Apr 22 Watch Potential Affirmative Action Policy Changes Focus of Miller Center Debate Academics and analysts discussed whether affirmative action policies should continue to be based on race and ethnicity or changed to reflect a person's class and wealth. Ray Suarez moderated the debate at the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the… Continue watching
Apr 21 ‘Clean Coal’ Debate Plays Out on the Airwaves By PBS News Hour American television audiences are likely noticing a battle being waged during commercial breaks as millions of dollars are being spent on advertising to promote or denigrate a mysterious-sounding buzzword: clean coal technology. Continue reading
Apr 17 Watch EPA Finding Opens Door to New Emissions Regulations An EPA report has labeled greenhouse gases as pollutants that threaten public health, paving the way for possible new emissions regulations. Analysts examine what the move means. Continue watching
Apr 17 Study: Writing About Values Boosts Grades, Shrinks Achievement Gap By PBS News Hour A short self-affirming writing exercise that took only about an hour of class time boosted struggling black junior high school students' grade point average by nearly half a point over two years, according to a new study. Continue reading
Apr 17 EPA Report Marks First Step Toward Climate Change Regulations By Brian Santalone Carbon dioxide and five other heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions are a danger to public health and welfare, and possibly even national security, according to an Environmental Protection Agency scientific review released Friday. Continue reading
Apr 16 Ten Years After Columbine, Notable Moments in Recent U.S. Gun-control Debate By Admin, PBS News Hour On the second anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings and the 10th anniversary of the Columbine High School attack, a look back at notable events in the gun-control debate over the past decade:… Continue reading
Apr 10 As Polar Year Ends, Researchers Look for Climate Clues in Mountains of Data By PBS News Hour A period of intensive study of the Earth's polar caps, called the International Polar Year, ended in March, leaving researchers with a bounty of data to sort through to help inform the next generation of polar research. Continue reading
Apr 09 Watch ‘Brown Fat’ Studies Provide New Medical Insights, Hope For Weight Loss New studies reveal that "brown fat," a type of fat scientists previously thought disappeared after infancy, can burn large amounts of calories if activated by cold temperatures. An author of one study explains the discovery and its possible medical applications. Continue watching
Apr 09 Disease Trackers Examine Search Engine Data for Clues By Admin, PBS News Hour Examining Web users' search terms could help public health officials identify emerging epidemics days, if not weeks, faster than more traditional forms of disease surveillance. Continue reading
Apr 07 Winners and Losers in Proposed Pentagon Budget By Admin, PBS News Hour This week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates unveiled large proposed Pentagon budget cuts that would slash spending on missile defense and increase funding for new weapons systems designed to fight insurgencies. Continue reading