Writing a piece about why first-borns do better in life feels like a very first-born thing to do Anyway, here it is: www.economist.com/graphic-deta...

Why eldest siblings are brainier

A new study finds that sickness may play a role

economist.com

Hurricane Melissa is one of the strongest storms ever recorded @ainsliejstone.bsky.social &✨ 📊 by @eljlees.bsky.social www.economist.com/interactive/... via @economist.com

What makes Hurricane Melissa so different to other storms? A terrific piece with stellar graphics pulled together by our special-projects team with help from across the paper @ainsliejstone.bsky.social @fteoldi.bsky.social @eljlees.bsky.social @josephc.net www.economist.com/interactive/...

Hurricane Melissa is one of the strongest storms ever recorded

Jamaica and Cuba are in its path

economist.com

Saving the world, one seed at a time. Terrific piece from @ainsliejstone.bsky.social www.economist.com/interactive/...

How to save Madagascar’s dwindling forests

The island’s unique plants are being preserved in the world’s biggest seed bank

economist.com

The Economist data team is ten years old!! Thank you so much to @misssarahleo.bsky.social for hosting, and for the incredibly on-point drinks menu

Every summer since 2011 the Caribbean has been swamped by ever more floating brown seaweed. It's ugly, bad for wildlife and it stinks. Now, some companies are trying to turn the tide 🪸 www.economist.com/interactive/...

Sand, sun and stench

Rotting seaweed is stinking up Caribbean beaches

economist.com

So many insights into America's relationship to alcohol in this excellent piece by @ainsliejstone.bsky.social, not least that a small percentage of men think that 15 drinks in one day is "moderate" www.economist.com/graphic-deta...

America might soon relax its drinking guidelines

Our polling shows why it is so hard to set alcohol limits

economist.com

Politics is fuelling science scepticism across the west www.economist.com/science-and-...

Distrust in public-health institutions is not just an American problem

Across the rich world politics is driving scepticism

economist.com

We were lucky enough to have our YouGov/The Economist poll in field when the US bombed Iranian nuclear facilities. You can see the partisan realignment in real time

The Economist published an article today about my team's research on measuring social ties between men and women. The article had cool original analyses, including showing that the rate of cross-gender ties among close (top 5) friends is predicted by an index of sexism (a 🧵)

www.economist.com/internationa...

Can men and women be just friends?

The answer matters more than you think

economist.com

No words

Very good piece from @ainsliejstone.bsky.social (no gift link available I am afraid) www.economist.com/interactive/...

If India chokes less, it will fry more

Pollution may have shielded it from the worst of global warming. That will change

economist.com

America used to be the first choice for international students. Now the Trump administration is doing its best to push them away. It might succeed in hurting the Ivies, but it will hurt American innovation and competitiveness more www.economist.com/graphic-deta...

Demand for American degrees has already hit covid-era lows

Trump’s war on universities could drive away America’s brightest import

economist.com

Donald Trump's war on science is on the cover of the US-edition of The Economist this week. With stories from @iemsteinmark.bsky.social, @daniellaraz.bsky.social, @arynbraun.bsky.social, Rebecca Jackson and me

The Economist@economist.com · last yr.

Donald Trump’s attacks on science are unfocused and disingenuous. Far from unshackling scientific endeavour, the administration is doing it serious damage. The consequences will be bad for everyone econ.st/3Sld8QW

Donald Trump’s attacks on science are unfocused and disingenuous. Far from unshackling scientific endeavour, the administration is doing it serious damage. The consequences will be bad for everyone econ.st/3Sld8QW

Very sad to see this www.economist.com/graphic-deta...

Schooled by Trump, Americans are learning to dislike their allies

Our polling shows that Americans’ and Europeans’ attitudes towards each other are changing quickly

economist.com

Over the past few months regular Americans and Europeans have been turning against each other

Alex Selby-Boothroyd@alexselbyb.bsky.social · last yr.

🇨🇦 ✖️ 🇪🇺 ✖️ 🇷🇺 ✔️ www.economist.com/graphic-deta...

For decades Alzheimer’s research has been marred by disappointment—existing drugs only slow the disease. Now an old idea, once dismissed as fringe, is making a comeback. If it’s right, millions of cases could be prevented using medicines we already have... www.economist.com/science-and-...

Do viruses trigger Alzheimer’s?

A growing group of scientists think so, and are asking whether antivirals could treat the disease

economist.com

Electric cars cost more upfront and generate more CO2 to manufacture compared with petrol cars. But they are much cheaper and greener to run. So, how far do you need to drive for an electric to beat petrol? The answer depends a lot on where you live... www.economist.com/graphic-deta...

This week @sondreus.bsky.social and I gathered 38,000 of Elon Musks posts. Someone really needs to introduce him to bedtime mode...

Alex Selby-Boothroyd@alexselbyb.bsky.social · 2y ago

He forgot the first rule: don't get high on your own supply www.economist.com/briefing/202...

First post! Here are a few of the more fun data projects I've worked on this year.... Which countries are the most attractive to talented people? Introducing the footloose index. How would a country's graduate population change if everyone who wanted to move did? www.economist.com/graphic-deta...