The Conversation

Shuttered by the coronavirus, many gay bars – already struggling – are now on life support

Written by Greggor Mattson, Associate Professor of Sociology, Oberlin College and Conservatory

The Abbey, one of Los Angeles' most famous gay bars, announces its temporary closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Gay bars have been shuttered by public-place closure orders during the coronavirus pandemic. In March, more than half of U.S. states issued statewide closure orders for bars and...

Do people become more selfless as they age?

Written by Ulrich Mayr, Lewis Professor and Department Head of Psychology, University of Oregon

The main characters of 'The Good Place' become better over time. Michael Tran/FilmMagic via Getty Images

Looking for something to binge-watch while you’re hunkering down at home?

Consider checking out the popular TV show “The Good Place.” Over four recently concluded seasons, the series follows the adventures and mishaps of four...

Ignaz Semmelweis, the doctor who discovered the disease-fighting power of hand-washing in 1847

Written by Leslie S. Leighton, Visiting Lecturer of History, Georgia State University

A simple, low-tech way to get rid of germs. FatCamera/E+ via Getty Images

One of the front-line defenses individuals have against the spread of the coronavirus can feel decidedly low-tech: hand-washing.

In fact, it was 19th-century Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweis who, after observational studies, first advanced the idea of “hand...

Bees seeking bacteria: How bees find their microbiome

Written by Lila Westreich, PhD Candidate, School of Environment and Forest Sciences, University of Washington

Bumble bee collecting pollen from a flower.dmitry grigoriev/unsplash.com

In late summer last year my doctor prescribed a monthlong course of antibiotics for an infection. Medicines like antibiotics are great at wiping out bacterial infections. The problems is that these drugs don’t differentiate between eliminating the “good”...

Cold War-style preparedness could help fight future pandemics

Written by Alex Bitterman, Professor of Architecture and Design, Alfred State College of Technology, The State University of New York

Air raid wardens in Washington, D.C., conduct a practice air raid.Office for Emergency Management, Office of War Information/National Archives

A key group of allies is missing in the U.S. effort to face the coronavirus pandemic: the American people.

In the wake of World War II and during the Cold War, the U.S. was the world’s best at planning...

Journalists are recognizing they're writing a rough draft of history – and can't say definitively 'that's the way it is'

Written by Kevin M. Lerner, Assistant Professor of Journalism, Marist College

Experts' advice on wearing facemasks has changed; how does the press cover that?Getty/ Alex Potemkin

On April 4, a Los Angeles Times story about the varying effects of the novel coronavirus contained a remarkable paragraph:

“One thing to keep in mind before we continue: It is possible that the information you read below will be contradicted in...

Journalists are recognizing they're writing a rough draft of history -- and can't say definitively that's the way it is

Written by Kevin M. Lerner, Assistant Professor of Journalism, Marist College

Experts' advice on wearing facemasks has changed; how does the press cover that?Getty/ Alex Potemkin

On April 4, a Los Angeles Times story about the varying effects of the novel coronavirus contained a remarkable paragraph:

“One thing to keep in mind before we continue: It is possible that the information you read below will be contradicted in...

COVID-19 may hit rural residents hard, and that spells trouble because of lack of rural health care

Written by Kevin J. Bennett, Professor, University of South Carolina

The empty streets of Hebron, Illinois, population 1,200, a village three miles south of the Illinois/Wisconsin border.Scott Olson/Getty Images

The burden of COVID-19 in rural areas has been under the radar, as the toll of the disease so far has been heaviest in dense urban areas. But up to 30% of the U.S. population lives in rural America, which...

Isolating together is challenging – and relationship stresses can affect biological functioning

Written by Hannah L. Schacter, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Wayne State University

Partners who feel connected to one another may experience health benefits.becca tapert/Unsplash, CC BY

In the wake of COVID-19 social distancing and stay-at-home orders, young couples may find themselves spending more time with each other than ever before.

In unprecedented times, couples navigate the latest relationship test.ItsDanSheehan/Twitter

As...

Want to know how many people have the coronavirus? Test randomly

Written by Daniel N. Rockmore, William H. Neukom 1964 Distinguished Professor of Computational Science, Associate Dean for the Sciences, Dartmouth College, Dartmouth College

Polls and surveys use random sampling. Why not pandemic testing?Gerville/E+ via Getty Images

Consider these two questions: What percentage of Americans are, or have been, infected with the coronavirus? And, what is the probability of dying from the virus if you catch it? One of the most unsettling aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic is that these two...