The Conversation

'Third Rail with OZY' asks 'Is truth overrated?' 6 essential reads

Written by Emily Costello, Senior Editor, Politics + Society, The Conversation

Three happy liars.Floresphotographic/Shutterstock

On Friday, Sept. 8, “Third Rail with OZY” premieres on PBS. Each week on the show, expert and celebrity guests will debate a provocative topic, incorporating audience input and exclusive national polls. And each week The Conversation will provide one or more companion pieces that will...

6 rules for rebuilding infrastructure in an era of 'unprecedented' weather events

Written by Thaddeus R. Miller, Assistant Professor, School for the Future of Innovation in Society and The Polytechnic School, Arizona State University

Flooding from Hurricane Harvey. Can the region rebuild infrastructure so that it can better withstand extreme weather events? AP Photo/David J. Phillip

Before Hurricane Harvey made landfall on Aug. 25, there was little doubt that its impact would be devastating and wide-ranging.

Unfortunately, Harvey delivered and then some with early estimates of...

'Is truth overrated?' 6 essential reads

Written by Emily Costello, Senior Editor, Politics + Society, The Conversation

Three happy liars.Floresphotographic/Shutterstock

Want better sleep? Spend face-to-face time with your friends and family

Written by Royette Tavernier, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Wesleyan University

Lean on me for a better night's sleep.Syda Productions/shutterstock.com

Studies have shown that the quality of our relationships may determine how healthy we are, how well we recover from illness and even how long we live.

However, little is known about how relationships affect sleep. This is especially true for young, unmarried individuals. Teens an...

Parkinson's disease: New drugs and treatments, but where are the doctors?

Written by Michael Okun, Professor of Neurology, University of Florida

Parkinson's disease responds well to a range of treatments, but more specialists are needed to know how to best tailor treatment for patients. adriancfoto/Shutterstock.com

For many, hearing the word “Parkinson’s” conjures an image of tremors. But Parkinson’s disease, brought about by loss of nerve and other brain cells, is...

Massive sunspots and huge solar flares mean unexpected space weather for Earth

Written by Alexa Halford, Researcher in Physics and Astronomy, Dartmouth College

A huge solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun on Sept. 6, 2017. A separate image of the Earth provides scale.NASA/GSFC/SDO, CC BY

If you still have your solar viewing glasses from the eclipse, now is a good time to slap them on and look up at the sun. You’ll see two big dark areas visible on our star. These massive sunspots are regions...

How fashion adapted to climate change – in the Little Ice Age

Written by Lane Eagles, Ph.D. Candidate in Art History, University of Washington

Hendrick Avercamp's 'Ice Scene' (c. 1610).Wikimedia Commons

One could say the consequences of the planet’s warming climate can be seen on fashion week runways and the shelves of Anthropologie and H&M. Silhouettes shrink as midriffs and backs open. Sheer fabrics, breathable textiles and flowy draping are in. And in response to climate...

Why UN sanctions against North Korea's missile program failed

Written by Daniel Salisbury, Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow, Harvard University

Trucks cross the friendship bridge connecting China and North Korea on Sept. 4, 2017. Trump has threatened to cut off trade with countries that deal with North Korea. AP Photo/Helene Franchineau

The past few months have seen the coming of age of North Korea’s nuclear weapons capability.

For most of the last 20 years, the international...

The world is facing a global sand crisis

Written by Aurora Torres, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Ecology, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research

Sand for use in hydraulic fracturing operations at a processing plant in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin in 2011.AP Photo/Steve Karnowski), Author provided

When people picture sand spread across idyllic beaches and endless deserts, they understandably think of it as an infinite resource. But as we discuss in a just-published perspective in the journal...

How flood insurance works: 6 questions answered

Written by Robert W. Klein, Director, Center for RMI Research, Associate Professor, Risk Management and Insurance, Georgia State University

Editor’s note: Hurricane Harvey dumped up to 50 inches of rain on parts of Texas and Louisiana last month. Meanwhile, Hurricane Irma is bearing down on Florida, which will also likely cause substantial flooding. Homeowners generally rely on insurance provided by the federal government to cover the costs of rebuilding their lives after a...