POLICY DECISIONS

May 28 2025FINANCE

The Fed's Tough Balancing Act: Inflation vs. Unemployment

The Federal Reserve is in a tough spot. They're trying to figure out how to handle both rising inflation and increasing unemployment. This is a big challenge, and it's not just a short-term issue. The Fed's own staff has warned about a higher chance of a recession, according to the latest meeting notes from May 6-7. One of the main problems is that the Fed has t...

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May 18 2025HEALTH

Novavax Vaccine: A New Option with Surprising Limits

The Food and Drug Administration has finally given the green light to Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine. However, there's a twist. This vaccine is not for everyone. It's mainly for adults aged 65 and up, or those between 12 and 64 with health issues that make COVID-19 more dangerous. This is quite different from other vaccines, like those from Pfizer and Moderna, which are ...

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Apr 05 2025BUSINESS

The Fed's New Approach to Market Turmoil

The Federal Reserve has long been seen as a safety net for investors during market crashes. However, recent events have shown a shift in this dynamic. The latest market downturn, triggered by President Trump's tariffs, has not prompted the Fed to step in immediately. Jerome Powell, the Fed's chair, has made it clear that the central bank is taking a more cautious app...

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Jan 19 2025SCIENCE

Cultural Factors Affect How People Feel About Chemicals

Chemicals can make people feel worried or frightened, which can lead to them avoiding products that could be beneficial. This can also impact public policy decisions. Understanding why people feel this way is crucial to addressing these issues. The study looked at how people in different countries react to chemicals emotionally. While everyone had some negative feeli...

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Dec 07 2024SCIENCE

Scientists' Opinions on COVID-19: A Quick Global Survey

Imagine a global network of scientists sharing their views on important topics. In June 2023, a team of philosophers and social scientists kicked off an innovative project. They created an international network with a novel survey method. Local coordinators in 30 institutions across 12 countries sent emails to scientists. The email linked to a super-quick '10 second ...

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