A man takes a COVID test in Guiyang, Guizhou province, China, December 8, 2022. Photo by Costfoto/Sipa USA/Reuters

Containing China's COVID Outbreak

China is facing a tsunami of COVID-19 infections. In Beijing alone, an estimated 18 million people were symptomatic by New Year's Eve, and recent reports indicate that hospitals and crematoriums are overwhelmed. RAND epidemiologist Jennifer Bouey explains what led to this outbreak and what can be done about it. Shifting to a strategy that relies on vaccines and pharmaceutical treatments—and away from one focused on nonpharmaceutical interventions—could be a worthy next step, she says. Read more »

A worker installs Ukrainian and U.S. flags along Pennsylvania Avenue ahead of a visit by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Washington, D.C., December 21, 2022. Photo by Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

The Myth of America's Ukraine Fatigue

As Russia's war in Ukraine grinds into its second year, some media reports and polls have suggested that the United States and its allies are growing tired. RAND's Raphael Cohen and Gian Gentile cast doubt on this notion. To start, few Americans are actively engaged in the conflict. Further, the United States is not suffering losses on the battlefield or enduring energy shortages. Americans aren't paying higher taxes either. In other words, “Ukraine fatigue is more myth than reality,” they say. Read more »

Photo by Prostock-Studio/Getty Images

Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault in Military Settings

In a new study, RAND researchers review the evidence on sexual assault and sexual harassment during military service, the mental health conditions associated with sexual trauma, the effectiveness of treatments, and barriers to accessing and receiving care. The findings may help the Department of Defense improve the health care response for service members who have been victims of sexual assault or harassment. Read more »

A voter waits to cast his ballot in the 2022 U.S. midterm elections at Considine Little Rock Recreation Center in Detroit, Michigan, November 8, 2022. Photo by Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

How's Democracy Doing? To Find Out, Measure Civic Infrastructure

Last year's midterm elections saw high voter turnout in many states. This is a good sign, but it may not mean that American democracy is on the upswing, say RAND experts. While voting is a useful measurement of public participation in the democratic process, it doesn't tell the whole story. Finding ways to measure and monitor other important aspects of “civic infrastructure,” such as voter laws, civic education opportunities, and trust in government, could help fill in the gaps. Read more »

Illustration by GeorgePeters/Getty Images

What Might Space Look Like in 2050?

Could humans soon grow food, play sports, or film movies in space? Researchers at RAND Europe looked at how trends in more than a dozen economic sectors could play out in space between now and 2050. They found it would not take huge breakthroughs to make space and space travel a much bigger part of everyday life. In fact, if the cost to launch people and payloads into space continues to drop, then it could kick off a new era of extraterrestrial development. Read more »