When parents get Medicaid, it can benefit the health of their kids too

Social scientists determined that body mass index growth declined for children of low-income parents in states that had expanded their Medicaid programs.

Maithreyi Gopalan, Assistant Professor of Education and Public Policy, Penn State • conversation
Feb. 24, 2022 ~6 min

Why do people get diarrhea?

Poop comes in many shapes, sizes and textures. The kind that’s too runny might be the result of wayward germs, Crohn’s disease or lactose intolerance.

Hannibal Person, Assistant Professor of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of Medicine, University of Washington • conversation
Feb. 14, 2022 ~7 min


What makes a fruit flavorful? Artificial intelligence can help optimize cultivars to match consumer preferences

Pinpointing the chemical compounds that make a fruit tasty to consumers can help producers breed for even more flavorful crops.

Harry J. Klee, Professor of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida • conversation
Feb. 10, 2022 ~6 min

Cryptocurrency-funded groups called DAOs are becoming charities – here are some issues to watch

As decentralized autonomous organizations with philanthropic aims begin to form, it’s unclear whether they can operate without breaking IRS rules.

Sean Stein Smith, Assistant Professor of Economics and Business, Lehman College, CUNY • conversation
Feb. 4, 2022 ~6 min

Youth largely underestimate the risks of contracting STIs through oral sex, a new study finds

Oral sex is common among young people. Protection from STIs is not.

N'dea Moore-Petinak, PhD Candidate in Health Services Organization & Policy, University of Michigan Medical School • conversation
Jan. 27, 2022 ~5 min

The sunsetting of the child tax credit expansion could leave many families without enough food on the table

The 2021 child tax credit expansion helped lift millions of families with children out of hunger. After those payments ended in December 2021, those families may again face food insufficiency.

Katherine Gutierrez, PhD Candidate in Economics, University of New Mexico • conversation
Jan. 21, 2022 ~5 min

What is wishcycling? Two waste experts explain

Tossing something into your recycling bin that can’t be processed does more harm than good.

Kate O'Neill, Professor of Global Environmental Politics, University of California, Berkeley • conversation
Jan. 12, 2022 ~5 min

Confused by what your doctor tells you? A new study discovers how communication gaps between doctors and patients can be cured

Communication breakdowns between doctors and their patients have real-life consequences and can result in poorer health outcomes and sicker patients.

Nicholas Duran, Associate Professor in Social and Behavioral Sciences, Arizona State University • conversation
Jan. 11, 2022 ~5 min


What is 5G? An electrical engineer explains

5G is 10 times faster than 4G, promising better wireless internet access. It’s also expected to put the Internet of Things revolution in high gear.

Prasenjit Mitra, Professor of Information Sciences and Technology, Penn State • conversation
Jan. 10, 2022 ~3 min

What is pay-as-you-throw? A waste expert explains

When governments want people to do less of something, one way to make that happen is to charge them for doing it. That’s the idea behind pay-as-you-throw waste policies.

Lily Baum Pollans, Assistant Professor of Urban Policy and Planning, Hunter College • conversation
Jan. 4, 2022 ~4 min

/

28