Well-researched stories from around the web that bridge the gap between news and scholarship. Brought to you each Tuesday from the editors of JSTOR Daily.

What gun control laws could actually do (The Washington Post)
by Henry Farrell
If the U.S. passed stricter gun control laws, it might be impossible to enforce them, but they could still be effective. That’s because different laws create different social norms.

The dangerous pleasure of brain stimulation (The Atlantic)
by Lone Frank
Deep brain stimulation can sometimes relieve depression and chronic pain. But can it make patients too happy for their own good?

Looking for life in unlikely places (The New York Times)
by Helen Macdonald
A scientist scours one of the most desolate places in the world for clues to life on Mars—which, in turn, might hold keys to the secrets of life on Earth.

What dreams are made of (Boston Globe)
by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie
Dreams may not be encrypted messages the way Freud thought, but they may help us navigate social relationships, learn skills, and make connections between disparate ideas.

The science of retail therapy (The Cut)
by Katie Heaney
Hitting the “buy” button on your favorite shopping site might bring a brief respite from anxiety, but it’s clearly not a great long-term solution. What can research tell us about compulsive online shopping?

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