About 30 million students eat school meals daily. JGI/Jamie Grill/Tetra Images via Getty Images Marlene B. Schwartz, University of Connecticut Public schools have been serving free meals to all students since the COVID-19 pandemic first disrupted K-12 education. In March 2022, Congress rejected calls to maintain the federal funding needed …
Read More »China’s balancing act on Russian invasion of Ukraine explained | Kiowa County Press
A friendship far from weakening? Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images Joseph Torigian, American University Russia has few friends in the international community after its invasion of Ukraine. But China, which shares a 2,672 mile (4,300 kilometer) border with Russia, is among a handful of nations that have refused to condemn …
Read More »Why daylight saving time is unhealthy – a neurologist explains | Kiowa County Press
Changing clocks twice a year can be more than just a half-yearly inconvenience. Carol Yepes/Moment via Getty Images Beth Ann Malow, Vanderbilt University As Americans prepare to put their clocks forward one hour in mid-March, I prepare for the annual ritual of media stories on disruptions to daily routines caused …
Read More »Could the invasion of Ukraine trigger a global financial crisis? | Kiowa County Press
Nasir Aminou, Cardiff Metropolitan University The Russian assault on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities has heightened uncertainty in the global economy. To condemn Putin’s war, Western leaders announcement some restrictive economic measures to target Russian financial institutions and individuals. The sanctions include: the withdrawal of certain Russian banks from the …
Read More »The war in Ukraine changes the geopolitics of energy | Kiowa County Press
A woman holds a bloodstained portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin during a protest at the Russian consulate in Montreal on February 25, 2022. Andrej Ivanov/AFP via Getty Images Scott L. Montgomery, University of Washington Russia’s war against Ukraine will profoundly change the global energy landscape and its geopolitics. Pieces …
Read More »CDC COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation Guidelines Clarified | Kiowa County Press
The CDC’s new recommendations have caused consternation among the public, the media and even among doctors. Justin Paget/DigitalVision via Getty Images Guillaume Petri, University of Virginia In December 2021, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated their guidelines for how long people should self-isolate following a COVID-19 …
Read More »How to Donate Responsibly to Ukrainian Causes | Kiowa County Press
These charity leaders have teamed up to raise funds on March 3, 2022 for refugees fleeing Ukraine. Stefan Rousseau/PA Images via Getty Images Beth Gazley, Indiana University When Russia invaded UkraineI answered like many Americans: by doing charitable donations. I was able to make my donation with confidence because I …
Read More »Can rich countries stop buying Russian oil? | Kiowa County Press
Oil tanks fill up on the Russian tanker Mendeleev Prospect in Primorsk on the Baltic Sea. Alexander RyuminTASS via Getty Images Amy Myers Jaffe, Tufts University One option the United States and other nations have to increase pressure on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine is to reduce …
Read More »US-EU Sanctions Will Hit Russian Economy | Kiowa County Press
Russians in Moscow and elsewhere flocked to ATMs to withdraw cash, fearing the ruble could plunge further due to Western sanctions. AP Photo/Victor Berzkin David Cortright, Notre Dame University and George A.Lopez, Notre Dame University The Biden administration, in extraordinary and swift cooperation with allies over a three-day period, doubled …
Read More »Can churches be protectors of public health? | Kiowa County Press
The relationship between public health and faith is much older than the COVID-19 pandemic. Fred de Noyelle/Godong/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Andrew Garner, Hartford International University for Religion and Peace In the past two years of living with COVID-19, many churches have had to think differently. Congregations across the …
Read More »Curious children: why do people have diarrhoea? | Kiowa County Press
Whatever its cause, diarrhea is uncomfortable. Rapeepong Puttakumwong/Moment via Getty Images Hannibal Person, University of Washington curious children is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to [email protected] Why do people have diarrhoea? – AAA, 10, Philadelphia …
Read More »How Joe Rogan Became the Goliath of Podcasting | Kiowa County Press
Joe Rogan’s ability to appeal to young male listeners is especially powerful in today’s fractured media environment. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Image Matt Sienkiewicz, Boston College and Nick Marx, Colorado State University Comedian and podcaster Joe Rogan is caught in a spiral of controversy. It all started when “The …
Read More »Dogs can be trained to detect COVID-19 | Kiowa County Press
Florida International University researchers have successfully trained One Betta, a Dutch Shepherd, and three other dogs to detect COVID-19 on face masks. The dogs were successful 96-99% of the time. Joe Raedle/Staff/Getty Images North America Kenneth G. Furton, Florida International University; Julien Mendel, Florida International Universityand Kelvin J. Frank Jr., …
Read More »Why Community College Students Drop Out When They’re Almost Finished | Kiowa County Press
Six out of 10 community college students do not graduate. FatCamera E+ via Getty Images Benjamin Skinner, University of Florida; Justin Ortagus, University of Floridaand Melvin Tanner, University of Florida Community colleges are designed to make college more accessibleagain 6 out of 10 community college students cannot reap the full …
Read More »What is walking meditation? | Kiowa County Press
Thich Nhat Hanh leads a meditative walk in Paris. Godong Group/Universal Images via Getty Images Brooke Schedneck, Rhodes College For Thich Nhat Hanhthe late Vietnamese monk who popularized mindfulness in the West, walking was not simply a way to get from place to place, or an activity to be reserved …
Read More »US blood supply at 10-year low | Kiowa County Press
Blood donations have plummeted as blood needs skyrocketed. ExperienceInteriors/E+ via Getty Images Anna Nagurney, Amherst University The blood supply in the United States is now at its lowest level since more than a decade. Many of the country’s blood centers currently have only one one day supply of certain blood …
Read More »What is a Bomb Cyclone? Atmospheric scientist explains | Kiowa County Press
A bomb cyclone hits the east coast of the United States on January 4, 2017. NOAA/ACEI Esther Mullens, University of Florida A bomb cyclone is a large, intense mid-latitude storm that has low pressure in its center, weather fronts, and a range of associated weather conditions, from blizzards to severe …
Read More »Curious Kids: How many bones do penguins have? | Kiowa County Press
Specialized anatomy means that flightless penguins are master swimmers. Christopher Michel , CC BY-SA Julie Sheldon, University of Tennessee curious children is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curi[email protected] How many bones do penguins have? …
Read More »What is the best mask for COVID-19? | Kiowa County Press
Not all masks offer the same level of protection for you and those around you. Martin Barth/EyeEm via Getty Images Christian L’Orange, Colorado State University The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has changed its guidelines on masks and respirators several times over the past two years and released its …
Read More »What is bio-engineered food? Agriculture expert explains | Kiowa County Press
Most soybeans grown in the United States are genetically modified, so products containing them may be required to carry the new “bioengineered” label. Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images Kathleen Merrigan, Arizona State University The United States Department of Agriculture defines bio-engineered foods as a food that “contains detectable genetic material …
Read More »Curious Kids: Why do plants grow straight? | Kiowa County Press
Allium schoenoprasum, better known as chives. Andreas Rockstein/Flickr, CC BY-SA Beronda L. Montgomery, University of Michigan curious children is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to [email protected] Why do plants grow straight? – Sara H., 5, …
Read More »The major challenges for supply chains in 2022 | Kiowa County Press
Avigator Fortuner/Shutterstock Edward Sweeney, Heriot Watt University As Christmas approached, there was a lot of anxiety on the shortages festive meals and gifts. Trade frictions was already at the heart of the Brexit debate, and supply chain issues have been greatly aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, a shortage …
Read More »Ocean heat reaches record levels, with major consequences | Kiowa County Press
Rain from a tropical storm overwhelmed a dam in Thailand and caused widespread flooding in late September. It was just one of the disasters of 2021. Chaiwat Subprasom/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Kevin Trenberg, University of Auckland The world witnessed record climate and weather disasters in 2021, destructive flash floods …
Read More »Approaching 2022 with hope | Kiowa County Press
If hope seems overdone this winter, you’re not alone. photo alliance via Getty Images Molly Jackson, The conversation Six months ago, it was easy for many Americans to think that COVID-19 was on the defensive. Vaccinations have been ticking like checked case numbers. The summer sun made getting outside really …
Read More »What is 5G? An electrical engineer explains | Kiowa County Press
Telecommunications companies around the world are expanding their next-generation, or 5G, networks. Guo Shining/VCG via Getty Images Prasenjit Mitra, Penn State 5G stands for fifth generation cellular network technology. It is the technology that enables wireless communication – for example, from your cell phone to a cell tower, which channels …
Read More »Stress is contagious in relationships | Kiowa County Press
Relationship stress can reach new heights during the holidays. Aaron Amat / iStock via Getty Images Plus Rosie Shrout, Purdue University With the hustle and bustle of shopping, spending, and trips to see family, stress can seem inevitable while on vacation. You might already know that stress can affect your …
Read More »How effective are omicron vaccines? | Kiowa County Press
Understanding the protection offered by a vaccine is not as simple as it seems. Andriy Onufriyenko / Moment via Getty Images Melissa Hawkins, American University The pandemic has brought many tricky terms and ideas of epidemiology into everyone’s lives. Two particularly complicated concepts are the efficacy and efficacy of vaccines. …
Read More »Why the southern United States is prone to December tornadoes | Kiowa County Press
Damage in Mayfield, Ky., After a tornado swept through the area on December 11, 2021. Brett Carlsen / Getty Images Alisa Hass, Middle Tennessee State University and Kelsey Ellis, University of Tennessee On the night of December 10-11, 2021, an outbreak of powerful tornadoes ravaged parts of Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, …
Read More »Curious Kids: Who invented video games? | Kiowa County Press
For almost as long as there have been computers, there have been video games. Neilson Barnard / Getty Images Noé Wardrip-Fruin, University of California, Santa Cruz Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you would like an expert to answer, send it …
Read More »How can scientists update the coronavirus vaccines for omicron? | Kiowa County Press
Some vaccines use mRNA to make copies of triangular red tip proteins to induce immunity. Juan Gaertner / Science Photo Library via Getty Images Deborah Fuller, Washington University If the omicron variant of the coronavirus is different enough from the original variant, the existing vaccines may not be as effective …
Read More »How vulnerable is your personal information? | Kiowa County Press
There’s a good chance some of your data has already been stolen, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore data breaches. WhataWin / iStock via Getty Images Eric Smalley, The conversation When you enter your personal information or your credit card number on a website, do you have a moment’s …
Read More »5 Ways To Break Into The Video Game Industry | Kiowa County Press
Video games are part of a multi-billion dollar industry in which lucrative job opportunities abound. SDI Productions via Getty Images André Thomas, Texas A&M University When you step out of the game console to play a video game like NBA2K, chances are the biggest decision you have to make is …
Read More »Curious Kids: Why are barns painted red? | Kiowa County Press
A dairy barn in Waitsfield, Vermont, built circa 1890. Thomas visser, CC BY-ND Thomas Durant Visser, University of Vermont Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you would like an expert to answer, send it to [email protected] Why are barns painted red? …
Read More »Why do frozen turkeys explode when fried? | Kiowa County Press
When water and boiling oil mix together, the result can be explosive, as this demonstration shows. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Travis Alston / posted via Flickr Kristine Nolin, University of Richmond Frying a turkey is a great way to get a delicious, chewy Thanksgiving meal. …
Read More »4 unexpected places adults can learn science | Kiowa County Press
Many national parks offer lecture series, nature walks and hands-on science projects for the public. Fstop123 / E + Collection via Getty Images Jill Zarestky, Colorado State University Modern society benefits when people understand scientific concepts. This knowledge helps explain how cryptocurrency works, why climate change is happening, or how …
Read More »$ 1.2T Infrastructure Plan Offers Lucrative Target for Fraud | Kiowa County Press
The Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge was part of Boston’s Big Dig, infamous for its cost overruns. AP Photo / Steven Senne Jetson Leder-Luis, Boston university Lawmakers passed the bipartisan US $ 1.2 trillion infrastructure bill on November 5, 2021, with negotiations still ongoing on Democrats’ $ 1.75 trillion …
Read More »Curious Kids: When and how was walking invented? | Kiowa County Press
Three standing walkers, including Lucy (center) and two specimens of Australopithecus sediba, a human ancestor from South Africa dating back almost 2 million years. Image compiled by Peter Schmid and courtesy of Lee R. Berger / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA Jan Simek, University of Tennessee Curious Kids is a series …
Read More »How Does Smoking Marijuana Affect School Performance? | Kiowa County Press
Marijuana use among college students during the pandemic has reached record levels, data shows. wildpixel via Getty Images Jason R. Kilmer, Washington University and Christine M. Lee, Washington University In a trend that coincided with the pandemic, student marijuana use in 2020 has reached levels not seen since the 1980s. …
Read More »What Harvard Humanist Chaplain Shows About Atheism in America | Kiowa County Press
People attend a conference at the National Convention of American Atheists in 2014. Many Americans remain suspicious of atheists, polls show. AP Photo / Rick Bowmer Penny Edgell, University of Minnesota and Wendy Cadge, Brandeis University At the end of August 2021, the Harvard University Chaplains Organization unanimously elected Greg …
Read More »Why America Has a Debt Ceiling: Answers to 5 Questions Kiowa County Press
The sky is not always the limit. AP Photo / Susan Walsh Steven Pressman, Monmouth University Republicans and Democrats are once again fighting a battle of wills over America’s debt ceiling, which is a legal limit on how much the government can borrow to pay its bills. Senate Minority Leader …
Read More »How many satellites are in orbit around the Earth? | Kiowa County Press
Thousands of satellites orbiting Earth are small – like this cubic satellite seen here being freed from the International Space Station. NASA, CC BY-NC Supriya Chakrabarti, University of Massachusetts Lowell CC BY-ND It seems that every week another rocket is launched into space carrying rovers to Mars, tourists or, more …
Read More »Who is covered by a vaccination mandate? | Kiowa County Press
Tyson Foods is one of the companies that has previously said it will require workers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. John Konstantaras / AP Images for Tyson Foods Debbie Kaminer, Baruch College, CUNY President Joe Biden’s orders requiring the immunization of about two-thirds of the U.S. workforce adds to …
Read More »Americans are crushed by student loan debt | Kiowa County Press
Currently, the total federal student debt outstanding is $ 1.7 trillion. Suzanne Kreiter / The Boston Globe via Getty Images Alvin Buyinza, The conversation and Jamaal Abdul-Alim, The conversation 1.7 trillion US dollars. This is the amount that students and graduates owed in federal student debt as of July 2021. …
Read More »Curious Kids: Why are the planets round? | Kiowa County Press
The earth is round. Alistair Berg / DigitalVision via Getty Images James Webb, Florida International University Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you would like an expert to answer, send it to [email protected] Why are the planets round? – Daniel B., …
Read More »Is climate change responsible for extreme weather events? | Kiowa County Press
Climate change made devastating floods in Belgium, Germany and other European countries in July 2021 more likely. Anthony Dehez / Belga / AFP via Getty Images Xubin Zeng, University of Arizona Extreme rainfall and flooding have left traces of destruction in communities around the world this summer. The latest was …
Read More »What is a sect ? | Kiowa County Press
Many religious groups are often labeled as sects. David Howells / Corbis via Getty Images Matthieu Schmalz, College of the Holy Cross The word “worship” is used a lot these days. Former President Donald Trump has been compared to a cult leader. California Democratic Congresswoman Jackie Speier recently compared Trump …
Read More »Congress moves to reclaim its war powers | Kiowa County Press
The aftermath of a US drone strike in January 2020 that killed Iranian General Qassim Soleimani. Iraqi Prime Minister’s Press Office, via AP Sarah Burns, Rochester Institute of Technology Mid-July 2021, a bipartisan and ideologically diverse group of senators proposed a new bill which, if passed, would significantly change the …
Read More »What is biblical inerrancy? New Testament scholar explains | Kiowa County Press
Many prominent Christians believe in inerrancy, or that the Bible is without error. Godong Group / Universal Images via Getty Images Geoffroy Smith, The University of Texas at Austin College of Liberal Arts In his farewell address to the 2021 Southern Baptist Convention, outgoing President JD Greear acknowledged internal differences …
Read More »Why some young evangelicals are leaving the faith | Kiowa County Press
Young evangelical Christians are faced with a dilemma: follow in their parents’ footsteps or pursue other choices. Nicholas Kamm / AFP via Getty Images Terry shoemaker, Arizona State University The extent to which the number of white evangelicals has declined in the United States has been laid bare in a …
Read More »Should the Supreme Court have term limits? | Kiowa County Press
The lifetime tenure has lowered the average age of judicial candidates, with presidents appointing younger judges in the hope that they will serve for many decades. Erin Schaff / Pool / AFP via Getty Images Paul M. Collins, Jr., University of Massachusetts Amherst and Artemus Ward, University of Northern Illinois …
Read More »Border “mega-drought” puts strain on Mexican-US relations on water | Kiowa County Press
Lake Mead, which serves seven US states and three Mexican states, is drying up. Ethan Miller / Getty Images Robert Gabriel Varady, University of Arizona; Andrea K. Gerlak, University of Arizona, and Stephen Paul Mumme, Colorado State University The United States and Mexico are vying for shrinking shared water supplies …
Read More »Does space stop – or does it drag on? | Kiowa County Press
It can prompt your mind to think about what really exists. Stijn Dijkstra / EyeEm via Getty Images Jack Singal, University of Richmond Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you would like an expert to answer, send it to [email protected] What …
Read More »Curious Kids: Why are some mushrooms poisonous? | Kiowa County Press
Toxic or edible? Ekaterina Morozova / iStock via Getty Images Plus Karen Hugues, University of Tennessee Curious children is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you would like an expert to answer, send it to [email protected] Why are some mushrooms poisonous and others not? …
Read More »Overcrowded US National Parks Need Reservation System | Kiowa County Press
Traffic at the south entrance to Yellowstone National Park, August 20, 2015. Neal Herbert, NPS / Flickr Michael Childers, Colorado State University If you’re heading into nature this summer, you may need to jump online and book a reservation before you go. For the second year in a row, reservations …
Read More »Curious Kids: How Much Sleep Do You Really Need? | Kiowa County Press
The need to close our eyes is universal. Justin Lewis/Stone via Getty Images Dana McMakin, Florida International University curious children is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to [email protected] Why do I need to sleep a …
Read More »How safe is your baby food? | Kiowa County Press
One study found that 95% of baby foods tested contained at least one heavy metal. Feather Creative via Getty Images C. Michael White, University of Connecticut Heavy metals, including lead, arsenic and mercury, can be found in commercial baby foods at levels well above what the federal government considers safe …
Read More »What exactly is the polar vortex? | Kiowa County Press
The polar vortex influences the jet stream, which can bring a cold winter to the United States and Europe. AP Photo/Bill Sikes Zachary Lawrence, University of Colorado Boulder and Amy Butler, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Beginning of February 2021, a major snowstorm hit the northeastern United Stateswith some …
Read More »Magnetic Induction Cooking Can Reduce Your Kitchen’s Carbon Footprint | Kiowa County Press
Goodbye, the burners. brizmaker / iStock / Getty Images Plus Kenneth McLeod, Binghamton University, State University of New York To curb climate change, many experts have called for a massive switch from fossil fuels to electricity. The aim is to electrify processes such as heating homes and powering cars, and …
Read More »What’s the next step for American evangelicals after Trump leaves? | Kiowa County Press
Many evangelical voters believe they have found a chief protector in Donald Trump. Joe Raedle / Getty Images Stewart Clem, Aquinas Institute of Theology Donald Trump, by his own words and actions, does not appear to be the most religious person. He claimed he was not seeking forgiveness from God, …
Read More »Pandemic threatens food security for many students | Kiowa County Press
More and more students do not know if they will have enough to eat. Lakshmiprasad S / EyeEm via Getty Images Matthieu J. Landry, Stanford University and Heather Eicher-Miller, Purdue University When college presidents were asked in the spring of 2020 about what they believed to be the most pressing …
Read More »Why ‘namaste’ has become the perfect pandemic greeting | Kiowa County Press
Prince Charles, accompanied by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and French President Emmanuel Macron greet each other with a “namaste” in London on June 18. Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Jeremy David Engels, Pennsylvania State University Hands over heart in prayer pose. A small head bow. A gesture of respect. A …
Read More »What is the summer solstice? An astronomer explains | Kiowa County Press
The northern hemisphere receives its greatest dose of daylight. Takmeng Wong and the CERES science team at NASA Langley Research Center, CC BY Stéphane Schneider, University of Massachusetts Amherst The summer solstice marks the official start of summer. It brings the longest day and the shortest night of the year …
Read More »Coronavirus, “plandemia” and the seven traits of conspiratorial thinking | Kiowa County Press
Regardless of the plot details, conspiracy theories follow common thought patterns. Ranta Images / iStock / Getty Images Plus John Cook, George Mason University; Sander van der Linden, Cambridge University; Stéphane Lewandowsky, Bristol University, and Ullrich Ecker, University of Western Australia The “Plandemic” conspiracy theory video recently went viral. Although …
Read More »Is the polygraph a reliable lie detector? | Kiowa County Press
Does your body betray whether you lie or not? AP Photo / Edward Kitch Jessica Gabel Cino, Georgia State University Lawyers for Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who charged Supreme Court candidate Brett Kavanaugh with sexual assault, have released the results of a polygraph test focused on the decades-old incident. …
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