Earth’s magnetic field is what makes a compass point north. Crucially, it also protects us and our atmosphere from incoming charged particles from space. Geophysicists know the magnetic field has been decreasing for 160 years – something that in the very distant past has preceded the planet’s magnetic poles flipping. As researchers try to untangle what is going on, geophysicists John Tarduno and Vincent Hare explain how archaeomagnetic studies – focused on villages in southern Africa that burned 700 years ago – are helping fill in the picture.
Companies have historically tried to steer clear of politically controversial issues like the recent immigration travel ban for fear of alienating their customers. But new research from marketing professor Daniel Korschun shows that staying silent may be more damaging to the bottom line – as Uber learned the hard way.
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What’s north would become south.
NASA
John Tarduno, University of Rochester; Vincent Hare, University of Rochester
Are we headed to a magnetic reversal and all the global disruption that would bring? Enter archaeomagnetism. A look at the archaeological record in southern Africa provides some clues.
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Environment + Energy
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Joseph Aldy, Harvard University
President Trump has ordered federal agencies to cut two regulations for every new one they enact – ignoring the fact that many regulations produce large social benefits.
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Politics + Society
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Ibram X. Kendi, University of Florida
Ignorant and hateful people are not behind the production of racist ideas, as Americans are taught so often during Black History Month.
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Arts + Culture
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Aaron D. Knochel, Pennsylvania State University
The National Endowment for the Arts is on the chopping block...again. But this time, the ideological justifications don't pass muster.
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Economy + Business
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Daniel Korschun, Drexel University
Companies historically have avoided taking stands on contentious issues, but new research suggests consumers punish businesses that don't stand up for their core values.
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Health + Medicine
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Richard G. "Bugs" Stevens, University of Connecticut
The first step in discovering whether something is a carcinogen is epidemiology.
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Balveen Kaur, The Ohio State University; Pravin Kaumaya, The Ohio State University
Armed with new insights into the interactions between cancer and the immune system, research teams are developing novel treatments to harness the full potential of the body's natural defenses.
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Jonathan Rennhack, Michigan State University; Jing-Ru Jhan, Michigan State University
Not only are tumors are different from one another, but there can even be genetic differences within a single tumor.
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Sheila Murphy, University of Southern California, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
When it comes to knowledge about cancer, our research has suggested narratives and stories are effective in both communicating health information and even encouraging people to be screened.
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Rest of the World
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Australia
Robert Hoffmann, RMIT University and Swee Hoon Chuah, RMIT University
Past studies point to traditional Confucian values and a refugee mentality as a reason for the business success of Chinese people living overseas, our research debunks this. United Kingdom
Simon Willmetts, University of Hull
Every crystal ball has a shelf life, even the most prescient. Africa
Mark Sonderup, University of Cape Town
A South African politician under whose watch 94 psychiatric patients died resigned this week. But should she be taken to court to be held properly accountable.
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