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What's a banana republic? A political scientist explains

  • Written by Matthew Wilson, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of South Carolina
imageU.S. banana growers heavily influenced several Central American governments in the early 20th century.George Rinhart/Getty Images

When someone mentions a “banana republic,” they’re referring to a small, poor, politically unstable country that is weak because of an excessive reliance on one crop and foreign funding.

The term...

Read more: What's a banana republic? A political scientist explains

What causes hives and how dangerous can they be? A nurse practitioner explains

  • Written by Patricia A. MacCulloch, Clinical Associate Professor of Nursing, UMass Lowell
imageThe appearance of hives can vary with skin color.BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images

Every year, about 20% of Americans will get hives – those itchy, red bumps or welts that can appear after a day in the garden, taking medication, being bitten by a bug or for no apparent reason at all. Patricia A. MacCulloch is a nurse practitioner and professor of...

Read more: What causes hives and how dangerous can they be? A nurse practitioner explains

5 books and films that tell the story of the trauma of the Partition of India and its aftermath

  • Written by Madhur Anand, Professor & Director, Global Ecological Change & Sustainability Laboratory, University of Guelph
imageMuslim refugees sit on the roof of an overcrowded coach railway train near New Delhi, trying to leave India after the 1947 Partition.AP Photo

Editor’s note: At midnight on Aug. 14, 1947, India achieved independence from British colonial rule and Pakistan was created as a separate homeland for Muslims. More than 200 years of British rule had...

Read more: 5 books and films that tell the story of the trauma of the Partition of India and its aftermath

The metaverse isn't here yet, but it already has a long history

  • Written by Tom Boellstorff, Professor of Anthropology, University of California, Irvine
imageAs far back as the late '80s people could venture into a virtual online world.Screenshot of Habitat from Lucasfilm Games

Nattie’s metaverse romance began with anonymous texting. At first “C” would admit only to living in a nearby town. Nattie eventually learned “Clem” was a man with a solitary office job like hers. For...

Read more: The metaverse isn't here yet, but it already has a long history

India turns 75: Fast facts about the unusual constitution guiding the world's most populous democracy

  • Written by Deepa Das Acevedo, Assistant Professor of Law, University of Alabama
imageCelebrating the 75th anniversary of Indian independence in Bangalore, Aug. 8 2022. Manjunath Kiran/AFP via Getty Images

India will celebrate its 75th birthday on Aug. 15, 2022.

Its independence from British colonial rule followed a complex process, including Partition: the division of India into Muslim-majority Pakistan and Hindu-majority India....

Read more: India turns 75: Fast facts about the unusual constitution guiding the world's most populous...

An interfaith discussion on the role of religion in mental health

  • Written by Emily Costello, Managing Editor, The Conversation US
imageHuman connections can help people through difficult times.fizkes/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Religious leaders often try to support the people they serve during challenging times. This supportive role was especially important during the past few years as the nation dealt with a pandemic, social distancing and the loss of more than a million lives.

In a...

Read more: An interfaith discussion on the role of religion in mental health

Politicians seek to control classroom discussions about slavery in the US

  • Written by Raphael E. Rogers, Professor of Practice in Education, Clark University
imageA Texas law says slavery cannot be taught as part of the 'true founding' of the United States.Tamir Kalifa/Getty Images

Of all the subjects taught in the nation’s public schools, few have generated as much controversy of late as the subjects of racism and slavery in the United States.

The attention has come largely through a flood of...

Read more: Politicians seek to control classroom discussions about slavery in the US

At 75, Pakistan has moved far from the secular and democratic vision of its founder, Mohammad Ali Jinnah

  • Written by Farah N. Jan, Senior Lecturer, University of Pennsylvania
imageMohammad Ali Jinnah addressing the assembly in Karachi on Aug. 15, 1947, after the creation of Pakistan.AP Photo

This month marks the 75th anniversary of Pakistan’s independence and of its Partition from British India in a devastating process that uprooted more than 15 million people and resulted in 1 million to 2 million dead. Hindus,...

Read more: At 75, Pakistan has moved far from the secular and democratic vision of its founder, Mohammad Ali...

Russia’s threats to shut down Jewish Agency raise alarm bells for those who remember the past

  • Written by Shaul Kelner, Associate Professor of Sociology and Jewish Studies, Vanderbilt University
imageDuring the Cold War, Jewish emigration from the Soviet Union was tightly restricted. Dzurag/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 sparked a surge of refugees fleeing the war zone, but political repression and economic uncertainty have also prompted emigration from Russia itself. Among the emigrants are...

Read more: Russia’s threats to shut down Jewish Agency raise alarm bells for those who remember the past

There's reason for people on opposing sides of abortion to talk, even if they disagree – it helps build respect, understanding and can lead to policy change

  • Written by Kate W. Isaacs, Lecturer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has split the country into joyous supporters and furious dissenters. Emotions are running high, and some protests have turned violent. Yet research shows that people on either side of the abortion rights issue can bridge their divide if they speak directly and respectfully with one another....

Read more: There's reason for people on opposing sides of abortion to talk, even if they disagree – it helps...

More Articles ...

  1. Farmers can save water with wireless technologies, but there are challenges – like transmitting data through mud
  2. American Sikhs are targets of bigotry, often due to cultural ignorance
  3. What is a semiconductor? An electrical engineer explains how these critical electronic components work and how they are made
  4. Old age isn't a modern phenomenon – many people lived long enough to grow old in the olden days, too
  5. Don't be too quick to blame social media for America's polarization – cable news has a bigger effect, study finds
  6. Boosting renewable energy use can happen quickly – and reduce harm to low-income people if done thoughtfully
  7. How the FBI knew what to search for at Mar-a-Lago – and why the Presidential Records Act is an essential tool for the National Archives and future historians
  8. Do chemicals in sunscreens threaten aquatic life? A new report says a thorough assessment is 'urgently needed,' while also calling sunscreens essential protection against skin cancer
  9. Safety in and near the water – a pediatric emergency medicine physician offers tips
  10. How 'living architecture' could help the world avoid a soul-deadening digital future
  11. To break unhealthy habits, stop obsessing over willpower – two behavioral scientists explain why routines matter more than conscious choices
  12. Key parts of US laws are hard for the public to find and read
  13. 58% of human infectious diseases can be worsened by climate change – we scoured 77,000 studies to map the pathways
  14. Rise of precision agriculture exposes food system to new threats
  15. How does monkeypox spread? An epidemiologist explains why it isn't an STI and what counts as close contact
  16. The most recent efforts to combat teacher shortages don't address the real problems
  17. The climate bill could short-circuit EV tax credits, making qualifying for them nearly impossible
  18. 75 years ago, Britain's plan for Pakistani and Indian independence left unresolved conflicts on both sides – especially when it comes to Kashmir
  19. Monkeypox is now a national public health emergency in the U.S. – an epidemiologist explains what this means
  20. How Vin Scully scored his Dodgers gig at 22 years old
  21. Why it's important to think about social media use as a form of dissociation, rather than addiction
  22. What is neoliberalism? A political scientist explains the use and evolution of the term
  23. Proving war crimes isn't simple – a forensics expert explains what's involved with documenting human rights violations during conflicts, from Afghanistan to Ukraine
  24. Social media provides flood of images of death and carnage from Ukraine war – and contributes to weaker journalism standards
  25. Monkeypox vaccines: A virologist answers 6 questions about how they work, who can get them and how well they prevent infection
  26. Crossing the US-Mexico border is deadlier than ever for migrants – here's why
  27. Long COVID-19 and other chronic respiratory conditions after viral infections may stem from an overactive immune response in the lungs
  28. Inflation rates are rising in the US – an economist explains why
  29. Illuminating the brain one neuron and synapse at a time – 5 essential reads about how researchers are using new tools to map its structure and function
  30. China has a new global development initiative, but who will actually benefit from it?
  31. Who benefits from renewable energy subsidies? In Texas, it's often fossil fuel companies that are fighting clean energy elsewhere
  32. Handwritten diaries may feel old fashioned, but they offer insights that digital diaries just can’t match
  33. Atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki left survivors wrestling with spiritual questions – here's how Buddhists and Catholics responded
  34. Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan visit sparked international tension, but isn't likely to shake up her popularity with Chinese American voters at home in San Francisco
  35. From whistling arrows and trumpeting elephants to battle cries and eerie horns, ancient soldiers used sound to frighten and confuse their enemies
  36. More than 1 in 5 US adults don’t want children
  37. Coyotes are here to stay in North American cities – here's how to appreciate them from a distance
  38. Charities that don't embrace common financial norms tend to outperform their peers
  39. Why Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan puts the White House in delicate straits of diplomacy with China
  40. Who was Ayman al-Zawahri? Where does his death leave al-Qaida and what does it say about US counterterrorism?
  41. Congress is considering making same-sex marriage federal law – a political scientist explains how this issue became less polarized over time
  42. 5 of the biggest threats today's K-12 students and educators face don't involve guns
  43. What are automotive 'over-the-air' updates? A marketing professor explains
  44. Why food insecurity among Gen Z is so much higher than for other age groups
  45. The story behind 'Star Trek' actress Nichelle Nichols' iconic interracial kiss
  46. If all the vehicles in the world were to convert to electric, would it be quieter?
  47. How to keep high school athletes safe from heat illness in a brutally hot summer
  48. Inflation is spiking around the world – not just in the United States
  49. How to college: 4 essential reads for incoming first-year students and their parents on mental health, libraries and more
  50. Climate change is intensifying the water cycle, bringing more powerful storms and flooding – here's what the science shows