According to research by sociologist Zeynep Tufekci, the power of social media in protest movements is a double-edged sword.
Tag Archives: Current Events
Einstein’s gravitational waves ‘seen’ from black holes
In a breakthrough being compared to the first time Galileo looked through a telescope, researchers have recently detected gravitational waves that originated over a billion light-years from Earth. Learn about this new way of looking at the universe.
Three Clergymen, Three Faiths, One Relationship
Religious differences don’t have to be either glossed over or insurmountable, as three “interfaith amigos” demonstrate in discussions across the country.
Saudi Arabia elects up to 17 female councilors in historic election
Women in Saudi Arabia must be accompanied by a male chaperone anytime they leave the house and must be covered from head to toe; however, they recently gained the right to vote and run for municipal council seats. Read about this small step toward liberty.
Fast-food workers strike, seeking $15 wage, political muscle
In an attempt to raise the minimum wage, low-wage employees have staged protests in cities across the United States.
Anti-violence programs shut down as Chicago shootings climb
Read why CeaseFire, the organization featured in the 2011 documentary The Interrupters, has stopped receiving funding from the Illinois legislature and about the effects that has had.
Saudi Women Still Can’t Drive, But They Are Making It To Work
In this radio piece, Morning Edition’s Deborah Amos profiles a start-up online advertising agency in Saudi Arabia with an all-female staff.
Anne Frank’s diary is now free to download despite copyright dispute
On January 1, 70 years after her death, Anne Frank’s diary (in the Dutch language) was available free to download, read, and distribute.
Dred Scott decision
Read about the 1857 Supreme Court case of Dred Scott v. Sandford and why people cite it today.
Conflict resolution: Wars without end
Learn how researchers are using data and systems analysis to attempt to resolve intractable conflicts.
A Deep-Rooted History of Activism Stirs in College Football
Threatening to boycott games has been a historic method for athletes to attempt to influence change. Listen to this radio piece to learn more.
Immigration Fears Not New in US History: Photos
This slideshow presents a timeline of Americans’ reservations about immigrants.
Making the risky crossing
Wave after wave of refugees risk drowning to cross the narrow but unpredictable channel between Turkey and the Greek island of Lesbos.
Jews Are Fleeing Russia Because of Putin
Immigrants from Russia make up a surprisingly large percentage of the Israeli population. Find out why this is so, now more than ever.
Trash-mapping expedition sheds light on “Great Pacific Garbage Patch”
A garbage dump twice the size of Texas? In the Pacific Ocean? Find out what scientists and volunteers have discovered and what they are saying about this human-caused disaster.
El Niño
Learn about the periodic weather system known as El Niño and how it affects weather on both sides of the Pacific Ocean.
8-year-old empties piggy bank, campaigns to save Syrian refugees
As the circumstances of those fleeing Syria’s long civil war grow more dire, it sometimes seems like too daunting a problem for one person to help solve from half a world away. A Washington elementary student thinks otherwise, though.
Moving Innovation in Education Forward
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan presents an initiative to foster innovation in the educational system.
This year marks a new language shift in how English speakers use pronouns
The use of “they” as a singular, gender-neutral pronoun has been growing recently. But the 2015 Word of the Year has a surprisingly long history.
A Civil War journal, up close and personal
An American literature class at California University of Pennsylvania recently undertook the digital transcription of a journal written by a Civil War soldier. The task required them to decipher a text that was not only faded, but written in a style of English different from what we speak today.