• Call for articles on topical issues
    27.04.2026 | Announcements and News

    Call for articles on topical issues

    written by: Stella Wernicke, Jana Dreston
    We are currently looking to publish articles on a series of specific themes that we know people are generally very interested in learning more about. This is an invitation to all those interested in writing an article on any of the themes or specific topics listed below to please submit a short abstract on a future article idea. If your abstract is accepted, we will invite you to submit a full length-article to the magazine, which will then be reviewed. Your abstract should be around 150–250 words long, and we wish to have your abstract before November 3rd. more
  • 04.01.2014 | Big Questions in Society

    After Trayvon: The science of protecting innocent black men

    written by: Scott Sleek
    Even though the death of Trayvon Martin drew much public attention in the last year and a half, the shooting of an unarmed, innocent black male is in no way an isolated case in America. Jonathan Ferrell, a 24-year-old African-American man in Florida, was recently killed by police officers when he was looking for help after crashing his car. Roy Middleton, a 60-year-old... more
  • 31.12.2014 | Big Questions in Society

    Why do we sometimes enjoy the misfortune of others?

    written by: Wilco van Dijk
    Have you ever been in a situation where you couldn’t resist a little smile when someone else had a setback? Have you ever experienced joy when another person suffered a mishap? We’ve all probably been in that situation and we’ve all felt that joy. The German language coined the word Schadenfreude—a compound word of the German words 'Schaden' meaning 'harm' and 'Freude'... more
  • 01.12.2013 |

    Why do people help strangers when disaster strikes?

    written by: Theresa DiDonato
    Marc Fucarile, a 34-year old native of Stoneham MA, lost his right leg, nearly lost his left, was peppered with shrapnel, and suffered severe burns when the second bomb exploded at the 2013 Boston Marathon. Shortly thereafter, from his hospital bed, Marc described his situation saying, “There’s more good in the world than there is bad” (LaPierre, 2013). Given his... more