The Conversation

Art and science illuminate the same subtle proportions in tree branches

Written by Mitchell Newberry, Research Assistant Professor of Biology, University of New Mexico

Tree branches in art throughout history follow geometric rules related to fractal geometry. 'Almond blossom' by Vincent van Gogh.Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam.

Do artists and scientists see the same thing in the shape of trees? As a scientist who studies branching patterns in living things, I’m starting to think so.

Piet Mondrian was an early...

If FEMA didn’t exist, could states handle the disaster response alone?

Written by Ming Xie, Assistant Professor of Emergency Management and Public Health, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Hurricane Ian caused widespread damage in Florida in 2022, estimated at over $112 billion. This scene was once a shopping center.Giorgio Veira/AFP via Getty Images

Imagine a world in which a hurricane devastates the Gulf Coast, and the U.S. has no federal agency prepared to quickly send supplies, financial aid and temporary housing assistance.

Could...

Here’s how researchers are helping AIs get their facts straight

Written by Lu Wang, Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Michigan

AI chatbots need help learning to give accurate answers.CreativaImages/iStock via Getty Images

AI has made it easier than ever to find information: Ask ChatGPT almost anything, and the system swiftly delivers an answer. But the large language models that power popular tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Anthropic’s Claude were not designed...

Poor sleep and addiction go hand in hand − understanding how could lead to new treatments for opioid use disorder

Written by Ryan Logan, Professor of Psychiatry, UMass Chan Medical School

Whether sleep disorders worsen addiction or addiction worsens sleep disorders is unclear.Maria Korneeva/Moment via Getty Images

A good night’s sleep often sets the stage for a positive day. But for the nearly quarter of American adults struggling with mental illness, a good night’s rest is often elusive.

For patients with psychiatric...

A boycott campaign fuels tension between Black shoppers and Black-owned brands – evoking the long struggle for ‘consumer citizenship’

Written by Timeka N. Tounsel, Associate Professor of Black Studies in Communication, University of Washington

Some Black consumers may be breaking up with Target this February.

It all started late last month, when the retailer announced that it was ending its diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The move drew widespread rebuke from social justice organizers, including New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Dr. Jamal Bryant. Although Target said...

Why the price of your favorite chocolate will continue to rise

Written by Narcisa Pricope, Professor of Geography and Land Systems Science and Associate Vice President for Research, Mississippi State University

Chocolate prices spiked amid very dry conditions in Africa.Chuck Fishman/Getty Images

Valentine’s Day often conjures images of chocolates and romance. But the crop behind this indulgence faces an existential threat.

Regions like northeastern Brazil, one of the world’s notable cocoa-producing areas, are grappling with increasing aridity...

Teen girls are facing an increased risk of suicide − and stress related to sexual identity might be contributing to it

Written by Joseph Cimpian, Professor of Economics and Education Policy, New York University

In 2021, about 48% of LGBQ females considered suicide, compared with roughly 20% of heterosexual females, data shows.bymuratdeniz/iStock/Getty Images Plus

The alarming national rise in suicidal thoughts and behaviors among teenage girls has made headlines recently. Experts point to social media, cyberbullying and COVID-19 as potential new sources...

Are animals smart? From dolphin language to toolmaking crows, lots of species have obvious intelligence

Written by Leticia Fanucchi, Clinical Assistant Professor of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Oklahoma State University

Dolphins communicate using a sophisticated combination of clicks and whistles.Stephen Frink/The Image Bank via Getty Images

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.

Are animals smart? – Deron

It’s a fascinating question...

How the human neck became a locus of power, beauty and frailty

Written by Kent Dunlap, Professor of Biology, Trinity College

Jack Lemmon kisses Lee Remick's neck in a scene from the 1962 film 'Days Of Wine And Roses.'Warner Brothers/Getty Images

I broke its neck.

When making a vase at the potter’s wheel, I torqued its slippery neck clear off the pot as I tried to thin it into a graceful curve.

I find vases gratifying to make and their shapes especially pleasing to...

Russia’s shrinking world: The war in Ukraine and Moscow’s global reach

Written by Ronald H. Linden, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of Pittsburgh

Russia President Vladimir Putin sent a guarded message of congratulations to Donald Trump on inauguration day, but then held a long direct call with his “dear friend,” Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

From Putin’s perspective, this makes sense. Russia gets billions of dollars from energy sales to China and technology from Beijing, but...