Mitch McConnell, the president’s man in the Senate
Why would McConnell push a vote to repeal Obamacare when he knows it won't pass? It's not as crazy as it sounds.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
US Congress
Analysis and Comment
Venezuela’s getting a new constitution whether the people want it or not
The authoritarian regime is pushing ahead despite widespread objections. A peaceful resolution is far from sight.
‘Sharkathon 2017’ is here: How to watch it like a scientist
As the Discovery Channel and National Geographic Wild unleash a week of dueling shark programs, a biologist advises viewers to take what they see with a large grain of sea salt.
History shows that stacking federal science advisory committees doesn’t work
Can federal agencies stack advisory panels with friendly members? Some have tried, but a scientist who has advised many administrations says they will produce bad policies that lack broad support.
How a job acquires a gender (and less authority if it’s female)
Why do we consider some occupations 'male' and other 'female'? New research sheds some light on how giving jobs genders hurts everyone, men included.
Why the Catholic Church bans gluten-free communion wafers
The Catholic Church prohibits the use of gluten-free bread for Communion. The reasons lie in the challenges faced by the Catholic Church in the past.
Parents who worry about their children’s sleep problems at risk of depression
Children's sleep problems can affect not only their own wellbeing, but that of their parents. Helping parents manage these problems can also reduce their own risk of depression.
Cheetahs often don’t thrive in captivity. We set out to find out why
Captivity isn't kind to cheetahs where most develop diseases that are unusual in big cats. It's never been clear why this is the case, but understanding their metabolism might provide the answer.
How some rich people are trying to dismantle inequality
When the wealthy become unlikely allies in the fight against inequality, they often take similar steps. It all starts with acknowledging their own privileges.
The Georgia peach may be vanishing, but its mythology is alive and well
The peach looms large in Georgia history and lore. Today the Georgia peach crop is dwindling, but its history remains deeply entwined with Southern history, politics and culture.
Who’s avoiding sex, and why
Sex is an important part of life, but many people avoid it. Fear, former abuse and religion are common reasons, but you may be surprised to know how your overall health also leads to avoidance.
Learning to live with wildfires: how communities can become ‘fire-adapted’
In a part of Washington state hit hard by extreme fire, a fire ecologist explains how prescribed burns and thinning can make the land more fire-resilient.
Recreating forests of the past isn’t enough to fix our wildfire problems
Restoring forest landscapes through active thinning and letting fires burn in order to minimize fire damage has proved harder and less effective than advocates believed, says historian of fire.
The Supreme Court made it harder for states to ban sex offenders from social media. Here’s why
The court ruled unanimously that access to social media is an essential right.
Helicopter or lawnmower? Modern parenting styles can get in the way of raising well-balanced children
With the pressure on parents rising, we could all learn something from the concept of 'good enough parenting' proposed half a century ago.
Why the US doesn’t understand Chinese thought – and must
It's more important than ever that the U.S. understand China. So why don't our universities teach Chinese thought?
Policing
Why police reforms rarely succeed: Lessons from Latin America
Research shows how politics can easily halt reforms that require time to take effect.
Health care debate
Why health savings accounts are a bust for the poor but a boost for the privileged
The latest Senate health care bill is still a hodgepodge of efforts to repeal Obamacare, critics say. One of their concerns is the focus on HSAs.
The 5 faulty beliefs that have led to Republican dysfunction on health care
Republicans have had a hard time dismantling the Affordable Care Act, despite their promises. That could be because they are operating under certain beliefs about health care that are not accurate.
Net neutrality
Trump’s FCC continues to redefine the public interest as business interests
As the Trump administration settles into office, regulators and lawmakers have big plans for shifting the country's media landscape, with potentially profound effects on the public.
Understanding net neutrality: Seven essential reads
As the Trump administration takes shape, Ajit Pai will lead the FCC. How it regulates the internet – or doesn't – is coming into focus. Experts describe what's at stake, and why it matters.
Research and Expert Database
Editors’ Picks
Why do human beings speak so many languages?
There's little research into origins of the geographic patterns of language diversity. A new model exploring processes that shaped Australia's language diversity provides a template for investigators.
Hinduism and its complicated history with cows (and people who eat them)
Vigilante Hindu groups in India have lynched several people for eating beef. A scholar traces the history of beef-eating in ancient India.
EU’s antitrust ‘war’ on Google and Facebook uses abandoned American playbook
Europe's approach to antitrust enforcement picks up where the US left off in the 1980s, when the view that breaking up monopolies hurt innovation took hold.
Why some are applauding Donald Trump Jr’s ‘win at all costs’ attitude
Yes, American politics is getting uglier. Here's why.
What an artificial intelligence researcher fears about AI
He spends his days developing artificial intelligence systems. What about AI keeps him up at night?
Pot with patents could plant the seeds of future lawsuits
The federal government outlaws marijuana, but many states are legalizing it. Coupled with the growing number of cannabis-related patents, the potential for court battles is dizzying.
Cash is falling out of fashion – will it disappear forever?
You can now pay your way with apps, cryptocurrencies and other digital alternatives. Physical money might one day look like a relic of the past.
From public good to personal pursuit: Historical roots of the student debt crisis
About 44 million Americans are still paying off student loan debt. But it didn't always used to be this way. As the perceived purpose of a college education changed, so too did the way we pay for it.
How Spam became one of the most iconic American brands of all time
Eighty years ago, Hormel Foods introduced a simple, canned meat product called Spam. It would go on to become one of the greatest marketing success stories of all time.
From the Pentagon Papers to Trump: How the government gained the upper hand against leakers
American citizens have long favored government openness over secrecy. But with heightened anti-leak and anti-press rhetoric, do some now want strengthened government control of information?
How the Nazis destroyed the first gay rights movement
The 1920s and early ‘30's looked like the beginning of the end for centuries of gay intolerance. Then came fascism and the Nazis.
American slavery: Separating fact from myth
On Juneteenth, the day that commemorates the ending of slavery in the US, a historian dispels myths about the 'peculiar institution' of slavery.
Can yoga be Christian?
Wednesday, June 21, is International Yoga Day. A scholar explains how yoga is being Christianized in different parts of the world. So, what then is real yoga?
What went wrong with the F-35, Lockheed Martin’s Joint Strike Fighter?
The most expensive defense program in world history has yielded a multi-role fighter plane that is an inelegant jack-of-all-trades, but master of none.
Loving v. Virginia: Exploring biracial identity and reality in America 50 years after a landmark civil rights milestone
In 1958, Mildred and Richard Loving were arrested in Virginia for the crime of being married. The couple helped spark an effort to strike down laws against interracial marriage in the United States.
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