98% of emperor penguin colonies could be extinct by 2100 as ice melts -- can Endangered Species Act protection help them?

Penguins are at risk as a warming climate affects sea ice in Antarctica.Raimund Linke/The Image Bank via Getty ImagesEmperor penguins thrive on Antarctica’s coastlines in icy conditions any human would find extreme. Yet, like Goldilocks, they h...

Climate change is already disrupting US forests and coasts – here's what we're seeing at 5 long-term research sites

Scientists have been consistently documenting environmental changes at research sites like this one in the Cascade Mountains for decades.US Forest ServiceRecord-breaking heat waves and drought have le...

Michael Paul Nelson, Professor of Environmental Ethics and Philosophy, Oregon State University

5 simple tips for parents who will still be co-teachers when kids go back to school

Parents and caregivers may need to continue in the role of education facilitator and technology specialist this fall. Erin Clark/The Boston Globe via Getty ImagesCOVID-19 undoubtedly changed K-12 clas...

Lorrie Webb, Department Chair and Professor of Curriculum & Instruction, Texas A&M-San Antonio

What are dark patterns? An online media expert explains

It's not you; many e-commerce websites are difficult to use by design.fizkes/iStock via Getty ImagesDark patterns are design elements that deliberately obscure, mislead, coerce and/or deceive website ...

Jasmine McNealy, Associate Professor, University of Florida

How years of fighting every wildfire helped fuel the Western megafires of today

The Cedar Creek Fire burns in Washington's Methow Valley in late July 2021.Jessica KelleyAfter so many smoke-filled summers and record-setting burns, residents of Western North America are no stranger...

Susan J. Prichard, Research Scientist of Forest Ecology, University of Washington

4 ways extreme heat hurts the economy

Corn yields can suffer in high heat. AP Photo/Seth PerlmanSummer 2021 will likely be one of the hottest on record as dozens of cities in the West experience all-time high temperatures. The extreme hea...

Derek Lemoine, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Arizona

70 years ago Walter Plywaski fought for atheists' right to become citizens – here's why his story is worth remembering

Walter Plywaski fought for atheists to be given citizenship rights.Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post via Getty ImagesWalter Plywaski’s death earlier this year from complications related to COV...

Kristina M. Lee, Ph.D. Candidate in Rhetoric, Colorado State University

New endorsement laws could create pitfalls for college athletes

Major business deals and endorsements for student-athletes may affect their academic and personal lives. Logan Riely/Getty ImagesNow that the Supreme Court has ruled that student-athletes are able to ...

Sheldon H. Jacobson, Professor of Computer Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

What is Section 230? An expert on internet law and regulation explains the legislation that paved the way for Facebook, Google and Twitter

Democrats and Republicans in Congress have asked sharp questions of social media CEOs as lawmakers consider changes to landmark internet legislation.Michael Reynolds/Pool via APAlmost any article you ...

Abbey Stemler, Associate Professor of Business Law and Ethics; Faculty Associate Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, Indiana University

What will the Earth be like in 500 years?

The planet and the way we live on it are constantly changing.Buena Vista Images via Getty ImagesCurious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to ...

Michael A. Little, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, Binghamton University, State University of New York

What's driving the huge blooms of brown seaweed piling up on Florida and Caribbean beaches?

Mats of Sargassum seaweed off the coast of St. Martin in April 2018.ELY Michel CC BY-SA 4.0, , CC BY-SAHere’s a handy geography question for your next trivia match: What is the world’s on...

Stephen P. Leatherman, Professor of Coastal Science, Florida International University