Rising, Falling, and Hovering, a collection of poems by professor of English C. D. Wright, has received glowing reviews. In Rising, Wright examines weighty issues including illegal immigration, rampant consumerism, and the daily tragedies of the war in Iraq. This review also ran in the International Herald Tribune.

Researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm say they’ve identified physical differences between the brains of heterosexuals and homosexuals, provoking debate from scientists worldwide. Anne Fausto-Sterling, professor of biology and gender studies, raises questions about the validity of these findings. The Arizona Daily News and the Miami Herald also ran this story.

England recently celebrated the 200th anniversary of the end of its slave trade, but similar memorials have been scarce in the United States. James Campbell, professor of Africana studies, weighs in on why slavery commemorations in America are rare.

Professor of economics Glenn Loury debates cultural critic John McWhorter in the video section of the New York Times website. They discuss the role of hip-hop in the African American community and its relation to Sen. Barack Obama’s bid for the White House.

A new study suggests that many bars and restaurants pour drinks in greater quantities than the suggested “standard” amount. Dwight Heath, professor of anthropology, comments on what this means for alcohol research.

With recent trips to the World Series and the Super Bowl, Chicago sports teams are on a winning streak. Brown professor and sports historian Elliot Gorn compares the city’s current sports renaissance to its turn-of-the-century glory days.

Evelyn Ramirez, a high school student from California’s Fresno Valley, overcame several personal obstacles to join Brown’s class of 2012. Though she graduated valedictorian of her class, Ramirez was often forced to balance her studies with crop picking. A related article in the same paper quotes Jim Miller, dean of admissions, commenting on how grassroots programs are helping high school students from low-income areas learn about Ivy League schools.

David Laidlaw, associate professor of computer science, discusses his research on the flight patterns of bats. Laidlaw worked with several scientists from Brown and MIT to create striking pictures of the airflow that surrounds bats as they soar through the sky.

Chenjerai Hove, a visiting fellow at the Watson Instiute for International Studies, discusses the current political situation in Zimbabwe on the Charlie Rose program.

In an effort to get more people walking, David Williams, an assistant professor at the Warren Alpert Medical School, is researching new motivational techniques.

Darrell West, professor of political science, has teamed up with former URI professor L. Patrick Delvin to create a comprehensive collection of presidential campaign ads. West discusses common attack ad strategies and dissects their impact on presidential campaigns.

A new photographic exhibit at the David Winton Bell Gallery examines the differences between parents and children, men and women, and even the self as it ages. Comprised of mostly local artists, Self and Others received a favorable review in the Providence Journal.