Trump’s address to Congress: Expert reaction
Three scholars grade Trump's first address to Congress. How did he do on Obamacare? What would his 'merit-based' immigration proposal mean? And can he play nice with others
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Politics
Donald Trump and Andrew Jackson: More in common than just populism
Comparisons often ignore the troubling history of how Jackson treated Native Americans. An expert on Native American history draws parallels to the new administration.
Explainer: what is protectionism and could it benefit the US economy?
The largest economy on the planet is quickly moving to a protectionist stance in its international trade.
Analysis and Comment
Can Ben Carson use the power of HUD to make America happier?
Part of HUD's budget goes to improving American cities. Social media monitoring offers a novel way to judge if that money is being well spent.
How we discovered the world’s oldest fossils
Tiny tubes and filaments of iron found in rocks in Canada turned out to be the remains of microbes from over 3.7 billion years ago.
Dealing with hate: Can America’s truth and reconciliation commissions help?
The first US Truth and Reconciliation Commission was set up in 1999. Here's why truth commissions matter today.
Reprintable paper becomes a reality
Coating paper with an inexpensive thin film can allow users to print and erase a physical page as many as 80 times. That reduces both the cost and the environmental effects of paper use.
Culling sharks won’t protect surfers
Professional surfers have called for culling sharks to reduce the risk of attacks. A shark biologist explains why culling will not work and surfers should accept risk when they enter the water.
Edible marijuana: What we need to know
Edible marijuana, especially in forms that are appealing to young people, is problematic. Here are things to consider to keep kids safe.
Japan’s gender-bending history
In Japanese popular culture, new trends come and go. But the Japanese have toyed with gender norms for generations.
Choosy consumers drive a near 1,000% spike in vanilla prices
Scientists' success in producing synthetic vanilla flavouring means it is used 99% of the time. So why does the price of genuine beans keep rising?
Can the black press stay relevant?
From the treatment of black World War II veterans to Emmett Till's murder, the black press helped lay the groundwork for the civil rights movement. What role can it play today?
Why farmers and ranchers think the EPA Clean Water Rule goes too far
President Trump signed an executive order to roll back the 2015 Clean Water Rule. Two water experts explain why the rule alarms farmers and ranchers concerned about over-regulation.
America has not always been as welcoming to refugees as we think
Trump's travel ban is an echo of policies passed in the United States during World War II.
The Democratic Party is facing a demographic crisis
As America becomes more diverse, many think it will also become more progressive. But one analysis of demographic trends points to gains for Republicans.
How the NEA’s measly millions keep America’s museums alive
Trump has indicated he wants to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts in his budget to save money. The impact on many US museums could be devastating.
Air pollution exposure may increase risk of dementia
New research shows that exposure to fine particulate air pollution may double the risk of dementia in older women by increasing growth of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain.
America’s mass deportation system is rooted in racism
From Chinese laborers to 'bad hombres,' the US settler mentality has perpetuated an immigration system that pushes out unwanted groups and bypasses the Constitution.
Why mass deportations are costly and hurt the economy
Following through on campaign promises to forcibly evict several million illegal immigrants, Trump has set in motion a plan to deport those with criminal records. But doing so won't come cheap.
Who are the Sufis and why does ISIS see them as threatening?
Around the world, Muslims and non-Muslims celebrate Sufi saints and gather together for worship in their shrines, offering an example of pluralism. But groups such as IS oppose this.
California’s rain may shed light on new questions about what causes earthquakes
Can California's wet weather make earthquakes more likely? Scientists are still learning about what triggers these events. Even human activity can be a culprit.
The destructive life of a Mardi Gras bead
Safe and ethical ways to edit the human genome
Cybersecurity of the power grid: A growing challenge
The transgender bathroom controversy: Four essential reads
Why Trump’s EPA is far more vulnerable to attack than Reagan’s or Bush’s
Hidden figures: How black women preachers spoke truth to power
Uber’s dismissive treatment of employee’s sexism claims is all too typical
How undocumented immigrants negotiate a place for themselves in America
Who exactly are ‘radical’ Muslims?
Healthcare
Do you know what the Affordable Care Act does? Here’s a primer to help
Opinions are strong about the Affordable Care Act, but not everyone understands what the nearly 1,000-page law does. In case you missed the high points of the law, here's a primer to help.
Travel ban
Threats of violent Islamist and far-right extremism: What does the research say?
Data on violent incidents in the US reveal that our focus on Islamist extremism since 9/11 may be misguided.
Refugees: Is there room for a middle ground?
Immigration and crime: What does the research say?
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
Trump’s immigration order is bad foreign policy
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
Misinformation
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.
Seeking truth among ‘alternative facts’
You are the new gatekeeper of the news
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
Inside Rural America
Research and Expert Database
Editors’ Picks
Why you should date your best friend
Looking for a lifelong Valentine? Psychologists suggest taking a closer look at your best friend. The things we want in a good friend are many of the same things we expect from a romantic partner.
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.
How Iranian filmmakers like Asghar Farhadi defy the censors
Their critiques may be more gentle, their attacks more circumspect – but they are resonant nonetheless. And when filmmakers like Farhadi confront Trump, they're on familiar turf: They've seen his type back home.
Want a stronger economy? Give immigrants a warm welcome
Trump's plans to build a wall with Mexico and deport millions of people in the US illegally cast immigrants as an economic threat to Americans. The evidence suggests otherwise.
How the ‘guerrilla archivists’ saved history – and are doing it again under Trump
Activists today are racing to save climate records from the Trump administration. Secret archives were a powerful way to fight hostile political climates throughout history – from the Nazis to the Islamic State.
Five lessons Trump could learn from Lincoln
The most hated president in US history could teach our new leader a few things.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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