The Conversation

Boom in cremation hides surprising truths about what Americans really want when they die

Written by Tanya D. Marsh, Professor of Law, Wake Forest University

A striking 51.7% of Gen Z respondents ranked casket burial as their first choice, compared with just 27.1% of baby boomers.Ashley Cooper/The Image Bank via Getty Images

Nearly two-thirds of Americans now opt for cremation – a figure that has been steadily increasing over five decades.

On the surface, that proportion tells a simple story: The...

You probably wouldn’t notice if an AI chatbot slipped ads into its responses

Written by Brian Jay Tang, Ph.D. Candidate in Computer Science and Engineering, University of Michigan

Are you sure you could tell if an AI chatbot were trying to sell you something?AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

Hundreds of millions of people consult artificial intelligence chatbots on a daily basis for everything from product recommendations to romance, making them a tempting audience to target with potentially below-the-radar advertising. Indeed, our...

What is black garlic? How heat and humidity turn a pungent ingredient mild and slightly sweet

Written by Mavra Javed, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University

Natasha Breen/REDA/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

You may have seen black garlic appear more frequently in grocery stores, restaurants and online recipes over the past few years. Many chefs and food writers describe it as a unique and deeply flavored ingredient. So what is black garlic, and how is it made?

I noticed a growing curiosity...

‘Affordable’ Pittsburgh doesn’t have enough affordable housing – here’s why

Written by Selena E. Ortiz, Associate professor of Health Policy and Administration and Demography, Penn State

Pittsburgh is facing a shortage of affordable housing − especially for extremely low-income residents.dosecreative/iStock Collection via Getty Images

Pittsburgh is widely regarded as a relatively affordable place to live. Overall, housing and living costs remain below national averages for midsize cities in the United States.

Along with low...

China surpasses US in research spending – the consequences extend far beyond scientific ranking and clout

Written by Caroline Wagner, Professor of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University

In a span of a few years, China has outstripped the U.S. in scientific publications, spending and patents.AP Photo/Andy Wong

China’s rapid rise in science has hit a milestone. The country’s investment in research and development has reached parity with – and by purchasing power measures has surpassed – that of the United...

Trump administration’s indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center breaks with norms – and may lack evidence of criminal wrongdoing

Written by Beth Gazley, Professor of Nonprofit Management and Policy, Indiana University

FBI Director Kash Patel, right, and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche speak about the Southern Poverty Law Center's indictment in April 2026.Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images

The Southern Poverty Law Center was indicted on April 21, 2026, on federal fraud charges. The Justice Department alleges that the civil rights group known as the SPLC...

Why the Southeast is burning – extreme drought is only part of the reason

Written by Zachary Handlos, Atmospheric Science Educator, Georgia Institute of Technology

Fire crews responded to dozens of wildfires burning in Georgia and northern Florida on April 23, 2026.Georgia Department of Natural Resources via AP

Large parts of the southeastern U.S. are in the midst of an exceptional drought, and it is fueling dozens of wildfires in Florida and Georgia.

One of those wildfires, in southeastern Georgia’s...

Why the Southeast is burning – extreme drought is only part of the cause

Written by Zachary Handlos, Atmospheric Science Educator, Georgia Institute of Technology

Fire crews responded to dozens of wildfires burning in Georgia and northern Florida on April 23, 2026.Georgia Department of Natural Resources via AP

Large parts of the southeastern U.S. are in the midst of an exceptional drought, and it is fueling dozens of wildfires in Florida and Georgia.

One of those wildfires, in southeastern Georgia’s...

Supreme Court’s ‘shadow docket’ brings hasty decisions with long-lasting implications, outside of its usual careful deliberation

Written by Wayne Unger, Associate Professor of Law, Quinnipiac University

The U.S. Supreme Court is being criticized for decisions that are made quickly and outside of public view.Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The recent publication of confidential Supreme Court memoranda by The New York Times has brought to light a pivotal moment in the court’s history. “The birth of the Supreme Court’s shadow...

School gardens help students learn science and connect with agriculture – but making them happen isn’t easy

Written by Shelley Mitchell, Senior Extension Specialist in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Oklahoma State University

These kids are doing a lot more than just playing in the dirt.SolStock/E+ via Getty Images

I used to teach high school science in Oklahoma, and one day I brought in a stalk from a cotton plant with bolls of cotton still attached. Students asked me why I glued cotton balls to a stick.

My students and I lived in a rural town surrounded by pastures of...