What Ötzi the prehistoric iceman can teach us about the use of tattoos in ceremonial healing or religious rites

Allison Hawn, Arizona State University

When the 5,300-year-old mummy of Ötzi the Iceman was found 30 years ago, researchers found 61 tattoos on it. A scholar explains how tattoos have been a sacred part of many cultures across the world.

Tense decision-making as CDC joins FDA in recommending Pfizer booster shot for 65 & up, people at high risk and those with occupational exposure to COVID-19

Matthew Woodruff, Emory University

Fault lines between the FDA and CDC regulatory processes have been on full display in the decisions over which groups of Americans should receive the Pfizer booster shot.

New Johnson & Johnson data shows second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19 – but one dose is still strong against delta variant

Maureen Ferran, Rochester Institute of Technology

Your body produces antibodies after an infection or vaccine, but these slowly decline over time. New Johnson & Johnson data sheds light on the duration of protection and the need for booster shots.

Should teens taking ADHD, anxiety and depression drugs consume energy drinks and coffee?

Lina Begdache, Binghamton University, State University of New York

Energy drinks and coffee both contain lots of caffeine. That’s a problem for teens, especially those who take prescription stimulants.

Germans have voted to replace Angela Merkel – here are 7 ways to understand the results so far

Matt Fitzpatrick, Flinders University

With a very close result as counting continues, it could be weeks or even months before a government is formed. But Sunday’s election has already delivered some significant results.

Big fires demand a big response: How 1910’s Big Burn can help us think smarter about fighting wildfires and living with fire

William Deverell, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences; Elizabeth A. Logan, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

The US has learned that it cannot suppress its way to a healthy relationship with fire in the West. That strategy failed, even before climate change proved it to be no strategy at all.

Mexican communities manage their local forests, generating benefits for humans, trees and wildlife

David Bray, Florida International University

About 60% of Mexico’s forests are managed by local communities. A scholar who has studied the forests for 30 years explains how this system protects the forests and the people who oversee them.

What goes into a disaster kit and go-bag? Here’s a checklist for hurricane, wildfire and storm seasons

Brett Robertson, University of South Carolina

When a disaster strikes, you may be stuck for days without power or safe running water. Or you might only have time to grab a bag and go.

How lawyers could prevent America’s eviction crisis from getting a whole lot worse

Jennifer Prusak, Vanderbilt University

Studies show that tenants facing eviction who have a lawyer are a lot less likely to lose their home.

How civil rights activist Howard Fuller became a devout champion of school choice

Jon Hale, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Howard Fuller’s support for school choice is connected to the Black Power movement and a pursuit to provide Black students a quality education by any means necessary.

Evidence shows that, yes, masks prevent COVID-19 – and surgical masks are the way to go

Laura (Layla) H. Kwong, University of California, Berkeley

Since the coronaviurs first began spreading around the globe, people have debated how effective masks are at preventing COVID-19. A year and a half in, what does the evidence show?

Half of unvaccinated workers say they’d rather quit than get a shot – but real-world data suggest few are following through

Jack J. Barry, University of Florida; Ann Christiano, University of Florida; Annie Neimand, PhD, University of Florida

While surveys have shown a large share of unvaccinated workers threatening to quit over a mandate, the reality is few actually do.

Long power outages after disasters aren’t inevitable – but to avoid them, utilities need to think differently

Seth Blumsack, Penn State

Building even more power poles and transmission lines won’t avert outages when major disasters strike.

“I think many people feel left out of the political process altogether, and the relatively new phenomena of social media has successfully polarized us into digital tribes. I see it more as 21 million scared individuals who would lash out by checking a box…”

– Reader Cy Bertrano on the story 21 million Americans say Biden is ‘illegitimate’ and Trump should be restored by violence, survey finds