The Conversation

Extreme rain heads for California's burn scars, raising the risk of mudslides – this is what cascading climate disasters look like

Written by Amir AghaKouchak, Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine

A firefighter checks homes after a mudslide that killed 23 people in Montecito, Calif., in 2018.Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Two powerful storm systems known as atmospheric rivers are heading for northern California and Oregon, a region in the midst of an historic drought.

While the storms will bring much-needed water to a...

How do you spot a witch? This notorious 15th-century book gave instructions – and helped execute thousands of women

Written by Melissa Chim, Adjunct Professor and Reference Librarian, General Theological Seminary

The 'Malleus Maleficarum,' a medieval handbook, was used to try and execute supposed witches. Its influence lasted for centuries – including at the Salem Witch Trials. Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Books have always had the power to cast a spell over their readers – figuratively.

But one book that was quite popular...

Decades of hype turned protein into a superfood – and spawned a multibillion-dollar industry

Written by Hannah Cutting-Jones, Lecturer, Department of History, University of Oregon

A protein-rich shake is often the way many people try to get more of this nutrient into their diets.andresr E+ via Getty Images

Do you ever blend up a protein smoothie for breakfast, or grab a protein bar following an afternoon workout? If so, you are likely among the millions of people in search of more protein-rich diets.

Protein-enriched...

The American founders didn’t believe your sacred freedom means you can do whatever you want – not even when it comes to vaccines and your own body

Written by Maurizio Valsania, Professor of American History, Università di Torino

Protests against mandates and quarantines get the Founding Fathers' ideas wrong.George Rose/Getty Images

President Joe Biden has mandated vaccines for a large part of the American workforce, a requirement that has prompted protest from those opposed to the measure.

Meanwhile, a similar move in New York City to enforce vaccinations has resulted in...

Bolsonaro faces 'crimes against humanity' charge over COVID-19 mishandling: 5 essential reads

Written by Matt Williams, Breaking News Editor

Reckless policies are to blame for Brazil's high death toll.Evaristo Sa/AFP via Getty Image

A Brazilian congressional panel has recommended that President Jair Bolsonaro be charged with “crimes against humanity” over his alleged bungling of the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The near-1,200 page report, formally...

Deportation threats for some students come from within schools

Written by Patricia Maloney, Associate Professor, Sociology, Texas Tech University

Immigrant students worry that minor school infractions could lead to deportation. Astrid Riecken For The Washington Post via Getty Images

When Bilal, a recent immigrant from South Asia, started his sophomore year at a high school in a large southern U.S. city in 2014, it wasn’t a welcoming experience.

Upon entering the school, Bilal had to go...

What is COP26? Here's how global climate negotiations work and what's expected from the Glasgow summit

Written by Shelley Inglis, Executive Director, University of Dayton Human Rights Center, University of Dayton

U.N. climate summits bring together representatives of almost every country.UNFCCC

Over two weeks in November, world leaders and national negotiators will meet in Scotland to discuss what to do about climate change. It’s a complex process that can be hard to make sense of from the outside, but it’s how international law and institutions...

Short-sleepers are more likely to suffer from irregular and heavy periods

Written by Kat Kennedy, PhD Student, Physiology, University of Arizona

Menstrual periods can disturb sleep, but sleep troubles can worsen menstrual symptoms.Catherine McQueen/Getty Images

The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.

The big idea

Menstruating women who sleep less than six hours a night tend to suffer heavier and irregular periods. That is the conclusion from our new study, which...

Drácula, el enfermo: cómo nació el mito del vampiro

Written by Stanley Stepanic, Assistant Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures, University of Virginia

Modern vampires like Dracula may be dashing, but they certainly weren't in the original vampire myths.Archive Photos/ Moviepix via Getty Images

El vampiro es una imagen común en la cultura pop actual que adopta muchas formas: desde Alucard, el gallardo engendro de Drácula en el juego de PlayStation “Castlevania: Symphony of the...

Cities worldwide aren't adapting to climate change quickly enough

Written by John Rennie Short, Professor, School of Public Policy, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Flooding is seen in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia after the remnants of Hurricane Ida, Sept. 2, 2021. AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Climate change is magnifying threats such as flooding, wildfires, tropical storms and drought. In 2020 the U.S. experienced a record-breaking 22 weather and climate disasters that each caused at least US$1 billion in...