Archive - News @ Northeastern

Should the US suspend federal pandemic unemployment benefits?

Members of Congress are locked in a stalemate over the details of another economic stimulus package for people and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hanging in limbo is a $600-per-week COVID unemployment benefit that millions of people in the U.S. had come to rely upon. Cutting it permanently could spell disaster for the country’s economy, says Northeastern economics professor William Dickens.

by Molly Callahan August 7, 2020

How Word Detectives solved the mystery of teaching reading from afar

Word Detectives, a month-long reading camp, moved online this summer, like many educational programs adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic. And while there were challenges, the virtual program allowed parents to see the students’ progress and the teachers to see inside the students’ lives.

by Kaitlyn Budion August 7, 2020

How to talk to others about healthy habits like face masks and distancing

Be civil. Keep your cool. Let others know what you’re comfortable with, and set expectations. These are keys to navigating interpersonal relationships in the COVID-19 era, says William Sharp, associate teaching professor of psychology.

by Brilee Weaver and Peter Ramjug August 6, 2020

How did the Black Lives Matter movement get to where it is today?

Historical perspective on the civil rights movements of the past is offered by the Archives and Special Collections at the Northeastern Library. “Placing the current movement in a much longer time horizon really gives you critical context,” says Dan Cohen, dean of the university library.

by Ian Thomsen August 6, 2020

Stay safe and social during the COVID-19 pandemic at these open spaces across Boston

Being outside where the air is moving and you can keep your distance is the safest option for spending time with friends during the pandemic. Here are some open spaces in Boston that are perfect for relieving stress, getting some fresh air, and staying active.

by Eunice Esomonu August 6, 2020

Think everyone will be clamoring to get a COVID-19 vaccine? Think again, a new national study says.

Two-thirds of U.S. residents say they will get a vaccination when one is available, but others may not because of fears of side effects or a lack of trust in the healthcare system, a new survey by researchers from Northeastern, Harvard, Northwestern, and Rutgers has found.

by Peter Ramjug August 6, 2020

Northeastern’s Life Sciences Testing Center secures certifications to process the university’s coronavirus tests

With state-of-the-art laboratory equipment to conduct the complex tests that can determine whether someone has contracted the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, and a growing team of medical, clinical, and other laboratory technicians with specialized training, the new facilities are designed to process up to 5,000 samples a day, and turn around results in about 24 hours.

by Roberto Molar Candanosa and Matthew Modoono August 5, 2020

Meet the urban farmer of the Round Table

People were hungry in George Benner’s South Boston community. His neighbors, his family, his friends all needed food. So, he grew some. Now, the Northeastern…

by Adam Fischer and Benjamin Bertsch August 5, 2020

Northeastern’s Children’s Center to reopen with new health and safety protocols

The center on the Boston campus will reopen on Aug. 10 with the capacity for 30 children this summer. In order to promote the health and safety of the children, parents, and staff who use it, the center will feature new, staggered drop-off times, plexiglass walls to divide the space, reduced seating at tables, rigorous sanitation, and other health and safety procedures, says Regina Nazzaro, director of the children’s center.

by Molly Callahan August 4, 2020

How a freeloading worm might help us live healthier, longer lives

Caenorhabditis elegans, a transparent, microscopic worm, has evolved a way to take advantage of protection provided by nearby bacteria. This response could provide clues as to how humans coordinate our own cellular defense systems.

by Laura Castañón August 4, 2020