Browsing: Explainers

Explainers is the reference desk for Erths — a collection of living guides to the most important issues in world affairs, technology, business, and climate.

These pages are designed to be clear, structured, and continuously updated. Each explainer sets out the basic facts, key terms, main actors, and underlying mechanics of a topic, with links to primary sources and related reporting.

Explainers are updated as new information emerges, with timestamps indicating when material changes are made. They are intended both for readers encountering a subject for the first time and for those seeking a reliable refresher grounded in evidence rather than opinion.

If you are looking for context, definitions, timelines, or an overview of how a system works — start here.