Around the world, as many as one in every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex, or abused in some other way - most often by someone she knows, including by her husband or another male family member; one woman in four has been abused during pregnancy. [...more]
At the beginning of a year that brings together the Beijing Olympics and the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, David Ransom assesses the damage done by the ‘War on Terror’ to the one race that really counts. [...more]
French researchers announced a striking 15% decrease in admissions of patients with myocardial infarction to emergency wards since the public ban on smoking came into effect in restaurants, hotels and casinos in France last January. [...more]
Women's participation in post-conflict nation-building is an important ingredient in achieving an equitable, peaceful and more prosperous society, according to a RAND Corporation study released today. While many policymakers and development agencies fear that pursuing a stronger role for women in nation-building "too soon" will lead to instability, RAND researchers say that the available information suggest otherwise. [...more]
‘Corporate Responsibility' (CR) is all the rage these days. Any CEO worth their salt will earnestly bend your ear about how important it is to their company. They will no doubt be delighted to direct your attention to their latest not-too-glossy report (printed on recycled paper, naturally) demonstrating slow but steady progress towards the goals they've set themselves. [...more]
If Washington turned its definition of terror on the U.S., America could rise to the top of its own most-wanted list. [...more]
Most of us know the flu-influenza-as a nuisance disease, an annual annoyance to be endured along with taxes, dentists, and visits with the in-laws. Why worry about influenza when there are so many more colorfully gruesome viruses out there like Ebola? Because influenza is scientists' top pick for humanity's next killer plague. Up to 60 million Americans come down with the flu every year. What if it suddenly turned deadly? [...more]
How you are feeling has an impact on your routine economic transactions, whether you're aware of this effect or not. In a new study that links contemporary science with the classic philosophy of William James, a research team finds that people feeling sad and self-focused spend more money to acquire the same commodities than those in a neutral emotional state. [...more]
Climate change is rapidly transforming the world's oceans by increasing the temperature and acidity of seawater, and altering atmospheric and oceanic circulation, reported a panel of scientists this week at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting in Boston. [...more]
