Global trends are polarizing us: Can democracy handle it?

Big problems don’t always polarize societies. Indeed, having an external enemy can cause a society to increase its internal levels of trust and coherence. Moreover, societies can be destabilized without becoming polarized: a pandemic or natural disaster can...

A few rules for predicting the future by Octavia E. Butler

How many combinations of unintended consequences and human reactions to them does it take to detour us into a future that seems to defy any obvious trend? Not many. That’s why predicting the future accurately is so difficult. Some of the most mistaken predictions I’ve...

The U.S. needs to pay more attention to electronic warfare

When I talk about U.S.-China competition, I usually talk about the economic side of things — industrial policy, export controls, tariffs, and so on. But it’s also important to think about how economic strength can and should be translated into military power — after...

On the Covid ‘off-ramp’: no tests, isolation or masks

Epidemiologists said in interviews that they do not endorse a lackadaisical approach, particularly for those spending time around older people and those who are immunocompromised. They still recommend staying home for a couple of days after an exposure and getting the...

Top 6 questions answered about fall vaccines

Fall is almost here! Make a plan to get your vaccines. The best vaccine is the one you get. Our priority is preventing severe disease among high-risk individuals, but staying up to date has secondary benefits for everyone! Katelyn Jetelina, Your Local Epidemiologist...