The periodic table seems to epitomize an older, well-established version of science that is more high school chemistry than high-tech wind turbines or fuel-efficient car engines. But whole swaths of the periodic table that most people have never heard of are crucial for technology and clean energy generation. And in recent years, these materials, with […]

A part-time work arrangement may seem packed with perks, but there are some unforeseen downsides. For starters, many employees find it hard to disengage even after they’ve punched out—either out of guilt or plain old conscientiousness. “This is especially true for women, who often overcompensate for a flex schedule by working on their days off,” […]

Michael Dukakis, the 1988 Democratic presidential nominee, will appear in West Boca tonight at a fundraiser for the Florida Fishing Academy, a nonprofit that teaches kids about fishing and the environment to steer them from drugs and violence. Ahead of his appearance, PostOnPolitics asked Dukakis about Hillary Clinton and the 2016 landscape. “I like her and I think she’d […]

Members of a special task force charged with figuring out which neighborhoods would best serve Boston residents and visitors by allowing later service hours at restaurants, bars, and even gyms have been scouring Twitter and using heat maps to collect data for their project. “We have been having discussions about demands, and looking at different […]

As anyone following higher education knows, there’s a growing movement to assess colleges by measuring the post-graduation earnings of their graduates. The underlying – and quite reasonable – assumption is that on some level, a good college education ought to translate into a good post-college salary. Even so, the recently released Gallup-Purdue University Index of […]

As the NBA tries to get rid of Donald Sterling, the downward spiral of his public image continues. Sterling granted an interview with CNN in which he apologized, but then began to insult Magic Johnson. Northeastern University Athletic Director Peter Roby joined Jim Braude on Broadside to share his thoughts on the NBA’s handling of […]

A recent survey by consulting giant Accenture exposes a Grand Canyon-size gap between expectations and realities for 2014 college graduates. The most glaring discrepancy: 69 percent of this year’s college grads expect to land a job within six months of graduation, but only 42 percent of 2012 and 2013 grads actually did so. Yep, it’s tough out […]

The New York Times abruptly replaced its first female executive editor, Jill Abramson, on Wednesday and named managing editor Dean Baquet as the first African American at the top editorial post. Abramson’s departure was announced by the US daily’s publisher Arthur Sulzberger, and the paper’s own report said: “The reasons for the switch were not […]

I am sure we have all calmed down from the frothy excitement of this year’s NFL draft. Wasn’t it just thrilling when Commissioner Goodell announced each pick as if it were a “pick six” — an interception for a touchdown? The draft is a deadly dull exercise in economics. Any association of businesses that would […]

On Saturday nights, Davis Square bustles with the young and fashionable. They’re seeing an independent film at the restored movie palace or taking in a comedy show down the street. They’re slurping ramen at a Japanese restaurant, sipping a beer at a sidewalk table, or people-watching on the busy central plaza. Tucked into a corner […]

Mounting evidence of the impact of contemplative practices like meditation (which we now know can, quite literally, rewire the brain) are finally bringing modern science up to speed with ancient wisdom. Mindfulness and compassion — the practices of cultivating a focused awareness on the present moment, and extending a loving awareness to others — are […]

As summer approaches, many schools across Massachusetts are winding down youth sports leagues for the season. But, for many kids, that doesn’t mean they’ll stop playing. They’ll go to training camps, sign up with private coaches and elite summer leagues. Many kids beg for these extra programs. But often it’s the parents — trying to […]