Does the Fed feel the stock market’s pain?

The Fed cares when the stock market freaks out – but only when it turns into a bear [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 20 December 2018 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair Editor's note The Federal Reserve just raised interest rates for a fourth time this year, snubbing stock investors who have been bleeding red in recent months over concern that the almost 10-year-old economic expansion is about to run out of steam. Many were hoping the central bank would stop raising rates to ease their pain. So does this mean the [Fed doesn’t care about Wall Street](? Not exactly, writes West Virginia University’s Alexander Kurov, who has studied the links between stock prices and monetary policy. It’s still not clear how or when Great Britain will withdraw from the European Union. But despite some anxiety across the English Channel, new research suggests the EU will in fact survive Brexit. Polling data taken immediately before and after Britain’s 2016 referendum to exit the EU shows that support for the bloc actually increased after Brexit. Trump’s election also [had a paradoxically positive effect]( on European unity, write Emanuel Deutschmann and Lara Minkus. As holiday festivities start, many singles might face questions from friends and family about their dating lives. An assumption in these conversations is that those who are single are less happy, or just lonely. Arizona State’s Elizabeth Brake writes that what many don’t understand is that some people choose to be [“happily single.”]( Bryan Keogh Economics + Business Editor Top stories The U.S. Federal Reserve raised interest rates as of Dec. 19. Reuters/Brendan McDermid [The Fed cares when the stock market freaks out – but only when it turns into a bear]( Alexander Kurov, West Virginia University The Federal Reserve opted to lift interest rates in a snub to stock investors who have been bleeding red for more than two months. An anti-Brexit protester speaks during a demonstration. Reuters/Henry Nicholls [How Trump and Brexit united Europe]( Emanuel Deutschmann, European University Institute; Lara Minkus, Universität Bremen Back in 2016, the Brexit vote and US presidential election seemed like a nationalist one-two punch that could knock out the European Union. Instead, EU support actually rose, new research shows. More and more Americans are choosing to be single. mimagephotography/Shutterstock.com [Single during the holidays? It doesn’t mean being lonely or alone]( Elizabeth Brake, Arizona State University Singles can face mistaken stereotypes and value judgments that they are less happy, or lonelier. For many, being single is simply a relationship preference or even an orientation. Politics + Society - [The Trump Foundation is shutting down, but the president and his family still could face liability]( Daniel Hemel, University of Chicago A New York judge will decide whether Trump owes more than $2.8 million in restitution. - [It started with Nazis: Concerns over foreign agents not just a Trump-era phenomenon]( Bradley W. Hart, California State University, Fresno The initial aim of the 1937 Foreign Agents Registration Act was long forgotten: the prosecution of Nazis for interfering with American democracy. But that law is startlingly relevant to the US now. Environment + Energy - [What lies beneath: To manage toxic contamination in cities, study their industrial histories]( James R. Elliott, Rice University; Scott Frickel, Brown University Many homes, parks and businesses in US cities stand on former manufacturing sites that may have left legacy hazardous wastes behind. A new book calls for more research into our urban industrial past. - [A sacred light in the darkness: Winter solstice illuminations at Spanish missions]( Rubén G. Mendoza, California State University, Monterey Bay At many Spanish missions in the US and Latin America, the rising sun illuminates the altar on the winter solstice or other symbolic days. To the faithful, these events meant that Christ was with them. [Now, more than ever, the public needs to hear the voices of experts. Help us elevate them above the crowd, with a tax-deductible donation.]( Health + Medicine - [As the opioid epidemic continues, the holidays bring need to support those in grief]( Emily B. Campbell, College of the Holy Cross For many who know someone who has lost a loved one, it can be hard to know what to say or how to respond. For those who have lost a loved one, the silence can be deafening. Some things to keep in mind. - [Drug development is no longer just for Big Pharma. Researchers at Bio-X explain]( Teresa Purzner, Stanford University Developing drugs is typically the domain of large pharmaceutical companies. But here is an example of drug development for a rare pediatric brain cancer that was done in a university setting. Science + Technology - [Is quantum computing a cybersecurity threat?]( Dorothy Denning, Naval Postgraduate School Major advances in computing technology could break most modern encryption – but not for at least a few years. - [David vs. Goliath: What a tiny electron can tell us about the structure of the universe]( Alexey Petrov, Wayne State University What shape is an electron? The answer, believe it or not, has implications for our understanding of the entire universe, and could reveal whether there are mysterious particles still to be discovered. Education - [More DREAMs come true in California: How tuition waivers opened doors for undocumented students]( Federick J. Ngo, University of Nevada, Las Vegas When researchers took a close look at transcripts for thousands of California community college students, they discovered an encouraging trend in enrollment for undocumented students. Most read on site - [What winter solstice rituals tell us about indigenous people]( Rosalyn R. LaPier, The University of Montana For indigenous peoples, winter solstice has been a time to honor their ancient sun deity. Their rituals reveal a deep understanding of the natural world. - [Worry over kids’ excessive smartphone use is more justified than ever before]( Jean Twenge, San Diego State University Some say the hysteria over screen time echoes parents' worries that their kids were watching too much TV in the 1980s. But new studies show there's nothing overblown about parents' growing concern. - [Neuroscientists identify a surprising low-tech fix to the problem of sleep-deprived teens]( Adriana Galván, University of California, Los Angeles Researchers tracked adolescents' sleep and scanned their brains. As expected, better sleep went with healthy brain development. Unexpected was the importance of one aspect of where teens slept. Today’s quote [The potential for harm is enormous. If these encryption methods are broken, people will not be able to trust the data they transmit or receive over the internet, even if it is encrypted.]( [Is quantum computing a cybersecurity threat?]( Dorothy Denning Naval Postgraduate School [Dorothy Denning] [Follow us on Twitter.]( [Join us on Facebook.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly](. We’ll miss you. 89 South Street - Suite 202 Boston, MA 02111