Are third-party candidates spoilers? What voting data reveal
Third-party candidates often claim they bring out new voters. Is it true?
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Voter behavior
Analysis and Comment
Many household products contain antimicrobial chemicals banned from soaps by the FDA
Products not under the FDA's jurisdiction don't have to list whether they contain any of the antimicrobial chemicals banned in soap by the agency.
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.
Why the ‘free market’ for drugs doesn’t work and what we can do about it
Trump has vowed to use new bidding procedures to curb the soaring cost of new drugs. There's a better solution, however, that doesn't risk also curbing the development of lifesaving treatments.
Donald Trump, Betsy DeVos and school choice: Eight essential reads
Trump's billionaire nominee for secretary of education has stirred up debate about the effectiveness of school choice. What does the research say? And, who is Betsy DeVos?
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.
Trump snubs ethical norms because we’ve forgotten why they matter
We haven't had a major government ethics scandal since Watergate, which means Americans have forgotten how bad it can be. That's why Trump may end up accidentally reminding us.
One way Trump is different from European nationalists
An historian based in Poland sees many similarities between Trump and authoritarian nationalists like Poland's Jarosław Kaczyński. But the parallels only go so far.
Using electricity, not molecules, to switch cells on and off
New research works out how to translate between the language of biology – molecules – and the language of microelectronics – electrons. It could open the door to new kinds of biosensors and therapeutics.
Why the legacy of Shakers will endure
The Shakers prioritized harmony and a simple lifestyle. They were among the earliest proponents of gender equality.
Theresa May’s hard Brexit hinges on a dated vision of global trade
The PM is overestimating Brexit Britain's place in the world as she boldly strides out of the single market.
Theresa May confirms it’ll be a hard Brexit – here’s what that means for trade
The UK's decision to leave the single market and customs union will have huge consequences.
Can marijuana treat MS symptoms? It’s hard for researchers to find out
There are many anecdotal reports indicating cannabis' beneficial effects for treating MS symptoms, but research with cannabis is difficult to do.
How progressives can still make change in the age of Trump
Conservatives have been very successful framing a compelling narrative about who they are and what they stand for. Progressives will have a tough four years if they don't do the same.
Is mass murder becoming a form of protest?
New ways of expressing discontent are constantly emerging. Could mass shootings join what sociologist Charles Tilly has dubbed the 'repertoire of contention'?
Detecting methane leaks with infrared cameras: They’re fast, but are they effective?
Why a speedy US-UK trade deal is easier said than done
Namibian traditional leaders haul Germany before US court in genocide test case
What shaped King’s prophetic vision?
To honor Dr. King, pediatricians offer four tips to teach kindness to kids
Military honor in the age of Trump
What does Trump’s election mean for digital freedom of speech?
Confirmation hearings
Can Ryan Zinke balance conservation and development as interior secretary?
If US Rep. Ryan Zinke of Montana is confirmed as interior secretary, he will face difficult choices about balancing extractive activities like energy production with conservation on public lands.
US health care
Rural America, already hurting, could be most harmed by Trump’s promise to repeal Obamacare
Repeal and replacement of Obamacare would hurt rural health care, causing closure of hospitals and physician practices. What does this mean for a group of people whom Donald Trump has pledged to help?
As Republicans ready to dismantle ACA, insurers likely to bolt
Trump's pledge to repeal and replace Obamacare already has weakened the health insurance market and likely will weaken it more. The instability will be costly, in more ways than one.
Misinformation
The challenge facing libraries in an era of fake news
Since the 19th century academic librarians have helped students navigate the complex world of information. In today's unpredictable information environment, how might they rethink their role?
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
It wasn’t just ‘fake news’ presenting a fake Hillary Clinton
Misinformation on social media: Can technology save us?
Facebook’s problem is more complicated than fake news
Three ways Facebook could reduce fake news without resorting to censorship
Presidential transition
Research and Expert Database
Editors’ Picks
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.
Getting a scientific message across means taking human nature into account
Quirks of human psychology can pose problems for science communicators trying to cover controversial topics. Recognizing what cognitive science knows about how we deal with new information could help.
Does nonpartisan journalism have a future?
In a complex media environment, it's become incredibly difficult for the neutral press to point out Donald Trump's lies without having that information discounted as partisan bias.
The factories of the past are turning into the data centers of the future
Data centers are taking over the factories where workers once processed checks, baked bread and printed Bibles. What will the rise of the information-based economy mean for American cities?
Normalizing fascists
In the 1920s and early 1930s, American journalists tended to put the ascendant fascists on a normal footing.
She phubbs me, she phubbs me not: Smartphones could be ruining your love life
Phone snubbing, or 'phubbing,' has become a real relationship downer.
Trump is not a European-style populist. That’s our problem
Europe's populists are taking advantage of Trump’s victory, but the comparison only goes so far.
Forensic evidence largely not supported by sound science – now what?
Is forensic science an oxymoron? A new White House report suggests there are major issues with many of the forensic disciplines used to convict defendants of crimes in the U.S.
Eyes in the sky: Cutting NASA Earth observations would be a costly mistake
A retired rear admiral warns President-elect Trump against cutting NASA's Earth observations, which provide essential data for weather forecasters, businesses, scientists and the armed forces.
The future of genetic enhancement is not in the West
Regulations, funding and public opinion around genetically enhancing future generations vary from country to country. Here's why China may be poised to be the pioneer.
Five things that explain Donald Trump’s stunning presidential election victory
The pundits and polls got it wrong. Here's why.
Facebook’s problem is more complicated than fake news
Even if fake articles could be curbed and filtered news modified, there's something built into Facebook's anatomy that foments partisan rage.
This election was not hacked – but it was attacked
Though there is no indication hackers affected the outcome of the election, we still must act to improve the cybersecurity of American elections.
The perils of a life in isolation
When human contact is cut off, the brain begins to act in strange ways to preserve its sanity.
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.
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