Soaring inflation prompts biggest Social Security cost-of-living boost since 1981 – 6 questions answered 

John W. Diamond, Rice University

Social Security is increasing benefits by 8.7%, beginning in January 2023, to offset the surging cost of living in the US.

How the costs of disasters like Hurricane Ian are calculated – and why it takes so long to add them up

Adam Rose, University of Southern California

A recovery expert explains what these estimates include and what could be done to make disasters less costly.

We talked to 100 people about their experiences in solitary confinement – this is what we learned

Angela Hattery, University of Delaware; Earl Smith, University of Delaware

Every day, tens of thousands of American prisoners are locked up in solitary confinement. This is how that looks for those behind bars, and those guarding them.

Evangelical college students often feel misunderstood – what helps boost understanding between students of all faiths?

Matthew J. Mayhew, The Ohio State University; Christa Winkler, Mississippi State University; Musbah Shaheen, The Ohio State University

College can be a time to interact with people with different worldviews, but meaningful exchanges often require intent.

With the movie ‘Till,’ Mamie Till-Mobley’s quest to educate the world about her son’s lynching marches on

Brandon M. Erby, University of Kentucky

She eventually decided to become a public school teacher so she could influence a new generation of Americans.

Helping the liver regenerate itself could give patients with end-stage liver disease a treatment option besides waiting for a transplant

Satdarshan Monga, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences

Liver transplant waitlists can range from 30 days to over five years. Developing treatments that spur liver regeneration could help reduce demand for scarce organs.

Does tutoring work? An education economist examines the evidence on whether it’s effective

Susanna Loeb, Brown University

Billions of dollars are being spent on tutoring in the US. Will it be enough to help schoolchildren make up for pandemic learning loss? An education economist weighs in.

The right to vote is not in the Constitution

Morgan Marietta, UMass Lowell

The framers of the Constitution never mentioned a right to vote. They didn’t forget. They intentionally left it out.

Here’s the first question of this week’s edition:
What was a major factor in many Indigenous communities in the U.S. losing their languages?

1. A. Boarding schools
2. B. Elders refusing to teach children
3. C. A philosophy of “leaving the past in the past”
4. D. The Pony Express

Test your knowledge

#MeToo in space: We must address the potential for sexual harassment and assault away from Earth

740,000km of fishing line and 14 billion hooks: we reveal just how much fishing gear is lost at sea each year

Angela Lansbury – a storied career sure to touch people for years to come