Big Red News

Cornell expert takes on what\u2019s happening in the world. Updated daily.

Research News

2026-03-27
‘Every year is a bad tick year’: Expert tips to reduce your risk
Joellen Lampman, Extension Support Specialist, NYS Integrated Pest Management; Emily Mader, Senior Extension Associate
With the weather warming up in New York state, it’s time to check for ticks after spending the day outdoors.
2026-03-26
SpaceX IPO explained: liquidity needs, ‘mega story’ valuation, Musk control
Minmo Gahng, Assistant Professor of Finance
Minmo Gahng, assistant professor of finance at Cornell University, says Elon Musk has often criticized public markets, but a SpaceX IPO serves practical goals.
2026-03-25
AI data center moratorium bill: Cornell expert says concerns ‘legitimate’
Fengqi You, Roxanne E. and Michael J. Zak Professor in Energy Systems Engineering; Frank Pasquale, Professor of Law
Several lawmakers announced a new bill to place a moratorium on the construction of AI data centers.
2026-03-25
‘Naked power grab’: The politics behind attacking mail-in voting
David A. Bateman, Assistant Professor
Despite being a vocal opponent of mail-in voting, President Trump voted in Tuesday’s Florida state House special election by mail, but It's no surprise that Trump is hypocritically attacking mail-in...
2026-03-24
Historic and swift: Mullally’s rise to Archbishop of Canterbury
Landon Schnabel, Associate Professor of Sociology
Landon Schnabel, an associate professor of sociology who studies religion and social change, says that while the headlines will focus on the obvious, Mullally being the first woman in the role, the...
2026-03-24
Anthropic v. Pentagon early test of much larger challenge
Sarah Kreps, Professor of Government
Anthropic is challenging the Department of War’s decision to designate it as a supply chain risk. A Tuesday hearing will focus specifically on the company’s request for a preliminary injunction which...
2026-03-24
New analysis shows how US is slipping toward measles outbreak conditions
Ana Bento, Assistant Professor
The U.S. is on track for another record-breaking year for measles. Almost 1,500 measles cases have been reported so far – more than what’s typically expected for an entire year, according to the CDC.
2026-03-23
MLB’s new AI ump: Cornell experts say ABS assists, tradition holds
Waki Kamino, Ph.D. student, Information Science; Andrea Wen-Yi Wang, Ph.D. student
Major League Baseball is rolling out an artificial intelligence-augmented camera system this season that will provide a second opinion for players to tap if they think an umpire whiffed.
2026-03-23
Different training, different mission: ICE for TSA may lead to ‘poor results’
Cathy Creighton, Director of Cornell University ILR Buffalo Co-Lab
Cathy Creighton, director of the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations Buffalo Co-Lab, says even though TSA and ICE employees both fall under the Department of Homeland...
2026-03-20
Escalation playbook: Why limited strikes rarely stay limited
David Silbey, Professor of Military History and Policy
David Silbey, a professor of history at Cornell University who specializes in military history and defense policy, says what we’re seeing now is a fairly typical escalatory pattern.
2026-03-19
TSA staffing gaps widen as shutdown pushes officers past breaking point
Cathy Creighton, Director of Cornell University ILR Buffalo Co-Lab
Cathy Creighton, director of the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations Buffalo Co-Lab and former field attorney for the NLRB, says TSA workers have been put through the wringer...
2026-03-18
Fertilizer costs surge as Iran war ripples through farm economy
Christopher Barrett, Professor of Applied Economics and Policy
Chris Barrett, professor of public policy and economics at Cornell University, says most farmers already have, in many cases already applied, fertilizer for spring plantings.
2026-03-18
Federal judge’s block of child vaccine schedule change ‘welcome news’
Noele Nelson, Professor of Practice
A federal judge put a hold on the decisions made by a CDC vaccine advisory committee, ruling that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. improperly replaced the entire committee.
2026-03-18
U.S.-China rift widens as Beijing rejects role in Hormuz crisis
Wendong Zhang, Associate Professor; Allen R. Carlson, Associate professor of government in the College of Arts & Sciences
Wendong Zhang, assistant professor of applied economics and policy, and Allen, Carlson, associate professor of government, provide insight on U.S.-China relations after Trump's call for assistance...
2026-03-18
Cornell experts warn early-season heat dome threatens people, animals
Alistair Hayden, Assistant Professor of Practice in the Department of Public & Ecosystem Health; Danielle Eiseman, Associate Director of the Cornell Health Impacts Core
An early heat wave is baking the West in sweltering conditions, with some 39 million people under heat warnings. The following Cornell University experts are available for comment.
2026-03-17
Union strike adds to rising beef costs amid tariffs, labor shortages
Patricia Campos-Medina, Executive Director of the Worker Institute
Patricia Campos-Medina, a policy expert on workplace and labor issues at Cornell University, says the meatpacking industry is marked by high levels of productivity, yet workers have not seen their...
2026-03-17
Cornell exoplanet expert discusses where we should look for life
Lisa Kaltenegger, Professor of Astronomy, Director of the Carl Sagan Institute
The science fiction novel “Project Hail Mary” hits theaters on March 20. It tells the story of an unlikely astronaut who encounters an alien while trying to save Earth, putting a spotlight on...
2026-03-16
NY warm spells aren’t cause for concern with plant buds yet
Jason Londo, Associate professor of fruit crop physiology and climate adaptation
New York has recently experienced dramatic temperature swings, raising questions about the impacts on trees, plants, and fruit crops across the state. Jason Londo, associate professor of fruit crop...
2026-03-16
As NCAR faces dismantling, Cornell expert says scientific progress should be apolitical
Natalie Mahowald, Irving Porter Church Professor of Engineering
According to new reports, the Trump administration is reviewing proposals to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), one of the world’s leading climate and weather...
2026-03-13
Heatwave bad news for already snow-deprived Western U.S.
Flavio Lehner, Climate scientist and assistant professor of earth and atmospheric science
A heat dome will develop near the West Coast, smashing records and sending temperatures into the triple digits through next week. Intense conditions are expected to eat into low snowpack levels,...
2026-03-11
Cornell expert: Spring break travelers facing a perfect storm of disruptions
Christopher Anderson, Professor at the Cornell School of Hotel Administration
Christopher Anderson is a professor of operations, technology and information management, and an expert in the hospitality and airline industries. He says domestically, the most immediate issue is...
2026-03-10
Ethnic unity law contradicts China’s constitution, puts premium on assimilation
Magnus Fiskesjö, Associate Professor; Allen R. Carlson, Associate professor of government in the College of Arts & Sciences
Associate professors Magnus Fiskesjö, anthropology, and Allen Carlson, government, on China’s expected passage of a new law shifting policy away from regional ethnic autonomy.
2026-03-10
EIA report: Proposed 2026 surge driven by ‘time to power’ crisis
Tobias Hanrath, Croll Professor in Engineering
A report from the Energy Information Administration forecasts that developers will add a record 86 gigawatts of new utility-scale electric generating capacity to the U.S. grid in 2026, with 93%...
2026-03-09
Cornell expert warns of strategic backfire, as oil shock looms
Nicholas Mulder, Assistant Professor in the Department of History
Nicholas Mulder is a professor of history at Cornell University and studies the economic impacts of wars and sanctions.
2026-03-04
End-times rhetoric in US military ‘didn’t infiltrate, was invited in’
Landon Schnabel, Associate Professor of Sociology; Kim Haines-Eitzen, Professor of Ancient Mediterranean Religions
Landon Schnabel, associate professor of sociology, and Kim Haines‑Eitzen, professor of ancient Mediterranean religions, offer insight into commanders’ use of apocalyptic language in military...
2026-03-04
Temporary X policy ‘reasonable countermeasure’ to viral war disinformation
Alexios Mantzarlis, Director of the Security, Trust, and Safety Initiative (SETS)
X will temporarily demonetize accounts that share AI-generated war footage without a label. The news comes after fake war footage flooded social media following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes in Iran.
2026-03-03
Strait of Hormuz tensions threaten global supply chains and fuel inflation
Vidya Mani, Visiting Associate Professor
Vidya Mani is a visiting professor at Cornell University’s SC Johnson College of Business. Her research focuses on how supply chain imperatives drive decisions across key sectors, including...
2026-03-03
SM-6 missile strain raises strategic risks in wider conflict
David Silbey, Professor of Military History and Policy
David Silbey, a professor of history at Cornell University who specializes in military history and defense policy, says Iran’s retaliation may be swift, but the longer-term risks lie in how prolonged...
2026-03-03
How X-ray science helped confirm a lost Rembrandt
Louisa Smieska, Staff Scientist - XLEAP
Louisa Smieska is co-chair of Cornell's Conservation Science EASL Working Group — an initiative that advances the study of cultural heritage objects using synchrotron (particle accelerator) X‑ray...
2026-03-02
‘Little reason to expect any meaningful check’ on president despite some vocal opposition to strikes on Iran
David A. Bateman, Assistant Professor
Despite some vocal opposition from Congress to the president’s ordered strikes on Iran, there is little reason to expect Congress will act in checking the president’s authority in this case says...
2026-03-02
Deep freeze, innovation sweeten NY maple tap this year
Adam Wild, Director, Uihlein Maple Research Forest
The 2026 maple season has kicked off in New York. Adam Wild, director of Cornell University’s Uihlein Maple Research Forest and co-director of the Cornell Maple Program, says a long, cold winter sets...
2026-02-26
Beer makers confront structural shift in drinking habits
Douglass Miller, Senior lecturer in Food and Beverage Management
Douglass Miller, is a senior lecturer in food and beverage management at Cornell University.
2026-02-26
Means ‘highly problematic choice’ for surgeon general
Jeff Niederdeppe, Professor
Wellness influencer Casey Means advanced toward confirmation as U.S. surgeon general after a hearing before senators on Wednesday. She faced grilling on her stance on vaccines, past business...
2026-02-26
Anthropic v. Pentagon reveals enduring rift between tech, national security
Sarah Kreps, Professor of Government; Ayham Boucher, Lecturer of information science and the executive director of Cornell’s AI Innovation Hub
The Pentagon told Anthropic this week to open its AI technology for unrestricted military use by Friday or risk losing its government contract. The following Cornell University experts are available...
2026-02-25
Meta and AMD deal ‘appears to be a win’ but greater risk looms
Li Chen, Professor of Manufacturing Management
Meta and AMD have agreed to an AI chips deal worth more than $100 billion. The social media giant could take a financial stake of up to 10 percent in the chip developer. The news underscores the...
2026-02-25
Cornell AI sustainability experts on data center development
Fengqi You, Roxanne E. and Michael J. Zak Professor in Energy Systems Engineering
President Trump announced during his State of the Union speech new agreements with the tech industry to ensure they cover more of the costs of powering new artificial intelligence data centers. It...
2026-02-24
Little changing as Ukraine-Russia war drags toward fifth year
David Silbey, Professor of Military History and Policy
David Silbey, a professor at Cornell University who specializes in military history and defense policy, says what’s notable is the lack of change in the last year.
2026-02-23
NYC snow day offers break for kids, potential challenge for families
Kimberly Kopko, Associate Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension
Mayor Mamdani is expected to decide Monday whether New York City schools will have a second snow day on Tuesday. Kimberly Kopko, expert on child development and parenting, says snow days can give...
2026-02-20
SCOTUS ruling curbs Trump tariff powers, but broader strategy intact
Eswar Prasad, Professor of International Trade Policy; Christopher Barrett, Professor of Applied Economics and Policy; Kaushik Basu, Professor of Economics and International Studies
Eswar Prasad, a senior professor of international trade policy at Cornell University, says the ruling is still unlikely to slow the administration’s broader push to deploy tariffs across economic and...
2026-02-19
Cornell expert: How the most misunderstood Gospel shapes politics, public life
Kim Haines-Eitzen, Professor of Ancient Mediterranean Religions
Kim Haines-Eitzen, professor of ancient Mediterranean religions and author of the just-released “The Gospel of John: A Biography,” speaks to the lasting impact of this most quoted — and arguably most...
2026-02-19
Cornell experts on landmark social media addiction trial
Natalie Bazarova, Associate Professor of Communication; Ashley Shea, Ph.D. candidate; Adam Hoffman, Assistant Professor of Psychology
A landmark social media addiction trial is being closely watched for its implications for thousands of similar lawsuits. The lawsuits accuse Meta and others of functioning in an addictive manner.
2026-02-17
Jesse Jackson’s multiracial coalition reshaped U.S. politics, national moral vision
Xavier Pickett, Assistant Professor of Africana Studies
Xavier Pickett, an assistant professor of Africana studies, says Jackson’s death should spur fresh reflection on his faith‑driven coalition politics, cultural impact, and his role in shaping the...
2026-02-12
Psychology experts on landing a quadruple axel, losing a gold medal
Emily Zitek, Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior; Thomas Gilovich, Professor of Psychology
Cornell experts, Emily Zitek and Thomas Gilovich, are available to discuss how Olympians navigate victories, losses and the uncertainty that sets in mid-competition.
2026-02-11
Cornell business and climate experts on the repeal of endangerment finding
John Tobin, Professor of Practice at the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management; Robert Howarth, David R. Atkinson Professor of Ecology and Environmental Biology
John Tobin-de la Puente is a professor of practice at Cornell University’s SC Johnson College of Business, and a former managing director and global head of sustainability at Credit Suisse. He says...

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