Tag: The Conversation
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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 in more ... -
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 have betrayed ... -
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 the Washington ... -
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, in southeastern Georgia’s ... -
Teens and young adults are driving demand for online abortion pills
Teens in the U.S. are obtaining medication abortion pills through telehealth, and young people age 18 to 24 are ordering medication abortion at much higher rates ... -
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 Chris Schaffer’s ... -
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 for decades ... -
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 supply chains. ... -
‘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 politicians, according ... -
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. “Trump makes ... -
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 — not counting ... -
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 activate the ... -
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 to the ... -
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 that the ... -
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 card debt ... -
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.” Research I ... -
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 heard it ... -
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 in your ... -
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 look at ... -
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 seemingly out ... -
Nowadays autocrats use manipulation, not violence
President Donald Trump’s critics often accuse him of harboring authoritarian ambitions. Journalists and scholars have drawn parallels between his leadership style and that of strongmen abroad. ... -
Harvard fights to keep enrolling international students
A federal judge in Boston on May 23, 2025, temporarily blocked a Trump administration order that would have revoked Harvard University’s authorization to enroll international students. ... -
The sharp decline in young Americans’ support for free speech
For much of the 20th century, young Americans were seen as free speech’s fiercest defenders. But now, young Americans are growing more skeptical of free speech. ... -
Pope Leo XIV: Why the College of Cardinals chose the Chicago native and Augustinian to lead the church after Francis
When 69-year-old Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost appeared on the main balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica for the first time as Pope Leo XIV on May 8, ... -
Buddha’s foster mother played a key role in the orphaned prince’s life
Mother’s Day offers an opportunity to reflect on what motherhood means in different religions and cultures. As a scholar of Buddhism and gender, I know how ... -
Japanese women have long sacrificed their surnames in marriage − politics and demographics might change that
For centuries, women entering marriage in Japan have been bound by the Confucian notion of personal sacrifice for the good of the family – and that ... -
A Palestinian-Israeli film just won an Oscar − so why is it so hard to see?
For many low-budget, independent films, an Oscar win is a golden ticket. The publicity can translate into theatrical releases or rereleases, along with more on-demand rentals ... -
The history and politics of often-maligned isolationism
Few terms in American foreign policy discourse are as misunderstood or politically charged as “isolationism.” Often used as a political weapon, the term conjures images of ... -
China to step in?
If US attempts World Bank retreat, the China-led AIIB could be poised to step in – and provide a model of global cooperation Donald Trump’s animosity ... -
AI datasets have human values blind spots − new research
My colleagues and I at Purdue University have uncovered a significant imbalance in the human values embedded in AI systems. The systems were predominantly oriented toward ... -
Trudeau taps out: How Trump’s taunts and tariff threats added to domestic woes confronting Canada’s long-standing PM
After weeks of speculation over his future, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his intention to resign on Jan. 6, 2025. His departure will bring an ... -
Why winter makes you more vulnerable to colds
You’ve probably heard “Don’t go outside in the winter with your hair wet or without a coat; you’ll catch a cold.” That’s not exactly true. As ... -
Light exercise can yield significant cognitive benefits, new research shows
Everyday physical activity, like going for a short walk or playing with the kids, may provide short-term benefits for cognitive health, equivalent to reversing four years ... -
The journey matters as much as the destination
Americans spent more than US$850 billion on domestic leisure travel in 2023, a sum that looks likely to rise in future years. Whether it’s a weekend ... -
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, and Formula ...
