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The Conversation USA

The Conversation USA

A college course that’s a history of the future

  • Written by Adam Jortner, Goodwin Philpott Eminent Professor of Religion, Auburn University
imageSources of culture and thought can be found in literature and art that was considered lowbrow.Forrest J. Ackerman Collection/Corbis via Getty Imagesimage

Uncommon Courses is an occasional series from The Conversation U.S. highlighting unconventional approaches to teaching.

Title of course:

Science Fiction as Intellectual History

What prompted the idea for...

Read more: A college course that’s a history of the future

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  2. Elon Musk’s feud with Brazilian judge is much more than a personal spat − it’s about national sovereignty, freedom of speech and the rule of law
  3. Bobbleheads, Magic 8 Balls, chairs and other artifacts in the Smithsonian reveal the historical significance of presidential debates
  4. Politicians often warn of American decline – and voters often buy it
  5. How Democrats are making a mistake in rural America – by not showing up
  6. Found dead in the snow − how microbes can help pinpoint time of death for forensic investigations in frigid conditions
  7. Neutral news sources could exploit today’s polarized mediascape to boost revenue − here’s why they may choose not to
  8. How Russia employs ‘hard soft power’ to influence overseas media and sow dissent and fear among foreign populations
  9. FDA’s new regulations underscore the complexity around screening for women with dense breasts
  10. Under both Trump and Biden-Harris, US oil and gas production surged to record highs, despite very different energy goals
  11. Is it time to retire the ‘Arab-Israeli conflict’? Hostilities now extend beyond those boundaries
  12. Breast density and mammograms: New FDA rule will ensure all women have more information after cancer screenings
  13. Can schools stop students from praying?
  14. Putting a spiritual spin on my love affair with vinyl
  15. The Boeing Starliner has returned to Earth without its crew – a former astronaut details what that means for NASA, Boeing and the astronauts still up in space
  16. Tiny, compact galaxies are masters of disguise in the distant universe − searching for the secrets behind the Little Red Dots
  17. Georgia high school shooting shows how hard it can be to take action even after police see warning signs
  18. Space travel comes with risk − and SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission will push the envelope further than any private mission has before
  19. Crossing state lines to get an abortion is a new legal minefield, with courts to decide if there’s a right to travel
  20. Trump campaign violated rules in Arlington National Cemetery visit, cemetery legal expert explains
  21. As eastern equine encephalitis spreads, a neurologist explains how to stay safe during this latest outbreak of the ‘triple E’ virus
  22. Black church leaders brought religion to politics in the ‘60s – but it was dramatically different from today’s white Christian nationalism
  23. Kamala Harris’ purported Irish ancestry highlights complicated backstory of identity and enslavement
  24. Yellow food dye can make living tissue transparent − these methods could one day improve cancer treatment, blood draws and even tattoo removal
  25. US food insecurity rate rose to 13.5% in 2023 as government benefits declined and food prices soared
  26. El alegre léxico de la lengua española puede ayudar a resolver un misterio de salud llamado la paradoja hispana
  27. Oil and gas communities are a blind spot in America’s climate and economic policies
  28. Guilt over kids’ screen time is common, uncomfortable and can stress family relationships − but it can have a silver lining
  29. Harris campaign tries to beat Trump at his own game − ridicule
  30. Utilities rely on dirty ‘peaker’ plants when power demand surges, but there are alternatives
  31. As a high school teacher and as governor, Tim Walz has tapped the power of geographic information systems, or GIS, to solve complex problems
  32. As Russell M. Nelson turns 100, a look back at one of the words that will define his legacy – and the controversial term’s 200-year history
  33. How much does aging affect mental acuity? It’s debatable
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  36. India’s new mega-dam will roil lives downstream with wild swings in water flow every day
  37. Trump’s die-hard support may be explained by one of his most misunderstood character traits – ‘charisma’
  38. No, local election officials can’t block certification of results – there are plenty of legal safeguards
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  40. Preparing for a pandemic that never came ended up setting off another − how an accidental virus release triggered 1977’s ‘Russian flu’
  41. Humans infecting animals infecting humans − from COVID-19 to bird flu, preventing pandemics requires protecting all species
  42. How HIV/AIDS got its name − the words Americans used for the crisis were steeped in science, stigma and religious language
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  44. Poor people are business owners, too – but myths around poverty and entrepreneurship hold them back
  45. What is the Shroud of Turin and why is there so much controversy around it?
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  49. How one 83-year-old fell into a fraudster’s fear bubble – and how gift cards played a key role
  50. In the face of DEI backlash, belonging plays a key role to future success