Vox

Smoke from wildfires in Canada shrouds the view north to midtown Manhattan on July 15, 2026. | Gary Hershorn/Getty Images

This story appeared in Today, Explained, a daily newsletter that helps you understand the most compelling news and stories of the day.

F1 races are exhilarating. While racing alongside 21 other cars, an F1 driver can reach speeds of up to 231 mph, making it one of the world’s most dangerous sports.

And F1 drivers need to be physically prepared to prevent disaster. Over the course of a single race, they experience hundreds of pounds of force, temperatures up to 130°F, and risk extreme dehydra...

Matt Damon as Odysseus and Zendaya as Athena in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. | Universal Pictures

After the first trailer for Christopher Nolan’s new film adaptation of The Odyssey dropped, a wave of conversation followed, part amused, part outr...

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer leaves 10 Downing Street in central London on July 15, 2026. | Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images

In 2024 the United Kingdom’s Labour Party, led by Sir Keir Starmer, won back the prime minister’s office after more than a decade out of power.

He told a jubilant crowd: “

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators argue with Israel supporters outside of the Democratic National Convention on August 22, 2024, in Chicago, Illinois. | John Moore/Getty

Among Democratic voters, Israel’s reputation is in tatters.

Polls show Democratic voters have