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My kids call me Debbie Downer for a reason. As a medical editor, I always worry about unexpected problems. An issue that’s really been bothering me lately is the rise in COVID-19 cases in the U.S. from several variants. Virologist and vaccinologist Paulo Verardi of the University of Connecticut explains why we’re in a tight race with the cagey coronavirus as we aim for herd immunity – and the virus aims to stop us.
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A COVID-19 patient in an ICU unit in a hospital in Capetown, South Africa, in December 2020. A variant emerged in South Africa that has since spread to other parts of the world. Other new variants could emerge elsewhere.
Rodger Bosch/AFP via Getty Images
Paulo Verardi, University of Connecticut
As the US vaccinates millions more people each day, the novel coronavirus works to survive. It does this by mutating. So far, several variants are worrisome. A virologist explains what they are.
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Ethics + Religion
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Tulasi Srinivas, Emerson College
Kumbh Mela, a Hindu pilgrimage that started earlier this month in India, has survived wars and famine since its origin. But the biggest threat has been the spread of illness – back then as now.
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Ryan Burge, Eastern Illinois University
Trump saw a decline in support among atheists, agnostics and voters not affiliated with any religion in the 2020 election.
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Education
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Sandra M. Chafouleas, University of Connecticut
'Behavior vaccines' – practices meant to improve safety and well-being – have been around for years. An educational psychologist says they are particularly important for schools to adopt now.
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Economy + Business
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Nada R. Sanders, Northeastern University
Modern supply chains have become very efficient, but that means disruptions of any kind can lead to delays and shortages.
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Politics + Society
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Charlotte Alexander, Georgia State University
Men accused of sexual harassment, including New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, often refer to their accomplishments in their responses. Their power is their defense, and it blinds them to their victims' suffering.
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Jennifer Ho, University of Colorado Boulder
White people are the main perpetrators of anti-Asian racism and violence, but white supremacy is still the problem when Blacks and Latinos attack Asians.
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Arts + Culture
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Kristin Girten, University of Nebraska Omaha
Beverly Cleary once said that her fans love Ramona 'because she does not learn to be a better girl.'
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Trending on Site
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Janet Bednarek, University of Dayton
Some do so of their own accord, using airport amenities to meet their basic needs. Others, however, would rather be anywhere else – and find themselves at the mercy of bureaucratic wrangling.
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Emily Ury, Duke University
As sea levels rise along the Atlantic coast, saltwater is intruding inland, killing trees and turning coastal forests into marshes. Should scientists try to slow the process, or work with it?
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Richard Pildes, New York University
The fight over absentee ballot deadlines in the November 2020 election was bitter and prolonged. Now, an election law scholar looks at how those ballots affected the presidential race.
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