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Thank fungi for cheese, wine and beer this holiday season

  • Written by Antonis Rokas, Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair in Biological Sciences and Professor of Biological Sciences and Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University
These foods are all dependent on microorganisms for their distinctive flavor.margouillat photo/Shutterstock.com

It’s hard to imagine a holiday table without bread, meat, vegetables, wine, beer or a board of French cheeses for those with more adventurous palates. Savoring these delicacies with family and friends is part of what makes the...

Read more: Thank fungi for cheese, wine and beer this holiday season

Calling donors to thank them doesn't make them more likely to give again

  • Written by Anya Samek, Associate Professor (Research) of Economics, University of Southern California – Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Even if the thought counts, the effort might not be worth it.karen roach/Shutterstock.com

Donors gave US$380 million to nonprofits during 2018’s Giving Tuesday donation drive.

Many of the groups getting donations like those follow up by calling donors to thank them, leaving a voicemail if nobody picks up the phone.

I’m a behavioral...

Read more: Calling donors to thank them doesn't make them more likely to give again

Donors need to stop pressuring nonprofits to pinch pennies

  • Written by Joseph Stinn, Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics, Miami University
Rewarding charities that scrimp is less strategic than it sounds.Allison Herreid/Shutterstock.com

The end of the year is a popular time to give to charity.

Historically, Americans have made 30% of their annual donations in December. Many of them get a head start on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving during the global online fundraising campaign...

Read more: Donors need to stop pressuring nonprofits to pinch pennies

How does a piece of bread cause a migraine?

  • Written by Lauren Green, Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology, University of Southern California
Tens of millions of people worldwide suffer from migraines, according to the World Health Organization.Maridav/Shutterstock.com

Migraine is the third most prevalent illness in the world and causes suffering for tens of millions of people. In fact, nearly 1 in 4 U.S. householdincludes someone with migraines.

Migraine is not just a headache but also...

Read more: How does a piece of bread cause a migraine?

New College Scorecard could help students choose better colleges, but there's still room to improve it

  • Written by Gregory N. Price, Professor, Economics, University of New Orleans
The College Scorecard now has more detailed data on programs and majors.AP Photo/Seth Wenig

The U.S. Department of Education is out with a new version of its College Scorecard – an online tool meant to help students and families make more informed decisions about where to attend college.

As an economist who examines how college choice can...

Read more: New College Scorecard could help students choose better colleges, but there's still room to...

Kids may need more help finding answers to their questions in the information age

  • Written by Hailey Gibbs, Doctoral Research Fellow of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland
Finding accurate answers can be harder than it used to be.Odua Images/Shutterstock.com

Children ask lots of questions. Even before children can put together words, they point at things that they want to learn about.

Some are easy enough to answer – “What’s that animal?” or “Can I drink your beer?” Others like...

Read more: Kids may need more help finding answers to their questions in the information age

What can you learn from studying an animal's scat?

  • Written by Verity Mathis, Mammal Collections Manager, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida
A bear leaving its calling card.Dean Harvey/Flickr, CC BY

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com.

What can you learn from studying an animal’s scat? – Cora, age 9, Brookline, Massachusetts

Everybody poops. There are even wh...

Read more: What can you learn from studying an animal's scat?

Israel’s West Bank settlements: 4 questions answered

  • Written by Dov Waxman, Professor of Political Science, International Affairs and Israel Studies, Northeastern University
A new housing project in the West Bank settlement of Naale, part of the Israeli government's recent push to increase its presence in the disputed territory, Jan. 1, 2019.AP Photo/Ariel Schalit

Editor’s note: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Nov. 18 said that Israel’s settlements in the West Bank do not violate international law....

Read more: Israel’s West Bank settlements: 4 questions answered

Brexit poses a dilemma for Northern Ireland's nationalists

  • Written by Donald Beaudette, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Oxford College, Emory University
From left, the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union affects Ireland, too.alexfan32/Shutterstock.com

Much of the mess around Brexit, the 2016 referendum decision by the people of the United Kingdom to leave the European Union, is tied up with Northern Ireland. Now the future may depend on a relatively few Northern Ireland...

Read more: Brexit poses a dilemma for Northern Ireland's nationalists

2020 campaign shows the more women run, the more they are treated like candidates – not tokens

  • Written by Elizabeth C. Tippett, Associate Professor, School of Law, University of Oregon
There's power in numbers. Mad Dog/Shutterstock.com

When Victoria Woodhull ran for president in 1872, she was depicted as “Mrs. Satan” in a political cartoon.

When Sen. Margaret Chase Smith sought the Republican nomination in 1964, one columnist labeled her too old – at 66 – while others insisted she was attractive “for...

Read more: 2020 campaign shows the more women run, the more they are treated like candidates – not tokens

More Articles ...

  1. How American anti-Semitism reflects the centuries-long struggle over the meaning of religious liberty
  2. Mothers in prison aren't likely to see their families this Thanksgiving – or any other day
  3. Protections against sexual misconduct on campus may end up stifling free speech
  4. Fight or switch? How the low-carbon transition is disrupting fossil fuel politics
  5. Cartel sieges leave Mexicans wondering if criminals run the country
  6. Do lockdown drills do any good?
  7. Americans bankrupted by health care costs: 4 questions answered
  8. Vitamin E and vaping injuries: What's safe in your diet is rarely safe in your lungs
  9. Gluten-sensitive liberals? Investigating the stereotype suggests food fads unite us all
  10. Documentary provides rare look at higher education in prison
  11. A major democracy fights to maintain the rule of law -- this time, it's Israel
  12. On TV, political ads are regulated – but online, anything goes
  13. Broken trust: How Iraqis lost their faith in Washington, long before the Kurds did
  14. Brain activity predicts which mice will become compulsive drinkers
  15. Light versus dark – the color of the meat is due to the job of the muscle
  16. Light versus dark – the color of the turkey meat is due to the job of the muscle
  17. How universal childhood trauma screenings could backfire
  18. Turning to turkey's tryptophan to boost mood? Not so fast
  19. What are blood types?
  20. Chile protests: President's speeches early in crisis missed the mark, AI study reveals
  21. Nail salon workers suffer chemical exposures that can be like working at a garage or a refinery
  22. Christians have lived in Turkey for two millennia – but their future is uncertain
  23. When de-aging De Niro and Pacino, 'Irishman' animators tried to avoid pitfalls of the past
  24. How Democrats in Atlanta discussed economic issues that affect women and children
  25. Democratic debate: Candidates discuss their plans to help families
  26. Democrats debate health care, farmers and minimum wage: 4 essential reads – and a chart
  27. Some smokers credit e-cigarettes with saving their lives – does that matter?
  28. Why hearsay isn't a problem for Congress in impeachment hearings
  29. Beyond fact-checking: 5 things schools should do to foster news literacy
  30. Ukraine is taking a beating in the impeachment hearings – here's what's at stake
  31. An economist's guide to watching the Atlanta 2020 presidential debate: 3 essential reads
  32. Time to give thanks for affordable and sustainable turkey
  33. Was that joke funny or offensive? Who's telling it matters
  34. Immigrants and some people of color are moving to the suburbs – but life there isn't as promising as it once was
  35. Why the CDC warns antibiotic-resistant fungal infections are an urgent health threat
  36. Old religious tensions resurge in Bolivia after ouster of longtime indigenous president
  37. Old religious tensions resurge in Bolivia after ouster of longtime indigenous leader
  38. Why saying 'OK boomer' at work is considered age discrimination – but millennial put-downs aren't
  39. So you want to be an autocrat? Here's the 10-point checklist
  40. Is there hope for a Hong Kong revolution?
  41. Long wait times in ERs drive up costs, signal health care distress
  42. Local news outlets can fill the media trust gap – but the public needs to pony up
  43. Relax, Devin Nunes – theater is essential to politics
  44. Why Hindu nationalists are cheering moves to build a temple, challenging a secular tradition
  45. How gene-edited white blood cells are helping fight cancer
  46. Why the nation should screen all students for trauma like California does
  47. Did bees live in the time of dinosaurs?
  48. Why do teachers make us read old stories?
  49. How to boost recycling: Reward consumers with discounts, deals and social connections
  50. How rich people like Gordon Sondland buy their way to being US ambassadors – 5 questions answered