Covering topics from space and energy to technology, Casey Handmer tackles complex issues in engaging, approachable essays.

Reasons to be Cheerful is an editorial project dedicated to “stories of hope, rooted in evidence.” A project spearheaded by David Byrne of Talking Heads fame, Reasons to be Cheerful reports stories that “balance a sense of healthy optimism with journalistic rigor, and find cause for hope.”

Bundyville is a podcast from Longreads, in partnership with Oregon Public Broadcasting. Season two explores the world beyond the Bundy family and the armed uprisings they inspired. The series scrutinizes extremist violence that has made headlines in recent years, and how those events share ideas with the anti-government movement.

“Our house is on fire — let’s act like it.” From September 20-27, millions of people around the world will take to the streets and stand up to the fossil fuel industry. Read more about the strike and how to find an event near you.

Truthout is a nonprofit dedicated to independent news and commentary that reveals “systemic injustice while providing a platform for transformative ideas, investigative reporting, and progressive analysis.”

Launched by graduate students, Ajam Media Collective is a space for analyzing society and culture across what they refer to as Ajamistan: “from Turkey in the East across Iraq, the Caucasus, and Iran and into Central Asia, Afghanistan, and South Asia.”

ThinkProgress, a news site covering the intersections of politics, policy, and social justice, is dedicated to rigorous reporting and analysis from a progressive perspective.

The Cleanest Line, the official blog of Patagonia, focuses on outdoor sports and gear, environmental activism, corporate social responsibility, and more. Its goal is to further Patagonia’s mission by encouraging dialogue about issues it cares about.

The Brown & Black Forum is the United States’ oldest and only minority-focused presidential forum in which candidates share ideas that affect future African-American and Latino generations.

“Was it possible, we wondered, that Columbine, that seminal moment in American history, had taught us nothing?” A special issue at 5280 covers the community of Columbine, Colorado, 20 years after the Columbine High School shooting.

Hakai Magazine explores our changing world through stories on oceans, coastlines, and marine life, written by today’s leading — and most engaging — scientists and environmentalists.

Every day, The Adverts 250 Project highlights ads from Colonial America, shedding light on the era’s material culture and everyday life, and showing the pervasive presence of slavery in 18th-century advertising.

Economist and journalist Tim Harford blends insights on technology, business, and, economic history into accessible and engaging posts on a wide range of topics, from inequality to social media.

Preemptive Love is a U.S. nonprofit that focuses on aid and peacemaking in Iraq and Syria. Their blog tells the stories of the people and communities on the frontline, working to rebuild after years of violent conflict.

American history buffs, this one’s for you: Howard Dorre, who’s reading (and blogging about) a biography of every U.S. president, has published numerous posts on arcane-yet-fascinating aspects of the presidency.