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I study democracy worldwide − here’s how Texas is eroding human rights, free expression and civil liberties

  • Written by Katie Scofield, Assistant Instructional Professor in Political Science, Texas A&M University-San Antonio
imageEverything is bigger in Texas, except maybe its democracy.Luis Diaz Devesa/Moment via Getty

While concerns about the future of American democracydominate headlines worldwide, millions of Texans are already seeing a rapid decline in democratic standards.

In December 2024, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued a New York doctor for prescribing...

Read more: I study democracy worldwide − here’s how Texas is eroding human rights, free expression and civil...

Why does it hurt when you get a scrape? A neuroscientist explains the science of pain

  • Written by Yenisel Cruz-Almeida, Associate Professor & Associate Director, Pain Research & Intervention Center Of Excellence, University of Florida

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com.

“How come you feel pain when you fall and get a scrape?” – Tillman, age 9, Asheville, North Carolina

Nobody likes to feel pain, but it’s something every person will...

Read more: Why does it hurt when you get a scrape? A neuroscientist explains the science of pain

How does raw water compare to tap water? A microbiologist explains why the risks outweigh the benefits

  • Written by Bill Sullivan, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University

Water that comes straight from natural sources, dubbed “raw water,” is gaining popularity. Raw water advocates reject public water supplies, including tap water, because they don’t enjoy the taste or believe it’s unsafe and depleted of vital minerals.

On the surface, raw water might seem alluring – the natural...

Read more: How does raw water compare to tap water? A microbiologist explains why the risks outweigh the...

Why government can’t make America ‘healthier’ by micromanaging groceries purchased with SNAP benefits

  • Written by Benjamin Chrisinger, Assistant Professor of Community Health, Tufts University
imageMore than 41 million Americans use SNAP benefits to buy groceries.Brandon Bell/Getty Images

President Donald Trump’s pick for director of the Health and Human Services Department, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has announced a bold plan. He wants to “Make America Healthy Again.”

Kennedy’s strategy has gotten a lot of attention for...

Read more: Why government can’t make America ‘healthier’ by micromanaging groceries purchased with SNAP...

Why Trump’s tariffs can’t solve America’s fentanyl crisis

  • Written by Rodney Coates, Professor of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, Miami University

Americans consume more illicit drugs per capita than anyone else in the world; about 6% of the U.S. population uses them regularly.

One such drug, fentanyl – a synthetic opioid that’s 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine – is the leading reason U.S. overdose deaths have surged in recent years. While the rate of fentanyl...

Read more: Why Trump’s tariffs can’t solve America’s fentanyl crisis

Assad’s fall opens window for Syrian refugees to head home − but for many, it won’t be an easy decision

  • Written by Kelsey Norman, Fellow for the Middle East, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University

For more than a decade, Syrians have been the world’s largest refugee population.

More than 6 million Syrians have fled the country since 2011, when an uprising against the regime of Bashar Assad transformed into a 13-year civil war. Most ended up in neighboring countries such as Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt, while a sizable...

Read more: Assad’s fall opens window for Syrian refugees to head home − but for many, it won’t be an easy...

‘Sorry, I didn’t get that’: AI misunderstands some people’s words more than others

  • Written by Roberto Rey Agudo, Research Assistant Professor of Spanish and Portuguese, Dartmouth College
imageSpeech recognition systems are less accurate for women and Black people, among other demographics.Jacob Wackerhausen/iStock via Getty Images

The idea of a humanlike artificial intelligence assistant that you can speak with has been alive in many people’s imaginations since the release of “Her,” Spike Jonze’s 2013 film about...

Read more: ‘Sorry, I didn’t get that’: AI misunderstands some people’s words more than others

Norovirus, aka the winter vomiting bug, is on the rise – an infectious disease expert explains the best ways to stay safe

  • Written by William Schaffner, Professor of preventive medicine, health policy, infectious diseses, Vanderbilt University
imageNorovirus is accompanied by abdominal pain, diarrhea and explosive vomiting.Alla Bielikova/Moment via Getty Images

The highly contagious norovirus – popularly known as “stomach flu” or the “winter vomiting bug” – is now surging through the U.S.. The number of outbreaks is up significantly over previous years,...

Read more: Norovirus, aka the winter vomiting bug, is on the rise – an infectious disease expert explains the...

Understanding paranormal beliefs and conspiracy theories isn’t just about misinformation – this course unpacks the history

  • Written by Jeb Card, Associate Teaching Professor of Anthropology, Miami University
imageThe 'black mailbox' along Highway 375 near Rachel, Nev., a traditional spot for UFO hunters to meet and search the skies near Area 51.AP Photo/John Locher

Uncommon Courses is an occasional series from The Conversation U.S. highlighting unconventional approaches to teaching.

Title of course:

“Investigating the Paranormal”

What prompted the...

Read more: Understanding paranormal beliefs and conspiracy theories isn’t just about misinformation – this...

College course teaches Philly students to appreciate beer − whether they’re tailgating or fine dining

  • Written by Paul O'Neill, Assistant Clinical Professor of Food and Hospitality Management, Drexel University
imageThe Philadelphia region is home to over 90 craft breweries.sutiporn somnam/Moment Collection via Getty Images

Uncommon Courses is an occasional series from The Conversation U.S. highlighting unconventional approaches to teaching.

Title of course:

The Fundamentals of Beer

What prompted the idea for the course?

After 25 years of working in professional...

Read more: College course teaches Philly students to appreciate beer − whether they’re tailgating or fine...

More Articles ...

  1. Can Trump just order new names for Denali and the Gulf of Mexico? A geographer explains who decides what goes on the map
  2. Trump inherits the Guantánamo prison, complete with 4 ‘forever prisoners’
  3. Red light therapy shows promise for pain relief, inflammation and skin conditions – but other claims might be hyped
  4. Newly discovered photos of Nazi deportations show Jewish victims as they were last seen alive
  5. Reproductive health care faces legal and surveillance challenges post-Roe – new research offers guidance
  6. One large Milky Way galaxy or many galaxies? 100 years ago, a young Edwin Hubble settled astronomy’s ‘Great Debate’
  7. US Supreme Court is unabashedly liberal − in its writing style
  8. Seizure of Sally Mann’s photographs in Texas revives old debates about obscenity and freedom of expression
  9. Microgravity in space may cause cancer − but on Earth, mimicking weightlessness could help researchers develop treatments
  10. The technology that runs Congress lags so far behind the modern world that its flag-tracking system just caught up to 2017-era Pizza Hut
  11. President Trump promises to make government efficient − and he’ll run into the same roadblocks as Presidents Taft, Roosevelt, Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Carter, Reagan, Clinton and Bush, among others
  12. Navigating deepfakes and synthetic media: This course helps students demystify artificial intelligence technologies
  13. As Syria ponders a democratic future: 5 lessons from the Arab Spring
  14. Harvard expands its definition of antisemitism – when does criticism of Israel cross a line?
  15. Health and Human Services secretary influences every aspect of America’s health
  16. Mark Zuckerberg thinks workplaces need to ‘man up’ − here’s why that’s bad for all employees, no matter their gender
  17. 10 years after the Charlie Hebdo attacks in France, conversations about free speech are still too black and white
  18. After the fire: Rain on wildfire burn scars can trigger deadly debris flows – a geologist explains how
  19. LA gets rain, but also risk of flooding and debris flows from wildfire burn scars – a geologist explains the threat
  20. FDA bans Red 3 dye from food and drugs – a scientist explains the artificial color’s health risks and long history
  21. Kremlin promotes ‘traditional values’ – but leaves some battles to the governors
  22. What another Lukashenko ‘victory’ will mean for Europe’s security – and that of Belarus’ citizenry
  23. Meet phosphine, a gas commonly used for industrial fumigation that can damage your lungs, heart and liver
  24. Many more older people are leaving prison and face unmet needs for housing and health care − as well as a tangle of groups trying to help
  25. As Gaza ceasefire takes hold, Israeli forces turn to Jenin – a regular target seen as a center of Palestinian resistance
  26. What is seditious conspiracy, which is among the most serious crimes Trump pardoned?
  27. Ozempic and similar weight loss drugs may lower risk of 42 health conditions, but also pose risks
  28. Warning of ‘oligarchy,’ Biden channels Andrew Jackson
  29. How the oil industry and growing political divides turned climate change into a partisan issue
  30. ‘The geezer game’ – a nearly 50-year-old pickup basketball game – reveals its secrets to longevity
  31. Attitudes toward Christian nationalism don’t just boil down to views on race, religion and history − research suggests ‘moral foundations’ play a critical role
  32. Extreme heat, flooding, wildfires – Colorado’s formerly incarcerated people on the hazards they faced behind bars
  33. What is a migrant? What is ICE? 10 terms to help you understand the debate over immigration
  34. Feeling political distress? Here are coping strategies a psychologist shares with his clients
  35. Philanthropy provides $30B annually for science and health research − funding that tends to stay local
  36. Human use of fire has produced an era of uncontrolled burning: Welcome to the Pyrocene
  37. I’m an economist. Here’s why I’m worried the California insurance crisis could trigger broader financial instability
  38. How nonprofits pitch in before, during and after disasters strike
  39. Agriculture secretary oversees food production, rural life, and nutrition programs that help millions afford healthy diets
  40. Electrolyte beverages can help your body stay balanced − but may worsen symptoms if you’re sick
  41. Luce, a cartoon mascot for Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee, appeals to a younger generation while embracing time-honored traditions
  42. Why is obesity linked to irregular heart rhythms? Researchers found 1 potential mechanism
  43. Learning your political opponents don’t actually hate you can reduce toxic polarization and antidemocratic attitudes
  44. Lessons from ‘stop and frisk’ can help Philly police use drones to improve safety without compromising civil liberties
  45. Trump promises to end birthright citizenship and shut down the border – a legal scholar explains the challenges these actions could face
  46. Trump’s Jan. 6 pardon order ‘flies in the face of the facts’ of violent insurrection, retired federal judge explains
  47. Trump’s executive orders can make change – but are limited and can be undone by the courts
  48. Neighbors and strangers pulled together to help LA fire survivors – 60 years of research shows these unsung heroes are crucial to disaster response
  49. Amid LA fires, neighbors helped each other survive – 60 years of research shows how local heroes are crucial to disaster response
  50. Astronauts on NASA’s Artemis mission to the Moon will need better boots − here’s why