- How vaccine skeptics use storytelling effectively to create powerful but medically inaccurate messaging
by Katherine Shwetz, Lecturer in Medical Humanities, Rice University; University of Toronto on July 27, 2026 at 12:40 pmRecognizing the stories behind people’s concerns with vaccines can help public health advocates build a more inclusive approach to healthcare.
- It’s getting hotter in classrooms and on playgrounds – schools aren’t ready to handle extreme temperatures
by Allison Poulos, Associate Professor in the College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University on July 27, 2026 at 12:40 pmA rising number of school districts across the country are beginning their new academic years in July or August, raising the likelihood that kids and educators will encounter scorching days.
- Al-Qaida and the Islamic State are both adopting AI – but differ in how they think about the technology
by Sara Harmouch, Research Fellow in Counterterrorism, George Washington University on July 27, 2026 at 12:40 pmTerrorist groups may use artificial intelligence for similar purposes, but their organizational cultures shape how they understand it.
- What is Falun Gong and why does the Chinese Communist Party want to suppress it?
by Gareth Fisher, Associate Professor of Religion, Syracuse University on July 27, 2026 at 12:39 pmAn anthropologist who conducted fieldwork among Falun Gong practitioners explains the movement’s beliefs and why its followers continue to resist the Chinese government.
- Bird droppings were a foundation of modern agriculture and American empire
by Edward D. Melillo, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of History and Environmental Studies, Amherst College on July 27, 2026 at 12:39 pmLong before synthetic fertilizers, the global guano trade reshaped farming, fueled American expansion and exposed the hidden human costs of feeding the modern world.