The Curiosity Gap Content

What Is a Media Storm? New Research Explains Why Some Stories Dominate the News

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — May 28, 2026 - 3:07pm

George Floyd’s killing in 2020 by Minneapolis police became a media storm, but the event itself was not, unfortunately, unique.

Every year, many unarmed Black men are killed by police but almost none of those deaths resulted in nearly the same volume of stories in news media that would make up a media storm. Amber Boydstun, a political scientist, wanted to know why.

How Can Spanish Students Help a City Serve Spanish Speakers?

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — May 21, 2026 - 8:14am

In a new internship with the City of Davis, �鶹��ý students are helping the city better meet the needs of its Spanish speaking residents. A cohort of five students spent months working with city staff, learning best practices when it comes to translating content such as city documents, press releases, public service announcements and social media posts.

The Conversation: Is Nature Good For Business?

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — May 20, 2026 - 8:44am

Nature is good for business – and we now have numbers to show it.

When rivers degrade, pests spread or drought hits crops, nature sends a bill.

Yet it’s one rarely itemised on any balance sheet, because nature’s contribution to business remains genuinely hard to quantify.

One major obstacle is data. Businesses rarely disclose their precise operating locations, while detailed ecological information that can be linked to specific firms is scarce in most countries.

How Can Reducing Stigma for Non-traditional Romantic Relationships Benefit Everyone?

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — April 30, 2026 - 3:44pm

Not all romantic relationships between consenting adults involve only two people. For nearly one-fifth of U.S. adults at some point in their life, those relationships have included three or more.

Having more than one romantic partner at time, with the consent of all involved, is called “consensual non-monogamy.” While it’s much more common than most people realize, people who practice it face stigma and prejudice.

How Did a Law from 150 Years Ago Change Voting Rights Today?

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — March 30, 2026 - 1:53pm

Tati King and Toni Johnson both lost their right to vote after drug-related felony convictions. Even though both have served their prison sentences, the Virginia state constitution imposes a lifetime voting ban on anyone convicted of any felony unless restored by the state’s governor.

Is Tea Culture Art, Political, or Some of Both?

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — March 25, 2026 - 4:27pm

There are nuances to culture that escape the detection of those not entrenched within it. Accessing this intimate knowledge relies upon deep immersion in that culture over time. It’s not something that can be analyzed in a lab.

Does Structural Racism Shorten People’s Life Expectancy?

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — March 24, 2026 - 9:40am

Not every neighborhood is near a toxic waste site. Not every block has a liquor store. These forms of neighborhood blight, as well as segregation and racial inequality, are all examples of structural racism.

How Does Presidential Order on AI Regulation Affect States?

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — February 17, 2026 - 3:45pm

How Does Rage Bait Affect Us?

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — February 13, 2026 - 4:15pm

We’ve all seen rage bait posts on social media. They might be political or personal. They might be rude or outright false. What they have in common is the ability to make our blood boil.

How Did the Milky Way Galaxy Form?

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — February 13, 2026 - 2:53pm

If you’ve ever been to a place with minimal light pollution and looked skywards at nighttime, you’ve probably seen our Milky Way galaxy. It manifests as a thick, hazy band of stars streaking across the sky.