Georgia's refusal to process 53,000 voter registrations, mostly filed by African-Americans, is the latest in a long history of black voter suppression in the South, from poll taxes to literacy tests.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Midterms
Beneath the surface, this traditionally conservative state is closely divided.
Analysis and Comment
Regular hand washing is important not only to keep from getting the flu but also to prevent passing it to others, such as young children and seniors, who may be even more vulnerable. Here's how.
A court case in which Harvard College is accused of discriminating against Asian-Americans could spell the end of race-conscious affirmative action.
Part of the problem was a mismatch between the influenza strains circulating and the vaccine available. Here's how annual flu shots are formulated.
Outed. Denied care. Openly harassed. These are just a few of the experiences reported by American transgender and non-binary individuals when seeking medical care or social services.
E-cigarettes are hotly debated because of the uncertainty of whether they are a gateway to cigarette smoking for teens, or an aid to smoking cessation. One thing is clear: They are not biodegradable.
Critics say Trump's defense of Saudi Arabia in the Khashoggi affair betrays American values. But many presidents have cozied up to dictators, ignoring human rights abuses to serve US interests.
Why is Elizabeth Warren's DNA test so controversial with Native American groups? Two Indigenous geneticists explain the history and science behind the debate.
The Trump administration is trying to spike a lawsuit against the US government arguing that there's a constitutional right to a stable climate.
Hell-themed Halloween attractions play on people's fears. The early depictions of hell were meant to use fear as a moral guide to help others.
For decades, the alternative weekly's photographers served as the eyes of the streets, working with activists to document and publicize the anguish and rage of everyday New Yorkers.
Chemists sure know how to party. And here is the proof. On October 23rd they celebrate their hallowed unit: the mole. Find out what that's all about.
There are some good explanations for the mismatch between regional support for climate action and the areas where renewable energy is making the biggest inroads.
Infrastructure systems – roads, water treatment systems, power grid – can't be built the same ways as in the past. What's a better roadmap for the future?
Lotteries purportedly generate money to support public education. Jackpots are getting bigger and bigger – but states don't seem to be spending any more on education.
Trump claimed that 'we would be punishing ourselves' by using US arms sales to Saudi Arabia as a bargaining chip over the disappearance of Khashoggi. A look at the arms trade shows why he's wrong.
Research and News
Artificial intelligence techniques like deep learning and reinforcement learning are getting increasingly advanced and capable of helping people with a wide range of complex tasks.
Chemists sure know how to party. And here is the proof. On October 23rd they celebrate their hallowed unit: the mole. Find out what that's all about.
Polio can be circulating through a community long before anyone is paralyzed. Monitoring sewage for the virus lets public health officials short-circuit this 'silent transmission.'
Midterm elections
There are different ballots, voting machines, registration and eligibility requirements and procedures for counting votes across the country. That's a recipe for occasional confusion and miscounts.
Climate change
After declining for nearly a decade, the number of hungry people in the world is growing again. Climate change, which is disrupting weather patterns that farmers rely on, is a major cause.
Breast cancer
Individuals who carry the breast cancer genes _BRCA1_ or _BRCA2_ are often unaware of the fact. That suggests that physicians need a new way to apply DNA-based screens to identify those at risk.
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Research and Expert Database
Analysis from academics around the world
Editors’ Picks
In the 'World Climate' simulation, people play delegates to UN climate negotiations and work to strike an agreement that meets global climate goals. Playing it has made thousands want to take action.
After the storm is over, it's time to rebuild – and natural disasters can affect survivors' health for years to come.
When artists destroy their works, it's usually to express their disdain for critics, dealers and curators. But does this get lost in the attention, hype and money that follows?
The lottery’s jackpot has swelled to that eye-watering sum, but research suggests hopeful ticket holders should be careful what they wish for.
Later this month, Christie's will be auctioning its first piece of AI art – a portrait created via machine learning.
Government agencies spend millions of dollars yearly to buy and demolish homes sited in floodplains. But the program is slow, cumbersome and doesn't always help those who need it most.
Trump may rhetorically attack the media, but the US still ranks 45th of 180 countries in terms of press freedom. North Korea ranks last. And Mexico is the world's most dangerous place for reporters.
American spending on pets is more than the combined GDP of the 39 poorest countries in the world. What if even a small percentage of this spending was allocated to reducing suffering, asks a philosopher.
The National Park Service is moving wolves to Isle Royale in Lake Superior to replenish a small pack on the island. Wolves prey on moose, which are overgrazing the island. It doesn't hurt that they are charismatic.
Only a small fraction of the data from archaeological fieldwork is made accessible to the public or preserved for future research.
The United States already has a space agency: NASA. So why do we need a Space Force, and what would it do? Could a Space Force strain diplomatic relationships, reigniting the race to militarize space?
Visiting a haunted house or watching a horror movie can be terrifying and enjoyable at the same time. A sociologist explains the psychological benefits of being safely scared.
What's really the most dangerous American city? The way crimes are currently counted in the US can easily confuse and mislead.
A person in the US can expect to live an average of 78.8 years. But that number can change by decades depending on the community they come from.
One of the largest concentrations of poverty in the US exists in communities at the US-Mexico border called 'colonias.' These informal settlements lack access to basic infrastructure.
Most Read past week
- How winning $1.6 billion in Mega Millions could still lead to bankruptcy
- Is apple cider vinegar good for you? A doctor weighs in
- The Mega Millions jackpot is now more than $1 billion – where does all that lottery profit really go?
- Two Native American geneticists interpret Elizabeth Warren’s DNA test
- Why bullshit hurts democracy more than lies
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