By Scott Jaschik. The imminent retirement of Rick Gerhart from the California Institute of Technology has scientists there distraught because he may be impossible to replace. As a profile in the Los Angeles Times explains, Gerhart is a glassblower who can create the unique equipment needed by Caltech professors for their experiments. Read more...

By Maxine Joselow. President Obama published an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association on Monday -- seemingly a first for a sitting president.
The article, titled “United States Health Care Reform: Progress to Date and Next Steps,” examines the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Read more...

By Maxine Joselow. The humanities lab aims to change that. Faculty members and students in humanities labs seek to use inquiry to advance collaborative, often interdisciplinary research. The emphasis isn't on the type of experiments one might find in a physics lab, but on the collaborative aspect of conducting research together. Read more...

By Maxine Joselow. Immigration and racial injustice are topics of choice for common reading choices this year. Read more...

By Maxine Joselow. Scandals on college campuses -- whether related to sexual assault, hazing or other crimes -- have made headlines in recent years. A new working paper suggests that such scandals with extensive media coverage can hurt colleges by causing a significant drop in applications. Read more...

By Maxine Joselow. Students at Michigan State University will no longer have to take college-level algebra, thanks to a revision of the general-education math requirement. Read more...

By Maxine Joselow. Texas Tech and Indiana U at Bloomington have developed programs that encourage female faculty members to find more time to publish their research. Read more...

By Maxine Joselow. At a Senate education committee hearing, witnesses call for colleges to implement prevention programs and adopt antiharassment policies. Read more...

By Maxine Joselow. But for students entering Connecticut College in the fall, this approach will be strongly discouraged. Starting with the class of 2020, the private liberal arts college is unveiling a new general education program called Connections aimed at encouraging more intentional learning. Read more...

By Maxine Joselow. While Wellesley College points with pride to alumna Hillary Clinton, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania stays largely silent about alumnus Donald Trump. Read more...