The Conversation

Can gambling juice fandom for women's sports?

Written by Adam Cohen, Senior Lecturer, University of Technology Sydney

Members of the University of Oregon's basketball team embrace before the final of the Pac-12 women's tournament.AP Photo/John Locher

Every March Madness, thousands of tweets and articles dissecting seedings, potential upsets and favorable matchups flood the feeds of sports fans.

According to ESPN, over 70 million people will fill out a bracket....

Newborn babies weigh less today – possibly due to the increased popularity of cesarean sections and induced labor

Written by Andrea Tilstra, Ph.D. Candidate in Sociology, University of Colorado Boulder

Cesarean sections have become more common in the U.S. Tomsickova Tatyana/Shutterstock.com

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

The big idea

The decline in U.S. birth weight has been somewhat of a puzzle for public health researchers. Between 1990 and 2017, average birth weight declined from 7.36 pounds to 7.19 pounds.

There...

Why so few young Americans vote

Written by John Holbein, Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Education, University of Virginia

Not all of Bernie Sanders' young supporters are showing up at the polls.AP Photo/Matt Rourke

The United States has one of the lowest rates of youth voter turnout in the world. The gap between 18- to 29-year-olds and those over 60, a common measuring stick, is more than twice as large here than it is in comparable democracies, like Canada and...

Indian Country leaders urge Native people to be counted in 2020 Census

Written by Kirsten Carlson, Associate Professor of Law and Adjunct Associate Professor of Political Science, Wayne State University

Alaska Native girls prepare to dance in honor of the beginning of the 2020 Census in rural Alaska. The Census count begins in this state out of necessity and tradition.AP Images/Gregory Bull

Native Americans living on reservations and in traditional villages were the most undercounted people in the 2010 U.S. Census. This year, tribal leaders through...

When safety measures lead to riskier behavior by more people

Written by Alex Horenstein, Assistant Professor of Economics, University of Miami

Protective measures and their safety assurances can change how people act around risk.Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP

Coronavirus fears triggered a recent surge in sales of protective masks, as well as disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer. Now there’s a shortage and concern that even health care providers who must wear face masks won’t...

If I get sick with coronavirus, can Donald Trump make me stay home?

Written by Brian Labus, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

President Donald Trump recently appointed Vice President Mike Pence to lead the government’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak and control public statements by government health officials about the crisis.

In the days since, health departments throughout the country have investigated potential cases, announced new cases and declared public...

A coronavirus recession may be coming: Here's what to do with your money

Written by Alexander Kurov, Professor of Finance and Fred T. Tattersall Research Chair in Finance, West Virginia University

In Rome, a normally packed Colosseum is virtually empty. AP Photo/Andrew Medichini

Global markets are crashing, the price of oil is plummeting and even entire countries are in lockdown. The odds of a recession due to the new coronavirus outbreak are rising every day.

A question I’m often asked as a finance professor and a CFA charterholder is...

Protecting mangroves can prevent billions of dollars in global flooding damage every year

Written by Michael Beck, Research professor, University of California, Santa Cruz

Mangroves along Mexico's Yucatan coastline.Michael Beck, CC BY-ND

Hurricanes and tropical storms are estimated to cost the U.S. economy more than US$50 billion yearly in damage from winds and flooding. And as these storms travel across the Atlantic, they also ravage many Caribbean nations.

We study coastal ecosystems and how to value the natural...

7 science-based strategies to cope with coronavirus anxiety

Written by Jelena Kecmanovic, Adjunct Professor of Psychology, Georgetown University

Anxiety is part of life, but should not take over your life. fizkes/Shutterstock.com

As the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues its global spread and the number of diagnosed COVID-19 cases continues to increase, anxiety related to the outbreak is on the rise too.

As a psychologist, I am seeing this in my practice already. Although feeling anxiety in response...

Graphic novels help teens learn about racism, climate change and social justice – here's a reading list

Written by Karen W. Gavigan, Professor of Library and Information Science, University of South Carolina

The success of 'Maus' made the genre more visible.Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for New York Comic Con

Teen activists worldwide are making headlines for their social justice advocacy on everything from climate change and immigration to substance abuse and LGBTQ issues. As young people get more vocal about these issues, this trend is being...