The Conversation

Air pollution may contribute to Alzheimer’s and dementia risk – here's what we're learning from brain scans

Written by Jiu-Chiuan Chen, Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California

Air pollution exposure during mid to early life may be more important to developing Alzheimer's disease than doctors realized.Cecilie Arcurs via Getty Images

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. It slowly destroys memory, thinking and behaviors, and eventually the ability to carry out daily tasks.

As scientists search for...

How many people need to get a COVID-19 vaccine in order to stop the coronavirus?

Written by Pedro Mendes, Professor of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut

Before the U.S. can return to some form of normal, a lot of people need to be vaccinated.AP Photo/Paul Sancya, Pool

It has been clear for a while that, at least in the U.S., the only way out of the coronavirus pandemic will be through vaccination. The rapid deployment of coronavirus vaccines is underway, but how many people need to be vaccinated in...

Can a future ban on gas-powered cars work? An economist explains

Written by Amitrajeet A. Batabyal, Arthur J. Gosnell Professor of Economics, Rochester Institute of Technology

A 'green' symbol for electric vehicle charging stations. Photo by Michael Marais for Unsplash, CC BY-ND

The U.S. transportation sector is one of the largest contributors of carbon dioxide, the potent driver of climate change.

Transportation accounts for about 28% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and, since 1990, emissions in this sector...

In a time of social and environmental crisis, Aldo Leopold's call for a 'land ethic' is still relevant

Written by Curt D. Meine, Adjunct Associate Professor of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison

In 1935 Aldo Leopold bought a depleted Wisconsin farm and restored it to prairie grassland.Bill Hall, AOC Solutions/USFWS/Flickr, CC BY

An ongoing reckoning with race in American history has drawn attention to racism in the environmental movement. Critiques have focused on themes such as forced removal of Indigenous peoples from ancestral lands,...

Trump's 'smoking gun' tape is worse than Nixon's, but congressional Republicans have less incentive to do anything about it

Written by Ken Hughes, Research Specialist, the Miller Center, University of Virginia

On Aug. 9, 1974, Nixon announced his resignation from the presidency. 12/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

At least Donald Trump’s “smoking gun” tape is simpler than Richard Nixon’s.

Schoolchildren can easily grasp Trump’s high crime, in contrast to the complex, Machiavellian plot immortalized on the tape that...

Populism erupts when people feel disconnected and disrespected

Written by Noam Gidron, Assistant Professor of Political Science,, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Trump supporters face off against counterprotesters at the Million MAGA March in Washington on Nov. 14, 2020. Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

American society is riven down the middle. In the 2020 presidential election, 81 million people turned out to vote for Joe Biden, while another 74 million voted for Donald Trump. Many...

Ready to try an old approach to a New Year’s resolution? The story of Saint Ignatius may provide some guidance

Written by Gordon Rixon, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, Regis College, University of Toronto

Saint Ignatius of Loyola with Pope Paul III.Roger Viollet Collection/Getty Images

Making and breaking New Year’s resolutions is a familiar and discouraging annual ritual for many people.

Almost inevitably, in a few short weeks, many find they are unable to meet their goals of self-improvement, be it keeping a positive attitude, improving...

The cold supply chain can't reach everywhere – that's a big problem for equitable COVID-19 vaccination

Written by Timothy Ford, Professor and Chair of Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Getting vaccines to rural and hard-to-reach areas is critical for public health and ethical reasons. Hector Roqueta Rivero/Moment via Getty Images

To mitigate health inequities and promote social justice, coronavirus vaccines need to get to underserved populations and hard-to-reach communities.

There are few places in the U.S. that are unreachable...

The 'gateway drug to corruption and overspending' is returning to Congress – but are earmarks really that bad?

Written by Diana Evans, Professor of Political Science, Trinity College

A controversial way that Congress spends money is returning, after being banned almost a decade ago.Liu Jie/Xinhua via Getty Images

Congressional earmarks – otherwise known as “pork barrel spending” – may be coming back.

For decades, earmarks paid for pet projects back in lawmakers’ districts, with the tacit aim to...

Rooting out racism in children's books

Written by Lindsay Pérez Huber, Associate Professor, College of Education , California State University, Long Beach

Children's books need better representation of people of color.Ariel Skelley/Getty Images

Ten years ago, I sat down with my then 8-year-old daughter to read a book before bedtime. The book was sort of a modern-day “boy who cried wolf” story, only it was about a little girl named Lucy who had a bad habit of telling lies.

In the story,...