Tag: The Conversation
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High interest rates aren’t going away anytime soon
The U.S. Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at its May 1, 2024, policy meeting, dashing the hopes of potential homebuyers and others who were hoping ... -
Tiny crystals capture millions of years of mountain range history – the Himalayas
The Himalayas stand as Earth’s highest mountain range, possibly the highest ever. How did it form? Why is it so tall? You might think understanding big ... -
Can witches fly? Unpacking the medieval invention
The image of a witch flying on a broomstick is iconic, but it is not nearly as old as the idea of witchcraft itself, which dates ... -
Wealthier, urban Americans have access to more local news – while half of US counties have only one outlet
Is local news readily available in your town? Do reporters still cover your school board and other municipal meetings? If you answered yes, you are likely ... -
Candidates’ aging brains are factors in US presidential race
The leading contenders in the 2024 U.S. presidential election are two of the three oldest people ever to serve as president. President Joe Biden is 81. ... -
It’s the Year of the Dragon − associated with good fortune, wisdom and success
Among China’s traditional holidays and celebrations, none ranks higher in importance than the Lunar New Year ٩A>ل٧s&~. Also known as the Spring Festival ،K٨`, or simply ... -
Urban agriculture best practices can transform gardens, city-farms
Urban agriculture is expected to be an important feature of 21st century sustainability and can have many benefits for communities and cities, including providing fresh produce in neighborhoods ... -
Teens on social media need both protection and privacy – AI could help get the balance right
Meta announced on Jan. 9, 2024, that it will protect teen users by blocking them from viewing content on Instagram and Facebook that the company deems ... -
Macau is leaving HK behind in space race
As I write this I am still mesmerized by the amazing fully immersive video, sound and “vibrational” experience called SPACE that had its grand gala opening ... -
From besting Tetris AI to epic speedruns – inside gaming’s most thrilling feats
After 13-year-old Willis Gibson became the first human to beat the original Nintendo version of Tetris, he dedicated his special win to his father, who passed ... -
What Taoism teaches about the body and being healthy
New Year’s resolutions often come with a renewed investment in making our bodies healthier. Many may take to the newest diet plan or sign up for ... -
We used AI and satellite imagery to map ocean activities that take place out of sight, including fishing, shipping and energy development
Humans are racing to harness the ocean’s vast potential to power global economic growth. Worldwide, ocean-based industries such as fishing, shipping and energy production generate at ... -
Why the COP28 climate summit mattered, and what to watch for in 2024
Reading down the lengthy final agreement of the COP28 United Nations climate conference held in December 2023, you’ll go a long way before finding a strong, ... -
What’s the point of giving gifts? An anthropologist explains this ancient part of being human
Have you planned out your holiday gift giving yet? If you’re anything like me, you might be waiting until the last minute. But whether every single ... -
Israel-Gaza: what the term genocide means under international law
In the weeks since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 and the Israeli bombardment and ground assault on Gaza, both sides have traded accusations ... -
Immune health is all about balance
For immune health, some influencers seem to think the Goldilocks philosophy of “just right” is overrated. Why settle for less immunity when you can have more? ... -
The sacred holiday is far more than a ‘Mexican Halloween’
Many Latinos regularly declare: “Día de los Muertos is not Mexican Halloween.” The declaration is increasingly repeated by non-Latinos too. Drawing a clear line between the ... -
Deception researchers investigate how the recipient and the medium affect telling the truth
Prominent cases of purported lying continue to dominate the news cycle. Hunter Biden was charged with lying on a government form while purchasing a handgun. Republican ... -
In secular Japan, what draws so many to temples and shrines? Stamp collecting and tradition
Almost weekly Momo Nomura makes time to visit Shinto shrines. She performs the prescribed rituals — cleansing her hands, ringing a bell, bowing and clapping. But ... -
NASA report finds no evidence that UFOs are extraterrestrial
NASA’s independent study team released its highly anticipated report on UFOs on Sept. 14, 2023. In part to move beyond the stigma often attached to UFOs, ... -
Why China’s real estate crisis should make the global travel industry nervous
Once upon a time – in 2019 – tourists from China were among the best-traveled in the world. They collectively spent more than US$250 billion abroad ... -
Ancient texts depict all kinds of people, not just straight and cis ones
I study Greek and Latin literature and have noticed that ancient authors wrote about sex, homoerotic feelings or relations, and gender more often than we assume. ... -
Quran burning in Sweden prompts debate on freedom of expression vs incitement of hatred
The Swedish government is concerned about national security following several incidents involving the burning of the Quran that have provoked demonstrations and outrage from Muslim-majority countries. ... -
How Russian history sheds light on Putin and Prigozhin – and the dangers of dissent
In Russia, failed coups portend turmoil and collapse. They also herald greater repression, and a tightening of centralised control. This is because Russian history has swung ... -
As BRICS cooperation accelerates, is it time for the US to develop a BRICS policy?
The leaders of the BRICS group of large emerging economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – meet in Johannesburg for two days beginning ... -
Discrimination took a heavy toll on Asian American students during pandemic
Experiencing discrimination significantly harmed the well-being of Asian and Asian American college students in the U.S. during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s the ... -
Hitler and Trump: Show trials can provide a powerful platform for the defendant
The trial of Donald Trump on charges that he conspired to undermine the peaceful transition of power will likely be a show trial – but not ... -
Social media can in fact be made better, research shows
Is social media designed to reward people for acting badly? The answer is clearly yes, given that the reward structure on social media platforms relies on ... -
Why Russia pulled out of its grain deal with Ukraine – and what that means for the global food system
The Russia-Ukraine grain deal that has been critical to keeping global food prices stable and preventing famine is currently in tatters. On July 17, 2023, Russia ... -
Ukraine is the hot topic at the NATO summit – the most important work is all in the details happening behind the scenes
A summit is literally the highest point on the mountain. In diplomatic terms, summits like the NATO meeting, held on July 11 and 12, 2023, in ... -
“We the People” includes all Americans – but July 4 is a reminder that democracy remains a work in progress
The United States’ founders firmly rejected King George III and the entire idea of monarchy 247 years ago, on July 4, 1776. Political power does not ... -
The folly of making art with text-to-image generative AI
Making art using artificial intelligence isn’t new. It’s as old as AI itself. What’s new is that a wave of tools now let most people generate ... -
AI could shore up democracy – here’s one way
It’s become fashionable to think of artificial intelligence as an inherently dehumanizing technology, a ruthless force of automation that has unleashed legions of virtual skilled laborers in faceless form. ... -
Southern Baptists expel churches with women pastors – but the debate’s not just about gender
The Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant group in the United States, overwhelmingly voted to expel two congregations with women pastors on June 14, 2023, during ... -
Watered-down LGBTQ ‘understanding’ bill shows how far Japan’s parliament is out of step with its society – and history
Japan has passed legislation aimed at “promoting the understanding” of members of the LGBTQ community – a watered-down bill that will do little to put the ...
