The Conversation

The world's southernmost tree hangs on in one of the windiest places on Earth – but climate change is shifting those winds

Written by Brian Buma, Assistant Professor of Integrative Biology, University of Colorado Denver

On Isla Hornos, Magellan's beech trees grow in wind-protected nooks and crannies. Andres Holz, CC BY-ND

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

The big idea

In 2019, my research team and I found the world’s southernmost tree on an island at the edge of South America. The diminutive tree is 42 years old, stretches...

Trump's encouragement of GOP poll watchers echoes an old tactic of voter intimidation

Written by Mark Krasovic, Associate Professor of History and American Studies, Rutgers University Newark

President Trump during the Sept. 29, 2020 debate with Joe Biden.Olivier Douliery/Pool via AP

During the first presidential debate, Donald Trump was asked by moderator Chris Wallace if he would “urge” his followers to remain calm during a prolonged vote-counting period after the election, if the winner were unclear.

“I am urging my...

¿Debemos preocuparnos ante la disminución de anticuerpos al recuperarnos del COVID-19?

Written by Alexander (Sasha) Poltorak, Professor of Immunology, Tufts University

Una impresión artística de los anticuerpos (en rojo y azul) que responden a una infección SARS-CoV-2. KTSDESIGN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images

La mayoría de las personas saben que las pruebas de anticuerpos en la sangre de una persona pueden mostrar si alguien ha tenido una enfermedad específica, como...

Why 'namaste' has become the perfect pandemic greeting

Written by Jeremy David Engels, Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences, Pennsylvania State University

Prince Charles, accompanied by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and French president Emmanuel Macron greet one another with a 'namaste' in London on June 18.Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Hands over the heart in prayer pose. A little bow of the head. A gesture of respect. An acknowledgment of our shared humanity. And no touching.

As people the...

The urge to punish is not only about revenge – unfairness can unleash it, too

Written by Paul Deutchman, PhD Candidate in Psychology, Boston College

Everyone wants a slice of the pie.Westend61 via Getty Images

Imagine you and your friend are at a party and someone orders pizza. You’re starving. You put a couple of slices on your plate and sit down at the table. Before you start eating, you excuse yourself to wash your hands.

On your way back from the bathroom, you look across the room just...

Michigan's effort to end gerrymandering revives a practice rooted in ancient Athens

Written by John Rothchild, Professor of Law, Wayne State University

In ancient Athens, most government officials were selected at random from among citizens eligible to fill the positions.Philipp Foltz

Michigan has embarked on an experiment in democratic governance using a technique employed in Athens 2,500 years ago but little used since: the selection of government officials by lottery rather than by appointment...

The Arctic hasn't been this warm for 3 million years – and that foreshadows big changes for the rest of the planet

Written by Julie Brigham-Grette, Professor of Geosciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Ice floe drifting in Svalbard, Norway.Sven-Erik Arndt/Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Every year, sea ice cover in the Arctic Ocean shrinks to a low point in mid-September. This year it measures just 1.44 million square miles (3.74 million square kilometers) – the second-lowest value in the 42 years since satellites began...

Making the most of K-12 digital textbooks and online educational tools

Written by Kui Xie, Cyphert Distinguished Professor; Professor of Learning Technologies; Director of The Research Laboratory for Digital Learning, The Ohio State University

Millions of U.S. students are engaged in remote learning.Ethan Miller/Getty Images North America

Whether children are currently going to school in person, learning remotely or doing a mix of both, digital tools and texts are becoming much more commonplace for K-12 education during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I’m a professor who researches the use...

Trump and Biden clash in chaotic debate – experts react on the court, race and election integrity

Written by Alison Gash, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Oregon

President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden at the first debate of the presidential campaign.AP/Julio Cortez and AP/Patrick Semansky

President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden took part in a presidential debate Sept. 29 that exemplified the lack of civility in American politics. The president frequently interrupted...

Your child's vaccines: What you need to know about catching up during the COVID-19 pandemic

Written by Irène Mathieu, Pediatrician, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Virginia

Getting children vaccinated can protect them and others from potentially deadly diseases.BSIP/UIG via Getty Images

This spring, after stay-at-home orders were announced and schools shut down across the nation, many families stopped going to their pediatrician. As a result, kids have fallen behind on important childhood vaccinations.

Vaccination...