September 2026

A defendant says they cannot understand the charges against them. A parent raises concerns about a child’s safety during a custody dispute. An attorney questions whether trauma may have affected a witness’s memory. In situations like these, forensic psychologists may help courts evaluate psychological evidence and understand human behavior. Their work is usually less dramatic

You pick up a new snack at the grocery store and notice that it stays crisp for months, lists allergens clearly, and tastes nearly identical every time you buy it. Those results are not accidental. A food technologist may have helped select the ingredients, refine the manufacturing process, test the packaging, and confirm that the

You may have seen an older airliner cockpit with three crew seats and wondered what the third person did. That seat often belonged to the flight engineer—the crew member responsible for closely monitoring and managing the aircraft’s mechanical, electrical, fuel, pressurization, and environmental systems. Although modern automation has made this position uncommon on newer passenger

You see a firefighter job posting and wonder whether courage and physical fitness are enough to qualify. Then you notice references to EMT certification, written testing, a medical examination, an academy, and a long hiring process. The list can feel overwhelming, especially because firefighter requirements are not identical across the United States. Most departments require

You arrive at a fire station for a community event and hear several titles within minutes: firefighter, engineer, captain and battalion chief. Who is actually in charge, and does every promotion mean moving away from emergency response? The answer depends on the department. Firefighter ranks create a chain of command, but titles, duties and promotion