The Conversation
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‘Soccer’ is a fine term for the beautiful game – don’t let any ‘football’ snob or president tell you otherwise this World Cup
At the 2026 World Cup draw, FIFA Peace Prize recipient and U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the game should really be called “football.” “There’s no question about it. ... -
Haiti at the World Cup is more than an underdog tale – it is the story of global migration
When Haiti’s soccer team lines up against Scotland on June 13, 2026, its players will be representing the Caribbean nation at a World Cup for the first ... -
US violent crime is at its lowest in more than a century
The United States is experiencing one of the steepest declines in violent crime in modern history, including a murder rate at its lowest point ... -
Does frequent worship lead to better mental health?
Worldwide, the landscape of religion is anything but serene. Many denominations are riven by divisions. In some regions, believers face violence. Countless faith leaders ... -
Attack threatening Trump reflects rising political violence in US
For the third time in three years, Donald Trump has come under threat by an attacker. Many facts remain unclear after a gunman stormed ... -
Why the Southeast is burning – extreme drought is only part of the reason
Large parts of the southeastern U.S. are in the midst of an exceptional drought, and it is fueling dozens of wildfires in Florida and Georgia. One of those wildfires, ... -
A month into war, Iran is holding the world economy hostage
One month into their war with Iran, the United States and Israel face an opponent that behaves less like a conventional state and more ... -
Perfect homework, blank stares
The assignment involves no laptop, no chatbot and no technology of any kind. In fact, there’s no pen or paper, either. Instead, students in ... -
As war in Ukraine enters a 5th year, will the ‘Putin consensus’ among Russians hold?
Perceived wisdom has it that the longer a war goes on, the less enthusiastic a public becomes for continuing the conflict. After all, it is ordinary ... -
Editing cholesterol is exciting – but swallow the statin for now
If there were ever a disease that tempts scientists to reach for a permanent fix, it is high cholesterol. Pop a pill every day ... -
Has globalization lessened the importance of physical distance?
National economies are increasingly moving in sync and responding to the same booms and busts as a result of near-instantaneous communications and interdependent global ... -
‘Inoculation’ helps people spot political deepfakes, study finds
Informing people about political deepfakes through text-based information and interactive games both improve people’s ability to spot AI-generated video and audio that falsely depict ... -
Pope faces crisis as traditionalists plan bishop consecrations without consent
Pope Leo XIV is facing his first major crisis with traditionalist Catholics as a breakaway group attached to the traditional Latin Mass announced plans ... -
Trump’s Greenland threats reveal no-win dilemma at the heart of European security strategy
In the days since a fractious World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzeland, ended, some of Europe’s main players have pushed a narrative of continental togetherness. ... -
Where are those darn keys? Tricks for remembering where you put things
With a scarf dangling from your coat pocket and gloves left behind at the coffee shop, winter creates more opportunities to lose things — ... -
Can shoes alter your mind?
Athletic footwear has entered a new era of ambition. No longer content to promise comfort or performance, some brands now claim their shoes can ... -
Most Venezuelans in the US arrived within the past decade
In 2024, the most recent year for which data is available, an estimated 1 million immigrants from Venezuela lived in the United States. According ... -
The 6-7 craze offered a brief window into the hidden world of children
Many adults are breathing a sigh of relief as the 6-7 meme fades away as one of the biggest kid-led global fads of 2025. ... -
One Tech Tip: Spend quality time with loved ones, not a screen, over the holidays
The Christmas holiday season is a time to step back from the busy pace of modern life and connect with our nearest and dearest ... -
The North Pole keeps moving – that affects Santa’s holiday travel and yours
When Santa is done delivering presents on Christmas Eve, he must get back home to the North Pole, even if it’s snowing so hard ... -
Expert tips to ease financial pressure and avoid holiday overspending
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to spend money on gifts, parties, and travel this holiday season? The job market is tough, student loan and credit ... -
New industry standards, tech advances make pre-owned electronics a viable gift
Electronic gifts are very popular, and in recent years, retailers have been offering significant discounts on smartphones, e-readers and other electronics labeled as “pre-owned.” ... -
The marketing genius of Spotify Wrapped
I’m guessing I’ll be among Spotify’s top 1% of listeners for an obscure 2004 track titled “Rusty Chevrolet” by the Irish band Shanneyganock. I ... -
Sugar starts corroding your teeth within seconds
Between Halloween candy, Thanksgiving pies and holiday cookies, the end of the year is often packed with opportunities to consume sugar. But what happens ... -
Can the world quit coal?
As world leaders, researchers, activists and lobbyists gather in Brazil for the 30th annual United Nations climate conference, frustration is high that global action ... -
The ‘supercenter’ effect: How massive, one-stop retailers fuel overconsumption – and waste
Imagine walking out of a Walmart, Target or Costco. As you push your large shopping cart to your car, you ask yourself: Did I ... -
Why index funds and ETFs are good for retirees
Older adults likely began their investing careers before exchange-traded funds existed and have stuck with traditional mutual funds. But as retirement approaches, many investors ... -
Government shutdown hasn’t left consumers glum about the economy – for now, at least
The ongoing federal shutdown has resulted in a pause on regular government data releases, meaning economic data has been in short supply of late. That has left market-watchers ... -
How does AI affect how we learn?
When OpenAI released “study mode” in July 2025, the company touted ChatGPT’s educational benefits. “When ChatGPT is prompted to teach or tutor, it can ... -
Why journalists are reluctant to call Trump an authoritarian
In an authoritarian state, leaders use unconstitutional practices to consolidate power: rejecting democratic rules, delegitimizing opponents, tolerating political violence, and curtailing civil liberties. Since ... -
Misunderstood Malthus: The English thinker has lessons for today
No one uses “Malthusian” as a compliment. Since 1798, when economist and cleric Thomas Malthus published An Essay on the Principles of Population, the ... -
Don’t write off the Putin–Trump summit just yet
Like many such encounters, the Aug. 15, 2025, Alaska red-carpet rollout for Russian President Vladimir Putin is classic Donald Trump: diplomacy as pageantry, emerging ... -
Is ChatGPT making us stupid?
Back in 2008, The Atlantic sparked controversy with a provocative cover story: Is Google Making Us Stupid? In that 4,000-word essay, later expanded into ... -
Are people at the South Pole upside down?
When I was standing at the South Pole, I felt the same way I feel anywhere on Earth because my feet were still on ... -
Trump’s justifications for the latest travel ban aren’t supported by the data on immigration
The Trump administration on June 4, 2025, announced travel restrictions targeting 19 countries in Africa and Asia, including many of the world’s poorest nations. ...
