Districts across the country are facing shortages of school bus drivers. Can technology help? Zachary Crockett takes a seat in the back.

• SOURCES:
  • Keith Corso, co-founder and CEO of BusRight.
  • Marc Medina, transportation supervisor for the Farmingdale School District in Long Island.
  • Jada Melendez, school bus driver in Burlington County, New Jersey.

• RESOURCES:
  • "How St. Louis parents are dealing with school bus driver shortages," by Gabrielle Hays (PBS, 2024).
  • "The school bus driver shortage remains severe," by Sebastian Martinez Hickey and David Cooper (Economic Policy Institute, 2023).
  • "‘End of the Line’: School Bus Industry in Crisis Because of the Coronavirus," by Pranshu Verma (New York Times, 2020).

Everyone loves to complain about it — but preparing a meal that tastes good at 35,000 feet is harder than you might think. Zachary Crockett will have the fish.

• SOURCES:
  • Molly Brandt, innovation chef for North America at Gategroup.
  • Chris Kinsella, chief commercial officer for North America at Gategroup.
  • Guillaume de Syon, professor of history at Albright College.

• RESOURCES:
  • "No Thanks, Grandma, I’m Saving Room for Airplane Food," by Christine Chung (New York Times, 2023).
  • "The Golden Age of airplane food is over. The future: Snacks and sustainability." by Natalie Comptom (The Washington Post, 2019).
  • "Why does food taste different on planes?" by Katia Moskvitch (BBC, 2015).
  • "And to Penny-Pinching Wizardry," by Claudia Deutsch (New York Times, 2001).
  • "The Pioneering Years: Commercial Aviation 1920–1930," by Rich Freeman (U.S. Centennial of Flight).

Every year, America celebrates its independence with millions of dollars worth of explosives imported from China. Zachary Crockett lights a fuse and backs away quickly.

• SOURCES:
  • JJ Brau, fireworks coordinator for J&M Displays.
  • Mark Johnson, vice president of J&M Displays.

• RESOURCES:
  • "The explosive history of fireworks, from ancient China to Revolutionary America," by Joe Hernandez (NPR, 2024).
  • "July 4 fireworks fiasco solved – technically," by Jonathan Horn (The San Diego Union-Tribune, 2016).
  • "The Fireworks King," by Damian Paletta and Emily Rauhala (The Washington Post, 2018).
  • "Exploding The Mystery Of Blue Fireworks," by Short Wave (2013).
  • "How Do Fireworks Make Shapes?" by Natalie Wolchover (Live Science, 2011).

• EXTRAS:
  • "Agreement Between The City of Rapid City and J&M Displays, Inc. for Annual Fireworks Displays" (2023).