Culture and Arts

The public renders a harsh judgment on the state of political discourse in this country. And for many Americans, their own conversations about politics have become stressful experiences that they prefer to avoid. 85 percent said it had become "less respectful"; 76 percent said "less fact-based"; 85 percent said it had become "less respectful"; 60 percent said "less issues-focused". More Americans get news on social media than from print newspapers, and they expect it to be largely inaccurate, the Pew Research Center found. Antibiotic-resistant infections kill more than 35,000 Americans every year. A new federal proposal would roll back the Roadless Rule, which has prevented logging and other development in Earth's largest temperate rainforest for decades. more »

Latest findings suggest that the chemicals, which are no longer produced in the United States but persist in the environment, may have lasting health effects even at low levels. Persistent organic pollutants are chemicals once used in agriculture, disease control, manufacturing, and industrial processes. They include the pesticide DDT and dioxin, a byproduct of herbicide production and paper bleaching. POPs are slow to break down, may persist in water and air, and may be passed through the food chain. Their health effects vary, but some compounds have been linked to reproductive disorders and a higher risk of birth defects. more »

“By grit and determination, brains, courage, compassion and a fiery commitment to justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg rose from modest beginnings to become one of the most respected, and most beloved, jurists of our time. She inspires women and men of all ages to realize that a democracy thrives to the extent that it provides every citizen equal footing to achieve their dreams,” remarked Amy Gutmann, President of the University of Pennsylvania and Berggruen Prize Juror. “Justice Ginsburg has few peers in advancing the cause of human equality through the law.” more »

Sofonisba Anguissola and Lavinia Fontana trained in Cremona and Bologna, Italy, respectively; two geographically close artistic centres but ones characterized by their particular artistic, social and cultural traditions. They came from different types of families and had different lives although in both cases the role of their fathers had a fundamental influence on their careers. Both were able to overcome the stereotypes that society assigned to women in relation to artistic practice and the deep-rooted scepticism regarding their creative and artistic powers. As a result, they made use of painting to achieve a significant position in the society in which they lived.  more »