Andrew Stokes, Boston University; Dielle Lundberg, Boston University; Elizabeth Wrigley-Field, University of Minnesota, and Yea-Hung Chen, University of California, San Francisco Since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in March 2020, […]
The Conversation
Posted inArts & Entertainment
‘The Whale’ is a horror film that taps into our fear of fatness
Beth Younger, Drake University Editor’s note: This article contains plot spoilers for “The Whale.” I knew before seeing “The Whale” that it was a movie about a man named Charlie […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
This lunar year will be the Year of the Rabbit or the Year of the Cat, depending on where you live
Megan Bryson, University of Tennessee On Jan. 22, 2023, more than a billion people globally will welcome the Year of the Rabbit – or the Year of Cat, depending on […]
Posted inNews
How the distortion of Martin Luther King Jr.‘s words enables more, not less, racial division within American society
Hajar Yazdiha, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences U.S. Rep. Chip Roy of Texas is just the latest conservative lawmaker to misuse the words of the Rev. Martin […]
Posted inMaine
Lobsters versus right whales: The latest chapter in a long quest to make fishing more sustainable
Blake Earle, Texas A&M University Maine lobster fishermen received a Christmas gift from Congress at the end of 2022: A six-year delay on new federal regulations designed to protect critically […]
Posted inCity & Government
Are gas stoves bad for your health? Here’s why the federal government is considering new safety regulations
Jonathan Levy, Boston University Cooks love their gadgets, from countertop slow cookers to instant-read thermometers. Now, there’s increasing interest in magnetic induction cooktops – surfaces that cook much faster than […]
Posted inNews
The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz
Fritz Holznagel, The Conversation We hope you’ve enjoyed this first regular quiz from our new quizmaster, Fritz Holznagel, a past winner of the Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions. If you have […]
Posted inNews
Pope Benedict XVI: A man at odds with the modern world who leaves a legacy of intellectual brilliance and controversy
Mathew Schmalz, College of the Holy Cross Benedict XVI leaves behind a complex legacy as a Pope and theologian. To many observers, Benedict, who died on Dec. 31, 2022 at […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Newport
‘Twas the night before Christmas’ helped make the modern Santa – and led to a literary whodunit
Melissa Chim, General Theological Seminary The poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” better known by its opening line “‘Twas the Night before Christmas,” has a special place among Christmas traditions, […]
Posted inNews
Talking turkey! How the Thanksgiving bird got its name (and then lent it to film flops)
Jack Lynch, Rutgers University – Newark “Meleagris Gallopavo Day” is a bit of a mouthful. Which may be why this Thanksgiving, most people will opt for the less ornithologically precise […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Why is turkey the main dish on Thanksgiving?
Troy Bickham, Texas A&M University 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 curiouskidsus@theconversation.com. […]
Posted inSports
What to watch for when you are watching the World Cup: Essential reads for on and off the field
Matt Williams, The Conversation Whether you call it “soccer” or “football,” the beautiful game is enjoyed by fans around the world. And every four years, it is celebrated in a […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ continues the series’ quest to recover and celebrate lost cultures
Julian C. Chambliss, Michigan State University As someone who teaches and writes about Afrofuturism, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” I’m particularly excited about the […]
Posted inNews
How winning record $1.9 billion Powerball jackpot could still lead to bankruptcy
Jay L. Zagorsky, Boston University The latest Powerball jackpot swelled to a record US$1.9 billion after another drawing passed with no winning ticket. The next drawing will be held on […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
With the strokes of a guitar solo, Joni Mitchell showed us how our female music elders are super punks
Janelle K Johnstone, La Trobe University The iconic Joni Mitchell’s recent surprise performance at the 2022 Newport Folk Festival prompted a world-wide outpouring of love and respect. This was her […]
Posted inNews
The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz
Quizmaster, The Conversation If you have feedback on our new quiz, or want to suggest a fact from a fascinating story for a future question, please send us an email […]
Posted inNews
New satellite mapping with AI can quickly pinpoint hurricane damage across an entire state to spot where people may be trapped
Zhe Zhu, University of Connecticut and Su Ye, University of Connecticut Hurricane Ian left an extraordinarily broad path of destruction across much of South Florida. That was evident in reports […]
Posted inCity & Government
The Supreme Court is back in session, with new controversial cases that stand to change many Americans’ lives – here’s what to expect
Morgan Marietta, UMass Lowell Following a dramatic year of controversial rulings, the Supreme Court began hearing new cases on Oct. 3, 2022, with a full agenda. The court overturned abortion […]
Posted inCity & Government
ALS drug wins FDA approval despite questionable data
WASHINGTON (AP) — A much-debated drug for Lou Gehrig’s disease won U.S. approval Thursday, a long-sought victory for patients that is likely to renew questions about the scientific rigor behind […]
Posted inNews
Orioles shut down by Rich Hill in 3-1 loss to Red Sox
BOSTON (AP) — Anthony Santander and the Baltimore Orioles were shut down by Rich Hill and three relievers in a 3-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night, […]
Posted inNews, Weather
Looking back at America’s summer of heat, floods, and climate change: Welcome to the new abnormal
Shuang-Ye Wu, University of Dayton The summer of 2022 started with a historic flood in Montana, brought on by heavy rain and melting snow, that tore up roads and caused […]
Posted inCity & Government
Russia’s reliance on mercenaries in Ukraine points to the weakness of its military – and Putin’s strategy of deflecting blame
Christopher Michael Faulkner, US Naval War College Ukrainian forces are gaining ground in the war against Russia. Since early September 2022, they have launched a massive counteroffensive in Ukraine’s northeast […]
Posted inCOVID-19
Low vaccine booster rates are now a key factor in COVID-19 deaths – and racial disparities in booster rates persist
Andrew Stokes, Boston University; Dielle Lundberg, Boston University; Elizabeth Wrigley-Field, University of Minnesota, and Rafeya Raquib, Boston University More than 450 people are dying of COVID-19 in the U.S. each […]
Posted inSports
McDaniels welcomes mentor Belichick and Patriots to Vegas
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — First-year Raiders coach Josh McDaniels rolled out the silver and black carpet for mentor Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. The Patriots practiced at Las […]
Posted inCity & Government
If all the vehicles in the world were to convert to electric, would it be quieter?
By Erica D. Walker, Brown University 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 […]
