Middle ground: Happy Wednesday, dear readers, and especially you, new subscribers to the newsletter Marguerite, Mike, Alena, David and Carrie. Welcome to the show. It is August 22nd and the middle of another busy week of socio-economic progress. And it’s Flag Day in Russia. Do what you want with it. …

We all had the same science lessons in high school. We’ve learned how to dissect a frog and that mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell, but they haven’t taught us everything. Whether you’re feeling a little nostalgic for your high school science class or just need some random new …