Discussions
We bring you a new topic every other week to discuss with students inside your classroom and from schools around the country.
When you hear “plastic pollution," you might picture six-pack rings wrapped around seagulls or beaches littered with...
Can you become President of the U.S. even if you didn't get the most votes? Yes, thanks to the Electoral College. It...
Fair elections are at the heart of American democracy, but many people argue that politicians have been undermining t...
Zoos are great places to learn more about exotic animals. Zoos also study and protect endangered species. But, captiv...
Many schools have pushed back their start time to help students get more sleep. Advocates claim a later start time he...
It seems obvious that using fewer plastic water bottles would be a good thing for our environment, but sometimes the...
Election 2020 is just around the corner and Above the Noise is gearing up to create a series of videos designed to he...
Good journalists almost always try to give equal voice to both sides of an issue, But there are times when doing so c...
There is a phenomenon called the online disinhibition effect that makes it easier for us to say things online we prob...
Everyone is on social media, even kids who are under 13 and too young to start their own accounts. Is this no big dea...
Have you ever noticed that when you watch one YouTube video, it'll keep suggesting other ones that are really similar...
Tricksters have been faking media since Abraham Lincoln's day, but new technologies are now challenging how much we c...
Adults often worry about kids engaging in "too much screen time." But not all screen time is created equal, so is thi...
What do you get when you mix car stunts, youth culture and Oakland? Sideshows! In the Bay Area, illegal sideshows div...
This episode was co-produced by PBS Newshour Student Reporting Labs and Youthbeat in Oakland, CA.
It can be h...
School dress codes are rarely popular, but recently they have come under fire from students who say these policies ca...
In late 2018, a Chinese researcher revealed that he created the first ever genetically edited babies. He altered the...
The cost of college has spiked in the last 30 years. And the price tag isn’t dropping anytime soon, due to increased...
This episode was co-produced with students from PBS Newshour Student Reporting Labs at Etiwanda High School in Rancho...
Suspensions have some unintended consequences. They disproportionately target minorities, and some students who get s...
This episode was co-produced with students from PBS Newshour Student Reporting Labsat Northview High School in Covina...
When you turn 18, our society generally considers you an adult. You can join the military, you’re eligible for jury d...
The bail system is designed to make sure criminal suspects show up to court after being released. This keeps suspects...
The latest report from the United Nations shows that the climate is changing a lot faster than scientists originally...
Using race and gender as one of many factors for college admissions is controversial. Those in favor of affirmative a...
Some people think universal basic income--where the government gives everyone JUST enough money to afford the basics...
Confirmation bias wants you to stay in your comfort zone. This cognitive bias causes us to seek out opinions we alrea...
Historically, younger generations had very low voter turnout rates in the U.S. By 2020, there will be an estimated 22...
Taking the SAT or ACT is a high school rite of passage and a requirement on most college applications. But more and m...
Some experts think people can become addicted to playing video games, much in the same way people are addicted to phy...
Books have lots of competition for attention these days - phones, games, social media. Some people think the ri...
Right now, thousands of migrants seeking asylum are being detained along the U.S./ Mexico border. Many are seeking re...
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies became big news items when their values skyrocketed. But is this digital cash the...
Compared to other wealthy nations, the U.S. has the highest rate of gun deaths. The big question is “Why?” Watch the...
Conspiracy theories usually center on a sinister plot by a powerful organization. They are also almost never true. So...
Water is essential to survival and as the world’s population grows, the demand for water will increase. For many part...
Vaping is a growing trend among teens around the country. Though e-cigs are often marketed as a healthier alternative...
Species are dying out at alarmingly high rates. Find out why this is happening, what effects it may have and decide f...
Nuclear weapons are seriously deadly. But a defense strategy called "Nuclear Deterrence" might make it less likely fo...
College campuses across the United States have found themselves at the center of a raging free speech debate. As cont...
Dive into the science and policy surrounding the use of genetically engineered mosquitoes to combat mosquito-borne di...