Law

"Happy Birthday to You" Could Soon Have Its Day in the Public Domain

One of the most popular songs in the world could soon be free to sing

Times Square, New York City

Times Square’s Iconic Billboards May Be Illegal

Bright lights, big city, breaking the law

Runnymede meadow in Surrey, England, is the site of historic Magna Carta negotiations.

The Mad King and Magna Carta

How did a peace treaty signed — and broken — more than 800 years ago become one of the world's most influential documents?

A customs officer in Thailand examines specimens from a three ton ivory seizure, estimated to be worth $6 million.

DNA and Databases Help Untangle the Web of the Illegal Wildlife Trade

Two new data-driven approaches help identify key hotspots for poaching and trafficking

Six years after the quake first struck, the city of L’Aquila is still rebuilding. The recovery is estimated to cost at least $16 billion.

The Shaky Science Behind Predicting Earthquakes

A powerful earthquake in Italy killed hundreds of people—and set in motion a legal battle and scientific debate that has kept seismologists on edge

In a recent ad campaign, portraits of litterers made from DNA taken from tossed cigarettes, coffee cups and condoms were posted in public places around Hong Kong.

DNA Testing Could Identify Litterbugs and Dog Poop Miscreants

Anonymous crimes may not be quite so anonymous anymore

"The Legal Justice League" celebrates the first four women to sit on the country's highest court.

Celebrating the Women of the Supreme Court With LEGOs

What better way to hail the female trailblazers of the bench than miniaturizing them into tiny toys?

Adultery Is Now Legal in South Korea

62 years after the passage of a morality law, spouses can’t be prosecuted for extramarital affairs

The FCC Just Voted to Preserve Net Neutrality

FCC passes “Preserving the Open Internet” rules by 3-2 vote

Stony Ground by Edwin Austin Abbey

The Second Divorce in Colonial America Happened Today in 1643

The Massachusetts Bay Colony Puritans weren’t as conservative as you may have thought

Lawyers With Less-Masculine Sounding Voices Are More Likely to Win in Court

Unfortunately, there's probably little we can do to change this bias

That's it. Next year, everyone's getting coal.

Americans 'Returned' Around $3.6 Billion Worth of Stolen Goods This Holiday Season

Billions of dollars worth of "gift returns" are actually stolen goods

Sandra, covered with a blanket, gestures inside its cage at Buenos Aires' Zoo, December 8, 2010.

Argentinian Orangutan Is "Non-Human Person," Says Court

Being in the zoo impinges on her freedom

A composite chart depicting the Arctic Ocean sea floor.

Now the Danes Have Staked a Claim for the North Pole, Too

The ultimate decision over who controls the North Pole will come down to the United Nations

One of the line items in the new budget is funding for a mission to Jupiter's moon Europa.

NASA Could Actually Get a Budget Boost Next Year

The pending budget will give NASA even more money than they asked for

Hunters in 1910 pose with their new bear arms

More Americans Are Pro-Gun Than Pro-Gun Control

Americans prioritize gun rights over gun control for the first time in at least 20 years

Sergeant Tanzanika Carter of the BART police force wears a body camera in San Francisco, CA

Body Cameras Help Police

An in-depth investigation of five cities using police body cameras highlights what the technology addresses and what it doesn’t

Galapagos sea lions laze on the beach.

A Major Galapagos Conservation Foundation Is Running Out of Cash

A fight over selling souvenirs on the Galapagos is threatening conservation efforts

Do Social Media Death Threats Count as Real Threats Or Just as Venting?

The Supreme Court is weighting the complex issue of free speech online

The world's first large scale offshore wind farm in Denmark. The 80 turbine installation was completed in December 2002.

America's Offshore Wind Production Is About to Go Big

A new federal land lease will open the door to a surge in offshore wind development

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