Failure: It's an option

The Viking in the Wheat Field

Bent Skovmand’s struggle to preserve the world’s harvest.

If you’re like most people, you probably know next-to-nothing about the threats to the world’s food supply, not to mention the scientists who devote their lives to protecting it. More

Smile ’Til It Hurts

A Behind the Music-like look at the perpetually perky, ideologically-motivated singing phenomenon Up With People.

Did you know that Up With People was funded by corporate America, supported by the government, and a propaganda tool of the religious right? More

Quirkiest Basketball Failures II

Part two of a three-part series.

More notable failures—some well known and some obscure—from the NBA, WNBA and college basketball. More

The Edge of Physics

A journey to Earth’s extremes to unlock the secrets of the universe.

Extreme science meets extreme travel/adventure in Anil Ananthaswamy’s “The Edge of Physics.” More

Departments

This Day in Failure

2002: The New York Yankees release outfielder Ruben Rivera after the team discovers that Rivera stole a glove from teammate Derek Jeter and sold it to a memorabilia agent for $2,500. Rivera receives a $200,000 settlement in lieu of his $1 million salary.

2002: Huffman Aviation, a flight school in Venice, Florida, receives letters from the Immigration and...

Failure Analysis

Four more banks failed on Friday, March 5. Following are the U.S. banks that have failed thus far in 2010. More

Should there be a soda tax?

Letters to the Editor

I found the article about teaching Ugandans how to crochet very interesting, but I almost didn’t read it due to the reckless claims in the first paragraph. More

E-mail the Editor

She believes that bravery lives in every heart, and her expectation is that it will be summoned. Failure at some point in your life is inevitable, but giving up is unforgivable.

- Sen. Joe Biden, referring to his mother during his speech accepting the 2008 Democratic vice presidential nomination