The Conversation

Coronavirus variants, viral mutation and COVID-19 vaccines: The science you need to understand

Written by Richard Kuhn, Professor of Biological Sciences, Purdue University

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is mutating.Aitor Diago/Moment via Getty Images

The SARS-CoV-2 virus mutates fast. That’s a concern because these more transmissible variants of SARS-CoV-2 are now present in the U.S., U.K. and South Africa and other countries, and many people are wondering whether the current vaccines will protect the recipients from...

How Connecticut's schools have managed to maintain lunch distribution for kids who need it most during the COVID-19 pandemic

Written by Marlene B. Schwartz, Professor of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Connecticut

When they moved instruction online, many schools began distributing grab-and-go lunches.AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

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

The big idea

Connecticut schools ensured that low-income students were still getting enough to eat after the pandemic first shuttered buildings in March because of a swift...

3 ways Black people say their white co-workers and managers can support them and be an antidote to systemic racism

Written by Jennifer R. Joe, Professor of Accounting, University of Delaware

People of color say they want office allies who offer honest feedback.10'000 Hours/DigitalVision via Getty Images

President Joe Biden committed the U.S. government to racial equity by issuing four executive orders on Jan. 26 that seek to curb systemic racism. In the orders, he cited the killing of George Floyd in 2020, which sparked months of...

Strong political institutions can uphold democracy, even if people can't agree on politics

Written by Joseph Daniel Ura, Professor of Political Science, Texas A&M University

Pro-Trump rioters trying to enter Capitol building. A recent poll showed that up to one-fifth of Americans supported the assault on the Capitol.Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

Americans’ trust in the federal government has declined steadily in the last half-century, polls show.

The 2020 presidential election did little to...

No, you are not addicted to your digital device, but you may have a habit you want to break

Written by Ian A. Anderson, Ph.D. Student, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Frequent social media use does not necessarily equate to addiction.Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Imagine that you’re a typical middle school student having dinner with your family. Your mother takes your smartphone away and puts it in a lock-box that won’t open for an hour.

Would you: (a) go ahead and eat dinner with your...

How can I get the COVID-19 vaccine? Here's what you need to know and which state strategies are working

Written by Steven W. Chen, Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, University of Southern California

Getting vaccinated often means pre-registering, then registering, then arranging an appointment and standing in line.Mario Tama/Getty Images

For many people, trying to get the COVID-19 vaccine has been a lesson in frustration. The vaccine supply is limited in many areas, creating confusion over who can get a first and sometimes second dose of...

Why rituals are important survival tools during the COVID-19 pandemic

Written by Cristine H Legare, Professor of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin College of Liberal Arts

Rituals like hand-washing help spread hygiene practices that are essential to health and survival.Aditya Saputra/INA Photo Agency/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

COVID-19 has disrupted many aspects of daily life, including rituals both sacred and mundane. At the same time, the pandemic has opened a unique opportunity globally to adapt...

Israel faces legal – and practical – obligations for including Palestinians in vaccine success

Written by Yara M. Asi, Post-Doctoral Scholar, Health Management and Informatics, University of Central Florida

Palestinian patients infected with COVID-19 registering at an emergency unit in the West Bank city of Ramallah.AP Photo/Nasser Nasser

As nations scramble to vaccinate populations against COVID-19, one country has been ahead of the rest: Israel.

By late January, Israel had vaccinated more than 30% of its population – more than double or triple...

People may become less likely to contribute to a virtual public good like Wikipedia or Waze if they know many others are already doing it

Written by Anjana Susarla, Omura-Saxena Professor of Responsible AI, Michigan State University

Waze depends on users to voluntarily upload information about traffic accidents and road closures. Linda Davidson/The Washington Post via Getty Images

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

The big idea

While people tend to contribute more to a virtual public good if they see others doing the same, this effect reverses if...

Could a human enter a black hole to study it?

Written by Leo Rodriguez, Assistant Professor of Physics, Grinnell College

A person falling into a black hole and being stretched while approaching the black hole's horizon.Leo Rodriguez and Shanshan Rodriguez, CC BY-ND

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com.

Could a human enter a black hole to study it?...