Lead exposure during childhood may influence adult personality, and not for the better

Early exposure to lead pollution may lead to less mature personality traits as an adult.

Ted Schwaba, Postdoctoral Researcher in Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin College of Liberal Arts • conversation
July 29, 2021 ~5 min

25-year-long study of Black women links frequent use of lye-based hair relaxers to a higher risk of breast cancer

Researchers had suspected that chemical hair relaxers might be behind racial disparities in breast cancer diagnoses. A new study narrows in on lye as a possible cause for that link.

Kimberly Bertrand, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Boston University • conversation
July 13, 2021 ~5 min


Pandemic misery index reveals far-reaching impact of COVID-19 on American lives, especially on Blacks and Latinos

A survey finds that hardship disparities across racial and ethnic groups have persisted throughout the pandemic.

Kyla Thomas, Sociologist, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences • conversation
June 1, 2021 ~7 min

Asian American young adults are the only racial group with suicide as their leading cause of death, so why is no one talking about this?

A public health scholar explores why Asian Americans in their late teens and early adulthood are at high risk for death by suicide.

Amelia Noor-Oshiro, Ph.D. Candidate, Public Health, Johns Hopkins University • conversation
April 23, 2021 ~9 min

Long live the monarchy! British royals tend to survive a full three decades longer than their subjects

Prince Philip died at 99. Living to such a ripe old age isn't unusual for UK royals. Nor is it surprising, argues an expert on aging and longevity.

S. Jay Olshansky, Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Illinois at Chicago • conversation
April 13, 2021 ~6 min

Poorer and minority older adults are suspicious of the US health care system – a new study shows why

The findings suggest that many Black and Hispanic Americans don't believe health care providers are listening to them.

Jane Tavares, Research Fellow, LeadingAge LTSS Center, University of Massachusetts Boston • conversation
April 1, 2021 ~9 min

Did racism kill Jackie Robinson?

Major league baseball opens today, and few are likely to give race a thought. When Jackie Robinson integrated MLB in 1947, it was a far different story. Did racism lead to Robinson's early death?

Derek Novacek, Assistant Project Scientist, UCLA School of Medicine • conversation
March 31, 2021 ~14 min

Many Black Americans aren’t rushing to get the COVID-19 vaccine – a long history of medical abuse suggests why

Though COVID-19 has killed almost twice as many Black Americans as whites, Black people are the least likely racial group to say they're eager to receive the vaccine as soon as it's available to them.

Esther Jones, Associate Professor of English, affiliate with Africana Studies and Women's & Gender Studies, Clark University • conversation
Feb. 24, 2021 ~9 min


Black biomedical scientists still lag in research funding – here's why that matters to all Americans

There aren't just health care disparities between white and Black people. There are funding disparities too that make it harder for Black scientists to succeed in academia.

Omolola Eniola-Adefeso, University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan Medical School • conversation
Feb. 24, 2021 ~8 min

Women's health is better when women have more control in their society

Living in societies with gender bias can harm women's health.

Katherine Wander, Assistant Professor, Binghamton University, State University of New York • conversation
Jan. 25, 2021 ~7 min

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