A Cure for Child Abuse
Asked to investigate the roots of child abuse, a group of social engineers focused not on its causes but its prevention.
Reweaving Tax Nets to Nab Online Shoppers
American shoppers owe sales taxes on online purchases whether Amazon and its friends assess them or not. States are trying various gambits to recoup those lost dollars.
Hey TSA, Racial Profiling Doesn’t Work
Looking at the math behind profiling meant to nab terrorists, computer scientist William Press realized it may be less effective than purely random sampling.
Teacher Training Too Academic, Not Practical
In examining what's ailing American teaching, a blue-ribbon panel decided that teachers should be trained the same way we train doctors — through clinical practice.
Bad Times Help Rust Belt Retain Power
A better economy saw people leaving the Midwest and Northeast in droves, taking their votes with them. But bad times mean they stay put — just in time for redistricting.
Deficit Death by a Thousand Cuts
The U.S. government's deficit was created piece by billion-dollar piece. The bipartisan debt commission's suggestions offer specific incremental steps to reverse that process.
Entrepreneurs, Meet Social Challenges
Arguing that while government may not be the answer, it can be part of the answer, the newish Office of Social Innovation leverages issue-oriented entrepreneurship with federal dollars.
To Reach Consensus, Let’s Talk Less
Talking out our differences on controversial scientific and technological issues may be just the wrong way to reach agreement, new research suggests.
Reversing the Ebbing Tide of Elected Women
After seeing female participation as candidates stagnate over 30 years, a new initiative from Rutgers University tries to draw more women into politics.
Divided Government Usually Means Gridlock
There's likely one area of agreement for both the main political parties in Washington, D.C.: We expect to get little done in the next two years.