Textbooks in the digital world
Textbooks were once a major piece of educational infrastructure. But as digital content expands, a new kind of 'textbook' is improving the quality of K-12 instruction.
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The Trump team’s poor arguments for slashing SNAP
Cutting the program formerly known as food stamps would hurt low-income Americans and the whole economy. As research indicates that it's working well, this drive to defund is baffling experts.
A pair of decades-old policies may change the way rural America gets local news
Federal rules governing television stations were meant to keep them connected to the communities they serve. The Trump administration wants to weaken those rules, and those civic links.
Women in horror: Victims no more
According to a recent study, horror is the only film genre where women appear and speak as often as men.
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.
What do protests about Harry Potter books teach us?
As Harry Potter turns 20, a scholar says protesters who try to censor books do not trust young readers to discern the difference between fantasy and reality. But why?
30 years after Edwards v. Aguillard: Why creationism lingers in public schools
Thirty years after the Supreme Court ruled that creationism cannot be required in schools, 'creation science' is still taught in some schools. What are the implications for climate education?
On Eid 2017, a peek into the lives of Puerto Rican Muslims
There are an estimated 3,500 to 5,000 Muslims in Puerto Rico. Who are they and what is their history?
What happens when the federal government eliminates health coverage? Lessons from the past
Cutting back or cutting out social safety net programs, as the Senate and House health care proposals would do, is rare. Here's a look at how such actions have fared.
People keep voting in support of the death penalty. So how can we end it?
Of the 34 state ballot initiatives seeking to limit or abolish the death penalty, 31 have failed. Is this democracy at its worst?
How to make sense of the Senate health care bill: 4 essential reads
The Senate released its new health care bill on June 22, 2017, and it differs slightly from a bill passed by the House in May. Read what our experts have written in recent months about key pieces.
Employment helps white men’s health more than women and blacks
Employment is good for health, but it is even better for white men than for others. And unemployment is worse for white men than others. Could these findings shine light on our political situation?
What happens if Trump’s White House invokes executive privilege?
Laws that limit presidential power won't enforce themselves – Congress must act.
Energy wonks have a meltdown over the US going 100 percent renewable. Why?
How fast can the US transition to clean energy and with what energy sources? Here's why an impassioned debate among energy wonks matters to the rest of us.
Forget the insight of a lone genius – innovation is an evolving process of trial and error
We don't know much about the origins of most human achievements – scientific and otherwise. Like evolution, does progress occur as random insights are selected for or against?
From gay Nazis to ‘we’re here, we’re queer’: A century of arguing about gay pride
Gay pride has many exuberant advocates. It also has critics in unexpected places.
Teaching machines to understand – and summarize – text
Nobody can understand the legal language in privacy policies. Can artificial intelligence digest the text and produce a human-readable explanation?
Are LGBT Americans actually reaping the benefits of marriage?
Marriage has long been tied to better health. The first study of the relationship between marriage, health and quality of life for LGBT Americans affirms the benefits of marriage – with some caveats.
Why the latest wave of terrorism will get worse before it gets better
The latest wave of terrorism aims to kill as many people as possible, as horrifically as possible, with new tools and methods. That makes fighting back more difficult.
Drew Faust and old, white men: The changing role of university presidents
Most university presidents in the US are still white, male and over the age of 60. But as they retire, is there an opportunity to reshape college leadership and, with it, higher education itself?
Government action isn’t enough for climate change. The private sector can cut billions of tons of carbon
Without the private sector cutting carbon emissions – rather than just lobbying the government for action on climate – the world will never reach the temperature targets of the Paris Agreement.
Even ugly animals can win hearts and dollars to save them from extinction
Must the money raised to save wildlife always aid the most popular animals? New research suggests that marketing can persuade donors that northern hairy-nosed wombat lives matter too.
Why cash remains sacred in American churches
ATMs began appearing in churches providing a way for people to come up with ready cash to give to God and their church. But why was cash necessary?
What happened to the openly gay athlete?
Since Michael Sam came out in 2014, no one in the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL has done the same. Are the barriers to coming out still holding firm? Or are there signs that the tide could soon turn?
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?