The Conversation

North Korea's growing criminal cyberthreat

Written by Dorothy Denning, Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Defense Analysis, Naval Postgraduate School

Money is a crucial target for North Korea's hacking efforts.rega rega/Shutterstock.com

The countries posing the greatest cyberthreats to the United States are Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. Like its counterparts, Kim Jong Un’s regime engages in substantial cyber espionage. And like Russia and Iran, it launches damaging cyberattacks that...

The American public has power over the gun business – why doesn't it use it?

Written by Brian DeLay, Associate Professor of History, University of California, Berkeley

Attendees attend a candlelight vigil for the victims of a shooting at a Florida school.AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee

As teenagers in Parkland, Florida, dressed for the funerals of their friends – the latest victims of a mass shooting in the U.S. – weary outrage poured forth on social media and in op-eds across the country. Once again,...

It's getting harder to prosecute politicians for corruption

Written by Peter J. Henning, Professor of Law, Wayne State University

The Supreme Court overturned the corruption conviction of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnellAP/Andrew Harnik

The high-profile corruption case against New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez was recently dropped by federal prosecutors after a five-year investigation into gifts and campaign contributions given to the senator by a friend who wanted political...

It's time to end the debate about video games and violence

Written by Christopher J. Ferguson, Professor of Psychology, Stetson University

Playing violent video games doesn't make kids more aggressive.AP Photo/Paul Sakuma

In the wake of the Valentine’s Day shooting at a Broward County, Florida high school, a familiar trope has reemerged: Often, when a young man is the shooter, people try to blame the tragedy on violent video games and other forms of media. Florida lawmaker Jared...

How can women feel comfortable saying no when they are told they can't say yes?

Written by Heather Hensman Kettrey, Research Associate, Peabody Research Institute, Vanderbilt University

A male and female in a bar, looking like they may hook up consensually. photographee.eu/Shutterstock.com

The #MeToo movement has demonstrated huge success in raising awareness around sexual harassment and assault. This effort has faced backlash, such as Donald Trump’s recent tweets arguing that lives have been ruined by accusations –...

Black lung disease on the rise: 5 questions answered

Written by Anna Allen, Associate professor of Occupational Medicine, West Virginia University

Coal miner Scott Tiller works next to a drill in an underground coal mine roughly 40 inches high in Welch, West Virginia.AP Photo/David Goldman

Editor’s note: An article published Feb. 6, 2018 in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health had...

The media need to think twice about how they portray mass shooters

Written by Russell Frank, Associate Professor of Communications, Pennsylvania State University

Media portrayals of mass murderers may do more harm than good.Atstock Productions/Shutterstock.com

The lead story on The New York Times homepage provided the overview of the latest massacre at an American school: “17 Killed at Florida School; Toll May Climb.”

A “sidebar,” or secondary story, also on the homepage, bore this...

10 ways schools, parents and communities can prevent school shootings now

Written by Elizabeth Englander, Professor of Psychology, and the Director of the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center (MARC), Bridgewater State University

While politicians debate control, local communities can act now to keep kids safer at school.AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee

After a shooter killed 17 people at a Florida high school, many have expressed frustration at the political hand-wringing over gun control and calls for prayer.

As a parent, I understand the desire for practical responses to school...

What the 5Pointz ruling means for street artists

Written by Leila Amineddoleh, Adjunct Professor of Law, Fordham University

Long Island City's 5Pointz, a mecca for graffiti artists, was demolished in 2014.AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

A four-and-a-half-year legal battle that pitted street artists against landowners has come to an end.

On Feb. 13, 21 graffiti artists were awarded US$6.7 million in damages after a developer whitewashed works of theirs located on his property.

A...

Outfitting the world's best athletes for the Winter Olympics

Written by Susan L. Sokolowski, Director & Associate Professor: Sports Product Design, University of Oregon

What is the right outerwear for top competition?U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team

At the first Winter Olympics, in Chamonix, France, in 1924, athletes competed in uniforms made from natural material resources like wool, cotton and leather; some had sport-specific modifications to aid in performance (like impact protection or warmth) or appearance (like...