Intuitions about justice are a consistent part of human nature across cultures and millennia

What people consider to be fair and just today are in line with the laws of ancient Mesopotamia and the Tang Dynasty in China – suggesting that these intuitions are part of human nature.

Carlton Patrick, Assistant Professor of Legal Studies, University of Central Florida • conversation
Oct. 21, 2022 • ~9 min

Pit bulls went from America's best friend to public enemy – now they're slowly coming full circle

A scholar of law and humanities compares bans on dogs with any pit bull genes to “one drop” laws that once classified people with even a single Black ancestor as Black.

Colin Dayan, Professor of English, Robert Penn Warren Professor in the Humanities, and Professor of Law, Vanderbilt University • conversation
Oct. 21, 2022 • ~10 min

Ad hoc committee releases report on remote teaching best practices for on-campus education

Task Force 2021 and Beyond report highlights innovative teaching practices that MIT instructors have incorporated into in-person classes, informed by remote-teaching experiences.

Elizabeth Durant | Office of the Vice Chancellor • mit
Oct. 18, 2022 • ~6 min

The power of swearing: how obscene words influence your mind, body and relationships

Swearing can raise our pain threshold.

Richard Stephens, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Keele University • conversation
Oct. 18, 2022 • ~7 min

Our *Homo sapiens* ancestors shared the world with Neanderthals, Denisovans and other types of humans whose DNA lives on in our genes

Ancient DNA helps reveal the tangled branches of the human family tree. Not only did our ancestors live alongside other human species, they mated with them, too.

Joshua Akey, Professor at the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University • conversation
Oct. 7, 2022 • ~10 min

What’s next for ancient DNA studies after Nobel Prize honors groundbreaking field of paleogenomics

Thousands of ancient genomes have been sequenced to date. A Nobel Prize highlights tremendous opportunities for aDNA, as well as challenges related to rapid growth, equity and misinformation.

Mary Prendergast, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Rice University • conversation
Oct. 4, 2022 • ~8 min

Nobel prize: Svante Pääbo's ancient DNA discoveries offer clues as to what makes us human

The Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for 2022 has been awarded to Svante Pääbo, whose discoveries have been pivotal to the way we understand our evolutionary history.

Anders Götherström, Professor in Molecular Archaeology, Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies, Stockholm University • conversation
Oct. 3, 2022 • ~4 min

Making each vote count

MIT PhD candidate Jacob Jaffe uses data science to identify and solve problems in election administration.

Leda Zimmerman | Department of Political Science • mit
Sept. 30, 2022 • ~8 min

Genetic study shows evolution of human pelvis

Study shows how pelvis takes shape and what genes orchestrate the process.

Juan Siliezar • harvard
Sept. 28, 2022 • ~4 min

Louis Pasteur's scientific discoveries in the 19th century revolutionized medicine and continue to save the lives of millions today

On World Rabies Day – which is also the anniversary of French microbiologist Louis Pasteur’s death – a virologist reflects on the achievements of this visionary scientist.

Rodney E. Rohde, Regents' Professor of Clinical Laboratory Science, Texas State University • conversation
Sept. 28, 2022 • ~11 min

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