Human Behavior
Math and Conscience
Debates over how to teach math to high schoolers have gotten messy, plus much more in this issue
A Survival Guide for Difficult Conversations
By Nathalia AlcantaraGoldman School’s Erika Weissinger on how we can talk—and listen—across our deepest divides.
The Edge Episode 26: Psychedelics with Gül Dölen
Octopuses and humans have very little in common, but there’s one surprising thing we do seem to share: MDMA makes us both a lot cuddlier.
Building Trust
By Nathalia AlcantaraWith deepfakes rapidly becoming a fact of life and conspiracy theories in no short supply, it’s easy to despair over our digital future. We sat down with Coye Cheshire to explore whether we are doomed or not.
Solving for Doomsday
By Hayden RoysterHarold Camping ’42 thought he had calculated when the world would end. Ten years after his death, he still has plenty to teach us about the dangers and appeal of “doing your own research.”
The Bedrock of Good Journalism
By Francisco Martínezcuello2024 Alum of the Year Bill Whitaker brings integrity to his storytelling.
Five Questions for Social Psychologist Sa-kiera Hudson
By Nathalia AlcantaraThis Berkeley Haas assistant professor is studying a less understood social emotion called “schadenfreude.”
Adversity and Exclusion
By Katherine BlesieIn a new experiment, Berkeley researchers found that racial “contact gaps” were highly concentrated in just a few companies.
The Edge Episode 25: The Heat with Jeff Goodell
The world just lived through the two hottest days ever recorded. We spoke to author Jeff Goodell about the most obvious but least discussed effect of global warming.
Blog Calls out Bogus Data
By Pat JosephIt was a new wrinkle in a bombshell story. Not one, but two superstar researchers appear to have independently faked data for two separate, highly publicized studies about (irony of ironies!)
Nakata’s Smile: Unlocking the Diaries of Jack London’s Valet
By Aleta GeorgeThe reference librarian slid the archival container across the counter. “This looks like a fun box to look through,” he said. I smiled behind my face mask.
On the Story: Emilie Raguso Covers Berkeley’s Crime Beat Like No One Else
By Margie CullenWhen news first broke that a human skeleton was found hidden under a building on Berkeley’s Clark Kerr campus, Emilie Raguso was horrified.
