New study adds to mystery of Cahokia exodus
Natalie Mueller, an assistant professor of archaeology in Arts & Sciences, and alumna Caitlin Rankin dig into the Cahokia Mounds’ history to cast doubt on a popular theory about why the ancient city was abandoned.
Archaeologists report earliest evidence for plant farming in east Africa
Natalie Mueller in Arts & Sciences excavated and identified a trove of ancient plant remains in Kenya that represents the largest and most extensively dated archaeobotanical record from east Africa.
SCOTUS Chevron decision not as dramatic as some had feared
The demise of Chevron is unlikely to result in the dramatic curtailment of agency power that some had desired and some had feared, said Ronald Levin, the the William R. Orthwein Distinguished Professor of Law.
WashU Expert: What’s at stake in Biden’s gamble
Known as a “gamble for resurrection,” leaders in crisis have long pursued risky actions in a final attempt to resurrect their careers. Dan Butler, professor of political science in Arts & Sciences, says the Democratic party is currently weighing its own gamble following Biden’s disappointing first debate.
‘An amazing story’
Gerald Early, who served as a curatorial consultant for a new exhibit on Black baseball at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, discusses The Souls of the Game.
The continued need for DEI in the workplace
Sociologist Adia Harvey Wingfield sheds light on the ways racism persists in professional settings and offers a path forward for employers.
Reframing voting as ‘duty to others’ key to increasing engagement, turnout
New research by Hannah Birnbaum, assistant professor of organizational behavior at Olin Business School, suggests that when people view voting as a duty to others — rather than to themselves — they’re more likely to feel an obligation to vote.
Ten Commandments display probably not legal
Louisiana’s recent legislation requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom is likely unconstitutional under the current framework of the Establishment Clause, said an expert on law and religion at Washington University in St. Louis.
Through the Grapevine
Socially Transmitted Information and Distorted Democracy
An enlightening examination of what it means when Americans rely on family and friends to stay on top of politics. Accurate information is at the heart of democratic functioning. For decades, researchers interested in how information is disseminated have focused on mass media, but the reality is that many Americans today do not learn about […]
Book explores consequences of political conversations
In her new book, political scientist Taylor Carlson, in Arts & Sciences, explores how political information changes as it flows from the news media to person to person. Her research shows that socially transmitted information becomes sparse, biased, less accurate and mobilizing — fueling a “distorted democracy.”
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