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The obligatory showing of the red briefcase containing budget details is as exciting as it gets in the U.K. Rob Welham/Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Shutdowns are a uniquely American drama − in the UK, it’s just not Parliament’s cup of tea

With the US government seemingly heading toward a potentially painful federal shutdown, a scholar explains why such events never occur in the UK.
Residents watch French air force jets fly over a Paris suburb during the Bastille Day military parade on July 14, 2023. AP Photo/Youcef Bounab

French schools’ ban on abayas and headscarves is supposedly about secularism − but it sends a powerful message about who ‘belongs’ in French culture

Catholicism, ‘Frenchness’ and secularism are often conflated in French culture, a scholar writes, while non-Christian traditions are viewed with suspicion.
The SAG-AFTRA actors union has been on strike since July 2023. Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The fight for 2% − how residuals became a sticking point for striking actors

Studios say the number is unrealistic − that it amounts to actors not assuming any financial risk for content that flops. But actors simply want to adapt existing payout models to changing technology.
Natural selection can get to work in isolated locations. Birger Strahl/Unsplash

Tropical climates are the most biodiverse on Earth − but it’s not only because of how warm and wet they are

A new study reveals how the geography of global climates influences the rich patterns of species diversity in an ever-changing world.
China provides billions of dollars in loans and direct investments to African nations each year. Oleksii Liskonih/iStock/Getty Images Plus

We asked 1,000 Zimbabweans what they think of China’s influence on their country − only 37% viewed it favorably

Politicians and scholars debate whether China’s economic investments in Africa benefit or exploit local populations. But what does the public think?
Jurors tend to rely heavily on forensic testimony, even when they don’t understand it. andresr/E+ via Getty Images

Juries that don’t understand forensic science can send innocent people to prison − a short training video could help

Educating mock jurors about what kinds of statements are appropriate − or not − led to more critical assessments of forensic testimony and improved the quality of their decisions.
This AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps team did trail maintenance and construction work in Pennsylvania in 2017. Tim Leedy/MediaNews Group's Reading Eagle via Getty Images

American Climate Corps: Biden’s new green jobs initiative delivers more promises than details

A scholar of national service programs points out that the government hasn’t spelled out what this one will cost, what its participants will earn or how it will operate.

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