Russia indictments: No trial, no facts, no closure?

Editor's note

Twelve Russian security agents were indicted last Friday by the U.S. for allegedly interfering with the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Legal scholar Joel Samuels from the University of South Carolina writes that it’s unlikely they will ever face trial in the U.S. And that means Americans may never uncover the full story of Russia’s attempts to undermine their democracy. But, he writes, the facts could come out in other ways.

Amid the social and political turmoil of 1968, Stewart Brand launched the Whole Earth Catalog, which Apple founder Steve Jobs would later call “one of the bibles of my generation.” How could a mail-order catalog have such impact? In UNLV historian Andy Kirk’s view, it offered a positive vision of sustainable living, with humans at its center.

After their dramatic rescue from Nang Non cave in Northern Thailand, many of the boys are said to be considering becoming monks temporarily. Anthropologist Andrew Alan Johnson explains how ordaining to be a monk is the greatest honor a person can give to another – in this case to the Navy SEAL who died while trying to save them.

Naomi Schalit

Senior Editor, Politics + Society

Top stories

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announcing the indictments. AP/Evan Vucci

If the 12 indicted Russians never face trial in the US, can anything be gained?

Joel Samuels, University of South Carolina

Will 12 Russians indicted for hacking the 2016 US election ever come to trial? They may not, but the indictments themselves are an important step in the effort to determine the truth of what happened.

‘Earthrise,’ which appeared on the cover of the second and third Whole Earth Catalog, was taken by Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders during lunar orbit, Dec. 24, 1968. NASA

Thing-makers, tool freaks and prototypers: How the Whole Earth Catalog's optimistic message reinvented the environmental movement in 1968

Andy Kirk, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

The Whole Earth Catalog was a blueprint for sustainability that envisioned humans living in balance with nature. Its creative spirit was welcomed in a year riven by war, assassinations and riots.

Thai monks pray during a cleansing ceremony and memorial service for Saman Gunan, the Thai SEAL diver who died while trying to rescue the boys trapped in the cave. AP Photo/Vincent Thian

The rescued Thai boys are considering becoming monks — here's why

Andrew Alan Johnson, Princeton University

In Theravada Buddhism, ordaining to be a monk and donating the merit thus gained is one of the greatest honors that a person can give to another - in this case to the Navy SEAL officer, who died.

Economy + Business
When corporations take credit for green deeds their lobbying may tell another story Tom Lyon, University of Michigan; Magali (Maggie) Delmas, University of California, Los Angeles The environmental responsibility some businesses say they embrace is only a veneer.

Education
Multilingual learners doing better in US schools than previously thought Karen D. Thompson, Oregon State University; Michael J Kieffer, New York University Despite reports that multilingual students' academic progress has 'stalled,' researchers find new reasons to be optimistic about how they are faring in US schools.

Environment + Energy

Harvesting rain could help Caribbean countries keep the water on after hurricanes

Cecilia A. Green, Syracuse University; Farah Nibbs, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Many countries collect and store rainwater for use during drought or dry seasons. But this technique is rarely used in the Caribbean, where hurricanes can leave people without water for months.

Health + Medicine

How man and machine can work together to diagnose diseases in medical scans

Anant Madabhushi, Case Western Reserve University; Kaustav Bera, Case Western Reserve University

With artificial intelligence, machines can now examine thousands of medical images for signs of disease. Will this technology replace doctors – or work side by side with them?
How a positive outlook on the future protect may teens from violence

Alison Culyba, University of Pittsburgh

Teens who have high hopes for the future were less likely to threaten or injure someone with a weapon, a recent study reports. Could helping youth build dreams for the future also curb violence?

Science + Technology

Pigments from microbes provide clue to evolution in ancient oceans – but weren't pink a billion years ago

Patricia L. Foster, Indiana University

Did you recently hear news that Earth's oldest pigments were hot pink? That's not quite right. When they were in living bacteria a billion years ago, they were performing photosynthesis – and green.
Understanding the emoji of solidarity

Sashank Santhanam, University of North Carolina – Charlotte; Samira Shaikh, University of North Carolina – Charlotte

New research discovered how people use emoji to express their concern and support during tragedies and disasters.

Today’s chart

From the article: The US is facing a serious shortage of airline pilots
Peter Gall
West Virginia University