Public Health
Should Your Child Get the COVID Vaccine?
A pediatric infectious disease expert answers questions about whether the vaccine is safe and why children need it
Stories by The Conversation US
Medicine
Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Suspension—What This Means For You
An infectious disease doctor answers questions about the CDC’s and FDA’s decision to pause the vaccine’s use over a possible link with blood clots
Biology
Chocolate’s Secret Ingredient Is Fermenting Microbes
Underneath the shiny wrapper, a chocolate bunny is a fermented food
Computing
A Global Computer Chip Shortage Shows Danger of U.S. Production Trends
A small and shrinking number of the world’s computer chips are made in the U.S.
Policy & Ethics
Facebook Would Rather Ban News in Australia Than Pay for it
The tech giant’s ban on Australians searching for news on its platform suggests that equitable control of international reporting is very much a work in progress
Automotive
Want Greener Cars? Focus on Fuel Efficiency
Electric cars are great, but higher fuel economy for vehicles of all sizes is better
Public Health
New DIY Contact Tracing App Is Based on the Science of Memory
It uses words and photos to remind you of where you’ve been and whom you’ve seen
Public Health
Deliberate Efforts to Achieve Herd Immunity to COVID Are Dangerous
More people will die, and it might not even work
Environment
Restoring Seagrass Brings Barren Bays To Life
Seeding empty bottom mud with marine grasses has brought back fish, shellfish, and cleaned the water
Public Health
A Brief History of Presidents Disclosing—Or Trying to Hide—Health Problems
President Trump was direct about his COVID diagnosis, but many former presidents have been less forthcoming about their illnesses
The Body
How the Immune System of Older Adults Like Trump Weakens with Age
As people age their innate and adaptive immune responses react more slowly, increasing their risk from diseases like COVID-19
Behavior & Society
How COVID-19 is Changing the English Language
From ‘social distancing’ to ‘self-quarantining,’ the pandemic is leaving a lasting impact on the English lexicon
Public Health
What’s in Wildfire Smoke, and Why Is It So Bad for Your Lungs?
An environmental toxicologist explains the factors involved
Public Health
Hurricanes and Wildfires Are Compounding COVID-19 Risks
Crowded grocery stores and emergency shelters are potential concerns
Chemistry
What Is Ammonium Nitrate, the Chemical That Exploded in Beirut?
The blast injured thousands and killed at least 78 people
Environment
Wildfires Can Poison Drinking Water—Here’s How Communities Can Better Prepare
Using less plastic in water meters and other building code changes could help prevent contamination
Behavior & Society
Coronavirus Responses Highlight How Humans Have Evolved to Dismiss Facts That Don’t Fit Their Worldview
Science denialism is not just a simple matter of logic or ignorance
Medicine
Could Chloroquine Treat Coronavirus?
Five questions are answered about a promising yet problematic and unproved use for an antimalarial drug
Medicine
How COVID-19 Drug Hunters Spot Virus-Fighting Compounds
A big project looks at “doorways” the coronavirus uses to get into cells—and finds drugs that could block them
Biology
How Does the Coronavirus Test Work? 5 Questions Answered
A molecular biologist explains how the kits function, and why the U.S. has faced problems
