Where is ‘rural America,’ and what does it look like?
'Rural America' is a deceptively simple term for a remarkably diverse collection of places. Understanding – and improving – these parts of the country is critical for all Americans.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Inside Rural America
Diversity is on the rise in urban and rural communities, and it’s here to stay
Nine out of 10 rural places experienced increases in diversity from 1990 to 2010. Data show a more diverse future is guaranteed across all of America, and there's no going back.
Analysis and Comment
Can Trump resist the power of behavioral science’s dark side?
Dozens of governments have been using the insights from the burgeoning field to 'nudge' citizens in ways that improve their well-being. But some worry Trump might use it for less altruistic ends.
In latest skirmish of western land wars, Congress supports mining and ranching
Republicans in Congress are working to kill an Obama administration rule that broadens public input into federal land use planning. Hunters, fishermen, hikers and environmental groups are opposed.
Is your smartphone making you shy?
Some have said that technology could lead to 'a new ice age' of social isolation. Not so fast, says the author of a new book about shyness.
How governments and companies can prevent the next insider attack
Basic safeguards are not enough to protect against insider threats. It requires rethinking how to overcome the biases that cause us to dismiss the danger.
How social media stars are fighting for the Left
Content creators with millions of fans are increasingly willing to voice their political views. Their influence on American politics may be in its infancy but it is growing fast.
Building privacy right into software code
Most of today's computer languages make it hard for programmers to protect users' privacy and security. The fix is to take those tasks out of human hands entirely.
Inmates are excluded from Medicaid – here’s why it makes sense to change that
Repealing a legal provision that excludes people in prison or jail from Medicaid could improve access to treatment, save state and local governments money and reduce recidivism.
Five lessons Trump could learn from Lincoln
The most hated president in US history could teach our new leader a few things.
How much does the Johnson Amendment curtail church freedom?
The Johnson Amendment requires houses of worship to stay away from politics to receive tax exemptions. Yet, their leaders can speak out in a variety of ways that could reflect their religious views.
Could your Fitbit data be used to deny you health insurance?
Soon, wearable fitness devices will be able to diagnose diseases. Could that lead insurers to deny coverage to people based on their data alone?
Russia, Trump and the 2016 election: What’s the best way for Congress to investigate?
Research on more than 50 government investigations reveals how partisanship can get in the way of finding answers we all agree on.
Did Abraham Lincoln’s bromance alter the course of American history?
Would Abraham Lincoln ever have become president if he didn't stumble into a dry goods store in Springfield, Illinois, and strike up a friendship with its owner, Joshua Speed?
Oroville dam danger shows how Trump could win big on infrastructure
For a small price, Donald Trump could score the easy win he's been waiting for.
White House in turmoil shows why Trump’s no CEO
He campaigned on the notion that his business experience would equip him to 'make America great again,' but running a family company is poor training for the presidency.
What makes a mountain, hill or prairie a ‘sacred’ place for Native Americans?
Pope Francis appears to have defended Native American protests on the North Dakota pipeline issue. Indigenous cultures have a right to defend 'their ancestral relationship to the Earth,' he said.
Who counts as black?
With the number of multiracial Americans growing, there's a fierce debate in the black community over who's black – and who isn't.
How robots could help chronically ill kids attend school
Students with chronic illness often get only a few hours of education a week. Telepresence robots could let them participate fully in classroom and school activities.
Are fossil fuel companies telling investors enough about the risks of climate change?
The Trump administration may reverse a recent push to require oil companies to disclose more information about climate change risks to investors. Is that a good thing?
Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump: Good for Israeli-Palestinian peace?
Israeli settlements are one main reason many observers are increasingly pessimistic about the prospects for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Can Trump break through?
Personalized medicine may do more to treat rather than prevent chronic diseases
Although genomics research has the potential to revolutionize medicine, it has limitations. It may not do much to prevent many of the leading causes of death.
Why you should know about the New Thought movement
A 19th-century movement, New Thought, came to a have deep influence on the prosperity gospel - that faith could lead one to health and material wealth. What does it tell us about Trump's faith?
Combatting stereotypes: How to talk to your children
Why America needs Marvel superhero Kamala Khan now more than ever
America’s always had black inventors – even when the patent system explicitly excluded them
Will blazing a low-carbon path pay off for California?
Trump’s border plan for Canada? So far, not a wall
Travel ban
Immigration and crime: What does the research say?
Our panel of experts examines whether immigration leads to more crime using data from across 200 metropolitan areas and 20 years of research.
Refugees: Is there room for a middle ground?
Trump loses appeal, but travel ban fight isn’t over yet
Syrian refugees ‘detrimental’ to Americans? The numbers tell a different story
How a travel ban could worsen doctor shortages in US hospitals and threaten primary care
History shows Trump will face legal challenges to detaining immigrants
The best legal arguments against Trump’s immigration ban
Trump’s immigration order is bad foreign policy
I’m a US doctor just back from Sudan, where hospitality from Muslims greeted me everywhere
Trump’s immigration ban: Will it undercut American soft power?
What’s gone wrong in the seven countries Trump included in his ban? Essential reads
Even before sanctuary cities, here’s how black Americans protected fugitive slaves
North Dakota Access Pipeline
Trump’s moves on the Dakota Access Pipeline portend more clashes with states
A new federalism? Trump's decision to green-light the Dakota Access Pipeline and early battles with states show a disregard for the sovereignty of domestic government bodies.
What makes a mountain, hill or prairie a ‘sacred’ place for Native Americans?
How will native tribes fight the Dakota Access Pipeline in court?
Five reasons why the North Dakota pipeline fight will continue in 2017
Why the Native American pipeline resistance in North Dakota is about climate justice
How the archaeological review behind the Dakota Access Pipeline went wrong
Victory at Standing Rock reflects a failure of US energy and climate policy
Misinformation
You are the new gatekeeper of the news
Before you share another article on Facebook, consider your responsibility to make sure what you post is true.
2017 isn’t ‘1984’ – it’s stranger than Orwell imagined
Trump isn’t lying, he’s bullshitting – and it’s far more dangerous
The challenge facing libraries in an era of fake news
Experts’ roundtable: The future of journalism in Trump’s America
Why do we fall for fake news?
Unbelievable news? Read it again and you might think it’s true
Conservation
Galapagos giant tortoises make a comeback, thanks to innovative conservation strategies
The Galapagos Islands' giant tortoises are one of the world's best examples of evolution. Scientists are pioneering new conservation strategies to save them from extinction and restore their habitat.
Black History Month
Research and Expert Database
Editors’ Picks
Songs of worship: Why we sing to the Lord
Sacred music joins people in a collective expression - whether of joy, sorrow or protest.
Does an anomaly in the Earth’s magnetic field portend a coming pole reversal?
Are we headed to a magnetic reversal and all the global disruption that would bring? Enter archaeomagnetism. A look at the archaeological record in southern Africa provides some clues.
Why politicians think they know better than scientists – and why that’s so dangerous
Scientists are concerned that politics will trump evidence in the new administration. A researcher of political psychology explains why these worries matter far beyond questions of science.
Trump’s vow to ‘destroy’ Johnson Amendment could wreak havoc on charitable world
President Trump recently repeated his pledge to eliminate the 63-year-old law, which bans charities from engaging in political activities, at the National Prayer Breakfast.
Should scientists engage in activism?
In the wake of the Flint water crisis and with a new notably anti-science president, U.S. scientists are reevaluating how to navigate the tension between speaking out and a fear of losing research funding.
Are you really anonymous online? Your friends on Twitter may give you away
You might think you're anonymous when you're browsing the web. But a new study shows that browsing history can often be tied to your real-world identity.
Music training speeds up brain development in children
Several brain regions engage in an amazing symphony to produce music. What then are the benefits of music training on a child?
Why time seems to fly – or trickle – by
Time is fixed, but people experience hours, months and days in very different ways. One researcher has spent decades exploring this universal phenomenon.
As Trump mulls another ‘reset’ with Russia, he should consider perils of Big Oil diplomacy
As Trump explores warmer ties to Russia, he'd be wise to brush up on the history of past resets and the role the oil industry played in each one. The results weren’t good.
Far beyond crime-ridden depravity, darknets are key strongholds of freedom of expression online
The darknet, like the open internet, is not immune from illegal activity. But many darknet users are there in search of 'hacker ethics' values such as privacy and free speech.
Circadian rhythms and the microbiome: Disrupting daily routine of gut microbes can be bad news for whole body
New research suggests our gut microbes have their own circadian rhythms that in turn influence our organ functions. Is this an explanation for how disrupting our daily patterns can cause health problems?
How can we predict the hottest year on record when weather forecasts are so uncertain?
For the third consecutive year, it's the hottest year ever. A climate scientist explains how these predictions are made and why they're completely different from forecasting the weather.
Rural America matters to all Americans
Are you part of the 86 percent of Americans who do not live in rural America? Here's why Trump's choice to lead the USDA matters to you.
Staying politically neutral is more dangerous for companies than you think
Companies historically have avoided taking stands on contentious issues, but new research suggests consumers punish businesses that don't stand up for their core values.
Evidence from states shows why Trump’s brand of Carrier-style dealmaking won’t work
States have been using tax breaks and other incentives like the kind Trump dangled before Carrier for years. There's little evidence they work, and in fact they may lead to widening inequality.
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