News Blog

In Alaska, Tax Hike on Alcohol Leads to Fewer Deaths

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:16:00 -0800

"Sin taxes" are known to modify behavior a bit, but small adjustments may reap bigger rewards than expected.

MIddle Class Ever More Squeezed

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:09:00 -0800

The percentage of middle-class families considered financially secure shrunk significantly between 2000 and 2006, according to a new report that suggests our prosperity was precarious even before the current economic meltdown hit.

FEMA's Nightmare: A Big Midwest Shaker

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:20:00 -0800

The "Big One" assumed for California or other Pacific Rim states and provinces will almost certainly arrive some day, but FEMA said Thursday that the most catastrophic quake in the United States probably is destined for mid-America.

Is TV an Opiate for the Unhappy?

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:29:00 -0800

Sadness and television viewing are correlated in new data analysis.

Tobacco That Melts in Your Mouth, Not in Your Lungs

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:28:00 -0800

Necessity, or addiction, is indeed the mother of invention.

Immigration Pathway Still Looks Uphill

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:37:00 -0800

Even with Democrats controlling Congress, ImmigrationPAC's goal of a pathway to immigration reform faces tough going.

Everglades Rescue Deal Recut to Save Money, Jobs

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:22:00 -0800

A pioneering plan to save the Everglades is cheaper but still accomplishes the main goals.

Handing Out Heroin

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:18:00 -0800

Would we all be better off if we gave heroin addicts their drugs for free?

Red State-Blue State Divide Persists

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:25:00 -0800

One surprising result from this week’s presidential election: The red state-blue state divide may have gotten deeper.

Vote-Fraud Fears Fall Before Disenfranchisement Fear

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:33:00 -0700

Ongoing efforts to limit the number of voters in Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin and Nevada - all predicated on the fear of voter fraud and all launched by Republicans -- suffered major setbacks this week.

CSI: IHOP

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:29:00 -0700

The best police work usually involves the liberal application of shoe leather, whether the perps are thugs or bugs.

The School Bully Has Learned to Surf

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:58:00 -0700

The suicide of a Missouri teenager after online bullying by the parent of a former friend has set off a spate of adult hand-wringing and a few specific laws hoping to prevent the practice.

Baseball Whiffs When Setting Salaries

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:40:00 -0700

As one team after another gets eliminated in the baseball playoffs, no doubt many fans are grousing that certain strikeout- or error-prone players are getting paid too much. New research suggests one likely reason for this disconnect between an athlete’s paycheck and performance.

Help Someone Out, Turn Someone On

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:32:00 -0700

A good deed is its own reward, but selfless behavior may have a side benefit. According to new British research, altruism can be sexually attractive.

Toning the Brain With an Internet Workout

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:01:00 -0700

Age-related dementia currently affects about 10 percent of the U.S. population — you could look it up on the Internet.

Coffee, Cancer Link Not So Strong After All

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:52:00 -0700

Our Michael Haederle suggested awhile back that coffee might be the elixir of life, which frankly struck us as rather obvious given the way it raises us from the dead every morning.

The Un-Bear-Able Irony of Earmarks

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:04:00 -0700

The world is a complicated place. Full of irony, not always the laughing kind. Sen. John McCain might take note.

Tapping Academe to Avoid the Next Flailout

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:20:00 -0700

Two respected Washington, D.C. lawyers — tax expert, finance watchdog, media adviser and occasional Miller-McCune contributor Marty Lobel and Joseph Goldstein of the Mayer Brown law firm — are offering an intriguing way to prevent future financial meltdowns of the subprime sort: A team of academic experts would survey the financial field and warn government of impending problems before they happen.

Palin, Biden Both Winners

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:36:00 -0700

A poll taken just after the Vice Presidential debate provides fresh evidence that such face-offs tend to raise the favorability levels of both candidates.

All You Need is Loving Lyrics

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:52:00 -0700

Are you feeling charitable today? The answer may depend upon the contents of your iPod.

If Sharks Could Use E-Mail

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:28:00 -0700

As the nation's financial crisis continues, an ugly question rears its head every now and again:

Protecting Academic Inquiry Off-Campus, Too

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:57:00 -0700

Academic researchers in California who have been harassed by animal-rights activists have a new layer of protection, thanks to a bill signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Sunday.

The Oprah Effect

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:08:00 -0700

A new study suggests Oprah Winfrey’s backing of Barack Obama was beneficial for the presidential candidate in an indirect way.

Fighting Turbulence: Monarchs Start Heading Home

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:30:00 -0700

It's been a tough year for monarch butterflies, and their observers have fingers crossed that this winter is kinder to them than last.

Social Security Debate Reignites

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:06:00 -0700

Surprisingly, the idea of privatizing Social Security is back as part of the 2008 presidential race – as is the false claim that the system is heading for bankruptcy.

A Wake-Up Call on Tanning Beds

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:04:00 -0700

A cry of "game over" has been issued over recreational tanning.

Judge Silences Plan for More Yellowstone Snowmobiles

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:54:00 -0700

Chalk up an unexpected victory for the forces of tranquility.

Ohio Voter Caging in Play Despite Directive

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:31:00 -0700

A change in the law may be needed to protect Ohioans from voter caging.

The Psychology of an Angiogram

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:25:00 -0700

A new study of heart patients in a New Zealand hospital suggests people in pain go to the doctor expecting the worst.

Not All Can Stomach Raw Milk

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:41:00 -0700

The current organic marketing frenzy promotes "wholesome" and "unprocessed" as health benefits to consumers seeking a "natural food product."

Watch Sports, Improve Your Brain

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:02:00 -0700

Attention sports fans: It turns out the countless hours you have spent sitting on your couch watching games have not been a total waste after all. In a sense, you have been giving your brain a workout.

APSA: The Inequality of the Rising Tide

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:19:00 -0700

The theme of this year's political science conference is "Categories and the Politics of Global Inequality," so I figured I'd better check out one of the so-called "theme panels" before I go.

A Safer, Kinder, Hamburger this Labor Day

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:06:00 -0700

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is no longer down with downer cows.

APSA: Death to the Fifth Republic! Long Live the Sixth!

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:23:00 -0700

In general, political science conferences tend to be staid, sober affairs.

APSA: Reeling in the Years

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:08:00 -0700

It's always difficult when the conference gods inexplicably schedule an intriguing panel for the ungodly early 8 in the morning slot. (And what's with the 8 a.m. slot anyway? Why not just start at nine?)

E-Vote Vendor Admits Decade of Flaws

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:18:00 -0700

A leading voting machine maker says software used in 34 states has been losing votes.

APSA: Politics Flows from Our Wallets and Our Genes

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:11:00 -0700

At these political science conferences, you sometimes find yourself in an audience that feels way too small for the importance of the subject.

Blogging at the Heart of Political Science

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:04:00 -0700

The first thing to know about the American Political Science Association's annual conference is that it is really, really big.

Harpooning Protections for Right Whales

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:42:00 -0700

Whales should look over their shoulders not only for fast-moving ships but also for politicians.

The OSS Passed Its Own Intelligence Tests

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:47:00 -0700

The predecessor to today's CIA thrived by emphasizing merit.

Once Eradicated, Measles Cases Spike Upward

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:27:00 -0700

Today, as most parents think about children enrolling or returning to school, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report announces startling statistics concerning incidence of measles -- a childhood disease declared eradicated from the U.S. in 2001.

FDA Turns Over New Leaf on Irradiation

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:00:00 -0700

It's only for spinach and iceberg lettuce — sorry, romaine — but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will allow the use of irradiation on those leafy foods in an attempt to kill potentially deadly pathogens like E. coli and salmonella.

Urban Forest Management Is Up a Tree

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:30:00 -0700

It turns out it's not just the disappearance of rainforest trees - mahogany, teak, Brazil nut - that is cause for concern. In a new paper, "Street Trees - A Misunderstood Common-Pool Resource," Indiana University environmental affairs scholars Burnell C. Fischer and Brian C. Steed note that the tree cover in a number of metropolitan areas - the so-called urban forest of street trees like ficus, sycamores, and dogwoods - has declined dramatically. (According to Trees Atlanta, a nonprofit conservation group, Atlanta has lost 60 percent of its tree cover in the past two decades.)

Counting the Dead Freighted with Controversy

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:08:00 -0700

Body counts matter whether it comes to generating headlines or political activity, so efforts to gain usable numbers are a matter of some concern.

California's Big Play for Solar

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:59:00 -0700

Not too far from the home of Miller-McCune.com, the utility company Pacific Gas & Electric said Thursday it plans to build what's being billed as the largest solar-energy facilities in the world - two photovoltaic plants that at their peak reportedly will able to pump out 800 megawatts.

States Illegally Purged Voters, Advocates Contend

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:57:00 -0700

In June, Miller-McCune reported on barriers to the ballot box. Included in the myriad ways you could be barred from voting is having your name taken off the rolls because of a change of address.

Firm Support for Online Prescriptions

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:24:00 -0700

Is it safe to purchase prescription drugs over the Internet? A new study of some of the most popular online medications – drugs to treat erectile dysfunction – concludes an e-prescription system operating under state regulation may actually be safer than the traditional method of obtaining drugs: a doctor’s appointment followed by a trip to the pharmacy.

Patent Office Asks Kids For Ideas

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:24:00 -0700

You don't see a lot of TV ads from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office but you will. However, if you're over age 12, don't pay any attention.

Bioterror in Context, Again

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:55:00 -0700

Documents released by the FBI point to a U.S. biodefense scientist as the one responsible for the 2001 anthrax attacks.

Texas Sticks With Problem Voting Machines

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:11:00 -0700

In May, Miller-McCune reported on how different states have reacted to scientific evidence showing that the nation's most widely used voting machines are prone to failure and easily hacked.

Higher HIV Rates No Shock to Advocates

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 09:52:00 -0700

Newly released figures concerning the number of HIV infections in the U.S. has brought outrage and a flood of reaction. However, the findings do not surprise the HIV/AIDS advocate community.

Whistleblower Details Ohio Voting Red Flags

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:09:00 -0700

Miller-McCune.com in May identified Ohio as one of five battleground states that have performed poorly in terms of election integrity. Now a new allegation has surfaced, claiming that Ohio vote-counting software was outsourced in 2004 to the same servers that hosted Republican campaign Web sites.

Three in Five Human Diseases Have Animal Links

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:54:00 -0700

When it comes to human health, we're not the only species out there.

The Devil's Dilemma: Die Young So Live Fast

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:00:00 -0700

A threatened marsupial offers the most compelling case yet for encouraging teen pregnancy — extinction.

Sharpshooter Radiation Takes Aim at Disease

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:19:00 -0700

A technical findings brief from the Department of Health and Human Services reports a new method to target cells that are "anatomically adjacent to vital organs," that may in the future, take radiation therapy, typically a balancing act of "taking the good with the bad," to one that echos the physicians creed -- "do no harm."

Pregnant with Possibility

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:45:00 -0700

In a recent op-ed piece in the Los Angeles Times and on his own online site, YouthFacts.org, contrarian sociologist Mike Males takes the media to task for their unquestioning embrace of the Gloucester (Massachusetts) High School pregnancy pact story, which - after having been disseminated around the world and dissected for its greater sociological meaning - has now been mostly discredited.

Mmmmm — Tastes Good Like a Cigarette is Engineered To

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:17:00 -0700

Tobacco companies are using menthol flavoring in cigarettes to win over new smokers and keep existing ones, according to a new study appearing in the American Journal of Public Health.

Pond Scum Fuels Starting to Take Flight

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:51:00 -0700

Algae grows fast — up to 40 times as fast as many other feedstocks considered for biofuel production. That's one thing making it increasingly attractive to a growing cadre of innovators, researchers, businessmen and venture capitalists who seek the holy grail of a clean energy source.

Batty Idea Fights Disease

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 05:00:00 -0700

Ladybugs combat plant-eating aphids. Falcons patrol trash dumps to ward off pesky seagulls. Now, in another effort to let Mother Nature work her magic, residents of Weld County, Colo. are turning to bats to provide a natural weapon to combat yearly outbreaks of West Nile virus.

Opening a New Window for Solar

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:40:00 -0700

Other than mice, if there's one dependable meme to emerge at Miller-McCune.com, it's that solar energy is a technology to track.

Oilman Calls For Going With the Wind

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:09:00 -0700

One-time corporate raider and always-outsize Texas oilman (is there any other kind?) T. Boone Pickens has made a very public move in support of renewables, launching what he's modestly dubbed the "Pickens Plan" for using wind energy to provide a fifth of the United States' electricity and the natural gas saved from that switch-over to power its vehicles.

Court Upholds 'No Match, No Vote' Law

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:51:00 -0700

Last month, Miller-McCune reported on barriers to the ballot box. Florida stood out, having been named by a coalition of voting rights groups as the state most hostile to voters. A federal court last week helped solidify that distinction with a ruling that could result in thousands of Floridians showing up to the polls in November to find their names not on the registration lists.

Two Nickels and a Vote Go a Long Way

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:21:00 -0700

The happiest place on Earth ain't Disneyland; it's Denmark. And the least happy (hint: this one's easier than you think)? It's Zimbabwe.

Exploring the Genetic Diversity of Autism

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:12:00 -0700

You may recall the look at Asperger's, "The Trouble With Genius," by our freelancer Rob Kuznia. The piece in part described the work on autism at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

NASA Affirms Scientist Was Muzzled

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:56:00 -0700

Scientists and organizations looking to assure integrity in research and dissemination of findings scored a victory this spring when top NASA climate scientist James E. Hansen's claim of censorship was affirmed by a NASA Inspector General report.

AIDS Increases Among Young and Old Men

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:03:00 -0700

HIV/AIDS is up among the young and the old, according to newly released data from the CDC. The news prompts us to re-examine two stories Miller-McCune.com ran lately.

Morbid Thoughts Influence Food Choices

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:55:00 -0700

Thinking about our own deaths influences our eating patterns in both predictable and surprising ways, according to two new studies that examine different aspects of this psychological phenomenon.

More Severe Weather Ahead

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:27:00 -0700

The current floods in the Midwest provide a sobering backdrop to a new report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program, which predicts ever-increasing incidents of severe weather — including heat waves, hurricanes, droughts and downpours — as Earth’s temperature increases.

You'd Have to Be Nuts (or Not) to Own a Gun

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:12:00 -0700

Our Ryan Blitstein recently looked at the connection between a state's spending on social welfare and its suicide rate. There is a connection, the authors of one study determined, but the underlying reason remains unclear.

The Perfect Performance-Enhancing Drug -- Placebos

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 10:20:00 -0700

An Australian researcher today showed that athletes who believe they're taking synthetic human growth hormone, but are instead taking placebos, can actually become stronger.

Obesity Researchers May Need Jaws Wired Shut

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 09:59:00 -0700

Journalists at this week's gathering in San Francisco of experts on the hormonal system might be excused for believing they'd stumbled into a bookstore's fad diet section.

Obama Details Social Security Plans

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:51:00 -0700

Sen. Barack Obama fleshed out his plans to shore up the Social Security system Friday, telling a group of senior citizens in Columbus, Ohio that if elected president, he would advocate applying the Social Security payroll tax to annual incomes above $250,000.

Study Hails Europe's Cap-and-Trade

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 05:03:00 -0700

Three years ago, amid a flurry of expectations and public controversy, the European Union instituted the world's first cap-and-trade system to limit carbon emissions. Today, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology analysis of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) affirms that despite rather unstable beginnings, the system has been an unprecedented success, one particularly important in that it opens the door for skeptical countries -- like the United States -- to follow suit.

Voter ID Dampens, Yes, But Does It Work?

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:34:00 -0700

More research suggests that voter ID laws depress voter turnout among minority populations and the elderly, although the authors conclude in their study of Georgia’s decade-old (but recently tweaked) law that social scientists really need to look at voter fraud and whether voter ID works.

Opening Our Eyes to Different Kinds of Sight

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:15:00 -0700

A recent best-selling book has forged an unlikely link between a man born in England more than 200 years ago and the groundbreaking work being done today by California-based World Access for the Blind.

Being Green: A Capital Idea

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:39:00 -0700

Let's trot out ol' Kermit once again: It ain't easy being green. That's the usual (but certainly not universal) knock for companies that say they want to be good environmental stewards but at the same time have to answer to investors whose idea of green stewardship pertains pretty exclusively to dead presidents.

Eco-Friendly Bombs: Insert Punchline Here

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:08:00 -0700

Final proof that green living has moved from the domain of granola munching hippies into the mainstream. Get ready for weapons that don't harm (?) the environment.

Tests, Texting and Tuberculosis: Nagging That Works

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:52:00 -0700

When it comes to treating tuberculosis, the primary difficulty many doctors encounter today is the unfortunate reality that giving patients antibiotics doesn't necessarily mean they'll actually take them.

Candidates: Watch Your Language!

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:19:00 -0700

As the primaries end and the general election race gets underway, a new study provides a timely reminder to both Barack Obama and John McCain: If you hope to inspire your followers, pay careful attention to the imagery of your speeches.

Feeding the Meter, Helping the Homeless?

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 09:12:00 -0700

American cities have tried many ambitious methods to "fix" their homelessness problems, from San Francisco's "care-not-cash" program, which cut welfare funds in exchange for expanded access to shelters, to The Bridge, Dallas' just-opened center that aims to take the novel approach of treating the homeless like consumers. Now, it appears the latest craze in homeless policy takes its cue from Lovely Rita, Meter Maid.

A Cool Idea for Fighting Urban Warming

Fri, 30 May 2008 11:53:00 -0700

The benefits of roof gardens are no longer limited to the aesthetic - recent research shows that green roofs can play a significant role in reducing temperatures in urban centers.

Singing for Sanitation in Africa

Thu, 29 May 2008 12:57:00 -0700

Ecological sanitation may not be the most popular material for rock singers, but for one man in Mozambique, it is the most meaningful.

Startup Focuses on Algae Fuel

Thu, 29 May 2008 12:15:00 -0700

Filling your gas tank with algae may be getting closer.

Detector Tells if Reactor is Naughty or Nice

Thu, 22 May 2008 14:52:00 -0700

As a number of nations (Iran, Egypt, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Venezuela, Jordan, Syria, Yemen, Turkey, etc.) start looking at nuclear programs for what they claim are legitimate energy needs, doubts arise over whether their nuclear reactors are intended for energy or weapons production. A clear answer may be in sight: Research conducted by physicists and nuclear engineers at Oregon State University, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratory has yielded a device that potentially could allow independent assessment of whether a reactor is being used for peaceful or military means.

Green Plants Increase Job Satisfaction

Wed, 21 May 2008 13:13:00 -0700

We reported last month that the presence of art posters on office walls – particularly nature scenes -- lowers the anger and stress levels of men. Well, new research suggests potted plants and Picassos have similarly positive effects.

Crime Control Theatre: Act Two

Tue, 20 May 2008 12:19:00 -0700

The research team that exposed the ineffectiveness of the Amber Alert system – the topic of a Miller-McCune report last December – has just published a follow-up study refining its thesis and suggesting a similarly vigorous look at other dubious crime-control strategies.

Debate on Religion and Happiness

Mon, 19 May 2008 12:07:00 -0700

The cover story of the June/July issue of Miller-McCune magazine looks at whether it is the government’s role to try to make its citizens happier — a notion that has gained far more traction in Europe than in the U.S. Coincidentally, an interesting debate has been taking place in the blogosphere over the past couple of days about religion and happiness — and again, Europeans and Americans seem to be coming to different conclusions.

Shell Defection Just a Squall for Renewables?

Sat, 17 May 2008 05:30:00 -0700

Less than 18 months after approval was granted for a $4 billion-plus wind farm 12 miles off the south coast of England, Shell, one of three partners in the venture, says it's pulling out.

'Peter Principle' Refuted

Fri, 16 May 2008 12:01:00 -0700

A position of powerlessness may inhibit one’s ability to perform executive-level tasks such as planning, according to new research from the Netherlands.

You Can't Keep That Simian Stereotype Down

Wed, 14 May 2008 16:39:00 -0700

A Georgia bar owner is marketing a T-shirt featuring the children's book character Curious George above the logo "Obama '08," and he seems shocked, just shocked, that some see a suspicious undertone (or blatant racism) in his actions.

New Study: Wonks Most Dangerous at Full Moon

Wed, 14 May 2008 12:19:00 -0700

Certainly, there are trials and tribulations to the academic career, particularly during the end-of-semester hell many professors are now suffering. But there are perks, too, including the "ten benefits that emanate from the promotion to full professor" enumerated by Daniel W. Drezner, professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. (Tip of the hat to the Atlantic's Megan McArdle.)

Kids Equate Glasses with Intelligence

Mon, 12 May 2008 16:16:00 -0700

Children who wear glasses are generally thought of as smarter and more honest by their peers, according to a new study that brings some of our societal stereotypes into crisp focus.

It's a Bug-Eat-Bug World Out There

Thu, 08 May 2008 13:00:00 -0700

Any mention of "locust hordes" and "cannibalism" get our juices building, even if there aren't really any policy implications involved.

Evangelicals Retain Neocon Credentials

Wed, 07 May 2008 12:46:00 -0700

While it's been widely reported that support for Israel is strong among American Evangelicals, a new study conducted by three political scientists at East Carolina University suggests that support extends to a generally hawkish stance on the Mideast -- even as the news from there turned sour.

Dog Bites Man: Was It Pedigree or Poverty?

Fri, 02 May 2008 10:11:00 -0700

Dog bite is a rare mishap for most people but your chances of being bitten start to go up if you live in a lower income neighborhood and own a pedigree pooch. If you also happen to be a boy under age 10 and it's the middle of summer ... watch out!

Pills or Practice? Boosting Brain Power

Thu, 01 May 2008 12:08:00 -0700

Our Tom Jacobs wrote in March about plagiarism and fraud among writers and academics, referring to it as a "doping scandal" in the world of letters. The term was meant to be a metaphor, but as it turns out, there may be greater use of performance-enhancing drugs going on in intellectual circles than one might expect.

Virtual Reality as an Addiction Recovery Tool

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:59:00 -0700

The virtual reality world is usually thought of as escapist entertainment. But a University of Houston researcher has found computer-generated environments can serve as an effective tool to help recovering addicts.

Birds Do It, Bees Do It

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:22:00 -0700

Even educated young adults do it, apparently - "it" being the trading of goods for sex, or what the research literature delicately refers to as "exchanges in reproductively relevant currencies."

Supremes: Theoretical Fraud Trumps Real Burdens

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:41:00 -0700

In January, as the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments about Indiana's voter identification law, we noted research that suggested such laws reduce voting across the board. This reduction occurred even though such laws don't statistically depress registration. That the reduction occurred across all demographics was a tad surprising, since voter ID efforts are usually associated with Republicans, while Democrats are commonly associated with anti-ID efforts.

Overweight Corpses: The Next Big Problem

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:55:00 -0700

Talk about dead weight: The increased number of morbidly obese corpses is complicating the lives of mortuary workers in Australia.

More On the Not-So-Friendly Skies

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:58:00 -0700

In March, Miller-McCune interviewed Clinton V. Oster Jr., professor and associate dean at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University, and one of America's foremost aviation experts.

Ignoring Our Race Problem

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:35:00 -0700

Barack Obama’s eloquent plea for a national dialogue on race may go unheeded for a simple psychological reason: The topic makes a whole lot of people uncomfortable, and our favorite way of dealing with anxiety-provoking subjects is to ignore them.

Another blow to free will

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:30:00 -0700

As we reported in February, students who are exposed to the idea that free will is an illusion are more likely to cheat on tests. Not surprisingly, the notion that our actions aren’t truly controlled by our conscious mind seems to undermine our sense of personal responsibility. Well, our ethical foundations eroded a bit more this week.

Comic Relief From Tax Day

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:55:00 -0700

Watch The Three Stooges get Income Tax Sappy in which Shemp proposes to claim 11 dependents: "My ex-wife and 10 bartenders."

Irradiation Gets Shot In the Arm

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 09:00:00 -0700

The first issue of Miller-McCune magazine looked at the industry and government response to the E. Coli outbreak of 2006, in which tainted spinach sickened more than 200 people and killed three.

It's Hard to Have Your Pants Down Sitting in a Pew

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:47:00 -0700

There seems to be a special public delight when religious types get caught with their pants down. Whether it’s that sexual hypocrisy is especially malodorous or that others’ overt religiosity amplifies someone else’s schaudenfreude is tough to say.

Even With Climate Change, Nuclear a Hard Sell

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:49:00 -0700

As political debate heats up about a potentially greater role for nuclear energy in a world struggling to abate global warming, British researchers have been looking at what influences public opinion on this issue.

Recipe for Reducing Kids’ Excess Weight

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 10:40:00 -0700

In Miller-McCune.com's interview with nutritionist Marion Nestle, the author of What to Eat and other books declared, "You've got to get rid of the vending machines in the schools. They shouldn't be there in the first place." A recent study conducted in Philadelphia public schools, while not going to the lengths recommended by Nestle, suggests that a multi-pronged approach —incorporating healthier food choices; nutrition education for teachers, students, and parents; and encouragement of physical activity — can have a substantial impact on the incidence of overweight (a body mass index for their age in the 85^th to 94^th percentile) among children.

For Whom the Turnpike Tolls

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:08:00 -0700

Last week our Amy R. Ramos noted that the era of the “free” in freeways might be coming to an end. Further evidence comes from a commentary in the April issue of Public Works Management and Policy, which suggests that “highway tolling has entered the mainstream” — at least when it comes to new freeways.

Risque Business

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:55:00 -0700

In the advertising world, “sex sells” is an accepted truism. In a new study of the male brain, Stanford University researchers have determined why.

More Global Warming Worries

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:24:00 -0700

Reducing global carbon dioxide emissions will be an even more daunting challenge than we have been led to believe, according to a sobering commentary in the April 3 issue of Nature magazine.

Taking the "Free" Out of Freeways

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:39:00 -0700

Americans prize their freedom of speech, religion and assembly, but according to transportation economist David Lewis, "some perceive the 'free' in 'freeways' as close to a civil right" as well.

Baseball's Best Teams Are ...

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:23:00 -0700

On paper, there are many quality suitors for Major League Baseball's top prize, but two teams have no chance at reaching the 2008 playoffs, let alone the World Series, according to one mathematician and baseball fanatic.

Researchers Decry Animal-Rights 'Terrorism'

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:19:00 -0700

Ninety researchers from prominent universities and federal institutes have signed their names to a sharply worded commentary decrying "terrorism targeting medical scientists."

Ignorance Isn’t Only Bliss …

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:10:00 -0700

We’ve all heard that knowledge is power, but a new study in the current issue of the RAND Journal of Economics turns that old hoary chestnut on its head, arguing that ignorance is the real key to influence.

At Least We Excel at Something

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:24:00 -0700

With the current financial circus pitching its big top at a foreclosed house near you, it's tough to pick out exceptionally awful companies among the detritus of publicly traded disasters.

Social Security Update

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:34:00 -0700

The just-released annual report of the Social Security and Medicare trustees contains familiar warnings of major challenges ahead — along with a bit of good news.

Strength Plus Sensitivity Equals Leadership

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:44:00 -0700

Gender stereotypes influence our views of male and female leaders, according to a new study that has implications for the current presidential race.

Worried About Water

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:21:00 -0700

Americans are far more concerned about the quality of water than they are about global warming, according to Gallup's annual environmental survey. But they aren't as worried overall about environmental issues as they were in previous years.

Mounds of Trouble for Baseball Pitchers

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:17:00 -0700

Pitchers preparing for the coming baseball season may benefit from borrowing a rake from a grounds crew and tamping down their practice mounds.

Making Waves Into Energy

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:18:00 -0700

Ireland is turning to the ocean in a bid to generate electricity.

Message On A Bottle

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:42:00 -0700

According to a 2006 report from market research firm AC Nielsen, one in five table wines brought to market in the three years before features an animal on its label.

Apples: Not Just for Teacher Anymore

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:43:00 -0700

Miller-McCune.com recently interviewed nutritionist Marion Nestle, who shared her views and experiences related to school food. Asked whether there were any data showing that schools striving to offer healthier food have seen an improvement in academic performance or behavioral problems, Nestle said she had only anecdotal evidence, and related what she had observed at a private school in New York City that had launched a sophisticated school food program.

Two Potential Problems with Brain Scans

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:55:00 -0700

The visual images of brain activity captured by functional MRI machines are undeniably fascinating. But two new studies point out troubling aspects of this technology.

Now If Only They'd Hang Themselves Up, Too

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 09:32:00 -0700

It sounds like one of those commercials you see on day-time television for a better stain-removing spray, but even Mr. Clean can't do this: Researchers at Monash University in Victoria, Australia, have created clothes - spun from natural fibers -- that clean themselves.

I'm Not Chicken, Just Highly Evolved

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:30:00 -0700

It's always nice to find out that what would generally be considered a shortcoming can be reconstituted as a positive adaption.

Affirming the Benefits of Negative Campaigning

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:02:00 -0700

Now that Hillary Clinton's "3 a.m. insistently ringing red phone" commercial has achieved political advertisement hall-of-fame status, political scientists John Geer and Ken Goldstein argue in a Los Angeles Times op-ed piece that negative campaign ads — far from being the scourge that most commentators make them out to be — energize the electorate and facilitate an informed debate about the candidates' relative merits.

Preaching and Politics

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:03:00 -0700

Is God a Democrat or a Republican? At a time when the polarized views of preachers are getting much media attention, it's reassuring to learn that a huge majority of Americans consider the Almighty to be politically nonpartisan.

An Argument for Arts Education

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:35:00 -0700

Advocates of arts education, including presidential candidate Barack Obama, have long asserted that art, theater and music classes are an essential part of a child’s education.

Red-light Cameras Ineffective

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:32:00 -0700

Of all the technological innovations of recent decades, the red-light camera has to rank among the least popular. A new study suggests that, in terms of their intended effect, they are also among the least successful.

Cost of Smoking, Obesity More Personal than Public

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:22:00 -0700

Big Tobacco may want a refund.

Mississippi Forgotten

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 09:44:00 -0700

When people think Hurricane Katrina, first thoughts turn to New Orleans. But as Mississippi Forgotten shows, the effects of what happened on the entire Gulf Coast was quite remarkable.

More Bad News on Global Warming

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 11:07:00 -0700

As Americans argue about how to tackle the issue of climate change, the astonishingly rapid industrialization of China is threatening to negate whatever progress we might achieve in reducing greenhouse gases. According to a new analysis by economists at two University of California campuses, China's carbon dioxide emissions are growing at a far faster pace than previously estimated -- and earlier estimates were worrying.