Pollen – taking the fun out of spring for centuries

Pollen is getting worse, but you can make things better with these tips from an allergist [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 3 April 2019 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair Editor's note Does it seem like pollen is getting worse? It is. While pollen has caused breathing problems, runny noses and sneezing throughout history, today’s warmer temperatures and higher levels of carbon dioxide increase pollen counts. Not only that, an estimated 10 to 30 percent of the world’s population are affected by seasonal allergies. Dr. Kara Wada, an allergist-immunologist at The Ohio State University, [offers some historical context and tips]( on how to lessen the effects. Your pet probably has a microchip, so it can come home if it gets lost. Some people are implanting the same sorts of microchips in themselves – which has evangelical Christians worried. Communication scholar Jordan Frith explains why, and why [they’re not alone](. The recent college admissions scandal is just the latest case of wealthy individuals who commit wrongdoings to gain more advantages. Laura E. Alexander, scholar of religious ethics, argues that 20th-century theologian Reinhold Niebuhr [might help us understand]( such greed and Buddhist ethics might also provide a way out of it. Lynne Anderson Senior Health + Medicine Editor Top story A girl in a field of flowers. Alex Cofaru/Shutterstock.com [Pollen is getting worse, but you can make things better with these tips from an allergist]( Kara Wada, The Ohio State University Pollen is ancient, but in recent times, it's getting worse. An allergist offers ways to manage the suffering and enjoy the spring. Does a microchip implant have a deeper meaning? Reuters/Barbara Goldberg [What your pet’s microchip has to do with the Mark of the Beast]( Jordan Frith, University of North Texas Tiny electronic items can identify pets, clothes and even people. Evangelical Christians aren't the only people worried about what this technology might mean. Human beings want more even if it comes at the expense of others. svershinsky/Shutterstock.com [What causes greed and how can we deal with it?]( Laura E. Alexander, University of Nebraska Omaha Some parents were recently charged with paying bribes for their children's admission to top colleges. Religious thought can help us understand what drives such greed and also provide ethical guidance. Politics + Society - [The Trump administration’s attempts to defund the Special Olympics, explained]( Derrick L. Cogburn, American University School of International Service The White House proposed these cuts for three years in a row. 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