The Conversation

How disorderly democracies can outperform efficient autocracies in tackling coronavirus

Written by Charles Hankla, Associate Professor of Political Science, Georgia State University

Germany has succeeded in fighting the coronavirus in part by combing strong national leadership with regional autonomy.John MacDougal/POOL via AP

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, some countries have consistently received accolades for their rapid, coordinated responses, while others have been roundly condemned as laggards.

Taiwan, Australia, Singap...

Maybe coronavirus's aggressiveness could be changed by adding or subtracting sugar molecules from its spike protein

Written by Adam M. Brufsky, Professor of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

A member of the coronavirus family that infects chickens.CDC/ Dr. Fred Murphy; Sylvia Whitfield

Scientists have been tracking changes to the genetic makeup of the new coronavirus to better understand how best to slow its spread. My research on the link between high blood sugar in patients and severity of illness from the virus could provide insight...

Lasers could speed up coronavirus diagnostics

Written by Mauricio Terrones, Professor of Physics, Pennsylvania State University

A conceptual schematic of a laser-based method for identifying the coronavirus quickly.Penn State University, CC BY-ND

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

The big idea

The most common type of test for the new coronavirus takes several hours and is uncomfortable; samples are obtained by sliding a swab into the nose or...

Juuling among US youth is about the cool factor, new study suggests

Written by Tammy Chang, Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, University of Michigan

Millions of U.S. high school students have used e-cigarettes.Getty Images / Kiszon Pascal

In less than a decade, e-cigarette use among high schoolers in the U.S. has skyrocketed, from almost none in 2011 (1.5%) to more than one-fourth in 2019 (27.5%). Alarm bells have sounded for doctors, parents and schools; lawmakers have created policies to...

Everyday ethics: I'm worried allowing my son to stay with his mom might increase my risk of getting COVID-19

Written by Lee McIntyre, Research Fellow, Center for Philosophy and History of Science, Boston University

Separated families have to make tough calls over parenting during the pandemic.SanyaSM/E+ via Getty Images

A lot of people are facing ethical decisions about their daily life as a result of the coronavirus. Ethicist Lee McIntyre has stepped in to help provide advice over the moral dilemmas we face. If you have a question you’d like a...

Rwanda's coffee harvest will go forward despite pandemic – at a safe distance

Written by Andrew Gerard, Research Assistant, Department of Community Sustainability, Michigan State University

Fresh coffee being milled in Rwanda.Andrew Gerard, CC BY-SA

As countries begin to reopen after months of coronavirus lockdown, Rwanda is pressing on with its May coffee harvest.

Rwanda, which supplied 21,000 tons of coffee to the global market in 2019, is about the world’s 30th top coffee supplier. It is known, proudly, for the quality of its...

Rich folks aren't that stingy after all

Written by Benjamin A. Priday, Doctoral candidate of Economics, Texas A&M University

Are they spending as much on the needs of others as the rest of us?cdwheatley/Getty Images

At least half of American families have been giving money to charity every year – but that fraction had been declining prior to the global pandemic.

We’re living in a very different world now. Millions are unemployed, the needs of nonprofits are...

Parental leave laws don't do enough for single moms – but there's a way to fix that

Written by Deborah Widiss, Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Affairs; Professor of Law and Ira C. Batman Faculty Fellow, Indiana University

Parenthood in 2020 is perhaps tougher than usual.Cavan Images/ Getty Images

New moms may have trouble enjoying Mother’s Day 2020.

As this crisis has unfolded, pregnant women have been forced to work without proper protective gear, with some choosing to quit rather than risk exposure to the coronavirus and contracting COVID-19. Many others will...

A mysterious illness is striking children amid the coronavirus pandemic – but don't be too quick to tie it to Kawasaki disease

Written by Mark Hicar, Assistant Professor, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

A number of young COVID-19 patients have developed inflammation in multiple organs.Ezra Acayan/Getty Images

Critically ill children have been ending up in intensive care units with shock-like symptoms in recent weeks, adding yet another mysterious layer to the coronavirus pandemic.

New York health officials issued an alert on May 4, describing 15...

A mysterious illness is striking children amid the coronavirus pandemic – but is it Kawasaki disease?

Written by Mark Hicar, Assistant Professor, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

A number of young COVID-19 patients have developed inflammation in multiple organs.Ezra Acayan/Getty Images

Critically ill children have been ending up in intensive care units with shock-like symptoms in recent weeks, adding yet another mysterious layer to the coronavirus pandemic.

New York health officials began issuing alerts on May 4, describing...