The Conversation

Growing quickly helped the earliest dinosaurs and other ancient reptiles flourish in the aftermath of mass extinction

Written by Kristi Curry Rogers, Professor of Biology and Geology, Macalester College

_Eoraptor lunensis_ lived roughly 230 million years ago, at a time when dinosaurs were small and rare. Jordan Harris courtesy of Kristi Curry Rogers, CC BY-SA

It may be hard to imagine, but once upon a time, dinosaurs didn’t dominate their world. When they first originated, they were just small, two-legged carnivores overshadowed by a...

Nex Benedict’s suicide coincides with a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ laws – and some people’s misunderstanding about transgender and nonbinary individuals

Written by Marie-Amelie George, Associate Professor of Law, Wake Forest University

A woman speaks during a candlelight vigil for 16-year-old nonbinary student Nex Benedict on Feb. 24, 2024, in Oklahoma City. J Pat Carter/Getty Images

No charges will be filed in connection with a bathroom fight that happened the day before a 16-year-old nonbinary high school student, Nex Benedict, died by suicide in Oklahoma. The Tulsa County...

Even hands-free, phones and their apps cause dangerously distracted driving

Written by Shannon Roberts, Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering, UMass Amherst

Car infotainment systems are getting ever more sophisticated.AP Photo/Ryan Sun

Do you ever use your cellphone while driving? Don’t feel too guilty about saying yes – nearly 60% of drivers admit to using their phone in hands-free mode while driving.

But don’t become complacent either. Using your cellphone in hands-free mode while...

Could sharing a bedroom with your pets be keeping you from getting a good night’s sleep?

Written by Brian N. Chin, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Trinity College

Your dog may not be the best sleep partner.gollykim/E+ via Getty Images

Sleeping with your dog in the same room could be negatively affecting your sleep quality, according to my team’s recently published research in Scientific Reports.

We recruited a nationally representative sample of more than 1,500 American adults who completed...

A century after the EEG was discovered, it remains a crucial tool for understanding the brain

Written by Giridhar Kalamangalam, Professor of Neurology, University of Florida

Brain waves emblematic of generalized epilepsy.Kateryna Kon/Science Photo Library via Getty Images

Jena, Germany, 1924: Working in near-isolation and with painstaking tediousness, the psychiatrist Hans Berger observes rhythmic electrical activity from the scalp of human subjects. He is convinced the activity arises from within the brain and coins...

Military personnel swear allegiance to the Constitution and serve the American people – not one leader or party

Written by Joseph G. Amoroso, Assistant Professor of American Politics, United States Military Academy West Point

Graduating cadets at West Point take their oaths to the Constitution and are commissioned as officers in the U.S. Army.Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

In general, Americans don’t trust their government institutions as much as they used to – and that includes the military.

In part, that’s because the military can be used as a tool...

For the Maya, solar eclipses were a sign of heavenly clashes − and their astronomers kept sophisticated records to predict them

Written by Kimberly H. Breuer, Associate Professor of Instruction, University of Texas at Arlington

El Castillo pyramid illuminated at night under a starry sky in Chichen Itza, Mexico, one of the largest Maya cities.Matteo Colombo/DigitalVision via Getty Images

We live in a light-polluted world, where streetlamps, electronic ads and even backyard lighting block out all but the brightest celestial objects in the night sky. But travel to an...

Beyoncé’s ‘Blackbiird’ breathes new life into a symbol that has inspired centuries of Black artists, musicians and storytellers

Written by Katie Kapurch, Associate Professor of English, Texas State University

Tanner Adell is one of the four Black, female country singers featured on 'Blackbiird.'Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Prior to the release of “Cowboy Carter,” Beyoncé explained that her album’s links to country were motivated by industry gatekeeping. She was likely referencing the hostile reception she experienced after her...

Who are today’s climate activists? Dispelling 3 big myths for Earth Month

Written by Dana R. Fisher, Director of the Center for Environment, Community & Equity and Professor in the School of International Service, American University

Climate rallies, like this one in New York City in 2022, draw activists of all ages.AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe

As Earth Month 2024 gets underway, climate activists around the world are planning rallies and other events over the coming weeks to draw attention to the growing threats posed by climate change.

Many of these demonstrations will focus on...

March Madness brings unique gambling risks for college students

Written by M. Dolores Cimini, Director for Behavioral Health Promotion and Applied Research, University at Albany, State University of New York

Some college students have gambled away their financial aid. PRUDENCIOALVAREZ via Getty Images

Whenever March Madness takes place, it’s a sure bet that people will be wagering on the college basketball games leading up to the championship known as the Final Four.

From office pools to online betting platforms to taking a crack at picking the...