Manil Suri explains why numbers go on forever and gives a brief history of how humans invented and used numbers, for curious kids of all ages. Continue Reading From thousands to millions to billions to trillions to quadrillions and beyond: Do numbers ever end?
2018-2019 study of domestic violence survivors in the Washington D.C.’s services for homelessness by Nkiru Nnawulezi, associate professor of psychology at UMBC, and Lauren Cattaneo, found that out of 41 participants, only four received immediate housing, with either a bed in a shelter or a hotel. Housing instability brings its own set of problems for survivors, including poor health, economic insecurity and the risk of future violence. These stresses can lead survivors back to the abusive relationship or into other unsafe housing situations. Continue Reading Domestic violence survivors seek homeless services from a system that often leaves them homeless
The brief closure of the Darien Gap – a perilous 66-mile jungle journey linking South American and Central America – in February 2024 temporarily halted one of the Western Hemisphere’s busiest migration routes, explains Meredity Oyen, assistant professor of history at UMBC. It also highlighted its importance to a small but growing group of people that depend on that pass to make it to the U.S.: Chinese migrants. Continue Reading Chinese migration to US is nothing new – but the reasons for recent surge at Southern border are
New York City is poised to launch the first congestion pricing plan to reduce traffic in a major U.S. metropolitan area. The Congestion Relief Zone, which covers Manhattan south of 60th Street, large trucks will pay $36, small trucks $24, passenger vehicles $15 and motorcycles $7.50, explains John Rennie Short, professor emeritus of public policy. Ride-share vehicles and taxis will pay $2.50 and $1.25, respectively. Peak hours run from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends; overnight tolls are discounted by 75%. Continue Reading New York City greenlights congestion pricing – here’s how this toll plan is expected to improve traffic, air quality and public transit
By Adi Foord, Assistant Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics, UMBC Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com. If the James Webb telescope was 10 times more powerful, could we see the beginning of time? – Sam H., age 12, Prosper, Texas The James Webb Space Telescope, or JWST for short, is one of the most advanced telescopes ever built. Planning for JWST began over 25 years ago, and construction efforts spanned over a decade. It was launched into space on Dec. 25,… Continue Reading Could a telescope ever see the beginning of time? An astronomer explains
Tom Schaller, professor of political science at UMBC, discusses his new book, White Rural Rage, about the complex intersections of race, place, and opinion and the implications they hold for our political system. Continue Reading Why rural white Americans’ resentment is a threat to democracy
Richard Forno, principal lecturer in computer science and electrical engineering at UMBC explains the Chinese state-sponsored hacker group Volt Typhoon. Continue Reading What is Volt Typhoon? A cybersecurity expert explains the Chinese hackers targeting US critical infrastructure
Constantine Nomikos Vaporis, professor of history, a historian of Japan who specializes in the history of the Tokugawa, or early modern era – a period from 1603 to 1868, during which the bulk of the action in FX’s new television miniseries“Shōgun” takes place. “American viewers today apparently don’t need to be slowly introduced to Japanese culture by a European guide,” says Vaporis. Continue Reading James Clavell’s ‘Shōgun’ is reimagined for a new generation of TV viewers
UMBC’s Erle Ellis, professor of geography and environmental systems, explains the Anthropocene and the vote of the Subcommission on Quarterly Stratigraphy rejected that proposal to mark the Anthropocene as an epoch, with 12 of 18 members voting no. These are the scientists most expert at reconstructing Earth’s history from the evidence in rocks. They determined that adding an Anthropocene Epoch – and terminating the Holocene Epoch – was not supported by the standards used to define epochs. Continue Reading The Anthropocene is not an epoch − but the age of humans is most definitely underway
Brian Van Wyck, assistant professor of history at UMBC, explains the origins of the history of migration between Turkey and Germany and the goals both governments pursued by bringing Turkish imams to work in German mosques. Continue Reading Turkey will stop sending imams to German mosques – here’s why this matters
UMBC’s Meredith Oyen, associate professor of history and Asian studies, explains the upcoming results of the Taiwanese election and what the results will mean for Taiwan, Beijing, and the U.S. will face as a result. Continue Reading Taiwanese election may determine whether Beijing opts to force the issue of reunification
Like their U.S. counterparts, many Chinese malls have fallen on hard times. Professor emeritus of public policy at UMBC explains how the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of online shopping have devastated foot traffic, leaving the nation with a huge overhang of retail space and how they are re-imagining it. Continue Reading The US invented shopping malls, but China is writing their next chapter
