science

TeleSur | – – The connection often made between Britishness and whiteness was “not an immutable truth,” said Yoan Diekmann, a computational biologist. Cutting-edge DNA analysis of the oldest complete skeleton found in Britain has revealed that the first modern humans living on the territory had “dark to black skin.” Tom Booth, an archaeologist at […]

Climate Change

Exodus of Climate Scientists to France only the Beginning if GOP Guts Grad Education

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – French President Emmanuel Macron has a program he calls MAPA – “Making the Planet Great Again.” His government is offering funding to climate scientists who are facing obstacles in their home countries, to come and work in France. He just managed to lure away 18 high-powered […]

Education

How GOP Tax Bill’s assault on Universities will Devastate US Economy

contributors

By Benjamin J. Cohen | (The Conversation) | – – With the Senate’s passage of the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” President Donald Trump seems close to notching his first legislative victory – a huge tax cut for the 1 percent. All that remains is the need to reconcile the Senate bill with the version […]

Evolution

British Royal Family was already Multicultural, Descended from Muhammad

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The announcement that Prince Harry is set to marry American actress Meghan Markle provoked a flurry of articles about the British royal family becoming multicultural. The Washington Post actually has a headline about Britain’s “black queen.” (The peculiar American ‘one drop rule’ makes anyone with any […]

Donald Trump

The Trump/GOP war on Science targets Grad Students

contributors

By Jill Richardson Imagine having to pay thousands of dollars of taxes on virtually no income. The Republican tax plan winding its way through Congress includes a special middle finger to the nation’s graduate students. It’s a little bit wonky, so stay with me here. I’ll explain how it affects me, since I’m an actual […]

Iran

Fundamentalism overrules Science in Iran (See, they’re just like us)

contributors

By Golnaz Esfandiari | ( RFE/RL) | – – Getting a minister approved in Iran is not a perfect science; finding the right formula for the sensitive post of science minister is particularly difficult. More than two months after beginning his second term in office, President Hassan Rohani is still looking to complete his cabinet. […]

Fossil Fuels

Oklahoma’s Ominous Earthquakes: the Price of Fracking (Video)

Juan Cole

AJ+ | (Video News Report) | – – “The earth is shaking in Oklahoma, and it’s far from normal—a recent study by Cornell University and the U.S. Geological Survey has linked the state’s exponential spike in earthquakes with a surge in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Imran Garda talks to worried Oklahomans and gets a behind-the-scenes […]

Pentagon

Space Wars: The Pentagon Wants Trillions for High Tech

contributors

But they haven’t won any wars down here recently By Alfred W. McCoy | ( Tomdispatch.com) | – – [This piece has been adapted and expanded from Alfred W. McCoy’s new book, In the Shadows of the American Century: The Rise and Decline of U.S. Global Power.] Not quite a century ago, on January 7, […]

Climate Change

Burnt out by Climate Change: Our Hurricane Compassion Fatigue

contributors

By Gail Ukockis | (Informed Comment) | – – Harvey’s destructive force on Texas and Louisiana has generated many compelling pictures and disturbing stories. Irma’s violent impact has already started in the Caribbean. Meanwhile, Jose and Katia are whirling into possible threats. Other natural disasters in the world involve even more casualties, such as […]