“First, we have to find out if there’s air,” said Nikole Lewis, assistant professor of astronomy, “and then we can ask, OK, what’s in the air?” She estimates that it would take three or more years of observing a system to be able to say there’s a biosignature. 

“People got very attached to their pets during the pandemic,” said Brian Collins, veterinarian at the Cornell Riney Canine Health Center. “Those pets may not do as well in a kennel or with a sitter.” 

“The piece of food inflation that’s due to transportation costs could go away fairly quickly if the oil market resolves itself,” said David Just, professor of applied economics and policy. 

Arthur Wheaton, senior extension associate in the ILR School, said that years of cost cutting and consolidation in the rail industry predated the pandemic and have led to the current impasse.

“What’s beautiful about voice data is that it’s probably one of the cheapest types of data that you can collect from people,” says Olivier Elemento, professor of physiology and biophysics. 

Ileen Devault, professor in the ILR School, said the pandemic has strengthened the hand of rail workers, following months of backups at ports, warehouses and railyards, amid understaffing and a shortage of trucks to move containers.   

Eswar Prasad, senior professor of trade policy, said the yuan will get a boost from countries looking to skirt the dollar, although the greenback’s dominance remains assured. 

"Any of the improvements that we see – whether it's insurance or poverty – are a reflection of political choices," said Jamila Michener, associate professor of government. 

Beth Buckles, associate clinical professor of biology, says the decision to list tricolored bats as endangered is long-overdue. “It takes a while to get things listed, I understand that,” Buckles says. “But bats are in a really bad way.” 

Ariel Ortiz-Bobea, associate professor of applied economics and public policy, is optimistic about the private and public sector investing in research and development and other mechanisms to improve productivity and conserve resources. 

Glenn Altschuler, professor of American studies, writes this opinion piece on the upcoming elections. 

“What ends up happening is inflation with the rest of the economy tends to catch up,” said David Just, professor of applied economics and policy.