Study finds the U.S. remains ill-prepared to ensure a growing population of older people have housing
Michael Genaldi’s road to homelessness began early this year when a car slammed into the rear of his motorcycle, crushed three of his ribs, and left him in a coma for over a month. The 58-year-old lost his job as a machine operator, then his home, and he was...
Religious without religion: How spiritual but not “churchy” chaplains tend to the needs of patients
By Amy Lawton, Research Manager, Chaplaincy Innovation Lab, Brandeis University In times of loss, change or other challenges, chaplains can listen, provide comfort and discuss spiritual needs. These spiritual caregivers can be found working in hospitals, universities,...
Church without God: Some nonreligious Americans are finding fulfillment in secular congregations
By Jacqui Frost, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Purdue University Shared testimonies, collective singing, and silent meditation and baptism rituals. These are all activities you might find at a Christian church service on a Sunday morning in the United States. But...
UN weather agency warns of further climate extremes on the way after 2023 hits hottest year on record
The U.N. weather agency said last December that 2023 is all but certain to be the hottest year on record, and warning of worrying trends that suggest increasing floods, wildfires, glacier melt, and heat waves in the future. The World Meteorological Organization also...
Unable to reduce waste: Recycling lags behind as plastic production grows exponentially worldwide
By Sarah J. Morath, Professor of Law and Associate Dean for International Affairs, Wake Forest University Plastic pollution has spread to Earth’s farthest reaches, with widespread effects on wildlife, the environment and human health. To curb this problem, U.N. member...
Compromised data: People who survive natural disasters are especially vulnerable to identity theft
Information theft is on the rise. Over 1.1 million people in the U.S. alone reported the crime to the Federal Trade Commission in 2022. When a thief opens accounts in your name or otherwise uses your data, you might feel powerless. But there are steps you can take to...
Posting politics: Why public approval of toxic social media messages builds communities of hate
By Joseph B. Walther, Visiting Scholar at Harvard University, Distinguished Professor of Communication, University of California, Santa Barbara The rampant increase of hate messages on social media is a scourge in today’s technology-infused society. Racism,...
An attack on private property: Why the destruction of tea changed the course of American history
By Eliga Gould, Professor of History, University of New Hampshire On the evening of December 16, 1773, a crowd of armed men, some allegedly wearing costumes meant to disguise them as Native American warriors, boarded three ships docked at Griffin’s Wharf in Boston. In...
Destigmatizing suicide: Why medical students are still not adequately trained to treat suicidal patients
Rodolfo Bonnin, Assistant Dean for Institutional Knowledge Management and Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Florida International University Leonard M. Gralnik, Chief of Education and Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral...
How flawed science has changed with the times to justify opposition of transgender health care
By G. Samantha Rosenthal, Associate Professor of History, Roanoke College In the past century, there have been three waves of opposition to transgender health care. In 1933, when the Nazis rose to power, they cracked down on transgender medical research and clinical...
Community health centers that serve 1 in 11 Americans as a critical safety net struggle to stay open
Elisa Reyes has come to Plaza del Sol Family Health Center for doctor’s appointments for more than a decade. She moved away a while ago but keeps returning, even if it means a two-hour roundtrip bus ride. That is because her two children see the same doctor she...
A community obligation: Why people who live near nonprofit hospitals often see little benefit
By Jonathan Wynn, Department Chair and Professor of Sociology, UMass Amherst; Daniel Skinner, Associate Professor of Health Policy, Ohio University Have you ever asked if living near a hospital make you more likely to get the health care you need? Even though the...
