Getting out of bed for a particular week in mid-March is often associated with heavy eyelids and foggy brains – the consequences of losing an hour of sleep when we push our clocks forward for daylight saving time. [Read more…]
The Real Evidence on Race and Policing
April 22, 2021 By Leave a Comment
You can’t watch or read the news without encountering a story about police violence toward people of color, complete with graphic video footage. Often these violent encounters spark large protests and sometimes riots in the cities where the violence occurs. This week, especially, the topic of race and law enforcement is at the forefront of our national consciousness because jurors voted to convict Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of killing George Floyd. [Read more…]
Why Are the Incarcerated More Likely to Commit Suicide?
March 3, 2021 By Leave a Comment
There are approximately 655 people incarcerated for every 100,000 Americans – the highest rate by far out of all developed countries. In total, that adds up to more than 2 million Americans currently in U.S. prisons and jails. About one quarter of these imprisoned people have not be convicted or sentenced; they are incarcerated because they cannot afford to pay bail. [Read more…]
How Systemic Racism Is Embedded in Property Taxes
July 14, 2020 By Leave a Comment
For some Americans, understanding systematic racism is a top priority. Sociology scholars explain that racism does not simply entail harboring ill feelings toward people of different races, but also the structural ways the American cultural and political system have disadvantaged Black people for centuries. [Read more…]
The Ripple Effects of Mass Incarceration
March 13, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Approximately 2.3 million people are imprisoned in the United States in state and federal prisons, juvenile correctional facilities, local jails and psychiatric facilities.
While that number may seem staggering, what’s more surprising is the ripple effect of imprisonment. A study published this month found that 45 percent of all Americans have had an immediate family member spend time in jail or prison. That number jumps to 64 percent if extended family is included. [Read more…]
What Happens When We Separate Families
July 6, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Over the past several months, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – a branch of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – has been separating parents and their children seeking asylum at the U.S. border. In the vast majority of cases, these children have been taken to care institutions while their parents are detained in jail. [Read more…]
Are Nutrition Labels an Effective Weapon Against Obesity?
March 19, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Millions of Americans make goals to lose weight every year. Diet books, weight-loss apps, and meal supplements abound. But research shows changing our environments may have a more significant influence on our food choices, and ultimately our health. [Read more…]
Do Concealed Weapons Keep People Safer?
August 24, 2017 By 2 Comments
Today, all 50 U.S. states allow residents to carry concealed weapons in public, and eight states extend this right without requiring a special permit.
Laws allowing people to carry concealed weapons in public places (often called right-to-carry or RTC laws) were passed over the past several decades as gun advocates argued that they would promote safety. The perspective is based on the premise that everyday citizens who carry handguns will be able to fight back against armed criminals. [Read more…]
GMOs: Agricultural improvement or health threat?
June 15, 2016 By Leave a Comment
At the grocery store or in the news, you’ve likely come across the controversy over products made with genetically-modified organisms, or GMOs. Scientific advances that use biotechnology to create plants that can resist disease and insects, offer higher yields and include additional nutrients have sparked fear among the public. The worry is that that genetically-modified foods will harm human health and the environment. [Read more…]
The body evidence on curbing gun violence
October 22, 2015 By 2 Comments
This is the first post in an occasional series that will provide evidence about issues of interest in upcoming elections. Stay tuned for more data to help inform your vote.
Gun violence is a continuing problem in the United States. So far in 2015, more than 10,000 people have died because of gun-related violence, including nearly 3,000 children and teens. Personally, whenever I hear about a shooting at a school or church, I’m shocked by the senseless loss of lives. And I wonder what we, as citizens, can do about it? [Read more…]
How effective is medical marijuana?
July 8, 2015 By Leave a Comment
A total of 23 states and the District of Columbia allow the sale of marijuana for medical purposes. Despite these state laws, marijuana is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a prescription medication. Essentially, this means the U.S. government has not approved marijuana as safe and effective. But is it?
The evidence on self-braking cars
May 19, 2015 By Leave a Comment
I’ve always imagined a futuristic world where cars could drive themselves, leaving people to read, work or watch movies during their commutes. It turns out we’re getting closer to that day, one step at a time. [Read more…]
