Society

The science of better beer

Advances in the lab are adding variety, efficiency and precision to age-old brewing traditions

A toast to the pope

Professor Charlie Bamforth is retiring. But he still fizzes with strong opinions on good beer, solid brewers and – Ptooey! – wine.

Do yourself a favor

Thinking of others enhances your well-being, while selfishness just adds to stress, studies show

Climate change can set the stage for violence

Worsened by global warming, drought and other environmental stressors play a role in fanning the flames of civil conflicts

Making sense of media bias

Just how partisan is the press, and should the public be worried?

Taxes through the ages

Signs of how a language grows

In a village in Israel, the way the deaf communicate provides a rare look at a linguistic birth

Taxes, taxes — past, present and future

Here’s how the inevitable came to be, and where it may be headed

Making the case against memories as evidence

Psychologist Elizabeth Loftus has shown that our recall can be woefully unreliable. Slowly but surely, the legal system — and more of her peers — are taking her findings into account.

Can marriage make you sick?

In general, it promotes health. But it might not if your relationship is troubled or your partner is ill. Here's why, and what can be done.