SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " Works " 2,459 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Oakland to host free workshops, networking events for small business owners
Small Business Week includes daily classes on Zoom as well as a networking mixer May 7.
Severe Linux Copy Fail security flaw uncovered using AI scanning help
The bug works on nearly all distros since 2017.
AAPI athletes honor origins, find identity through sport
Asian American and Pacific Islander athletes across different ASU sports reflect on what it means to honor their heritage and origins while pushing toward greatness.
Commitment to Physical Fitness Leads Alumna to College of Public Health
Jennifer Wessel J.D., MPH, works to improve health outcomes, and her love for health and wellness paved the way for her to become a public health professional. “We tackle a multitude of issues to have a broader lens on ways to improve Arkansas’ health status. Therefore, I’m learning something new…
Hartford to host small business workshop with DoorDash, MetroHartford Alliance
DoorDash, the MetroHartford Alliance and the City of Hartford will host a free small business workshop May 12 for local entrepreneurs.
Student athlete, sports broadcaster powers Seton Hall with leadership on air, on court
The Voice of the Seton Hall Community.
Nine faculty elected to National Academy of Sciences
Stanford faculty across four schools join the scholarly society, which works to promote science for the public good.
Former employee sues Dartmouth Health for wrongful termination and retaliation
Former chief quality and value officer Carol Barsky alleged that the hospital retaliated against her after she reported medical equipment safety concerns.
Horsford Works Alongside North Las Vegas Small Business Owner Impacted by Republican Healthcare Cuts
NORTH LAS VEGAS – Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) continued his “Congressman on the Job” series, a district-wide initiative where he steps directly into Nevada workplaces to experience firsthand the challenges facing workers, small businesses, and families across the Fourth District.
PANAM SPORTS ACADEMY INVITES YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN ITS EXECUTIVE WORKSHOPS
Starting on May 4, three engaging workshops organized by Panam Sports Academy […]
Purdue to offer AI and STEM professional development for Indiana educators with LEGO® Education Computer Science & AI kits
Purdue University is working to inspire the next generation of thinkers through a professional development workshop with LEGO® Education.
One Day Takeover Brings Entertainment, Arts & Music Industry Straight to VVC Festival
Victor Valley College will host a Fine Arts, Animation and Music Experience on May 1, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free festival features panels with industry professionals like Damon Sharpe and workshops focusing on various creative fields. Check out the live music mini-concerts and food trucks. Read more at vvng.com #vvng #news #victorville
Pacers Sports & Entertainment CEO to speak at IU Bloomington 2026 spring undergraduate commencement
The undergraduate commencement is scheduled for May 9.
A photon was teleported across 270 meters in stunning quantum breakthrough
Scientists have pulled off a first: teleporting a photon’s state between two separate quantum dots. This was done over a 270-meter open-air link, proving quantum information can travel between independent devices. The achievement marks a key step toward building quantum networks for ultra-secure communication. It also sets the stage for more advanced systems like quantum relays.
Notre Dame alumna discusses Artemis lunar science
NASA scientist and Notre Dame alumna Kelsey Evans Young returned to campus to discuss the Artemis II mission, sharing insights on lunar science, astronaut training and how her Notre Dame education shaped her path to Mission Control.
SBU Students Advocate for Science and Research Funding
Stony Brook’s student Advocacy Corps recently participated in the AAAS Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering workshop in Washington, D.C.
A City That Works: Illinois can’t let local politics deepen the housing shortage
Local control has not solved Illinois’ housing shortage. State standards can help add homes, ease costs and spread growth more broadly.
Economic Development to Host “Borrowing for Small Businesses” Workshop
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – (Wednesday, April 29, 2026) – Berkeley County Economic Development will host a free, virtual workshop to help small business owners understand financing options to support their needs. The workshop, Borrowing for Small Businesses, will be held Thursday, May 7, at noon via Microsoft Teams. Small business owners interested in learning how the …
The CW making its live sports available via ESPN’s direct-to-consumer app
As one of only five broadcast networks, The CW chose to partner for distribution rather than create its own direct-to-consumer service.
A non-controversial public health policy? The UK’s gradual ban on smoking has been a PR success
The world will be watching to see how the ban for anyone born after 2009 works out. So far it’s been a win with smokers and non-smokers alike, says public health academic Prof Devi Sridhar
A one-in-a-million supernova seen five times could reveal the Universe’s true speed
A spectacular cosmic event nicknamed “SN Winny” could help solve one of astronomy’s biggest mysteries: how fast the universe is expanding. This rare superluminous supernova, located 10 billion light-years away, appears five times in the sky thanks to gravitational lensing, creating a dazzling “cosmic fireworks” effect. By measuring the slight delays between each appearance—caused by light taking different paths around two foreground galaxies—scientists can directly calculate the universe’s expansion rate.
COLUMN: Spring sports RoundUP
Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened. Smile also because the spring season of Pilot athletics has been one heck of a ride. To celebrate the sweet end of 2025-26 classes and the bitter close of spring sports, I’ve created a comprehensive review of the last semester of Pilot athletics and most valuable player (MVP) nominations for each squad.
Environmental science student works on innovative wastewater solutions for Idaho dairy industry
Food and dairy are a huge part of Idaho’s economy, contributing around $3 billion every...
Neuroinfectious Diseases Research Workshop: Advancing Translational Science and Clinical Innovation
The Neuroinfectious Diseases Research Workshop will be a two-day scientific meeting designed to accelerate research, foster collaboration, and build capacity in the field of neurological infections. Hosted at the NIH Neuroscience Center (NSC, Executive Boulevard), this meeting will bring together clinician-scientists, laboratory investigators, translational researchers, government partners, and trainees committed to advancing understanding of neuroinfectious
Municipalities join forces to host free Charleston-area small business workshops
Charleston County and the cities of Charleston and North Charleston are co-hosting free workshops for small business owners next week.
Aamir Khan CONFIRMS '3 Idiots' sequel in the works; teases 'same humour with an unusual story'
It's official, a sequel to the 2009 blockbuster '3 Idiots' is in the works and leading man, Aamir Khan is spilling all the details.Months after rumour.
Investor Supporting Japan’s Entertainment Industry, Yoshihiro Shimamura, to Visit France Workshop to be Held During the Cannes Film Festival
Shimamura Yoshihiro Film Planning Inc. (Head Office: Osaka, Japan; CEO: Yoshihiro Shimamura), a company engaged in film production and investment, will host ...
Scientists think they finally know why Neanderthals vanished
A new study suggests Neanderthals didn’t go extinct simply because of climate change or competition with Homo sapiens. Instead, the key difference may have been social connectivity—Homo sapiens formed stronger, more flexible networks that helped them survive environmental shocks. Neanderthals had connections too, but they were more fragile and regionally limited. This made them less resilient as conditions became increasingly unpredictable.
Crew Awaits Space Cargo Delivery and Works Advanced Life Science
A Progress 95 cargo craft is orbiting Earth on its way to resupply the Expedition 74 with about three tons of food, fuel, and supplies. Two cosmonauts will be on duty monitoring the Progress 95 when it automatically docks to the International Space Station rear port on the Zvezda service module at 8 p.m. EDT on Monday.
Stage set for ‘Hedwig’ will include auction of local queer and punk art
Cryptid Entertainment will auction the artworks during performances with all proceeds going to the artists.
Rugrats: Retro Rewind revealed for Nintendo Switch
Today, Limited Run Games pulled back on its latest project Rugrats: Retro Rewind, which is in the works for Nintendo Switch. A digital release is set for May 15, 2026 with physical versions to follow. The package includes six classic Rugrats titles featuring the iconic babies from the ’90s. There’ll also be various quality-of-life features, including screen filters, save states,...
Can Spending More Improve Your Health and Prolong Your Life?
The desire to live longer and healthier lives has spawned a growth in services and supplements. So what works best?
'Millimeters matter:' Making the Steam Controller 'just work'
Valve's 'it just works' approach to hardware design makes the Steam Controller a fantastic device to use. Here's what it took to make it that way.
Studio shows aren't for sports fans anymore
Have networks left educated sports fans behind in a quest to cater to casuals and grab as many eyeballs as possible?
Someone recreated Google’s new Gmail, Drive, Workspace icons for you to use early
Over the weekend, 9to5Google published an early look at Google’s new icons for Workspace apps such as Gmail and Drive...
Major new Apple products get fresh updates: AR glasses and iPad Fold
This weekend Mark Gurman offered updates on two major new Apple products in the works: AR glasses and a foldable iPad.
Google Gemini is planning a welcome visual upgrade for your chats
An animated background is in the works
Malta workshop to address town rezoning plans
The town recently released a new draft of a land conservation map, showing multiple ways the town could be rezoned.
What NASA-Linked Circadian Science Can Teach Travelers About Beating Jet Lag
The standard advice to help jet lag is often to expose yourself to daylight but it only works when timed correctly.
Millsaps Elseworks students boost Mississippi businesses. See how
Millsaps College's Elseworks program helps students apply business skills to real-world projects for Mississippi businesses.
Following game's cancellation, The Last of Us multiplayer director vows he's "never going to let what I work on not see the light of day again"
The former director of cancelled The Last of Us online multiplayer game has vowed he will never let something he works on "not see the light of day again".
River City Saga: Journey to the West launches June 4
Roguelite action game River City Saga: Journey to the West will launch for PlayStation 5, Switch, and PC via Steam on June 4 for $19.99 / 2,970 yen, publisher Arc System Works and developer UnitePl…
Rogue Valley medical community unites for local health care recruitment
Group works together to bring new practitioners to Southern Oregon Rogue Valley residents know what a special place this is to live, but a group of local health care providers […]
Puff, pass and publish: the science behind cannabis
As cannabis becomes more accepted across the United States, public conversations are changing quickly. But according to Rebecca Cooney, a professor of Strategic Communication at WSU, many people still misunderstand what cannabis research is actually about. Cooney works in the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication and is also a co-investigator with the Resource Center...
‘Native American Business Showcase’ features artists, crafts
In an event featuring talented professionals standing by their glistening jewelry and clothing, the University of New Mexico has once again brought together Native American businesses, organizations and student entrepreneurs in this year’s Native American Business Showcase. Hosted by the American Indian Business Association, the Thursday, April 23 event marks the third annual showcase that has been held at UNM. Executive Director of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of New Mexico Marvis Aragon opened the event, encouraging entrepreneurship and collaboration among Native small businesses.
Google’s new gradient icons for Gmail, Calendar, Drive, and other apps are radical redesigns
9to5Google can now report on a complete gradient redesign for Gmail and other Google Workspace apps. So far...
Deadly Rohingya sea crossings are enabled by a business built on misery
Nearly 900 Rohingya disappeared at sea in 2025 as they tried to reach Thailand, Malaysia or Indonesia. Human trafficking networks have thrived on the despair of this stateless and persecuted Muslim minority from Myanmar.
Penn health experts discuss Pa. court ruling recognizing ‘fundamental right’ to abortion
In the case — titled Allegheny Reproductive Health Center v. Pennsylvania Department of Human Services — the court recognized “a fundamental right to reproductive autonomy” under the Pennsylvania Constitution.
Beyond the Athlete conference highlights mental health in sports
Students and community members gathered in McKinnon Hall for the first-ever Beyond the Athlete Conference. Leaders in sport spoke about the challenges that Black or African American and allied community members, identifying as women, face during and after their athletic career.
Graphene kills harmful bacteria “superbugs” but spares human cells
Scientists have uncovered how graphene oxide pulls off a remarkable trick: it hunts down and destroys harmful bacteria while leaving human cells completely unharmed. By targeting a molecule found only in bacterial membranes, this ultra-thin carbon-based material acts with laser-like precision—offering a powerful new alternative to traditional antibiotics. Even more exciting, it works against drug-resistant “superbugs,” promotes faster wound healing, and keeps its antibacterial strength even after repeated washing.
Gov. Matt Meyer's spokesperson Mila Myles no longer works in office
Mila Myles first joined the state agency as the transition communications director for then-Gov.-elect Matt Meyer's transition team.
Palo Alto Networks: AI Means Business, And The Valuation Isn't Low Enough Yet
Palo Alto Networks delivered solid Q2 results with 15% revenue growth and 33% NGS ARR growth, but guidance was lukewarm. Learn why PANW stock is a hold.
'Eventually, it becomes you': Inventors of new 'living' knee replacement describe why this tech is desperately needed and how it works
Live Science spoke with the developers of a living knee implant that could help more patients in need of knee replacements get them.
Laredo Chamber to host Small Business Week
The Laredo Chamber of Commerce is kicking off Small Business Week, dedicated to celebrating, connecting and empowering the local business community through networking, mixers and workshops.
Target orders 150 remote workers back to Minneapolis HQ
Target is mandating that 150 remote workers in its merchandising team relocate to Minneapolis, as the retailer works to turn the business around.
"The Cars That Made Us" Works as Education and Entertainment
Comic Jeff Dunham's "The Cars That Made Us" is a fun, entirely enjoyable portrait of a compelling car, one per episode.
Health Dept. to present workshop with resources for problem gambling
JACKSON, Wyo. — Join the Teton County Health Department (TCHD) for a workshop about the “hidden addiction” of problem gambling. The workshop is designed to help the community recognize the signs of and find support for gambling addictions. It is often referred to as a “hidden addiction” because there are no physical signs like those […]
LRSD works to even the playing field in boys’, girls’ sports
Parents, student athletes and the district work to remedy inequities, and board members continue to cut budgets and consider their involvement in a lawsuit challenging student vouchers.
Ascension BioMedical Expands Cannabis Cultivation Capabilities in Oberlin, Ohio
The company is building a 28,000-square-foot facility and renovating a 19,000-square-foot facility.
Campus group provides blood pressure tests, health services to Gainesville homeless community
Lilliana Wells drove down University Avenue, hungry. The 44-year-old Gainesville resident wanted to buy a gyro, but it wasn't in her budget.
Rapid rise of women’s sports: From Seton Hall to the national stage
The Voice of the Seton Hall Community.
Entertainment Committee’s TechFest 2026 with Rachel Chinouriri
On April 8, as the end of the spring semester approached, Stevens Entertainment Committee (EC) hosted the highly anticipated musical event to kick off the summer festivities: TechFest 2026 Each year, the student-run Entertainment Committee works to coordinate a memorable event filled with fun activities, performances from students, and top musicians. Previous years’ headliners included
Elevating Transparency: Introducing the Palo Alto Networks SASE Health Portal
As enterprises accelerate toward hybrid work and multi-cloud adoption, SASE has become the foundation for delivering secure, seamless access everywhere.
For this environmental health researcher, science is an 'act of hope'
David J.X. Gonzalez, an assistant professor of public health, works to protect communities from environmental harms like air pollution and oil and gas emissions.
For this environmental health researcher, science is an 'act of hope'
David J.X. Gonzalez, an assistant professor of public health, works to protect communities from environmental harms like air pollution and oil and gas emissions.
Arts & Entertainment Agenda, April 24-May 1
Guitar workshop with Luca Stricagnoli, April 24 “The Art of Fingerstyle With Luca Stricagnoli: Pushing the Boundaries of Acoustic Guitar” workshop will be held at 5 p.m. April 24 at The Vault at the Wheeler...
Orange County libraries offering business help, cooking classes and live performances
Orange County Library System will offer free business workshops, cultural programs, family activities and heritage month events across its branches throughout May.
Travel makes you happier—here's what the science says
Researchers found a link between new experiences and better moods—here's how it works.
Baldness May Be Reversible With One Natural Sugar. But the Science Is Still Early.
It works by jump-starting circulation where it matters most—something current options barely touch.
‘Halo’ Is Reportedly Threatening To Make An Extraction Shooter
According to a new report, some form of a Halo extraction shooter may be in the works after a previous battle royale was cancelled.
Trump DOJ Moves to Reschedule Cannabis, Orders New Expedited Hearing
U.S. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order to reschedule cannabis and set deadlines for a new DEA hearing.
2026 Geochemistry Fellow David Catling reflects on a career spent trying to answer science’s biggest questions
2026 Geochemistry Fellow David Catling reflects on a career spent trying to answer science’s biggest questions
Lyft to Buy Gett’s UK Taxi Business, Marking Its Third International Acquisition
Lyft Inc. has agreed to buy London black cab app Gett, its third acquisition in the past year, as the company works to expand its presence beyond the US.
Another ‘hallucinated’ court filing highlights the difference between Silicon Valley and the rest of the world
We may have just witnessed the most egregious instance of workslop to date, and it’s one that matters — and not only because it’s objectively funny.
The Craft Challenges of Writing Political Fiction
In the 1950s, the Iowa Writers Workshop received funding from the CIA to push a writing style that centered the emotional life of the individual while decentering the social and political forces th…
New issue: Mirrorlife | BBC Science Focus Magazine
Mirror life could end all life on Earth. That sounds dramatic, but senior biologists have raised the alarm about experiments happening all around the world. It sounds like something in a Doctor Who plot, but no – mirror life is a real possibility. So why do scientists want to create something that’s potentially apocalyptic? Well, it could also have huge benefits (think back to splitting the atom). The first thing to say, however, is that mirror organisms are still a little way away yet – but only decades, not centuries. So far, scientists have only made mirror molecules, one of life’s building blocks. What for? Life works because its building blocks fit together. Imagine drilling a screw into a piece of wood. The screw cuts a hole with a thread that snugly matches its own. If, for some reason, the Doctor showed up and handed you a mirror version of the screw, its thread would be in reverse. It wouldn’t twist into the hole you’d just made as the threads wouldn’t match. That said, the mirror screw would still work; you’d just have to create a mirror hole for it. Mirror molecules, including DNA, work a bit like that. They follow the same principles as the biology around us, but they’re entirely incompatible with traditional biological functions. In medical terms, this means they’re effectively invisible to your body’s systems. Our biology doesn’t have the tools to recognise these molecules and break them apart. And if someone took these mirror molecules and put them together to make a cell and then an organism… you’d have mirror life. But we don't have any way of breaking it down. If it escaped the lab, we’d just have to hope it didn’t have an appetite.
Candidates for California Governor Debate: 5 Takeaways
The nonpartisan primary remains volatile after the departure of Eric Swalwell. A televised debate featured six leading candidates, but produced few fireworks.
Scholastic, AMC Entertainment, Sirius XM, AMC Networks, and Matthews Shares Are Soaring, What You Need To Know
A number of stocks jumped in the afternoon session after President Trump announced an indefinite extension to the ceasefire with Iran.
Google updates Workspace to make AI your new office intern
Google has introduced a host of new automated functions into Workspace, all of which are driven by Workspace Intelligence, its new AI system.
Empire Strikes Back...By Helping to Save the Planet
Artists are turning scrap metal into unique works of art with help from Empire Recycling.
A Day in the Life of Anne Mahlum, SolidCore Founder and New Mom
Anne Mahlum prioritizes quality time with her son, sleep, a healthy diet and lots of exercise as she works on her upcoming book.
Scholastic, AMC Entertainment, Sirius XM, AMC Networks, and Matthews Shares Are Soaring, What You Need To Know
What Happened? A number of stocks jumped in the afternoon session after President Trump announced an indefinite extension to the ceasefire with Iran. The new...
Our unsung hero of science: Friedrich Miescher, the man who discovered DNA
Working on human pus in a medieval castle, Miescher discovered a substance that would eventually unlock our understanding of how life works.
Google Meet adding in-person ‘Take Notes for me’ and Drive ‘projects’
Google announced a suite of new Workspace features across Drive, Sheets, Meet, and more. These updates are rolling out over the coming weeks.
Regulating the Mississippi River: Where art and science meet
When Dan Fasching started painting again after a decade, he said it was because it was something near and dear to his heart. His muse? The Mississippi River that he works on every day.
Google announces ‘Workspace Intelligence’ and TPU 8t + 8i chips
At Cloud Next 2026, Google today announced “Workspace Intelligence” to provide “highly accurate, personalized context for every app.”
UK bans a generation of children from smoking: How it works
The legal age to buy tobacco products will rise by one year, every year, from 2027.
An ode to IM Chron sports
If the sport is offered, it’s more than likely that we compete in it. Soccer, Kickball, Dodgeball, Flag Football (4v4 and 7v7) and Basketball (3v3 and 5v5), just to name a few.
Austin Zero Waste Business Rebate: How it works, who qualifies
Here’s how Austin businesses can apply for up to $3,000 through the city’s zero-waste rebate program.
Samir Patel on science journalism and curiosity
On April 19, Humanities in Medicine, the Duke Program in Literature, the DeWitt Wallace Center, Duke English and Duke’s Program in Education hosted “Storytelling Through Science Journalism,” a speaker event featuring Samir Patel (Pratt ‘97), the editor and chief of Quanta Magazine.
Women’s sports win. Why aren’t fan incentives better?
This year has been nothing short of historic for Rice women’s sports. Soccer was ranked No. 25 in the nation, volleyball had a 17-game win streak, basketball had a 22-game win streak and swim and dive won the American Conference Championships, as did the tennis team on Sunday.
“How to Train Your Dragon 2” crew member severely injured during production
The accident happened in a workshop at Sky Studios Elstree in the U.K.
STAFF OPINION: Entertainment vibe check: Every show and movie has its moment and season
There is a specific season for certain movies or shows to be watched.
The next evolution of The Verge’s homepage is here
We’re continuously improving how The Verge works for you.
Local Poets Will Read From Their Works
Titcomb's Bookshop will celebrate National Poetry Month with a night of readings from local poets on Thursday, April 30, at 6 PM.
Shaky political science: using "simulated" elections over real-world elections
[Dear DSOS readers – this article is the latest in our “Shaky Political Science” series. In our 38 page report, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting,” released in early December, we examined over 40 studies focused on ranked choice voting. We found that many of these studies suffered from puzzling research methodologies, poorly constructed surveys, unrealistic simulated elections, cherry picked data, and faulty analyses that often were contradicted by results from real-world elections (a link to our full paper is here). Here are links to the first three articles in our series: the first one summarizing the overall results of our report, the second one analyzing a study co-authored by University of Minnesota academic Larry Jacobs, which was one of the most error-prone of all the research we reviewed in our report, and a third article showing an admirable example of two political scientists holding two other political scientists accountable for their flawed, sloppy research]. In this fourth article in our “Shaky Political Science” series, we shine a spotlight on seven studies that were web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group (the ERRG is an ad hoc committee headed by New America’s Political Reform Program and joined by the American Enterprise Institute, the Unite America Institute and Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law). This research consortium has been led by Lee Drutman, senior fellow with New America’s Political Reform Program. These seven studies are simply not credible from any objective standard about how political “science” is supposed to illuminate our understanding of either ranked choice voting or politics in general. The feature that six of these seven studies have in common is that they all used surveys – artificial, simulated elections -- to attempt to say something cogent or interesting about ranked choice voting (RCV) elections. None of them used real world data from actual RCV elections – either the 1000+ elections in the US or the many thousands of elections from places like Australia, Ireland and elsewhere where RCV has been used for 100 years. While a few of these studies conclude with some mixed positives about RCV, our analysis here is content neutral. The idea that, with a political reform like RCV, you can ask respondents in a mock, artificial election to vote with that method, with only the barest of explanation about how RCV works or its likely impacts (i.e. no spoiler candidates, majority winners, voters liberated to pick their favorite candidates, coalition-building), and then ask them their thoughts/reactions about voting in that system, with fake candidates and no real campaigning, no real exposure to an actual election or actual candidates, rests on some very puzzling assumptions. The findings of these seven studies actually are contradicted by the findings from many other studies based on real-world RCV elections. These New America studies also failed to list the real-world RCV studies in their own citations, instead including those studies that reinforced their conclusions. The seven studies featured in this article were chosen because they form a cohesive cohort which precisely illustrates one of the main points of our research paper, namely that using surveys, i.e. artificial elections, or mathematical/theoretical models, instead of real-world data, is in fact “shaky political science.” Below are summaries of our analysis of five of the seven New America studies. You can read our complete analysis of all seven studies at our paper, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting.” Choosing to “Vote As Usual” by Andre Blais, Carolina Plescia, and Semra Sevi. New America. (Blais et al., 2021). This study, web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group, used two surveys in which respondents completed ballots for simulated elections using plurality, approval, RCV and point (Score) voting. In both cases the authors provided the respondents with only minimal explanation of each method. For example, the entire explanation for RCV was “For this vote, rank the candidates from your first to your last choice (you do not need to rank them all). This is called the ranked vote.” That’s it. The study did not provide any context or explanation to survey respondents about why she/he might want to rank multiple candidates. Participants were not even told that ballots would be tabulated using an “instant” runoff, not to mention any description of RCVs ability to eliminate the spoiler effect or liberate voters to rank their favorite candidates without fear of helping the “greater evil” candidate to win. That’s like taking an iPhone back in time to 1970 and asking someone if they like it better than their rotary phone without explaining how it works. Their first survey targeted states that held 2020 Super Tuesday Democratic primaries and used the real candidates’ names in the survey; the second survey used fictitious candidates. In other words, they surveyed respondents who had only ever participated in plurality elections, had no history or background with using RCV or any of the other methods, had no clue about its likely impacts, and did not communicate how the alternative methods would be counted, and then asked them: “How satisfied are you with using each system?” Predictably, the winner was plurality elections, the system used for president, Congress, gubernatorial and state legislative elections – in other words, the method they have been using, year after year, all their voting lives. With so little explanation of RCV and its impacts, this study is simply not credible in discovering anything useful about real-world RCV elections. It merely shows that a basic voter education campaign is needed when adopting a new election system. Additionally, the result contradicts many other post-election surveys following real RCV elections, asking opinions from voters who had just participated in a RCV election, that showed a great deal of satisfaction with RCV (see details on that in Studies 22-25 in our paper, as well as the four studies cited in the review for Study 28). Share Other studies on “satisfaction” and “understanding” make similar mistakes, in terms of basing their surveys on inadequate explanation to respondents and lack of education about context. How could any survey ever hope to measure accurately, in essence simulate a real-world election, without actual campaigning candidates, the media writing about those candidates, organizations endorsing candidates and voters being inundated with crucial information? More than anything, what these “studies” based on surveys show is that if you ask voters about something they don’t know very much about, and fail to adequately educate them, their responses will unsurprisingly reflect their confusion. Equally puzzling is that New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group, headed by political scientist Lee Drutman, found this to be a credible enough study that they not only published it but highlighted it in Drutman’s own discussion of research related to ranked choice voting. This pattern was repeated in study after study featured by New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group. For example in Ranked-Choice Voting and Political Expression: Voter Guides Narrow the Gap between Informed and Uninformed Citizens by Cheryl Boudreau, Jonathan Colner, and Scott MacKenzie, the researchers based their analysis on a survey which found that respondents who were asked to vote in a simulated RCV election, with minimal explanation of RCV or how it works, displayed less evidence of being informed about how to use RCV effectively, with the least informed voters ranking fewer candidates. As pointed out under the study above, in a real election voters are informed by a wide variety of methods, including public education by the election administration, by interested political groups, the media, and the candidates themselves who benefit from voters being aware of how to vote in the new system. In Support for Ranked-Choice Voting across Race and Partisanship by Joseph Anthony, David C. Kimball, Jack Santucci and Jamil Scott, the researchers used respondents from different parties and races voting in simulated plurality and RCV elections, who indicated their satisfaction with each voting method. Instead of using real world election results, the authors fell back on the easy, armchair and less reliable academic research methodology of making up mock elections. As with the other studies, little explanation was given of how RCV works or what its implications might be (electing majority winners or eliminating spoilers, for example). Unsurprisingly, this study found that respondents were not very satisfied with RCV. However, when the authors added an explanation that RCV has a tendency to elect more women and people of color, they found that this greater explanation increased the preference for RCV. The more voters were familiar with it, and the more they understood potential positive impacts – surprise! -- the more they were open to switching away from the status quo. Of note, the results from this study are thoroughly contradicted by a number of other studies whose data was obtained from real RCV elections with real voters. Those studies show a great deal of satisfaction with RCV. More “fake election” research An interesting wrinkle on this “research by fake elections” approach, which only served to illustrate how unreliable such “research” can become, was taken in Ranked-Choice Voting, Runoff, and Democracy: Insights from Maine and Other U.S. States by Joseph Cerrone and Cynthia McClintock_,_ also web-hosted and funded by New America’s ERRG. It gets high marks for creativity, but an eye-roll for thinking this could possibly add anything meaningful to our understanding of real world RCV elections. This study tried to determine whether RCV, plurality or two-round runoff elections provided greater voter satisfaction and acceptance of election results. To determine that, the authors conducted a survey asking if voters were satisfied with a fictional newspaper report of an election, with three different versions given to respondents – plurality, runoff and RCV, with variations of Republican/Democrat winners and variations of “come-from-behind” winners,” i.e. candidates not initially in first place but who win the “runoff.” Again, a minimal explanation of RCV or how it works was given, and the survey showed that respondents had the greatest unfamiliarity with RCV than the other methods. The unsurprising result? Respondents were much more satisfied with “come-from-behind” victories in a traditional two-round runoff election than in RCV, even though RCV is also a runoff system but with a single round of counting. Interestingly, the dissatisfaction with RCV disappeared for those who were more familiar with RCV. In fact, among those respondents who were “very familiar” with RCV, they were equally satisfied with RCV, runoff and plurality. Surprise, surprise. Again, what this study revealed, more than anything, is not only the inadequacy of the explanation for RCV given by the authors of this study, but the failure of the research format itself, thinking that such an artificial mock election could somehow simulate what actually happens in the real world in a real RCV election. Those four studies reviewed above are fitting examples of inadequate and shaky political “science.” Other studies reviewed in our paper from the New America/Electoral Reform Research Group cohort which also used mock elections included: Ranked-Choice Voting is an Acquired Taste by Joseph Anthony and David C. Kimball. New America. (Anthony et al., 2021). Ranked-Choice Voting is No Refuge for Extreme Candidates by Melissa Baker. New America. (Baker, 2021). Also included in this New America cohort is Does Ranked-Choice Voting Reduce Racial Polarization? by Yuki Atsusaka and Theodore Landsman, which actually did use real-world election results data but applied an odd and unconventional methodology to the data which relied on shaky assumptions and non-real-world scenarios that were too divorced from reality. To determine levels of “racially polarized voting,” the researchers imagined “ethnic parties,” by which they mean political parties for each ethnic group, which was especially odd since the election data they were using came from nonpartisan RCV races. But then they made an even odder assumption, namely that since race and ethnic characteristics of studied voters were not available, the authors tried to infer that information based on who voters selected and the racial make-up of voters in each district. This amounted to little more than vague and ambiguous guesswork dressed up with a bunch of mathematical equations used to give it a veneer of scientific appearance. Indeed, it seemed to assume racial polarization in order to prove racial polarization. Based on this questionable methodology, the authors concluded that RCV doesn’t reduce racial polarization. But the premise of this study missed an obvious reality: since RCV incentivizes more candidates to run and can result in more diverse fields of candidates, one would expect more racially-polarized voting in voters’ top rankings, not less, because more voters would have someone on that ballot who represents their racial or ethnic identity and more freedom to vote for their real first choice. By encouraging more diverse candidates and eliminating the spoiler effect, RCV facilitates voting for a favorite candidate of your own race and then selecting a second choice with the best likelihood of winning. The real measure is what voters do with their additional rankings – do they consider other candidates and vote “for the best of the rest”? This study didn’t tell us anything useful about that. But readily available data shows this is common in real RCV elections, and candidates act on this knowledge by engaging with voters outside their racial group. So the authors of this study failed to consider or account for what actually happens in real-world elections, and their conclusions are tainted by this failure. New America has contributed a great deal over the past 2.5 decades to our understanding of many policy areas, including politics and political reform (full disclosure: Steven Hill, one of the authors of this article and of the “Shaky Political Science” research paper and series, is a former senior fellow and former director of New America’s political reform program, 2005-2010). So it was especially disappointing that New America funded and published such a large batch of dubious studies about ranked choice voting. The stated praiseworthy goal of its Electoral Reform Research Group was to inspire new academic research about ranked choice voting that would shed light and help the public better understand the impacts of RCV. Instead, the ERRG research did just the opposite. It produced dubious research that created more confusion and misinformation. In so doing, New America’s political reform program contributed to “shaky political science.” Steven Hill and Paul Haughey Share Upgrade to $5 subscription Thanks for reading DemocracySOS, a reader-supported digital portal for the pro-democracy movement. Subscribe for only $5 per month to receive full benefits and to support our work. Subscribe
California Water Science Center Scientists Share their Research at 2026 IEP Annual Workshop
From March 16th through the 18th, Scientists from the USGS California Water Science Center (CAWSC) presented their research at the 2026 Interagency Ecological Program (IEP) Workshop in Sacramento.
OVPR Launches Business Development Pilot Program
The program helps UConn researchers pivot to industry partnerships to offset funding challenges
EDC and Business Impact NW to host two free workshops on capital readiness for businesses
Submitted by the Economic Development Council.