The Conversation

Virus evolution could undermine a COVID-19 vaccine – but this can be stopped

Written by Andrew Read, Evan Pugh University Professor of Biology and Entomology, Eberly Professor of Biotechnology, Director, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State

Could SARS-CoV-2 evolve to dodge the vaccine?Jose A. Bernat Bacete/Moment collection/Getty Images

The first drug against HIV brought dying patients back from the brink. But as excited doctors raced to get the miracle drug to new patients, the miracle melted away. In each and every patient, the drug only worked only for a while.

It turned out the...

Why for-profit college enrollment has increased during COVID-19

Written by Molly Ott, Associate Professor of Higher & Postsecondary Education, Arizona State University

The convenience of distance learning at for-profit colleges has contributed to their rising enrollment. damircudic/E+ via Getty Images

When COVID-19 hit the U.S., many experts warned that America’s colleges and universities could be devastated. Some of them predicted enrollment declines of up to 20%.

So far, those initial forecasts were worse...

Hoarding, stockpiling, panic buying: What's normal behavior in an abnormal time?

Written by Carol Mathews, Professor of Psychiatry, University of Florida

Hoarding, stockpiling and panic buying have all increased during the pandemic. Grace Cary via Getty Images

Symptoms of depression, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorders have emerged or worsened for many during the pandemic. This is no surprise to clinicians and scientists, who have been increasing worldwide access to mental health information...

Racial discrimination ages Black Americans faster, according to a 25-year-long study of families

Written by Sierra Carter, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Georgia State University

Anti-racism protest, 2020.Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images

The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.

The big idea

I’m part of a research team that has been following more than 800 Black American families for almost 25 years. We found that people who had reported experiencing high levels of racial discrimination...

Coronavirus relief funds could easily pay to stop the worst of climate change while rebooting economies

Written by David L. McCollum, Senior Research Scientist, University of Tennessee

Global economic support for COVID-19 relief is providing an opportunity to kick-start a shift toward a green future. Maksim Chernyshev/EyeEm via Getty Images

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As of late summer, governments around the world had pledged US$12.2 trillion of relief in response to the coronavirus pandemic. That’s around 15% of global GDP, three times...

American timber industry crippled by double whammy of trade war and COVID-19

Written by Andrew Muhammad, Professor of Agriculture and Resource Economics, University of Tennessee

Douglas fir, a valuable commercial timber, dominates the Oregon coastal forest.Photo by Eric Muhr on Unsplash, CC BY-ND

The forestry sector – landowners, logging companies and sawmills – have lost an estimated US$1.1 billion in 2020. Devastating wildfires and Hurricane Laura have played a part, but the COVID-19 pandemic has also...

A record number of women will serve in the 117th Congress, including at least 51 women of color

Written by Sharon Austin, Professor of Political Science, University of Florida

Jahana Hayes (left) and Lauren Underwood were reelected to the House of Representatives.AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Women will gain at least 14 seats in the 117th Congress, setting a new record for female representation.

In 2018, the nation elected 127 women – and 48 women of color – to the House and Senate. Next Jan. 3, at least 141...

What monoclonal antibodies are – and why we need them as well as a vaccine

Written by Rodney E. Rohde, Professor Clinical Laboratory Science, Texas State University

Y-shaped proteins called antibodies are vital for attacking and destroying the virus.Dr_Microbe/Getty Images

When President Trump was diagnosed with COVID-19, one of the cutting-edge experimental therapies he received was a mixture of monoclonal antibodies. But now a vaccine may soon be available. So are other therapies necessary or valuable? And...

Secondhand clothing sales are booming – and may help solve the sustainability crisis in the fashion industry

Written by Hyejune Park, Assistant Professor of Fashion Merchandising, Oklahoma State University

A ThredUp sorting facility in Phoenix.Matt York/AP

A massive force is reshaping the fashion industry: secondhand clothing. According to a new report, the U.S. secondhand clothing market is projected to more than triple in value in the next 10 years – from US$28 billion in 2019 to US$80 billion in 2029 – in a U.S. market currently worth...

Trump 2024? Presidential comebacks have mixed success

Written by Robert Speel, Associate Professor of Political Science, Erie campus, Penn State

There are already reports that Trump is mulling a run in 2024.Caitlin O'Hara/Getty Images

American author F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote that “there are no second acts in American lives.”

Yet it’s already assumed Donald Trump will go on to a next act in one form or another.

Will he start his own media company? Serve as a GOP...