Don’t let ‘FDA-approved’ or ‘patented’ in ads give you a false sense of security

Most people don’t know what these labels really mean − and advertisers take advantage of that fact.

Michael Mattioli, Professor of Law and Louis F. Niezer Faculty Fellow, Indiana University • conversation
Feb. 14, 2024 ~4 min

Can technology clean up our air? An atmospheric scientist got a glimpse of the future

A surprising number of new consumer tech products promise to improve air quality.

Alastair Lewis, Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science and University of York, University of York • conversation
Jan. 15, 2024 ~6 min


The US invented shopping malls, but China is writing their next chapter

China has a lot of vacant retail space, including many underused shopping malls. An urban policy scholar describes how the Chinese are rethinking what the mall is for.

John Rennie Short, Professor Emeritus of Public Policy, University of Maryland, Baltimore County • conversation
Jan. 5, 2024 ~9 min

AI could improve your life by removing bottlenecks between what you want and what you get

Life is full of hidden bottlenecks that result from logistical trade-offs between efficiency and your unique needs and desires. AI promises to change this taken-for-granted equation.

Bruce Schneier, Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School • conversation
Dec. 21, 2023 ~10 min

Amazon’s neighbors may face more pollution but order less stuff

The people whose packages arrive on Amazon trucks aren't the same ones who experience the resulting pollution, a study on Seattle finds.

Sarah McQuate-Washington • futurity
Dec. 15, 2023 ~7 min

Do you crunch, chew, suck, or smoosh food? It affects what you like

The texture of a hamburger can determine whether consumers enjoy it or not, depending on if they're a cruncher, chewer, sucker, or smoosher.

Texas A&M University • futurity
Nov. 16, 2023 ~7 min

Customers aren’t sold on clothing brands’ social impact

Businesses might not be doing an adequate job of communicating to customers what they're doing to improve society, a study indicates.

Pate McCuien-U. Missouri • futurity
Nov. 15, 2023 ~4 min

The battle over right to repair is a fight over your car's data

Today’s cars include hundreds of computer chips, and carmakers say the data produced by those chips is proprietary – and a security risk. This means you don’t own the data your car generates.

Ofer Tur-Sinai, Professor of Law, Ono Academic College • conversation
Nov. 13, 2023 ~10 min


Why plane ticket hacks won’t save you money

"There are so many hacks out there for finding cheaper airline tickets. But our data shows many of these beliefs are wrong."

UC Berkeley • futurity
Oct. 12, 2023 ~8 min

Can at-home DNA tests predict how you'll respond to your medications? Pharmacists explain the risks and benefits of pharmacogenetic testing

Genetic testing can help take the guesswork out of finding the right treatment. For certain diseases. To an extent.

Philip Empey, Associate Professor of Pharmacogenomics, University of Pittsburgh • conversation
Sept. 15, 2023 ~8 min

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