Why we listen to a few hearty caucusgoers in Iowa

How to prevent America’s aging buildings from collapsing – 4 high-profile disasters send a warning

Abieyuwa Aghayere, Drexel University

Too often, signs of trouble are ignored until a problem becomes a crisis. Here are some clear warning signs residents should watch for. If you see something, say something – it could save lives.

Miami residents believe Biscayne Bay is ‘healthy,’ despite big declines in water quality and biodiversity, new study finds

Julia Wester, University of Miami

A survey of Miami-Dade residents found bipartisan support for protecting Biscayne Bay − though most locals were not aware of the extent of its decline in recent years.

Congress is failing to deliver on its promise of billions more in research spending, threatening America’s long-term economic competitiveness

Jason Owen-Smith, University of Michigan

The latest government showdown over the budget risks not only a shutdown but jobs, regional economies and America’s competitiveness in AI and other advanced fields.

What social robots can teach America’s students

Gerald K. LeTendre, Penn State

Social robots can be useful tools to help students learn about programming, but here’s why they won’t be replacing classroom teachers anytime soon.

Long after Indigenous activists flee Russia, they continue to face government pressure to remain silent

Laura A. Henry, Bowdoin College

More than six years after Pavel Sulyandziga, an Indigenous activist from Russia, left the country to seek political asylum in the US, he continues to face harassment by the Russian government.

Your body already has a built-in weight loss system that works like Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro – food and your gut microbiome

Christopher Damman, University of Washington

Weight loss and diabetes drugs target regulatory pathways involved in metabolism that the microbes in your gut and certain molecules from food already play a key role in regulating.

Your fingerprint is actually 3D − research into holograms could improve forensic fingerprint analysis

Partha Banerjee, University of Dayton

Using fingerprints to catch criminals isn’t 100% accurate, but analyzing fingerprints in 3D, rather than 2D, could improve the process.

Ethiopia’s deal with Somaliland upends regional dynamics, risking strife across the Horn of Africa

Alemayehu Weldemariam, Indiana University

Somalia has demanded that a memorandum of understanding – which would see Ethiopia gain access to the Red Sea via a Somaliland port – be ripped up.

Misinformation: how fact-checking journalism is evolving – and having a real impact on the world

Peter Cunliffe-Jones, University of Westminster; Lucas Graves, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Artificial intelligence is likely to make the ‘fake news’ problem worse. But it can also be used to help us counter misinformation.

Laundry is a top source of microplastic pollution – here’s how to clean your clothes more sustainably

Ethiopia’s deal with Somaliland upends regional dynamics, risking strife across the Horn of Africa

Gen Z and millennials have an unlikely love affair with their local libraries