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.
Drugs and fear (The New York Times)
by Richard A. Friedman
A recent study suggests that a drug might do a much better job of helping people overcome irrational fears than exposure therapy. And other research shows how pharmaceuticals—particularly stimulants—help stoke persistent fears in the form of PTSD.
What becomes of the broken hearted? And why? (The Boston Globe)
by Kevin Hartnett
Why does going through a breakup leave some of us wounded for years while others brush it off and move on? A new study suggests it’s the same reason some people handle academic failure better than others—the key is having a growth mindset.
The quest for new planets (Wired)
by Nick Stockton
A newly published analysis of the orbits of some objects in the far reaches of our solar system suggests the possibility of a previously unknown gas giant—a “planet nine”—lurking out in the dark. Looking at just this kind of unexplained orbital quirk helped astronomers predict the existence of Neptune. But don’t get too excited—weird orbits don’t always mean what we think they do.
Why Flint is just the tip of the iceberg (The Conversation)
by Robert D. Bullard
The disastrous contamination of the city of Flint, Michigan’s water supply is not a fluke. Research shows a systemic tendency of governments to respond more slowly to environmental catastrophes when they happen in communities of color.
Nudging ourselves toward healthy eating (Psychology Today)
by Alain Samson
A whole host of studies show that subtle signals really do influence our healthy—or unhealthy—eating choices. What store you shop in, whether you make choices in advance, and even your waiter’s waistline can help determine whether you eat a junky meal.
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.
