Using Fahrenheit Can Obscure the True Severity of Climate Change
New research finds that our response to a projected temperature rise differs depending on the scale we use.
Tom Jacobs
Tom Jacobs is a senior staff writer at Pacific Standard, where he specializes in social science, culture, and learning. He is a veteran journalist and former staff writer for the Los Angeles Daily News and the Santa Barbara News-Press. Through interviews, reviews, and essays, he has tracked and analyzed trends in the arts and sciences, with an emphasis on psychology, the role of culture, and the cultivation of creativity. A native of Chicago, Jacobs earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from Northwestern University.
Why Migrants Are Often Dissatisfied With Their Coyotes
In a recent study, the behavior most strongly linked to a negative recommendation was abandonment.
How Trump Is Damaging Democracy, According to One Political Scientist
A Cornell University government scholar warns that false claims of voter fraud have dangerous long-term implications.
With Warmer Winters Comes More Violent Crime
If stronger hurricanes can't convince you that climate change is dangerous, how about the increased odds of getting mugged?
Celebrity Endorsements Help Doubters Accept the Truth of Evolution
People who don't believe scientists will listen to George Clooney.
Gun-Related Homicides Are Once Again on the Rise
New research finds that the rate of such tragedies, which had been declining, has returned to the level of 12 years ago.
Civil Rights Protests in the 1960s Changed Attitudes and Voting Patterns
New research presents evidence of the long-term impact of direct action.
Yes, the Mid-Terms Were a Blue Wave
Political scientist David Faris argues that Tuesday's mid-terms were a clear repudiation of President Donald Trump and his party.
Your Taste in Art Helps Predict Your Support for Brexit
A different type of post-election analysis finds an aesthetic divide in the United Kingdom.
Fundamentalists Are More Likely to Fall for Fake News
So are dogmatic and delusion-prone people, according to new research.
Fear of Disloyalty Drives Anti-Immigrant Bias
New research finds that majority-group members are wary of newcomers who hold dual identities.
Intolerant Cultures Thrive Closer to the Equator
New research finds that ethnocentrism and political oppression are more prevalent in the southern part of the Northern Hemisphere, and vice-versa.
Microdosing May Increase Creativity
A small study from the Netherlands finds that a few grams of hallucinogenic truffles can stimulate the imagination.
Thrill-Seeking Is an Overlooked Catalyst for Political Violence
New research pinpoints how the desire for excitement inspires support for violent extremism.
How the Pittsburgh Massacre Fits Into America's Long History of Anti-Semitism
Violence driven by racial or religious hatred is as American as apple pie, according to a cultural anthropologist who has studied the white-power movement.
Residents of Politically Divided Counties Give Less to Charity
New research finds higher levels of philanthropy in ideologically homogeneous areas.
Beyond Red and Blue: America's Seven Political Tribes
New research finds a majority of Americans are tired of political polarization, and are looking for compromise.
Parental Leave Laws Encourage Breastfeeding
However, new research finds this effect is limited to wealthier women.
How Political Polarization Breeds Ignorance
There's new evidence that we trust the expertise of fellow political partisans, even when there is reason not to.
Americans Are Distinguishing Between Muslims and Terrorists
New research finds overall feelings toward the religious minority did not dampen in the aftermath of two major terrorist attacks.
Uber Increases Mass Transit Ridership
New research finds the ride-sharing service is more of a complement to public transportation than a substitute.
Altruists Make More Money and Have More Kids
There's more evidence that selfishness is self-defeating.
Virtual Reality Can Increase Empathy for the Homeless
New research finds it's an effective way to step into the shoes of someone less fortunate.
Masculine Traits Are Still Linked to Leadership
When defining an effective leader, traditionally feminine characteristics are considered secondary to attributes like assertiveness.
Research Suggests Trump's Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric Is Making Americans More Xenophobic
White Americans hold many negative stereotypes about undocumented workers.
Evangelicals' Porn Viewing Is on the Rise
But frequent churchgoers and Biblical literalists have successfully resisted the temptation.
You Don't Really Want that Burger—You Want Higher Social Status
An evolutionary leftover makes it hard to convince people to shift to a vegetarian diet.
Trump, Kavanaugh, and the Fruits of 'Dignity Politics'
Political scientist Francis Fukuyama argues we can only heal our national divisions with a new, creed-based American identity.
Drink Beer, Save the Planet
New research finds most American beer drinkers are willing to pay more for an eco-friendly brew.
Home Libraries Confer Long-Term Benefits
A large new study finds people who grew up in book-filled homes have higher reading, math, and technological skills.
States With a Higher Percentage of Right-Handed Residents Tend to Lean Republican
In describing political preference, "right" and "left" may be more than a metaphor.
Trump's Appeal to the Cognitively Challenged
New research reports Trump voters were more likely to perform poorly on a test of intellectual ability.
How Fraternity Culture Encourages Excessive Drinking
New research finds alcohol consumption is higher in chapters where members are expected to assert their masculinity.
Who Would Win a Battle Between a Liberal Congress and a Conservative Supreme Court?
Research suggests threats from Capitol Hill can make key justices skittish about overturning popular legislation.
To Most People, All-Male Lawmaking Bodies Are Seen as Less Legitimate
Americans are uncomfortable with men making decisions about women's rights.
Rural Voters Remain Reluctant to Vote for Female Candidates
Research finds voters in these heavily Republican areas are less likely to support obscure office-seekers with feminine-sounding names.
Kavanaugh's Trip to the Twilight Zone
A legal scholar dissects Thursday's emotionally charged Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearing.
Childhood Poverty Is Linked to Poorer Cognitive Skills in Old Age
Cognitively speaking, there may be no way to recover from a disadvantaged childhood.
The Impressive Potency of Political Protests
New research finds high-profile demonstrations can have a major impact on congressional races.
Why Kavanaugh Should Welcome an FBI Investigation
A legal scholar argues the judge's credibility is lower than Christine Blasey Ford's—and that's exactly why he'd be wise to embrace an independent evaluation of the assault allegation.
Discrimination Leads Corporations to See Asian-American Executives as 'Saviors'
New research reveals Asian Americans are more than twice as likely to be appointed chief executive if a company is in decline.
Americans' Attitudes Toward Suicide Are Softening
But as with so many social issues, the liberal-conservative divide has grown wider over time.
Women Are Superior Wordsmiths From an Early Age
By fourth grade, girls are better than boys at reading and, especially, writing. New research finds this gap then increases as they get older.
Women in STEM Benefit From Same-Sex Support
Fewer females drop out of doctoral programs if they have a significant number of same-sex peers.
Won't You Be My Climate-Conscious Neighbor?
New research suggests social comparison can be an effective way to reduce energy consumption.
Trump and the Playbook of Fascist Politics
In a new book, Yale philosopher Jason Stanley lays out the traditional tactics of fascist politicians, which have retained their potency.
The Slow Silencing of Sexism at the Symphony
This season, works by women composers are being featured more frequently by many American orchestras. Mozart and Schubert, meet Mazzolli and Shaw.
Are Trump's Tweets Self-Defeating?
New research finds incivility decreases politicians' public approval, even in a hyper-partisan environment.
Americans Are Reading Fewer Novels, but More Poetry
New National Endowment for the Arts research finds arts attendance is rising, but remains below 2002 levels.
Research Suggests Black Women Are More Likely to Be Objectified and Dehumanized
Serena Williams is not alone in having grounds to suspect bias.