Populism's problems can be fixed by getting the public better-informed. And that's actually possible

By Ron Levy

Many commentators have been alarmed at the electoral wins of ultra conservative leaders around the world, as well as policy decisions such as Brexit made by a popular referendum. They see these as signs of a rising...

If Trump declares a national emergency, could Congress or the courts reverse it?

By Chris Edelson

If President Donald Trump declares a national emergency to fund some portion of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border without congressional authorization, what would happen next? Would the courts step in? What is...

Is the 'midlife crisis' a real thing?

By Nick Haslam

Middle age is often seen as lifes pivot point. A hill has been climbed and the view over the other side is unsettling. As Victor Hugo said: forty is the old age of youth and fifty the youth of old age. The idea adults...

China wrestles with contested heritage of conflict and colonial rule

By Shiqi Xiong Et Al

China often makes headlines on a great variety of topics, yet very little is said and known about its contested heritage. At a time when this country with a complex and rich history is undergoing rapid urbanisation, one...

Brick-bait: three tricks up retailers' sleeves to lure you back to physical shops

By Eloise Zoppos

Bricks-and-mortar retail stores are under intense pressure from online competition. Feeling the most heat are clothes shops and department stores. This year David Joness profit halved, to A$64 million. Myer declared a...

Why we need to take food education in Australian schools more seriously

By Tony Worsley Et Al

This article is part of a series focusing on the politics of food what we eat, how our views of food are changing and why it matters from a cultural and political standpoint. Schools are expected to do a lot of...

Five life lessons from your immune system

By Joanna Groom

This article is part of our occasional long read series Zoom Out, where authors explore key ideas in science and technology in the broader context of society and humanity. Scientists love analogies. We use them...

When pets are family, the benefits extend into society

By Lisa F. Carver

There is a growing global trend to consider pets as part of the family. In fact, millions of people around the world love their pets, enjoying their companionship, going for walks, playing and even talking to them. And...

Solving phantom limb pain – science is getting closer

By Victoria Root

After amputation of an arm, most amputees report vivid and continuous sensations of their missing limb. Some can even move their missing hand as if it were still there. For many amputees, though, these sensations are...

What is really eating Apple – and why Steve Jobs would not be doing a lot better

By Arturo Bris

Apple has started the new year by disappointing investors with its first profit warning in 17 years. The company said that poor sales of its latest range of iPhones has helped to weaken its first financial quarter...

Fast-food chains use cute animal toys to market meat to children – new vegan ranges pose a dilemma

By Kate Stewart Et Al

Being vegan appears to be all the rage in Britain. The news that McDonalds has launched a new plant-based Happy Meal for children based on a vegan wrap would seem to bear this idea out. McDonalds new offering is the latest...

Our obsession with taking photos is changing how we remember the past

By Giuliana Mazzoni

Last year I visited the Hermitage in St Petersburg, Russia one of the best art museums in the world. I was expecting to serenely experience its masterpieces, but my view was blocked by a wall of smart phones taking...

India: government continues to supress citizens' right to information ahead of election

By Vidya Venkat

Back in 2014, when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ascended to power in India, it did so on the promise of running an open government accountable to its citizens that would eliminate corruption. But nearly five years...

What are the effects of total isolation? An expert explains

By Sarita Robinson

Imagine being confined to a small, dark room, with no social interaction whatsoever for 30 days. Not many people would jump at this opportunity. But, in November 2018, a professional US poker player Rich Alati bet...

Seven charts that show the world is actually becoming a better place

By Julius Probst

Swedish academic Hans Rosling has identified a worrying trend: not only do many people across advanced economies have no idea that the world is becoming a much better place, but they actually even think the opposite. This...

Why we want to build a machine that can predict a person's attractiveness

By Andrew G. Thomas

It is an age-old question what makes someone attractive? We often say things like beauty is in the eye of the beholder but while this romantic notion may bring comfort to those dealt a poor hand in life, it also gives the...

Top five ways to boost your health in 2019 – based on the latest research

By Sophie Medlin

Its the start of a new year and there is no doubt that 2019 will be as saturated with nutritional nonsense as 2018. From appetite suppressant lollypops to activated charcoal, the wellness industry was worth $4.2 trillion...

Congress used to pass bipartisan legislation – will it ever again?

By Jeffrey D. Grynaviski

Congress seemingly hasnt accomplished much apart from a tax cut and criminal justice reform since the election of President Trump in 2016, despite all three branches being controlled by the GOP. Will that record get...

Many hate crimes never make it into the FBI's database

By Sophie Bjork-James

The FBIs latest numbers showed a 17 percent increase in reported hate crimes in 2017. But what does this actually say about the actual number of hate crimes occurring in the U.S.? Not much. The Hate Crime Statistics...

Why does it feel good to see someone fail?

By Shensheng Wang

In the Pixar animated film Inside Out, most of the plot plays out inside protagonist Rileys head, where five emotions Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust and Anger direct her behavior. The film was released to glowing...

The euro at 20: An enduring success but a fundamental failure

By Barry Eichengreen

New Years Day 1999 saw the largest monetary changeover in history. On that date, just 20 years ago, 12 members of the European Union formally adopted a brand-spanking-new currency, the euro. Today seven additional EU...

Will China's moon landing launch a new space race?

By Wendy Whitman Cobb

China became the third country to land a probe on the Moon on Jan. 2. But, more importantly, it became the first to do so on the far side of the moon, often called the dark side. The ability to land on the far side of the...

Competitive elections are good for democracy – just not every democracy

By Jessica Gottlieb Et Al

The 2018 U.S. midterm elections were fierce, expensive and full of upsets, with political newcomers ousting long-tenured incumbents and Democrats unseating Republicans to retake the House of Representatives. That makes...

In the post-truth era, documentary theatre searches for common ground

By Jenn Stephenson

With the onslaught of alternative facts or fake news, it can feel as though the ground has become almost liquid. One strategy to confront the ongoing public lies has been to embrace journalistic principles and...

Microbial aromas might save crops from drought

By Ruth Schmidt

In her book Silent Spring, Rachel Carson writes: The sense of smell, almost more than any other, has the power to recall memories…. You might wonder how this relates to microorganisms. In fact, they produce most...

Message sent, received but no instant reply: how does that make you feel?

By David Cowan

Your phone chimes, its a message from your partner. You reply instantly because thats what you always do. Then you decide to add another message: By the way, I love you ☺ You see the read status appear under the...

Is your 'experience diet' making you unwell?

By Jenny Donovan

Just as our food diet affects our physical and emotional health, so does our experience diet. This is the day-to-day mix of the things we do, see, hear and feel. And, just like our food diet, the quantity, quality and...

Nancy Pelosi victorious – why the California Democrat was reelected speaker of the House

By Kathryn L. Pearson

Despite some brash and not insignificant opposition, Californias Nancy Pelosi is returning to her previous role as speaker of the House. She will preside over a chamber that is 77 percent male and a Democratic Caucus...

How to negotiate infrastructure deals with China: four things African governments need to put right

By Folashade Soule

You dont negotiate with China ! I was quickly told when I started interviewing African public servants about their infrastructure deals with Beijing. There is a widespread view in Africa that you accept whatever terms are...

Gym membership: how to get the most out of it, according to a sports scientist

By Neil Gibson

CrossFit, circuit training, group exercise, functional training, resistance training, cardio training. Feeling dizzy yet? Never before have there been so many structured activities at the gym vying for your...

Why Romania is clashing with Brussels at the worst possible time

By Anamaria Dutceac Segesten

For the first time since its accession in 2007, Romania is holding the rotating presidency of the European Union for the first half of 2019. It will set the agenda of the European Council and has the chance to exercise...

Why microbeads are such a threat and why they're so hard to handle

By Henk Bouwman

Plastic is everywhere. It is used across a spectrum of applications from durable industrial equipment, household appliances to throw-away single-use items and even the clothes we wear. This wide scope of uses is ascribed...

What Britons get wrong about immigration – and how to fix these misperceptions

By Bobby Duffy

Immigration led the headlines again over the holiday season. Around 100 migrants were found on beaches or rescued from boats in the English Channel, sparking talk of a crisis and major incident and leading the home...

Emotion-reading tech fails the racial bias test

By Lauren Rhue

Facial recognition technology has progressed to point where it now interprets emotions in facial expressions. This type of analysis is increasingly used in daily life. For example, companies can use facial recognition...

Post-millennial entrepreneurs view higher education as vital to their startups

By Eric J. Barron

Todays college students dubbed Generation Z are beginning to make their mark on the workplace with a distinctly unconventional and often irreverent approach to problem-solving. In my day-to-day interactions with our...

Should children as young as 12 be sent to juvenile detention?

By Natalia Orendain

Children under 12 will no longer be treated as criminals in the state of California when they break the law, based on a new law that went into effect on Jan. 1. Before the law was passed, California had no minimum age...

Health insurers want you to try cheaper drugs first, but that can hurt you

By Sharona Hoffman

Few people are familiar with the term step therapy, but most Americans have health insurance policies that adopt it. Step therapy programs, also known as fail first policies, require patients to try less expensive...

Keeping fit: how to do the right exercise for your age

By Julie Broderick

The effect of exercise on health is profound. It can protect you from a range of conditions, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. But the type and amount of exercise you should do changes as you age....

Dealing with devil has long been a part of medicine

By Laura Sumrall

In the winter of 1566, 30 children in Amsterdam began to show signs of a disturbing affliction. The symptoms would strike without warning: the children would at first be seized by a violent frenzy, then fall to the ground,...

How Macau became the world's casino capital

By William Vlcek

Macau is Chinas answer to Las Vegas. But the former Portuguese colony has long surpassed the City of Lights as the worlds casino capital, with revenue from gambling receipts exceeding the entire state of Nevada back in...

China goes where no one has gone before – the moon's far side

By David Rothery

In a spectacular few days for solar system exploration during which NASA whizzed the New Horizons spacecraft past the Kuiper Belt object 2009 MU69 (somewhat controversially nicknamed Ultima Thule) and eased OSIRIS-REx...

Generation rent is a myth – housing prospects for millennials are determined by class

By Kim McKee

Millennials have been labelled generation rent, as growing numbers of young people are renting their homes for longer periods of their lives than their parents generation. Home ownership and social housing are increasingly...

The elusive quest for peace between the Turks and the Kurds

By Dilan Okcuoglu

Donald Trumps unilateral decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Syria is likely to help ISIS adopt a new strategy and expand its territorial control while at the same time continuing its execution of unarmed civilians. The...

What will work look like in 2030?

By François-Xavier de Vaujany Et Al

Work is changing and so is society as a whole. Debates on its future have been particularly animated over the past three years, (re)launched by discussions on digital technologies, self-employment, individuals with...

A neuroscientist's tips for a new year tuneup for your brain

By Kelly Lambert

Unlike the effervescent bubbles that stream to the top of champagne flutes on New Years Eve, what I call brain bubbles are far from celebratory. These bubbles are metaphorical rather than physical, and they distort the...

Record for decoding the longest DNA sequence is impressive – here's what to expect next

By Angus Davison

Like other professionals, scientists like to be the best at what they do, but they also like to have fun in their job. And in 2018, my colleagues managed just that in claiming a record for decoding the worlds longest DNA...

Why two people see the same thing but have different memories

By Julian Matthews

Does it ever strike you as odd that you and a friend can experience the same event at the same time, but come away with different memories of what happened? So why is it that people can recall the same thing so...

Making New Year's resolutions personal could actually make them stick

By Bernice Plant

If you feel you consistently fail at your New Years resolutions, you are not alone. Despite our good intentions, were pretty poor at changing our own behaviour. We continue to smoke, eat or drink too much, and exercise too...

A brief history of black holes

By Carla Rodrigues Almeida

Late in 2018, the gravitational wave observatory, LIGO, announced that they had detected the most distant and massive source of ripples of spacetime ever monitored: waves triggered by pairs of black holes colliding in deep...

Will wearing your coat indoors make you feel colder outside? A scientist explains

By Mike Evans

If youve ever had to work in a draughty office, warehouse or classroom, youve probably been tempted to keep your coat on inside. And you were probably also advised against it because you wouldnt feel the benefit when you...