By Barbara A. Trish, Professor of Political Science, Grinnell College
Data centers were on the ballot, both directly and indirectly, in the 2026 midterm elections.
A total of 41 local ballot initiatives concerning data centers in 10 states were up for a vote. All but one resulted in measures to restrict or limit their development.
The centers also may have played a role in several high-profile contests. In Ohio’s
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By Erika Allen Wolters, Associate Professor of Political Science, Oregon State University
Monica Hubbard, Professor of Public Policy and Administration, Boise State University
Public lands are intricately woven into the fabric of America. Years of data confirms that a majority of Americans, regardless of their political beliefs, want public lands to remain in federal hands – though not everyone agrees on how exactly those lands should be managed. And while it’s not clear that public lands were a crucial factor in the 2026 midterm election results, survey data suggests that it is an important…
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By Shannon Gibson, Professor (Teaching) of Environmental Studies, Political Science and International Relations, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
The methods can be subtle but effective at slowing progress, particularly when fossil fuels are involved. Here’s what to watch for as the latest global climate talks get underway.
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By Joel E. Correia, Associate Professor in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, Colorado State University
The collapse raises troubling questions about who benefits from financial modernization, who controls it and who bears the risks when it fails.
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By Andrew Wolf, Professor Emeritus of Medicine, University of Virginia
A physician who devises screening guidelines for the American Cancer Society explains the pros and cons of the Galleri multicancer early detection test.
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By Daniela Parra-Encalada, PhD Candidate, Geology, The University of Queensland
Teresa Ubide, ARC Future Fellow and Associate Professor in Igneous Petrology/Volcanology, The University of Queensland
Thousands of millions of people live near active volcanoes along the Pacific Ring of Fire. This belt of seismic and volcanic activity arcs around the Pacific Ocean from Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific Islands…
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By Pooja Padmakumar, PhD Candidate in Environmental Science, Bangor University
Fungal infections kill millions a year, yet few health systems monitor them. Testing sewage could reveal where drug-resistant fungi are spreading.
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By Jordan Beaumont, Senior Lecturer in Food and Nutrition, Sheffield Hallam University
Conflicting messages about food and health have fuelled distrust in nutrition science. But rejecting conventional advice can carry serious risks.
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By Tom Cochrane, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, Flinders University
In the past few months, partly autonomous or “agentic” artificial intelligence (AI) systems have racked up some astonishing feats, from hacking tech startups to solving some of the world’s most famous open mathematical questions.
Agentic AI systems can work in “swarms” that communicate…
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By Joanna Mendelssohn, Honorary Senior Fellow, School of Culture and Communication, The University of Melbourne
The new museum opens with dazzling architecture and enticing exhibitions that intertwine the permanent collection with major international loans and art commissions
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