

Lorna Grisby, The Conversation

American journalist Evan Gershkovich is being detained in Russia. But recent US-Russia prisoner swaps indicate his release is possible.

Donors who feel upbeat are more likely to give to charity – new research

Nathan W. Chan, UMass Amherst; Casey Wichman, Georgia Institute of Technology

Donors’ sentiments expressed on Twitter became more cheerful before they made a gift to support Wikipedia, researchers found.

Mormon leaders – whose church is often associated with the GOP – push back against one-party politics

If humans went extinct, what would the Earth look like one year later?

AI is an existential threat – just not the way you think

Here’s the first question of this week’s edition:

A handwritten will by singer Aretha Franklin, signed "A. Franklin" with a smiley face, was ruled valid by a Michigan jury on July 11. Where was the will found?

1. A. On a croquet manual in her attic
2. B. On a cocktail napkin in a suitcase
3. C. On a notebook wedged in a couch
4. D. On the back of a painting of poker-playing dogs

Test your knowledge