Concerns about the state of U.S. education have been discussed in communities across the country for decades, and the COVID-19 pandemic only thrust these conversations—and their urgency–further into the spotlight. A shift to at-home learning combined with other problems such as teacher shortages and a fraught political landscape have affected students’ basic proficiencies—and it is […]
Stacker
Posted inArts & Culture
Best movies of 2022, according to film critics’ top 10s
With a wealth of options to choose from, knowing what films are worth spending precious time on is no mean feat, which is why we turn to the experts to help us find the cream of the crop. Stacker looked at data from Metacritic’s year-end roundup of film critics’ top 10 lists from their verified publications […]
Posted inNews
Best big cities to live in America
Chicago has deep-dish pizza, and New York has the foldable slice, but does that make either the best American big city to live in? We’re not so sure. In fact, as this list will detail, it takes much more than a delectable pie to set a city apart from burgeoning places in Ohio, the picturesque […]
Posted inNews
How gun commerce has changed in Rhode Island since 2010
Gun sales and ownership have been hotly debated topics in the U.S. for decades, with many interested parties vying to be heard. The 1994 federal assault weapons ban was vigorously lobbied against by the National Rifle Association and other gun rights groups, which argued that the legislation violated the Second Amendment. When the ban expired […]
Posted inNews
Baby boomer baby names that have gone out of style
Some names seem so ubiquitous that it is hard to imagine they will ever be anything other than everywhere in the popular consciousness. However, a look at the history of popular names shows such enduring popularity is far from given. When the parents of the baby boomer generation came back from World War II, an […]
Posted inNews
Highest-paying science jobs in the Providence Metro area
Stacker compiled a list of the highest-paying science jobs in Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage. Jobs the BLS lists as “life, physical, and social science occupations” were included. You may also like: Most common jobs in Providence Dragon Images // […]
Posted inNews
Ranking presidents over the past 8 decades by their final approval rating
Presidential approval ratings are constantly monitored—from the inauguration and transfer of power between administrations to each chief executive’s last day in office—in order to gauge popularity. Job approval ratings are a simple metric on how Americans judge the commander in chief at any given time. Approval numbers can vary widely throughout a president’s term. Polling […]
Posted inArts & Culture
100 iconic moments from music history
Think back to the first concert you attended. You can probably remember the energy of the crowd yearning for the band to finally take the stage, the reverberation of the first strum of the guitar, the beats of the drum that seemed to thump inside your body. The lights, the charisma of the performers, finally […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Top 8 most-watched Super Bowl halftime shows since 2011
As NFL fans gear up for the Big Game, with supporters in Kansas City, Missouri, and Philadelphia praying that their team will win the Lombardi Trophy this year, pop culture fans are also counting down the days for a different reason: the iconic halftime show. Some of music’s biggest names have headlined the event, from […]
Posted inNews
Most popular girl names in the ’00s in Rhode Island
Stacker compiled a list of the most popular baby names for girls in the 2000s in Rhode Island using data from the Social Security Administration. Names are ranked by number of babies born in Rhode Island from 2000 to 2009. Note: The Social Security Administration collects data on baby names with a binary understanding of […]
Posted inNews
Metros where homes are selling for the most under asking price
It’s a tough time to be in the market for a new house. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage rose above 7% at the start of November as the Federal Reserve raises its benchmark rates month after month to combat inflation. While dipping slightly since then, rates remain above 6%. Even a half of a […]
Posted inNews
Women on quarters: Who they are and why it matters
Modern U.S. currency is sadly lacking in diversity, and until recently, women and people of color were almost entirely absent. The nation’s money has traditionally depicted a static set of Founding Fathers, presidents, national memorials, and government buildings. But as Smithsonian Institution curator Ellen Feingold pointed out in an op-ed for Politico, who shows up […]
Posted inNews
How inflation has affected vacation rentals—and how it could impact your next trip
In years past, booking a short-term rental for vacation was a fun, cost-effective way to experience a new destination. With filters for price points, privacy, and choice amenities, finding anything from a beachside apartment to a treehouse in the forest was a breeze for travel enthusiasts. While demand has not decreased for short-term rentals, the […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Lowest-rated TV show released the year you were born
Maybe you know what television shows aired the year you were born. But do you know what kind of show it would need to be to snag the bottom of the ranks? Maybe it’s subpar acting, unbelievable plotlines, amateur production value, horrible writing, sensationalism, or perhaps it’s new concepts audiences are not yet ready for […]
Posted inNews
4 factors that show the environmental benefits of plant-based meat
The competition is hot among developers to bring to market the tastiest and most “believable” plant-based analogs for traditional meat. While such alternatives may not be as popular as the real thing just yet, their popularity is increasing rapidly: Sales of plant-based foods shot up 54% from 2019, reaching $7.4 billion in 2021. That same […]
Posted inNews
Industries losing and gaining the most jobs
The American economy’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic includes an unemployment rate that has returned to 2019 levels and wage increases for lower-income workers. In December, the number of open jobs rose to 11 million but fell by 3.8% compared to the same time in 2021, Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows. The country’s gross […]
Posted inNews
50 relatively unknown movies from Black cinema history
Black writers, actors, producers, and directors have been involved in Hollywood from the very beginning of the American film industry some 125 years ago. Often, their contributions have been restricted, with early Black actors landing only bit parts and Black crewmembers being kept out of the unions used by the major studios. But this exclusion […]
Posted inNews
Most expensive US military weapons and programs
With tax season fast approaching, many Americans are wondering where all the revenue collected by the federal government goes. A good portion of that money will be put toward national defense, which in the popular consciousness usually pertains to weapons and military programs, but in our present era also includes elements such as cybersecurity and […]
Posted inNews
Black history from the year you were born
Black History Month is dedicated to celebrating the achievements and reflecting on the experiences of African Americans. What began as a week in 1926 has blossomed into 28 days of remembrance and lessons on the contributions of Black Americans. Many Black Americans come from a lineage of captured and enslaved people who were forcibly brought […]
Posted inNews
26 athletes who competed into their 40s
Humans reach their physical peak in their mid-20s, with maximum physical strength and muscle mass continuing for the next 10 to 15 years. After that, the long and gradually steepening performance curve heads in the other direction. But some athletes—including a high proportion of the very best—seem to stop the aging process in its tracks, […]
Posted inNews
How home equity compares in each state
Many American homeowners saw their wealth balloon over the last two years as the U.S. real estate market experienced an unprecedented frenzy. Homeowners living in less populous western states, in particular, saw their housing values soar as remote work allowed many white-collar workers the flexibility to move further from urban centers and acquire more space […]
Posted inNews
The amount of solar home energy increased 32% in 2021. Here’s how it happened
Over the past 10 years, solar energy has experienced growth of 33% on average every year in the United States. As of 2021, there is enough solar capacity installed in the country to power 23 million American homes. To get a bead on this clean energy trend, Stacker investigated how solar home energy has grown […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Most popular songs that never won a Grammy
According to the Recording Academy, Grammys are awarded to honor excellence in the recording arts and sciences. The award, which is voted on by a body of artists and technical professionals in the recording industry, recognizes the best of the best, making it the most prestigious award in music. The accolade isn’t given based on […]
Posted inNews
8 things to do right now in your community to prepare for climate change
Climate anxiety and climate-related trauma are mental health concerns rooted in real experiences, such as natural disasters, and existential worry for the future. Roughly half of young people—those who will inherit the consequences of climate change complacency and live through the most severe effects of extreme weather—report that climate change negatively affects their daily lives, […]
Posted inNews
Year of the quarterback carousel: A look back at the NFL’s record number of starting quarterbacks in 2022
Quarterback drama reached a fever pitch this NFL season. First, there was Tom Brady skipping out on Tampa Bay’s training camp. (Was he taping “The Masked Singer”? No. He was allegedly in the Bahamas in a last-ditch effort to save his now-dead marriage.) Then there was Russell Wilson’s woeful play in the Mile High City […]