The Conversation

3 medical innovations fueled by COVID-19 that will outlast the pandemic

Written by Deborah Fuller, Professor of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Washington

Gene-based vaccines had never been approved for humans before the coronavirus pandemic.Juan Gaertner/Science Photo Library via Getty Images

A number of technologies and tools got a chance to prove themselves for the first time in the context of COVID-19. Three researchers working in gene-based vaccines, wearable diagnostics and drug discovery...

A global semiconductor shortage highlights a troubling trend: A small and shrinking number of the world's computer chips are made in the US

Written by Carol Handwerker, Professor of Materials Engineering, Purdue University

The U.S. is still a leader in designing and selling computer chips, but the vast majority of the world's chips are fabricated in Taiwan and South Korea.Macro Photo/iStock via Getty Images

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President Joe Biden’s executive order calling for a review of supply chains for critical products put a spotlight on the decades-long decline in...

Biased AI can be bad for your health – here's how to promote algorithmic fairness

Written by Sharona Hoffman, Professor of Health Law and Bioethics, Case Western Reserve University

AI medical systems promise superhuman capabilities, but they are only as fair as the data they're trained on.PhonlamaiPhoto/iStock via Getty Images

Artificial intelligence holds great promise for improving human health by helping doctors make accurate diagnoses and treatment decisions. It can also lead to discrimination that can harm minorities,...

Growing food and protecting nature don't have to conflict – here's how they can work together

Written by Thomas Hertel, Professor of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University

Paul and Becky Rogers converted 14 acres of land in Kent County, Mich. to habitat that supports pollinators, songbirds and wildlife.USDA/Flickr, CC BY

Growing food in a sustainable, environmentally friendly way – while also producing enough of it – is among the most important challenges facing the U.S. and the world today.

The ongoing...

Vaccinated and ready to party? Not so fast, says the CDC, but you can gather with other vaccinated people

Written by William Petri, Professor of Medicine, University of Virginia

Nurse Nicole Chang celebrates after receiving one of the first injections of the COVID-19 vaccine Dec. 16 at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Westwood, California. Brian van der Brug/Getty Images

If you’ve been vaccinated for COVID-19, is it safe to gather with friends and loved ones in person? According to guidelines issued Monday by the...

New York Gov. Cuomo is the textbook example of how not to apologize

Written by Lisa Leopold, Associate Professor of English Language Studies, The Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, Middlebury

Cuomo deflected responsibility during his public apology.Office of the NY Governor via AP

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s two apologies for alleged sexual misconduct are straight out of a master class in how not to say you’re sorry.

The governor, who had become something of a celebrity during his nationally broadcast press conferences...

Growing cannabis indoors produces a lot of greenhouse gases – just how much depends on where it's grown

Written by Jason Quinn, Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering and Director of the Sustainability Research Laboratory, Colorado State University

Growing cannabis indoors is an energy-intensive process. Plantlady223 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

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

The big idea

Indoor cannabis production is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, and the environmental effects vary significantly depending on where it is being grown,...

Alumni gratitude and support for causes are behind donations of $50 million or more to colleges and universities

Written by Michael Worth, Professor of Nonprofit Management, George Washington University

Johns Hopkins University President Ronald J. Daniels, left, speaks with Michael Bloomberg, who has given the school more than $3.3 billion. Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images

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

The big idea

The top motive people cite for their donations of US$50 million or more to colleges or universities was...

Is gaming good for kids?

Written by John Velez, Assistant Professor of Communication Science, Indiana University

In addition to being fun, video games can build real-world skills.Carol Yepes/Moment via Getty images

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.

My parents are always saying there’s so much bad stuff about video games, but is...

5 strategies to prepare now for the next pandemic

Written by Tiffany A. Radcliff, Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Health Policy and Management, Texas A&M University

Stacked disasters – like a winter storm that damages a water system during a pandemic – can provide lessons for the next time around.AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis

While the world is still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, public health and emergency management experts are already preparing for the next one. After all, biologists are...