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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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., …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 [email protected] How many bones do penguins have? …
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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 …
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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 …
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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, …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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. …
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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, …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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? …
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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. …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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. …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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. …
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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., …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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? …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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, …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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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