Peter Ramjug

Social media sites, especially Facebook, were the top conduits for vaccine misinformation, according to a U.S. survey of health care workers who treated unvaccinated patients. The findings point to an 'urgent' misinformation problem. Photo Illustration by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Vaccine misinformation on social media can be a life-or-death problem

Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals say that COVID-19 vaccine misinformation on social media channels is an “urgent” problem that may be negatively influencing people’s decisions to get inoculated, according to a survey by researchers from Northeastern and partner institutions.

by Peter Ramjug January 20, 2022

Only 21% of people wore a high-quality mask such as the N95, according to a U.S. survey by Northeastern and other partner institutions. Cloth masks, gaiters, bandanas, and surgical masks remain the top choice of most people. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

N95, bandana, or something in between: Which masks are the most popular?

Masks remain a vital tool in limiting the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. Researchers from Northeastern and several partner institutions looked into which face masks are most preferred.

by Peter Ramjug January 19, 2022

President Joe Biden, who spent nearly 40 years in the Senate, has long been protective of the chamber’s norms and traditions. But he now supports a change that would allow voting rights bills to become law with 51 votes instead of 60. Prospects for passage are slim since not all Democrats are on board with changing the filibuster. Graeme Sloan/Sipa via AP Images

What is the filibuster–and why do I keep hearing about it?

Capitol Hill Democrats and Republicans are engaged in a political staring contest over the future of the filibuster. The little-understood delay tactic requires 60 senators out of 100 to agree to advance most bills before they can become law, says Costas Panagopoulos, head of Northeastern's political science department.

by Peter Ramjug January 14, 2022

Northeastern's annual observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday will examine voting rights. A high-stakes legislative chess match is taking place on Capitol Hill over the issue. Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via AP Images

Voting rights take center stage on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Nearly six decades after King lobbied for the rights of Black people to cast a vote, the issue of voting rights returns to command the nation’s attention. Northeastern’s MLK observance will feature a keynote address by a senior Justice Department attorney on the steps the agency is taking to protect and promote the right to vote.

by Peter Ramjug January 13, 2022

The winter Olympics in Beijing start Feb. 4, but the United States and other nations won't be sending dignitaries in an effort to call attention to China's human rights record. Will the snub matter?No, say Northeastern experts. Photo by Wang Zhaobo/VCG via Getty Images

China’s response to a diplomatic boycott of the Olympics: Meh

Beijing’s swift, back-handed response to countries not sending official delegations to next month’s Winter Olympics reflects China’s emergence as a world power, says Xuechen Chen, who teaches politics and international relations at Northeastern.

by Peter Ramjug January 7, 2022

Suggestions for beefing up security around the U.S. Capitol include the hiring of hundreds of officers. But Northeastern security experts warn of the dangers of a police state at the heart of American democracy. Photo By Tom Williams/AP Images

Are red states and blue states on the verge of a civil war?

The one-year anniversary of the U.S. Capitol siege underscores the growing red-blue political divide in America. But don’t mistake it for full-blown civil war, which requires a large number of deaths, says Max Abrahms, who teaches national security and counterterrorism at Northeastern.

by Peter Ramjug January 5, 2022

More U.S. residents would rather see the legacy of racism taught in public schools than critical race theory, according to a survey conducted by researchers at Northeastern and several partner institutions. Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images

Seven out of 10 people don’t know what critical race theory is, US poll finds

When asked if they supported the teaching of racism in public schools or CRT, most U.S. residents picked the former, according to a survey from researchers at Northeastern and several partner institutions. The likely reason is that most people are not familiar with the academic details of CRT, researchers explained.

by Peter Ramjug December 23, 2021

A survey of U.S. booster shot recipients finds that 30% of vaccinated people have received an extra shot. That is expected to ramp up quickly as the highly transmissible omicron variant spreads during the winter. Photo Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Who is getting COVID-19 booster shots (and who’s resistant)?

More men than women, and more Democrats than Republicans, said they received a booster injection. This and more from a new study by researchers at Northeastern and several partner institutions.

by Peter Ramjug December 22, 2021

Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey points at Ghislaine Maxwell, far left, while she presents the rebuttal for the prosecution during Maxwell's sex trafficking trial. Elizabeth Williams via AP

Could Ghislaine Maxwell be both a victim and perpetrator of violence?

The answer is yes, says Northeastern law professor Margo Lindauer, who runs the Domestic Violence Institute. In fact, the dichotomy is not uncommon in situations where people are under the coercive control of others, especially an intimate partner, she adds.

by Peter Ramjug December 21, 2021

Anti-vaccine mandate protesters gather during a public school board meeting in Portland, Oregon, to discuss a proposed vaccine mandate for students. COVID-19 and school safety issues outpaced CRT and gender identity as top issues for school boards, according to a poll by researchers at Northeastern and partner institutions. Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images

Critical race theory made headlines, but wasn’t the top issue for school boards

While transgender athletes and critical race theory garnered huge media coverage, school board voters were more concerned with school safety, COVID-19 vaccine requirements, student mental health, and face masks, according to a new study by researchers from Northeastern and several partner institutions.

by Peter Ramjug December 17, 2021

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