Ben Cost
Ben Cost is a features reporter known for covering a wide range of topics from shark attacks to TikTokkers with Michael Jackson phobias and individuals who sue Apple for billion-dollar lawsuits over iPhone malfunctions. His exclusives have included unique stories such as a cicada tasting menu celebrating their return to NYC after 17 years and fishing for large sharks amid attacks in New York City. Prior to working at The Post, Ben lived in Shanghai where he served as food editor and later senior editor at Shanghaiist, one of China's largest English language blogs. He ran a monthly column about exotic foods and worked as a community editor for City Weekend before serving as managing editor of Shanghai Expat, a city guide and forum for foreigners living in Shanghai. Ben enjoys fishing, biking, making puns, watching 'Sopranos', and exploring NYC's boroughs for undiscovered culinary gems.
94%
The Daily's Verdict
This author is known for its high journalistic standards. The author strives to maintain neutrality and transparency in its reporting, and avoids conflicts of interest. The author has a reputation for accuracy and rarely gets contradicted on major discrepancies in its reporting.
Bias
98%
Examples:
- Ben appears to have a neutral reporting style with no clear political or ideological leanings.
- He covers a wide range of topics, from scientific discoveries to unusual human interest stories.
Conflicts of Interest
98%
Examples:
- No significant conflicts of interest have been identified in Ben's reporting.
Contradictions
96%
Examples:
- Another article states that a space laser transmission struck Earth from 140 million miles away, according to NASA. However, there is no evidence or source provided for this claim.
- In one article, it is mentioned that Wendy's 1-cent burger promotion is available exclusively on the app and website and that customers must buy another item to redeem the offer. The promotion is not actually a true 1-cent burger as suggested by the title.
Deceptions
88%
Examples:
- In one article, the headline 'Another planet discovered that may support human life – and it's not that far away' might be misleading for some readers as the article doesn't provide clear details about how close this planet is to Earth or if it is indeed habitable.
- The same article also uses sensational language like 'Move over, Mars. We could be one step closer to becoming a multi-planetary species.' which may not accurately reflect the scientific findings.
Recent Articles
Upcoming Celestial Spectacle: Witness the Blaze Star's Once-in-a-Lifetime Nova Explosion in Corona Borealis
Broke On: Wednesday, 19 June 2024Prepare for a once-in-a-lifetime celestial event: The Blaze Star, or T Coronae Borealis, a white dwarf star in the constellation Corona Borealis, is predicted to explode and become visible to the naked eye between June and September 2024. This rare occurrence offers astronomers valuable insights into nova explosions and stellar evolution. Stargazers should monitor Corona Borealis for signs of the Blaze Star's explosion during clear nights when the moon is not present or only partially illuminated. 
Powerful X-Class Solar Flares from Sunspot AR3664: Possible Sign of Upcoming Solar Storms
Broke On: Friday, 10 May 2024A powerful X-class solar flare from sunspot AR3664, responsible for May 2024's historic G5 geomagnetic storm and auroras, erupted yesterday. This sunspot group, which has spent time on the far side of the sun, is now rotating back into view and may bring another solar storm with potential impacts on technology and infrastructure. 
Wendy's Offers Jr. Bacon Cheeseburgers for 1 Cent Each: A Limited-Time Deal Amidst Rising Prices
Broke On: Saturday, 25 May 2024Wendy's offers Jr. Bacon Cheeseburgers for a penny each from May 28 to June 2 as part of National Hamburger Day promotion. Customers can register on the app or website to take advantage, with validity at participating locations and no combination of digital offers allowed. 
Newly Discovered Exoplanet Gliese 12 b: An Earth-Sized World Orbiting a Red Dwarf Star
Broke On: Thursday, 23 May 2024In May 2024, NASA's TESS spacecraft announced the discovery of Gliese 12 b, an Earth-sized planet orbiting a red dwarf star approximately 40 light years away. With an estimated size similar to Earth and a surface temperature around 107 degrees Fahrenheit, this intriguing exoplanet is a potential candidate for further study in understanding habitability pathways. 
NASA's Psyche Spacecraft Sets Record with 140 Million-Mile Optical Data Transmission
Broke On: Saturday, 08 April 2023NASA's Psyche spacecraft sets a new record by transmitting laser data from 140 million miles away, marking a significant milestone in deep space communication. The achievement, using NASA's Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) technology, demonstrates the potential for high-speed data transmission and opens up possibilities for future missions. Lunar Crystals Suggest Moon is Older Than Previously Estimated
Broke On: Tuesday, 24 October 2023The Moon is approximately 40 million years older than previously believed, according to a recent study. This discovery was made through the analysis of lunar rock samples brought back by the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The samples contained zircon crystals, which were examined to determine the age of the Moon. The study used uranium-lead dating to measure the age of the zircon crystals. The results indicated that the Moon is around 4.51 billion years old, rather than the previously estimated 4.47 billion years.