The Conversation

Shingles vaccination rates rose during the COVID-19 pandemic, but major gaps remain for underserved groups

Written by Jialing Lin, Research fellow in Health Systems, International Centre for Future Health Systems, UNSW Sydney

The CDC recommends shingles vaccination for all adults age 50 and older.xavierarnau/E+ via Getty Images

Vaccination against shingles increased among adults age 50 and older in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic, but not equally across all population groups. That’s the key finding from a new study my colleagues and I published in the...

As wrestling fans reel from the sudden death of Hulk Hogan, a cardiologist explains how to live long and healthy − and avoid chronic disease

Written by William Cornwell, Associate Professor of Cardiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Hulk Hogan's international fame as a wrestling superstar began in the 1980s. This photo is from 2009.Paul Kane via Getty Images Entertainment

On July 24, 2025, the American pro wrestling celebrity Hulk Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, died at the age of 71. Hogan had chronic lymphocytic leukemia and a history of atrial fibrillation, or A-fib...

Are you really allergic to penicillin? A pharmacist explains why there’s a good chance you’re not − and how you can find out for sure

Written by Elizabeth W. Covington, Associate Clinical Professor of Pharmacy, Auburn University

Penicillin is a substance produced by penicillium mold. About 80% of people with a penicillin allergy will lose the allergy after about 10 years.Clouds Hill Imaging Ltd./Corbis Documentary via Getty Images

Imagine this: You’re at your doctor’s office with a sore throat. The nurse asks, “Any allergies?” And without hesitation...

How FDA panelists casting doubt on antidepressant use during pregnancy could lead to devastating outcomes for mothers

Written by Nicole Amoyal Pensak, Researcher of Caregiver Stress Management and Clinical Psychologist, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Research shows that the risks of untreated depression in pregnancy is much larger than the risks posed by SSRIs. RyanKing999/iStock via Getty Images Plus

At a meeting held by the Food and Drug Administration on July 21, 2025, a panel convened by the agency cast doubt on the safety of antidepressant medications called selective serotonin reuptake...

Yosemite embodies the long war over US national park privatization

Written by Michael Childers, Associate Professor of History, Colorado State University

The Ahwahnee is a privately run hotel inside Yosemite National Park.George Rose/Getty Images

The Trump administration’s cuts to the National Park Service’s budget and staffing have raised concerns among park advocates and the public that the administration is aiming to further privatize the national parks.

The nation has a long history...

What is personalized pricing, and how do I avoid it?

Written by Jay L. Zagorsky, Associate Professor Questrom School of Business, Boston University

Recently, Delta Air Lines announced it would expand its use of artificial intelligence to provide individualized prices to customers. This move sparked concern among flyers and politicians. But Delta isn’t the only business interested in using AI this way. Personalized pricing has already spread across a range of industries, from finance to...

Strengthening collective labor rights can help reduce economic inequality

Written by Skip Mark, Assistant professor of political science, University of Rhode Island

Only about 1 in 10 U.S. workers belong to unions today.champc/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Despite the strength of the U.S. economy, the gap between rich and poor Americans is increasing.

The wealthiest 1% of Americans have more than five times as much wealth as the bottom 50%, according to the U.S. Federal Reserve. That’s up from four times as...

The quiet war: What’s fueling Israel’s surge of settler violence – and the lack of state response

Written by Arie Perliger, Director of Security Studies and Professor of Criminology and Justice Studies, UMass Lowell

An Israeli soldier prays in the Evyatar outpost in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on July 7, 2024. AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg

Since Oct. 7, 2023, as Israel’s war against Hamas drags on in the Gaza Strip, a quieter but escalating war has unfolded in the West Bank between Israelis and Palestinians.

While precise figures are elusive, United...

Roman Empire and the fall of Nero offer possible lessons for Trump about the cost of self-isolation

Written by Kirk Freudenburg, Brooks and Suzanne Ragen Professor of Classics, Yale University

A marble statue of Nero on loan from the Louvre in Paris is seen at the Landesmuseum in Germany in 2016. Harald Tittel/Picture Alliance via Getty Images

President Donald Trump’s first term saw a record-high rate of turnover among his Cabinet members and chief advisers. Trump’s second term has, to date, seen far fewer Cabinet departures....

Black teachers are key mentors for Philly high school seniors navigating college decisions

Written by Joseph Sageman, Postdoctoral Researcher in Sociology, University of Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, nearly 15% of students are Black, but less than 4% of teachers are.JohnnyGreig/E+ Collection via Getty Images

Zikia, a 12th grader in Philadelphia, was stressing over where she would attend college in the fall. Her charter school’s college decision ceremony was the next day, and she was torn between her two top choices.

At a...