The Conversation

Why separating fact from fiction is critical in teaching US slavery

Written by Eric Gable, Professor of Anthropology, University of Mary Washington

A Black actor in 1974 impersonating an enslaved man in Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia.George Bryant/Toronto Star via Getty Images

Of all the debate over teaching U.S. slavery, it is one sentence of Florida’s revised academic standards that has provoked particular ire: “Instruction includes how slaves developed skills which, in some...

What are APIs? A computer scientist explains the data sockets that make digital life possible

Written by Tam Nguyen, Associate Professor of Computer Science, University of Dayton

Under the hood of your digital life, APIs are making connections.Library of Congress

APIs, or application programming interfaces, are the gateways to the digital world. They link a wide array of software applications and systems. APIs facilitate communication between different software systems, and so power everything from social media –...

Lithium-ion battery fires are a growing public safety concern − here's how to reduce the risk

Written by Apparao Rao, Professor of Physics, Clemson University

In June 2023, a fire started at this e-bike shop in New York City and spread to upper floors of the building.AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews

In today’s electronic age, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are ubiquitous. Compared with the lead-acid versions that have dominated the battery market for decades, lithium-ion batteries can charge faster and...

This Christian text you've never heard of, The Shepherd of Hermas, barely mentions Jesus − but it was a favorite of early Christians far and wide

Written by Chance Bonar, Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for the Humanities, Tufts University

"Italian Coast Scene with Ruined Tower," by 19th century American painter Thomas ColeNational Gallery of Art

People usually think about the Bible as a book with a fixed number of texts within its pages: 24 books in the Jewish version of the Bible; 66 for Protestants; 73 for Catholics; 81 if you’re Ethiopian Orthodox.

Writings that didn’t...

Microphone check − 5 ways that music education is changing

Written by Clint Randles, Professor of Music Education, University of South Florida

Music education has evolved and now includes more popular music genres, such as hip-hop.Maskot, Maskot Bildbyrå AB/Maskot via Getty Images

Music education – which traditionally has been heavily reliant on large ensembles and classical music – is changing with the times. Not since the introduction of the school wind ensemble in the...

Remote workers are more aware of cybersecurity risks than in-office employees: new study

Written by Joseph K. Nwankpa, Associate Professor of Information Systems & Analytics, Miami University

Remote workers lack the same institutional cyber protection as their in-office colleagues.Maskot/Getty Images

Workers who telecommute tend to be more aware of cybersecurity threats than those who spend most of their time in a physical office and are more likely to take action to ward them off, according to our new peer-reviewed study.

Our findings...

Implants like pacemakers and insulin pumps often fail because of immune attacks − stopping them could make medical devices safer and longer-lasting

Written by Kellen Chen, Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of Arizona

Foreign body responses can cause insulin pumps to degrade.Click_and_Photo/iStock via Getty Images

Biomedical implants – such as pacemakers, breast implants and orthopedic hardware like screws and plates to replace broken bones – have improved patient outcomes across a wide range of diseases. However, many implants fail because the body...

Traditional downtowns are dead or dying in many US cities − what's next for these zones?

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

A sign advertises retail spaces for lease at Union Square in San Francisco on June 21, 2023.AP Photo/Eric Risberg

The hollowing out of U.S. cities’ office and commercial cores is a national trend with serious consequences for millions of Americans. As more people have stayed home following the COVID-19 pandemic, foot traffic has fallen. Major...

The Supreme Court's originalists have taken over − here's how they interpret the Constitution

Written by Whitley R.P. Kaufman, Professor of Philosophy, UMass Lowell

Justices who follow originalism dominate in the U.S. Supreme Court.Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

Today a majority of U.S. Supreme Court justices are either self-described originalists or strongly lean toward originalism. Yet less than 50 years ago, originalism was considered a fringe movement, hardly taken seriously by most legal scholars....

Aerobic and strength training exercise combined can be an elixir for better brain health in your 80s and 90s, new study finds

Written by Brian Ho, PhD Candidate in Clinical & Health Psychology, University of Florida

Pilates is a form of mind-body exercise that involves weight resistance and strength training. Thomas Barwick/Stone via Getty Images

People in the oldest stage of life who regularly engage in aerobic activities and strength training exercises perform better on cognitive tests than those who are either sedentary or participate only in aerobic...