Magazine Posts

"Scientific theory has had a rough time in America’s public schools...... Over the past few decades, conservative or religious groups that object to including the theory of evolution in science classes have tried a different approach. Now, they argue, if the “scientific” theory of evolution is taught, other views, such as “intelligent design” – a stand-in for creationism – should also be taught"  More at The Conversation ➜

..."The latest research suggests that blood sugar fluctuations are partly responsible for the connection between what we eat and how we feel. Through its effects on our hormones and our nervous system, blood sugar levels can be fuel for anxiety and depression"... More at The Conversation ➜

"There is no end to America’s most egregious case of shrinkflation"  More at The Hustle ➜

Americans’ views on free speech change directions every so often. One of those times was during the protests at U.S. universities about the Israel-Hamas war. As scholars of free speech and public opinion, we set out to find out what happened and why. More at The Conversation ➜

Schools in Ohio, like other schools across the country, are struggling to reduce chronic absenteeism, which spiked during the pandemic. But Ohio may have a head start on dealing with the problem, thanks to a 2018 state law encouraging a positive approach to discipline. More at The Conversation ➜

"You probably have been hearing phrases like “climate crisis,” “climate emergency” or “climate justice” more often lately as people try to get across the urgent risks and consequences of climate change. The danger is real, but is using this language actually persuasive? ....It turns out that Americans are more familiar with – and more concerned about – climate change and global warming than they are about climate crisis, climate emergency or climate justice, according to a recent survey we conducted with a nationally representative sample of 5,137 Americans: More at The Conversation ➜

"Cities around the world are trying everything from reflective paint to underground water channels to manage the hotter days ahead."  More at Reasons to be Cheerful ➜ 

August stands at the center of decisive turning points in power, science, and global conflict. At Bannockburn, Robert the Bruce secured Scotland’s independence. The Battle of Bosworth Field ended the Wars of the Roses. France adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man, and Eunice Newton Foote recognized the greenhouse effect—an early insight into atmospheric science. Even Cologne Cathedral, centuries in the making, was finally completed.

Modern history adds its own defining moments in August. The discovery of gold in the Klondike sparked a rush to the Yukon. Allied forces liberated Paris from Nazi occupation. The atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. The first satellite image of Earth offered a new perspective on the planet itself.

Across centuries, August reflects both upheaval and transformation—moments when nations shift direction and scientific breakthroughs reshape understanding.

Explore the full collection of Today in History events that occurred in August, or jump directly to a specific day—from August 1 through August 31—to see what happened on this day in history.

Explore the timeline to see how August’s defining events echo through history and into the present day.

"The ability to teach and conduct research free from political interference is the cornerstone of higher education and its contribution to the public good. Academic freedom, however, has become increasingly threatened" More at The Conversation ➜

"On an evening in December 2023, 43-year-old small business owner Sarah Rosenkranz collapsed in her home in Granbury, Texas and was rushed to the emergency room. Her heart pounded 200 beats per minute; her blood pressure spiked into hypertensive crisis; her skull throbbed. “It felt like my head was in a pressure vise being crushed,” she says. “That pain was worse than childbirth.”.. " More at TIME ➜

"Electroencephalography, or EEG, was invented 100 years ago. In the years since the invention of this device to monitor brain electricity, it has had an incredible impact on how scientists study the human brain"....More at The Conversation ➜

On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence to announce the colonies' separation from the Kingdom of Great Britain, bringing a new nation into the world. Although the Constitution provides the legal and governmental framework for the United States, the Declaration, with its eloquent assertion “all Men are created equal,” is the founding document of the United States.
It is now up to us, as our laws evolve in fact and interpretation, to remain vigilant and not allow anyone, to exploit our natural differences, beliefs, opinions and backgrounds to divide us for their own selfish benefit.   More