The Conversation

Langston Hughes – domestic pariah, international superstar

Written by Jason Miller, Professor of English, North Carolina State University

Throughout his career, Hughes was eager to mentor and promote the work of writers abroad. Library of Congress

A leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance, the inspiration behind Lorraine Hansberry’s play “A Raisin in the Sun” and an uncompromising voice for social justice, Langston Hughes is heralded as one of America’s...

Parents, cut yourself some slack on screen time limits while you're stuck at home

Written by Brenna Hassinger-Das, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Pace University

Some of the old rules may no longer apply.shapecharge/Getty

As families hunker down during the coronavirus pandemic, many parents may wonder how much screen time they should let their kids have. Brenna Hassinger-Das, a scholar of children and technology, shares one rule it’s OK to break, one rule parents can bend and a best practice worth...

New federal sick leave law – who's eligible, who's not and how many weeks do you get

Written by Elizabeth C. Tippett, Associate Professor, School of Law, University of Oregon

With schools closing, many parents have to stay home with their kids. Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

On March 18, President Donald Trump signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act into law.

The legislation is an emergency intervention to provide paid leave and other support to millions of workers sidelined by school closures,...

How to stop touching your face to minimize spread of coronavirus and other germs

Written by Stephen D. Benning, Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Touching one's face is natural, but it spreads germs. There are ways to stop. Josep Curto/Shutterstock.com

Public health officials consistently promote hand-washing as a way for people to protect themselves from the COVID-19 coronavirus. However, this virus can live on metal and plastic for days, so simply adjusting your eyeglasses with unwashed...

How to maintain physical and mental health during coronavirus

Written by Nita Bharti, Assistant Professor of Biology, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University

Washing your hands frequently is just one of the things you can do to stay healthy during the coronavirus outbreak. Getty Images / Jena Ardell

Millions are asking for clear, comprehensive information and guidelines regarding the novel coronavirus. Unfortunately, the U.S. public hasn’t received factual information or future direction from the...

Older people are at more risk from COVID-19 because of how the immune system ages

Written by Brian Geiss, Associate Professor of Microbiology, Immunology & Pathology, Colorado State University

A nursing home resident who tested positive for the virus visits through the window with her daughter.AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

The rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic is taking a particularly harsh toll on older people.

Data from the initial outbreak in China and then Italy show that infected people under the age of 60 are at low – but not no...

Coronavirus: Will courts continue to operate, preserving the rule of law?

Written by Austin Sarat, Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Science, Amherst College

U.S. courts use videoconferencing, but relatively rarely.AP Photo/Matt Volz

The coronavirus outbreak is affecting broad swaths of American life, including all levels of government. On March 16 the U.S. Supreme Court took the unusual step of indefinitely postponing oral arguments scheduled for at least the next two weeks.

The court held oral...

How to make presidential debates serve voters, not candidates

Written by John P. Koch, Senior Lecturer and Director of Debate, Vanderbilt University

Voters could know more about how each of these men think.AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

Presidential debates are not debates at all. They provide candidates with opportunities to deliver their own pre-scripted messages, largely unchallenged.

Ideally, presidential debate scholars agree, these events should help voters identify which candidate they agree...

Did the US commit crimes in Afghanistan? International prosecutors want to find out

Written by Hurst Hannum, Professor of International Law, Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University

War crime allegations cast a shadow over Afghanistan's future.Scott Nelson/Getty Images

International prosecutors tasked with looking into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan have no shortage of potential targets.

Afghan soldiers and warlords have been accused of rape, murder and kidnap almost since fighting began in late 2001. The deliberate...

3 smart ways to use screen time while coronavirus keeps kids at home

Written by Rebecca Dore, Senior Research Associate in Early Childhood, The Ohio State University

Using tech together with their parents is better for children.E+/Getty

As families everywhere adjust to social distancing measures like closed schools and child care centers, workplaces and more, parents are grappling with questions regarding their kids’ use of technology. Rebecca Dore, an expert on children and media, offers some tips for...