Readers have asked me many questions about what I wrote in my previous two columns. Among the most interesting questions was how do we know that many of the original white settlers who moved to Lake Geneva, beginning in 1837 and over the next few years, came from Vermont and upstate New York?
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What are classified documents? Who gets to see them? What happens if they are released?
Nasty, brutish – but not necessarily short. Here’s how archaeologists know plenty of people didn’t die young.
In places around the world that lack restrictions to combat the problem, tobacco companies are using marketing strategies aimed at children, like displaying tobacco products at kids’ eye level.
What are classified documents? Who gets to see them? What happens if they are released?
Semiconductor chips are electronic devices that store and process information. Today they can contain billions of microscopic switches on a chip smaller than a fingernail.
Understanding and changing the environment in which habits form is a critical step when it comes to breaking unwanted behaviors and forming healthy ones.
Energy modeling software provides insight into whether letting your AC relax while you’re gone all day will save you energy — and money.
Diets high in fat, sugar and processed foods are associated with higher calorie intake, poorer memory and lower cognitive function.
Diets high in fat, sugar and processed foods are associated with higher calorie intake, poorer memory and lower cognitive function.
As the U.S. gets less religious, some thinkers warn that it may get more selfish as people engage less with their communities. A team of scholars decided to investigate that concern.
Studies show that most people who are overweight or obese are also chronically dehydrated.
Energy modeling software provides insight into whether letting your AC relax while you’re gone all day will save you energy — and money.
Everyone eats – intentionally or unintentionally – millions to billions of live microbes every day. Most are completely harmless, but some can cause serious illnesses in humans.
Cutting a home’s energy waste starts with stopping the leaks. Energy-efficient appliances and windows can make a difference, too.
Human skin stood up better to the sun before sunscreens and parasols. An anthropologist explains why
People may love the sun, but we’re not our ancestors. Humanity’s relationship with the sun has changed, and this means changing your behavior to save your skin.
Health officials say the recent case of polio in New York state and the presence of poliovirus in the municipal wastewater suggests that hundreds more could already be infected with the disease.
In Nevada, people create a makeshift city toward the end of summer and later burn it down. What’s behind this event, and what makes it meaningful?
A behavioral neuroscientist explains the results of a new study that provides the first glimpse into what happens in children’s brains as they meditate.
A climate scientist explains the forces behind the summer’s extreme downpours and dangerous heat waves — and why new locations will be at risk in the coming year.
Natural gas has been marketed for decades as a clean fuel, but a growing body of research shows that gas stoves can contribute significantly to indoor air pollution, as well as climate change.
Paying for the stuff you want with currency is way easier than relying on chairs you made or chickens you raised.
Perhaps surprisingly, it’s possible to get swimmer’s ear without a dip in the pool, lake or ocean. Two doctors explain what this painful infection is and how to get rid of it.
Understanding why people underpredict expenses could help them budget more accurately — and even encourage them to save more money.
October is National Dental Hygiene Month, which provides an opportunity to draw more attention to this chronic but often preventable problem.
About 9% of homeowner property claims nationwide are filed in Florida, yet 79% of lawsuits related to property claims are filed there.
About 9% of homeowner property claims nationwide are filed in Florida, yet 79% of lawsuits related to property claims are filed there.
The number of bank robberies is at about the lowest since the 1960s. A researcher investigates why.
October is National Dental Hygiene Month, which provides an opportunity to draw more attention to this chronic but often preventable problem.
Understanding why people underpredict expenses could help them budget more accurately — and even encourage them to save more money.
Many religions value forgiveness, but the details of their teachings differ. A psychologist of religion explains how Christian and Jewish attitudes compare.
Artificial intelligence can spot differences in images from before and after a storm over wide areas in almost real time. It showed Hurricane Ian’s vast damage in Florida.
The celebration of generous portions, meat and fat as masculine and patriotic would have been alien to Washington and Jefferson, who advocated vegetables and moderation as American ideals.
Don’t let microbes and insects turn your Halloween masterpiece into a horror show before the big night.
There hasn’t been a new form of male birth control since the 1980s. More contraception options for all partners could help reduce the rate of unintended pregnancies.
Rapid tests can be an incredibly useful tool for early detection of COVID-19. Unfortunately, they sometimes leave people with more questions than answers.
Rapid tests can be an incredibly useful tool for early detection of COVID-19. Unfortunately, they sometimes leave people with more questions than answers.
There hasn’t been a new form of male birth control since the 1980s. More contraception options for all partners could help reduce the rate of unintended pregnancies.
A study of what customers experience when they’re asked to chip in for a cause during checkout suggests that retailers should be careful about participating in these campaigns.
Acts of defiance, big and small, have continued uninterrupted across multiple generations in Iran. Women’s activism has been constant, as has their imprisonment.
Don’t let microbes and insects turn your Halloween masterpiece into a horror show before the big night.
Research shows that workers rarely call out unethical behavior or even just operational problems, in large part because they fear serious consequences.
Health guidelines can feel contradictory and hard to interpret. But a new star rating system should help consumers and policymakers better parse the evidence behind health risks and outcomes.
The world’s richest man says he intends to complete the $44 billion deal by the Oct. 28 deadline, but that may be the easy part.
It’s tempting to focus on the minority of Americans who hold negative views about scientists. But blaming others for their lack of trust won’t build the relationships that can boost trust.
Have you visited Yew Nork? Does your stummy ache? What dog of bag food will we get? A psycholinguist explains what’s really going on when people misspeak.
From its origins as a Celtic pagan ceremony to its celebration of all things gruesome and ghoulish today, Halloween has been reinvented over the centuries.
The world’s richest man says he intends to complete the $44 billion deal by the Oct. 28 deadline, but that may be the easy part.
Supporters and volunteers love them. But it’s difficult for political scientists to determine whether signs influence the outcome of elections, since no two campaigns or election cycles are alike.
Squandering all that money is easier than it seems.
For every headline about pickleball’s miraculous growth you can also find stories about conflicts and infighting among various leagues and governing bodies, as well as between pickleballers and tennis players.
An anthropologist explains why we all have some irrational beliefs and the reason they give us comfort.
For every headline about pickleball’s miraculous growth you can also find stories about conflicts and infighting among various leagues and governing bodies, as well as between pickleballers and tennis players.
Here's a look at what affirmative action is — and isn’t — as well as what its effects are, and why, among others, the military has supported it for decades.
If parents prefer to associate with other parents, what does that mean for people who have decided against having kids?
Squandering all that money is easier than it seems.
More than 300,000 were arrested for cannabis possession in 2020, records show. Meanwhile, the drug is being legally sold for profit in 19 states.
Respiratory viruses are hitting young children and infants particularly hard this fall and winter season, and experts don’t yet know exactly why.
A finance expert explains why President Biden’s student loan forgiveness program got blocked — and what’s next for student loan borrowers in search of relief.
A leading climate scientist explains why going over 1.5 degrees Celsius puts the world in a danger zone.
Using frequent flyer miles can ease the blow to your wallet. But is there an optimal time to use miles? Here's what two economists found out.
A scientist who led one of the first projects to map the Hawaiian Islands’ deep volcanic plumbing explains what’s going on under the surface.
A leading climate scientist explains why going over 1.5 degrees Celsius puts the world in a danger zone.
A finance expert explains why President Biden’s student loan forgiveness program got blocked — and what’s next for student loan borrowers in search of relief.
Babies should never sleep on couches, sofas, stuffed armchairs or an incline. Co-sleeping is a bad idea, too.
Research shows storms that might have caused minimal damage a few decades ago are becoming stronger and more destructive as the planet warms.
Along with low mood, symptoms of seasonal affective disorder include anxious feelings, low self-esteem, longer sleep duration, constant craving for carbohydrates and low physical activity levels.
How can you best find a balance during the holidays so that you are fulfilled instead of frazzled? Perhaps you should take a few cultural cues from the Danes.
Toilets eject aerosol droplets that may carry disease-causing pathogens. Learning how the particles move could help cut exposure in public restrooms.
A hearing specialist offers tips to turn down that annoying ringing, buzzing and hissing in your ear
Although there’s no cure for tinnitus, help is out there – including sound-generating devices, background noise and talk therapy.
There was once a time when you could simply put old photos and love letters out of sight and out of mind. Editing your ex out of your digital life is a lot trickier.
A hearing specialist offers tips to turn down that annoying ringing, buzzing and hissing in your ear
Although there’s no cure for tinnitus, help is out there – including sound-generating devices, background noise and talk therapy.
The death of a pet can be a deeply painful experience. But acknowledging the way pet grief is different can help people find consolation.
There are reports of people pronouncing the letter “r” in Boston. Down in Tennessee, people are noticing a lack of a Southern drawl. But is it really possible to lose one’s accent?
Though difficult to pinpoint, white educators often put forth stereotypes when they discuss Black students among themselves, research found.
The annual Arctic Report Card is a reminder that what happens in the Arctic affects the rest of the world.
Long-term consumption of food allergens may lead to behavioral and mood changes, including depression, anxiety and ADHD.
Long-term consumption of food allergens may lead to behavioral and mood changes, including depression, anxiety and ADHD.
How is it possible to spend so much time with your parents and grandparents and not really know them? If you skirt the small talk and dig a little deeper, you’ll be surprised at what you might learn.
The U.S. government regulates many industries, but social media companies don’t neatly fit existing regulatory templates. Systems that deliver energy may be the closest analog.
Decades of research show that respiratory illnesses are dramatically reduced when people wear face masks.
The annual Arctic Report Card is a reminder that what happens in the Arctic affects the rest of the world.
The dead of winter, when the longest night of the year takes place, is also a time of renewal. Here's why the winter solstice is worth celebrating.
2022 will be remembered in the U.S. for devastating flooding and storms — and extreme heat waves and droughts. Here's what it all means.
For the first time, researchers have been able to produce estimates of the rate of hate crimes against LGBTQ people.
There are many things you can do to help your pets when they’re sick.
For the first time, researchers have been able to produce estimates of the rate of hate crimes against LGBTQ people.
In winter, light in the northern latitudes is dim and very blue compared to summer light. Reindeer eyes have evolved to be better suited for this.
2022 will be remembered in the U.S. for devastating flooding and storms — and extreme heat waves and droughts. Here's what it all means.
The intersection of content management, misinformation, aggregated data about human behavior and crowdsourcing shows how fragile Twitter is and what would be lost with the platform’s demise.
When sleep routines go haywire, here are the things to keep in mind to help the whole family reset.
Tiny fluctuations in the time between each beat of your heart can provide clues about how much stress your body is experiencing.
Mindfulness can teach us to be more present — not just for ourselves, but also for our colleagues, friends and loved ones.
"Career portfolioing" is a trend where people assemble different sources of income, such as side gigs, to give them a measure of independence from employers who provide little job security.
"Career portfolioing" is a trend where people assemble different sources of income, such as side gigs, to give them a measure of independence from employers who provide little job security.
Mindfulness can teach us to be more present — not just for ourselves, but also for our colleagues, friends and loved ones.
When sleep routines go haywire, here are the things to keep in mind to help the whole family reset.
Tiny fluctuations in the time between each beat of your heart can provide clues about how much stress your body is experiencing.
Do you think that creativity is an innate gift? Think again. New research highlights how anyone can train their creative muscles by rethinking the anxiety, frustration and anger they encounter in daily life.
Do you think that creativity is an innate gift? Think again. New research highlights how anyone can train their creative muscles by rethinking the anxiety, frustration and anger they encounter in daily life.
A study says students who work while enrolled in college are about 20% less likely to complete their degrees than similar peers who don’t work.
Short, frequent walks throughout the day are key to helping prevent the harmful effects of a sedentary lifestyle.
Many people look to diet trends or new exercise regimens to get a healthier start on the new year. But there is one strategy that’s been shown time and again to boost both mood and health: meditation.
Green jobs go beyond solar panel installation and wind turbine maintenance. They’re found in fields from design to economics and in many types of management.
It turns out that when it comes to health, married people have an edge, especially married men.
Fitness and religion make a potent combination, one people have explored for centuries.
Detox diets and cleanses supposedly clear the body of allegedly toxic substances. But the evidence suggests otherwise.
Cold weather brings itchy, irritated, dry and scaly skin. Although most conditions aren’t dangerous, they can be painful and frustrating to deal with.
When it comes to sharing content of children on social media, what’s legal isn’t always what’s ethical. Some of the now-adult children of influencers are pushing back.
A new neuropsychology study on California wildfire survivors found chronic cognitive problems in addition to anxiety and PTSD.
A passport from the United Arab Emirates will get you into far more destinations than one from Afghanistan. Gaps like this have big implications for people’s ability to travel, reside and work.
While excess weight arises from a complex interplay of genes, environment, diet and activity, new research finds Americans hold parents responsible for excess weight in their kids.
While excess weight arises from a complex interplay of genes, environment, diet and activity, new research finds Americans hold parents responsible for excess weight in their kids.
A passport from the United Arab Emirates will get you into far more destinations than one from Afghanistan. Gaps like this have big implications for people’s ability to travel, reside and work.
A vaccine for bees may evoke images of teeny hypodermic needles, but this product works in a sophisticated way that reflects the social structure of honeybee colonies.
A new neuropsychology study on California wildfire survivors found chronic cognitive problems in addition to anxiety and PTSD.
For the first time since 1961, deaths in China have outpaced births — and unlike that one-year decline, the downward trend is likely to continue.
The rising cost of living doesn’t hit all Americans equally. Yet the benchmark figure for charting the rising cost of living excludes people in rural areas.
Researchers are trying to understand whether ultra-processed foods erode brain health in the aging process.
Researchers are trying to understand whether ultra-processed foods erode brain health in the aging process.
The rising cost of living doesn’t hit all Americans equally. Yet the benchmark figure for charting the rising cost of living excludes people in rural areas.
Here’s how chemicals can cause cancer, and how scientists classify chemicals based on on how carcinogenic they are — sometimes with controversial results.
America’s complicated history with race can be told through the lives and times of Black Americans, a view that some state legislatures have moved to restrict, if not outright ban.
A Chinese high-altitude balloon violated U.S. airspace, a serious enough breach to nix a high-level diplomatic meeting in Beijing. The balloon itself, however, was not much of a threat.
Here’s how chemicals can cause cancer, and how scientists classify chemicals based on on how carcinogenic they are — sometimes with controversial results.
Annual flu vaccines are in a constant race against a rapidly mutating virus that may one day cause the next pandemic. A one-time vaccine protecting against all variants could give humanity a leg up.
Birds and dinosaurs lived together for millions of years, but only toothless birds survived the asteroid impact that upended life on Earth.
Students may need a listening ear and reassurance in the aftermath of having witnessed a school shooting.
Vinyl chloride, which is used to make PVC plastics, dilutes fairly quickly in outside air and water. One concern for lingering exposure from the derailment involves private wells.
Middle age means staying a step ahead on both the medical and financial fronts.
If Easter is associated with celebration and triumphal joy for Christians, Lent is more a season of soul-searching and spiritual discipline. Here are some articles exploring the history and significance of Ash Wednesday and Lent.
The mental health of teenagers has grown far worse over the last decade. But a new report shows that, compared with boys, teen girls are disproportionately experiencing sadness and hopelessness.
Smartphone cameras tend to be more advanced than their clunky, point-and-shoot predecessors. But the allure of cameras from the early 2000s reflects a broader search for meaning.
High-quality bus service is the fastest route to rapid, comprehensive public transit in the United States. This country was once a leader in bus transit, and with adequate funding, it could be again.
Aging is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases. Figuring out what influences longevity and how to identify rapid agers could lead to healthier and longer lives for more people.
Patrick Quinn
Patrick Quinn is a Lake Geneva native who is the University Archivist Emeritus at Northwestern University. Quinn can be reached by email at pquinn@northwestern.edu.
