A new study lays out a road map for protecting and restoring 50% of Earth's surface, targeted to preserve biodiversity and maximize natural removal of carbon from the atmosphere.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Earth Day
Analysis and Comment
War games let you test your political and military acumen right at your kitchen table – while also helping you appreciate how decision-makers are limited by the choices of others.
President Trump has been attacking the Federal Reserve for months and recently said he might nominate two political allies to its board. An economist explain what typically happens next.
Media coverage of the Columbine school shooting that took place in 1999 has ended up becoming a playbook for school shooters in the United States and beyond, an analysis of school shootings reveals.
The blurring of politics and entertainment has become an issue in democracies around the world. But the forthcoming Ukrainian election is in a league of its own.
The Trump administration has declared the most severe new sanctions against Cuba since President John F. Kennedy imposed an economic embargo banning all trade with the communist island in 1962.
The brain can do a lot, but it is vulnerable, especially to traumatic events. Over the years, researchers have learned the unique ways in which it is damaged by experiencing or witnessing trauma.
Bolsonaro was elected to bring Brazil a 'better future.' Instead, his first months in office have been marked by mismanagement, legislative gridlock and protest.
When scandals take place at a college, the natural reaction for some people is to avoid the school. But two economists suggest potential applicants think hard about their decision.
A recent study revisited the issue about eating foods high in cholesterol, such as eggs. The findings are nuanced but suggest that those with high cholesterol may want to limit food with cholesterol.
Vladimir Putin's complaints about Western power over telecommunications echo – if not co-opt – concerns raised by less powerful nations for decades.
Pete Buttigieg's recent comments on Christian values, have drawn much attention. They might be quite similar to the ideals espoused by the Midwestern progressive Social Gospel Movement.
The news is filled with stories about inappropriate touching by politicians. But touch by politicians was long important in the US, and Abraham Lincoln's handshake helped engage and guide the nation.
A massive protest movement exploded across Nicaragua in April 2018, threatening to topple the country's authoritarian regime. What happened to Central America's 'tropical spring?'
Trump has repeatedly misconstrued the territory as not being part of the United States. But it is.
It's dangerous for the press to take up Julian Assange's cause, two journalism scholars write. Assange is no journalist, they say, and making him out to be one is likely to damage press freedoms.
Childhood asthma cases caused by traffic pollution are on the decline. But children in some parts of the country are faring better than others.
Could mothers be responsible for the gender gap? Or are other factors at play?
Recent extreme rains and weather in the Midwest are causing a multitude of problems in the topsoil that much of the nation's food supply relies on.
Government regulators and industry experts often overlook the complexities and risks of human-technology interactions and increasingly rely on companies' voluntary oversight and self-assessments.
Research and News
A recent study on the brains of pigs suggested that some activity could be restored even after the porkers had been dead for four hours. A neuroscientist who specializes in brain death explains.
The growing number of cases of measles has many people asking: Am I safe? A vaccine expert provides some answers.
AI can help make government more efficient – but at what cost? Citizens' lives could be better or worse, based on how the technology is used.
Technology experts have long worried about a 'digital divide' between those who could use computers and those who could not. Artificial intelligence algorithms are widening the gulf.
Mueller report
The Mueller report is out, heavily redacted and the investigative materials it's based on aren't public. That's where Congress comes in, writes a former House counsel. Now they can investigate.
Notre Dame
The Notre Dame Cathedral was long a powerful symbol of church authority - but it wasn't static. The design kept changing to keep up with the changing times.
The border
A scholar who travels regularly to the US-Mexico border finds ecological links and a community on the other side that welcomes American visitors.
Everyday ethics
Some parents were recently charged with paying bribes for their children's admission to top colleges. Religious thought can help us understand what drives such greed and also provide ethical guidance.
Research and Expert Database
Newsletter
Editor's Picks
In 2015, the Mormon Church barred children from same-sex marriage from the church. An expert explains why this policy was tied to a larger conservative battle against gay rights.
In order to be successful, the I Promise Academy needs to confront issues of race – much like LeBron James himself, who launched the school amid great fanfare in 2018, an education scholar argues.
People who are 65 and up can expect to live longer than ever before. Does it make sense to keep classifying everyone in this group as old? A pair of demographers argue for 'age inflation.'
Muslims are not new to America. The first Muslims came as slaves and left a deep influence on a host of music genres, such as the blues and jazz.
As the measles outbreaks spread, public health officials are trying different measures to curb it. Yet there are limits to what they can do as they balance community safety and personal freedom.
You may think that your milk-drinking, ice cream-licking days are behind you as you battle the discomfort of lactose intolerance. But there maybe be a way to reverse the situation.
This collective fundraising technique helps defuse anti-cyclist sentiment before it dooms protected bike lanes and other new infrastructure.
A psychologist unexpectedly realized that Obama's memoir 'Becoming' mirrors the life stages she's identified in a group of women she's been tracking since 1970.
The vast majority of stories told in movies, in books and on television conclude with happy endings – and this has real-world political consequences.
The Impossible Burger contains an ingredient made by genetically modified yeast. So is this new veggie burger organic? Vegan? A GM product?
There is no inherent tension between Islam and democratic values. Like any use of religion in politics, the application of Sharia as law depends on who is using it – and why.
While people often want to cheat in certain cases if it would benefit them, they also want to think of themselves as honest. Here are three steps to stay honest while filing taxes.
Backpack programs that give students easily prepared foods, like boxed macaroni and cheese and canned beans, can make a difference.
Several world leaders, including Vladimir Putin, stand accused of plagiarizing their PhD dissertations. Whether they resign, deny or ignore the allegations says a lot about the country they run.
Pet owners spend a lot more on dogs than cats, and new research suggests it has a lot to do with how differently canines and felines behave.
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- Can changing the microbiome reverse lactose intolerance?
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