Extra Credit: Our pick of stories from around the web that bridge the gap between news and scholarship. Brought to you each Tuesday from the editors of JSTOR Daily.
Ending the nightmare of drug-resistant infections (The Atlantic)
by Ed Yong
A new report warns that by 2050, 10 million people a year could die from drug-resistant infections. One key to averting this crisis is minimizing our use of antibiotics. Potentially useful steps include improving sanitation in poorer countries and stopping the routine use of the drugs on livestock.
The economics of dating (The New Yorker)
by Alexandra Schwartz
To a lot of single people, dating is the hard work necessary to achieve the goal of marriage. A historical look at how the ritual developed, starting around the turn of the twentieth century with the US urban working class, shows just how fraught the process is—particularly for women.
How does denim make you feel? (New York Magazine)
by Cari Romm
Synesthesia, in which some people form surprising connections between the senses, provides a fascinating window into our brains. In one rare and fascinating variety of the condition that researchers have studied, some people experience intense emotion when touching a specific texture like denim or ceramic tile.
How we’ll embrace transgender rights (The Conversation)
by Genny Beemyn
The “bathroom bills” being debated in many states demonstrate just how controversial civil rights for transgender people are right now. But research on public opinion suggests this issue is likely to follow the same arc as same-sex marriage did. Why? Because when our friends and family come out—whether as gay, lesbian, or transgender—we listen to them.
Why is research on breakfast so bad? (The New York Times)
by Aaron E. Carroll
We’ve all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But, like a lot of health “wisdom,” this isn’t necessarily true. A look at studies that have found connections between skipping breakfast and obesity reveals a wealth of questionable methodology.
Have you seen a story online that does a good job of bridging the gap between the news and scholarship? Or something that seems particularly well-researched? Let us know and we may include it in next week’s roundup. Email us at jstordaily_submissions (at) jstor (dot) org.
