The Conversation

Why you should talk to people you disagree with about politics

Written by Rachel Wahl, Associate Professor of Education, University of Virginia

Taking the time to listen, and the time to speak honestly, may not change someone’s mind about a topic, but it may open them up to a deeper understanding of you.Westend61 via Getty Images

If you talked to friends or family about politics over Thanksgiving, you might not have changed each other’s minds. But don’t be discouraged...

Threatening texts targeting minorities after election were vile − but they might not be illegal

Written by Daniel Hall, Professor of Political Science & Justice and Community Studies, Miami University

The FBI and police in several states are investigating a wave of hateful texts and emails apparently targeting minorities across the United States following the presidential election.

The anonymously sent messages, which may have numbered up to 500,000, varied in their specific language but had similarly menacing themes. Some referred to recipients...

Rape survivors like Gisèle Pelicot are choosing to speak out, refuting the idea that they should feel shame

Written by Nomi Dave, Associate Professor of Music, Co-Director of the Sound Justice Lab, University of Virginia

Gisèle Pelicot exits a courtroom with her lawyer in Avignon, France, in September 2024. Christophe Simon/AFP via Getty Images

The high-profile criminal trial of Dominique Pelicot is wrapping up. The French man is accused of drugging and raping his 72-year-old wife, Gisèle Pelicot, and also inviting 50 other men to rape her while she...

We surveyed hundreds of vacationers to confirm this ancient wisdom: The journey matters as much as the destination

Written by Mark R. Gleim, Associate Professor of Marketing, Auburn University

This waiting isn't the hardest part.Anthony Devlin/Getty Images

Americans spent more than US$850 billion on domestic leisure travel in 2023, a sum that looks likely to rise in future years. Whether it’s a weekend getaway to a Taylor Swift concert, a long-anticipated holiday visit with family, or a monthlong tour of national parks, travel can...

New IRS funding boosted tax enforcement and improved taxpayer services during the Biden administration

Written by Ryan Polk, Assistant Professor of Accountancy, Clemson University

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel testified before Congress in February 2024.Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images

The Internal Revenue Service has ramped up its efforts to recover unpaid taxes from millionaires. It collected more than US$1.1 billion from 1,600 wealthy Americans with known but unpaid tax debts in the 2024 fiscal year, up...

NEOWISE, the NASA mission that cataloged objects around Earth for over a decade, has come to an end

Written by Toshi Hirabayashi, Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

WISE, NEOWISE's predecessor mission, imaged the entire sky in the mid-infrared range. NASA/JPL/Caltech/UCLA

The NASA project NEOWISE, which has given astronomers a detailed view of near-Earth objects – some of which could strike the Earth – ended its mission and burned on reentering the atmosphere after over a decade.

On a clear night,...

Noam Chomsky at 96: The linguist, educator, philosopher and public thinker has had a massive intellectual and moral influence

Written by Robert F. Barsky, Professor of Humanities and Professor of Law, Vanderbilt University

Noam Chomsky has lectured and debated in many forums on numerous topics throughout his long career.Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Noam Chomsky, one of the world’s most famous and respected intellectuals, will be 96 years old on Dec. 7, 2024. For more than half a century, multitudes of people have read his works in a variety of languages, and...

Are trans women ‘biologically male’? The answer is complicated

Written by G. Samantha Rosenthal, Visiting Assistant Professor of American History, Washington and Lee University

Sarah McBride, center, is the first out transgender member of Congress.Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

A surprising buzzword in the U.S. Congress these days is “biological.”

In a now viral video, U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina was filmed taping a piece of paper with the word “biological” on it above a women’s...

Wildland firefighters face a big pay cut if Congress doesn’t act − that’s taking a toll on a workforce already under stress

Written by Robin Verble, Professor of Biology, Environmental Science Program Director, Missouri University of Science and Technology

Wildland firefighting is physically and emotionally intense. The job is also essential for community safety. Neal Waters/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

As cool weather arrives and the number of U.S. wildfires declines, wildland firefighters who have spent months working in the heat and smoke are able to take a much-needed break. But for many of...

Wildland firefighters face up to $20,000 pay cut if Congress doesn’t act − that’s taking a toll on a workforce already under stress

Written by Robin Verble, Professor of Biology, Environmental Science Program Director, Missouri University of Science and Technology

Wildland firefighting is physically and emotionally intense. The job is also essential for community safety. Neal Waters/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

As cool weather arrives and the number of U.S. wildfires declines, wildland firefighters who have spent months working in the heat and smoke are able to take a much-needed break. But for many of...