Governor Jared Polis and other Colorado officials have acknowledged that the state saw a rise in COVID-19 cases following the holidays. But more than two weeks after New Year's Eve, it's clear from just-updated data that the bump was modest and already appears to be receding, even as infections in many other places around the country continue to accelerate at a tragic pace. Why is Colorado doing better than many states? This subject will busy researchers for years to come — but one possible factor is the high level of education, which suggests that a significant percentage of the population understands that science is real and is choosing to act accordingly rather than eschewing recommended safety protocols to prevent the disease from spreading.