Free Republic

Children learn a great deal about the world from their own exploration, but they also rely on what adults tell them. Studies have shown that children can figure out when someone is lying to them, but cognitive scientists from MIT recently tackled a subtler question: Can children tell when adults are telling them the truth, but not the whole truth? Led by Laura Schulz, the Class of 1943 Career Development Associate Professor of Cognitive Science, the researchers found that not only can children make this distinction, but they can also compensate for incomplete information by exploring more on their own....

The next time you feel a sneeze coming on, raise your elbow to cover up that multiphase turbulent buoyant cloud you’re about to expel. That’s right: A novel study by MIT researchers shows that coughs and sneezes have associated gas clouds that keep their potentially infectious droplets aloft over much greater distances than previously realized. “When you cough or sneeze, you see the droplets, or feel them if someone sneezes on you,” says John Bush, a professor of applied mathematics at MIT, and co-author of a new paper on the subject. “But you don’t see the cloud, the invisible gas...

There are many ways to remember President Barack Obama's appearance at South Africa's memorial for Nelson Mandela. Some may remember Obama as Mandela's spiritual son, our president riding on his own soaring rhetoric at that stadium, wrapping himself in Mandela's mantle, dreaming of the father of the new South Africa. And others will seize on Obama shaking hands with the executioner of Cuba, our president bowing to Raul Castro just as he once bowed to the lords of the Chicago Democratic Machine before beginning his climb. But those images — Obama riding on his magic rhetorical carpet, reaching for dreams...

Former Mayor Richard M. Daley says he doesn’t remember much about the planning of Millennium Park, his wildly over-budget project that has become one of Chicago’s civic treasures. The sprawling downtown park, with its gleaming stainless-steel sculpture known as “The Bean,” is seen as one of his crowning achievements. Daley, though, shrugs it off. He says it wasn’t even his idea to build the $475 million park, instead crediting Daniel Burnham, the legendary planner who created Chicago’s master plan more than a century ago. As Chicago’s longest-serving mayor, Daley had a reputation as a micromanager and stickler for details. But...

A Cadillac-driving OUI suspect — charged with running a Boston Globe delivery truck off Interstate 93 and onto the Leverett Connector — was carrying three EBT cards, mocked a cop “for paying for food when she gets it for free” and threatened to put a voodoo curse on him, according to a police report. “I questioned her as to why she had other peoples (sic) EBT cards and she 
began screaming that I was a ‘dumb (expletive)’ for paying for food when she gets it for free,” trooper William Koko­cinski wrote of Vivencia 
Bellegarde, 25, of Everett, noting she had...

A man suspected of staging a terrorist attack that left a British soldier dead near a military barracks in London, was caught on camera clutching a meat cleaver and knife in hands apparently covered in the blood of his victim, as he justified the violence as part of a jihadist-inspired fight against the west. The incident happened in broad daylight, 400 metres from the perimeter of the Royal Artillery barracks, in Woolwich, south-east London, sparking a terrorist alert that saw the government crisis committee Cobra convene in emergency session. Hours later, David Cameron described what had occurred as "an absolutely...

A simple act of cash changing hands could become a lot less private. U.S. researchers have developed a new way of embedding traceable chips within "smart" paper—raising the possibility of banks and governments guarding against counterfeiting and even tracking the usage of paper money. The new method of embedding radio frequency identification chips (RFID) in paper came from North Dakota State University in Fargo. Researchers used a patent-pending technology—called Laser Enabled Advanced Packaging (LEAP)—to transfer and assemble the traceable RFID chips on paper. Such "smart" paper could lead to new types of banknotes, legal documents, tickets and smart labels. "I...

Thinking about injecting an identification chip in your pooch? If you live in the southern part of the UK, you won't have a choice. Come 2016, English authorities will require all of the country's pups to have embedded microchips, so they can be returned to their owners if ever they run astray. The United Kingdom's Environment Department says some 60 percent of the country's 8 million dogs already have the tags, but beginning in three years, owners who don't spring for the device could be forced to pay fines of up to £500 (about $780). Cat microchipping will remain optional,...

After weeks of rumors and equally strenuous denials, Sandi Jackson resigned as Chicago's 7th Ward alderman Friday, the latest chapter in the stunning, scandal-laced downfall of what had been one of the city's most prominent and powerful political duos. ... The decision by Ald. Jackson, who was elected in 2007, came less than two months after husband Jesse Jackson Jr. quit the congressional seat he had held for 17 years amid ongoing federal ethics probes into his campaign finances and a diagnosis of bipolar depression. ... For years, the former congressman had used his federal campaign fund to pay his...

While the United States lags in developing a broad-based climate policy, the nation's carbon emissions reached a 20-year low this year. Many have attributed some of that drop to a booming supply of low-carbon natural gas, of which the United States is the world's largest producer. But does natural gas — and specifically the quickly developing production of shale gas — create other emissions, such as methane, that could be just as harmful? A new study by MIT researchers shows the amount of methane emissions caused by shale gas production has been largely exaggerated. "While increased efforts need to be...

VISTA — An estimated $100,000 worth of jewelry was stolen from Rep. Darrell Issa’s home in Vista last week, according to the Sheriff’s Department. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista — AP Deputies responded on Nov. 29 to a burglary call at the Republican congressman’s house in the city’s upscale Shadowridge neighborhood, Sheriff’s Department records show. The incident occurred between 6:40 p.m. and 7:20 p.m. that day. More than 50 pieces of jewelry were stolen, including watches, earrings, rings and bracelets, according to department records.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – A little-publicized amendment to the Illinois Constitution on this November’s ballot could have a big impact on the pensions and health care of state workers if Illinois voters approve it, a University of Illinois expert in legal policy says. According to John Kindt, a professor emeritus of business and legal policy, Amendment 49 is a “cleverly crafted feat of legislative legerdemain” that’s designed to concentrate more money and power in the state capital. “This is a potentially major change to the Illinois Constitution that has received very little publicity and has been the subject of almost no...

Editor's note: President Barack Obama will address the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday at around 10:00 a.m. You can follow along here as we live blog his speech or watch it live on CNN.com. [Updated at 10:22 a.m. ET] President Barack Obama began his address to the U.N. General Assembly by speaking about Ambassador Chris Stevens who was killed in the attack on the U.S. embassy in Benghazi, Libya. "He came to love and respect the people of North Africa and the Middle East, and he would carry that commitment throughout his life," Obama said. "As a diplomat, he worked...

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- As it drags on for a second week, the Chicago teachers strike is so large it could distort national economic statistics, including the Labor Department's key monthly jobs report. About 26,000 teachers and support staff are striking in Chicago, demanding higher pay, better job security and changes to a new evaluation system. The strike's timing is key, in that it coincides with the period in which the government collects data for the national jobs report. Last month, that report showed the economy added only 96,000 jobs. The number was seen as weak, posing a challenge for...

“We want to harness all the benefits of bricks to really propel student learning … but at the same time we find the lack of really good information about results and accountability really troubling,” said Dr. W.V. Lernen, a co-author of the report and the director of the Center for Study of The Apocryphal Cannon. About one third of all students in brick and mortar schools leave unprepared for college and work. Dr. Lernen finds that disturbing. “It’s hard to imagine that sitting in brick classrooms for 180 days works well for students, but that appears to be the primary...

(Reuters) - Inmates working at a Vermont correctional unit's print shop managed to sneak a prank image of a pig into a state police crest that is emblazoned on police cars, and 30 cruisers sported the design for the last year, officials said on Thursday. The official crest depicts a spotted cow against a background of snowy mountains, but the inmates' version featured one of the cow's spots shaped like a pig in an apparent reference to the pejorative word for police, state police spokeswoman Stephanie Dasaro said. "It dishonors the memory of those past and present members, especially for...

(Reuters) - Inmates working at a Vermont correctional unit's print shop managed to sneak a prank image of a pig into a state police crest that is emblazoned on police cars, and 30 cruisers sported the design for the last year, officials said on Thursday. The official crest depicts a spotted cow against a background of snowy mountains, but the inmates' version featured one of the cow's spots shaped like a pig in an apparent reference to the pejorative word for police, state police spokeswoman Stephanie Dasaro said. "It dishonors the memory of those past and present members, especially for...

President Obama played coin-flipper, color commentator and spectator as he attended his first Army-Navy game as commander-in-chief Saturday. The 112th meeting of the two service academies was played for the first time in the Washington area, drawing not only the president but also Vice President Joe Biden and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. Obama flipped a special Ronald Reagan centennial coin to determine home field advantage before the game. It came up tails, as called for by the Army captains. The president later spent a few moments in the CBS Sports broadcast booth, noting the great tradition of the rivalry game.

Bricks thrown through windows of a northwest suburban school prior to an appearance there by an anti-gay activist had threatening notes attached, police said today. The bricks were thrown at Christian Liberty Academy early Saturday morning, apparently in protest of Scott Lively, an anti-gay activist, who spoke there later that night during a banquet hosted by Americans for Truth Against Homosexuality. A note attached to one brick read, "This is just a sample of what we will do if you don't shut down scott lively and AFTAH (expletive) scott lively Quit the homophobic (expletive)!" Another brick had "Shut down Lively"...

A judge has delayed sentencing for Antoin “Tony” Rezko, a top fundraiser and adviser to disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Rezko, convicted on corruption charges, was scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 21. But prosecutors asked U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve to move the sentencing because another corruption trial connected to the Blagojevich administration starts this week – and includes allegations of an extortion plot involving Rezko. Prosecutors most directly involved in the Rezko sentencing are also handling the prosecution of William Cellini, a Springfield powerbroker whose trial on charges including attempted extortion and fraud starts this morning. In...