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Editor's note
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Scientists have documented five mass extinctions in Earth’s history – events when abnormally large numbers of species died out at the same time or during a short period. Many think we are entering a sixth mass extinction now, driven by climate change, habitat destruction and other human impacts on the planet.
That makes the international effort to save the Galapagos Islands’ giant tortoises especially encouraging. SUNY ESF biologist James Gibbs, who has been involved in this work for years, describes the innovative techniques that have helped bring tortoises back from the brink, such as “head-starting” hatchlings in captivity and releasing them after they grow to predator-proof size. There is much work still to do, but at least in this case, humans are reversing the damage done by some of their predecessors.
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Jennifer Weeks
Editor, Environment and Energy
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Top story
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Giant tortoise on Pinzon Island, Galapagos.
Rory Stansbury, Island Conservation/Flickr
James P. Gibbs, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
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.
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Environment + Energy
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Elizabeth Suhay, American University
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.
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Daniel P. Aldrich, Northeastern University
Disaster preparations often focus on gear and logistics, but research in Japan after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami shows that strong social ties played a key role in helping communities rebound.
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Health + Medicine
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Sharon Horesh Bergquist, Emory University
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.
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Ashwin Vasan, Columbia University
We need to take a close look at how primary care systems function in places at great risk of epidemic disease, and what we can do to make these systems more resilient.
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Ethics + Religion
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Christopher H. Evans, Boston University
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?
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Firmin DeBrabander, Maryland Institute College of Art
Romantic love is seen as the answer to life’s problems, when it could often be the start of many headaches and heartaches. So, what is true love?
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Politics + Society
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Michael Berkman, Pennsylvania State University
A unique poll from Penn State’s McCourtney Institute for Democracy tracks how the nation is feeling.
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Jordan Tama, American University School of International Service
Research on more than 50 government investigations reveals how partisanship can get in the way of finding answers we all agree on.
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Science + Technology
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Shontavia Johnson, Drake University
American slaves couldn't hold property – including patents on their own inventions. But that didn't stop black Americans from innovating since the beginning of the country's history.
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Andrew Boyd, University of Illinois at Chicago
Soon, wearable fitness devices will be able to diagnose diseases. Could that lead insurers to deny coverage to people based on their data alone?
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Scott Shackelford, Indiana University
Recent developments at the United Nations and the G-20 suggest that the well-known human rights to privacy and freedom of expression may soon be formally extended to online communications.
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Arts + Culture
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Katie M. Logan, Virginia Commonwealth University
The Marvel superhero directly confronts a 'war on terror culture' that regards Muslim-Americans as threats.
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Ronald Hall, Michigan State University
With the number of multiracial Americans growing, there's a fierce debate in the black community over who's black – and who isn't.
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Economy + Business
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Philip Hackney, Louisiana State University ; Brian Mittendorf, The Ohio State University
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.
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Bert Spector, Northeastern University
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.
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