NicholasA.R.Fraser

The 5 major daily newspapers in Alberta are still covering the UCP's plans to gerrymander Alberta's electoral boundaries on their front pages. Look at that headline: "UCP to redraw map." Not an independent commission - their scheme is politically directed. The fix is in.

Alberta's 17th Premier @RachelNotley published an excellent op-ed in the Globe and Mail about how the UCP is putting democracy at risk with their attempt to rig the election: "I can say, with utter certainty, that at no time did I even casually consider abusing my power as Premier or our legislative majority. It has to stop here. "If we allow politicians to rig elections, then we will be giving them carte blanche to do anything they want. No politician should ever hold that power." Well worth the read: theglobeandmail.com/opinion/articl…

For decades, biology textbooks have enshrined a simple rule: DNA is made by copying a template. After one enzyme unzips a DNA double helix into separate strands, another called a polymerase builds a complementary sequence, base by base, for each strand. Presto: two copies of the original DNA. But new research into how bacteria defend themselves from viruses now shows this synthesis rule isn’t absolute. Now, a team describes a bacterial enzyme that synthesizes DNA without a nucleic acid template, using its own structure as a guide. Learn more: scim.ag/4tTc5IA @NewsfromScience

Studies show family meals are literally linked to better grades. According to a Columbia University study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), children who frequently share dinner with their families achieve higher grades in school. The data reveals that teens eating five or more family meals weekly are far more likely to earn excellent marks and demonstrate advanced communication and vocabulary abilities. This research underscores how routine family engagement fosters a nurturing, stable setting that enhances emotional well-being and self-assurance—vital factors in scholastic achievement. The advantages go further: shared mealtimes provide a secure forum for self-expression, absorption of family principles, and honing of analytical thinking. Notably, the study also shows that adolescents with more family dinners are markedly less prone to risky activities like smoking or alcohol use. In today’s world of packed agendas and digital distractions, these findings highlight how the straightforward act of dining together can significantly influence a child’s trajectory. [Columbia University, National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA). April 2025]

“In short, although we tend to worry more about girls’ disadvantages in math and science, boys’ disadvantage in reading is much larger and more consistent.” stevestewartwilliams.com/p/the-gender-e…

40 sites to download books for Free

Presenting a model of university organization and sketching the evolution of the university’s products and conflicts over the last 900 years, from David M. Cutler and Edward L. Glaeser nber.org/papers/w35079

A new PNAS paper says the people around you may literally accelerate your biological aging. Each additional “hassler” in your social network was linked to: • 1.5% faster epigenetic aging • ~9 months older biological age • higher inflammation • worse physical + mental health Choose your circle carefully. Paper: pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pn…

A small fraction of online actors now exerts outsized influence over what the public sees, believes, and argues about. In a new short review paper, we trace how social media influencers can turn fringe claims into viral narratives—often by exploiting a feedback loop between influencers, algorithms, and crowds. As such, the modern information environment enables a tyranny of the minority: extreme and coordinated voices dominate attention, distort perceived social norms, and create a “funhouse mirror” version of public opinion that makes fringe positions look common and conflict look inevitable. We synthesize emerging evidence that a tiny number of highly active users drives a disproportionate share of misinformation and toxicity, and explain how platform incentives reward moralized, identity-salient, and emotionally charged content. We conclude by outlining pragmatic responses—individual, institutional, and policy-level—and by highlighting how generative AI could either accelerate bespoke realities or help rebuild shared understanding, depending on how these systems are designed and governed. osf.io/preprints/psya… We (@PillaiRaunak & @steverathje2) reviewed @noUpside's fantastic book "INVISIBLE RULERS" and connected it to the research we have been doing on this topic for the past decade.

The independent Boundaries Commission consulted with thousands of Albertans before publishing its report. Ignoring their report is cheating. Ignoring their report is gerrymandering.

The smartest age in life may be 55 to 60 – not in your 20s. Raw cognitive abilities, such as processing speed and memory, often peak early in life. Athletes typically hit their prime before 30, mathematicians make major breakthroughs by their mid-30s, and chess champions rarely stay dominant past 40. However, a new research reveals that overall psychological functioning—including personality traits, judgment, and emotional intelligence—peaks much later, between ages 55 and 60. A study analyzing 16 key traits across the lifespan found that conscientiousness peaks around 65, emotional stability reaches its height near 75, moral reasoning deepens in older age, and the ability to avoid cognitive biases may improve into the 70s or 80s. When combined into a single index, these traits suggest the mind is most balanced in the late 50s, blending experience, emotional steadiness, and sound judgment. This may explain why many top leaders and thinkers achieve their greatest impact in midlife. ["Worried about turning 60? Science says that’s when many of us actually peak." The Conversation, 14 Oct 2025]

Let's make electoral boundaries boring again open.substack.com/pub/lisayoung/… from Lisa Young's substack.

Heading to #MPSA2026? I have three papers on the program: 1. "Do virtual museums highlighting the experiences of minorities persuade visitors?" Fri, April 24, 3:20 to 4:50pm CDT 2. "The China Penalty: Measuring and Understanding a Blanket Bias Against Chinese Immigrants Across 22 Nations" Sat, April 25, 8:00 to 9:30am CDT 3. "The Electoral Effects of Social Protests in the Trump Era" Fri, April 24, 8:00 to 9:30am CDT Come and say hi!

Sex differences in personality are larger, rather than smaller, in wealthier, more gender-equal nations - the opposite of what we’d expect if the differences were due to gender inequality, strict gender roles, or patriarchy. stevestewartwilliams.com/p/12-things-ev…

Your personality probably won’t change much in the next year or even in the next few, but it probably will change quite a lot over the next few decades. Odds are you’ll get more conscientious and agreeable, and also less neurotic. stevestewartwilliams.com/p/12-things-ev…

Separatism isn’t new in Alberta. And it’s not something to trivialize. I appreciated this conversation with Stéphane Dion and the good folks at the Pearson Centre — have a listen.

@JohnHolbein1 I have an experimental study done in Canada 🇨🇦 about what groups voters see as deserving of civil rights w/ Irene Bloemraad @ @allisonrharell — we think BLM protests impacted Canadian attitudes. cambridge.org/core/services/…

@JohnHolbein1 🧵 3/3 If so … If media reflect public opinion your results imply socio-political polarization beyond media are decisive. In such case, its likely changing social networks due to partisan sorting, etc. Either way, protests have less persuasive impact. …

Do protests change election results? The standard answer from prior research: yes, and dramatically so. Studies of civil rights, the Tea Party, and Black Lives Matter find protests shift elections a lot. The dominant view: protest reliably moves elections. But is that always true? What about protests in the last few years? Our latest working paper challenges prevailing logic. Our finding: most recent protests have failed to shift elections.