The Conversation

Misinformation is more than just bad facts: How and why people spread rumors is key to understanding how false information travels and takes root

Written by Kate Starbird, Professor of Human Centered Design & Engineering, University of Washington

Spreading rumors is problematic but understandable.H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/Archive Photos via Getty Images

On Sept. 20, 2024, a newspaper in Montana reported an issue with ballots provided to overseas voters registered in the state: Kamala Harris was not on the ballot. Election officials were able to quickly remedy the problem but not...

Abortion and marijuana ballot measures may bring out Florida Democrats, but the GOP has 1M more active voters in the Sunshine State

Written by Daniel A. Smith, Professor of Political Science, University of Florida

Could ballot initiatives bring more Democrats to the polls in Florida?Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The number of voters registered as Democrats has tumbled in recent years in Florida, effectively removing the Sunshine State as a battleground and placing it firmly in the red column.

At least that’s the dominant...

Why Pennsylvania’s election results will take time to count

Written by Alauna Safarpour, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Gettysburg College

John Zapf drops off a mail-in ballot on Oct. 15, 2024, in Doylestown, Pa. Hannah Beier/Getty Images

The country is unlikely to know who wins the battleground state of Pennsylvania on election night. That’s because of a quirk in Pennsylvania’s laws.

I am an assistant professor of political science at Gettysburg College in Gettysburg,...

Defender su voto: Pasos a seguir si su derecho al voto es cuestionado el día de las elecciones

Written by Karen Figueroa-Clewett, Lecturer, Agents of Change program, Department of Political Science and International Relations, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Pegatinas sobre una mesa el primer día de la votación anticipada en persona en Virginia, el 20 de septiembre de 2024, en Arlington.Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Con las elecciones generales próximas a ocurrir, es importante que conozca sus derechos en caso de que se impugne su derecho a votar.

La mejor manera de asegurarse de que...

Cannabis legalization may hit a ‘red wall’ at the ballot box

Written by William Garriott, Professor of Law, Politics and Society, Drake University

Early voting runs from Oct. 21 through Nov. 3 in Florida.Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Cannabis legalization is on the ballot again this November.

Voters in Florida, North Dakota and South Dakota will decide whether to allow adults 21 and up in their states to use cannabis recreationally.

Voters in Nebraska will decide whether to allow medical access...

Making a Snickers bar is a complex science − a candy engineer explains how to build the airy nougat and chewy caramel of this Halloween favorite

Written by Richard Hartel, Professor of Food Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison

From their caramel centers to chocolatey coatings, several widely used candy-making processes go into the production of a single Snickers bar. NurPhoto / Contributor via Getty Images

It’s Halloween. You’ve just finished trick-or-treating and it’s time to assess the haul. You likely have a favorite, whether it’s chocolate...

The ancient Irish get far too much credit for Halloween

Written by Lisa Bitel, Dean’s Professor of Religion & Professor of History, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

The Celtic festival of Samhain celebrates a time of year when the division between Earth and the otherworld collapses, allowing spirits to pass through.Matt Cardy/Getty Images

This time of year, I often run across articles proclaiming Halloween a modern form of the pagan Irish holiday of Samhain – pronounced SAW-en. But as a historian of...

Grow fast, die young? Animals that invest in building high-quality biomaterials may slow aging and increase their lifespans

Written by Chen Hou, Associate Professor of Biology, Missouri University of Science and Technology

Allocating more energy for growth versus for maintenance comes with longevity trade-offs.Matthias Clamer/Stone via Getty Images

Fancy, high-quality products such as Rolex watches and Red Wing boots often cost more to make but last longer. This is a principle that manufacturers and customers are familiar with. But while this also applies to biology,...

On foreign policy, Trump opts for disruption and Harris for engagement − but they share some of the same concerns

Written by Garret Martin, Senior Professorial Lecturer, Co-Director Transatlantic Policy Center, American University School of International Service

Who will represent the U.S. better on the global stage?Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

According to conventional wisdom, U.S. voters are largely motivated by domestic concerns and especially the economy.

But the upcoming presidential election may be somewhat of an outlier. In a September 2024 poll, foreign policy actually ranks quite high in...

Beyond bottled water and sandwiches: What FEMA is doing to get hurricane victims back into their homes

Written by Shannon Van Zandt, Professor of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Texas A&M University

Two people survey their beachfront home and business, which was destroyed in Hurricane Milton, on Manasota Key, Fla., Oct. 13, 2024.AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

In a pattern all too familiar to people affected by disasters, hurricanes Helene and Milton have disappeared from the headlines, just a few weeks after these disasters ravaged the Southeast....