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An airtanker drops retardant to help stop the spread of the 2015 Eyrie Fire in the foothills of Boise, Idaho, which was ignited by sparks from construction equipment.

Humans ignite almost every wildfire that threatens homes

Sept. 24, 2020

Wildfires aren't always wild. Many of the most expensive and damaging fires happen in suburban areas, and nearly all blazes in these zones are started by humans. Associate Professor Jennifer Balch shares on The Conversation.

ultraviolet light on a bus

Ultraviolet light can make indoor spaces safer during the pandemic—if it’s used the right way

Sept. 9, 2020

Ultraviolet light has a long history as a disinfectant, but it's not risk-free. How do we harness UV light to fight the spread of the virus and protect human health as people work, study and shop indoors? Professor Karl Linden shares on The Conversation.

Kamala Harris

With Kamala Harris, Americans yet again have trouble understanding what multiracial means

Sept. 3, 2020

While the debates about Kamala Harris’ multiraciality may seem new, they are similar to the commentary other high-profile mixed-race people in the U.S. have received about their racial identities. Professor Jennifer Ho shares on The Conversation.

 Intentionally mutilated head of Egyptian Pharaoh Hatshepsut

Ancient cancel cultures: The defacement of statues in America replicates a tradition going back millennia

Aug. 19, 2020

As U.S. protesters deface monuments of once revered leaders, they are drawing from an ancient tradition used by both marginalized people and those in power. Assistant Professor Sarah Kurnick shares on The Conversation.

Margot Gage Witvliet in hospital

I’m aCOVID-19long-haulerand an epidemiologist—here’s how it feels when symptoms last formonths

Aug. 17, 2020

Imagine going from healthy and active to fearing you are dying almost overnight. Ƶ alumna and epidemiologist Margot Gage Witvliet shares her story on The Conversation.

Stock image of a person wearing a face mask in a supermarket

How to use ventilation and air filtration to prevent the spread of coronavirus indoors

Aug. 12, 2020

The vast majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs indoors, most of it from the inhalation of airborne particles that contain the coronavirus. Ventilation and filtration techniques hold the key to slowing the spread indoors. Mechanical engineering professor Shelly Miller shares on The Conversation.

Mosaic in San Vitale Basilica, Ravenna, Italy

What are the origins of cathedrals and chapels?

July 27, 2020

Cathedrals and chapels have played vital roles in the development of Christian culture, and their history offers important insight into Christianity. Bible scholar and professor Samuel L. Boyd shares on The Conversation.

People wearing masks and social distancing at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes

Online Christian pilgrimage: How a virtual tour to Lourdes follows a tradition of innovation

July 23, 2020

Coronavirus is causing religious communities to rethink ways of expressing their faith. In the spirit of finding innovative ways to continue rituals, the pilgrimage to Lourdes was conducted online. Assistant Professor Samuel L. Boyd shares on The Conversation.

sign that reads 'essential car traffic only'

With fewer cars on US streets, now is the time to reinvent roadways and how we use them

July 21, 2020

City streets were built to accommodate cars, but the COVID-19 pandemic has scrambled our transport needs. Many cities are moving to make streets more people-friendly and less car-centric. Professor Kevin J. Krizek shares on The Conversation.

floating duckweed plant in a bowl of water

Duckweed is an incredible,radiation-fightingastronaut food—and by changing how it is grown, we made itbetter

July 17, 2020

Duckweed is the perfect space food: small, fast-growing and nutritious. By studying how light levels changed the production of radiation-fighting antioxidants, researchers made it even better. Professor Barbara Demmig-Adams shares on The Conversation.

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