The Conversation

Elon Musk’s plans for a new political party will likely be derailed by a US political system hostile to new voices

Written by Thom Reilly, Professor and Co-Director of the Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy, Arizona State University

Two-party control of U.S. politics runs contrary to the vision of the Constitution's framers.Douglas Rissing/Getty Images

As dissatisfaction with the two-party system grows in the United States, the idea of an alternative, however unlikely, gains traction. Elon Musk’s recent call for an America Party may be unserious, but it speaks to...

Hulk Hogan and the unraveling of worker solidarity

Written by Brian Jansen, Assistant Professor of English and Media Studies, University of Maine

Hulk Hogan was arguably WWE's biggest star in the 1980s.Wally McNamee/Corbis via Getty Images

Hulk Hogan’s death by heart attack at age 71 came as a shock to many fans of the larger-than-life wrestler who’d earned the nickname “The Immortal.”

But in many respects, the real surprise was that Hogan, born Terry Gene Bollea,...

Gaza isn’t the first time US officials have downplayed atrocities by American-backed regimes – genocide scholars found similar strategies used from East Timor to Guatemala to Yemen

Written by Jeff Bachman, Associate Professor, Department of Peace, Human Rights & Cultural Relations, American University School of International Service

Palestinians crowd to get food in Gaza City on July 30, 2025. Abdalhkem Abu Riash/Anadolu via Getty Images

Since World War II, the United States has repeatedly supported governments that have been committing mass atrocities, which are defined by genocide scholar Scott Straus as “large-scale, systematic violence against civilian...

Vaccines hold tantalizing promise in the fight against dementia

Written by Anand Kumar, Professor and Department Head of Psychiatry, University of Illinois Chicago

Researchers are in the earliest phase of piecing together how the shingles vaccine could play a role in lowering the risk of dementia.PM Images/DigitalVision via Getty Images

Over the past two centuries, vaccines have been critical for preventing infectious diseases. The World Health Organization estimates that vaccination prevents between 3...

Teen drivers face unique challenges during ‘100 deadliest days’ of summer, but safety measures can make a difference

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

Summer is the riskiest time of year for teenage drivers.Martin Novak/Moment via Getty Images

The last few weeks of summer, heading into Labor Day weekend, can sometimes mean vacations and driving more miles on the road for all people, including teens.

Traffic crashes are the No. 1 cause of death for teens, and the crash rate for teen drivers is...

As the Colorado River slowly dries up, states angle for influence over future water rights

Written by Sarah Porter, Director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy, ASU Morrison Institute for Public Policy, Arizona State University

Lake Mead, impounded by Hoover Dam, contains far less water than it used to.Kevin Carter/Getty Images

The Colorado River is in trouble: Not as much water flows into the river as people are entitled to take out of it. A new idea might change that, but complicated political and practical negotiations stand in the way.

The river and its tributaries...

‘KPop Demon Hunters’ is attracting huge audiences worldwide – young Philadelphians told us K-pop culture inspires innocence, joy and belonging

Written by A. Stefanie Ruiz, Assistant Professor in Nonprofit Leadership, College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences, Clemson University

'KPop Demon Hunters,' released June 20, 2025, is Netflix’s most-watched original animated film ever. Netflix

“Born with voices that could drive back the darkness,” the character Celine, a former K-pop idol, narrates at the start of Netflix’s new release “KPop Demon Hunters.” “Our music ignites the soul and...

Understanding key terms swirling around Alligator Alcatraz and immigration enforcement in the US

Written by Mark Schlakman, Senior Program Director, Center for the Advancement of Human Rights, Florida State University

The right terms can help you properly express your views about Alligator Alcatraz.Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images

A July 2025 CBS/YouGov poll asked Americans, “Do you approve or disapprove of the Trump administration’s program to find and deport immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally?”

The respondents were divided, with 49%...

Transgender, nonbinary and disabled people more likely to view AI negatively, study shows

Written by Oliver L. Haimson, Assistant Professor of Information, University of Michigan

Transgender and nonbinary people report negative attitudes toward AI.alvaro gonzalez/Moment via Getty Images

AI seems to be well on its way to becoming pervasive. You hear rumbles of AI being used, somewhere behind the scenes, at your doctor’s office. You suspect it may have played a role in hiring decisions during your last job search....

A toxicologist’s guide to poison ivy’s itch and bee stings’ burning pain – 2 examples of nature’s chemical warfare

Written by Christopher P. Holstege, Professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Virginia

There's a lot to explore out there. aldomurillo/E+ via Getty Images

Enjoying the outdoors carries the danger of running into nature’s less-friendly side: toxic plants and animals.

As toxicologists at the University of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Poison Center, we see many patients each year suffering from itchy rashes from poison ivy and...