PANDEMICSMore Trusting Societies Have Been More Successful at Reducing Coronavirus Cases and Deaths Published 6 January 2022 Countries where people have more trust in each other have been more successful in bringing down waves of coronavirus cases and deaths, a new study shows. Researchers found there is a “threshold effect” in nations where at least 40

PANDEMICSExperts Call on Biden Administration to Change Pandemic Plan By Stephanie Soucheray Published 6 January 2022 On Thursday, members of the Biden administration’s COVID-19 pandemic transition team called on the president to shift his approach to the virus, accepting that it will be endemic and that new variants could emerge and arguing that the country

EXTREMISMA Year After January 6, Is Accelerationism the New Terrorist Threat? By Bruce Hoffman Published 6 January 2022 Far-right extremists are attempting to incite an insurrection to hasten the downfall of what they see as a deeply corrupt U.S. government. Some could resort to deadly acts of terrorism. Among the many memorable images captured by photographers

OUR PICKS: JANUARY 6 – ONE YEAR ONJan. 6: Meaning, Significance, Ramifications Published 6 January 2022 ·  Anniversary of a Disgrace ·  The Insurrection, One Year On ·  The Real Tragedy of Jan. 6 Is That It’s Still Not Over ·  The Jan. 6 Insurrectionists Aren’t Who You Think They Are ·  How Did We Not See It Coming? · 

DEMOCRACY WATCHThe “Sore Loser Effect”: Rejecting Election Results Can Destabilize Democracy and Drive Terrorism By James Piazza Published 6 January 2022 Acceptance of electoral defeat, something political scientists call “loser’s consent,” is essential for stability and order in democracies. The refusal by a candidate or a party to accept defeat a potentially dangerous situation for

CLIMATE CHALLENGESCities Boosted Rain, Sent Storms to the Suburbs During Europe’s Deadly Summer Floods Published 6 January 2022 When it comes to extreme weather, climate change usually gets all the attention. But according to a new study, the unique effects of cities – which can intensify storms and influence where rain falls – need to

RESILIENCECompound-Flood Modeling Tools Hel Build Community Climate Resilience Published 6 January 2022 In 2021, extreme flooding from rain affected residents across the United States, causing property damage and loss of life. These extreme weather events are becoming all too common. In fact, a recent United Nations report—Climate Change 2021—found that heavy rain events are likely

AVIATION SECURITYAT&T, Verizon Agree to Delay 5G Rollout Over Aircraft Safety Concerns Published 4 January 2022 AT&T and Verizon have agreed to hold off on their 5G rollout amid concerns of problems for aircraft. The move marks a change of heart a day after both companies rejected the government request. Two major US telecom operators, AT&T

VACCINESEarly Israeli Findings Show Fivefold Boost from Fourth COVID Vaccine Dose By Lisa Schnirring Published 4 January 2022 Researchers in Israel, who monitored the results of fourth COVID-1 vaccine shots, report that these second booster shots produce a fivefold increase in antibody levels. Researchers from Israel reported promising preliminary findings from a study on fourth COVID-19

ARGUMENT: CHINA’S NUKESChina’s Nuclear Buildup is About More Than Nukes Published 4 January 2022 U.S.-China nuclear and strategic stability will be tested in the coming year after a series of revelations in 2021 about Beijing’s nuclear program. Jacob Stokes writes that “The U.S.-China nuclear and strategic relationship has entered a new stage.” He adds: “Pursuing