The Conversation

What alchemy and astrology can teach artificial intelligence researchers

Written by Ben Shneiderman, Professor of Computer Science, University of Maryland

Alchemists' dreams distracted from real scientific goals.Justus Gustav van Bentum/Wikimedia Commons

Artificial intelligence researchers and engineers have spent a lot of effort trying to build machines that look like humans and operate largely independently. Those tempting dreams have distracted many of them from where the real progress is already...

Guyana hopes oil will bring wealth – not corruption and crisis

Written by Jennapher Lunde Seefeldt, Visiting Assistant Professor of Politics and International Studies, Centre College

The discovery of oil can make or break a country's economy.bluecrayola/Shutterstock.com

When ExxonMobil begins oil production in Guyana next year, mining crude from its seven new deepwater wells, life may change dramatically in this small South American country.

The mega deal is expected to increase Guyana’s gross domestic product from US$3.4...

The US adoption system discriminates against darker-skinned children

Written by Ronald Hall, Professor of Social Work, Michigan State University

Children who have darker skin wait longer on average to leave foster care.Stepan Popov/shutterstock.com

When it comes to adoption, Americans might assume that each child is treated equally. But research shows that darker-skinned children are repeatedly discriminated against, both by potential adoptive parents and the social workers who are charged...

The Green New Deal's 10-year timeframe is unrealistic even if a lot can happen in a few decades

Written by Seth Blumsack, Professor, Pennsylvania State University

The Green New Deal Democratic lawmakers recently proposed would confront climate change by eliminating America’s net carbon emissions within a decade. If enacted, it would transform America’s energy industries and slash pollution, improving public health.

This proposal is a non-binding resolution, not an actual bill, and many of the...

Promising new drug for treatment-resistant depression – esketamine

Written by Lee Hoffer, Associate Professor of Anthropology; Professor of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University

One in 3 people with severe depression do not respond to treatment.TZIDO SUN/Shutterstock.com

Treatment-resistant depression affects 1 in 3 of the estimated 16.2 million adults in the U.S. who have suffered at least one major depressive episode. For them, two or more therapies have failed and the risk of suicide is much greater. It’s a grim...

The revolving door between media and government spins again with CNN's hiring of Sarah Isgur Flores

Written by Michael J. Socolow, Associate Professor, Communication and Journalism, University of Maine

Sarah Isgur Flores, Justice Department spokeswoman, being interviewed by CNN's Chris Cuomo in 2018.Youtube/CNN

A common practice in American journalism has, once again, sparked outrage.

CNN recently announced the hiring of Sarah Isgur Flores to be “one of several editors” who will help “coordinate [political] coverage across TV and...

Zebra's stripes are a no fly zone for flies

Written by Tim Caro, Professor of Wildlife, Fish & Conservation Ecology, University of California, Davis

Scientific testing has zeroed in on the advantages of a zebra's striped coat.Tim Caro, CC BY-ND

Zebras are famous for their contrasting black and white stripes – but until very recently no one really knew why they sport their unusual striped pattern. It’s a question that’s been discussed as far back as 150 years ago by great...

Theodore McCarrick will continue to be a Catholic priest

Written by Mathew Schmalz, Associate Professor of Religion, College of the Holy Cross

Theodore McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington D.C., prays during the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2011.AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File

The Vatican recently “defrocked” Theodore McCarrick, a former cardinal and the retired archbishop of Washington D.C. McCarrick was found guilty of a number of crimes including...

US sanctions on Venezuelan oil could cut the output of refineries at home

Written by Eric Smith, Director of the Energy Institute and Professor of Practice, Tulane University

Louisiana's refineries require the kind of oil Venezuela produces to operate properly.AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

U.S. sanctions against Venezuela’s state-owned oil and gas company, along with some government officials and executives, are intended to put pressure on the government headed by Nicolás Maduro.

As the interim director of the Tula...

How to keep conservation policies from backfiring in a globally connected world

Written by Andrew Frederick Johnson, Visiting Scientist, San Diego State University

A worker marks timber logs at a concession area in Sarawak, Malaysia. Rainforest logging in Asia feeds much of the world's thirst for timber. AP Photo/Vincent Thian

For many years environmentalists have urged the public to “think globally, act locally” – meaning, consider the health of the planet, then take action in your own...