The Conversation

Pope Francis has appointed 21 new cardinals – an expert on medieval Christianity explains what it means for the future of the Catholic Church

Written by Joanne M. Pierce, Professor Emerita of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross

New cardinals at St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Sept. 30, 2023.AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca

On Sept. 30, 2023, Pope Francis swore in 21 clergymen as new members of the College of Cardinals. The College is an important part of the church’s governance structure – each new member takes a formal oath during a ritual ceremony in the...

There's a thriving global market in turtles, and much of that trade is illegal

Written by Jennifer Sevin, Director of Biological Instruction, University of Richmond

Smuggled rare Mexican box turtles intercepted by U.S. officials at the Port of Memphis.USFWS

Hatchling turtles are cute, small and inexpensive. Handled improperly, they also can make you sick.

Turtles are well-known carriers of salmonella, a common bacterial disease that causes fever, stomach cramps and dehydration and can lead to severe illness,...

Psychedelics plus psychotherapy can trigger rapid changes in the brain − new research at the level of neurons is untangling how

Written by Edmund S. Higgins, Affiliate Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Family Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina

New research hints at how psychedelics can trigger rapid, lasting change.wildpixel/iStock via Getty Images Plus

The human brain can change – but usually only slowly and with great effort, such as when learning a new sport or foreign language, or recovering from a stroke. Learning new skills correlates with changes in the brain, as evidenced...

Feinstein's death raises the question: How are vacant Senate seats filled?

Written by Gibbs Knotts, Professor of Political Science, College of Charleston

Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife arrive at the U.S. District Court in New York City on Sept. 27, 2023.Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images

There’s an empty seat in the U.S. Senate now that California’s longtime and senior senator, Dianne Feinstein, has died. California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on social media that he has chosen former...

Lost in the coffee aisle? Navigating the complex buzzwords behind an 'ethical' bag of beans is easier said than done

Written by Spencer M. Ross, Associate Professor of Marketing, UMass Lowell

The text on a single bag of coffee can feel like information overload.d3sign/Moment via Getty Images

You’re shopping for a bag of coffee beans at the grocery store. After reading about the effects of climate change and how little farmers make – typically $0.40 per cup – you figure it might be time to change your usual beans and...

Government shutdowns hurt federal worker morale, long after paychecks resume − especially for those considered 'nonessential'

Written by Susannah Bruns Ali, Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Administration, Florida International University

A government shutdown would affect more than 2 million federal employees, plus more than 3 million contractors. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Unless Congress and the White House can agree on a budget or extend funding short term, the federal government will shut down on Oct. 1, 2023.

This means that approximately 2.2 million civilian federal...

Tropical climates are the most biodiverse on Earth − but it's not only because of how warm and wet they are

Written by Marco Túlio Pacheco Coelho, Postdoctoral research associate, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)

Natural selection can get to work in isolated locations.Birger Strahl/Unsplash, CC BY

Life exists in every conceivable environment on Earth, from the peaks of towering mountains to the remote stretches of isolated islands, from sunlit surfaces to the darkest depths of the oceans. Yet, this intricate tapestry of existence isn’t spread...

Your microbes live on after you die − a microbiologist explains how your necrobiome recycles your body to nourish new life

Written by Jennifer DeBruyn, Professor of Environmental Microbiology, University of Tennessee

After you die, bacteria harvest your body for the nutrients that help push daisies.Matriyoshka/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Each human body contains a complex community of trillions of microorganisms that are important for your health while you’re alive. These microbial symbionts help you digest food, produce essential vitamins, protect you...

Sea glass, a treasure formed from trash, is on the decline as single-use plastic takes over

Written by Lori Weeden, Teaching Professor of Environmental Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, UMass Lowell

Every piece of sea glass has a story − but sea glass could be on the decline. Olga Pankova/Moment

When you stroll along a beach, you may look down and spot colorful bits of worn glass mixed in with the sand. But the little treasures you’ve found actually began as discarded trash.

As an environmental science professor, I find these gifts...

Juries that don't understand forensic science can send innocent people to prison − a short training video could help

Written by Devon LaBat, Doctoral Candidate in Legal Psychology, Florida International University

Jurors tend to rely heavily on forensic testimony, even when they don't understand it.andresr/E+ via Getty Images

Ledura Watkins was 19 years old when he was accused of murdering a public school teacher. At trial, a forensic expert testified that a single hair found at the scene was similar to Watkins’ and stated his conclusion was based on...