Trump speaks at the UN: 5 takeaways
The president threatened North Korea and decried the decimation of the American middle class – but didn’t have much praise for the work of the United Nations.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
United Nations General Assembly
Analysis and Comment
Some of the best parts of autonomous vehicles are already here
Consumers with high hopes of driverless vehicles improving safety might be looking past the boring near-term advances that could make a real difference. It happened before – more than 60 years ago.
Rich American seniors are getting healthier, leaving the poor behind
More seniors are reporting good health in recent years, but gains are primarily among more advantaged groups.
Science communicators must consider short-term objectives while keeping their eyes on the prize
Scientists who engage with the public may have goals about influencing policy or behavior. But they also need to think about the short-term objectives that will help get them there.
How the latest effort to repeal Obamacare would affect millions
A Senate vote in July seemed to signal the end of efforts to kill the Affordable Care Act. With a Sept. 30 deadline looming, though, a new bill has real possibilities. Here's why that could be bad.
‘Medicare for all’ could be cheaper than you think
Bernie Sanders' single-payer health care plan is bound to be expensive and politically impossible. A simple expansion of Medicare offers a cheaper and more passable path to universal care.
The South Vietnamese who fled the fall of Saigon – and those who returned
Not all who fled Vietnam at the end of the war wanted to be resettled in the US. But those who returned faced an unwelcoming government.
Why an ad offering meat to the Hindu god Ganesha is offensive
Offering food to deities in Hinduism has deep religious significance. And most Hindu deities are not served meat.
Saving amphibians from a deadly fungus means acting without knowing all the answers
Frogs and toads are declining around the world, with many species on the brink of extinction. Acting in time means trying strategies without complete information about how likely they are to work.
Politics don’t explain ESPN’s subscriber decline
In sports media – as in sports – no one is invincible.
Why today’s teens aren’t in any hurry to grow up
Should parents be worried that many teens are putting off traditional rites of passage like working, driving and dating?
As a warming climate changes Kodiak bears’ diets, impacts could ripple through ecosystems
Climate change is making berries ripen early in Kodiak, Alaska, luring bears away from eating salmon. This shift may not hurt the bears, but could have far-reaching impacts on surrounding forests.
London train bombing: Why is Europe seeing so many terrorist attacks?
The September 15 London train bombing that injured 30 was the UK's fifth terror attack this year. A security expert looks at why Europe has been seeing more frequent and bloodier jihadist assaults.
Can the world’s megacities survive the digital age?
Research shows that technology disrupts economies of scale, turning megacities' huge populations from strength to liability. To survive, megacities, like companies, must adapt.
Languages don’t all have the same number of terms for colors – scientists have a new theory why
People across the globe all see millions of distinct colors. But the terms we use to describe them vary across cultures. New cognitive science research suggests it's about what we want to communicate.
Flood insurance
Flood insurance is broken. Here are some ways to fix it
The bills now pending in Congress won't do what it will take.
How flood insurance works: 6 questions answered
The federal government created a program in 1968 to insure homes in the US from flooding, yet few of the houses hammered by Harvey's record rainfall were covered.
Hurricanes Harvey and Irma
Hurricanes drive immigration to the US
Data reveal how hurricanes affect migration, and what it means for US immigration policy.
Harvey and Irma present nearly perfect conditions for Zika-spreading mosquitoes
Cholera fears rise following Atlantic hurricanes: Are we making any progress?
Rebuilding after disasters: 5 essential reads
Are catastrophic disasters striking more often?
Irma and Harvey: very different storms, but both affected by climate change
Why social media apps should be in your disaster kit
Hurricanes may be getting more severe – do we need a whole new category to describe them?
In cities and on ranches, planning is key to protect animals during disasters
What victims of Hurricane Harvey can learn from Katrina as rebuilding begins
Why giving cash, not clothing, is usually best after disasters
What Hurricane Harvey says about risk, climate and resilience
After Harvey, many Texans will think differently about hurricane risks
Why Texans heard conflicting messages about evacuating ahead of Hurricane Harvey
Flooding from Hurricane Harvey causes a host of public health concerns
Public libraries can (literally) serve as a shelter from the storm
‘Cajun Navy’ rescuers in Hurricane Harvey show vital role of volunteer boats
What made the rain in Hurricane Harvey so extreme?
DACA
How ‘dreamers’ and green card lottery winners strengthen the US economy
Trump's decision to end the DACA program, as well as his support for a bill that would drastically curb legal immigration, would hurt the US workers he says he's trying to help.
Vietnam War documentary
Research and Expert Database
Editors’ Picks
Vietnam War: Who was right about what went wrong – and why it matters in Afghanistan
Was Vietnam 'a quagmire' or a 'stalemate machine'? Understanding this 50-year-old debate can shed light on why the US is currently locked into a 'forever war.'
Why al-Qaida is still strong 16 years after 9/11
An unprecedented onslaught from the US hasn't destroyed the terrorist organization. What is the secret of its resilience?
Remembering America’s lost buildings
We asked five architecture experts to name one building or structure they wish had been preserved, but couldn't resist the tides of decay, development and discrimination.
Why UN sanctions against North Korea’s missile program failed
The international community has been trying to stop North Korea from developing long-range missiles for decades. So what went wrong?
Over the years, Americans have become increasingly exposed to extremism
Given recent events, you might have had an inkling that extremist views have been resonating. Researchers from the Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention have the hard data to back it up.
Massachusetts executed two Italian immigrants 90 years ago: Why the global fallout still matters
At a time when anti-immigrant sentiment was widespread, the Sacco and Vanzetti trial starkly divided American opinion and stirred up a violent backlash around the world.
I was an Exxon-funded climate scientist
A new study confirms what many already know: Exxon for years sowed uncertainty and doubt about climate change in the public. Should scientists reject certain funding sources?
The military, minorities and social engineering: A long history
Whether it be African-Americans, Catholics or transgender people, the armed forces have played a vital role in shaping US social policy toward the country's minorities.
Does biology explain why men outnumber women in tech?
Here's what research actually says about differences between males and females – and the question of what's innate and what's acquired.
More states are allowing guns on college campuses
More and more states are passing legislation requiring that students and faculty be permitted to carry concealed weapons on campus. But shouldn't universities have a choice when it comes to campus safety?
Tracing the sources of today’s Russian cyberthreat
The Russian cyberthreat goes back over three decades, extends into the country's educational systems and criminal worlds, and shows no signs of letting up.
Why didn’t sanctions stop North Korea’s missile program?
The international community has been trying to stop North Korea from developing long-range missiles for decades. So how did North Korea get them?
The slippery slope of the oligarchy media model
There are some benefits to the uptick in billionaire newspaper and magazine owners, who can weather short-term losses for the sake of long-term gains. But whose interests are really being served?
How Big Pharma is hindering treatment of the opioid addiction epidemic
The number of people dying from opioid overdose continues to rise, in part because of cheap street drugs. Yet the price of a drug used to treat addiction is out of reach for many.
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