Editor's note
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When Kellyanne Conway made her now infamous statement about the White House providing “alternative facts,” many quickly shot down the notion. But archaeologist Peter Neal Peregrine writes that her comment may reveal just how vulnerable we are to a way of thinking that could set us back centuries: “Conway’s statement was not based on a scientific perspective, but rather on a much older tradition of deciding what is true: the argument from authority.”
Could a cyberattack take out the power grid? It’s already happened in Ukraine, and could happen here, too. Grid-security researchers Manimaran Govindarasu and Adam Hahn explain how, and what must happen to protect the grid.
And following President Trump’s executive order to rescind protections for transgender students, we’ve distilled the best analysis from our previous articles to tell you what you need to know.
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Danielle Douez
Associate Editor, Politics + Society
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Top story
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White House spokesman Sean Spicer and senior advisor Kellyanne Conway chat.
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Peter Neal Peregrine, Lawrence University
How do we determine what is fact? An archaeologist explains how the answer has changed over time and why it matters so much now.
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Science + Technology
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Manimaran Govindarasu, Iowa State University; Adam Hahn, Washington State University
The power grid is increasingly computerized. That opens it to attacks and requires new defenses.
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Gillian Foulger, Durham University; Jon Gluyas, Durham University; Miles Wilson, Durham University
Can California's wet weather make earthquakes more likely? Scientists are still learning about what triggers these events. Even human activity can be a culprit.
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Education
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Kaitlyn Chantry, The Conversation
Trump has reversed Obama's landmark guidance allowing transgender students the bathroom of their choice. Here's what you need to know about the controversy.
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Environment + Energy
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Walter Rosenbaum, University of Florida
Today's political climate gives new EPA head Scott Pruitt a clear path to seriously cut back EPA enforcement – more than previous administrations.
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Arts + Culture
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Kevin Hagopian, Pennsylvania State University
Their critiques may be more gentle, their attacks more circumspect – but they are resonant nonetheless. And when filmmakers like Farhadi confront Trump, they're on familiar turf: They've seen his type back home.
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Ethics + Religion
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Kenyatta R. Gilbert, Howard University
Since the 19th century, a long line of black women preachers set in motion a tradition that spoke against injustices and questioned patriarchal attitudes. Here's their story.
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Politics + Society
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James Kirby, La Trobe University
For a global audience, the movie 'A United Kingdom' provides a topical account of race relations. The love story is likely to revitalize the popular viewpoint of Botswana as a national success story.
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Economy + Business
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Sara Geenen, University of Antwerp
The US wants to repeal controls imposed seven years ago on the trade of some Congolese minerals. The president's reasons might be all wrong. But the law was badly put together in the first place.
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Rest of the World
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United Kingdom
Clint Perry, Queen Mary University of London and Olli Loukola, Queen Mary University of London
They shoot, they score ... if there's a sugary reward at the end of it. Australia
Tony Hughes-D'Aeth, University of Western Australia
The Museum of Water invites people to bring samples of water significant to them.
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