The most popular pieces on Tufts Now this year range from tipping to politics to health—and saving a life
No. 7 in our top 10 stories was a feature about the more than 34,400 high school students who applied to be members of the Class of 2028. Photo: Jenna Schad
Tufts Now covers a very wide range of topics, as you can see from this list of the most popular stories we posted this year—health, how much to tip, the Olympics and a former Olympic star, who’s applying to the university, and even how to save a life.
Magnesium occurs naturally in foods like nuts and seeds, beans and other legumes, whole grains, and leafy greens. Photo: Shutterstock
# 1: Can Magnesium Supplements Improve Health?
An expert in nutrition and medicine shares what scientists know and don’t know about magnesium and how to take it responsibly.
U.S. Ambassador Michelle Kwan and former rival gang members put the finishing touches on a mural dedicated to peace in Belize City in July 2023. The project was part of a U.S. Embassy-funded program that engaged former gang members in vocational and entrepreneurial training. Photo: Courtesy U.S. Embassy Belize
# 2: Figure Skating Star Michelle Kwan’s New Life as a U.S. Ambassador
The Olympic medalist has remade herself as a champion of democracy in her role in Belize—a long way from the ice rink.
About 56% of young men said they voted for Donald Trump this year, a flip from the 56% who voted for Joe Biden four years ago. Photo: Shutterstock
# 3: Young Voters Shifted Toward Trump but Still Favored Harris Overall
As 42% of eligible youth voted in 2024, according to a CIRCLE analysis, youth support for Trump climbed from 36% to 46% compared to 2020, though young people were still the age group with the highest support for the Democratic candidate this year.
Imaging of the connections between the mediodorsal thalamus and prefrontal cortex in the human brain. Photo: Mengzing Liu / Tufts University
# 4: People with Schizophrenia Show Distinct Brain Activity When Faced With Conflicting Information
Researchers introduce a biomarker to indicate whether someone is struggling with the inflexible thinking associated with the disorder.
According to surveys and polls, people invariably say they tip in response to quality of service, but economists have found at most a modest link between the two. Photo: Alonso Nichols
# 5: The New Rules of Tipping
It’s an American tradition, but as consumers are being asked to tip more often—and sometimes in advance—they are finding gratuities harder to navigate. A Tufts economist helps us make sense of it all.
“The success of a nation’s athletes in Olympic competition reflects their skills and abilities, and behind these are important economic and social factors,” says Michael Klein. Here, a women’s 110 meter hurdle race in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. Photo: Shutterstock
# 6: Why Do Some Countries Win More Olympic Medals?
The richer the country, the more likely it will tally more medals, and the number of medals for women is tied to their economic opportunities in their home countries.
“It was inspiring and uplifting to read about the concrete steps students are taking to make their communities stronger, more welcoming, and more reliant upon the unique strengths of each member of the community,” says JT Duck. (Shown: The illumination ceremony in which Tufts undergraduates participate as they begin their first year at the university.) Photo: Alonso Nichols
# 7: Undergraduate Applications Continue to Grow as Geographical Diversity Expands
More than 34,400 high school students applied to be members of the Class of 2028, and set a new record for applications to the School of Engineering.
The Tufts Silklab created a stream of liquid silk that quickly turns into a strong fiber—stronger than this spider web. Photo: Shutterstock
# 8: Inspired by Spider-Man, a Lab Recreates Web-Slinging Technology
The stream of liquid silk quickly turns to a strong fiber that sticks to and lifts objects (although not yet villains).
Three Tufts alumni will be among the more than 10,000 Olympic athletes competing in Paris this summer.
# 9: A Jumbo Presence at the Paris Games
Two Tufts alumni and a current student were going for the gold in this summer’s Olympics and Paralympics.
# 10: A Miracle on College Ave.
With quick actions and some help from fate, Tufts athletic trainers and Medford police were right where they needed to be to save the life of Charles DeVirgilio, E80.
