The Conversation

Seat belts and smoking rates show people eventually adopt healthy behaviors – but it can take time we don't have during a pandemic

Written by Randy P. Juhl, Dean Emeritus and Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh

Once upon a time, buckling up was new behavior.Harold M. Lambert/Archive Photos via Getty Images

Why do we do things that are bad for us – or not do things that are good for us – even in light of overwhelming evidence?

As someone with a long career in pharmacy, I have witnessed some pretty dramatic shifts in public health behavior. But...

America's newest voters look back at the 2020 election – and forward to politics in 2021

Written by Mary Kate Cary, Adjunct Professor, Department of Politics and Senior Fellow, UVA's Miller Center, University of Virginia

Young Americans got involved in the 2020 election.Ariel Skelley/DigitalVision via Getty Images

As Americans end one year and begin another, one of the most controversial topics of conversation will be the presidential election.

We experienced the election season from a unique perspective. We each taught college courses on the 2020 campaigns while...

The Sunburst hack was massive and devastating – 5 observations from a cybersecurity expert

Written by Paulo Shakarian, Associate Professor of Computer Science, Arizona State University

Federal government agencies, from the Treasury Department to the National Nuclear Security Administration, have been compromised by the attack.Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

So much remains unknown about what is now being called the Sunburst hack, the cyberattack against U.S. government agencies and corporations. U.S. officials widely believe that...

In 2020, TV and film still couldn't get abortion right

Written by Stephanie Herold, Data Analyst, University of California, San Francisco

According to decades of research, abortion is an incredibly common and safe medical procedure.

But if you learned about abortion only from movies and TV, that’s not the story you’d see. For the last eight years, we’ve been studying onscreen depictions of abortion. We’ve found that Hollywood tends to dramatically exaggerate...

Whether slow or fast, here's how your metabolism influences how many calories you burn each day

Written by Terezie Tolar-Peterson, Associate Professor of Food Science, Nutrition & Health Promotion, Mississippi State University

Why does it seem like some people can eat anything and not gain a pound while others are the opposite?Heide Benser/The Image Bank via Getty Images

It’s a common dieter’s lament: “Ugh, my metabolism is so slow, I’m never going to lose any weight.”

When people talk about a fast or slow metabolism, what they’re...

How to outsmart your COVID-19 fears and boost your mood in 2021

Written by Laurel Mellin, Associate Professor Emeritus of Family & Community Medicine and Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco

It's all about emotion.Charles Postiaux/Unsplash, CC BY-ND

After a year of toxic stress ignited by so much fear and uncertainty, now is a good time to reset, pay attention to your mental health and develop some healthy ways to manage the pressures going forward.

Brain science has led to some drug-free techniques that you can put to use right now.

I...

Instagram's redesign shifts toward shopping – here's how that can be harmful

Written by Nazanin Andalibi, Assistant Professor, School of Information, University of Michigan

Instagram encourages you to connect with things as much as with other people.Panuwat Dangsungnoen/EyeEm via Getty Images

Recently, when I opened Instagram, I noticed that the usual spot for checking notifications is now a Shop tab. The Instagram blog post announcing the redesign said that the change will support small businesses and connect people...

Getting COVID-19 vaccines to rural Americans is harder than it looks – but there are ways to lift the barriers

Written by Bennett Doughty, Clinical Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice, Binghamton University, State University of New York

The first COVID-19 vaccines arrive packed in dry ice and need special freezers that can keep them extremely cold.AP Photo/David Goldman

The enormous job of vaccinating the nation is underway, but for rural Americans, getting a COVID-19 vaccine becomes harder the farther they are from urban centers.

The current vaccines’ cold storage...

7 research-based resolutions that will help strengthen your relationship in the year ahead

Written by Gary W. Lewandowski Jr., Professor of Psychology, Monmouth University

Consider some science-backed ways to keep the home fires burning in 2021.Gabriele Grzelewski/iStock via Getty Images Plus

The new year is going to be better. It has to be better. Maybe you’re one of the 74% of Americans in one survey who said they planned on hitting the reset button on Jan. 1 and resolving to improve. Those New Year’s...

How to help dogs and cats manage separation anxiety when their humans return to work

Written by Lori M Teller, Clinical Associate Professor, Veterinary Telehealth, Texas A&M University

Pets can develop separation anxiety when their people are suddenly gone.Jairo Alzate/Unsplash, CC BY

When one of my co-workers found out about a tiny, orphaned kitten that needed a home a few months ago, he didn’t hesitate to adopt it. He says his new companion helped make the months of COVID-19 isolation at home much less stressful.

He is not...