Brandeis Stories

Social Sciences Research

An illustration of people waiting in line as a person at the head of the line conducts a poll.

‘We Must Not Lose Hope’

A Crown Center fellow is conducting polls of the Palestinian people. He believes peace is still possible.
A professor sits on the ground talking to a student.

In the Kingdom of the Ancient Maya

Deep in the Mexican jungle, anthropological archaeologist Charles Golden, P’28, unearths remnants of a civilization of warriors, artists, and kings that still feels present and alive.
Jewish police at a displaced persons camp restrain a man.

A Matter of Justice

Did the Jewish honor courts established after World War II punish Nazi collaborators fairly? Or did they revictimize Jews who had been caught in an impossible bind?
A distressed student sits on a couch speaking to a counselor.

Helping Students Navigate Depression and Anxiety

Finding new solutions for students dealing with depression or anxiety.
Insurrectionists breaching the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

A Rising Tide of Domestic Extremism

International-terrorism expert Jytte Klausen pivots to study extremists in the U.S.
A magnifying glass with the word "patent"

The Age of Invention

An analysis of patent data offers a window into human creativity.
An illustration of a man walking away from someone with his hand outstretched behind him.

Walking Toward a Good Death

A moving excerpt from anthropologist Anita Hannig’s new book on medically assisted dying.
Insurrectionists inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. 2021.

Code Words and Crumbs: Deciphering QAnon Messaging

The durable power of Q's communication style.
The cover of Anita Hill's book “Believing”

A True Believer’s Long Fight

University Professor Anita Hill talks about her life and work in "Believing."
Lidar images of Lacanja Tzeltal and La Mar.

What Caused the Fall of Ancient Maya Civilization?

Lidar mapping offers a penetrating look at why the principal kingdoms disappeared.
Coronavirus

Listening to Voices From the Pandemic

Chronicling the cascade of crises some families have faced during the coronavirus pandemic.
An 1861 illustration shows African American families, carrying their possessions, racing toward a bridge that leads to Fort Monroe.

‘Their Great Soul-Hungering Desire Was Freedom’

Historian Abigail Cooper studies how African Americans living in Civil War-era refugee camps imagined — and constructed — their futures after slavery.
An illustration of a woman holding balloons that each have a different expression.

The Power of Positive Thinking

There’s no single key to staying healthy as we age, but professor Margie Lachman says that experiencing social support, a sense of purpose, and a feeling of control over one’s life can directly affect physical health.
A person lays on their bed looking at their cellphone.

Changing the Conversation About Social Media

A new study from professor Margie Lachlan and Xin Lin, GSAS PhD'22, shows that the precise way we use social media can determine its impact on our mental health.