Research

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

In Short

Tracy K. Smith, who won the 2012 Pulitzer Prize in poetry for Life on Mars, has written a memoir about her early life.

Creative Writing: Poetry in Prose

Tracy K. Smith wrestles with race and religion in a memoir of her childhood

Faculty Book: Harry Frankfurt

Eliminate Poverty, or Achieve Equality?

In Short

Q&A: Denise Mauzerall, Clearing the Air

The health impacts of air pollution and climate change — and what to do about them

New Releases

Researchers speculate that the Large Stone Carving (between the stairs) at Beijing’s Forbidden City was hauled along an ice-slicked roadway.

Engineering: How Did They Do That?

Professors uncover how an immense slab of stone was transported in ancient China

Yael Niv’s research has implications for those with post-traumatic stress disorder. “We want to understand how an old, possibly traumatic memory can be erased,” she explains.

Neuroscience: Rewriting History

Electrical Engineering: Healing Without Hurting

Lasers may provide a means for less invasive diagnosis and monitoring

A tiny booklet from the fifth or sixth century offers 37 “answers” to life’s questions.

Religion: The Book of Good News

AnneMarie Luijendijk studies an ancient advice manual for the religious

Racism is less intentional than in past decades, but just as insidious, says Imani Perry, a professor at Princeton’s Center for African American Studies.

African-American Studies: Racial Surveillance

African-American Studies

“The liberals set an agenda that was never full of good intentions, never concerned for black lives,” says Naomi Murakawa, whose book, The First Civil Right: How Liberals Built Prison America, recounts the two parties’ march toward the punishment-or

Faculty Book: Naomi Murakawa

How Liberals Helped Fill America’s Prisons

Tackling antibiotic resistance one bug at a time

To prevent another recession, Atif Mian proposes flexible-debt programs such as shared-responsibility mortgages, which are structured so that homeowners are protected if the housing market crumbles.

Faculty Book: Atif Mian

Faculty Book: Atif Mian

Economist Greg Kaplan found that moving back home after a job loss not only served as a short-term safety net, but also preserved long–term earning potential.

Economics: Making a Move

Greg Kaplan explains what moving — and staying put — means for the economy

Professor Mark Brynildsen is studying how Staphylococcus aureus bacteria go into a hibernation state that allows them to become tolerant of antibiotics.

Antibiotic Resistance: Invasion of the Superbugs

The stubborn problem of drug-resistant bacterial diseases is escalating

Michael Cook, a professor of Near Eastern studies, recently received the $765,000 Holberg Prize for his work on Islamic history.

Near Eastern Studies: Understanding Islam

Michael Cook examines the political role of the faith founded by Muhammad

In Short

Faculty Books

Faculty Book: Tali Mendelberg

Speak Up! Women Lack Confidence in Debates

Chang-rae Lee

Q&A: Author to Author: A Future in Ruins

Judith Weisenfeld *92 discovered World War II-era draft cards on which men identified themselves as “Black Hebrew” or “Moorish,” indicating how religious groups altered a sense of racial identity.

Religion: Spiritual Awakenings

Little-known religious movements gave a fresh identity to African-Americans