The Conversation

It’s OK to mow in May − the best way to help pollinators is by adding native plants

Written by Christina Grozinger, Professor of Entomology and Director, Center for Pollinator Research, Penn State

It’s a simple idea: Stop mowing your lawn in the month of May to let flowers in the lawn, such as dandelions and clover, grow and support bees and other pollinators.

“No Mow May” was started in 2019 by Plantlife, a conservation charity based in the United Kingdom, in response to a well-documented loss of meadows and an alarming...

Florence Nightingale overcame the limits set on proper Victorian women – and brought modern science and statistics to nursing

Written by Melissa Pritchard, Professor Emeritus of English and Women’s Studies, Arizona State University

Florence Nightingale experienced her personal call to nursing at age 16 and ultimately became known as the "Lady with the Lamp."Photos.com/Getty Images

For nearly 200 years, Florence Nightingale’s name has been synonymous with gentle compassion and mercy.

In the mid-19th century, Nightingale became perhaps the most celebrated woman of her era...

An obscure provision of Ohio law could keep Biden off the ballot there in November

Written by Jonathan Entin, Professor Emeritus of Law and Adjunct Professor of Political Science, Case Western Reserve University

The William McKinley Monument, silhouetted on the west side of the Ohio Statehouse, on April 15, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File

President Joe Biden might not appear on the November 2024 presidential ballot in Ohio. Ohio law requires that presidential candidates be certified – that is, the state must be notified that...

Black holes are mysterious, yet also deceptively simple − a new space mission may help physicists answer hairy questions about these astronomical objects

Written by Gaurav Khanna, Professor of Physics, University of Rhode Island

An illustration of a supermassive black hole. NASA/JPL

Physicists consider black holes one of the most mysterious objects that exist. Ironically, they’re also considered one of the simplest. For years, physicists like me have been looking to prove that black holes are more complex than they seem. And a newly approved European space mission...

Viruses are doing mysterious things everywhere – AI can help researchers understand what they’re up to in the oceans and in your gut

Written by Libusha Kelly, Associate Professor of Systems and Computational Biology, Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Many viral genetic sequences code for proteins that researchers haven't seen before.KTSDesign/Science Photo Library via Getty Images

Viruses are a mysterious and poorly understood force in microbial ecosystems. Researchers know they can infect, kill and manipulate human and bacterial cells in nearly every environment, from the oceans to your gut....

Term limits aren’t the answer

Written by Charlie Hunt, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Boise State University

Would term limits lead to a more effective and less polarized Congress?Andrey Denisyuk/Getty Images

There’s no denying that the current Congress has been one of the most chaotic in recent memory. The paralysis in 2023 and 2024 over the selection of the speaker of the House helped lead to one of Congress’ most unproductive years in...

How the manosphere found its way into the Black community

Written by Steven Dashiell, Assistant Research Professor, Morgan State University

Many pundits in the manosphere believe that men need to embrace their traditional roles as protectors, providers and producers.L. Willinger/FPG via Getty Images

In the summer of 2023, I read that YouTube had demonetized a podcast called “Fresh & Fit,” meaning that the show could no longer earn ad revenue.

While YouTube didn’t...

Weather risk can move markets months in advance: Stock traders pay attention to these 2 long-range climate forecasts

Written by Derek Lemoine, Professor of Economics, University of Arizona

Months before winter arrives, traders are watching for clues in the long-range weather forecasts.Mario Tama/Getty Images

To understand how important weather and climate risks are to the economy, watch investors. New research shows that two long-range seasonal weather forecasts in particular can move the stock market in interesting ways.

We often...

Wildfire smoke is back – fires burning across Canada are already triggering US air quality alerts in the Midwest and Plains

Written by Charles O. Stanier, Professor of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Iowa

Dozens of wildfires are burning across Canada in May 2024 and sending unhealthy smoke blowing into the northern U.S. again. At the same time, the southeastern U.S. is getting smoke from Mexico, where drought conditions have been fueling fires.

Last year, Canada’s record 2023 wildfire season introduced millions of Americans across the Midwest...

Confusion over how pregnancy dates are measured is widespread – and makes for uninformed debate over abortion limits

Written by Laurel Elder, Professor of Political Science, Hartwick College

The exam room of a women's health clinic, which provides abortions, in Jacksonville, Fla., is seen in April 2024. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Most Americans don’t know two key facts about pregnancy, including how they are dated and how long a trimester is – and this could matter, as a growing number of states place restrictions on...