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.
The CEO professor is not always the right fit (HippoReads)
by Adi Gaskell
Universities are often seen as incubators for innovative startups. A new study finds that’s not exactly right—academics’ skills and focus are not always tuned to the needs of a profit-seeking enterprise. It also points to the ways that academics actually can contribute to economic innovation.
How trashed are our oceans? (The Atlantic)
by Elizabeth Preston
We’ve all seen the dramatic pictures: oil-coated birds, turtles maimed by six-pack rings. But how is pollution really affecting ocean life? Which sorts of garbage are doing the real damage, and what can be done to clean it up? A new study reveals how much we don’t know yet, and suggests ways we can figure it out.
Our traffic light-less future (The Boston Globe)
by Kevin Hartnett
Self-driving cars would permit all sorts of intriguing possibilities, not least the opportunity to nap through your commute. A new paper, and video simulation, show how they could also eliminate the need for traffic lights.
What out-of-the-ordinary kids have in common (The Conversation)
by Joanne Ruthsatz
One thing child prodigies tend to have in common is an amazing memory. The same is true of children with autism. Research shows how two categories of extraordinary young people are connected by common attributes, and, often, by genetics too.
CEOs for social change (The New York Times)
by Aaron K. Chatterji and Michael W. Toffel
A new study suggests that CEOs like Apple’s Tim Cook can rally opposition to laws they see as discriminatory simply by speaking out. And doing so may also help their brand at the same time.
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.
