The Conversation

Republicans are pushing for drastic asylum changes – an immigration law scholar breaks down the proposal

Written by Jean Lantz Reisz, Clinical Associate Professor of Law, Co-Director, USC Immigration Clinic, University of Southern California

Migrants cross through a gap in the U.S.-Mexico border fence on Dec. 22, 2023, in Jacumba Hot Springs, Calif.Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images

There is bipartisan agreement for the need for immigration reform and stark disagreement on what that reform should be.

A rise in illegal border crossings since 2020 has applied significant pressure for...

As Zepbound dominates headlines as a new obesity-fighting drug, a nutritionist warns that weight loss shouldn’t be the only goal

Written by Mandy Conrad, Assistant Clinical Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, Mississippi State University

Overall health and well-being are about much more than just weight management.Carol Yepes/Moment via Getty Images

If the buzz surrounding a medication could elevate it to celebrity status, then Zepbound is reaching Taylor Swift rank.

Zepbound is the newest addition to the weight loss drug arena. In November 2023, it joined the list of...

Pope Francis called surrogacy 'deplorable' – but the reasons why women and parents choose surrogacy are complex and defy simple labels

Written by Danielle Tumminio Hansen, Assistant Professor of Practical Theology & Spiritual Care, Emory University

Pope Francis baptizes 16 infants in the Sistine Chapel on Jan. 7, 2024, in Vatican City.Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images

Pope Francis made headlines on Jan. 8, 2024, when he called for a global surrogacy ban, stating, “I deem deplorable the practice of so-called surrogate motherhood, which represents a grave violation of the...

'Thirst trap' and 'edgelord' were recently added to the dictionary – so why hasn't 'nibling' made the cut?

Written by Roger J. Kreuz, Associate Dean and Professor of Psychology, University of Memphis

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet – but would it sound as sweet?Alicia Llop/Moment via Getty Images

A student in my graduate seminar recently mentioned seeing her “niblings” at Thanksgiving. Some of the students in my class were clearly familiar with the term. But others frowned, suggesting that they hadn’t heard...

From besting Tetris AI to epic speedruns – inside gaming’s most thrilling feats

Written by James Dawes, Professor of English, Macalester College

After 13-year-old Willis Gibson became the first human to beat the original Nintendo version of Tetris, he dedicated his special win to his father, who passed away in December 2023.

The Oklahoma teen beat the game by defeating level after level until he reached the “kill screen” – that is, the moment when the Tetris artificial...

After an 80-year absence, gray wolves have returned to Colorado − here's how the reintroduction of this apex predator will affect prey and plants

Written by Joanna Lambert, Professor of Environmental Studies and Faculty in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder

A wild gray wolf at Yellowstone National Park near Mammoth Hot Springs, Montana.John Morrison/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Gray wolves were reintroduced to Colorado in December 2023, the latest attempt in a decadeslong effort to build up wolf populations in the Rocky Mountain states. SciLine interviewed Joanna Lambert, professor of wildlife ecology...

Cannabis products may harbor fungal toxins harmful to human health, but regulations are uneven or nonexistent

Written by Kimberly D. Gwinn, Professor of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee

The potential health benefits of cannabis are appreciable only when its products are safe to consume.Krit of Studio OMG/Moment via Getty Images

Hemp and cannabis host many fungi inside and outside the plant, most of which are harmless to most people. However, certain types of fungi such as Aspergillus and Fusarium pose potential health concerns,...

Earth isn't the only planet with seasons, but they can look wildly different on other worlds

Written by Gongjie Li, Assistant Professor of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology

Nearby planets can affect how one planet 'wobbles' on its spin axis, which contributes to seasons. Mark Garlick/Science Photo Library via Getty Images

Spring, summer, fall and winter – the seasons on Earth change every few months, around the same time every year. It’s easy to take this cycle for granted here on Earth, but not every...

A beginner's guide to sound baths − what they are, how to choose a good one and what the research shows

Written by Elisa J. Sobo, Professor of Anthropology & Director for Undergraduate Research, College of Arts and Letters, San Diego State University

Sound therapy, which uses bells and singing bowls for healing, has gained popularity in recent years.PeopleImages/iStock via Getty Images plus

In recent years, sound bathing, a therapy in which sound is used for healing, has been marketed as one of many “self-care” practices, such as journal-keeping or candle-burning, in support of...

Why don't fruit bats get diabetes? New understanding of how they've adapted to a high-sugar diet could lead to treatments for people

Written by Wei Gordon, Assistant Professor of Biology, Menlo College

Fruit bats have honed their sweet tooth through adaptive evolution.Keith Rose/iStock via Getty Images Plus

People around the world eat too much sugar. When the body is unable to process sugar effectively, leading to excess glucose in the blood, this can result in diabetes. According to the World Health Organization, diabetes became the ninth...