The Conversation

What does ESG mean? Two business scholars explain what environmental, social and governance standards and principles are

Written by Luciana Echazú, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education; Associate Professor of Economics, University of New Hampshire

There are many environmental, social and governance principles worth considering.ArtemisDiana/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Environmental, social and governance business standards and principles, often referred to as ESG, are becoming both more commonplace and controversial.

But what does “ESG” really mean?

It’s shorthand for the...

Native eastern fence lizards changed their bodies and behavior in response to invasive red imported fire ants

Written by Catherine Tylan, Postdoctoral Researcher in Biology, Penn State

Lizards that do or do not share space with invasive fire ants will react differently to this scenario. Tracy Langkilde and Travis Robbins, CC BY-ND

An eastern fence lizard basking in the sun feels a small red ant walk over its back. Not hungry, it ignores the insect. Soon there are lots of ants crawling up its legs, biting the scales that usually...

Bringing manufacturing back to the US requires political will, but success hinges on training American workers

Written by Amitrajeet A. Batabyal, Distinguished Professor, Arthur J. Gosnell Professor of Economics, & Interim Head, Department of Sustainability, Rochester Institute of Technology

Geopolitics is a significant consideration in the manufacture of computer chips. Michael Dziedzic for Unsplash, CC BY-ND

Supply chain disruptions during COVID-19 brought to light how interdependent nations are when it comes to manufacturing. The inability of the U.S. to produce such needed goods as test kits and personal protective equipment during...

Sitting all day is terrible for your health – now, a new study finds a relatively easy way to counteract it

Written by Keith Diaz, Associate Professor of Behavioral Medicine, Columbia University

Researchers have long known that sitting at your desk hour after hour is an unhealthy habit.Morsa Images/Digital Vision via Getty Images

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

The big idea

To reduce the harmful health effects of sitting, take a five-minute light walk every half-hour. That’s the key finding of a new...

Inflation report is a mixed bag – an economist explains why some items are rising faster than others

Written by Edouard Wemy, Assistant Professor of Economics, Clark University

Oeuf! Egg prices are rising faster than a souffle.Getty Images

Economists worried about soaring inflation got some good news to start the year: The rate of inflation has eased. The first report card of 2023 on consumer prices, released on Jan. 12, showed that the overall cost of goods and services decelerated to an annual pace of 6.5% in December,...

How the distortion of Martin Luther King Jr.'s words enables more, not less, racial division within American society

Written by Hajar Yazdiha, Assistant Professor of Sociology, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. addresses a cheering crowd in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 27, 1965. Bettmann/Getty Images

U.S. Rep. Chip Roy of Texas is just the latest conservative lawmaker to misuse the words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to judge a person on character and not race.

In the protracted battle to elect Rep. Kevin McCarthy as...

What is the FAA's NOTAM? An aviation expert explains how the critical safety system works

Written by Brian Strzempkowski, Interim Director, Center for Aviation Studies, The Ohio State University

Late in the evening of Jan. 10, 2023, an important digital system known as NOTAM run by the Federal Aviation Administration went offline. The FAA was able to continue getting necessary information to pilots overnight using a phone-based backup, but the stopgap couldn’t keep up with the morning rush of flights, and on Jan. 11, 2022, the FAA...

Reunions can be nostalgic and painful as well as happy – as the ancient Greek heroes Achilles and Odysseus show us

Written by Joel Christensen, Professor of Classical Studies, Brandeis University

A painting showing Odysseus recognizing Achilles, who is disguised as a woman.Paris, Musée Du Louvre. DeAgostini/Getty Images

Celebrations are a joyous time of reuniting with family and friends. But afterward, people can sometimes be left uneasily mulling over their relationships. Annual returns home can induce an uncomfortable nostalgia in...

US birth rates are at record lows – even though the number of kids most Americans say they want has held steady

Written by Sarah Hayford, Professor of Sociology; Director, Institute for Population Research, The Ohio State University

More one-and-done families influence the overall birth rate.Maskot via Getty Images

Birth rates are falling in the U.S. After the highs of the Baby Boom in the mid-20th century and the lows of the Baby Bust in the 1970s, birth rates were relatively stable for nearly 50 years. But during the Great Recession, from 2007-2009, birth rates declined...

Meditation and mindfulness offer an abundance of health benefits and may be as effective as medication for treating certain conditions

Written by Hilary A. Marusak, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University

People of any age or walk of life can access and benefit from meditation.Daniel de la Hoz/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Many people look to diet trends or new exercise regimens – often with questionable benefit – to get a healthier start on the new year. But there is one strategy that’s been shown time and again to boost both mood...