By Jennifer B. Nuzzo, Professor of Epidemiology and Director of the Pandemic Center, Brown University
Andrea Uhlig, Research Associate at the Pandemic Center, Brown University
In the three decades between 1993 and 2024, measles in the U.S. was relatively rare – a few hundred cases each year, at most. But suddenly, the disease has become so entrenched in American life that it sometimes fails to make headlines when a new outbreak erupts.
As of March 2026, measles has been continuously circulating around the U.S. for more than a year, starting with an outbreak in Texas that lasted from January to August 2025. Before that…
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By Shalom Goldman, Professor Emeritus of Religion, Middlebury College
As the American and Israeli war with Iran unfolds, some American Christians are speaking of the conflict in biblical terms, mapping end-time prophecies on to current events in the Middle East.
In a sermon on March 1, 2026, for example, John Hagee, founder of Christians United for Israel, described the war as part of a divine plan. “Prophetically, we’re right on cue,” he said. Later, he prayed…
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By Jue Liang, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Case Western Reserve University
Rooted in the Buddhist teaching of the bardo − states of ‘in-between’ − the text offers a way to understand death, life and transformation as deeply intertwined.
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By Aaron Walayat, Assistant Professor of Law, University of Dayton
After the government acquired a warehouse in PA to expand ICE operations, questions are mounting about transparency, cost and government real estate transactions.
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By Ashley Sanchez, Associate Professor of Immigration, University of Notre Dame
The Department of Homeland Security issued a policy memo in February 2026 that could lead to the detention of refugees who are legally in the country.
The new policy states that “DHS may arrest and detain a refugee who has lived in the United States for at least one year and has not yet acquired” lawful permanent resident status. Approximately 100,000 refugees could be at risk for such arrest and detention.
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By Iain Boyd, Director of the Center for National Security Initiatives and Professor of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder
Concerns about shortages of interceptor missiles in the conflict between the US and Iran highlight the challenges of defending against missiles and drones.
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By Debaleena Chattopadhyay, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, University of Illinois Chicago
This past Christmas, I helped my parents choose a water filter. The latest “smart” models all came with a smartphone app that promised to monitor filter life, track water quality and automatically request service. Yet my father, age 75, and mother, 67, were quick to reject them in favor of a nondigital model.
“Every time it updates or I forget how to use it, we’ll have to call you,” my dad said.
As an only child living 8,000 miles (12,875 kilometers) away, I didn’t need convincing. My parents are aging in place and don’t need traditional caregiving – they cook, drive and…
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By Lily Hindy, PhD Candidate in History, University of California, Los Angeles
Despite risks, Kurds in Syria have the best chance in a generation to protect their national rights. Their success may hinge on the international community.
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By Stephen Roll, Assistant Professor of Social Policy, Washington University in St. Louis
Jenn Finders, Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University
Leah Hamilton, Professor of Social Work, Appalachian State University
A combination of Colorado state tax credits for low-income families is predicted to lift more than 50,000 children out of poverty.
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By Brian Y. An, Co-Director of Center for Urban Research, Director of Master of Science in Public Policy Program, & Assistant Professor of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology
The high cost of renting and buying homes in U.S. cities is no secret. But this affordability problem isn’t limited to urban regions – it affects rural areas as well.
Rural areas, home to about 25% of Americans, benefit from federally supported rental housing…
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