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AI disinformation is a threat to elections − learning to spot Russian, Chinese and Iranian meddling in other countries can help the US prepare for 2024

Elections around the world are facing an evolving threat from foreign actors, one that involves artificial intelligence. Countries trying to...

friday 0

The Conversation

Bruce Schneier

The fight for 2% − how residuals became a sticking point for striking actors

Streaming disrupted the entire entertainment industry, upending the DVD-purchasing, film-renting, moviegoing model of decades past. That shift has...

friday 0

The Conversation

David Arditi

The 'Barbie' and 'Star Wars' universes are entertaining, but they also unexpectedly can help people understand why revolutions happen

Barbie dolls and “Star Wars” movies and toys have entertained generations of American children – in many cases, well into adulthood. But these...

friday 0

The Conversation

Michael A. Allen

US Supreme Court refuses to hear Alabama’s request to keep separate and unequal political districts

For the second time in three months, the U.S. Supreme Court has rebuffed Alabama’s attempts to advance its legislature’s congressional maps...

friday 0

The Conversation

Henry L. Chambers Jr.

Feinstein's death raises the question: How are vacant Senate seats filled?

There’s an empty seat in the U.S. Senate now that California’s longtime and senior senator, Dianne Feinstein, has died. And, following the Sept....

friday 0

The Conversation

Gibbs Knotts

Sci-fi books are rare in school even though they help kids better understand science

Science fiction can lead people to be more cautious about the potential consequences of innovations. It can help people think critically about the...

friday 0

The Conversation

Emily Midkiff

John Fetterman might be the first to try to bare his legs in the Senate, but shorts have been ticking people off for almost a century

When Sen. Chuck Schumer quietly relaxed the U.S. Senate’s dress code, supposedly to accommodate Sen. John Fetterman’s desire to wear hooded...

friday 0

The Conversation

Deirdre Clemente

From pests to pollutants, keeping schools healthy and clean is no simple task

Parents send their children to school to learn, and they don’t want to worry about whether the air is clean, whether there are insect problems or...

friday 0

The Conversation

Janet Hurley

Soccer kiss scandal exposes how structural sexism in Spain can be a laughing matter

Amid expressions of outrage and disgust over a nonconsensual kiss between the male head of Spanish soccer and a Women’s World Cup-winning player,...

friday 0

The Conversation

Erin K Hogan

Lessons for today from the overlooked stories of Black teachers during the segregated civil rights era

My grandmother’s name was Mrs. Zola Jackson. As one of the handful of Black teachers in Mississippi during the Jim Crow era of racially...

friday 0

The Conversation

Marlee Bunch

Lost in the coffee aisle? Navigating the complex buzzwords behind an 'ethical' bag of beans is easier said than done

You’re shopping for a bag of coffee beans at the grocery store. After reading about the effects of climate change and how little farmers make –...

friday 0

The Conversation

Spencer M. Ross

Supreme Court justices' ideologies don't always fit 'liberal' and 'conservative' labels

When the Supreme Court is in the news for overturning a long-standing precedent or violating standard judicial ethics, the news is often...

friday 20

The Conversation

John A. Tures

Just 3 Nobel Prizes cover all of science – how research is done today poses a challenge for these prestigious awards

I’ve been primarily an experimental chemist – the kind of person who goes into the laboratory and mixes and stirs chemicals – since the...

28.09.2023 1

The Conversation

Jeffrey I. Seeman

Shutdowns are a uniquely American drama − in the UK, it's just not Parliament's cup of tea

When it comes to shutdowns, the U.S. is very much an exception rather than the rule. Save for a last-minute spending deal in Congress on Oct. 1,...

28.09.2023 2

The Conversation

Garret Martin

A solution to America's K-12 STEM teacher shortage: Endowed chairs

Ever since the Soviet Union launched Sputnik into orbit on Oct. 4, 1957, America has been struggling to recruit and retain STEM teachers in its...

28.09.2023 0

The Conversation

Gerard Robinson

Taylor Swift and the end of the Hollywood writers strike – a tale of two media narratives

This fall, I’ve been starting my sociology classes by asking my students to share some uplifting news they’ve come across. On Tuesday, Sept. 26,...

28.09.2023 0

The Conversation

Aarushi Bhandari

Tropical climates are the most biodiverse on Earth − but it's not only because of how warm and wet they are

Life exists in every conceivable environment on Earth, from the peaks of towering mountains to the remote stretches of isolated islands, from...

28.09.2023 0

The Conversation

Marco Túlio Pacheco Coelho

Tracking daily step counts can be a useful tool for weight management – an exercise scientist parses the science

Over the last decade, smartphones have become ubiquitous not just for sending texts and staying abreast of news, but also for monitoring daily...

28.09.2023 0

The Conversation

Bob Buresh

We asked 1,000 Zimbabweans what they think of China's influence on their country − only 37% viewed it favorably

China has big ambitions in Africa. Between 2000 and 2020, the economic superpower loaned African governments US$159 billion to build railroads,...

28.09.2023 0

The Conversation

William Hatungimana

Your microbes live on after you die − a microbiologist explains how your necrobiome recycles your body to nourish new life

Each human body contains a complex community of trillions of microorganisms that are important for your health while you’re alive. These...

28.09.2023 1

The Conversation

Jennifer Debruyn

Juries that don't understand forensic science can send innocent people to prison − a short training video could help

Ledura Watkins was 19 years old when he was accused of murdering a public school teacher. At trial, a forensic expert testified that a single hair...

28.09.2023 0

The Conversation

Devon Labat

Government shutdowns hurt federal worker morale, long after paychecks resume − especially for those considered 'nonessential'

Unless Congress and the White House can agree on a budget or extend funding short term, the federal government will shut down on Oct. 1, 2023. This...

28.09.2023 0

The Conversation

Susannah Bruns Ali

Sea glass, a treasure formed from trash, is on the decline as single-use plastic takes over

When you stroll along a beach, you may look down and spot colorful bits of worn glass mixed in with the sand. But the little treasures you’ve...

28.09.2023 1

The Conversation

Lori Weeden

What will this government shutdown shut down? Social Security and the IRS keep going; SBA loans and some food and safety inspections do not

The U.S. is moving toward a government shutdown. House and Senate appropriators are divided on spending levels, policy riders and additional items,...

27.09.2023 10

The Conversation

Laura Blessing

Hip-hop on trial: When can a rapper's lyrics be used as evidence in a criminal case?

When police arrested Nevada rapper Kenjuan McDaniel on a murder charge in August 2023, they cited a music video he posted on YouTube that they say...

27.09.2023 10

The Conversation

Taifha Natalee Alexander

Why some Indians want to change the country's name to 'Bharat'

When India invited delegates attending the G20 summit in September 2023 to dinner with “the President of Bharat,” rather than “the President of...

27.09.2023 2

The Conversation

Phillip M. Carter

Deceit pays dividends: How CEO lies can boost stock ratings and fool even respected financial analysts

The multibillion-dollar collapse of FTX – the high-profile cryptocurrency exchange whose founder now awaits trial on fraud charges – serves as a...

27.09.2023 2

The Conversation

Steven J. Hyde

Philly undercounts students who are homeless – here's what parents need to know to advocate for their child

For thousands of Philadelphia kids, the return to school this fall was made more difficult because they don’t have a secure place to call home....

27.09.2023 1

The Conversation

Stacey Havlik

GOP shutdown threat is the wrong way to win a budget war − history shows a better strategy for reducing the deficit

Congress has just days to keep the federal government from grinding to a halt, and a last-minute deal seems increasingly unlikely. The problem is...

27.09.2023 0

The Conversation

Raymond Scheppach

What is an abaya − and why does it cause such controversy in France? A scholar of European studies explains

Worn by some Muslim women, an abaya is a long, loose-fitting, robelike garment that covers the entire body, except for the face, hands and feet....

27.09.2023 0

The Conversation

Armin Langer

Azerbaijan's use of force in Nagorno-Karabakh risks undermining key international norms, signaling to dictators that might makes right

The United States’ top humanitarian aid representative, Samantha Power, was dispatched on a fact-finding mission on Sept. 26, 2023, to a...

27.09.2023 0

The Conversation

Nareg Seferian

Harassment and abuse perceived to harm poor women less − new research finds a 'thicker skin' bias

People think sexual harassment and domestic abuse are less harmful for women in poverty than for higher-income women, according to four studies...

27.09.2023 0

The Conversation

Nathan Cheek

In fractious debate, GOP candidates find common ground on cause of inflation woes and need for school choice

It was a night in which even “the great communicator” himself may have struggled to be heard. At the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in...

27.09.2023 0

The Conversation

Ryan Herzog

Lithium-ion battery fires are a growing public safety concern − here's how to reduce the risk

In today’s electronic age, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are ubiquitous. Compared with the lead-acid versions that have dominated the...

26.09.2023 20

The Conversation

Apparao Rao

This Christian text you've never heard of, The Shepherd of Hermas, barely mentions Jesus − but it was a favorite of early Christians far and wide

People usually think about the Bible as a book with a fixed number of texts within its pages: 24 books in the Jewish version of the Bible; 66 for...

26.09.2023 10

The Conversation

Chance Bonar

Loud sounds at movies and concerts can cause hearing loss, but there are ways to protect your ears

Ever go to the movies or a rock concert and been blasted by the sound? You may not realize it while it’s happening, but ongoing exposure to loud...

26.09.2023 10

The Conversation

Cory Portnuff

Why separating fact from fiction is critical in teaching US slavery

Of all the debate over teaching U.S. slavery, it is one sentence of Florida’s revised academic standards that has provoked particular ire: “...

26.09.2023 9

The Conversation

Eric Gable

Microphone check − 5 ways that music education is changing

Music education – which traditionally has been heavily reliant on large ensembles and classical music – is changing with the times. Not since...

26.09.2023 1

The Conversation

Clint Randles

Supreme Court supermajority will clarify its constitutional revolution this year, deciding cases on guns and regulations

The first Monday in October, the traditional date for the beginning of the U.S. Supreme Court’s term, is almost here: On Oct. 2, 2023, the court...

26.09.2023 0

The Conversation

Morgan Marietta

On Sukkot, the Jewish ‘Festival of booths,’ each sukkah is as unique as the person who builds it

Sukkot is a Jewish festival that follows right on the heels of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, Judaism’s High Holy Days. The harvest holiday, which...

26.09.2023 0

The Conversation

Samira Mehta

What are APIs? A computer scientist explains the data sockets that make digital life possible

APIs, or application programming interfaces, are the gateways to the digital world. They link a wide array of software applications and systems....

26.09.2023 0

The Conversation

Tam Nguyen

Remote workers are more aware of cybersecurity risks than in-office employees: new study

Workers who telecommute tend to be more aware of cybersecurity threats than those who spend most of their time in a physical office and are more...

26.09.2023 0

The Conversation

Joseph K. Nwankpa

Fossil fuel workers have the skills to succeed in green jobs, but location is a major barrier to a just transition

As the U.S. shifts away from fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources, thousands of people working in the coal, oil and gas industries will be...

26.09.2023 0

The Conversation

Morgan R. Frank

Wildland firefighters face a huge pay cut without action by Congress – here's how physically demanding this lifesaving job is

Radios crackle with chatter from a wildfire incident command post. Up the fireline, firefighters in yellow jerseys are swinging Pulaskis, axlike...

26.09.2023 0

The Conversation

Brent C. Ruby

Traditional downtowns are dead or dying in many US cities − what's next for these zones?

The hollowing out of U.S. cities’ office and commercial cores is a national trend with serious consequences for millions of Americans. As more...

25.09.2023 8

The Conversation

John Rennie Short

Flesh-eating bacteria infections are on the rise in the US − a microbiologist explains how to protect yourself

Flesh-eating bacteria sounds like the premise of a bad horror movie, but it’s a growing – and potentially fatal – threat to people. In September...

25.09.2023 1

The Conversation

Bill Sullivan

Why does a plane look and feel like it’s moving more slowly than it actually is?

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to...

25.09.2023 1

The Conversation

Sara Nelson

Implants like pacemakers and insulin pumps often fail because of immune attacks − stopping them could make medical devices safer and longer-lasting

Biomedical implants – such as pacemakers, breast implants and orthopedic hardware like screws and plates to replace broken bones – have...

25.09.2023 1

The Conversation

Kellen Chen

Aerobic and strength training exercise combined can be an elixir for better brain health in your 80s and 90s, new study finds

People in the oldest stage of life who regularly engage in aerobic activities and strength training exercises perform better on cognitive tests...

25.09.2023 1

The Conversation

Brian Ho

The story of Ohio's ancient Native complex and its long journey for recognition as a World Heritage site

Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks in Ohio was added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites on Sept. 19, 2023. The eight mound complexes that...

25.09.2023 1

The Conversation

Stephen Warren

The Supreme Court's originalists have taken over − here's how they interpret the Constitution

Today a majority of U.S. Supreme Court justices are either self-described originalists or strongly lean toward originalism. Yet less than 50 years...

25.09.2023 1

The Conversation

Whitley R.p. Kaufman

'Design of Coffee' course teaches engineering through brewing the perfect cup of coffee

Uncommon Courses is an occasional series from The Conversation U.S. highlighting unconventional approaches to teaching. The Design of Coffee: An...

25.09.2023 1

The Conversation

William D. Ristenpart

How to create a college internship where students actually learn − and don't want to quit

When Angelica landed a prestigious internship with a major corporation just outside of Houston, she was ecstatic about the opportunity to launch...

25.09.2023 1

The Conversation

Kyoungjin Jang-Tucci

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