The Conversation

'Renewable' natural gas may sound green, but it's not an antidote for climate change

Written by Emily Grubert, Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

Methane bubbles form in a pit digester on a dairy farm as bacteria break down cow manure. The methane can be collected and used as an energy source.Edwin Remsburg/VW Pics via Getty Images

Natural gas is a versatile fossil fuel that accounts for about a third of U.S. energy use. Although it produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions and other...

Islam's anti-racist message from the 7th century still resonates today

Written by Asma Afsaruddin, Professor of Islamic Studies and former Chairperson, Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures, Indiana University

Muslims of all backgrounds pray during the 2019 Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.Fethi Belaid/AFP via Getty Images

One day, in Mecca, the Prophet Muhammad dropped a bombshell on his followers: He told them that all people are created equal.

“All humans are descended from Adam and Eve,” said Muhammad in his last known public speech....

Six eyewitnesses misidentified a murderer – here's what went wrong in the lineup

Written by Laura Smalarz, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Arizona State University

Research shows how to make lineups more fair and less biased.EvgeniyShkolenko/iStock via Getty Images Plus

On the strength of six eyewitnesses’ lineup identifications, Lydell Grant was sentenced to life in prison in 2012 for the murder of a young Texas man, Aaron Scheerhoorn, who was stabbed to death outside a Houston nightclub in 2010.

All...

Nearly 3 in 4 US moms were in the workforce before the COVID-19 pandemic – is that changing?

Written by Joya Misra, Professor of Sociology & Public Policy, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Schooling at home is hard for all parents, including teleworkers.Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

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Millions of American families are finding themselves in a jam, with their jobs requiring them to return to work on site and plans from their local school districts calling for children to spend less time in classrooms. At the...

Ethical challenges loom over decisions to resume in-person college classes

Written by Neta C. Crawford, Professor of Political Science and Department Chair, Boston University

It's hard to social distance on campus.AP Photo/Rick Bowmer

By early July, about 80% of U.S. campuses were planning to resume at least some in-person instruction, even as a growing numbers of faculty are voicing concerns about safety.

As Michael Sorrell, president of Paul Quinn College, argues, “Because we do not yet have the ability to bring...

Why some Americans seem more 'American' than others

Written by Katherine Kinzler, Professor of Psychology, University of Chicago

Lofty egalitarian notions of citizenship don't always hold up. AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

In the United States and many other countries, nationality is defined by a set of legal parameters. It may involve birthplace, parental citizenship or a circumscribed set of procedures for naturalization.

Yet, in many Americans’ minds, these more...

A leading infectious disease expert explains how to be as safe as possible on this very different Fourth

Written by William Schaffner, Professor of preventive medicine, health policy, infectious diseses, Vanderbilt University

Sherry Brewer, a teacher at the Galloway Children's Center, watches over children as they enjoy snacks after a pre-Fourth of July parade in Jackson, Mississippi, June 26, 2020.AP Photo/Rogilio V. Solis

Editor’s Note: Dr. William Schaffner, one of the nation’s leading infectious disease experts and a professor of medicine at Vanderbilt...

Don't expect Biden's VP pick to make or break the 2020 election

Written by Christopher Devine, Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Dayton

Joe Biden removes a face mask before speaking at a Delaware rally on June 30.AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

As presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden gets set to pick his vice presidential candidate, here’s a reality check: Running mates have very little direct effect on voters. When people go to the polls, they are primarily...

How to manage plant pests and diseases in your victory garden

Written by Matt Kasson, Associate Professor of Plant Pathology and Mycology, West Virginia University

Entomologist Brian Lovett examines flea beetle-infested potatoes in Morgantown, West Virginia.Matt Kasson, CC BY-ND

Home gardening is having a boom year across the U.S. Whether they’re growing their own food in response to pandemic shortages or just looking for a diversion, numerous aspiring gardeners have constructed their first raised beds,...

Mexico City buried its rivers to prevent disease and unwittingly created a dry, polluted city where COVID-19 now thrives

Written by Elena Delavega, Associate Professor of Social Work, University of Memphis

Situated on a plateau and surrounded by mountains, Mexico City is a bowl that traps smog and dust.AP Photo/Marco Ugarte

Mexico City is a dust bowl, a polluted megalopolis where breathing is hard and newly washed clothes hung out to dry turn stiff by evening. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic began clobbering this capital city, residents regularly...