Emma Kumer

1 month ago | nzherald.co.nz | Emma Kumer |Shikha Subramaniam

A branch of spring blossoms catches the light as pollen drifts through the air. Photo / Getty ImagesSpring’s “outside smell” is a mix of ozone and geosmin, creating a fresh, earthy scent. Smells linger on clothes and hair due to molecules like ozone, especially noticeable when indoors. Perception of smell varies; associations and context influence whether it’s perceived as pleasant or not. Spring has sprung – and in many parts of the world, you can smell it.

1 month ago | washingtonpost.com | Emma Kumer |Shikha Subramaniam

The outdoors has a particular smell, but why is that? (washingtonpost.com) The outdoors has a particular smell, but why is that? By Emma Kumer; Shikha Subramaniam 2025050310001000 Spring has sprung — and in many parts of the world, you can smell it. The air might smell sweeter, with notes of budding florals and pollen. But there are complex parts of the scent, too, more metallic notes of fresh air and breeze.

2 months ago | washingtonpost.com | Jenny Gathright |Meagan Flynn |Emma Kumer |Rekha Tenjarla

She’s been D.C.’s mayor for a decade. Here’s how her vision changed the city. (washingtonpost.com) She’s been D.C.’s mayor for a decade. Here’s how her vision changed the city. By Jenny Gathright; Meagan Flynn; Emma Kumer; Rekha Tenjarla 2025041310004100 In a nation that has undergone lasting, dramatic change over the past decade — a devastating pandemic, a racial reckoning, three U.S. presidents — one constant in D.C. has been Mayor Muriel E. Bowser.

Mar 21, 2025 | washingtonpost.com | Rachel Lerman |Nitasha Tiku |Emma Kumer

When Elon Musk launched a new version of his artificial intelligence chatbot Grok last month, he said it would be “maximally truth-seeking … even if that truth is sometimes at odds with what is politically correct.”But Grok is often at odds with Musk himself, according to tests by The Washington Post.

Mar 21, 2025 | flipboard.com | Rachel Lerman |Nitasha Tiku |Emma Kumer

13 hours agoWhy Elon Musk's Grok is kicking up a storm in IndiaIt all started with one question. A query last week from an X (formerly Twitter) account called Toka was enough to propel Elon Musk's built in-chatbot called Grok 3 into a viral storm across India's digital landscape. And no, it wasn't some complex math equation or a philosophical debate.