What are pharmacy benefit managers? A health economist explains how lack of competition drives up drug prices for everyone

As the middlemen between drug companies and insurers, PBMs are shoo-ins as the villains behind high drug prices. But they do play a useful role in the health marketplace.

James B. Rebitzer, Wexler Professor of Management, Economics and Public Policy, Boston University • conversation
Dec. 19, 2024 ~10 min

Trees compete for space, light and resources, and those clashes can leave battle scars

For trees, growing to maturity involves much more than just reaching upward.

Wayne K. Clatterbuck, Professor Emeritus of Silviculture and Forest Management, University of Tennessee • conversation
Aug. 15, 2024 ~8 min


At its core, life is all about play − just look at the animal kingdom

Reduced to its essence, the process of natural selection would look a lot like play.

David Toomey, Professor of English, UMass Amherst • conversation
Aug. 12, 2024 ~8 min

How to design clean energy subsidies that work – without wasting money on free riders

Start high, drop fast and avoid the free-riders: How to design subsidies that can boost clean energy in the US and elsewhere.

Tiruwork B. Tibebu, Ph.D. Student, Rochester Institute of Technology • conversation
Nov. 21, 2022 ~8 min

Space Blocs: The future of international cooperation in space is splitting along lines of power on Earth

In the past 10 years, international alliances on Earth have begun to expand into space. Nations with similar interests collaborate with one another while competing with other space blocs.

Svetla Ben-Itzhak, Assistant Professor of Space and International Relations, Air University • conversation
April 21, 2022 ~9 min

An emphasis on brilliance creates a toxic, dog-eat-dog workplace atmosphere that discourages women

A focus on raw intellectual talent may unintentionally create a cutthroat workplace culture. New research suggests women’s preference to avoid that environment may contribute to gender gaps in some fields.

Andrea Vial, Assistant Professor of Psychology, New York University Abu Dhabi • conversation
March 23, 2022 ~6 min

The results of European football matches are becoming more predictable – new research

We analysed data from almost 88,000 matches played over 26 years across 11 major European leagues. This is what we found.

Taha Yasseri, Associate Professor, School of Sociology; Geary Fellow, Geary Institute for Public Policy, University College Dublin • conversation
Dec. 17, 2021 ~7 min

The urge to punish is not only about revenge – unfairness can unleash it, too

Unfairness alone is upsetting enough to drive people to punish lucky recipients of unfair outcomes.

Paul Deutchman, PhD Candidate in Psychology, Boston College • conversation
Sept. 30, 2020 ~6 min


Nature and nurture both contribute to gender inequality in leadership – but that doesn't mean patriarchy is forever

Recognizing the influence of evolution on behavior and gender norms suggests ways to reduce gender inequality in leadership in the real world.

Christopher von Rueden, Associate Professor of Leadership Studies, University of Richmond • conversation
Aug. 18, 2020 ~9 min

It's OK to feed wild birds – here are some tips for doing it the right way

Millions of Americans feed wild birds, especially in winter and spring. Studies show that this can influence birds' health and behavior in surprising ways.

Julian Avery, Assistant Research Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Pennsylvania State University • conversation
March 2, 2020 ~8 min

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