Why social media has changed the world — and how to fix it
MIT Professor Sinan Aral’s new book, “The Hype Machine,” explores the perils and promise of social media in a time of discord.
How hunting helped shape elite society
MIT historian’s new book examines the political value early medieval European kings and nobles found in a royal ritual.
Economist Antoine Levy is all over the map
The PhD student is fascinated by local variations in economic activity, and how they drive national policies.
Louis Kampf, professor emeritus of literature and women's and gender studies, dies at 91
As a teacher, Kampf was consistently both a generous force of inclusion and a prod of conscience.
The promise of using WhatsApp for low-tech distance learning
Teaching community organizers via WhatsApp yields encouraging results in South Africa, according to MIT Governance Lab research.
Masks mandates have major impact, study finds
Analysis shows requiring masks for public-facing U.S. business employees on April 1 would have saved tens of thousands of lives.
3 Questions: Jonathan King on the future of nuclear weapons testing
Professor of biology discusses a scientist’s responsibility to speak out about important issues that affect our nation and the world.
3 Questions: Heather Hendershot on coverage of the pandemic
MIT media expert discusses the stark differences across U.S. media sources.
Informing Covid-19 preparedness in Sierra Leone
MIT Governance Lab and the Institute for Governance Reform, working with the government of Sierra Leone, conduct rapid-response surveys to address Covid-19.
3 Questions: Charles Stewart on the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact on the 2020 elections
Head of the MIT Election Data and Science Lab discusses the greatest risks, voting by mail, zombies, and asteroids.
3 Questions: Fotini Christia on new deal-making in Afghanistan
MIT professor of political science discusses a new U.S.-Taliban agreement and whether it will bring peace to the Afghan people.
The catch to putting warning labels on fake news
Study finds disclaimers on some false news stories make people more readily believe other false stories.
Blood and politics in India
New book explores the use of blood in political rhetoric, imagery, and activism, and even the politics of blood drives.
Study uses physics to explain democratic elections
U.S. elections have become more “unstable,” sometimes swinging in the opposite direction from the greater electorate’s preferences.
“She” goes missing from presidential language
Even when people believed Hillary Clinton would win the 2016 election, they did not use “she” to refer to the next president.