The Conversation

How an unexpected observation, a 10th-century recipe and an explorer’s encounter with a cabbage thief upend what we know about collard greens’ journey to the American South

Written by Bronwen Powell, Associate Professor of Geography, African Studies and Anthropology, Penn State

Collard greens − a staple of diets across the African diaspora.Bronwen Powell/Abderrahim Ouarghidi, CC BY

For generations, collard greens have formed an important part of African and African-diaspora diets around the world.

The leafy vegetable is a quintessential part of African American, Southern and “soul” foods in the United...

I study refugees, and here are the facts on the history and impact of refugee resettlement in the US

Written by Tazreena Sajjad, Senior Professorial Lecturer of Global Governance, Politics and Security, American University School of International Service

Borders: closed.Anton Petrus/Moment via Getty

Refugees haven’t been welcome in the United States since the first day of President Donald Trump’s second term, when he signed an executive order suspending the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program for 90 days. Despite a February 2025 federal court order to resume refugee resettlement, the...

You’ve likely heard the Serenity Prayer − but not its backstory

Written by Scott Paeth, Professor of Religious Studies, DePaul University

It may be timeless wisdom, but the prayer itself isn't ancient.Roy Morsch/The Image Bank via Getty Images

I’m not sure when I first encountered the Serenity Prayer, or when it first occurred to me to ask who wrote it. For much of my life it never occurred to me that prayers were the kind of things that people actually wrote down, especially...

3D printing will help space pioneers make homes, tools and other stuff they need to colonize the Moon and Mars

Written by Sven Bilén, Professor of Engineering Design, Electrical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering, Penn State

3D printing could make many of the components for future structures on Mars.3000ad/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Throughout history, when pioneers set out across uncharted territory to settle in distant lands, they carried with them only the essentials: tools, seeds and clothing. Anything else would have to come from their new environment.

So they...

Can the Trump administration legally deport Palestinian rights advocate Mahmoud Khalil? 3 things to know about green card holders’ rights

Written by Gabriel J. Chin, Professor of Criminal Law, Immigration, and Race and Law, University of California, Davis

Mahmoud Khalil, center, a permanent resident facing deportation, speaks at a press conference organized by Palestinian rights protesters at Columbia University in New York City on June 1, 2024. Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that the government will deport lawful permanent residents who support Hamas...

America’s clean air rules have boosted health and the economy − here’s what EPA’s deregulation spree ignores

Written by Richard E. Peltier, Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, UMass Amherst

Regulations have cleaned up cars, power plants and factories, leaving cleaner air while economies have grown. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

The Trump administration announced on March 12, 2025, that it is “reconsidering” more than 30 air pollution regulations in a series of moves that could impact air quality across the United States.

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America’s clean air rules boost health and the economy − here’s what EPA’s new deregulation plans ignore

Written by Richard E. Peltier, Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, UMass Amherst

Regulations have cleaned up cars, power plants and factories, leaving cleaner air while economies have grown. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

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Mass layoffs at Education Department signal Trump’s plan to gut the agency

Written by Joshua Cowen, Professor of Education Policy, Michigan State University

The Department of Education is seen on Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Alex Wong/Getty Images

The Trump administration on Tuesday slashed staff at the Department of Education – firing roughly 1,300 employees – as part of its long-planned effort to eliminate the agency entirely. The move leaves the department with 2,183 employees, down...

Is the US heading for a government shutdown? 5 essential reads to occupy the mind while we wait to find out

Written by Matt Williams, Senior International Editor

Hello, shutdown, my old friend ...Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Brinkmanship, a political scramble to keep the lights on in Washington and finger-pointing over who is to the blame – we’ve been here before, right?

The threat of government shutdowns seems to be a regular feature of modern American politics.

And while this is...

How do researchers determine how toxic a chemical is? A toxicologist explains alternatives to animal testing

Written by Brad Reisfeld, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Public Health, Colorado State University

A vast number of chemicals are registered for production and use around the world. But only a portion have been thoroughly evaluated for their toxicity due to time, cost, ethical concerns and regulatory limitations.

To safeguard public health, researchers at organizations such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Food and Drug...