In the run-up to the 2026 midterm elections, the political parties in many states are working to redefine their congressional district maps to gain every possible edge. From California and Texas to Tennessee and Virginia, redistricting efforts have taken center stage. The Supreme Court has sanctioned partisan gerrymandering, and the system has evolved to one in which state legislature majorities get to determine who is most likely to fill those seats in Congress.
In short, gerrymandering has become a central feature of the system, not a bug. But what if we rethink the structure entirely?
A study published in Management Science finds that the industry’s standard approach of matching video game players against opponents with similar skill levels is not necessarily the most effective way to keep people engaged. Instead, researchers show that more sophisticated matchmaking systems—ones that account for how players respond to recent wins, losses and competitive experiences over time—can significantly increase player retention.
Gendered differences may impact how medical students rank their preferred schools when matching for residency, according to study data published in Organization Science.
Across two studies, the data show that men and women navigate the Main Residency Match differently and highlight the need for improved education on the process, according to Samuel E. Skowronek, PhD, assistant professor of management at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, and Joyce C. He, PhD, assistant professor of management and organizations at UCLA Anderson School of Management.
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As the war in Ukraine trudges on and Americans fret over the rising cost of their favorite breakfast cereals, there may be a group that benefits from the chaos and the increasing price of grain: U.S. farmers.
If you’re working from home after spending months, or years, working in an office, you may find it hard to take breaks. Yet don’t get persuaded into thinking that working nonstop is the best approach for your physical and mental health.
Front-of-package symbols appear to have had an effect on breakfast cereal consumers in Chile, prompting them toward healthier products, according to new research.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised unspecified concerns about the manufacturing of Covaxin, one of India’s home-grown COVID-19 vaccines. On 2 April, WHO said it had found problems during a March inspection of the production facilities of Bharat Biotech, the vaccine’s producer. WHO did not disclose the nature of the problems at the plant, which is located in Hyderabad, in Telangana state. But it said Bharat Biotech has agreed to stop exports of Covaxin and is “developing a corrective and preventive action plan.”
More than two years into a global pandemic that has claimed millions of lives, the U.S. government has finally launched what it calls a “one-stop shop” website for resources on Covid-19 services, mitigation and treatment options. While the page — Covid.gov — links to the existing tool for ordering rapid test kits, it mostly just aggregates information.
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