Violence has long been a feature of American elections
In America's past, efforts by disadvantaged citizens to secure greater political influence have been met with violent repression.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
US Presidential election
What Theresa May could teach America’s next president about leading a divided country
Will it be possible to put America's political life back together after the election? Britain after 'Brexit' offers a case study.
Q&A with Yale scholar: How the FBI has meddled in politics before
A historian and biographer of J. Edgar Hoover answers questions on how FBI director James Comey is handling a position with a dark past.
Voters in Texas, North Carolina, Ohio and Florida are changing the swing state map
How southern accents, Puerto Ricans and bias at the polls could change the map of traditional swing states as we know it.
Analysis and Comment
A president in a pantsuit?
A fashion historian describes the controversial history of the pantsuit – and how Clinton transformed her signature ensemble into a rallying cry for female empowerment.
How to deal with election anger? Try a little tenderness
This election season has brought more anger and name-calling than any in recent history, and it has affected many of us. Here are some ways you can ward off some of the stress associated with it.
Climate change could be a unifying cause of millennials, but will they vote?
Unlike other issues, climate change has broad support among millennials across political parties and races. But it's unclear that they'll convert that into political activism.
In Trump, extremism found its champion – and maybe its demise
Trump has given extremists a high-profile stage, but in the process exposed them to the disinfecting sunlight.
Libertarian economics: A philosophical critique
Are the Libertarians a viable alternative to Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump? A political philosopher who studies economic justice looks at the platform.
Civility at the core of American democracy, whatever politicians say
A philosopher argues that Trumpism may have vulgarized electoral politics, but he has also unwittingly illuminated brilliantly one of America's greatest accomplishments: a civil democracy
What can the mass ‘check-in’ at Standing Rock tell us about online advocacy?
While online action alone can't solve a problem, it can be a very useful tool to mobilize people and focus attention on a crucial issue.
Why understanding Native American religion is important for resolving the Dakota Access Pipeline crisis
A scholar explains what makes landscapes sacred in Native American religion and why there needs to be a better understanding of the ties to the land.
Here’s why daylight saving time isn’t worth the trouble it causes
Daylight saving time advocates say it conserves energy and wins wars. But studies show that injuries and illnesses rise when we switch the clocks. One solution: staying on DST year-round.
Understanding the genes that make our circadian clocks tick
Gaining a better sense of what genes are involved in regulating circadian clocks could put us on a path to find better treatments and therapies to help people adjust to time shifts.
Dylann Roof, Michael Slager on trial: Five essential reads on Charleston
Two major trials in the killings of black victims in South Carolina start this week. Learn about the state's past and present struggle with racial violence in this roundup.
Partisan attacks on Clinton Foundation obscure real issues with how it’s run
Many critics have made outlandish claims, yet beyond the partisan noise there are legitimate concerns that deserve closer scrutiny.
History points to more dangerous Malheur-style standoffs
Acquitted in the Malheur takeover trial, Ryan Bundy urges protests against efforts to conserve public lands. Who will protect federal employees?
Masculine culture responsible for keeping women out of computer science, engineering
Masculine cultures foster a greater sense of belonging and ability to be successful in boys than they do in girls.
What HBO’s Westworld gets wrong (and right) about human nature
In 'Westworld's' land of robots, it's the people who lack humanity.
Q+A: what the High Court ruling means for Brexit
A landmark decision means the government will not be allowed to trigger Article 50 without putting it to a parliamentary vote.
Maine ballot initiative would let voters rank candidates
What if you could go into a voting booth and rank your first, second and third choices? It could happen in Maine, if voters approve.
When ‘energy’ drinks actually contained radioactive energy
Back in the early 1900s, if you felt a bit sluggish you could reach for a beverage enhanced with radioactive elements to really add some pep to your step. It wouldn't be a healthy choice, though.
Urban nation: What’s at stake for cities in the 2016 elections
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have painted starkly different views of U.S. cities during the campaign. Will the next president deliver the funding and political support mayors are seeking?
Science deconstructs humor: What makes some things funny?
One viral video might leave you in stitches; another leaves you cold. Psychology researchers have worked out several theories of humor to explain why.
Counting 11 million undocumented immigrants is easier than you think
How can we possibly know how many millions of people are living in the U.S. illegally? Demographers have actually refined a simple formula that's worked pretty well since the 1970s.
Californians backing cigarette tax boost, even though Big Tobacco spending millions
California, the nation's single largest market for cigarettes, has one of the lowest taxes on them. A proposal to raise the tax by US$2 a pack could signal a sea change.
Restoring transparency and fairness to the FBI investigation of Clinton emails
Huma Abedin's emails belong to her; the search warrant should be served upon her. Once that happens, she can challenge the warrant's legality.
Why the Supreme Court matters for workers
How US policy in Honduras set the stage for today’s mass migration
Why you shouldn’t blame lying on the brain
Why the current plan to save the endangered vaquita porpoise won’t work
The myth of the disappearing book
Are we streaming into political participation through a personalized, on-demand TV diet?
Research and News
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Health Care
Here’s how the next president could work with Congress to fix Obamacare
Double-digit premium increases are leading to an outcry that the Affordable Care Act is not working, yet parts of it are. Here’s what works, and ideas on how to fix what doesn't.
A fractured system: where do you go when you suddenly need health care?
Drug prices: Where do we go after the Election?
Could Colorado’s proposed health care plan be a model for the rest of us?
Three reasons the US doesn’t have universal health coverage
Could the candidates truly fix – or nix – Obamacare? Six essential reads
Love it or hate it, Obamacare has expanded coverage for millions
What’s ailing the ACA: Insurers or Congress?
Why insurance companies control your medical care
Trump’s health care plan: not truly on point
Going public: Could Clinton’s health care proposals work?
Another cost of smoking: Sky-high insurance
Cybersecurity
Securing the voting process: Four essential reads
While voter fraud - despite recent allegations - is rare, how do we ensure the ballots we cast are counted accurately? If so, how? Our experts offer background and insight.
How vulnerable to hacking is the US election cyber infrastructure?
With the DNC email leak and Trump calling on Russia to hack Clinton's emails, concern about foreign meddling in the 2016 presidential election process is rising. Is e-voting the next cyber battleground?
Climate change
Global climate talks move to Marrakesh: Here’s what they need to achieve
Negotiators face a daunting task at the COP22 climate talks in Marrakesh: Build on the momentum of Paris and resolve difficult questions over money for poor countries.
We can’t simply bet on renewable energy to stop global warming
Wind and solar farms are great. But we need to reduce energy demand and start taking carbon out of the atmosphere.
The ocean is losing its breath – and climate change is making it worse
Warming waters due to climate change are losing oxygen, threatening the health of fish and ecosystems.
Presidential race
How hard is it to rig an election?
Very hard, writes a political scientist who studies election administration.
US Presidential election
Research and Expert Database
Editors’ Picks
With the familiar Cavendish banana in danger, can science help it survive?
Every single Cavendish banana plant worldwide is genetically identical. This vast monoculture sets them up for disastrous disease outbreaks. But researchers have ideas on how to protect the crop.
The psychology behind why clowns creep us out
Random clown sightings are on the rise nationwide, and no one's laughing. A psychologist who has studied creepiness explains why clowns are especially adept at making us squirm.
Why do science issues seem to divide us along party lines?
Social scientists investigate when and why liberals and conservatives mistrust science. The apparent split may be more about cultural and personal beliefs than feelings about science itself.
Can Trump create millions of jobs? Don’t bet on it
A study of the three casinos Donald Trump owned in Atlantic City shows they performed far worse than their rivals, losing more jobs and revenue.
A military view on climate change: It’s eroding our national security and we should prepare for it
Politicians are still debating whether climate change is real, but military planners call it a serious threat. A retired rear admiral explains how climate change affects U.S. national security.
Why isn’t science better? Look at career incentives
Embracing more rigorous scientific methods would mean getting science right more often than we currently do. But the way we value and reward scientists makes this a challenge.
What’s behind America’s insistence on instilling grit in kids?
One of the newest trends in education is teaching students how to develop grit. But what's even meant by 'grit'? And what if grit means something different for everyone?
Fixing US elections
Republicans want voter ID laws. Democrats want more access to the ballot. Why do we have to choose?
Feds: We can read all your email, and you’ll never know
We don't expect our own government to hack our email – but it's happening, in secret, and if current court cases go badly, we may never know how often.
How the Jim Crow internet is pushing back against Black Lives Matter
A scholar of visual culture sees a transition happening online as the alt-right reinterprets images of police shootings to push back against the gains made by Black Lives Matter.
Stumped about what to make of Obama’s TPP trade deal? You’re not alone
The 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership has its share of boosters and bashers. But for those still uncertain what it's all about and whether it's worth it, here's a primer.
Why you shouldn’t want to always be happy
The positive psychology movement led to hundreds of studies dedicated to improving human happiness. So why has nothing changed?
Five key debate moments that altered the course of a presidential race
Policy nuances often fail to stick in the minds of debate viewers. It's all about delivering the most memorable moment.
A tale of two GDPs: Why Republicans and Democrats live in different economic realities
New research shows that ideological media employ a powerful method to bias partisans' economic beliefs. In turn, partisans perform mental gymnastics worthy of Simone Biles to preserve those biases.
Sexting might actually be a sign of a committed relationship
A human development researcher decided to find out if people who are anxious about dating or about what their partner thinks of them are more likely to sext.
Most Read past week
- Here’s why daylight saving time isn’t worth the trouble it causes
- With the familiar Cavendish banana in danger, can science help it survive?
- When ‘energy’ drinks actually contained radioactive energy
- Why understanding Native American religion is important for resolving the Dakota Access Pipeline crisis
- Here’s what happens to your brain when you give up sugar for Lent
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