Hannah Aster, Author at Shortform Books

Why Vermont’s Death With Dignity Law Sparked Debate

Why is Vermont’s “Death With Dignity” law so controversial? What are the pros and cons of physician-assisted death? Vermont has become the first state to remove the residency requirement for physician-assisted death, sparking renewed debates around “Death with Dignity” laws. This change means that terminally ill individuals from outside the state can now seek life-ending care in Vermont. In this article, we’ll discuss the details of the law and the pros and cons.

What Was the Human Genome Project? Outcomes & Implications

What was the Human Genome Project (HGP)? What are the future implications of the HGP? The Human Genome Project, the largest genetic study ever undertaken, was an ambitious attempt to fully sequence human DNA. In the 20 years since the project’s completion, its accomplishments have reached well beyond the field of genetics, including information technology and medical ethics. Keep reading to learn about the Human Genome Project, the outcomes, and the future of the project.

Do Boycotts Work? A Look at Cancel Culture in the US

What’s behind the recent rise in boycotts in the US? Do boycotts work? Is there such a thing as too many boycotts? Boycotts are on the rise in the US, but experts say they’re not leading to the change that Americans participating in them hope to see. Experts say the growing ubiquity of boycotts could reduce their effectiveness in the future, as constant controversy associated with them causes Americans to tune out. Keep reading to learn about the most recent boycotts in the US and whether or not they’re working.

Why Lithium Is So Crucial (and How the US Is Falling Behind)

What, exactly, is lithium? Who’s in the race for lithium supply chain superiority? Who are the likely winners and losers? The US and other global powers are in a race to lock in lithium supply chains to meet growing electric vehicle needs. But the US faces a long road to becoming a player in the lithium supply chain game, and it’s likely to remain reliant on other countries for the mineral for the foreseeable future. Below we’ll take a look at the US lithium situation compared to other countries.

California Black Reparations: Overdue or Unnecessary?

What is California’s Black reparations proposal all about? How does it compare to past reparations attempts? What does the public think? A task force in California has approved a proposal seeking reparations for Black residents for generations of harm due to the legacy of slavery. This prompted a lot of different responses including approval, confusion, and some have even called it a “scam.” Here we’ll discuss that proposal within the context of the national conversation around reparations.

What Is the Fourth Industrial Revolution & Should You Worry?

What is the fourth industrial revolution? How is this revolution different than the previous three? While previous moves from manual labor to automation left many blue-collar workers jobless, this latest disruption threatens to displace white-collar workers for the first time. Career experts say now is the time to think about your place in this Industrial Revolution. Here’s a look at the AI revolution and how it may affect jobs in the future.

What Title 42’s Expiration Means for Immigration

What was Title 42? Without Title 42, what will the US-Mexico border look like? Will the border be overrun with migrants? Title 42 was a controversial, pandemic-era public health order that banned migrants from claiming asylum at the US-Mexico border. It also allowed US agents to rapidly expel them from the country, claiming a risk to public health. Continue reading to learn how effective Title 42 was and what its expiration means for the future.

Is the Metaverse Dead? The 2 Sides of the Argument

What is the metaverse? Is the metaverse dead or just evolving more quietly than anticipated? When Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg launched the metaverse in October 2021 he called the immersive virtual world “the next chapter for the internet.” But some say the metaverse didn’t just fail to live up to its promise to revolutionize human interactions in the virtual world, it actually died. We’ll take a look at what the metaverse is and the concerns for its welfare.

How the Decline of Religion in America Affects Politics

How is the decline of religion in America affecting the political parties? How do some members of Congress exploit religion? Churches are closing across America and each generation is becoming less religious than the last. Shockingly, the trend isn’t having the effect on politics that most would expect. In this article, we’ll examine what this could mean for the political future of America.

Should AI Be Regulated? (& How It Would Be Done)

Should AI be regulated? What are experts’ concerns about AI? Is AI regulation even possible? A growing number of experts are calling for regulation of advanced AI models, saying the technology poses an existential threat to humanity if left to develop unchecked. However, there’s no clear consensus on who should regulate AI or exactly what the process should look like. Here are some possible approaches in which the US government is involved fully, in part, or not at all.