On the cover: Design by Harvard Magazine; photographs by iStock, Dreamstime, Unsplash, and Alamy Images

Letters

Cambridge 02138

A standard-setter retires—plus U.S. presidential debates, Overseer elections, admissions biases

A New Way

President Bacow on exploring better work-life balance after the pandemic

Civic Leaders, and Myths about Undergraduate Teaching

Corporation members’ civic-mindedness, and undergraduate education at research universities

July-August 2021

On the cover: Design by Harvard Magazine; photographs by iStock, Dreamstime, Unsplash, and Alamy Images

Features

Can Disinformation Be Stopped?

Scholars’ perspectives on a pervasive new threat

by Jacob Sweet

Thomas Starr King: Protector of the Union, and Yosemite

Brief life of a transcendentalist out West

by John Buehrens

Probing the Microbial World Within Us

Emily Balskus deciphers the human microbiome.

by Jonathan Shaw

Restoring Justice

Exploring an alternative to crime and punishment

by Lydialyle Gibson

RIGHT NOW Harvard research and ideas

Making America Competitive Again

Can election reforms end the crippling gridlock in American politics?

Could Regenerative Biology Work in Humans?

Mansi Srivastava’s basic research seeks to uncover the origins of whole-body regeneration in animals.

How Paper Crumples

The research provides insight into the way materials react to repeated strain.

John Harvard's Journal University news

Virtual Graduation 2.0

Harvard’s second, more expansive online graduation, with honorands and more

The 2021 Honorands

An honorable tradition resumes, virtually.

The Year That Was

Class spirit (the shirt), recyclable regalia, Zoom primal scream

Namwali Serpell

The professor of English is also a novelist and a critic.

The Future of Teaching

Pilot program points to the potential of hybrid instruction.

Breaking Even in a Bleak Year?

Elements may be in place for the University’s financial recovery.

News Briefs: Important University Updates

A large leap in the smallest science, decarbonization debates, admissions lawsuit

Yesterday’s News: Headlines from Harvard’s History

From the pages of the Harvard Alumni Bulletin and Harvard Magazine

Brevia: Harvard News in Brief

New police leader, top teachers, and an excellent economist

Pondering the Extracurricular “Founders” Puzzle

Why do so many Harvard students start clubs, instead of joining them?

Harvard Graduate Leads in NBA Analytics

Jason Rosenfeld ’12 traces his path to sports-statistics success.

Montage Books, creative arts, performance and more

Putting the Music in Musical Theater

Composer Zoe Sarnak’s warm-hearted songs

Open Book: The Case for Commitment

Pete Davis expands on his Commencement address.

A Surfing Author’s Children’s Book

In the swim with Bonnie Tsui

Off the Shelf: Recent Books with Harvard Connections

Tax follies, Thomas Sowell, Donald Hall, and more

Under Review: Tony Saich on Chinese Communism at 100

The first century of the Chinese Communist Party—and what impends

Harvard Squared What to do in Boston, Cambridge and beyond

New Bedford

Exploring the coastal fishing hub’s history, architecture, parks, and arts scene

Peabody Essex Museum’s “In American Waters”

From oceanic voyages to romping in the waves, a new exhibit explores relationships to water.

Boston’s Cycleboat Cruises

Enjoying inner harbor views and history

The Gardens at Elm Bank “Get People Growing”

Massachusetts Horticultural Society renews its mission.

Jaju’s Premiere Pierogies

Two sisters’ culinary venture honors their Polish American roots.

Here Comes the Sun

Where to explore, relax, and renew this season, from the Berkshires to the beach

Almuni Harvardians far and wide

Radcliffe Women Share Their Stories

An ambitious oral-history project captures the lived experiences of alumnae.

Harvard Arts and Sciences Centennial Medalists

For graduate studies that contributed to society

Graduates Head to the Other Cambridge

Four win scholarships for study in England.

The New Overseers and HAA Elected Directors

Harvard Forward gains a fourth seat on the Board of Overseers.

2021 Harvard Medalists

Harvard alumni honored for extraordinary service to the University