- Synthetic biology promised to rewrite life – with the death of its pioneer, J. Craig Venter, how close are scientists?
by André O. Hudson, Dean of the College of Science, Professor of Biochemistry, Rochester Institute of Technology on April 30, 2026 at 8:54 pmAdvances in genetic engineering have enabled researchers to seek ways to program new life. But has synthetic biology actually changed medicine and the environment, nearly two decades on?
- Gerrymandering is unpopular with Florida voters – my recent survey shows why DeSantis pushed it through anyway
by Daniel A. Smith, Professor of Political Science, University of Florida on April 30, 2026 at 5:21 pmFlorida voters don’t like Gov. DeSantis’ redistricting plans, but it doesn’t tend to be a vote-determining issue.
- Three women sit for Israeli Rabbinate’s exam, amid growing recognition for Orthodox Jewish women’s religious leadership
by Michal Raucher, Associate Professor of Jewish Studies, Rutgers University on April 30, 2026 at 12:48 pmThree women sat for an exam administered by Israel’s Rabbinate, the latest sign of growing recognition for women’s religious leadership within Orthodox Judaism.
- Seeing an eclipse from Earth is awe-inspiring – for astronauts seeing one from space, the scene was even more grand
by Deana L. Weibel, Professor of Anthropology, Grand Valley State University on April 30, 2026 at 12:35 pmAstronauts report feeling profoundly awestruck when they go to space, an anthropologist reports. This experience shapes their perspectives even back on Earth.
- ‘A study showed…’ isn’t enough – scientific knowledge builds incrementally as researchers investigate and revisit questions
by Jeffrey A. Lee, Professor of Geography and the Environment, Texas Tech University on April 30, 2026 at 12:35 pmEach study adds a piece to the puzzle of scientific knowledge. But any one study on its own doesn’t tell you all that much.