Research

Economics: Mortality Rising

Case-Deaton study reveals a sharp rise in death rates for middle-aged whites Americans

Faculty Book: Eddie S. Glaude Jr. *97

How Race Still Enslaves, And What Must Be Done

Excerpt: Democracy in Black

Psychology: Baby Steps for a Baby Lab

A new facility will examine how the infant brain develops, one cute kid at a time

In 1803, the French government offered to sell the Louisiana territory (which included New Orleans, rendered here in a painting from that period) to the United States for about 4 cents an acre.

Jefferson's Great Bargain

How drugs work can be dependent on or influenced by a patient’s behavior, Professor Sylvain Chassang points out.

Economics and Public Affairs: Trial and Error

Double-blind trials — the gold standard in medical research — may need refining

PAW senior writer Mark F. Bernstein ’83, left, and astrophysics professor David Spergel ’82 discuss the science in Interstellar.

Astrophysics: Holes in Space

David Spergel ’82 answers the question: Did Interstellar get the science right?

Awards for Innovation

In Short

“I tell all of the first-generation students I meet at Princeton that they need to get two people from their high school or community to apply here,” says Marta Tienda.

Q&A: Marta Tienda

A sociologist makes the case for affirmative action in higher education

Warren Powell ’77, a professor of operations research and financial engineering, has developed a model to determine when to use renewable energy and batteries, alone or in combination.

Energy: Blowing in the Wind

Devising cost-effective ways to use renewable sources of energy

“We use our busyness to avoid real connection.” — Christy Wampole, assistant professor of French and Italian

Q&A: Christy Wampole

The End of Irony

Researching Embattled Rebel: Jefferson Davis as Commander in Chief, James McPherson found a man of “iron-willed determination.” Davis’ strength as a commander in chief “was one of the reasons why the Confederacy was able to hold out for four years

Faculty Book: James McPherson

A New View of the Confederate President Jefferson Davis

Professor Jennifer Widner has created a library of practical tips on addressing knotty governmental challenges.

International Affairs: Reform School

Jennifer Widner gathers case studies of problem-solving in developing countries

Professor Sander van der Linden argues that lasting pro-environmental behavior is more likely to occur when people internalize beliefs about environmental stewardship.

Psychology: Lights Out

A campaign to conserve energy offers a chance to study altruistic behavior

In Short

“Arabic shares its status as an official language of Israel with Hebrew, but both languages are highly politicized.” Professor Lital Levy

Faculty Book: Lital Levy

Falafel and Hummus: Arabic Meets Hebrew

Making sense of large, computer-generated datasets is computer science professor Olga Troyanskaya’s bread and butter.

Biology: Mapping the Body

A new way to study how tissues function and what changes when disease strikes

Researchers have discovered a new bird species on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.

Biology: Found: New Bird Species

In Short

“Presidents tend to use the military more because there are fewer domestic costs, relatively speaking.” — Helen Milner, professor of public affairs

Faculty Book: Helen Milner

How Politics Shapes Foreign-Policy Strategies

New Releases

Laura Landweber ’89’s work on the complex sex life of Oxytricha could lead to a better understanding of how our own genome replicates.

Biology: Complex Copulation

A tiny, pond-dwelling organism has some of the most complicated sex on the planet

“In developing countries, there often isn’t good access to medical testing, but everyone has a cellphone,” Stephen Chou says.

Electrical Engineering: Diagnosis via Smartphone: A Faster and More Portable Blood Test