Social Sciences

A new study of wild chimpanzee growth rates, published in the Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests that early human evolution may have taken a different course than is widely believed. The results challenge the assumption that human evolution followed a path from a chimplike ancestor to a transitionary…

The electoral college isn’t the only outdated political system that should be overhauled, according to a political scientist who says the antiquated ways of the United States Senate contribute to Congressional gridlock and thwart American democracy. Expert on U.S. politics available to discuss the U.S. Senate, electoral politics, and the presidency; see contact information below.…

Sisters treat each other like best friends–and worst enemies. In the new book The Perfect Sister: What Draws Us Together, What Drives Us Apart (New York, NY: Harcourt, Inc., 2004) sociologist Marcia Millman explores the complicated sister relationship and the familial forces that shape it. From the adult sisters who make secret trips to the…

Like jilted lovers easing their heartache, Muscovites in the postcommunist era flocked to nightclubs to hear the blues. The soulful music spoke to their struggles following the breakup of the Soviet Union. The blues has a unique power to ease suffering and give hope to the downtrodden, says political scientist–and lifelong blues fan–Michael Urban, author…

In the first rigorous study comparing marijuana use in the Netherlands and the United States, researchers have found no evidence that decriminalization of marijuana leads to increased drug use. The results suggest that drug policies may have less impact on marijuana use than is currently thought. The findings appear in the May issue of the…