Monarch butterflies are among the most beloved insects in North America. They are brightly colored and unique, both as caterpillars and later as mature insects. Monarchs are found in every U.S. state except Alaska, so nearly everyone has seen a monarch flutter by on a warm day. During their incredible yearly migration, monarchs travel each...
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The Moral Dimension to America’s Flawed Health Care System
The killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has set off soul-searching among many Americans. Part of that reflection is about the public reaction to Thompson’s death and the sympathy the suspect received online, with some people critical of the insurance industry celebrating the assailant as a sort of folk hero. As many observers have pointed...
The Constitution of Kakistocracy
By nominating unqualified loyalists, Trump undermines the Constitution’s vision of merit-based governance. The term “kakistocracy” (rule by the worst) emerged from obscurity during the first Trump administration. The word, which was previously used to describe troubled foreign governments, gained mainstream usage as critics pointed to controversial appointments such as Tom Price at the Department of Health and Human...
Nuclear Bunker Sales Increase, Despite Expert Warnings They Aren’t Going to Provide Protection
When Bernard Jones Jr. and his wife, Doris, built their dream home, they didn’t hold back. A grotto swimming pool with a waterfall for hot summer days. A home theater for cozy winter nights. A fruit orchard to harvest in fall. And a vast underground bunker in case disaster strikes. “The world’s not becoming a...
Why Does Red Wine Cause Headaches? Our Research Points to a Compound Found in the Grapes’ Skin
Medical accounts of red wine headaches go back to Roman times, but the experience is likely as old as winemaking – something like 10,000 years. As chemists specializing in winemaking, we wanted to try to figure out the source of these headaches. Many components of red wine have been accused of causing this misery –...
Marco Rubio Is No Friend of Havana − but Does Trump’s Pick for Secretary of State Mean Cuba Policy Is Set?
The U.S. looks set to have its first-ever Cuban American secretary of state in 2025, after President-elect Donald Trump nominated U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida for the role. But don’t expect that to mean cozier relations between Havana and Washington. Rubio, who if confirmed by the Senate will also be the first Latino to...
Study Finds Parents More Open to Racially Diverse Media for Children Than Previously Thought
New research from the University of Kansas has found that most parents recall watching media with diverse racial and ethnic portrayals of characters with their children and that their own racial-ethnic identity predicted their attitudes toward such content, but not necessarily their beliefs. Judy Watts, assistant professor of journalism & mass communications at KU, led...
Long Covid’s Effects on Employment: Financial Distress, Fear of Judgment
Though research has shown that people with long COVID are more likely to be unemployed, the statistics don’t reveal what patients go through before they cut their hours, stop working or lose their jobs. In a new study involving interviews of people with long COVID, researchers from The Ohio State University describe how the prolonged illness has affected not...
Electric Vehicle Transition Could Create Unwanted Air Pollution Hotspots in China and India
While electric vehicles have become a cornerstone of the global energy transition, new research led by Princeton University has demonstrated that refining the critical minerals needed for electric vehicle batteries could create pollution hotspots near manufacturing hubs. Focusing on China and India, the researchers found that national sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions could increase by up...
Staying Sharp: Study Explores How Brain Changes May Affect Financial Skills
Senior citizens are targeted by financial scams of all types, from email-based phishing attempts to callers looking to swindle their life savings. A new paper from Binghamton University Associate Professor of Psychology Ian M. McDonough sheds light on how age-related changes may affect the way we handle finances — and how we can stay sharp as we...