COVER
The 50 Best Inventions (The 50 Best Inventions Of The Year)
The year's most inspired ideas, innovations and revolutions, from the microscopic to the stratospheric
Behind the Cover
Jamie Chung on photographing the hummingbird
The Surveillance Hummingbird
Video: Watch it fly and spy
FEATURES
The Anti Oprah (Profile)
She insults her fans, and they love her for it. How Chelsea Handler turned her frank, vulgar comedy act into a media empire
Below The Line (Nation)
For a decade, the ranks of the poor have been rising. Debunking myths about poverty in America could help change that
Portraits of American Poverty
Danish photographer Joakim Eskildsen traveled to five states to document the growing crisis. His photographs appear in the new issue of TIME
The New Poor of Fresno
Chronic job losses, foreclosures and evictions have made for harder times in Fresno, Calif., which has suffered economically for years. TIME meets Fresno residents in an emerging category of poverty: the new poor
The New New New Newt (Nation)
Right on schedule, Gingrich surges in the polls. Can he force a showdown with Mitt Romney?
A Flicker of Consciousness (Science)
A vegetative state is a life sentence. New research on the minimally conscious may help commute it
COMMENTARY
The Penn State Effect (Viewpoint)
Will the breakdown of morals in State College herald a new era of responsibility?
How to Be a Real Superpower (Worldview)
China has enjoyed peace, stability and free trade. It should also help produce them
Attack of the Euro Wonks (The Curious Capitalist)
Political, not technocratic, leadership is what the euro zone needs now
BRIEFING
Black Friday Goes Ballistic (Business)
Big Deal. (Business)
Are investors gearing up for Groupon remorse?
Quitting Time (Economy)
More people are telling the boss to shove it--and that's good news
Buy American (Economy)
Buffett bets on a U.S. rebound
The Big Questions: By Mark Halperin (Nation)
Briefing
World
Milestones (Milestones)
Evelyn Lauder (Milestones)
Bil Keane (Milestones)
LightBox
BUSINESS
France: The End of the Welfare State (Europe)
Debt crises, aging populations and slow economic growth could end Europe's belle vie
Super Mario Swoops In (Game Changer)
New European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi is the euro's last line of defense
THE CULTURE
Pop Chart
The Dream Machine (Holiday Movie Preview)
Scorsese's lost-boy adventure is a masterpiece
While Rome Burns (Holiday Movie Preview)
Ralph Fiennes and Shakespeare go to war
Tintin In Hollywood (Holiday Movie Preview)
How Steven Spielberg brought the classic comic-book character to 3-D life
The Nanny-Cam Diaries (Holiday Movie Preview)
Jonah Hill plays a hapless babysitter in his new movie. How did he fare with a TIME writer's 2-year-old?
The Goddess Who Fell to Earth (Holiday Movie Preview)
Michelle Williams rekindles Marilyn's magic
The Cuckold's Nest (Holiday Movie Preview)
George Clooney wrangles a fractious family
The Wild Irish Boy (Holiday Movie Preview)
Superhero, hunger striker, Mr. Rochester, psychiatrist, sex addict. Michael Fassbender can play anyone--with or without his clothes on
Move Over, City Slicker (The Awesome Column)
Billy Crystal isn't the only guy in town who can help save the Oscars
10 Questions for Daniel Kahneman (10 Questions)
Psychologist and Nobel-winning economist Daniel Kahneman on why people don't make rational choices
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Person of the Year.
We asked TIME 100 honorees to submit nominations for 2011's Person of the Year. Some selections