In the News
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January 13, 2020
Comments by Vincent Hutchings, professor of political science, were featured in a story about the support of President Donald Trump’s loyal political base for his decision to kill a top Iranian general. He said Trump’s base is “pretty much rock solid. In light of the events … I don’t see why any of Trump’s core supporters would call into question their full allegiance.”
Bloomberg -
January 10, 2020
“Real-world robots are regarded for the most part as benevolent and as a kind of symbol of an advanced, technologically savvy society. I think the Japanese have been more innovative in thinking about applications of robotics in everyday life, but the hype got in the way of reality,” said Jennifer Robertson, professor of anthropology and history of art, on Japan’s embracing of robots, but which often fail to meet the work standards of humans.
The New York Times -
January 10, 2020
Elliot Tapper, assistant professor of internal medicine, says public health options could reduce alcohol-related deaths — higher taxes on liquor, restrictions on the number of drinks someone could buy at a concert, more stringent blood alcohol levels for drivers: “I don’t think drinking is a crime, not at all, but there has to be a way to change policy to reduce access to the insane quantity of alcohol available for at-risk people.”
CNN -
January 10, 2020
People who shift to a healthier diet can initially experience withdrawal-like symptoms but they often go away within two weeks, says Ashley Gearhardt, associate professor of psychology: “It might take a little bit of time for your taste buds to adjust to not getting unnaturally high hits of sugar, fat and salt, but eventually you’ll be surprised by how much pleasure you can get from these foods.”
NBC Today -
January 9, 2020
While most Americans over 50 don’t fully rely on or trust online ratings of doctors, online reviews are given as much weight as what these older adults hear from family and friends, according to David Hanauer, associate professor of pediatrics and information, and Preeti Malani, chief health officer and professor of internal medicine. “People of all ages are turning to the web to find information, so it is not surprising that older Americans are looking up physician ratings online. But it is a bit of a surprise that these online ratings now carry as much weight as recommendations from family and friends,” Hanauer said.
U.S. News & World Report -
January 9, 2020
If Latinos — who make up 18 percent of the U.S. population but only 1 percent of all local and federal officials — continue to be elected at the same rate as they have in recent years, it will likely be more than 50 years before political parity is reached, said Angela Ocampo, research fellow in political science: “It’s going to take a very long time. It’s even worse when we look at gender, at Latina representation.”
USA Today -
January 9, 2020
“Technology in voting is very popular; only a small number of voters understand the risk of hacking. I don’t think we’re too flawed as a species to execute democracy, but we need to use the tools that are available to us that ensure the credibility of our results. BMDs have not been proved to be safe and effective,” said Alex Halderman, professor of electrical engineering and computer science, referring to ballot-marking devices, which attempt to marry the convenience of touchscreen technology with an auditable paper trail.
Bloomberg -
January 8, 2020
Shelly Flagel, associate professor of psychiatry at the Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, and colleagues found a brain circuit in rats that may control compulsive behavior that contributes to problems such as addiction and eating disorders. This pathway may one day become a new therapeutic target.
Scientific American -
January 8, 2020
Research led by Michelle Moniz, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology, found that the average new mother with insurance in the United States will pay more than $4,500 for her labor and delivery: “I don’t have many patients who have that kind of cash just lying around. I sometimes see patients struggling to afford their health care and sometimes choosing not to obtain health care because they can’t afford it.”
The Atlantic -
January 8, 2020
“The policy says, ‘Look, you can do it if it’s based on intelligence and risk and if there’s no adequate alternatives.’ On the basis of heightened tensions, if that’s the underlying basis, that’s not intelligence. I don’t understand what the point of extended questions of Americans is anyway because they have a right to be admitted to the country because they’re U.S. citizens. So that, too, would be troubling,” said Margo Schlanger, professor of law, on detaining Iranian Americans at U.S. ports of entry.
CNN
