When scientific journals take sides during an election, the public's trust in science takes a hit

When the scientific establishment gets involved in partisan politics, surveys suggest, there are unintended consequences – especially for conservatives.

Stylianos Syropoulos, PhD Student in Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst • conversation
Nov. 12, 2020 ~6 min

Conservatives value personal stories more than liberals do when evaluating scientific evidence

How much weight would you put on a scientist's expertise versus the opinion of a random stranger? People on either end of the political spectrum decide differently what seems true.

Michelle Sarraf, Master's Student in Economics, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona • conversation
Nov. 9, 2020 ~6 min


The pitfalls of hospitals seeking donations from their rich patients

A survey suggests that most Americans feel that discussions about charitable support may interfere with the relationship between doctors and their patients.

Reshma Jagsi, Deputy Chair of Radiation Oncology and Director of the Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine, University of Michigan • conversation
Nov. 2, 2020 ~4 min

To save threatened plants and animals, restore habitat on farms, ranches and other working lands

The Earth is losing plants and animals at rates not seen in millions of years. Ecologists explain how protecting habitat on working lands – farms, forests and ranches – can help conserve species.

Sandra Díaz, Professor of Community and Ecosystem Ecology, Universidad de Córdoba (Argentina) • conversation
Oct. 29, 2020 ~6 min

A tiny circular racetrack for light can rapidly detect single molecules

An optical sensor that can detect individual molecules promises early detection of diseases and environmental contamination.

Judith Su, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Optical Sciences, University of Arizona • conversation
Oct. 22, 2020 ~5 min

Neuronlike circuits bring brainlike computers a step closer

Artificial brains are far in the future, but computer chips that work like brains could keep computers advancing when today's silicon transistor chips reach their limit.

R. Stanley Williams, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University • conversation
Oct. 5, 2020 ~5 min

Women equal men in computing skill, but are less confident

The gender gap in computing performance has dramatically narrowed, but a confidence gap remains.

William Wagner, Associate Professor of Accountancy & Information Systems, Villanova University • conversation
Sept. 28, 2020 ~4 min

Scientists don't share their findings for fun – they want their research to make a difference

A survey of over a thousand scientists reveals that their goal when communicating about their work is to help the rest of us make evidence-based decisions that draw on scientific findings.

John C. Besley, Ellis N. Brandt Professor of Public Relations, Michigan State University • conversation
Sept. 21, 2020 ~6 min


When hurricanes temporarily halt fishing, marine food webs recover quickly

Hurricane Harvey destroyed the fishing infrastructure of Aransas Bay and reduced fishing by 80% over the following year. This removed humans from the trophic cascade and whole food webs changed.

Joseph W. Reustle, SPIRE Postdoctoral Scholar, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill • conversation
Sept. 15, 2020 ~6 min

Clever chemistry turns ordinary bricks into electricity storage devices

Bricks turn out to be useful for storing electricity thanks to their porousness and red pigment.

Julio M. D'Arcy, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Washington University in St Louis • conversation
Aug. 11, 2020 ~5 min

/

26