The Conversation

Racism linked to cognitive decline in African American women

Written by Lynn Rosenberg, Professor of Epidemiology, Boston University

For African-American women, experiencing racism can contribute to a variety of health issues.Getty Images / monkeybusinessimages

African Americans have higher rates of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease than white Americans. Chronic stress, associated with cognitive impairment and reduced volume in the brain’s memory area, could be a...

Hit ’em where it hurts – how economic threats are a potent tool for changing people's minds about the Confederate flag

Written by Jordan Carr Peterson, Assistant Professor of Political Science, North Carolina State University

The Mississippi state flag, with a representation of the Confederate battle flag, is raised one last time over the state Capitol building on July 1, 2020.AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis

Activists nationwide have resumed demanding the removal of statues and symbols that are considered racially offensive – such as of slave owners, Confederate leaders...

A rush is on to mine the deep seabed, with effects on ocean life that aren't well understood

Written by Elizabeth M. De Santo, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, Franklin & Marshall College

Manganese nodules on the Atlantic Ocean floor off the southeastern United States, discovered in 2019 during the Deep Sea Ventures pilot test. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration

Mining the ocean floor for submerged minerals is a little-known, experimental industry. But soon it will take place on the deep seabed, which belongs to...

Diversity pledges alone won't change corporate workplaces – here's what will

Written by Kimberly A. Houser, Assistant Clinical Professor, Business and Tech Law, University of North Texas

Words alone won't make corporate America more diverse. Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

Dozen of companies, from Apple to Zappos, have reacted to George Floyd’s killing and the protests that followed by pledging to make their workforces more diverse.

While commendable, to me it feels a bit like deja vu. Back in 2014, a host of tech companies ma...

How one community improved COVID-19 nursing home care with collaboration and communication

Written by Laurie Archbald-Pannone, Associate Professor Medicine, Geriatrics, University of Virginia

At a Midwest nursing home, a healthcare worker opens a glass panel to allow a visitor to safely talk with a resident. Getty Images / wanderluster

Nursing home residents worldwide are particularly vulnerable to the ravages of COVID-19. In the U.S. as of Aug. 2, 2020, nearly 46,000 nursing home residents had died from the virus. In addition, deaths...

Rapid screening tests that prioritize speed over accuracy could be key to ending the coronavirus pandemic

Written by Zoë McLaren, Associate Professor of Public Policy, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Broad and frequent screening could catch coronavirus cases before they can spread to others Vaidas Bucys/EyeEm via Getty Images

Broad access to testing is one of the most powerful tools to keep the COVID-19 pandemic under control until there’s an effective vaccine in use. Diagnostic testing, which is used in medical settings to determine...

Political forecast models aren't necessarily more accurate than polls – or the weather

Written by John A. Tures, Professor of Political Science, LaGrange College

As the old joke goes, it's difficult to make predictions, especially about the future.Tetra Images via Getty Images

As the presidential election approaches, everyone wants to know who will win.

But nobody wants to wait until the election is actually over and the votes are all counted up and double-checked.

In an effort to predict the winner weeks,...

Tweets show what hinders reports of sexual assault and harassment on campus – and why the new federal Title IX rules may be a step back

Written by Jason Whiting, Professor of Family Therapy, Brigham Young University

Definition of harassment is now more narrow.KLH49/GettyImages

“The nurse at the clinic said, ‘he did not mean it.’ He drugged my drink. How could he not ‘mean it?’ My grades plummeted. I quit college. I lost my dignity. I lost me.”

That statement is just one among the thousands of tweets with the hashtag #WhyIDidnt...

The COVID-19 virus can spread through the air – here's what it'll take to detect the airborne particles

Written by Suresh Dhaniyala, Bayard D. Clarkson Distinguished Professor of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, Clarkson University

Researchers are working on handheld devices that can signal the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the air.fotograzia/Moment via Getty Images

A growing body of research shows that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can spread from person to person through the air. Indoor spaces with poor ventilation in areas where the virus is prevalent are...

Honey bees can't practice social distancing, so they stay healthy in close quarters by working together

Written by Rachael Bonoan, Assistant Professor, Providence College

The complex interactions that maintain group health inside a bee hive offer lessons for humanity during pandemics. Rachael Bonoan, CC BY-ND

As many states and cities across the U.S. struggle to control COVID-19 transmission, one challenge is curbing the spread among people living in close quarters. Social distancing can be difficult in places such...