Welcome to the July issue of The Highlight

For all the talk of the glamour and ritz of big-city living, the United States is (and will remain) a nation of suburbs. Yet suburbs, too, are increasingly unable to build enough housing, affected by the same slowdown as their denser counterparts. The old suburban frontier is closing — but that means we have an opportunity to take another look at this often-maligned model of American life and develop a new and better vision. 

Also in this issue, you’ll find the “intellectual vibe shift” that could lead to an era of liberal flourishing and a feature on the path to a less painful IUD procedure. Plus: Can AI stop bioweapons? And are microwaves actually bad for your health?

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The old suburban frontier is closing. Here’s what the new one could look like.

By Marina Bolotnikova

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The spiritual life calls out to me. But is it self-indulgent?

By Sigal Samuel

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Will we know if the next plague is human-made?

By Joshua Keating

Coming July 8

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The end of the anti-liberal moment

By Zack Beauchamp

Coming July 9

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What if IUD insertion didn’t have to be so painful?

By Allie Volpe

Coming July 10

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Microwaves produce radiation. Is that bad for me?

By Dylan Scott

Coming July 11