Partisan divide over income inequality makes reducing it even harder
Americans tend to agree inequality is a problem, but Democrats and Republicans have very different ideas about what is causing it and how to solve it.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Economics
Free trade is once again tearing apart the Republican Party
In 1872, free traders split with the young Republican Party, ran a third-party candidate against Ulysses S. Grant and sparked 100 years of GOP protectionism. Is history repeating itself?
Analysis and Comment
The murky ethics of Gay Talese’s ‘The Voyeur’s Motel’
When Gay Talese signed a confidentiality agreement with a motel-owning voyeur, he got access to the voyeur's journals and secret viewing perch. But he also allowed the spying to continue for over a decade.
New autism research: a nutrient called carnitine might counteract gene mutations linked with ASD risks
A gene mutation that causes problems for neural stem cells – the building blocks of the brain – could be corrected by adding carnitine.
How could we build an invisibility cloak to hide Earth from an alien civilization?
There are technological ways to hide a planet from intergalactic detection – as well as ways to signal that we're just sitting here, eager for contact.
Does the First Amendment protect religious freedom laws?
Georgia State law scholar looks to the Constitution for limits.
Russia: a global energy powerhouse that’s much more than a petro-state
Russia's energy exports are expanding far beyond oil and gas to include coal, nuclear and refined petroleum products, a trend with far-reaching geopolitical consequences.
How cults exploit one of our most basic psychological urges
In Meyerism, the fictional cult in Hulu's new TV series "The Path," a psychologist sees similarities to real-life cults.
Octopuses are super-smart … but are they conscious?
The idea of non-human consciousness raises a host of philosophical questions.
How to protect nuclear plants from terrorists
Recent terrorist attacks have heightened concerns about the security of nuclear plants. A former top U.S. nuclear regulator says security is weak at many sites worldwide.
Why Brazil’s economic rollercoaster is far from over
Brazilian politics may be in turmoil but its economy is due an upswing.
Simply punishing students for bullying will not address the problem
All states have anti-bullying laws in place. Here's why they don't work.
Handle with care – the world’s five deadliest poisons
Don't forget to wash your hands.
Has China’s coal use peaked? Here’s how to read the tea leaves
It's a transition the rest of the world is watching: How can we know whether coal use in China – the world's largest emitter – is going up or down?
U.S. companies may need to beef up data privacy – but only for Europeans
A new agreement between the European Union and the U.S. would provide more protection of Europeans' data against American mass surveillance than was required before.
Why Mugabe’s latest challenger will find it hard to break the mould
Opposition parties have emerged at different stages of Zimbabwe’s post-independence history but none have seriously threatened ZANU-PF dominance.
TV-watching couch potatoes have outsized energy footprint
People who watch a lot of TV consume a disproportionate amount of electricity so we should tailor energy efficiency incentive programs to these and other big energy users.
Are poor societies stuck with dictators?
A classical political science debate focuses on whether democracy is dependent on development. The director of the Electoral Integrity Project revisits the issue using new data from African elections.
Here’s why kids fall behind in science
A 'leaky STEM pipeline' keeps many women, racial and ethnic minorities as well as adults from low-income families from pursuing STEM careers. How early do these leaks begin?
Has Haiti’s cholera epidemic become a permanent problem?
For female architects, the loss of Zaha Hadid is personal
The novel and play that predicted Donald Trump’s rise – and countered a swell of Great Depression demagoguery
Women’s soccer shows how far we’ve come since Title IX – and what battles remain
Will we soon see another wave of bird extinctions in the Americas?
Offshore drilling: why it makes economic sense to wait
Why teachers are unable to stop bias-based bullying
A long road ahead to reduce HIV among South Africa’s sex workers
The most American pop culture phenomenon of them all
Emerging Technology
How playing video games can change your retirement
If game producers get better at targeting older gamers, many effects of aging - social, cognitive and physical - could be reduced.
Why robots need to be able to say ‘No’
How can we humans avoid harmful results of robot obedience?
Presidential race
Is it too late for Trump and Clinton to become more likable?
New research on first impressions offers hope that the presidential front-runners may still be able to win over voters who have unfavorable opinions of them.
The waning influence of American political parties
The RNC and DNC are indifferent to young voters -- and the young voters are returning the favor.
How Bernie Sanders made the Democratic Party safe for liberals
Ted Cruz, not Donald Trump, is the scariest candidate standing
The last time an outsider like Trump crashed the GOP? 1940
One hundred years of ‘birther’ arguments
The view from Ohio: Kasich’s win and what’s next
Trump crushes Rubio, but fails to shut down the race
Trump’s winning streak reveals bigotry’s appeal in GOP
Why Hillary Clinton is struggling to win over America’s young women
Zika
Explainer: where did Zika virus come from and why is it a problem in Brazil?
Zika was discovered almost 70 years ago, but wasn't associated with outbreaks until 2007. So how did this formerly obscure virus wind up causing so much trouble in Brazil?
Three ways synthetic biology could annihilate Zika and other mosquito-borne diseases
How do we know the Zika virus will cost the world $3.5 billion?
Zika: Aedes aegypti mosquitoes love biting humans, and that’s why they spread viruses so well
Zika and abortion: will the virus prompt Latin America to rethink abortion and birth control?
Zika virus: mosquitoes and travel patterns will determine spread of virus
Why it’s wrong to compare Zika to Ebola
Here’s why we don’t have a vaccine for Zika (and other mosquito-borne viruses)
Columnists
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“ Wealthy Americans created the conditions that gave rise to 2016’s angry populism
Anthony J. Gaughan -
“ Americans see North Korea as backward and relatively harmless. They are wrong
Simon Reich -
Matthew Nisbet — “Will the health dangers of climate change get people to care? The science says: maybe”
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Jay L. Zagorsky — “In economic terms, bribery is simply another government tax. But so much worse”
Research and Expert Database
Editors’ Picks
Why we should design smart cities for getting lost
If smart cities run on big data and algorithms that channel only 'relevant' information and opinions to us, how do we maintain the diversity of ideas and possibilities that drives truly smart cities?
Panama Papers show how easy it is to finance terror using U.S. shell companies
Terrorist groups don't need to go to Panama to create a shell company. They can easily hide their money in many U.S. states.
Why we have the most polarized Supreme Court in history
You're not imagining it: the Supreme Court has gotten more polarized politically than in years past, thanks to fewer moderates in the Senate.
We’ve been measuring inequality wrong – here’s the real story
A new study on inequality analyzes the impact of fiscal policy, dramatically altering the standard view of rich and poor in America. It may also change how voters and candidates think about the issue.
How Donald Trump broke the media
The jester of Twitter doesn't need traditional media or campaign war chests. Here's why.
Those post-binge-watching blues? They might be real
TV networks and streaming services are encouraging viewers to binge-watch their favorite shows. But findings from a recent study point to a potential public health concern.
A beginner’s guide to sex differences in the brain
Are there sex differences in the human brain? The answer is more nuanced than yes or no.
For pro athletes on the cusp of retirement, what psychological challenges lie ahead?
There's a lot of focus on the physical and financial woes of former athletes. But players must also grapple with losing a core part of their identity.
There’s a new addiction on campus: Problematic Internet Use (PIU)
Internet addiction has the same symptoms as any substance abuse disorder. Trying to stop its use can lead to moodiness or even depression.
So long social media: the kids are opting out of the online public square
Young people are starting to skip the very public postings of some of social media's original platforms. Why? And where will that leave the companies that rely on our willingness to divulge everything?
Most Read past week
- Tuberculosis kills thousands of people every day – we aren’t doing enough to stop it
- Explainer: What do child prodigies have in common with kids with autism?
- The sharing economy comes to scientific research
- Will we soon see another wave of bird extinctions in the Americas?
- Why robots need to be able to say ‘No’
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