Quick Study

Get a concise look at complex and timely topics ranging from nuclear energy and standardized tests to the value of the dollar and the future of work.

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Quick Study: Census 2010
New Quick Study: Census 2010

Every ten years, the U.S. government essentially takes attendance, using results to distribute seats in the House of Representatives and $400 billion in federal aid. Will this year’s census make some people angry? We can count on it.

Quick Study: Saving Endangered Species
Quick Study: Saving Endangered Species

Good news: The bald eagle and the gray wolf are back from the brink of extinction. Bad news: That leaves chimps, manatees, polar bears, whales ... Which ones can be saved, and how?

Quick Study: Time Line of Endangered Species
Quick Study: Time Line of Endangered Species

A brief history of endangered species dating back to the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Plus, read Quick Study: Saving Endangered Species


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  • 1Quick Study: Unlocking Gridlock Must Read
    With the economy stuck in low gear, congestion has actually improved a bit lately. But, experts warn, the lull won't last.
  • 2Quick Study: Where Our Garbage Goes
    In a calm stretch of the northern Pacific lies the Eastern Garbage Patch, a stew of trash twice the size of Texas. Deadly for ocean life, the icky area holds some of the two billion tons of waste we create each year. While technology offers hope for more enlightened disposal, the clock is ticking: Garbage will double by 2030.
  • 3Quick Study: Pirates!
    Even before sacking the U.S.-flagged Maersk, high-seas thieves had been plenty busy hijacking loaded ships in sparsely patrolled waters. Here, the Reader's Digest Version of why this centuries-old scourge is back—and its human and financial toll.
  • 4Quick Study: The Future of Work
    Say goodbye to the classic 40-hour workweek. The sputtering economy, the decline of manufacturing, and the ubiquitous BlackBerry are remaking 9 to 5 into something with unpredictable hours and fuzzier borders.
  • 5Quick Study: Twister
    Discover the anatomy of a tornado and the time line of life-changing twisters.
  • 6Quick Study: Taxes, Taxes, Taxes
    Hard times mean a hard look at taxes—how much we pay, who skates through loopholes and more. Learn about the impact on your return.
  • 7Quick Study: Standardized Tests
    If you think your kids need to spend more time penciling in answer bubbles, the College Board has granted your wish.
  • 8Quick Study: A Look at the Lottery
    If your recession-survival plan includes buying scratch-off lottery tickets, you've got company.
  • 9Quick Study: Lobbying's Long Arm
    An in-depth look into policy clears up the implications behind lobbying.