Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences

Listening to someone who disagrees with you on a controversial topic, but shares basic values, might not change your mind – but it could moderate an extreme position, reducing polarization, new Cornell economics research finds.

The research shows that contrary to popular narratives about media and political echo chambers – where people primarily interact with like-minded partisans – Americans are more willing to engage with opposing opinions than generally presumed. Doing so likely helps people think through stances on complex issues, the researchers propose.

https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/06/listening-political-opponents-who-share-common-values-can-ease-polarization

"Cornell became my vehicle to explore the complex systems that structure humanity," says Isaac Dorio '26. "I transferred to Arts & Sciences in the spring of my sophomore year to major in music and anthropology, and I've since embarked on an incredible journey of learning shaped by the remarkably diverse space offered by the college."

Isaac taught fellow students in the Intergroup Dialogue class and also became heavily involved in The Melodramatics Theatre Co.

"As we prepare to enter the world in 2026, we need people who aren't afraid to question what they see in front of them and who recognize the agency that comes from that ability," he said.

Read more about Isaac's time at Cornell and meet other members of the A&S Class of Cornell2026.

https://as.cornell.edu/news/teaches-you-how-be-curious

"I enjoyed Professor Katzenstein’s class because he helped me restructure my thinking to better understand the multidimensional nature of the world and approach complex disagreements with the willingness to change my own mind."

That class was one of the highlights of Gabriella Best's '26 time at Cornell.

And what else did she gain, this time from her experience on the Cornell Rocketry Team? "The ability to try, fail, and try over and over again."

"On our team, there is no such thing as failure, only another opportunity to learn. My first year on the team, our rocket’s parachute didn’t open and instead plummeted 10,000 feet. Instead of calling it quits, the team inspected the crash zone like a crime scene, working together to figure out what went wrong. In the span of two weeks, the team rebuilt the entire rocket. It completely changed how I viewed success going forward."

Find out more about Gabriella's experience and what you can look forward to during your own Cornell journey.

https://as.cornell.edu/news/i-gained-ability-try-fail-and-try-over-and-over-again

English major Thej Khanna '26 appreciated the chance to sample classes from across campus during his time at Cornell.

"Arts & Sciences' structure gave me the flexibility to jump from a computer science lecture to a close-knit English seminar on representations of the aquatic in Caribbean literature, to a discussion on practical policy responses to cybercrime, instilling in me a deep appreciation for the mission of 'any person, any study.'

Having the ability to switch gears between distinct subject areas has not only given me a diverse range of academic experiences, but also fundamentally shaped how I approach problems today, pushing me to approach questions from angles that might not seem obvious at first."

And his friend group — formed during the first few days of freshman orientation — helped shape his time here. "Having lived with them since freshman year, they have consistently pushed me toward classes I wouldn't have taken and opportunities I would have talked myself out of and represented a constant grounding presence during my time at Cornell."

Read more of Thej's Cornell journey: https://as.cornell.edu/news/i-learned-approach-questions-multiple-angles

The current practice of freezing embryos – used to assist reproduction in humans or animals or to conserve endangered species – routinely causes ice to form within the cells, ripping through cell membranes, changing the way proteins behave and ultimately leading to fewer viable embryos.

Now a multidisciplinary team has found that speeding up the freezing process – by 30 times – prevents ice and the damage it causes.

“In developmental studies, we saw that fast-cooled bovine embryos behave much more like unfrozen, uncryopreserved embryos,” said Robert Thorne, professor of physics and a Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellow in the Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences. “This is going to have a major impact, especially for the propagation of animals where current cryopreservation methods don’t yield good results.”

Read more: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/05/improved-embryo-freezing-technique-could-preserve-endangered-species

Ellie Butkovich '26 is using her degree in enviroment and sustainability as a responsible sourcing specialist at Carnival Corporation and also working in Ecuador to help Indigenous locals convert their homes into homestays to bring more sustainable tourism to the country.

"The Statler Hotel is where I first began to ponder the juxtaposition between hospitality and sustainability, and it is what inspired me to design my own concentration in Sustainable Operations & Ecotourism."

Her major also opened her eyes to the possibilities: "Being part of an interdisciplinary major, within such an interdisciplinary school, has taught me things I didn't know I needed to learn. My version of environment and sustainability was very narrow-minded before coming to Cornell; I only imagined I would be learning about environmental science and policy. But I get to leave with a broadened perspective and knowledge of environmental history, literature, art, sociology, communication and economics (to name a few)."

https://as.cornell.edu/news/i-leave-broadened-perspective

"I came to Cornell because I knew it was a place where I could pursue research that truly mattered," said Takunda Chikuvire'26. "I wanted a university where I wouldn't just read about science but do it. Cornell's reputation as a world-class research institution meant that those opportunities would exist and be within reach."

The biological sciences major from Harare, Zimbabwe, credits his mother as his greatest influence.

"She never went to college, but she understood, perhaps more deeply than anyone, what an education could mean for a life. I grew up watching her till fields before sunrise, so our family would have food on the table, and sell groceries door-to-door to supplement my father's income, all so that I could have bus fare to school and my fees paid on time. She never complained. She never wavered. She just worked with a quiet ferocity that I have spent my whole life trying to match ...The resilience I bring to my research, my leadership and my aspirations, so much of it was forged watching her."

Read more about Takunda's Cornell journey and other members of the Class of Cornell 2026: https://as.cornell.edu/news/cornell-offered-me-degree-and-world

Experiences like travel and adventure are more satisfying than material purchases, shows research from Cornell psychologist Thomas Gilovich. But what makes for a trip you’ll remember? Here are five ingredients, according to Gilovich.