The Conversation

Ancient Rome successfully fought against voter intimidation − a political story told on a coin that resonates today

Written by David B. Hollander, Professor of History, Iowa State University

Democracy was enshrined in Roman currency.American Numismatic Society

This silver denarius, minted over 2,000 years ago, is hardly the most attractive Roman coin. And yet, the coin is vital evidence for the early stages of a political struggle that culminated in Caesar’s assassination and the fall of the Roman Republic.

I first encountered...

Ramadan will be difficult for those in Gaza or other war zones – what does fasting mean for those who might be already starving?

Written by Mahan Mirza, Executive Director, Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion, and Teaching Professor of Teaching Professor of Islam and Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame

Palestinians gather at the area where aid was distributed in Gaza City on Feb. 19, 2024.Karam Hassan/Anadolu via Getty Images

Ramadan in the Gaza Strip this year will be anything but “normal.”

Malnutrition and disease are claiming dozens of lives. The Gaza Health Ministry said on March 6, 2024, that at least 20 people had died of...

I’m a political scientist, and the Alabama Supreme Court’s IVF ruling turned me into a reproductive-rights refugee

Written by Spencer Goidel, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Auburn University

Spencer and Gabby Goidel hadn't planned to become activists.Spencer and Gabby Goidel, CC BY-ND

The day before the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos created and used for in vitro fertilization are children, my wife, Gabby, and I were greenlighted by our doctors to begin the IVF process. We live in Alabama.

That Friday evening, Feb. 16,...

Is the National Guard a solution to school violence?

Written by F. Chris Curran, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy, University of Florida

Every now and then, an elected official will suggest bringing in the National Guard to deal with violence that seems out of control.

A city council member in Washington suggested doing so in 2023 to combat the city’s rising violence. So did a Pennsylvania representative concerned about violence in Philadelphia in 2022.

In February 2024,...

How ‘hometown associations’ help immigrants support their communities in the US and back in their homelands

Written by Susan Appe, Associate Professor of Public Administration and Policy, University at Albany, State University of New York

Many Mexican immigrants stay connected to communities in their country of origin.ronniechua/iStock via Getty Images Plus

“Hometown associations,” also known as migrant clubs, are nonprofits formed by immigrants who are originally from the same place in their country of origin. They serve as channels through which immigrants make...

The failures of ‘Oppenheimer’ and the ascent of the foreign film – 6 essential reads for the Oscars

Written by Nick Lehr, Arts + Culture Editor

Oscars will be handed out to winners across 24 categories, ranging from best picture to best costume design.Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Because movies are so subjective, with views on the same performances and direction veering wildly from one critic to the next, determining the best of anything – whether it’s acting, direction or sound...

Opill, the first over-the-counter birth control pill, will be on shelves soon − here are some key things to know

Written by Sarah Lynch, Clinical Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Binghamton University, State University of New York

Within weeks, for the first time in the U.S. consumers will be able to find a birth control pill on retail shelves. Bill Oxford/iStock via Getty Images

The Food and Drug Administration’s 2023 approval of the first over-the-counter birth control pill, called Opill, broadened the options for people seeking to prevent pregnancy.

On March 4, 2024,...

April’s eclipse will mean interruptions in solar power generation, which could strain electrical grids

Written by Vahe Peroomian, Professor of Physics and Astronomy, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Solar panels in Brazil. AP Photo/Bruna Prado

During the most recent total solar eclipse visible in the U.S., on Aug. 21, 2017, the skies darkened as the Moon crossed in front of the Sun. It blocked out all sunlight – except for that from a golden ring visible around the Moon’s shape, called the corona. Not surprisingly, solar power...

Teenagers often know when their parents are having money problems − and that knowledge is linked to mental health challenges, new research finds

Written by Jamie Hanson, Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh

Teens are more clued in to family finances than many people think.Olga Rolenko/Moment via Getty Images

When parents try to shield their kids from financial hardship, they may be doing them a favor: Teens’ views about their families’ economic challenges are connected to their mental health and behavior.

That’s the main finding of a...

Asthma meds have become shockingly unaffordable − but relief may be on the way

Written by Ana Santos Rutschman, Professor of Law, Villanova School of Law

Its price will take your breath away.Brian Jackson/Getty Images

The price of asthma medication has soared in the U.S. over the past decade and a half.

The jump – in some cases from around a little over US$10 to almost $100 for an inhaler – has meant that patients in need of asthma-related products often struggle to buy them. Others...