The Conversation is an independent, nonprofit publisher of commentary and analysis, authored by academics and edited by journalists for the general public. On a mission “to promote truthful information and strengthen journalism by unlocking the rich diversity of academic research for audiences across America,” The Conversation publishes short articles by academics on timely topics related to their research. CU Boulder provides funding as a member of The Conversation U.S. Learn more about the partnership and how and why to write for 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-fighting astronaut food—and by changing how it is grown, we made it better

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.

global warming map courtesy of NASA

100 degrees in Siberia? 5 ways the extreme Arctic heat wave follows a disturbing pattern

June 26, 2020

The Arctic is warming about twice as fast as the planet as a whole, with serious consequences. Scientists have been warning about this for decades. Research Professor Mark Serreze shares on The Conversation.

Protesters smash the window of a Chase bank during protests in Oakland

A justification for unrest? Look no further than the Bible and the Founding Fathers

June 5, 2020

Understanding how unrest informed both early Christianity and the foundational stories of the United States can serve as a guide in this current period of turmoil. Professors Samira Mehta and Samuel L. Boyd share on The Conversation.

person wearing a mask juxtaposed over a cityscape

Flattening the mental health curve is the next big coronavirus challenge

May 29, 2020

A mental health crisis has begun, as social isolation from the coronavirus and loss of jobs, income and loved ones have left people reeling. Assistant Professor June Gruber and a colleague share on The Conversation.

cumulus clouds and a blue sky

What would it feel like to touch a cloud?

May 28, 2020

If you’ve ever been outside on a foggy day, you’ve essentially been inside a cloud. Associate Professor Katja Friedrich answers Violet, age 6, in The Conversation’s Curious Kids series.

Artist rendition of the National Western Center, a net-zero campus under construction in Denver to house multiple activities

Buildings consume lots of energy—here’s how to design whole communities that give back as much as they take

May 26, 2020

Net-zero energy buildings produce at least as much energy as they use. Designing whole net-zero campuses and communities takes the energy and climate benefits to a higher level. CU Boulder researcher Charles F. Kutscher shares on The Conversation.

illustration of a rocket

To safely explore the solar system and beyond, spaceships need to go faster—nuclear-powered rockets may be the answer

May 21, 2020

An update of 50-year-old regulations has kickstarted research into the next generation of rockets, which could be the key to faster, safer exploration of space. Professor Iain Boyd shares on The Conversation.

Business closures and recent rain contribute to Los Angeles’ recent uptick in air quality.

COVID-19 is a dress rehearsal for entrepreneurial approaches to climate change

May 13, 2020

The response to COVID-19 suggests how we can leverage entrepreneurial approaches to climate change. Associate Professor Jeffrey York shares on The Conversation.

person coughing

Coronavirus drifts through the air in microscopic droplets—here’s the science of infectious aerosols

April 27, 2020

When aerosols from an infected person float around in our environment, they may be a significant source of coronavirus transmission. Professor Shelly Miller shares on The Conversation.

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