Infrastructure law gives broadband its due

An environmental sociologist explains how permaculture offers a path to climate justice

Christina Ergas, University of Tennessee

Permaculture – a mashup of ‘permanent’ and ‘culture’ – is a way of doing agriculture that’s inspired by the resilience and biodiversity of healthy natural ecosystems.

As climate change parches the Southwest, here’s a better way to share water from the shrinking Colorado River

Daniel Craig McCool, University of Utah

A Western scholar proposes allocating water from the Colorado River based on percentages of its actual flow instead of fixed amounts that exceed what’s there – and including tribes this time.

Russian anti-satellite weapon test: What happened and what are the risks?

Wendy Whitman Cobb, US Air Force School of Advanced Air and Space Studies

Russia destroyed one of its old satellites during a successful test of an anti-satellite weapon. A space security expert explains what this weapon was and the dangers of the expanding debris field.

‘Off-label’ use is common in medicine – a bioethicist and legal philosopher explain why the COVID-19 vaccines are different

Elizabeth Lanphier, University of Cincinnati ; Shannon Fyfe, George Mason University

The CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine provider agreement prohibits health care professionals from administering the vaccines in people for whom they are not yet authorized or approved. But this departs from longstanding norms.

What Americans can learn from other cultures about the language of gratitude

Jeremy David Engels, Penn State; Elaine Hsieh, University of Oklahoma

Cultures around the world say ‘thank yous’ in many different ways. Two communication scholars explain what these expressions can reveal to us.

How to make voting districts fair to voters, not parties

Linda Fowler, Dartmouth College; Chris Fowler, Penn State

Cracking down on gerrymandering isn’t enough to make elections more competitive.

How my family makes holiday decisions that work for everyone, according to a negotiation expert

Rachel Croson, University of Minnesota

Negotiation does not have to be win-lose; it can and should be win-win.

Want to take an online course? Here are 4 tips to make sure you get the most out of it for your career

Anne Trumbore, University of Virginia

Enrollment in online courses surged during the pandemic. An expert on online learning behaviors shares what to do before, during and after taking a course in order to reap the most benefits.

The ‘great resignation’ is a trend that began before the pandemic – and bosses need to get used to it

Ian O. Williamson, University of California, Irvine

A record share of workers quit their jobs in September. A human resources scholar explains how this is a trend that predates the pandemic.

What’s the difference between a PCR and antigen COVID-19 test? A molecular biologist explains

Nathaniel Hafer, UMass Chan Medical School

The two types of COVID-19 tests – antigen and PCR – work in very different ways, which is why one is fast but less accurate and the other is slow and precise.

Do flies really throw up on your food when they land on it?

Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi, Florida International University; Jamie Theobald, Florida International University

A fly does some of its digesting outside its body before it even eats any food.

Today’s graphic

From the story, The ‘great resignation’ is a trend that began before the pandemic – and bosses need to get used to it