Sunday, January 29, 2012

top stories

Does Black History Need More Than a Month?
January 23, 2012

Views Reviews and Interviews

Does Black History Need More Than a Month?

By Tom Jacobs

The documentary “More Than a Month” asks: Does Black History Month still inspire reflection, or just Nike sales?

Urban Renewal’s Record Shows It Wasn’t All Bad
January 21, 2012

Business & Economics

Urban Renewal’s Record Shows It Wasn’t All Bad

By Melinda Burns

Large-scale federal investment in American cities between 1950 and 1974 had some lasting benefits in economic growth, researchers say, despite the bad rap it currently has.

Supreme Court Calls For New Try on Texas Districts
January 20, 2012

Politics

Supreme Court Calls For New Try on Texas Districts

By Michael Fitzgerald

Texas Republicans won Friday as the Supreme Court rejected a judicially drawn redistricting map, but not for the reasons you might think.

Private Prisons Can’t Lock In Savings
January 20, 2012

The Idea Lobby

Private Prisons Can’t Lock In Savings

By Emily Badger

A report from The Sentencing Project argues that a primary driver for privatizing corrections isn’t really paying off.

We’re Sorry: Not All Apologies Are Apologies
January 20, 2012

Research in Summary

We’re Sorry: Not All Apologies Are Apologies

By Tom Jacobs

Politicians take note: Research shows the fine line between claiming regret and taking responsibility.

No Debate: Kids Can Learn By Arguing
January 19, 2012

January-February 2012

No Debate: Kids Can Learn By Arguing

By Melinda Burns

Columbia professor Deanna Kuhn says teachers should foster some debate to help kids learn the lost skill of thinking critically.

Who Owns Government-Funded Research Papers?
January 18, 2012

The Idea Lobby

Who Owns Government-Funded Research Papers?

By Emily Badger

The Research Works Act would prevent publicly funded research from automatically being available to the public for free. Private publishers back the bill, while open-access partisans are appalled.

Lowering Flags of Convenience for Fish Poachers
January 18, 2012

Legal Affairs

Lowering Flags of Convenience for Fish Poachers

By Michael Scott Moore

New international measures to end fish poaching on the high seas would enforce laws where the poacher calls, not where their ships are registered.

Can a Bad Economy Save Your Marriage?
January 18, 2012

January-February 2012

Can a Bad Economy Save Your Marriage?

By Tom Jacobs

Spouses who blame the economy for their woes, rather than pointing the finger at their partner, are more likely to be satisfied with their marriages.

How Foreclosures Feasted on Some Cities, Not Others
January 17, 2012

January-February 2012

How Foreclosures Feasted on Some Cities, Not Others

By Melinda Burns

A look at foreclosures in two Southern California cities shows why some fared better than others in the housing crisis.

Sex on the Brain Proves Costly for Men
January 16, 2012

Findings

Sex on the Brain Proves Costly for Men

By Tom Jacobs

New research suggests the mere idea of an encounter with a woman can impair men’s cognitive performance.

Street Makeovers Put New Spin on the Block
January 16, 2012

News and Options

Street Makeovers Put New Spin on the Block

By Jonathan Lerner

How community activists are taking city planning into their own hands and creating pedestrian-friendly blocks via pop-up urbanism.

New Dirt on Climate Change
January 13, 2012

Environment

New Dirt on Climate Change

By Bruce Dorminey

Researchers have drilled into the middle of America in hopes of understanding past eras when the Earth burped out huge amounts of greenhouse gases.

Why Robot Maids Won’t Do the Dishes
January 13, 2012

Science

Why Robot Maids Won’t Do the Dishes

By Steven Pinker

How hard is it to design a humanlike robot? Harvard’s Steven Pinker highlights how simple human accomplishments represent formidable robotics challenges.

Should We Buy Options on Presidential Candidates?
January 12, 2012

The Idea Lobby

Should We Buy Options on Presidential Candidates?

By Emily Badger

For decades, academics have been running a lively prediction market in political aspirations. But now commodities traders have proposed actually selling options on presidential candidates.

most viewed

  1. Morning People May Be More Creative in the Afternoon

  2. Was Lou Gehrig's ALS Caused by Tap Water?

  3. We're Sorry: Not All Apologies Are Apologies

  4. Sex on the Brain Proves Costly for Men

  5. Conservatives' Politics of Fear a Biological Response

  6. How the Unconscious Mind Boosts Creative Output

  7. Are Some Airlines Just Too Dangerous to Fly?

  8. Japan's Earthquake: Deciphering the Fury

  9. Bitter About Your Life? Blame Facebook

  10. Street Makeovers Put New Spin on the Block

findings

Text Messages No Substitute for Mother’s Voice

A study finds girls’ stress levels decrease after speaking with mom, but not after text messaging.

Long-Term Love Not Just a Fairy Tale

A new study finds nearly three-quarters of Americans remain “very in love” after a decade of marriage.

Portraits Can Get Your Pulse Pounding

New research recording physiological reactions of museum-goers suggests we respond to art with our bodies as well as our brains.

Female Pop Stars: Prepare to Disrobe

An analysis of Rolling Stone magazine covers finds female artists are increasingly sexualized and presented as sex objects.

Receive 1 year (6 issues) of our print magazine for just $14.95. Miller-McCune features polished, in-depth reports on research and solutions across the policy spectrum — from health care, education and energy to international affairs, poverty and the global economy. It's a must read for well-informed and solutions-driven individuals.

moments in video

Why Do Lobbyists Have the Veto?

Video: Miller-McCune hosts a panel at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., asking, “Why Do Lobbyists Have the Veto?”

Desperately Seeking Landmines

Despite years of research on everything from ‘HeroRATS’ to TNT-sniffing bees, humans still remove most landmines by poking — very, very carefully — in the ground.

Songs and Ads: Ten Infamous Examples

Here’s 10 examples of songs turned into ads, all influential, some successful.

‘One Dream’ Meets ‘I Have a Dream’

American documentary makers bring Martin Luther King to Beijing — and back.

A Call to Reform Congress

“Changing Congress: Lessons Learned by a Copyright Activist” a presentation by Lawrence Lessig.

‘Orphan Film’ Selections From the Archives

These 10 ephemeral works from the last century provide a fascinating window into our culture of the past — for better or, oftentimes, for worse.

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podcasts

Curiouser and Curiouser

Ecosystems Secretly Protect Against Lyme Disease

Lizards, it seems, are good at keeping ticks free of Lyme disease, which suggests that a ecosystem that benefits lizards (and other creatures) ultimately benefits humankind, ecologist Cherie Briggs explains in this podcast.

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from the blogs

By The Way ...

Supreme Court Calls For New Try on Texas Districts

Texas Republicans won Friday as the Supreme Court rejected a judicially drawn redistricting map, but not for the reasons you might think.

European Dispatch

Lowering Flags of Convenience for Fish Poachers

New international measures to end fish poaching on the high seas would enforce laws where the poacher calls, not where their ships are registered.

Findings

Morning People May Be More Creative in the Afternoon

New research finds problems that require a flash of illumination to solve are best approached during the time of day when you’re not at your peak.

Friends from the Field

Dicker With Your Doc? Not So Fast…

While it’s not a bad idea to pay attention to the various costs of your medical care, the president of the Center for Advancing Health argues that haggling over costs is not a long-term solution to spiraling expenses.

Mediator

Finding a New Gandhi in the Book ‘Great Soul’

Like other great figures, new writings about Mohandas Gandhi tell us something about the subject but perhaps more about our times.

Moving Pictures

A Masterful Look at Anti-Apartheid

South Africa’s painful journey from white minority domination to democracy, and the roles played by the rest of the world, is chronicled in a five-part documentary airing on PBS.

Research of Culture

The Picture for Men: Superhero or Slacker

Recent scholarship and popular journalism both suggest an unappealing future for American boys: You’re screwed.

Skeptic's Café

Numerology Doesn’t Know the Score

Various ways of assigning numbers to events, people, and actions is an ancient parlor game, but let’s not take it beyond that.

The Idea Lobby

Traffic Solution: Make Drivers Less Lonely

Rather than moaning about too many cars on the road, the Ridesharing Institute says the real key to battling traffic congestion and pollution is filling empty passenger seats

Think Again

Three Ways Sports Fans Can Help Their Team Win

Sports fans control more of what happens on the court or on the field than they realize. Now if they could just applaud good decisions over flashy bad ones.

Today in Mice

Ritalin Can Wake the Brain From Anesthesia

Researchers propose pulling patients out of anesthesia with “a shot of adrenaline to the brain.”

Voyage of Kiri

Pushing Past the Taboo of Climate Adaptation

Shunned in the past as trumping mitigation, the issue of climate adaptation is now receiving serious attention.