The Conversation

Why MAGA is obsessed with Epstein − and why the files are unlikely to dent loyalty to Trump

Written by Alex Hinton, Distinguished Professor of Anthropology; Director, Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights, Rutgers University - Newark

MAGA hats are placed on a table at an election night party in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Nov. 5, 2024.Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post via Getty Images

With the latest shift by President Donald Trump on releasing the Epstein files held by the U.S. Department of Justice – he’s now for it after being against it after being for it –...

How pecans went from ignored trees to a holiday staple – the 8,000-year history of America’s only native major nut

Written by Shelley Mitchell, Senior Extension Specialist in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Oklahoma State University

Pecan pie is a popular holiday treat in the United States.Julie Deshaies/iStock via Getty Images

Pecans, America’s only native major nut, have a storied history in the United States. Today, American trees produce hundreds of million of pounds of pecans – 80% of the world’s pecan crop. Most of that crop stays here. Pecans are used...

When fake data is a good thing – how synthetic data trains AI to solve real problems

Written by Ambuj Tewari, Professor of Statistics, University of Michigan

These faces are fake – generated by artificial intelligence – but useful for training other AI systems about human faces.David Beniaguev

You’ve just finished a strenuous hike to the top of a mountain. You’re exhausted but elated. The view of the city below is gorgeous, and you want to capture the moment on camera. But...

Research breakthroughs often come through collaborations − attacks on academic freedom threaten this vital work

Written by Volha Chykina, Assistant Professor of Leadership Studies, University of Richmond

At the University of Minnesota, researchers, scientists and other supporters protested against proposed cuts to scientific research funding.Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Since President Donald Trump took office for the second time, many researchers across academic disciplines have had their funding cut because of their pu...

Black families pay more to keep their houses warm than average American families

Written by George C. Homsy, Director of Environmental Studies, Associate Professor of Public Administration and Policy, Binghamton University, State University of New York

It's not always enough to put on another sweater.Grace Cary/Moment via Getty Images

Rising energy costs consume a bigger and bigger chunk of family budgets in the United States. Our research has found that for many African American families, those costs take an extra big bite out of their incomes. This bite, the percentage of a household’s...

Black student unions are under pressure – here’s what they do and how they help Black students find community

Written by Antar A. Tichavakunda, Associate Professor of Education, University of California, Santa Barbara

Members of the Black Student Union at Kutztown University in Kutztown, Pa., march in a protest in April 2015. Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images

Black student unions have been a vital part of many Black college students’ lives for more than 60 years. But since 2024, Black student unions have lost their institutional...

Americans are unprepared for the expensive and complex process of aging – a geriatrician explains how they can start planning

Written by Kahli Zietlow, Physician and Clinical Associate Professor of Geriatrics & Internal Medicine, University of Michigan

It's important for older adults to plan for their care as they age.Maskot/Maskot via Getty Images

Hollywood legend Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their home in February 2025. Hackman had been living with Alzheimer’s and depended on Arakawa as his full-time caregiver.

Disturbingly, postmortem data suggests that...

I treat menopause and its symptoms, and hormone replacement therapy can help – here’s the science behind the FDA’s decision to remove warnings

Written by Genevieve Hofmann, Assistant Professor of Nursing and Women's Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Reanalyses of earlier research have shown that hormone therapy is safe and effective for many women going through menopause.monkeybusinessimages/iStock via Getty Images Plus

For more than 20 years, hormone therapy for menopause has carried a warning label from the Food and Drug Administration describing the medication’s risk of serious harms...

Don’t stress out about overeating during the holidays – a dietitian explains how a day of indulgence won’t harm your overall health

Written by Bryn Beeder, Visiting Instructor in Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Health, Miami University

For many, holidays are synonymous with quality time and long-standing traditions. Typically laden with delicious foods, it’s not uncommon to eat more during the holidays than you usually would.

You likely know that feeling of being too stuffed – the point when you’re pleasantly satisfied one moment and uncomfortably full the...

Retailers are quietly changing their return policies – here’s why you should be on the lookout this Black Friday

Written by Lauren Beitelspacher, Professor of Marketing, Babson College

’Tis the season for giving – and that means ’tis the season for shopping. Maybe you’ll splurge on a Black Friday or Cyber Monday deal, thinking, “I’ll just return it if they don’t like it.” But before you click “buy,” it’s worth knowing that many retailers have quietly tightened...