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Now Is the Time for Space Traffic Management

With about 6,900 active satellites and more than 130 million objects smaller than a golf ball, outer space is more congested than ever before. This increases the risk of collisions and conflict. That's why RAND researchers say it's time to establish an international organization that's responsible for space traffic management. Such a body would not only reduce the chance of an extraterrestrial disaster, but also help preserve the sustainable use of Earth's orbits. Read more »

Russian conscripts take part in a ceremony marking their departure for garrisons, at the Trinity Cathedral in St. Petersburg, May 23, 2023. Photo by Anton Vaganov/Reuters

Twin Personnel Crises Ahead for Russian Armed Forces

Russian soldiers—almost all of whom are serving under compulsory service—have faced indefinite deployment, inadequate rest, and prolonged exposure to combat stress. According to RAND's Dara Massicot, Russia's mistreatment of military personnel has created two looming crises: troop retention and veteran mental health problems. Russia's invasion of Ukraine is thus producing “a wave of severe trauma that will soon crash over its own country,” she says. Read more »

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Working Conditions to Support Teacher Well-Being

Teacher well-being declined over the course of the pandemic. What working conditions might help restore it? RAND survey results from spring 2022 provide some insights at the national level and in five states specifically: California, Florida, New York, Texas, and Washington. Three of the five working conditions that had the strongest connection with positive well-being were focused on interpersonal relationships. A schoolwide focus on social and emotional learning was also linked to positive well-being. Read more »

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Papua New Guinea Defense Minister Win Daki, APEC House, Papua New Guinea, May 22, 2023. Photo by Chuck Kennedy/U.S. State Department

The U.S. Is Winning in Oceania

On April 20, 2022, China signed its first security agreement in the South Pacific. At the time, this was widely seen as a dark day for the United States in Oceania. These concerns have proven to be overblown, says RAND's Derek Grossman. More recently, Washington has made major geostrategic gains in the region, while Beijing has grossly mismanaged its diplomacy. The United States need not be alarmed by Chinese security activities in Oceania, Grossman says, but it “should nevertheless keep a close eye on Beijing's moves.” Read more »

Soldiers look out over the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, August 17, 2021. Photo by Spc. Steven Alger/U.S. Army

How Might Climate Change Affect Force Readiness?

Generating, maintaining, and even increasing military force readiness in light of a changing climate is key to meeting U.S. strategic goals. A new RAND report provides a framework for understanding this issue. The authors examine how readiness might be affected by climate hazards, such as drought, flooding, wildfire, and tropical storms, as well as the vulnerability of the people, training, and equipment exposed to these hazards. Read more »