The unpleasant history at 'genteel' Southern plantations

An expert draws 7 lessons about US gun laws from the murder of Ahmaud Arbery and the Rittenhouse verdict

John Donohue, Stanford University

Spoiler alert: Stolen guns arm criminals, and limiting gun carrying outside the home reduces violent crime.

How dual loyalties created an ethics problem for Chris Cuomo and CNN

Jane E. Kirtley, University of Minnesota

A journalist’s role is to serve the public interest. But CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, by helping his brother, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo during a scandal, put personal interests above the public’s.

Plastic trash in the ocean is a global problem, and the US is the top source – a new report urges action

Matthew Savoca, Stanford University; Anna Robuck, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; Lauren Kashiwabara, University of the Pacific

An estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic waste enters the ocean each year – equivalent to dumping in a garbage truckload of it every minute. A new report calls on the US to help stem the deluge.

Consumers value a product viewed online more if they see it being virtually touched

Andrea Luangrath, University of Iowa

New research shows people experience the ‘endowment effect’ of valuing an object more when they can touch it, even in virtual settings.

Why addressing racism against Black women in health care is key to ending the US HIV epidemic

Nabila El-Bassel, Columbia University

Black American women have disproportionate HIV infection rates – in part because of systemic and structural racism in the health care system.

How did Uncle Sam become a symbol for the United States?

Paul Bruski, Iowa State University

The iconic image may have originated with a meat supplier named Samuel Wilson. Or not.

Fossil spine suggests ancient human relative walked like us, but climbed like an ape

Scott A. Williams, New York University

Studying the lower back allows researchers to understand how the species’ anatomy was adapted for different kinds of movement.

Here’s why ‘baby talk’ is good for your baby

Will omicron – the new coronavirus variant of concern – be more contagious than delta? A virus evolution expert explains what researchers know and what they don’t

Sea otters demonstrate that there is more to muscle than just movement – it can also bring the heat

"Too many people believe that when someone changes their mind they are showing weakness. The term flip-flopping comes to mind. That term should be reserved for those going back and forth.

– Reader Martha J. Banks on the story Aaron Rodgers dropped the ball on critical thinking – with a little practice you can do better