Why mask mandates depend so much on local conditions

+ managing cybersickness US Edition - Today's top story: Should fully immunized people wear masks indoors? An infectious disease physician weighs in [View in browser]( US Edition | 22 July 2021 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair Few of us will forget the sense of euphoria we felt after receiving the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (or the only dose, for those who received the one-shot vaccine). It felt like a gateway back to the things we all once took for granted, like dining with friends in restaurants, birthday parties and hugs. Perhaps most importantly, vaccination status became a symbol of freedom from masks, as mask mandates were triumphantly lifted across the U.S. and businesses posted signs saying fully vaccinated people were welcome to enter mask free. But as each day brings worse news about the spread of the delta variant, many of us have been asking the obvious question: Should we still be wearing masks indoors in public? According to the World Health Organization, as of late June, the answer is yes. Then in mid-July, Los Angeles County reinstated its requirement for masks in public for all residents, regardless of vaccination status. But the CDC has so far not followed suit. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease physician at the University of California, San Francisco, puts these seemingly contradictory positions into perspective. He notes how rare [breakthrough cases are and dissects the latest research]( on how well vaccination protects against the delta variant – as well as what the findings might mean in different regions around the country. Also today: - [Busting the myth of lane advantages in track races]( - [I taught an AI how to find shipwrecks]( - [What do the Taliban stand for today?]( Amanda Mascarelli Science Editor Masking indoors will yet again be the new normal in Los Angeles County – and possibly elsewhere in the U.S. Lourdes Balduque/ Moment via Getty Images [Should fully immunized people wear masks indoors? An infectious disease physician weighs in]( Peter Chin-Hong, University of California, San Francisco As Los Angeles County again mandates masking indoors -- even for the fully vaccinated -- local health officials in the U.S. are closely eyeing their own COVID-19 vaccination and infection rates. Education - [Canceling student loan debt will barely boost the economy, but a targeted approach could help certain groups]( William Chittenden, Texas State University Student loan debt has long been considered a drag on the economy. But will canceling it actually do much to spur spending? An economist weighs in. Health - [Screentime can make you feel sick – here are ways to manage cybersickness]( Angelica Jasper, Iowa State University If you ever felt nauseous, fatigued or disoriented after using your phone or computer, you may be experiencing a condition similar to motion sickness. - [US is split between the vaccinated and unvaccinated – and deaths and hospitalizations reflect this divide]( Rodney E. Rohde, Texas State University; Ryan McNamara, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill The US has split into "two Americas," one of the unvaccinated and one of the vaccinated. The differences in deaths and hospitalizations between the two populations are striking. Environment + Energy - [Scientists understood physics of climate change in the 1800s – thanks to a woman named Eunice Foote]( Sylvia G. Dee, Rice University The results of Foote's simple experiments were confirmed through hundreds of tests by scientists in the US and Europe. It happened more than a century ago. Science + Technology - [Our analysis of 7 months of polling data shows friendships, the economy and firsthand experience shaped and reshaped views on COVID-19 risks]( Wanyun Shao, University of Alabama; Feng Hao, University of South Florida Multiple factors determined whether or not individual Americans adopted COVID-19 safety measures, according to statistical analysis of public opinion data. - [Are middle lanes fastest in track and field? Data from 8,000 racers shows not so much]( David R. Munro, Middlebury In track and field, it's a common belief that middle lanes are the fastest. But according to the data, middle lanes aren't better, and in the 200-meter sprint, outside lanes might even be faster. - [AI spots shipwrecks from the ocean surface – and even from the air]( Leila Character, The University of Texas at Austin College of Liberal Arts It's difficult to tell a shipwreck from a natural feature on the ocean floor in a scan taken from a plane or ship. This project used deep learning to get it right 92% of the time. Politics + Society - [Afghanistan after the US withdrawal: The Taliban speak more moderately but their extremist rule hasn’t evolved in 20 years]( Sher Jan Ahmadzai, University of Nebraska Omaha Two decades have passed since the US invasion of Afghanistan toppled the Taliban's Islamic extremist regime. Despite efforts to update its image, the group still holds hard-line views. Trending on site - [Election polls in 2020 produced ‘error of unusual magnitude,’ expert panel finds, without pinpointing cause]( W. Joseph Campbell, American University School of Communication A task force of polling experts found surveys notably understated support for Donald Trump, both nationally and at the state level. Here's what may have gone wrong, according to a polling historian. - [The US Army tried portable nuclear power at remote bases 60 years ago – it didn’t go well]( Paul Bierman, University of Vermont Nearly 60 years after a radiation-leaking reactor was removed from a US Army base on the Greenland ice sheet, the military is exploring portable nuclear reactors again. - [When Americans recall their roots, they open up to immigration]( Claire L. Adida, University of California San Diego; Adeline Lo, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Lauren Prather, University of California San Diego; Melina Platas, New York University Abu Dhabi; Scott Williamson, New York University Abu Dhabi Research suggests that reminding Americans – Democrats and Republicans – of their family history creates empathy for immigrants and more favorable views toward immigration. --------------------------------------------------------------- Today’s graphic [A graph showing how many people would receive student loan forgiveness based on the total dollar amount of loans forgiven.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe](. 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451