The Conversation

Living in space can change where your brain sits in your skull – new research

Written by Rachael Seidler, Professor of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology, University of Florida

Astronauts explore the inner cosmos of the human brain in this illustration. Gong, Chen

Going to space is harsh on the human body, and as a new study from our research team finds, the brain shifts upward and backward and deforms inside the skull after spaceflight.

The extent of these changes was greater for those who spent longer in space. As NASA...

The rise of ‘Merzoni’: How an alliance between Germany’s and Italy’s leaders is reshaping Europe

Written by Julia Khrebtan-Hörhager, Associate Professor of Critical Cultural & International Studies, Colorado State University

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at an intergovernmental summit in Rome.Massimo Di Vita/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images

“Merzoni” isn’t a neologism that easily trips off the tongue, and it hasn’t fully taken hold in the world of European politics.

Yet, for months, a pragmatic...

Green or not, US energy future depends on Native nations

Written by Charles Prior, Professor in History, University of Birmingham

Leaders of Native nations and representatives of the United States have signed many treaties over the centuries, including the 1851 Treaty of Traverse des Sioux.ullstein bild via Getty Images

The Trump administration’s drive to increase domestic production of fossil fuels and mining of key minerals likely cannot be accomplished without a key...

Martha Washington’s enslaved maid Ona Judge made a daring escape to freedom – but the National Park Service has erased her story from Philadelphia exhibit

Written by Timothy Welbeck, Director of the Center for Anti-Racism, Temple University

The National Park Service removed an exhibit on slavery at the President's House site in Philadelphia on Jan. 22, 2026. The city of Philadelphia has sued the Trump administration in response. AP Photo/Matt Rourke

On the evening of May 21, 1796, Ona Judge made the daring decision to free herself.

Considering the prominence of her owner, the laws of...

‘Proportional representation’ could reduce polarization in Congress and help more people feel like their voices are being heard

Written by Jennifer Lynn McCoy, Professor of Political Science, Georgia State University

There is growing support for electoral reform in the U.S.PeterSnow/Getty Images

In the face of widespread pessimism about the political fate of the United States and growing political polarization, scholars and citizens across the country are reimagining how American democracy could better serve the needs of the whole population.

In an October 2025...

Distrust and disempowerment, not apathy, keep employees from supporting marginalized colleagues

Written by Meg A. Warren, Professor of Management, Western Washington University

What might hold you back from standing up for a colleague who's treated unfairly?AnVr/E+ via Getty Images

What really holds people back from stepping up as allies in support of their marginalized colleagues? For example, why don’t more men say something when they see a colleague or a customer make a sexist remark about a female co-worker?

Our...

What is and isn’t new about US bishops’ criticism of Trump’s foreign policy

Written by Gerard F. Powers, Director of Catholic Peacebuilding Studies, University of Notre Dame

Cardinals Robert McElroy, Joseph Tobin and Blase Cupich issued a statement on U.S. foreign policy on Jan. 19, 2026.Gregorio Borgia/Gregory Bull/AP Photo

In recent weeks, Catholic leaders have been increasingly outspoken in their criticism of the Trump administration’s foreign policy, especially its military intervention in Venezuela and saber-...

Why is US health care still the most expensive in the world after decades of cost-cutting initiatives?

Written by Patrick Aguilar, Managing Director of Health, Washington University in St. Louis

Two-thirds of Americans are very worried about being able to pay for their health care. Morsa Images/DigitalVision via Getty Images

In announcing its “Great Healthcare Plan” in January 2026, the Trump administration became the latest in a long history of efforts by the U.S. government to rein in the soaring cost of health care.

As a...

Reading to young kids improves their social skills − and a new study shows it doesn’t matter whether parents stop to ask questions

Written by Erin Clabough, Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Virginia

A father reads a bedtime story to his daughter in 1955. Lambert/Getty Images

In 2024, 51% of families read aloud to their very young children, while 37% read aloud to their kids between the ages of 6 and 8 years old.

Some parents have said they stop reading aloud to their school-age children because their kids can read on their own.

I’m a neuro...

Historically Black colleges and universities do more than offer Black youths a pathway to opportunity and success – I teach criminology, and my research suggests another benefit

Written by Andrea Hagan, Instructor of Criminology & Justice, Loyola University New Orleans, Loyola University New Orleans

Jackson State University students attend an event in Mississippi in October 2025. Aron Smith/Jackson State University via Getty Images

Historically Black colleges and universities, often known as HBCUs, are well known for their deep roots in U.S. higher education and proven effectiveness at graduating Black students who go on to become...