Reading archive 2023-04-09

Opinion  I’m no genius with genuses, but your garden is killing the Earth

Opinion  How to rig an election — with deadly, racist consequences

The Southern generals who stuck with the Union in the Civil War

Democrats blast Texas abortion pill ruling as Republicans are mostly quiet

Opinion  The worst federal judge in America now has a name

Intelligence leak exposes U.S. spying on adversaries and allies: U.S. and European officials scrambled to understand how dozens of classified documents covering all manner of intelligence gathering had made their way online with little notice

Russia nearly shot down British spy plane near Ukraine, leaked document says: The incident occurred months before a Russian fighter collided with an American MQ-9 drone over the Black Sea

How exercise leads to sharper thinking and a healthier brain: New findings from 350,000 people make the strongest case yet that exercise improves cognition. A small study shows it raises BDNF, a brain chemical.

Critics accuse trans swimming star Lia Thomas of having an unfair advantage. The data tells a different story: The NCAA champion has sparked controversy and become a hate figure among conservatives, but statistics show little evidence that she performed any differently to other women, Io Dodds reports - "Although trans women have been allowed to compete in women's Olympics since 2004, none have won a medal."