The Conversation
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What diversity does — and doesn’t — look like in Trump’s Cabinet
President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration is set to be less diverse than President Joe Biden’s administration, but several people of color and women appear ... -
Fast fashion may seem cheap, but it’s taking a costly toll on the planet − and on millions of young customers
Fast fashion is everywhere – in just about every mall, in the feeds of influencers on social media promoting overconsumption, and in ads constantly ... -
May 2025 arrive quickly, dry and bright
Weather conditions posed challenges, but not even an unseasonal typhoon could dim the shine of the FIA event that wrapped up the WTRC, GT, ... -
An 83-year-old Borges story predicts a bleak internet future
How will the internet evolve in the coming decades? Fiction writers have speculated on this question for years. In his 2019 novel Fall, Neal ... -
Climate change is encouraging unsanitary toilet practices among vulnerable communities
Everyone knows that climate change has consequences, such as a higher likelihood of severe floods, hurricanes and droughts. But here’s a lesser-known problem: Climate ... -
How the Taliban are seeking to reshape Afghanistan’s schools to push their ideology
The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 was a blow for education across the country – but especially for girls and women. Since then, ... -
Now the Electoral College votes for president – four essential reads
The voters have cast their ballots, and after those ballots have been counted, and a winner has been projected by news organizations, that’s not the ... -
The ancient Irish get far too much credit for Halloween
This time of year, I often run across articles proclaiming Halloweena modern form of the pagan Irish holiday of Samhain – pronounced SAW-en. But ... -
Countries are helping autocracies repress exiled dissidents for economic gain
Governments, even democratic ones, are willing to aid autocracies in silencing exiled dissidents if the host nation thinks it’s in its economic interest. That ... -
Your next favorite story won’t be written by AI – but it could be someday
Stories define people – they shape our relationships, cultures and societies. Unlike other skills replaced by technology, storytelling has remained uniquely human, setting people ... -
Profit with purpose
As OpenAI attracts billions in new investment, its goal of balancing profit with purpose is getting more challenging to pull off: an interview with ... -
Decolonizing the calendar in Latin America
This is the season of patriotism in Latin America as many countries commemorate their independence from colonial powers. From July to September, public plazas ... -
A realistic statue of Mary giving birth was criticized, then vandalized
A sculpture of the Virgin Mary showing her giving birth to Jesus was recently attacked and beheaded. Called “Crowning” by the artist Esther Strauss, ... -
The thousand times’ truth
There has been a lot of research on the types of people who believe conspiracy theories, and their reasons for doing so. But there’s ... -
Low pay, high staff turnover, burnout took a toll on social service nonprofits
Social service nonprofits had high rates of staff turnover and a hard time filling vacant positions in 2022 as the COVID-19 pandemic was ending. ... -
Sri Lankans throw out old guard in election upset
What nation’s new Marxist-leaning leader means for economy, IMF loans Sri Lankans voted for a new direction in leadership on Sept. 22, 2024, electing ... -
TikTok ban goes to the court: Five essential reads on the case and its consequences
TikTok headed to court on Sept. 16, 2024, seeking to overturn a law that would force it to separate from its China-based parent company ... -
Tiny robots and AI help to craft material solutions for cleaner environments
Human activities release pollutants into the air, water, and soil, threatening both ecosystems and human health. According to the World Health Organization, air pollution ... -
What are halal mortgages?
The growth of “halal mortgages” over the past 20 years has expanded financial access to homeownership for many Muslims. Halal mortgages provide interest-free loans ... -
The one and the only debate?
Harris presses a more forceful case against Trump than Biden did on abortion, economy, and democracy in what can be the only debate before ... -
‘What people wanted’
Often these spectacles of American politics come down to some memorable moment – a rhetorical jab that bloodies an opponent, an unforced error that ... -
Under both Trump and Biden, US oil and gas production surged to record highs
The U.S. is producing more oil and natural gas today than ever before, and far more than any other country. What roles did the ... -
The specter of China has edged into US presidential election rhetoric − for Republicans much more than Democrats
Speaking at the Republican National Convention in July 2024, Donald Trump invoked China 14 times. In the course of a 92-minute address, the former ... -
East Timor president sees pope stop as opportunity, not time to dwell on past sins
The president of East Timor sees Pope Francis’ upcoming visit as a prime opportunity to promote Asia’s youngest country on the world stage, not ... -
Long COVID: targeting specific immune cells could reverse damage in lungs
The long-term effects of respiratory viral infections such as COVID-19 are a major public health burden. Some estimates suggest over 65 million people around ... -
If new technologies snarl your airline experience, here are old-school strategies to cope
Ten years ago I wrote a book titled “The End of Airports” about how digital technologies and commercial air travel were on a collision ... -
How Atlantic Niña’s could affect hurricane season
For months, the North Atlantic Ocean has experienced unusually high surface temperatures. However, recent cooling in both the Atlantic and eastern Pacific might offer ... -
AI pioneers want bots to replace human teachers – here’s why that’s unlikely
OpenAI co-founder Andrej Karpathy envisions a world in which artificial intelligence bots can be made into subject matter experts that are “deeply passionate, great ... -
Who is the ‘Laughing Buddha’?
With his delighted expression, round belly, bald head and monastic robes, the “Laughing Buddha” is instantly identifiable. However, astute observers might wonder why this ... -
Raising retirement age won’t solve China’s demographic problem, immigration might
China’s recent decision to raise the retirement age is a response to its looming demographic crisis, driven by an aging population and shrinking workforce. ... -
International students will offer a big boost to the US economy
Of the millions of young adults heading off to college this fall, many will be international students. If trends continue, about 1 million students ... -
Dementia risk factors identified in new global report are all preventable
Nearly half of all dementia cases could be delayed or prevented altogether by addressing 14 possible risk factors, including vision loss and high cholesterol. ... -
Heat risk isn’t just about the highs: Large daily temperature swings can harm human health
This summer has highlighted how high temperatures can be deadly, but it’s not just extreme heat and cold that are concerning—daily temperature swings also ... -
Vietnam’s late Trong left a legacy in ‘bamboo diplomacy’
As a rule, the U.S. secretary of state does not attend the funeral of the general secretary of a Communist party. Yet that is ... -
Asia-Pacific gaming industry undergoing a transformative shift
The Asia-Pacific gaming industry is undergoing a transformative shift, with various countries implementing new regulatory frameworks to balance growth and player protection. A panel ...
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