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: Saving Endangered Species
New 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

Quick Study: Unlocking Gridlock
Must Read Quick Study: Unlocking Gridlock

With the economy stuck in low gear, congestion has actually improved a bit lately. But, experts warn, the lull won't last.


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  • 1Quick 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.
  • 2Quick 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.
  • 3Quick 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.
  • 4Quick Study: Twister
    Discover the anatomy of a tornado and the time line of life-changing twisters.
  • 5Quick 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.
  • 6Quick Study: Standardized Tests
    If you think your kids need to spend more time penciling in answer bubbles, the College Board has granted your wish.
  • 7Quick Study: A Look at the Lottery
    If your recession-survival plan includes buying scratch-off lottery tickets, you've got company.
  • 8Quick Study: Lobbying's Long Arm
    An in-depth look into policy clears up the implications behind lobbying.
  • 9Quick Study: World's Most Dangerous Leaders
    An at-a-glance guide to some of the world's worst bullies, autocrats and irritants.