Sold-out supplies, serving a public need and other adventures of doing science during a pandemic – 4 researchers share their experiences

Supply chain issues, emergency science, social distancing requirements and a lot more free time offered both challenges and opportunities for research scientists.

Tony Schmitz, Professor of Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee • conversation
Dec. 17, 2021 • ~10 min

Surveys of scientists show women and young academics suffered most during pandemic and may face long-term career consequences

Many scientists stuck at home during university closures dealt with increased domestic responsibilities. But some groups had it worse than others.

Timothy P. Johnson, Professor Emeritus of Public Administration, University of Illinois at Chicago • conversation
Dec. 16, 2021 • ~9 min

COVID-19 vaccines for children: How parents are influenced by misinformation, and how they can counter it

Pediatricians and other health care providers can take some concrete steps toward building trust and counteracting anti-vaccination misinformation.

Maya Ragavan, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences • conversation
Dec. 15, 2021 • ~9 min

Downing Street party: what behavioural science tells us about how the saga could affect adherence to Plan B

Compliance with COVID rules has been achieved in-spite of, not because of, the example set by some of those in power.

Simon Nicholas Williams, Senior Lecturer in People and Organisation, Swansea University • conversation
Dec. 10, 2021 • ~6 min

Got Zoom fatigue? Out-of-sync brainwaves could be another reason videoconferencing is such a drag

It appears that the rhythms of your brain waves get in sync with the speech patterns of the person you’re conversing with. Videoconferencing throws off that syncing process.

Julie Boland, Professor of Psychology and Linguistics, University of Michigan • conversation
Dec. 10, 2021 • ~8 min

Rapid tests play a crucial role in curbing COVID-19 infections – especially as people gather for the holidays

Knowing when and how often to use rapid tests is key to getting an accurate picture of your COVID-19 status.

Nathaniel Hafer, Assistant Professor of Molecular Medicine, UMass Chan Medical School • conversation
Dec. 10, 2021 • ~8 min

With eye on Omicron, Harvard experts fear ‘surge upon a surge’

Early findings on immune escape and transmissibility, combined with danger posed by Delta, heighten urgency of vaccination, testing, other safety measures.

Alvin Powell • harvard
Dec. 9, 2021 • ~6 min

Research finds potential mechanism linking autism, intestinal inflammation

Infection during pregnancy with elevated levels of the cytokine IL-17a may yield microbiome alterations that prime offspring for aberrant immune responses, mouse study suggests.

David Orenstein | Picower Institute for Learning and Memory • mit
Dec. 9, 2021 • ~8 min

COVID litter: we mapped discarded masks and gloves in 11 countries with the help of citizen science

Masks are back in wider use in the UK and elsewhere. Our research highlights the need to dispose of them correctly.

Simon Kolstoe, Reader in Bioethics and University Ethics Advisor, University of Portsmouth • conversation
Dec. 9, 2021 • ~7 min

Medical examiners and coroners have borne a heavy burden during the COVID-19 pandemic and have often felt invisible and unsupported

Death care workers are at high risk for burnout as well as depression and other mental health concerns.

Staci Zavattaro, Professor of Public Administration, University of Central Florida • conversation
Dec. 9, 2021 • ~8 min

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