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Melissa J. Ferguson

Melissa J. Ferguson (melissaferguson[at]cornell.edu) is an experimental social psychologist. She received her doctorate in social psychology from New York University in 2002 and then joined the psychology department at Cornell University. Her research focuses on the implicit and non-conscious cognitive processes that enable evaluation, goal-pursuit, self-control, and social behavior. Three recent topics of research in the lab are self-control (what predicts success?), first impressions (how do they form, change, and influence behavior?), and ideology (how do ideological symbols affect us?). Her research has appeared in outlets such as the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Psychological Science, Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and her work has been funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. She is also currently a Public Voices Fellow of The OpEd Project.

What is the secret to success?

Oct 27, 2016 05:25 am UTC| Life

At hundreds of colleges and universities across the country, thousands of students are in the midst of the fall semester, trying to manage the academic tasks of studying, exams, papers and lectures. A lot is riding on...

US Election Series

Is it too late for Trump and Clinton to become more likable?

Apr 14, 2016 06:50 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

According to the old adage, one never gets a second chance to make a first impression. Might that hold true for the presidential candidates? There would seem to be plenty of opportunities between now and Election Day ...

Economy

Oil Prices Surge Amid U.S.-Iran Tensions and Supply Disruption Fears

Global oil prices climbed sharply on Thursday as escalating geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran fueled concerns about further supply disruptions in the Middle East. Brent crude oil prices surged by as...

Asian Stocks Slip as Oil Prices Surge and Fed Signals Inflation Risks

Asian stock markets declined on Thursday as investors reacted to a sharp rise in oil prices, mixed corporate earnings, and a cautious outlook from the U.S. Federal Reserve. The combination of geopolitical tensions, energy...

Dollar Holds Near Two-Week High as Fed Hawkish Shift Lifts Yields, Yen Near Intervention Zone

The U.S. dollar remained close to its strongest level in more than two weeks on Thursday, supported by a hawkish shift from Federal Reserve policymakers that pushed Treasury yields to a one-month high. Currency markets are...

US Stock Futures Mixed as Fed Holds Rates, Oil Prices Surge, and Big Tech Earnings Drive Market Moves

U.S. stock index futures traded mixed on Wednesday evening as investors reacted to the Federal Reserves latest policy decision, rising oil prices, and a fresh round of earnings from major technology companies. Market...

China Factory Activity Extends Growth in April Despite Global Pressures

Chinas manufacturing sector continued to expand for a second consecutive month in April, signaling resilience in the worlds second-largest economy despite ongoing global uncertainties. According to official data from the...

Politics

Russian Drone Strikes Hit Odesa Again, Injuring Civilians and Damaging Infrastructure

Russian drone attacks targeted the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa overnight, marking the second assault this week and leaving at least 18 people injured, according to local officials. The latest strike adds to the...

US House Advances $70 Billion Immigration Enforcement Budget Plan

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a three-year budget framework that could unlock an additional $70 billion for immigration enforcement, marking a significant step in shaping future border security policies....

Trump to Receive Briefing on Potential U.S. Military Action Against Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to receive a high-level security briefing on Thursday regarding new military options targeting Iran, according to a report by Axios citing unnamed sources. The briefing will be led...

Taiwan Independence Explained: History, Status, and Rising China Tensions

Taiwan independence remains a highly debated issue in global politics, especially as tensions between China and the United States continue to shape international relations. The topic is expected to feature prominently in...

Taiwan Activates Backup Communications After Undersea Cable Break on Dongyin Island

Taiwan has activated emergency backup communications for Dongyin, its northernmost and strategically important island, after an undersea cable was damaged due to shifting shipwreck debris caused by severe weather. The...

Science

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

NASA Artemis II: First Crewed Moon Mission Since Apollo Takes Four Astronauts on 10-Day Lunar Journey

NASAs Artemis II mission launched Wednesday, marking humanitys return to crewed lunar exploration for the first time since the Apollo era. Carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, this historic 10-day mission...

NASA's Artemis II Mission: First Crewed Lunar Journey Since Apollo

NASA's Artemis II Crew Arrives in Florida for Historic Moon Mission

The four astronauts chosen for NASAs Artemis II mission have touched down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the beginning of final launch preparations for the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years. NASA...

SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed a significant shift in the companys near-term space exploration strategy, announcing that SpaceX is now prioritizing the development of a self-growing city on the Moon rather than focusing...

Technology

Meta Raises 2026 Capex Outlook Amid AI Spending Surge, Shares Drop After Earnings

Meta Platforms has increased its full-year capital expenditure guidance for 2026, signaling continued aggressive investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure despite rising costs and market concerns. The company...

Amazon Stock Dips Despite Record Earnings as AI Infrastructure Spending Surges

Amazon (AMZN) shares slipped 2.6% in after-hours trading on Wednesday, even after the company delivered record-breaking quarterly earnings that exceeded Wall Street expectations. The decline reflects investor concerns over...

Alphabet Earnings Surge on AI Growth, Cloud Revenue, and Strong Search Performance

Alphabet Inc. delivered an impressive first-quarter performance, surpassing Wall Street expectations with strong growth driven by its Cloud division and core Search business. The tech giant reported adjusted earnings per...

Qualcomm Stock Surges Despite Weak Guidance After Q2 2026 Earnings Beat

Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOM) shares climbed sharply on Wednesday, closing up 9% after a volatile trading session triggered by its fiscal second-quarter 2026 earnings report and softer-than-expected forward guidance. The...

Microsoft Azure Growth Forecast Beats Expectations Amid Rising AI Competition

Microsoft has projected stronger-than-expected growth for its Azure cloud business, signaling continued momentum in the competitive cloud computing and artificial intelligence market. The company announced it expects Azure...